Why is it ok for people to smoke heavily while reading library books, but unacceptable to read them on the toilet, drop them in the bathtub, or drag them through their cat's litter box? I had an argument with my (ex-smoker) director about this, since Ry's library charges a fee for books that reek like smoke, but my director said in her maddeningly cheerful way "oh no I don't think we can charge just because a book smells funny." We have a woman who comes in regularly and must sit in a tiny box of a room reading and chain-smoking like a chimney because she and the books stink. They don't smell "funny" at all! They are HORRIBLE. In my opinion, that's A) book damage and B) inconsiderate-ness for other library patrons who would like to read those books but can't stomach the smell. Another librarian and I get migraines as soon as we handle the books and have to spray them down with a deodorizer.
Also, people, when I am at a stretch of front-desk counter doing something away from the computers, why do you push your books across the counter at me when I obviously have no means of scanning them right there? Could you PLEASE go wait at the computer about 5 steps away where I will be immediately? Common sense....an extinct animal these days.
It's definitely a Monday for me. Ugh.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Ode to Antiquity
No this isn't going to be some boring Keats poem about a Grecian urn (no offense, Keats. Byron, Blake and Donne are my main men). I have been somehow handed the position of "Special Collections Librarian" which is right up my alley and would be lovely were it not for all the other ersatz positions I am already filling. But the more time spent in a basement with dusty papers, the happier this Librarienne is. And we have a LOT of dusty old local papers from the mid 1800s to early 1900s, so I was pleased at this variety.
Imagine my surprise when out of a local grocery paper bag on the bottom shelf emerges this ANCIENT Bible. Leather over a wooden front and back cover, two straps with brass fasteners to keep the book closed, folio-bound pages. I was astounded and tried in vain to find a copyright date...it was certainly post-printing-press but I had glorious hopes of it being older than 1800 at least. The director gaped for about five minutes at it and promptly called appraisers in a panic that this might need to be insured and climate controlled and all that, but my guess was that it wasn't medieval in origin and as it was all in the old German script, which I read to a small extent, I didn't think it would be fetching an astronomical sum because those Germans went a bit nuts with the Bible production.
The next day, after doing some reading about where to look for further information in the Bible (no title page seemed to exist, although no pages seemed to be missing either) I found it on the New Testament page....get this....the thing was published in 1734. I am as protective of it as I would be of my own child....no scratch that, you can have more kids but this book is not going to reproduce itself.
It's hardly Smithsonian-worthy but for a smallish city library, it was quite a find. We're going to have to get a locked glass case and other whatnot for it now. Friends are sick of hearing me talk about it already but they will just have to suffer through my enthusiasm.
Imagine my surprise when out of a local grocery paper bag on the bottom shelf emerges this ANCIENT Bible. Leather over a wooden front and back cover, two straps with brass fasteners to keep the book closed, folio-bound pages. I was astounded and tried in vain to find a copyright date...it was certainly post-printing-press but I had glorious hopes of it being older than 1800 at least. The director gaped for about five minutes at it and promptly called appraisers in a panic that this might need to be insured and climate controlled and all that, but my guess was that it wasn't medieval in origin and as it was all in the old German script, which I read to a small extent, I didn't think it would be fetching an astronomical sum because those Germans went a bit nuts with the Bible production.
The next day, after doing some reading about where to look for further information in the Bible (no title page seemed to exist, although no pages seemed to be missing either) I found it on the New Testament page....get this....the thing was published in 1734. I am as protective of it as I would be of my own child....no scratch that, you can have more kids but this book is not going to reproduce itself.
It's hardly Smithsonian-worthy but for a smallish city library, it was quite a find. We're going to have to get a locked glass case and other whatnot for it now. Friends are sick of hearing me talk about it already but they will just have to suffer through my enthusiasm.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Librarian Sweaters.
That's the only term I have for them, and I am miserably wearing one right now because it is FREEZING in here. There are weekly tribal wars over the library thermostat as larger persons are extremely warm, while smaller persons become frostbite sufferers. I hear weekly "Well I can't take any more clothes OFF" and have to hold back a retort of "well I'm not going to gain FIFTY POUNDS just to be comfortable in my workplace!!!"
Thusly, I am subjected to The Librarian Sweater...today it's a soft cashmere lavender Ann Taylor, but I still feel bulky, ancient (difficult at 24), and unattractive. At least I don't have tissues stuffed up the sleeves and cough drops in the pockets.
Speaking of large...and this is going to be snarky so I apologize...A woman came in today with her 5 day old baby, and A) I hadn't known she was even pregnant she is so large and B) she somehow doesn't look any smaller. And yet, it is her baby. Really now, that is the point where it has become too much. I should know because I have had to squeeze around her in aisles when pulling books. When she backed up, I felt like the heroes of Star Wars when they were being squashed in the Death Star trash compactor.
Thusly, I am subjected to The Librarian Sweater...today it's a soft cashmere lavender Ann Taylor, but I still feel bulky, ancient (difficult at 24), and unattractive. At least I don't have tissues stuffed up the sleeves and cough drops in the pockets.
Speaking of large...and this is going to be snarky so I apologize...A woman came in today with her 5 day old baby, and A) I hadn't known she was even pregnant she is so large and B) she somehow doesn't look any smaller. And yet, it is her baby. Really now, that is the point where it has become too much. I should know because I have had to squeeze around her in aisles when pulling books. When she backed up, I felt like the heroes of Star Wars when they were being squashed in the Death Star trash compactor.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
I can't come to work because a meteor hit my car.
or: what I wished I could call in with this morning because I am tired and lazy.
Nothing catastrophic happened last night, and a blanket, a dark field, and a handsome gentleman friend meant that not much stargazing happened either. I caught some beautiful meteors though; some left vapor trails in the atmosphere, others showered brief sparks, one even was low enough to make noise.
In other news, my poor ex, whom I will name Cricket for his love of that British sport, is not getting the hint that things are over. I feel bad for him. And I am huge on most conflict-avoidance so I probably have not outright said "we're done" but really it should be quite obvious by now.
Skinny jeans....not attractive on ANYONE. No I don't care if you're a model. You look like a stork with huge feet dangling at the end of your tightly encased legs. Why would anyone want to do that to themselves when boot cut jeans (or flared anything) make such a gentle transition between legs and ground? I'm even tall and thin and they look ridiculous on me; far more-so on chubby short girls.
I would like to know why people expect me to call them when their books are overdue. In the Olden Days, I'm sure they returned them all on time and remembered the dates THEMSELVES. Now they are huffy if their books are late, as though that's somehow my fault. Today's not a good people day. I'm tired, and I hate human beings at the moment.
Nothing catastrophic happened last night, and a blanket, a dark field, and a handsome gentleman friend meant that not much stargazing happened either. I caught some beautiful meteors though; some left vapor trails in the atmosphere, others showered brief sparks, one even was low enough to make noise.
In other news, my poor ex, whom I will name Cricket for his love of that British sport, is not getting the hint that things are over. I feel bad for him. And I am huge on most conflict-avoidance so I probably have not outright said "we're done" but really it should be quite obvious by now.
Skinny jeans....not attractive on ANYONE. No I don't care if you're a model. You look like a stork with huge feet dangling at the end of your tightly encased legs. Why would anyone want to do that to themselves when boot cut jeans (or flared anything) make such a gentle transition between legs and ground? I'm even tall and thin and they look ridiculous on me; far more-so on chubby short girls.
I would like to know why people expect me to call them when their books are overdue. In the Olden Days, I'm sure they returned them all on time and remembered the dates THEMSELVES. Now they are huffy if their books are late, as though that's somehow my fault. Today's not a good people day. I'm tired, and I hate human beings at the moment.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
A Bored Beginning
I'm a rotten journal keeper. From 2nd grade on, I tried my damnedest but between the regular lootings of my room by a small brother to the perils of spilled sweet tea, fate was having none of it. As a young professional though, I feel the need to rant lately or share my (minimal) experience and (nonexistent) wisdom with cyberspace. Albeit as anonymously as possible because god knows I have drama and peeves and general snarkiness that parents and bosses need to know nothing about!
Today I am waiting for my cataloging client to actually download at work. The computers are as slow as molasses lately after being "wiped" and "fixed". OH PLEASE. Nothing got fixed. If we were spending half as much for new computers as we are on new library countertops, we would be up to our ears in monitors and lovely clean hard drives.
In an hour though, I'll get to see my Mister of a few short weeks who will hereafter be known as Ry.* He's a good guy who works in a library an hour down the road from me and we are the only ones under 30 at any given monthly meeting up at the system headquarters. Whether it was a match made of convenience or true library-lovin', I have yet to decide. We're going to watch the Perseid meteor showers tonight for a bit, and I will probably attract mosquitoes like a beacon.
*real names have been changed to preserve the dignity and sanity of all such individuals who are so unfortunate as to be in my life.
Today I am waiting for my cataloging client to actually download at work. The computers are as slow as molasses lately after being "wiped" and "fixed". OH PLEASE. Nothing got fixed. If we were spending half as much for new computers as we are on new library countertops, we would be up to our ears in monitors and lovely clean hard drives.
In an hour though, I'll get to see my Mister of a few short weeks who will hereafter be known as Ry.* He's a good guy who works in a library an hour down the road from me and we are the only ones under 30 at any given monthly meeting up at the system headquarters. Whether it was a match made of convenience or true library-lovin', I have yet to decide. We're going to watch the Perseid meteor showers tonight for a bit, and I will probably attract mosquitoes like a beacon.
*real names have been changed to preserve the dignity and sanity of all such individuals who are so unfortunate as to be in my life.
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