Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

once I was a gardener

2018-06-26T06:34:00.000-04:00

"But now in September the garden has cooled, and with it my possessiveness. The sun warms my back instead of beating on my head ... The harvest has dwindled, and I have grown apart from the intense midsummer relationship that brought it on."
- Robert Finch

Stumbled upon this quote, and was struck dumb with a sadness I feel for the garden I once had. I love our cozy little condo--we spent so much time during our courtship there; it was a place of refuge when I was tired of library life in Ohio; it's our first home as a married couple. But, our condo has no space for a garden, and this makes me sad. I think of the hours of time I spent on my knees planting, pulling weeds, picking produce. My garden was often one of the few spots were I went to feel alone in a community of 100 people; the place where I had the silence to day dream. I miss the day dreams dreamed there because the day dreams of 20-something me are so different than those of 30-something me. *sigh* Is it the folly of age that we long for a time we've already lived, or dream of something that's just beyond our reach?

September 11th

2017-09-11T06:03:00.000-04:00

I always pause and remember the horror of that day.
I pray for those lost.
I pray more for those who lost loved ones, who continue to move on.
I pray for peace.

Stumbled across this today and thought I would share.

"I did not see the devil's face at Ground Zero. I saw the face of God in the people working, caring, sweating, crying, rescuing, recovering and being very spiritual in their very humanness."
-Franciscan Father Joseph Bayne, chief chaplain of New York's Erie County Emergency Services

nearly a month and...

2017-08-25T19:52:00.000-04:00

Nearly a month ago I wrote about my New Library's problems with:

Leaking roof (may be caused by roof windows)
Leaking windows
Bad door seal, leaking
Outside in-ground lights full of water and not working
Electrical issues with exterior light programmer
Inability to use light switches for a week, due to the fact that the electrician screwed something up when trying to fix the light programmer
Dead water softener

What's been fixed after a month:

Decided to not repair or replace in-ground lighting due to cost, so we've gotten solar powered lights
The water softener computer has been replaced and the unit is up and running. Neat thing I learned, no one has EVER added salt to the water softener, EVER. OMG! Wonder why it's broken!!

Still waiting on repairs for everything else. *sigh*

glamorous life of a Library Director

2017-08-03T05:38:00.000-04:00

I have never owned a home. When I lived at the Farm in New England—what feels like a million years ago, and as many miles away--we were wardens of sorts over our cabins and houses. Problems resulted in written “tickets” to the Maintenance Team, who then resolved the problem. The same can be said of all the apartments and house I’ve rented; a call to the landlord usually resolved the issue (I fortunately always had good landlords, for the most part). ChicagoBoy, the homeowner (I guess that makes me a co-homeowner in a couple months?), is a handyman and a Landlord himself, so much more adept at handling problems. And yet it’s me who is stuck with the mounting challenges of a new building.

I’ve gotten good at reading warranties—only one problem has still been under warranty—and getting recommendations for service people. I’m learning the jargon of these people, getting better at home to explain the problems. I’ve dug in.

In my first 3 months at the New Library I’ve had, and am still working on getting all of these problems fixed:

Leaking roof (may be caused by roof windows)
Leaking windows
Bad door seal, leaking
Outside in-ground lights full of water and not working
Electrical issues with exterior light programmer
Inability to use light switches for a week, due to the fact that the electrician screwed something up when trying to fix the light programmer
Dead water softener

I'm tired and crabby most nights, going home weary of dealing with so many problems all at once, but I guess I can chalk all of this up to learning...

So, what are you mastering at work lately?

lovely

2017-07-30T15:30:00.001-04:00

Stumbled upon this today while searching for "the perfect Walt Whitman quote." So lovely. And Garrison Keillor! Who knew he had it in him...

When my body and your body
Lie together under a white sheet
Your head on my arm
Your leg thrown over my leg
The whole long continent of you
The pale ridgeline of your ribcage and hip and thigh
Neighbor to me
There is nothing that needs to be explained
Or accomplished, the world is at rest and complete
And though
We drift apart in the eddies of the day
We will find our way back
To the slight hollows that mark the place
Where we lie now, astonished, saying nothing.

-Nude Study, by Garrison Keillor, in 77 Love Sonnets

less than 3 months

2017-07-17T05:43:00.000-04:00

You guys, our wedding is just under the 3 months away mark!!

This past weekend we:

picked out tuxedos for the guys--Vera Wang tuxes!! ChicagoBoy let me choose and they are SMOKING HOT!!
ChicagoBoy finally renewed his passport--Scotland and Ireland here we come!
I backed up music onto our new 1TB external hard drive to transfer to our home computer, so I can start getting the wedding music for the reception together!

This week's wedding goals:

Seating chart
Quotes about love for the tables--each table is named after an author, so will feature a quote about love by said author
Start working on wedding music

reprieve

2017-07-17T05:02:00.000-04:00

Something most libraries/librarians have been watching VERY closely. I can't believe we have to fight so hard to protect our libraries and schools in our country. Sad panda.

Colleagues,

I’m pleased, but with important cautions, to tell you that all of our collective work to Fight for Libraries! is poised to pay off dramatically. Key parts of the House Appropriations Subcommittee bill that is scheduled to be voted on tomorrow afternoon at 4:30 EDT were released late this afternoon. The bill does NOT cut last year’s funding to the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Once final, that would mean no cuts to LSTA in this critical first vote stage! (We’ll know about Innovative Approaches to Literacy tomorrow.

Now the cautions… While unlikely, an amendment could be offered to the bill that changes the IMLS appropriation. In addition, after tomorrow’s vote, there will be at least two further procedural opportunities for the bill to be amended. After the House acts, of course, the Senate will take its turn, though probably not for some months. As the phrase goes, therefore, this is definitely NOT over until it’s over. We will report immediately on the results of tomorrow’s Subcommittee vote. I hope very much that the next thing for us to do will be to thank our House supporters.

Until early evening tomorrow in Washington, please join me in crossing your fingers.

Sincerely
Jim Neal
ALA President

From the District Dispatch

Saturday caturday cuteness

2017-06-24T01:00:00.000-04:00

This guy.

sweet relief in grief

2017-06-19T05:47:00.000-04:00

Something has stirred my father into my waking thoughts more than usual lately, of course Father's Day weekend is an obvious reason, but if feels like something more--perhaps our wedding, now less than 4 months away...? Whatever it is, I've found myself grieving again. I think about all of the things my Dad is missing, how he'd be a grandfather of six (soon to be 7) grandchildren. How he won't get to walk me down the aisle, or ever get to know my sweet, kind, wonderful ChicagoBoy.

I keep thinking of C.S. Lewis', A Grief Observed, the solace I felt in reading it upon my fathers death; Lewis and I kindred spirits in our mourning.

“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear. I am not afraid, but the sensation is like being afraid. The same fluttering in the stomach, the same restlessness, the yawning. I keep on swallowing.

At other times it feels like being mildly drunk, or concussed. There is a sort of invisible blanket between the world and me. I find it hard to take in what anyone says. Or perhaps, hard to want to take it in. It is so uninteresting. Yet I want the others to be about me. I dread the moments when the house is empty. If only they would talk to one another and not to me.”
-C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

ChicagoBoy went grocery shopping yesterday and upon returning handed me a bouquet of flowers. I almost wept as I thought of a time my father snuck away from my mother at the grocery store to buy flowers and leave them for her in the car, a sweet surprise. ChicagoBoy said the flowers were, "just because," but as he held me and told me he loved me, I knew they were because he knows the grief-animal wass sitting on my chest, making me a little jealous of his Father's Day phone call to his own dad.

This morning work will distract me, and perhaps each day after the miasma-fog will clear, the tide pull away from shore again and reveal smoothed rocks and tide-pools...

Illinois gems

2017-06-17T11:04:00.000-04:00

Recently attended the Director's University at the Illinois State Library.

A well spent week in Springfield--my first visit--with lots to learn, and a few beauties to admire from afar!

American Writers Museum

2017-05-24T06:40:00.000-04:00

Did you hear about the newly opened American Writers Museum?! I am super excited to go check this place out! I like their mission statement, short and sweet:

"The mission of the American Writers Museum is to engage the public in celebrating American writers and exploring their influence on our history, our identity, our culture, and our daily lives."

So, who's coming with me?!

Slowly, slowly, slowly, said the sloth

2017-05-18T21:36:00.000-04:00

Eric Carle's sloth is pretty much my spirit animal these days.

I am in week 3 at the new library--I've yet to cook up a code name for it--and feel like I am slowly, painfully slowly getting things. I am still struggling with learning how to do all of the finance work, as I had a F.O. at my last job.

Last week I met up with local directors and felt a little better hearing about similar concerns, but a little worse when they kept saying words and IL acronyms that I did not understand! Oh, Ohio libraries how I miss you so. I miss a lot of things in fact. I miss my Youth Services Coordinator, PrairieDawn, and our friendship and shared jokes after years of working closely and sharing an office. I miss some of my old staff. I miss my old regular patrons. And sometimes when ChicagoBoy does things that frustrate me--I mean come on, the dirty laundry bin is RIGHT THERE!!! WHY IS YOUR DIRTY UNDERWEAR ON THE FLOOR--I miss my old single life a little bit too.

I came to IL to be with ChicagoBoy, and begin our life together and there is so much about that which makes me so insanely happy. I just miss walking into work every day and knowing what I was doing. And seeing my OH friends all the time. And yes, I will get good at this job eventually. And yes, I will make friends soon. But, *sigh* I'm impatient...

another goodbye

2017-04-16T19:29:00.002-04:00

After 4.5 years at Sticks Library, it is finally time to say goodbye. This week is my last, and I prepare to pass off Summer Reading, the Library's Centennial celebration, and the building expansion and renovations that I've been working to get going for 3+ years. These past weeks have been jam packed with activity, me in my office hurriedly going through notes and leaving as much information behind for my replacement--who is yet TBD.

This weekend I've run the full gambit of emotions; so sad to leave behind a wonderful job and coworkers, excitement to finally be living with ChicagoBoy and seeing him EVERY DAY, and nervousness about my new job. I dread tomorrow, my final Board Meeting, because I don't want to blubber like a baby when I say goodbye to these wonderful people. I am so tired from all of the moving and living in an empty apartment, sleeping on a cot--I keep telling myself that my catson and I are glamping--and so tired of feeling emotional. I am just going to let myself feel all the feels this week, and try and be mindful of each goodbye.

“I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

Effects of cutting funds to the Institute of Museum and Library Services

2017-03-20T02:07:00.000-04:00

Just received this email from Ohio State Librarian, Beverly Cain.

Even if you're not from Ohio, it's worth the read.

Even if you're not a librarian, it's worth the read.

The following message is sent on behalf of State Librarian Beverly Cain:

Dear Colleague,

The White House has released its new budget blueprint, an advisory document that proposes increases in spending to military programs and national security, coupled with major decreases to—or the complete elimination of—many programs supporting museum and library services, scientific data and research, human health, and environmental safety; social uplift, education, and protection for the poor; international diplomacy, cooperation, and aid; and the arts, culture, and history. The House and Senate will now begin offering their own budget resolutions, and a long process of negotiation—informed by the will of the people, as expressed to our elected representatives—will ultimately result in Appropriations Committee legislation setting funding levels for agencies and offices.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has been targeted for elimination. The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) administered by IMLS provides critically important funding for our nation’s libraries. LSTA Grants to States is the largest grant program run by IMLS and Grants to States appropriations are distributed directly to each state and territory through a population-based formula. Each state identifies the most appropriate uses of these funds for library services and activities to meet their state’s economic, educational, civic, and demographic needs. The return on investment for this program is substantial and is enhanced by each state’s matching contribution. Many of the innovations taking place in America’s libraries today are a direct result of this vital and successful program.

In Ohio, federal LSTA funds are used in ways that touch every community across the state. The State Library supports the machine lending activities for the Ohio Talking Book program, serving the state’s blind and physically disabled population, with LSTA funding. Licensing and management fees for the Ohio Digital Library are paid using LSTA dollars. The SEO Library Consortium is partially subsidized with federal LSTA funding. A core set of high quality, relevant, and reliable library databases acquired and made freely available through the Ohio Web Library to all Ohioans through a partnership with OPLIN, OhioLINK, and INFOhio rely on substantial LSTA funding made available through the State Library of Ohio. Many of Ohio’s school libraries were automated through INFOhio with the support of LSTA funds.

The State Library of Ohio receives an LSTA appropriation of approximately $5 million per year. If these LSTA dollars were no longer available in Ohio, the negative impact would be far-reaching and the following programs and services would be curtailed or significantly reduced:

EBSCO databases would disappear (or would have to be funded at the local level). The lack of LSTA funding to support the library databases jointly provided by the State Library, OPLIN, OhioLINK, and INFOhio would jeopardize the partnership and could potentially lead to elimination of the statewide availability of these resources.
Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled services supported by the State Library would be curtailed.
Public libraries would not receive summer reading materials and summer reading workshops would no longer be subsidized.
Ohio Digital Library, serving the patrons of 177 public libraries across the state, would no longer receive support from the State Library; member libraries would be required to pay a portion of the yearly software maintenance ($125,000).
Data available through the Public Library Survey would be minimal.
Consulting services, such as strategic planning, space design, and youth services would be significantly reduced or eliminated.
State Library support for WebJunction would end and library staff would no longer have access to Skillsoft courses.
Competitive grants to support innovative initiatives in areas including Data Management and Analytics, Outreach and Partnerships, and STEM/STEAM, would no longer exist.
The SEO Library Center would no longer be partially supported with federal funding, requiring the elimination of some services such as Technology Training on Demand. Continuation of services would require increased financial support from SEO member libraries.
Leadership programs such as Library Leadership Ohio and ILEAD USA-Ohio would be eliminated.
The process of establishing the Ohio Digital Network as a service hub for DPLA would be significantly delayed or terminated.
Plans to use LSTA funds to support the Guiding Ohio Online digital literacy program once the grant funding from Serve Ohio ends in FY 2018 would be eliminated.

The loss of this critical funding would come at a time when state funding for Ohio’s libraries lacks the stability it needs to ensure that our libraries remain able to innovate, adapt quickly to local needs, and develop programs and services that enable all members of their communities to thrive.

As a federal government agency, IMLS cannot engage in any form of advocacy. However, they will continue to actively educate about the important role of IMLS and LSTA in serving our nation’s communities as they work closely with the Office of Management and Budget as the budget process continues. I encourage you to sign up through the ALA Action Center to receive advocacy alerts, background information, and talking points about this important issue. Ongoing funding and policy updates from the ALA Washington Office also are available at the District Dispatch blog. If you would like information about the amount of LSTA grant funding your library has received in recent years, please contact Missy Lodge or Cindy Boyden at the State Library of Ohio.

Sincerely,

Beverly

job hunting in 2017

2017-03-01T06:36:00.000-05:00

The last time I was job hunting was 2012, and while that wasn't that long ago, it seems it.

I am a firm believer that you should update your resume every 4-6 months, including every speaking engagement, lecture, paper published, etc., so that when you are ready to job hunt you won't be stuck scratching your head about the details of what you've done since *insert year here.

On the other hand it's the cover letters--I've sent out at least 25-30 since I began my job search in September--that are giving me grief. I found some interesting articles this weekend and thought I would pass them along in case you are too!

12 Great Cover Letter Examples for 2017

31 Attention-Grabbing Cover Letter Examples

the dead cat, or thoughts on leaving

2017-02-25T07:37:00.000-05:00

A patron walked into our Library Tuesday and announced, "there's a dead cat in your front yard. Just thought you should know."

PrairieDawn and I walked out front, me wearing gloves and carrying a garbage bag, PrairieDawn with the shovel. We finally found the poor animal, laying seemingly asleep, under our front hedges. I thought I could be tough and just scoop the thing into a garbage bag and be done with it, but I started to cry, thinking of my own sweet cat probably asleep on my couch...These are the moments when I wish we had a maintenance man, or anyone else more capable than me, on staff.

We went back inside and thought about who we could call. I was for calling the local vet, when PD suggested we call one of our patrons who's a vet in the next city over, but who lives in Sticks. He wasn't able to come by, but sent someone else to retrieve the poor animal later that afternoon.

I've been thinking about that exchange all week, our patron's kindness in offering to do the deed we couldn't; that it didn't seem odd to ask someone in town for that favor. I've been thinking about how working in a small town has been a blessing in so many ways, and how my time here has been filled with many challenges and yet so much joy.

My time (4.5 years!) at Sticks Library is drawing to a close. At our January Board meeting I announced both my engagement, and my intention to move to Chicagoland; at the February Board meeting I suggested they post my job by April which will give them ample time to find a replacement. We're still working on the particulars of my exit, and with so much in limbo I don't even know the details.

It's going to be hard to leave this job, to see an end to this time of my life. I came here not knowing how to run a library, and have managed to learn so much and have grown to appreciate this community, and how it's rallied behind our little library. I have made dear friends, who I will have to say goodbye to soon. I will have to say goodbye to my single life too. I am so excited to finally marry the man of my dreams, and begin the next chapter of my life, but there's a strange sadness in that too--the letting go of a life where I can do as I please with little accountability.

These are the thoughts swirling in my head this morning as the snow swirls outside...

multicultural reads

2017-02-15T17:36:00.001-05:00

A friend just asked for a list of multicultural reads for 6th graders, and since reading multicultural books is so important I thought I would share it here.

Multicultural Reads for 6th Graders:

The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, Christopher Paul Curtis
Esperanza Rising, Pam Munoz Ryan
Brown Girl Dreaming, J. Woodson (LOVED this book)
One Crazy Summer, Williams-Garcia
Inside Out and Back Again, Lai
The Cay, T. Taylor
Ties That Bind, Ties That Break, Lensey Namioka
Witch of Blackbird Pond, Speare
Chains (Book #1, The Seeds of America Trilogy), Anderson
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
Birchbark House, Erdich
Starry River of the Sky, Lin
Threads, Polonsky
Dancing, Alma Flor Ada
Tiger Boy, Perkins
Ninth Ward, Rhodes
Star in the Forest (story about illegal immigrants--timely), Resau
Boys Without Names, Sheth
How I Became a Ghost, Tingle

So much yes

2017-01-12T11:31:00.001-05:00

“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”
-Thomas Merton

It really happened...

2016-12-26T22:36:00.000-05:00

So we got engaged on Christmas Eve.

During a walk in our favorite park, ChicagoBoy took me to a beautiful overlook and proposed.

And of course, I said, "yes."

And now I am in that golden glow of just not believing I really get to spend the rest of my life with this man. This wonderful, wonderful man. I am stunned. And overwhelmed. And so so happy.

every librarian's dream

2016-12-15T18:30:00.003-05:00

This was in our book drop today.

Wonderful wonderful.

so MUCH is happening

2016-12-06T06:16:00.000-05:00

Guys,

SO. MUCH. IS. HAPPENING! But I am staying eerily calm...ok, I freaked out a little back in November, but have been Zen-ing my way to peace the last couple of weeks. So, ChicagoBoy and I have been talking marriage for a while now, and...

My ring is being designed as we speak!
We've picked a date! LESS THAN 11 months away!
We've booked my church and talked to my (now retired) Priest, who's agreed to marry us!
We paid the deposit on the restaurant where we're having the Reception
And we think we've figured out how to have a chill Rehearsal Dinner
I've been going to interviews around ChicagoLand and HAVE A 2nd INTERVIEW this WEEK! I am so hopeful!

Life is so exciting right now. And a little scary as I creep closer into this limbo zone of not quite knowing.

Ok, guys, you got all the dirt before anyone else did, so keep it on the D.L. Ok?

Our first 5K

2016-11-28T17:37:00.000-05:00

We did it! ChicagoBoy and I did our first 5K together this weekend with his sister. Neither of us are runners--ChicagoBoy is an open water swimmer and way more athletic than I am--so our goal was just to finish in under our time goals. My goal was 55 minutes. I finished in 54.50!! And ChicagoBoy's goal was 30 minutes. He finished in 27-something. WE. DID. IT.

These are the outfits I cooked up for our Turkey Trot (pun intended). Turkey feet and turkey faces, and turkey feathers too. ChicagoBoy was such a good sport for wearing these. I love this guy.

Happy Thanksgiving

2016-11-24T08:29:00.000-05:00

Let's not pretend we're celebrating some wonderful shared meal between new-found friends. Let's just focus on the fact that we have a holiday rooted in us feeling grateful (and overeating)and just be thankful for everyone and everything that has made this year better. And don't mention the election, please God, just don't.

This year I'm thankful for my youngest nephew, Alex, talking in sentences; that I've been an aunt for 12 years! I'm thankful for this beautiful, long fall, and for the cold late November nights too. I'm thankful for my family and my friends, especially L, who died and came back to us this spring. I am thankful for ChicagoBoy, who makes me feel so loved, and who made my Grinch heart grow 3 times this year. I'm thankful for each breath and every step, and for the sunrises and sunsets. Thankful for a job I love. I am so blessed.

I hope you all count many blessings this day too. Happiest of happy Thanksgivings.

yahoo for long weekends

2016-11-23T06:22:00.000-05:00

I am so glad to have today off. I worked a couple hours on Sunday, a 13 hour day Monday--covering vacations and with an extra long Board meeting tacked on to the end of my day--and worked a 12 hour day on Tuesday. I own you, Wednesday!

Doing grownup stuff this morning:

Oil change
Buying some last minute groceries to take to ChicagoBoy's
Packing the car

Then I am heading out to ChicagoBoy's later this morning, so I can hopefully beat the traffic, and start roasting the pumpkins for my pies. I just had a super domesticated fantasy-moment where I imagined him coming home, opening the door, smelling the deliciousness of roasting pumpkin, and smiling with satisfaction that he's nabbed such a resourceful woman. NO WAY! I mean that's great too, but I love that this boy loves my brains AND my cooking.

Can't wait to see my sweetheart. It's been 2 weeks and that is too long these days! How did we used to only see each other once every month - 6 weeks. You guys, I love this guy. A lot. And I also love Thanksgiving...

F*&%ING REINDEER

2016-11-22T20:11:00.000-05:00

You guys, I think I just booked reindeer for our Library's Santa Visit!! This has been one of those weird things I've wanted to do since I've been here, but honestly always forgot about as we were scheduling the craziness of December, i.e. Santa's visit and our Gingerbread House program (which brings in over 70 people--which is A LOT for us!) And there I was, at a library breakfast meeting, when someone said they'd used this farm before...

So, I am waiting to hear back from the reindeer owner. He promised an email or call tomorrow. So, fingers crossed...it's all I want for Thanksgiving.

Well, that and an engagement ring. You guys ChicagoBoy is having an engagement ring designed as we speak. What the what!?!!!??!?!