Professional Pragmatic Appearance

Small library. OK – lilliputian library.

Circulation, processing, director’s office, assistant’s office – all in one area 120″x100″. ????????

My current dilemma is how to remain on the floor, keep my dynamic the same, convince people we can take on the world, get the shelves back to being neat and orderly, get item records matching every item, and color code for volunteers to really step up to fill the gaps – and – find a pragmatic, professional looking area that meets these needs. If my appearance is one of absolute organization, they’ll lay off telling me I need help and can’t get things done. (Cleaning ladies are mentioned a little too frequently…)

Yeah right. I am bringing my graph paper to a wedding this afternoon because I can think of nothing else. And, I want the 1950’s metal desk from the upstairs like a child wants a state fair prize. Wish me luck and let me know if there is an organization guru who can think around corners. Maybe I need to call in the designers of RVs and ice fishing shanties.

It’s a desk, it’s a table, it’s a gaming pod – it’s OUR office!

 

Yes folks – there are still books in the library (shocker…)

I had the chance to listen to Nancy Pearl speak last evening about Libraries.  Did she speak about privacy issues, web 2.0, cataloging, gaming???  No.  Nancy spoke about Books and Reading.  Wow.  We re still allowed to celebrate our paper-based heritage!  Who knew?  I also shiver when people come in  with their children and talk about how they don’t read.  How their kids don’t read.  How great it is we offer DVDs so they can use the library too.  EWWWW.  But that is my elitist point of view and who am I (just a liberrian)???

So thank you Nancy Pearl.  For stating reading is good (and sometimes perilous), for telling us it is what freed you as a child (me too!), and for making us all laugh very VERY hard.

 

Politics with a capital or lower case p…

So – Friends/Board/Staff. All love the library. All want to be involved. But only one person can efficiently run the place. (Right people, right seat, right bus…)

So – what to do when everyone has an idea, everyone has a vision? Chain of Command is important here because otherwise we simply run in circles. (Here’s a vision for you – little shelf elves with their curved toes nailed to a floor…)

So – how to take control out of desperation – and maintain a level of professionalism? Caveat – you serve 6500 people and a tug of war can get bloody FAST…

I think little sister needs to stand up and make everyone go to their rooms for a while…

 

Patience, my friend…

Yesterday I began with the knowledge that a potential negative storm was brewing over the library steeple.  This was followed by an irritating experience with “free” services offered to the public as though we are social services.  Finally, I was tied with yarn and allowed to drag it through the building, knocking over things near Mike’s desk.

Good news?  The storm should dissipate, I check-mated my social service pal, and did not kill the child.  I am quite proud of my service to the community yesterday.  Tonight is teen game night – let’s hope its boring…

As an aside: Does beautiful mean refraining from murder?  He is one of my favorites either way…