Programs, Parties, and Pleasing Patrons in Five Easy Steps

Dear Libraries,
August is an interesting month in the library. Kids are getting ready for school to start again, the heat is still raging (..questionable in Northeastern Ohio..), and at my library, my boss goes on vacation for a couple of weeks. As a result, a lot more responsibilities have fallen to me to make sure that things keep rolling for our upcoming programs. Last night we had our August event for our regular concert night program put on in conjunction with the nearby music institute, which also happened to be the first program I fully coordinated on my own. Granted, there was a substantial safety net involved in putting together a recurring program, and I had a lot of help from the leader of the chamber group who performed, but I did get a chance to see what it would be like to build a program from the ground up on my own. As a result, I learned some things. Probably.

1. A library program is like a fun themed party. This might be a difficult one to understand for those who

Especially if you invite Ron Swanson. and not Tammy II.

aren't stalwart ENFPs like I am, but throwing parties is one of my favorite things to do, and I've found that if you're doing it right, putting together a program shouldn't be too different from hosting a gathering of your 20-50 closest friends. You secure your entertainer/DJ/speaker ahead of time, you get the word out in whatever way you can, you rearrange your furniture to better accommodate your guests, and when the time comes, a good host knows how to both kick off the shindig by welcoming the guests and pointing out highlights and ensure success by taking a step back and letting the event run its course.

2. Those all-nighters in college really kind of did pay off. In school I was always that I-work-best-under-pressure asshole who procrastinated my assignments until the last minute then churned them out in a desperate, manic, academic fit of rage. Maybe my work wasn't as spotless as it could have been given an extra day or two to revise, but I always did just well enough on my assignments to never really learn my lesson. Well, it turns out, when your work is putting on a program, the "oh fuck it I'll just take the late grade" route really isn't an option--so when I realized 45 minutes before the concert that I hadn't put together a program yet, I had to unleash the ProcrastiMaster in a blaze of glory not seen since I graduated. It wasn't pretty, but I got the job done.

Maybe I'd love my calendar more if there were
 a puppy involved.

3. Then I learned to triple-check my task calendar so something like that won't happen again. The calendar is sacred. Treat it right, and all will be yours.

4. As with most tasks in the workplace, being able to work well with others is crucial to success. Return phone calls. Email promptly with requests. Always be courteous. Give people plenty of time to get back to you. Don't be afraid to send a gentle reminder if they don't. These are things which should seem obvious, but can be hard to keep track of when you're just a part-time employee. This brings us back to #3. Respect the sanctity of the calendar, or else.

5. Much like a well-planned party again, a well-executed program is a really rewarding experience. I can't claim credit for the excellence of the program, as the really hard work was put in by our musicians to deliver a flawless performance, but the fact that it went off without a hitch (ultimately) and attracted a large crowd is certainly a point of pride. And, like a party, a program is always that much more enjoyable when you see others having a good time. That warm fuzzy proud feeling that comes from sharing a pleasant experience with others and knowing you helped make it happen is one of my favorite feelings. Better than puppies holding calendars. Maybe.

It's been a while since I've written, and I am ashamed about that. I've been lucky enough to be working in reference in a public library for the past six months, and I do have a lot to say about that. One of the greatest things about this job though is that it has given me a great excuse to read books constantly. I pull books off the shelf as compulsively as a klepto in a K-Mart because I CAN and they're freaking FREE. Aren't libraries awesome? Going there regularly has seriously improved my quality of life, no joke.

All this reading has been seriously tempting my inner lit major, so much so that when I tried to write an email to a coworker today about a cool link I found relating to Game of Thrones, I wound up just writing an essay on the relationship of a reader/viewer/consumer to modern media. Not ready to come off as a total crazed lunatic, I had to admit to myself that what I had written was not an email but a blog post. So, as much as I would like to talk about libraries in my revival post, literature is on the brain so that's what's coming first. here we go. I'm assuming some familiarity of both the ASOIAF/GOT series and Arrested Development, though it will probably still make sense even if you're not familiar with either.

A Tale of Three Jobs

Dear Libraries,
Lord have mercy, it's been an eventful month. Basically, for the past four weeks, this has been my brain:

As you probably know by now because, let's face it, if you read my blog you're my friend on facebook, a couple of weeks ago I finally got my first official job offer from a public library. And since Tuesday, I have officially become an Adult Services Associate (thank goodness for friends outside the library world who pointed out the wealth of crude jokes this job title precipitates. I'm slightly ashamed I didn't catch it first--have I already let the library hivemind take over???). It's thrilling, it's wonderful, I've only worked three days and already feel so much more fulfilled. I get paid to explore databases and help people find books. I was born to do this and couldn't be happier.

I also could not be more exhausted.

You see, starting this job so soon has resulted in a weird circumstance I never really expected: I currently hold three jobs. One of which is finally winding down after an accidental seven-month internship, the other will end once the new year rolls around. I've got hours out my ears and it's a really really good thing I like all my jobs (come on, who doesn't want to get paid to help kids build ginger bread houses?) because otherwise I'd probably be a pretty depressed human. But I LOVE what I do, everywhere I do it, and for that I am super thankful--the sting of working 50+ hours/week with no overtime is pretty thoroughly cushioned by the fact that I can come to each job (often one after another) with fresh enthusiasm. Honestly, I never knew I could be so perky for so many hours in a row.

Gotta embrace it.

Plus, yesterday, I got to witness two six-year-olds doing the dance to Gangnam Style. Yeah, life is good.

Anyway, libraries, I can't wait to tell you all about my adventures in libraryland. Public libraries is a new realm for me, so...things are probably about to get a little strange. and that is AOK with me.

Love,
Maggie

How a golden retriever is like a fluffy librarian

Dear Libraries,
You know you're my number one, but I figured it was time to tell you about the one girl who will always be queen of my heart: Shelby.

She's just so fragile and delicate

 I've been missing home a lot lately, probably all the more since my current job situation has me unsure when I'll actually be able to go back for a visit. Nothing makes me more weepy though than when I think about how much I miss my baby girl, AKA The Princess, Dumb Blonde, or Sweet Shelbs. This dog is perfect in the way that only the rose-colored glasses of absolute devotion can make a dog seem. My family got her when I was a senior in high school in an attempt to heal our broken hearts after we lost our previous dog, Missy (who, by the way, was also the perfect dog in a completely different way). Needless to say, being a senior in high school, I didn't have much to do other than spend as much time as possible with the adorable new puppy. I helped train her (and have continued to), took her for hikes and out to the dog park as often as possible, and snuggled her to sleep at night. She lives with my parents and always will, but I don't think anyone in my family would deny that she's still my dog. She has the most expressive face, and I swear to god when we have conversations I can hear what she's saying back to me.

Who could resist a face like this?!

Here's where it gets relevant: To me, Shelby represents everything I want to be in my professional life. And in my life in general. She's bright, energetic, and, more than making people feel welcome, she makes people feel like they are the only human in the whole wide world who matters. Particularly if you already identify as a dog person, Shelby will win you over with a few overenergetic wags of her tail as she slaps her butt into your legs and when she collapses to give you instant access to her belly. She approaches every day with a fresh supply of enthusiasm and joy, and nothing can ever keep her down for long. It's this unsinkable attitude that never ceases to amaze and inspire me. It's my goal to bring even have as much passion to my work as Shelby brings to every day and every new encounter. In many ways, she's exactly what a modern librarian should be; it's certainly true that the profession faces many difficulties, but the best librarians I've encountered choose to focus on the positive aspects of the field, and they bring fresh buckets of enthusiasm to their daily work.

So this is my tribute to the dog who has shown me exactly who I want to be and how I want to approach every day: joyfully, with a heart full of love and an ability to give some to everyone I meet. Compassion and understanding are two of the most important skills a librarian can have. Everyone is welcome in a library, just as everyone is welcome in Shelby's heart. Particularly if you rub her belly.

The world could use more fluffy librarians

Now to convince the world that dogs should be in libraries every day.

Love,
Maggie

Of Hurricanes and Creating Change

Dear Libraries,
Well, the past week has certainly been one of the more eventful weeks of my life up til this point. I apologize for taking so long since I last wrote, but the Real World has been up in my face like a nearsighted optometrist lately. Between job and grad school apps, trying to keep up with reading, traveling for work and Hurricane Sandy followed by Hurricane Kathy (undoubtedly the latter, a mom-driven craft storm, was much more enjoyable)..there hasn't been much left over. The good news is that a large portion of the time I haven't been writing has still been devoted to bettering myself in your name.

My hero.

I have to say, my favorite part about my current job (read: indefinite internship a la April Ludgate) is when the opportunity arises to go on a library visit or five. Northern Ohio is positively teeming with libraries. Seriously, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting a library or librarian up here. And with great numbers comes great potential-and great cost, as I discussed in my previous letter on the Techlift. Still in all, librarians are exceptionally adept at making the most of a miniscule budget, and getting to see firsthand some of the astoundingly creative solutions to budgetary issues has been inspiring. One of my favorites: in response to the exorbitant cost of the much-coveted AWE systems, one Ohio tech services librarian crafted a kid-friendly webpage that aggregates free educational web games for kids to access. Other libraries have stepped up their outreach programs, especially in areas where school libraries had to be eliminated due to funding; librarians fortify travel to their local schools to share a storytime with the kids or teach them valuable research skills. Getting to witness such innovation firsthand and to discuss it with the librarians working to make things happen has been amazing, and this internship has certainly enabled me to do things and forge a certain relationship with libraries I would not have been able to otherwise.

Being on the other side of the grant process has also been more difficult than I ever could have imagined. Since my last post, I have had to comb carefully through over a dozen entries and figure out how to recommend any library over the others when I could see a dire need present everywhere. I wanted every library to win, and every one had such a unique vision and drive to serve its patrons that it's hard not to feel like the bad guy for having to choose just one. I got to make the call to the winning library once a decision had been made, which was wonderful and gratifying...for five whole minutes, until I had to call and email the other libraries and deliver the bad news.

On the bright side, the fun part has just begun. Now we get to actually work with one very deserving library, and I could not be more thrilled or committed to the process. I am so honored and exited for the opportunity to help a library realize a vision to improve its services to the young.

The more I encounter and learn about modern libraries and their efforts today, the more excited I become about the possibilities. I've made the decision to apply for grad schools next fall because I honestly cannot wait to get going in my career and I am so stoked to learn as much as I can to prepare myself for the world of real librarianship. I do struggle when I try to pin down exactly what it is I want to do because I want to do everything--I want to inspire children, I want to enable the public as lifelong learners, I want to go out and spread the word of all that a library can offer, I want to facilitate access to information and I want to bring cool gadgets to those who might not be able to afford them. There are so many things I want to do and so little time...I'll just have to have faith that I'll end up doing what I need to do. At least I know where I stand now, doing whatever I can to get my foot in the door. I love you so much, Libraries, that I will do whatever it takes to get some experience and I will love it and ask for more. I will shelve all the books or eat all the ramen, and I will happily work 2-3 jobs to survive if at least one of them is doing something that feels to me like I'm making a real difference. You may be struggling to get by, but we'll be in it together. As long as you keep coming up with creative ways to make ends meet, I will too. I promise.

The fun has only just begun.

Always,
Maggie

In which she faces harsh realities

Dear Libraries,
I've had the pleasure of working for a software distribution company this summer and on as a sort of library liaison-consultant person, and this position has allowed me to learn so much about libraries and working with them rather than in them. It's been (and continues to be) a great experience, and I'm lucky to have bosses that care about libraries too and understand how badly I want to get into a public library. By far and away the best part about this job though is the Techlift.

As soon as my bosses pitched the idea of a large library giveaway focused on providing technology for a children's center in a needy library, I was in love. The project quickly became my baby, so much so that my company agreed to keep me on past the end of my summer internship to see it through. I researched, drafted guidelines, pored over legal documents to make sure I understood how giveaways and contests worked. I emailed every Ohio librarian whose contact info I could find to let them know about the giveaway. I gratefully absorbed our entries and organized them lovingly. If I couldn't work in a library just yet, I still felt blessed to be able to do something good that has the potential to change a library so much for the better. The giveaway has just closed for entries, and if I have learned anything from the process so far, it's that wow, libraries, you have so many ideas and so little funding to make them happen.

The first entry we received was so exciting. It felt like such a validation of my hard work, that someone agreed to share their story with us and put the time in to take a chance on the possibility of winning new technology for their kids. It was heartwarming and inspiring. And then the entries kept on coming. I read more and more stories of struggling libraries with huge visions and big plans that would greatly improve the lives and access of their youngest patrons and I was so moved. More than that though, I've become extremely troubled by the fact that we're supposed to pick just one library as the most deserving, the most able to make an impact in its community with the giveaway. I want everyone to have their dream fulfilled. I'm still not sure how we're going to decide.

Most importantly, this experience has had a profound impact on my own vision for the future of libraries. Up until this point, cloistered in my own experience separate from the real decision-makers and those who truly see the Big Picture of public libraries, I've been able to focus on the infinitum of possibilities: every new development, every cool and engaging program has been mine to cherish and adore. But not every thing is possible for every library. I do not pretend to understand the intricacies of funding, but I do understand that it is shrinking. More library projects must be supported by individual fundraising efforts; federal funding is a joke, state funding is scarce and local funding has more pressing issues to deal with (the ALA has some excellent studies on public library funding and use, if you're not aware). And yet patron demand keeps on rising. I've scoured countless reports, and the consensus is always that even as the recession hits the hardest and library funding suffers the most, library usage rises continually. Libraries are where people go when they can no longer afford to keep up with the rising costs associated with the ability to access information for themselves. And the access to information is the key to self-improvement; without free access, those with the drive but without the means fall behind and become unable to find a job, to further their education, to communicate with peers and reap the benefits that social media has to offer.

I want to thank each and every library who took the time to enter in the giveaway, on a personal level. While every additional entry broke my heart all the more with the knowledge that we can only allot the prize to one winner, every entry also solidified my personal drive to go out and seek the answers necessary to shape the future of free and equal access. Public libraries are doing the best they can, but quite frankly, the model that exists now has many difficulties keeping up with technology that constantly changes and grows. A radical change is probably necessary in order to fully realize the potential a public library has to offer its community. But ask anyone who knows me well--solving puzzles is my favorite task, and I often confront great problems as issues to be untangled in an often creative way. And I am more than committed to applying myself to the Great Puzzle that is the library conundrum. Stay tuned, Libraries. Great things to come.

Faithfully,
Maggie

Pop Culture Series #1: In which the library saves Hogwarts

Such treasures as the library holds

"A warning: If you rip, tear, shred, bend, fold, deface, disfigure, smear, smudge, throw, drop, or in any other manner damage, mistreat, or show lack of respect towards this book, the consequences will be as awful as it is within my power to make them."
-Madam Pince

Dear Libraries,
It is a true testament to your awesome glory that you appear almost casually in every corner of pop culture. You're considered such a standard, a constant, that oftentimes your appearance is incidental and ostensibly not even noteworthy. You never fail to do great things, however, and inevitably you aid our protagonist on his or her search for knowledge (and consequently, power. it is commonly known that knowledge = power. this is what makes Dumbledore "the man"). As a tribute to the good you do in the ongoing battle against the forces of evil, I am proud to introduce my Libraries in Pop Culture series. First stop: Hogwarts.

Now, the Hogwarts library plays an interesting role in the Harry Potter series as it comes across as an almost forbidding place; however, the series does a remarkable job of illustrating several important principles of librarianship, including professionalism, access, and censorship. First off, it seems that the only person who enjoys spending any amount of time there would be Hermione--not even Madam Pince seems happy to be there, though she hardly seems happy to be anywhere, save close to Filch. This is another thing that ruffles me a little, that the only librarian represented in the series is austere, forbidding, and obsessively protective of any and all books. She seems to miss the memo that libraries should be an accepting place, for on many occasions she can be seen chasing students out of the library for food policy violations, and even once sent Harry out just for loitering near the restricted section. Her knowledge of books and reference ability is vast, but her aggressive attitude towards the students deters them from seeking her advice all too often. Hardly your model school librarian. (Note: Rowling did actually apologize for Pince's demeanor at a press conference once: "I would like to apologize for you and any other librarians present here today and my get-out clause is always if they'd had a pleasant, helpful librarian, half my plots would be gone. 'Cause the answer invariably is in a book but Hermione has to go and find it. If they'd had a good librarian, that would have been that problem solved. So ... sorry.")

Bookshelf porn at its finest

Hermione, on the other hand, touts the library's advantages at nearly every turn as the driving force behind the kids' research team, and she is arguably the most librarian-like in the series. As Ron quips in Chamber of Secrets when she rushes off to the library, "Because that's what Hermione does...when in doubt, go to the library." (Ch 14) At times her message gets a little lost under the insufferable know-it-all attitude, but no one can deny that if you need answers, Hermione is the one to have them, or better yet, to know which books to look in to find them. The exception is in the first book, as the gang undergoes their first research project; having gotten the tipoff from Hagrid, resident blabbermouth, that the dark events surrounding the castle have some relation to a mysterious dude named Nicholas Flamel, the kids spend hours in the library trying to discover who he is. The library, however, bears no mention of him, and the only clue Harry, Hermione and Ron get comes in fact on a chocolate frog card. (I've often wondered what the cataloging system at the Hogwarts library is like. It seems unbelievable that if a man were famous enough to get his own chocolate frog card, there wouldn't be at least a book or two on him or his work. Or at the very least a periodical somewhere. Perhaps further proof that Hogwarts should reconsider its library staff.)

Ah, youthful delinquincy

The Restricted Section poses some interesting questions for librarianship in the wizarding world as well. This special area of the library perhaps provides a thoughtful solution to book challenges (pertinent in light of the recent Banned Books Week) in that it houses books that are quite literally dangerous--many contain information about the dark arts, and one even seems to have a carnivorous appetite. Rather than simply choosing not to shelve the books of questionable content, however, the Hogwarts library decided to create a Restricted Section which more advanced students may access with the permission of a professor. The "danger" of certain books is transformed into an extremely literal manifestation in the series, evidenced by Tom Riddle's voracious consumption of the dark books and subsequent rise as Lord Voldemort. And yet the library does not remove the questionable content, nor is there even any discussion of the matter that we can see. Having been questioned and censored herself, there is no doubt that Rowling is aware of the power of concerned parents (and concerned parents do play a role in Hogwarts politics now and again). But regardless, the dangerous books continue to inhabit the Hogwarts library, and I believe this paints the wizarding school as a space where intellectual freedom and access are embraced, with certain caveats. I don't think I would lend a book on horcruxes to an eleven-year-old, either.

There's also a curious element of censorship present in the books as relating to Voldemort. This particular species appears as something resembling self-censorship in that only two people will even speak the name of the brutal snake-man, even after he's presumed deceased. Voldemort's greatest achievement is the culture of fear he succeeds in building around himself, and this lends him considerable power. As Dumbledore notes at the end of the first book, "Fear of the name increases fear of the thing itself" (SS Ch 17). The wizarding world's refusal to speak the name of the vanquished unholy terror allows him to linger as a terrifying presence for over ten years. The self-imposed censorship also allows him to institute the Taboo when he seizes power that essentially targets Harry as the only wizard unafraid to speak his name, endangering the wizarding world's only hope for deliverance. Indeed, censorship is a dangerous thing--even more so when a community chooses it for itself.

All in all, the wizarding world, as in most cases, provides a very interesting take on the world of libraries and the issues that librarians must face daily. Important to note is the fact that technology is simply impossible in the world of magic, so students at Hogwarts will never have access to an online catalog, and poor Madam Pince will never be able to keep up with current librarianship blogs. Maybe we should cut her some slack. Still and all, the library at Hogwarts proves an excellent resource for those clever enough to use it (Hermione does manage to discover the  secret of the basilisk, even if her timing is poor). As Dumbledore in all his ancient wisdom says, "Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it" (COS Ch 14). Just, maybe you should consider asking Hermione rather than Madam Pince.

What I wouldn't give to get my hands on some of those books in Hogwarts, Libraries. Until the next.

Love,
Maggie

P.S. Since I write a lot on my phone during my lunch break at work, my writing often falls prey to the whimsy of autocorrect. There's only so many times I can see the words "poop culture" without giggling helplessly and needing to share. I'm sorry, Libraries, I had to...I'm only human.
P.P.S. I was, however, delighted to learn that "Hogwarts" causes autocorrect no problems. Suggestions for "Voldemort," however, include: "chokeberry," "virginity," "filthier," "homebuyer," "humanity," and "bookseller." Ponder those, if you will.
P.P.P.S. big thanks to Red for being my own angel of reference re: HP. makes my job easier!

Sources:
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/pince.html
http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Irma_Pince
http://www.hp-lexicon.org/images/covers/qa-cover.jpg
http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20091108174610/harrypotter/images/b/b3/Library2.JPG
http://lowres-picturecabinet.com.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/57/main/1/198541.jpg