Thursday, June 29, 2006

Workdays, Birthdays, and Meetings

This summer our institution is doing something different to help offset the crunch of needing to do work on campus but no money to do it. Every Tuesday is a workday and folks in all departments pitch in to help where needed. As a reward, we get a cookout, about every 2 weeks and a free half day off after lunch! WOO-HOO! So this week ‘we-3’ ladies that are here during the morning hours worked in our ‘back room.’ We have a back room that used to be all storage. But due to a storm last year (see June 05 posts and following) we now have a refurbished room divided into a periodical room (60% of the original area) and storage room (about 40%). So, we were repacking, condensing and moving boxes out to the periodical room so we can re-arrange our new storage area. We are far from finished, but probably got about 1/3 of it done; maybe more. We could all ‘feel’ it the next day but it was a good feeling to get a lot accomplished.

Monday is the b’day of LL, our new circulation clerk. But in order to celebrate when the most people were here, we celebrated today at lunch. We signed and gave her a hand crafted card. I made her a purse out of a book cover (Voiceless Lips). It was purple with gold lettering so I used gold ribbon. For the material on the ends I found a nice piece that had books (I think) and clocks that included purple and gold in the colors. It looked pretty classy, if I do say so myself. They ARE fun to make and give.

This afternoon was the monthly meeting of our consortium council. I have been able to start going again. I don’t know when school starts what will happen – there seems to be conflicts during the school year. Our new courier service starts next week. I’m still not convinced we should be doing this. I think we are losing a lot to use a different service then what we were using. One reason given for going with SCS then KCM was: folks had been asked at conventions, etc. why we didn’t have our own courier service. We have had a metro-wide service in place that serves all the libraries in the area not just our own. They also offer workshops, and staff training with certificates. So now we are using SCS so we can say we have our own. But what I don’t understand is we are contracting the services of SCS, just as we were contracting the services of KCM. It still is not our courier service. We didn’t hire the drivers or buy the vans. We still have contacted with an outside vendor. ??? So what have we gained? Nothing. Doesn’t make sense to me. But this will be a pilot project that we are going to try. So we will just have to see how it turns out.

I had my annual evaluation last week. I hate giving them to my staff because I hate getting them. But I will have to say – it is rather painless here. It is a different process then I have ever seen. You evaluate yourself, filling out a form. Then you discuss points that are of interest to the supervisor. I am not one who can think ‘on my feet’. But this year I did ask for their opinion as to what their thoughts were regarding evaluating my work this past year. Fortunately it was favorable, and kind when talking of areas needing work on. So guess I’m good for another year. :-) A goal for next year? Less wordy reports!!! JC likes to get to the point!

This has nothing to do with libraries - but I'll have to tell about this!! My friend, BH has gotten me interested in "beading" - but I prefer to make my own beads from sculpy clay when I can. So we got together yesturday (28th) to 'bead.' BH made a panfull of beads, and put them in the oven to bake. I told her what temp and how long. When the timer went off she went in the kitchen to get them and they were all burnt black as can be!!!! She forgot that her stove temperature digital readout starts at 300. I had told her 275. So she bumped it up 75 more degrees, forgoting that she was starting at 300, not 200! So now she has a nice and varied set of black beads!!! We also learned that if you are out of black - doesn't matter. Make them in any color you want and just over bake them and you will have black. She had done some beautiful flowers with 3 leaves. Even black they were gorgeous. I told her she would just have to think of them as being carved out of alabaster!! I don't think she was convinced! Oh well - live and learn!!! It was still fun.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

netLibrary

We are finally getting on the band wagon. We have signed up for the first time with netLibrary through the CLC consortium that we are with. We will be getting about 400 ebooks. That is equal to almost a full year's worth of book purchases. We vary from 400 to 550 books a year in what we purchase. This will be a great boost in what we have available.

I just came back to work Monday from the ACL conference. While I was there learned what it was all about. So I was able to get it approved and signed up with it before the June 21st deadline.

These books are from the "B" section in the LC classification system. This means they are all on philosophy-psychology-religion. The topics range from commentaries, ethics, sects (groups, e.g.Mennonites, Presbyterian, Wesleyan...), and doctrine.

It will be exciting to see what the students think when they come back in the fall!

Monday, June 19, 2006

Memories from the Conference

“Celebrating the Past, Racing into the Future” (theme)

• “Cross of the Crossroads” cross “sculpture” at Effingham, Indiana
• Dropping keys down the elevator shaft
• Beautiful Campus
• Lotta walking
• Blisters from new shoes
• Lotta sitting
• 400 pictures of Greece, plus pictures of Ireland and Bulgaria
• McConn & Co. coffee shop
• The Marlins Concert
• WM and a friend dancing in the aisle
• Celebrating 50 years of ACL
• Remembering Barbara Nelson
o Volunteer of the Year
o Signature Bear
o Video taped greetings to her
• Black marble rotating globe in the library lobby
• Learning a new game: Apples to Apples
• Ice Cream Social
• Match box cars for the banquet table decorations
• 11 hours of driving one way
• Sculpture of Christ, laying over a rock, “Christ in Gethsemane” in chapel
• Learning about NetLibrary for the first time.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Another Conference goes down in history

I returned home last night at 6 pm after 11 hours of driving, somewhat tired but at the same time rather exhilierated with all the new information I have picked up to -hopefully- improve my job performance, ah hem, I mean to improve the services and effectiveness of our library at CBCTS. (that was a long sentence, sorry!) There was a time change that I didn't remember about, when driving up. So I got up at 5:00 yesturday morning, my time. I was surprised I could, given the late nights all week and knowing how I'm not a morning person. But I suppose that when you don't have anyone else to help you and getting going is all up to you, it must motivate to some extent.

I listened to "The Purpose Driven Life" on tape coming and going. So that was some further edification and encouragement. (It also help pass the time.) I do recommend you read it. I know it has been very popular. Sometimes when something is extremely popular like that one has been, I have too much expectations out of it. So I decided not to expect anything out of it. Guess that's a better approach, cause then when you do get something that helps, it's a bonus not to mention a blessing.

My trip over took 10.5 hours on Monday from KC. That doesn't include the 1.5 hours the night before from my home to kc. So if you put that altogether it would be 12 hours. But on the way to the conference, I stopped at an airport and picked up SP, former president, and JJ (pronounced JY). :-) So that was a slight delay but it was right on my way, and gave us a chance to get acquainted as well. It made the latter part of the trip more enjoyable. And besides, SP got to be my navigator the last part of the trip that was a little more complicated. I had driven the same interstate from KC to their airport - so that was easy! From there, there were some turns and different routes to watch for. We had a good visit.

It was wonderful to see old friends, make new friends and put faces with names you see all year on the listserv. I got to see CG's new engagement ring!! (woo-hoo!) But more importantly (?) I got to attend several workshops of interest. I learned a new game (Apples to Apples), and had Ice Cream at the Ice Cream social, but didn't get to go to Ivanhoe's for IC, (an ACL tradition).

The campus of IWU is GORGEOUS! It's a nice large campus, all rather new to still-in-the-making new buildings; it has fountains and sculptures. The inside hallway of the student center makes you think you're in the mall!

Already I can't wait for next year. It will be at CU in GR. I'll probably drive, since I drove up there last year, but it does take a day and a half - or a very long day. I made a friend with someone who does genealogy and from the same city I work in and found out that she was going to FW Friday. I could kick myself for not remembering I would be so close. I have "always" wanted to go there. So guess what! I'll do it next year! We may even go together. Boy that will be fun!

Well, later I may list some things I learned about along with some links. But all my information is at work and not at home. So I can't do it now. The workshops I attended were on:
  • Collection Development, (how to use approval plans),
  • Information Literacy (2),
  • Archetecture (interesting but not so helpful for me),
  • Helping church libraries.

  • I did talk to a couple of vendors about approval plans. One vendor sets up a profile and sends you books (if I remember right), another sets up a list on the web that you choose from, according to a profile. That one seems most feasible. Then they don't have the cost of sending books to you and you sending them back if you don't want them.

    Net Library is also something new for me. But I think we are going to sign up for one. The cost would come out to about an average of $2 a book for over 250 books. The savings would be huge! I just need to look over the list when I get back to work to see if they are really something we could use. This will be something different for us. But as small as we are, if we can swing the price it would be saving money in the long run.

    Well, time to get back to my catching up at home. My dogs were sure glad to see me, maybe more than the people! :-) We had some play time last night and snuggle time; today we all went on a walk! They're happy now. And, so am I!

    Friday, June 02, 2006

    What my hobbies taught me about librarianship:

    1. Be accepting of interruptions.
    2. Be creative – think outside the box.
    3. Be organized.
    4. Be willing to try something different.
    5. Continually read and research.
    6. Document – ideas, decisions, sources.
    7. Don’t be in a hurry; patience gets the best results.
    8. Get rid of excess or unused items (give, sell or throw away.).
    9. Give it your full attention.
    10. Keep track of your inventory.
    11. Listen to what someone is telling you.
    12. Look in unexpected places for tools, ideas and help.
    13. Pace yourself.
    14. Read the instructions the first time.
    15. Respect someone else’s property/materials.
    16. See what ideas and thoughts others may have.
    17. Share your ideas with others.
    18. Teach others what you have learned.
    19. Use the best materials.

    20. Most of all – Enjoy yourself!


    In other words:

    1. Interruptions are part of life; you’re work will still be there.
    2. How can you do this differently than what someone else has done?
    3. Organization makes the work more efficient.
    4. Don’t get stuck in a rut.
    5. Buy all the latest books on technique, etc.
    6. When you do something new, make a new decision; write down the process and rationale behind it.
    7. When focusing on my projects, the hours fly by. So can work.
    8. Deadwood takes up space, time and energy.
    9. I get so absorbed that everything around me gets shut out, ignored; I’m unaware.
    10. You’ll buy duplicates or lose track of what you have if you don’t.
    11. Value the person in front of you; don’t daydream.
    12. e.g.: miniature cookie cutters in cake decorating for polymer clay!
    13. It’s easy to get in over your head.
    14. How much time do I waste when I don’t read the directions first?
    15. Cite your sources; ask to borrow.
    16. Scrapbooking Parties/Library Conferences…
    17. Back to those “swap meets” again.
    18. Share and pass on what you have learned, to other people. Don’t be stingy.
    19. Cheap materials are a waste of money in the long run.

    20. Most of all – Enjoy yourself!

    Thursday, June 01, 2006

    "Delivered to Heaven"

    "Fast Forward"

    I belong to an organization for Christian librarians. Recently we all learned of the return of illness to one of our friends and co-librarian, BN. She has been moved to a hospice and holding up well, overall. She knows that her final destination is secured through her faith and relationship with Jesus Christ. It's just the "in the mean time" period that is hard.

    In thinking about the pains we experience with the end of life, on this earth, the similarities of being born onto this earth, and being "born" into heaven when we die was inspiration for the following. It is an amateur's attempt, but hopefully the point will be understood.



    "Delivered to Heaven"

    What a wonderful day when Jesus I’ll see
    When to heaven I’m ‘birthed;’ delivered, and free.
    Loosed from earth’s bonds, unfettered at last
    Eyes looking forward, forgetting the past.

    Death pains are only the labors of birth,
    E'en passing through Waters when leaving this earth.
    My Father will greet me and welcome me there.
    He’ll wrap me and hold me with warm tender care.

    I’ll put Jesus’ face to that wonderful voice.
    I’ll breath in new air; I’ll cry and rejoice.
    I’ll drink from the fountain refreshing and clear.
    Surrounded I’ll be by family so dear.

    He'll show me my home prepared there for me.
    With Jesus I’ll live for eternity.
    The saints will rejoice when to heav’n I’m borne.
    By angels I’m carried on that wonderful morn.

    The dark of earth's "womb" will stay in the past.
    The “Light of the World” I’ll bask in, at last.
    For finally I’ll reach my heavenly home
    Forever to be and no more to roam.

    Chorus:
    That wonderful day - my birthday twill be
    Real life will begin forever for me.
    That wonderful day - my birthday twill be
    Real life will begin for eternity.

    Suzanne Guinn
    1 June 2006