This Picture Says It All........(Thing #6)

I've blogged my love for research, for helping people obtain the information that they need, for scheduling and promoting events. But I have to confess that my favorite aspect of spending my days in a public library is working beside books! Yes, despite the fact that the modern-day library is a community center - filled with information in every conceivable format - I still love the books.

Oh, the Big Programs!

It's so nice when programs go well - that is, when you have a big, a HUGE - turnout. So much work goes into program-planning: pondering ideas, contacting possible presenters (and agreeing upon on a fee, if you can get the presenters to understand that the library does not have unlimited funds!), checking the meeting room calendar to find a suitable date, creating flyers, writing press releases, praying that patrons attend the program so that you are not completely embarrassed in front of the presenter (isn't that always the case, even though you tell yourself that the weather kept people away?!).

On Wednesday night our library hosted a program entitled "How to Become a Published Author." Approximately 80 people attended; our meeting room was filled to capacity! Obviously, many aspiring authors live in our community (and in the surrounding towns, since not every registrant had a phone number with the same area code as ours). With the exception of some minor technological glitches at the beginning of the program (and the fact that the author spent a bit too much time describing his own qualifications!), the event was a tremendous success. At the end of the presentation, attendees lined up to talk to the author, and many people thanked me for hosting the program.

The program also provided me with another opportunity to publicize our library's Writer's Circle, a monthly daytime group whose members critique each other's works and discuss the business of authorship. The attendance of this group has ebbed and flowed. Initially, there were actually too many participants for such an organization to succeed; the members had to break down into smaller groups. Soon, however, many of the initial attendees stopped participating. The primary reason, I gathered, was that people wanted different things from the group; some wanted to critique, while others wanted only an opportunity to read their works. Some didn't want to share their works at all, but preferred to spend time discussing issues such as copyrighting and writer's block.

But I believe in this group; what better place for a group of aspiring authors to meet than a public library? It helps, too, that my own dreams of authorship, which have long since died, are tied into this program. And so, rather than close the Circle due to dwindling numbers, I persisted. And slowly, I think, we're getting there - the numbers have begun to rise, and the number of participants in the nighttime program were astounding. So there is a need for such a group in our community.

It is so wonderful to know that I've created a resource for people. There is no better way to spend the day than working in a library.

"The Old Library" (or, Thing #5)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikvanhannen/2143007559/


No, my library doesn't look like this (how many do, today?). But the photo captures the essence of a library: the excitement of learning is reflected not only in the books that line the shelves, but also in the images that line the walls and ceiling, and in the perfect illumination of light on the walls, the floor, and the table (as someone noted in the original picture!).

I'd love to visit this library (sigh!). But since it's in the Netherlands, and I'm not planning a trip to Europe anytime in the near future, I'll have to wait.......and be satisfied with the library that I work in every day.

Only Because It's Part of the Job.......

Helping patrons with the copiers.

Ooooh. I cringe whenever I get asked to assist people with the copiers. I don't have a talent for fixing machines, regardless of whether that "thing" is a copier, a fax machine, or a computer. But at least the computer is essential to my favorite part of the job - helping people find information. And our Branch doesn't have a public fax machine, which means that I'm spared - for the most part - from working with that. That leaves the almightly copier.

It's not only that I lack a talent for working with machines, because, in all honesty, how many of us do? Most librarians (and library assistants) do not enter the field dreaming about the number of photocopying jobs that they'll assist with. But for some reason I lack patience for this particular part of customer service. Yes, I smile, I grin, I grab the bypass key (just in case), I act as if I'm thrilled to assist my patrons, but the truth is - I can't stand this job! And this morning I had two patrons who needed assistance (because one person, catching me in the act of helping someone else, decided to take advantage of my proximity). Both of these people, I thought to myself, made absolutely ridiculous mistakes.

Oh, it feels good to vent! I wonder what parts of the job other librarians (secretly, of course), can't stand?

Challenges

As a librarian, I love the idea of lifelong learning (doing it myself and encouraging it in others). Unfortunately, I do fall prey to excuses to avoid trying new things (too tired, too many routine tasks that have to be accomplished at work, too busy caring for a three-year-old when I'm not at work, etc.).

That's why I'm glad that my library system is encouraging its staff members to participate in the Web 2.0 Challenge! Learning the tools of Web 2.0 is so important for librarians because we need to be able to communicate with our patrons. It appears so unprofessional when we merely give our young students a blank look if they make a reference to a technological device that we have no experience with or use a term that we haven't heard before (i.e. - an MP3 player, a Facebook account, downloading music to an MP3 player, etc). It's also downright embarrassing.

So I'm going to throw myself into the Web 2.0 Challenge. The real challenge, for me, will be finding the time to complete each task. But I am motivated, and if I can maintain this level of motivation, then that will help me make the time.

The "Little" Mistakes

Last night we realized, too late, that we had forgotten to order a black ink cartridge for the printer. This was the MAIN printer for the building (the one that does the fancy stuff, like print instantaneously, print in color, etc). The staff, fortunately, was able to use another printer - but the public was not. Oops.

Don't you love those moments, the ones that make you look so great in the eyes of the public (?!). We all have them, because we're all human and we're all going to make mistakes. It's true, too, that many of us are too busy thinking about the obviously big aspects of our work (like answering reference questions and planning programs) to remember that the ink cartridges have to be replaced. In this case, the staff member who replaced the cartridge the last time didn't realize that he was using the last one, or he would have informed the staff member who is responsible for ordering supplies (or perhaps he became so occupied with assisting the public that he simply forgot).

But the fact that this happens to all of us doesn't ease the discomfort when it does happen, because we know that we've disappointed our patrons. We can't provide them with a service that they had assumed they would have when they drove to the library. We appear negligent and careless, less than professional (to say the least).

So how do we save ourselves, our reputations? By being apologetic and courteous when we have made mistakes. By being professional the rest of the time, when our printers are filled with fresh ink and ready to run. And when we do both, our patrons are calm and understanding. Like they were last night.

Procrastinating

It's been so long since I've written that I think that I've forgotten how to write, and I, like so many librarians, once dreamed of writing the great American novel. But the need to accomplish small everyday tasks (and the need to sleep!) take precedence over turning a "dream" into reality, and it isn't long before that dream dies.

Not that I'm complaining or feeling sorry for myself (not much, anyway). This is the way life is. And the primary aspects of my life - my family and my library career - fill me with joy. But I can't help but think how sad it is that not only do I not write on a regular basis, but when I do have to write, I get nervous and gasp for words. I procrastinate, find other things to do, even when there is so much that I could write about. And eventually I noticed that my last blog post was in August.

Sad.

But enough about that. Here is to a new beginning. I wonder, I hope, no - I will (!), make the time to blog once a week. Even if no one ever reads it. Maybe it's better that way!