While moving items from the reference collection to the circulating collection —
- “The labels say ‘Zim Ref,’” I say.
- “Here is a marker. Cross it out,” says Librarian Jason.
- “That seems sad….sad and maybe a little tacky?”
- “I see it a lot upstairs. You can make new labels?”
- “That seems hard. I guess I have to choose between sad or hard.”
- “Silvia, I think that is true of all choices in life.”
Damn. Way to make it real, Jason.
Way to make it real.
and I offer him my leftover candy librarian librarian jason we have a rapport where he tells it like it is jason seems kind of stern here but he is really niceIt is a quiet night at the reference desk.
A young man came by to borrow a pen. He had a document that needed to be signed in ink. After listening to him mutter “crap!” and “damn it” a few times under his breath, I looked up.
“Hey,” he said. “Do you know how to write cursive?” The piece of scratch paper in front of him was covered with loops and swirls that ended without decisively becoming any sort of word, let alone his name.
I took the pen, and wrote out his name for him. He copied it onto the signature line.
It is one thing to read New York Times interest pieces about the decline of cursive. It is another to see it happening. Oh, my.
librarian cursiveAt the end of the how-to-use-the-library class I taught today, I asked, as I always do, for any other questions.
I got:
- What is your favorite book?
- How do I search for dissertations?
This was great because a joke question and a real question means that they probably liked me and wanted to learn. Oh, students. You really know how to make my heart flutter.
librarian
Preparing for some color-coded weeding of the Reference Collection, bringing us ever closer to a working Learning Commons.
For being a librarian, I spend a surprisingly limited amount of time hanging out with physical books.
Today, though, I did bookish things. Here is a picture.
Twenty minutes ago, I helped a patron find some books and showed him how to print.
He stopped by before leaving the library. “Young lady,” he said, “I want to appreciate you.” Then, he bowed, waved, and left.
That was so nice! The week is young but many people have yelled at me (overdue books were billed on Monday), so that was extra nice.
librarian booksWhile helping patrons today, I learned about:
- coral,
- tainted cantaloupes,
- a Scholastic study about youth reading habits,
- and roadrunners.
Everyone said “thank you very much” or “you have been so helpful” and it was lovely.
librarian bookish
It is damp and scarf-y today. I think the okra will be pleased; the dogs and chickens will not.
My office is somewhat bland. When seeking decorative items, it is easy to ignore my office in favor of my house, but I spend such a ridiculous number of hours in here, I should really start considering alternative lighting options. Rob wants to go on a shopping vacation. I wonder if I can convince him to choose an Ikea city?
Anonymous asked: what is it like being a librarian? do you enjoy it? any regrets?
Though this is hardly an extensive exploration of the topic, you may want to take a look through these posts about being my specific kind of librarian — which is to say, an academic librarian at a research university. There are many different paths to take as a librarian, but here is a little more about mine.
I am in our Access Services unit, which includes the reference and circulation desks at four libraries, and other related or unrelated territory, like hours, loan policies, or statistics. Additionally, I plan programs (like inviting therapy dogs to campus during finals week), teach library sessions (how to find scholarly articles, how to find primary sources), and work on lots of projects (like hanging out with newspapers that survived a fire). I’m also on our Promotion and Publicity committee, and the search committee to hire another librarian. All these things, as well as others, combine to fill my days with interest and challenge.
I can be a little complainy sometimes, when I am feeling overwhelmed or when people are, well, being people. I love what I do, though, and my work is good, meaningful, fulfilling work. There are some who come to this accidentally, or as a second career. As for me? This is what I wanted. After spending most of my life in libraries, resting all my dreams on those public shelves, after years of fitful progress towards this very fate, I am so happy to be here.
ask librarian bookish
The West Wing of Zimmerman Library (my library!).
In my cheerful, spacious, but somewhat florescent office, I occasionally feel as though I could be anywhere, doing all sorts of vaguely managerial, bureaucratic, organizational…something.
When that doubt creeps in, I wander away to the West Wing. Here, there can be no question. This is a Library, and I am a Librarian. Then, before I get too misty, I return to my office, consider getting a lamp, and tackle my projects with renewed vigor.
(excepts from phone reference this afternoon)
A woman who sounds like she routinely drinks coffee after sunset:
- “No, there isn’t a print button. I don’t see a print button. Do you want me to send you a screen picture? There is no print butto—wait. There it is.”
A young lady who probably watches how-to internet videos about braiding hair:
- “Do you have any books about teenagers having sex? Like…safe sex. How to have safe sex as a teenager.”
An exotic accent:
- “Can I talk to someone about computers? It can be anyone.”
I love you:
- “Right, like insulation or other building materials…Oh, hey. There is a turtle outside. I am going to go pick him up. Do you think that is okay?”
“Are you Japanese?” a patron asks.
“No,” I say.
“Oh. Well, you know, bonsai trees?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the story there?”
I could have done some librarianing there, but, instead, I shrugged and smiled in a way that said, “guess that’s a secret the Japanese keep to themselves. Shame I am not Japanese!” I am always happy to find you botanical histories, but not when you open with a line like that. Oh, vaguely racist patrons, never change. Never, never, change.
Their constancy is more reassuring than ever, given how much my job will change in the next three months or so. I won’t go into detail about “strategic directions” and “core priorities,” but basically, my supervisor, and the director of my unit, got a great promotion. For the time being, she will not be replaced, nor will an interim director be appointed. I will report one level up to my Associate Dean, pick up between 10-15 projects, be the only faculty member in my unit, and learn how to be a supervisor. Awesome. This will be so awesome (no, not so much).
leavingforthecity asked: You are an insanely interesting person, and I wish I were a librarian.
Thank you, Asia! You can totes be a librarian. If you’re seriously interested, I am happy to tell you more about this noble profession.
Be warned, though - being a librarian means you never get to enjoy the library quite as much as everyone else. This is one of my grand regrets. It is hard to study, read, or generally hang out in the library when it is also your place of work. Maybe this is why librarians (rather, me. Is this just me?) always want to visit libraries whilst traveling; for a little while, you feel like a regular patron, free to enjoy the space as everyone else does.
ask librarian bookishjustinetf asked: I don't know many librarians. You should document your life as a librarian more. Just sayin'.
I will try! I shy away from talking about work too often because. Well. I spend huge amounts of time at work, and thinking about work. It dominates my day, and, at times, it feels as though too much of my identity can be attributed to my profession. Sure, I do a lot of recreational reading, and I like learning new words. I am particular about font and don’t like having dishes linger in the sink. I hang up my work clothes right when I get home. I collect anecdotes about historical figures and facts about animals with equal enthusiasm. These are just general things about me, but so often, people say in response, “oh, of course you are this way. You are a librarian.” No! This is the way I am. Also, I am a librarian! I love being a librarian! Still, I am sensitive about keeping it as an aspect, but not the core of my identity.
Additionally, werky-werk, while legit good times, is not always very exciting. Case in point, this was my schedule today:
- 10:00-11:00, Reference Desk
- 11:00-12:00, Meeting about Customer Service training
- 12:00-1:00, Read email, prepare for meeting
- 1:00-2:00, Film Club meeting (we’re making a short video about the history of Zimmerman Library)
- 2:00-3:00, Read the internet, chat with the Kellies and Jerry, eat my lunch, write this response
- 3:00-5:00, Reference Desk
- 5:00-6:00, Read email, send email, schedule meetings
Lest you think I am anything but thrilled with being a librarian, though, here’s some cute librarianing. Kelsey sent me this email:
So I’ve been working on weeding our SD collection today (quick! Can you name what section SD is?) and it’s been making me think of you. Actually, upon further reflection, I’m not going to tell you what SD is. You, like a good librarian, can look it up!
Look it up I did, and with great pleasure! In Library of Congress Classification, SD covers books about Forestry. Even deeper, the SD391-410.9 range is Sylviculture (“Silvia” is Latin in origin, and means “of the forest”)!
ask shoutout to kelsey keyes bookish librarian