Ice Road Truckers

I am so loving the Ice Road Truckers on the Discovery Channel. It's great coolness on the oppressively hot days with my hot black fur. I want to be a trucker! Too bad they discriminate against cats.

Is it a full moon?

Mom speaks: There are many challenges in the public library forum especially when the 100 degree plus days won't stop coming.

Summer situation no. 1: Some patrons seem to think getting a book for summer reading isn't enough. One lady asked me what days and time her child was supposed to attend the summer reading program. I think she thought it was like a summer camp or free day care...go figure, this happens every year by the way. Definition of Summer Reading: traditionally when children chose their own books to read and read them where ever or whenever they'd like (yes in the W.C. counts too). Librarians aren't concerned about what they are reading in terms of classics, comics. We don't even care where they are reading such as the dinner table. We are concerned about reading itself. Yep, that's what we're into. Reading! Yeah! Reading! Summer Reading can also mean reading books assigned by the school, those harshers of mellow who bring the purity of summer down with assignments. C'mon dude it's freakin summer give the kids a break!

Summer situation no. 2: Patrons think they can just wait for books to come back to the library and check them out then. Especially patrons who are wanting books on reading lists assigned by the mean ol' school districts (see above). Note to these folks: the library is state of the art, computer run there are no more CARD catalogs. What this means to you: people can put books on hold either by yourself from the comfort of your home computer or with a friendly librarian, they love to do it, they live for it. These books on hold can come from ANYWHERE in the city from ANY branch library. If a book is on a summer reading list it will RARELY just come in. In fact, the closer to the school year starting, the higher those hold numbers will get larger lessening your chance of getting a book before you go back to school. Put it on hold people that's the only way. You don't want to be in the library the last week of summer asking about the Red Pony believe me! It's kind of fun for us librarians seeing kids putting off the dreaded reading then two days before school starts trying to read SOMETHING, ANYTHING FROM THAT ASSIGNED READING LIST! Then parents get mad, there's yelling and chaos and possibly beatings. Very entertaining.

Which leads to the
Summer situation no.3 (actually this one happens year round). Reference staff of all types getting blamed for everything. Here are many sentences associated with this. "But I need the computer because my paper is due tomorrow"-heard 5 minutes before closing time. "But I have to read that book for school next week." "I have to check out that book for a book club, can't you just check it out to me." - said on the phone by a patron who hadn't returned a book, owed money and sent her son in with her card and the card was expired. Work with me here people. I can't help you unless you help yourself! I've been to school and I am not writing your paper for you or reading your book for you either.

We're reference librarians, not superheroes.
Add in the smelly people, the angry people and the insane and you have last week.

Summer continues....

Mom speaks: Story time was much better in the big room. I did cat stories (my favorite subject?!) and I read a particularly awesome one called Splat the Cat. I just love that author/illustrator Rob Scotton (sp). His pictures are so fluffy. He's got a series about a sheep named Russell which is where I first encountered. I also found out he's got a Splat book that is a valentine story. It is sooooo sweet, I just love it. I wish I was going to be here next week when Miss Sheila does hat stories. I've got some great hats like this bunny one with log wrap around ears. But I'm going to California on Tuesday for my step-daughter's high school graduation (don't tell Lily, she hates it when we leave town).

Our first performer went great here on Thursday. One lady was mad about not having tickets to the event or even knowing you needed tickets for the event, but whatever. Every year I serve as ticket taker and usually get yelled at some point during the summer. Standby people always get in and I try to tell people that but they didn't want to wait to see if there is room and accuse us of having "secret rules" because it wasn't in the program that you needed tickets. It is posted on all the flyers around here and online. At least the angry lady just yelled at me and gave me the "I hope you die" look as she left. No biggie. I was as nice as possible so that's all you can do I guess.

Lily: That Splat looks alot like me. Except I am prettier. Going to where?

Summer Mondays

Mom speaks: Wow, every year I forget about Mondays in the summer. It's the most frightening thing. I started on a summer Monday and I remember thinking as the people poured into the library that I may have made a mistake in becoming a librarian. I no longer feel that way but yesterday was the typical Monday. I counted about 130 people (and I think I missed the two daycare groups) in the library at 2 p.m., an hour after we'd opened. I bet we had more people than any library in the city (except, perhaps Central). The phone also rang and rang and rang. I can't even remember how many people we signed up for summer reading. Today was fun because it was Teen Tuesday @ 2 with Wii video games and Guitar Hero on the Playstation. Unfortunately since we had early voting I had to use the small meeting room which was rather loud. I heard one of the kids playing Super Smash Bros. Brawl say the funniest thing: "Dude, you got schooled by Pikachu!" I can't wait for tomorrow when I get to do story time in the big room!

Lily: What's a pikachu? Are they tasty?

Summer starts with a bang

Mom speaks: Blood, angry patrons and movies that don't get released on time so now my flyers wrong. Yes it's starting out to be a typical summer! The best summer ever! I will give colorful updates folks as the summer marches on. More madness mayhem and broken computer printout change machines. It's all part of the thrill that comes with being a public librarian. The glamour, the riches, the prozac! Stay tuned!

Lily: You silly humans always getting upset over things. I just don't get it. Eat some tuna, you'll feel so much better!

Unruly preschoolers

Mom speaks: Well I had my first official story time as a candidate to become a Children's librarian yesterday. I've done story time before but this time I am trying out to see if I really want to be a children's librarian and not a teen librarian. Yesterday was rather challenging as I had about 35 people crammed into a very small room. The first two stories went alright but by the third the natives were restless and wandering, like trying to herd cats*. Maybe the Hokey Pokey wound them up or everyone gave their child a Red Bull before coming in...I don't know. Two kids were crying, one was screaming and one enterprising young lady found wrist bells and was shaking them behind me as I was trying to read Wombat Walkabout. This is the same girl who tried to sit in my seat twice the minute I stood up to turn on the Hokey Pokey. So I just said "I give up, let's dance some more to Shimmy Shake." This was greeted by cheers all around. I have a very high tolerance for children screaming and wandering around. I mean I deal with teens. So it doesn't really phase me, but I want to know if parents ever discipline their children. My mom would have pulled me out of there so fast if I was taking the story lady's chair and shaking her bells while she was trying to read.

* Lily's note: Cat herding is possible if you want to drive them toward tuna or perhaps delicious chicken.