livlife
Welcome to Livlife. Where I am living my life out loud, for all to read.
workAs you probably know, I was recently transferred to a different library branch. The branch I am at currently is one of the biggest libraries in the county (and therefore, one of the biggest public libraries in the state) which is a vast difference from the library that I used to be at.
My former library was a mid-sized community library, which means smaller and more intimate. I knew many of the customers by name and they knew me. Certain customers would come in just to talk to me and get my help.
When they sent me to the big library, things didn't go well at first. I am thinking "little fish big pond" syndrome. And while I am adjusting and settling in the big library, it just doesn't have the same feel. It seems like even the customers feel dwarfed in the big library and don't take time to get to know the librarians as well.
My point?
Today, I am working at a community library that is similar in size to the one I used to work at. I have never worked here before and I am LOVING it. I am just having the nicest day at work. As a result, customers are being infected with my happiness and cheer and this epidemic is spreading. Look out H1N1!
Since I've been here today, these are just a few things I've been asked:
An elderly woman (97!!!) who loves to read romance novels is looking for more authors to read. As a lifelong reader, she has read TONS of books and is running out of authors to read. She doesn't care for books that are too, well--smutty, so there is some restriction. I was so excited to get this question. I am a romance novel addict and will discuss romance books with anyone, given the slightest provocation. I spent some time researching authors (after making suggestions from my head) that are outside of what I've read and came up with a strong list for her to try.
A young boy, third grade, just recently figured out that reading can be fun. But not being a big reader, he didn't know where to start and just diving in can be a bit overwhelming. He and I had a great reader's advisory interview where I got to learn more about him and his interests before finding some things for him to read. He left here with a fantasy novel that he was super excited about and a classic children's mystery that I gave him to help him branch out in his tastes. Now I am just sad that I don't work here so I won't get to find out how he liked the books. But, what fun to see the excitement of a new reader!
Then, a teenage boy who IS NOT a reader came in with his mom. His parents are trying to get him to become a reader and his dad just got him to read some Sherlock Holmes. He really enjoyed it and was willing to discuss reading something else. Apparently, other librarians had tried (and failed) to get him some books to read. The mom was (okay, I'll just say it...she was extremely pushy) difficult so I was treading gently between them, but I ended up learning that this kid loves to watch tv. Which is exactly what his parents hate. I, of course, saw the potential and starting talking to him about what it is that he watches on tv and learned that he has a scientific bent. His favorite show is MythBusters. Well, that made it easy. There are tons of non-fiction books on myths, legends, unexplained science, paranormal mysteries, etc. I found him a few different books talking about things like that and he seemed genuinely excited. It seemed that the problem was that everyone was trying to get him to read fiction and he wasn't interested. I've got him reading in his interest areas and I am guessing he'll be back for more. Before they left I saw him sitting in a chair and reading one of the books I gave him while his mom was browsing in fiction for herself. It was a cool moment for me.
Then there was this fourth grade girl who likes to learn things but isn't a great reader. Her father was here, pushing her to read more. She seemed unhappy and not at all interested. I talked to her for a bit and learned that they've been studying the pilgrims and the Mayflower at school and she really likes that, but she doesn't like reading. I immediately flashed on the story (above) of the teenage boy I had helped and wondered if I had another one on my hands. This is less common in girls but still happens. They (and their parents) think of reading as fiction stories. But some people just aren't interested in that. I took this girl into non-fiction and we found some books about pilgrims that will support what she is learning in school. One of the books we found is from the "Don't Know Much About" series, which is a really cool way to learn, especially for reluctant readers. Well, dad wasn't too jazzed about this, but I talked to him about how getting excited about reading is half the battle. And as we were talking about this, the girl was sitting on the floor reading the books I gave her. Dad did cave and the girl got to take her pilgrim books home to read.
It has been so exciting to be here and to get to do what I love the most. I really drives home that this is what I want to do...
Now I just need to (continue to) be patient and wait for my dream opportunity to crop up. I know it is out there for me. And now I know that when I'm looking, I'd be much happier in a mid-sized to small community library, rather than a larger, busy, hectic, over-sized library.
While I'm waiting, I'll just be glad that every so often I get to have those perfect moments that reassure me I am meant to do this.
My former library was a mid-sized community library, which means smaller and more intimate. I knew many of the customers by name and they knew me. Certain customers would come in just to talk to me and get my help.
When they sent me to the big library, things didn't go well at first. I am thinking "little fish big pond" syndrome. And while I am adjusting and settling in the big library, it just doesn't have the same feel. It seems like even the customers feel dwarfed in the big library and don't take time to get to know the librarians as well.
My point?
Today, I am working at a community library that is similar in size to the one I used to work at. I have never worked here before and I am LOVING it. I am just having the nicest day at work. As a result, customers are being infected with my happiness and cheer and this epidemic is spreading. Look out H1N1!
Since I've been here today, these are just a few things I've been asked:
An elderly woman (97!!!) who loves to read romance novels is looking for more authors to read. As a lifelong reader, she has read TONS of books and is running out of authors to read. She doesn't care for books that are too, well--smutty, so there is some restriction. I was so excited to get this question. I am a romance novel addict and will discuss romance books with anyone, given the slightest provocation. I spent some time researching authors (after making suggestions from my head) that are outside of what I've read and came up with a strong list for her to try.
A young boy, third grade, just recently figured out that reading can be fun. But not being a big reader, he didn't know where to start and just diving in can be a bit overwhelming. He and I had a great reader's advisory interview where I got to learn more about him and his interests before finding some things for him to read. He left here with a fantasy novel that he was super excited about and a classic children's mystery that I gave him to help him branch out in his tastes. Now I am just sad that I don't work here so I won't get to find out how he liked the books. But, what fun to see the excitement of a new reader!
Then, a teenage boy who IS NOT a reader came in with his mom. His parents are trying to get him to become a reader and his dad just got him to read some Sherlock Holmes. He really enjoyed it and was willing to discuss reading something else. Apparently, other librarians had tried (and failed) to get him some books to read. The mom was (okay, I'll just say it...she was extremely pushy) difficult so I was treading gently between them, but I ended up learning that this kid loves to watch tv. Which is exactly what his parents hate. I, of course, saw the potential and starting talking to him about what it is that he watches on tv and learned that he has a scientific bent. His favorite show is MythBusters. Well, that made it easy. There are tons of non-fiction books on myths, legends, unexplained science, paranormal mysteries, etc. I found him a few different books talking about things like that and he seemed genuinely excited. It seemed that the problem was that everyone was trying to get him to read fiction and he wasn't interested. I've got him reading in his interest areas and I am guessing he'll be back for more. Before they left I saw him sitting in a chair and reading one of the books I gave him while his mom was browsing in fiction for herself. It was a cool moment for me.
Then there was this fourth grade girl who likes to learn things but isn't a great reader. Her father was here, pushing her to read more. She seemed unhappy and not at all interested. I talked to her for a bit and learned that they've been studying the pilgrims and the Mayflower at school and she really likes that, but she doesn't like reading. I immediately flashed on the story (above) of the teenage boy I had helped and wondered if I had another one on my hands. This is less common in girls but still happens. They (and their parents) think of reading as fiction stories. But some people just aren't interested in that. I took this girl into non-fiction and we found some books about pilgrims that will support what she is learning in school. One of the books we found is from the "Don't Know Much About" series, which is a really cool way to learn, especially for reluctant readers. Well, dad wasn't too jazzed about this, but I talked to him about how getting excited about reading is half the battle. And as we were talking about this, the girl was sitting on the floor reading the books I gave her. Dad did cave and the girl got to take her pilgrim books home to read.
It has been so exciting to be here and to get to do what I love the most. I really drives home that this is what I want to do...
Now I just need to (continue to) be patient and wait for my dream opportunity to crop up. I know it is out there for me. And now I know that when I'm looking, I'd be much happier in a mid-sized to small community library, rather than a larger, busy, hectic, over-sized library.
While I'm waiting, I'll just be glad that every so often I get to have those perfect moments that reassure me I am meant to do this.
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