The Code

I found this a few weeks ago on The Merry Librarian and wanted to share it because I think it about sums out the unwritten job description of a public librarian. 

“I declare myself a Librarian, and swear myself to this Sacred Code. I acknowledge that I am but a humble servant of society, and forfeit my identity and rights as an individual. I willingly lay down my right to personal space. I accept that I shall henceforth be a surrogate mother to all patrons: I shall clean up their messes, their puke, their children’s puke, and re-shelve all of their carelessly tossed books. I shall silently tolerate their screaming fits when they fail to read signs about Internet usage limits, fines, and behavioral expectations. I will cater to their every need: from, “Will you set up my email account for me?” to “I need help with my taxes,” to “I just can’t understand why my husband left me!” I will follow their children around, cleaning up trails of toys, chewed books, urine and bubblegum. I will assist the man who speaks only to my chest; I will converse with the woman whose breath is foul enough to kill kittens. I will smile when they scream, smile when curse, smile when they are demanding and irrational. I am a Librarian: I am all things to all people. By this Code I do swear.”

Another Library Video

Given all the recent discussion in libraries and on the web about budget cuts, due to the poor economy in the States and all over the world, I thought it appropriate to share this video that I found the other day. Ok yes it's a very bad song but it's a cute video nonetheless from the Central Rappahannock Regional Libraries in the Northern part of Virginia.

Funny and true library comic

I was going through my weekly subscription to Unshelved, my favorite webcomic, and wanted to share this one because it was very true. I know I've felt this way, and I'm sure there are others out there that feel the same way.

Random Survey

I got this from one of the blogs I frequent and liked it so I borrowed it for my blog. I love surveys, so I am frequently filling them out. Here are some random facts about me, in no particular order.

8 Things About Me!

8 Things I Am Looking Forward To:
1. Seeing Sioux and Jason get married and hopefully spend some time with them

2. Being done with my group project

3. Being able to finally read Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
4. Being able to finally read The Wake of the Lorelei Lee by L.A. Meyer
5. Seeing my friend Huma over Spring Break

6. Being done with my classes and passing them successfully

7. Graduating and finally getting my Masters

8. Getting a steady job so that I can finally start a family

8 Things I Did Yesterday:

1. Watched Disraeli DVDs, starring Ian McShane

2. Posted on the Discussion Board for my Intro to Research Class

3. Posted my brainstorm bubbles on my Intro to Research blog

4. Was in online lecture for two hours followed by another hour of group meeting afterwards

5. Ranted on my personal blog

6. Was upset by current car bill, which keeps getting higher and higher

7. Finished my Coffee and Chocolate Truffles ice cream—it was yummy!

8. Went to bed and actually went to sleep

8 Things I Love:

1. John (my hubby)

2. A few very close friends

3. My family

4. Traveling

5. Crocheting scarves

6. Poppet (our half basset/half golden lab dog)

7. Listening to music

8. Baking

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:

1. Be patient

2. Write awesome cover letters

3. Market myself better

4. Lose weight

5. Read more

6. Visit family more often

7. Get an awesome job

8. Travel more

8 Shows I Watch:

1. Glee

2. Grey’s Anatomy

3. Private Practice

4. No Reservations

5. Bizarre Foods

6. American Dad

7. Futurama

8. Fringe

8 Favorite Fruits:

1.Cherries

2. Green Grapes

3. Mangoes

4. Pineapple

5. Clementines

6. Peaches

7. Strawberries

8. Lychees

8 Places I'd Like to Travel:

1. New Zealand

2. Greece

3. Hawaii

4. Spain

5. Egypt

6. Vienna, Austria

7. Brazil

8. St. Petersburg, Russia

8 Places I've Lived:

1. Hattiesburg, MS

2. Montgomery, AL

3. Dothan, AL

4. Alexandria, VA

5. Firenze, Italy

6. St. Andrews, Scotland

7. Aiken, SC

8. Columbia, SC

Why yelling Fudgesicles is sometimes the best policy!

I get made fun of sometimes for making up silly names to use while cursing, but having worked with kids most my life, you have to get creative. My favorites include "fudgesicles" and "Geez, Louise!" This article explains why.

For the Potty-Mouthed Among Us

by ALSC - The Association for Library Service to Children on Monday, September 6, 2010 at 3:37pm

“Oh, fiddlesticks!”

The expletive exploded from my lips, echoing across the program room where a dozen preschoolers looked up at me wide-eyed, mouths agape. I swallowed hard and managed to glance up at the one mom sitting in the corner with a small toddler on her lap. I noted her eyebrow, cocked above a set of disapproving eyes. In response to a smile I hoped was apologetic, I received only a tight lipped “tsk” and a smooth dismissal. I never saw little Windham in storytime again.

It’s not the first time my potty mouth has landed me in some hot water in the library. Just last month, after spilling a container of glitter across the textured carpet (nearly impossible to vacuum up all those minute, shiny bits), I was heard to exclaim in frustration, “For the love of pickles!”

I’m not proud to admit that this foulness was said in earshot of several babes in arms, two au pairs, and a group of Cub Scouts. The shame still burns. Even now, simply writing about the Incident brings a hot flush to my cheeks.

For those of us with the oratory flair of truck drivers and men of the sea, children’s librarianship can pose some unexpected challenges. Controlling our colorful jargon is something they do not teach us in library school. From a flippant “Geez, Louise” to a venomous “Dash it all!,” even the most cool headed among us has been known to slip up.

My solution? Imbuing euphemistic swearwords with early literacy-building references. If one is going to swear, why not “Hot-chi Mot-chi,” a rhyming exclamation that increases phonological awareness? Or, how about “Egads!,” a sure way to draw attention to the importance of letter knowledge?

My ultimate hope is, of course, is to cleanse my mind and tongue of these egregious expletives. In the meantime, all I can do is hope to bear this cross with grace and tact.
So, my friends, should you find yourself mid-Toddler Time, struggling to remember the lines to Tom Thumbs Up and accidentally utter “Jiminy Crickets!,” know that you are not alone. We struggle together. And, at the very least, you can use the opportunity to discuss syllables, rimes, and phonemes.