"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!

Busy, Busy, Busy...

I'm so relieved that summer is over. Since I'm not a children's librarian, summer is not my busiest time. Not only didn't I have any programs in August (the one program that I had scheduled - a monthly foreign film - was canceled because our meeting room was painted, and, wouldn't you know it, the slight "audience" of two people who normally attend the film became what would have been twenty! It was a rainy day. But I digress.).

Although my school days ended years ago, I've never stemmed the yearly circle of slowing down in July and August and renewing a commitment to hard work in September. So now that Labor Day is around the corner, I'm excited about my upcoming programs. A quilting demonstration, a Jewish Book Discussion series that was made possible through the first grant I've ever received, a Business Expo, the rebirth of our new Writer's Group after its summer hiatus (I hope that it does well!!!!!!!!), the smaller regular Great Books Discussion Group and foreign film (yes, the film that was supposed to be showed in August!). I'm also busy preparing a display of resources for writers. And I'm just finished a bibliography - "Teach Yourself" Resources - that will go "on the stands" next week.

It feels good to be busy again. Being occupied - and happy with what you're doing - is as refreshing as jumping into a pool on a sweltering day in mid-July.

I love my job.

One More Quick One.....

Not one person has read this blog. At one time I thought that would have been a good thing. Now I'm not so sure. I think that I'm ready to share my thoughts about librarianship (although at the beginning I would have been relieved to have no readers).....Am I doing something wrong, that I'm not attracting attention? Or are there already too many other library-related blogs for mine to get special attention?