hipsterlibrarian

2003-03-11T21:28:00.000-05:00

One of my student helpers last semester was so smart and terrific that I miss her terribly, now that her schedule is full with calculus and physics and she can’t volunteer. Today she came by during after-school hours, to say she’ll volunteer once a week after school when she doesn’t have tutoring sessions. I hope I can help her get a job for the summer at her local library. What a nice way to end my day.

The morning was hectic with extra activity. A history teacher or two put together a research packet on the Harlem Renaissance. They came up with several work-stations for the students to learn about different aspects of life at that time. The kids went from one station to the next. For example, they looked at and analyzed art by Jacob Lawrence and tried their own drawings. They read about party “etiquette” of the time, and learned how to dance the Charleston. I helped out with a Biography station; showed them some relevant collections, as well as Current Biography, which we have going back to 1941. All of the activities helped focus them on the time period, and the theme of self-identity. I brought home the packet for my husband to borrow/reshape for his Gatsby unit.
I seem to be the only library blog that has this many mentions of “the Charleston,” but I’m not certain.

Been working really hard on getting the automation system (book-checking-out!) functional. At the moment, this means operating in two systems at once. (Using cards, on the one hand, and also the checkout function on the computer on the other.) So doing twice the work.
It turns out that the student id cards are constantly being lost and regenerated, each time with a new barcode. If I want to use a student barcode, I need to match it to a more stable, student-connected number. This means printing out my very own labels and maybe giving out library cards, as well. Ah, a new expense for my school. (Labels are pricey, outside of the business world.) Yes, for a moment I am nostalgic for the old days of admin assistant work, where figuring out the proper label alignment required planning, and a few ruined pages of labels would not stress me out. Oh, and a computer tech at our beck and call to fix the printer whenever there was a problem. Hmmm. Yeah, but, tech issues aside, I’d never trade it back!

2003-03-01T17:30:00.000-05:00

I was inspired to write this song to share with you. If you squint a little at the screen, I sound just like a certain Grammy Award-winning singer. Go ahead, sing along.
(Dedicated to public library staffs everywhere, and to N__ Jones and J__ Harris, all of whom I admire.)

Stalking the Seven-Day Book Shelves
or
(Don’t Know Why) It Didn’t Come

I’m waiting near the book displays.
Don’t know why it didn’t come.
It’s like a year, not seven days.
Don’t know why it didn’t come.
Don’t know why it didn’t come.

You’re overdue; the due date’s past.
I’m not sure if I can last.
‘Stead of coming back on time
You’ll be sorry. I’ll get mine.

My need to read is true.
I have to have the new
Bestseller.

The ladies at the check-out desk
Fear that I’m a safety risk.
Librarians who feel my pain
Know my death would be humane.

My need to read is true.
I have to have the new
Bestseller.

You’ve had my book a day too long.
Don’t know why you haven’t come.
Did no one teach you right from wrong?
You will know you should’ve come.
You will know you should’ve come.
I’ll make you wish that you had come.

...

Me again: so, should I hit the conference circuit, or what?

2003-03-01T08:15:00.000-05:00

I have such a headache from various big-picture things (the building management, the poor heating system, the political situation we find ourselves in) that I'm hardly noticing all of the good stuff happening in the library here.

For instance, the buzz of activity has been building all week since the winter break ended. Students have been working on research, and homework, and summer internship applications. I've had several great conversations with teachers about upcoming projects, which we are finding innovative ways to design.

A theme seems to be developing---a cross-curriculum, many-teacher study of the Harlem Renaissance. So far, kids have been looking at Jacob Lawrence images (online at the Whitney museum site) and looking up poetry by Langston Hughes. I just found a gorgeous book of Lawrence's paintings with Walter Dean Myers text, called Toussaint L'ouverture. (A good example of why "picture books" belong in libraries of all levels. Another subject for me to make a list of, sometime.)

Also, I've made strides in the automation process. I spent all morning talking to tech support people. Of course, the phone that allows outgoing calls is back in our office. Of course, of course, there is no computer in our office. So I had to drop the phone on my colleague's desk (as the cord doesn't reach to my desk), run out to the circulation area to perform steps on the computer, take notes, and run back to get more help. If they had called me back, I could have picked up the main phone and been nearer to the terminal. But, when people try to call this school, they invariably get a busy signal for the first few attempts, which tries their patience. Rather than gamble with that, I just ran back and forth.

When I finally made it home, I put my feet up and went back to my "independent reading" book---not an assignment, but rather, something I will enjoy it for the rest of the evening.

2003-02-26T22:34:00.000-05:00

I’ve gotten the computer to input my student data---soon, I will control the world! No, but my life will soon be more organized and smooth-running. There are still some glitches and error messages connected to this process, but we will conquer them. My co-librarian almost did a dance, I think, she was so pleased. As am I.

There was a story on the local news Monday, about a new class offered to parents to teach them how to choose books for their children. At $320 for ten sessions, the course tells how to pick age-appropriate books, find good illustrations, recognize the merits of different types of books (board books, ABC’s, rhyming, etc.) and culminates in a field trip to a bookstore!

If the parents don’t have that kind of money, though, they could try going to the library, instead. If our public library programs aren’t gutted by budget cuts, these kinds of training groups will continue to meet community needs. And there would be no need to take a trip to a store---multiple possibilities are always right on hand.

On one hand, I was annoyed at the reporter for calling this class a story. The story is: libraries have always offered these programs, but they will disappear if budgets continue to be slashed. Then only those with extra cash can benefit.

On the other hand, libraries need to be aware of the various times of day and days of the week when caregivers are able to take advantage of these programs. The more flexible and inclusive a branch can be, the more people will participate---and grow to love their libraries more.

2003-02-22T18:26:00.000-05:00

There’s no school this week, so no new school stuff to write about, of course.

My husband has just suggested that we should arrange our books at home according to color, to better show off the new paint job we just completed. How can I respond to that?

(It’s bad enough that they’re organized by size…)

2003-02-21T10:16:00.000-05:00

Still sulking because the recent TV version of The Music Man was so terribly bad. It didn’t do anything new for librarians, that’s for sure. Except maybe in the tight-corseted-costume department. Otherwise it was just the same tired shushing and nose-in-the-air poor people skills that Marion has come to personify.

I thought Ms. Chenoweth’s voice was beautiful, but she seemed far too sophisticated and hard-edged for a small-town Iowan. The director’s choice of sticking a camera almost up her nose as she sang was distracting, as well. Additionally, I was just hoping for a little bit more humor. I know it can be done---Susan Stroman’s recent Broadway version was brilliant---witty and full of life.

And I know this is a revival, not a new show. So, of course I’m not looking for a new invention of the librarian image. But “revive” means bringing back to life, right?

In terms of promoting stereotypes, though, it was far more harmful to musicals! All across America, families were watching the Disnified production, wondering, “Why is this so boring?” People were dancing in the library, and yet there was no sense of recklessness or fun. Dull color, dull personalities, no urgency. “Oh, Dad, don’t make me watch any more musicals!” What a waste.

2003-02-15T18:01:00.000-05:00

“Hey, check it out---this guy’s wearing Jordans, and the other’s got…”

I admit, I have no idea what the other guy was wearing on his feet. I was listening to my teen students talk, and when they go into sneaker-speak it’s all bleeeeep to me. What made this funny to me is that we were standing amidst a display of three hundred or so different books. This was the second of the RIF book give-away events. (Each kid gets a free book; we had to find interesting books at under $2.00 each; the selection is pretty great, actually; etc.) Two of my guys were bending closely over the illustration on a small paperback about who-knows-what. And what caught their attention---yes, the tiny illustrated sneakers on the two guys on the cover. Who knew the books were so fashionable.

Overall, the give-away went well. I spent all day doing it on Wednesday and also Friday. (Friday included moving the actual boxes of books out of the locked room and then back at the end of the day. While, by the way, listening to other teachers tell me what fabulously fun and exotic vacations they were about to go on, while I stay here in the cold. Plus, I still had twenty heavy boxes to pack up. Grrrr. I shouldn’t have asked.)

Sorry, I was talking about the RIF event. I heartily recommend that anyone running such an event take a day off from it between active days. The break allowed me to go back to it on Friday with energy and a little song rather than grudgingly, as to a workhouse. It was also good to see what books the kids were excited about. For example, Anne Frank’s Diary, books like “You Be the Jury,” any romances, anything basketball. One guy grabbed a “Real Stories of Strong Girls,” which he was quick to say “s’for my sister.” There was also a skinny biography of Ricky Martin. I noticed that most of the kids scoffed and moved on. But a few girls during the day jumped on it. Each one of them accompanied the grab with a high-pitched squeal. Exactly the same pitch. And the occasional picture-kissing.

On Thursday I had a chance to run around like a crazy person as I tried to spend the last-minute money. Let’s see, I spent about $1,800 in 24 hours. I’m on my relaxing vacation, now, so I won’t rant again about how evil the process is of getting money and rushing to spend it.

However, I should point out that if anyone wants to nominate me for the tv show “What Not to Wear,” I would be happy to spend $5,000 in a week or so of shopping for my own clothes. Really. (Check out the TLC/Discovery website to see what I mean.) According to an unscientific survey conducted by a colleague in Brooklyn, kids think that all librarians wear ugly shoes. This may have some truth in my case. [Large black walking shoe picture would be inserted here, if I were a little higher-tech here at home.] Wouldn’t it be funny---a librarian being secretly filmed to see if she needs a fashion makeover?

Speaking of stereotypes, I have to go now and set my VCR for tomorrow night’s broadcast of “The Music Man.” Don’t want to miss our song.

2003-02-11T21:37:00.000-05:00

Oh, the games we play. Several of us high school librarians talking about insufficient funding one day; the next, a telephone call saying “wehave750dollarsforyouifyoucanspendittoday.” Before the clock strikes twelve, or something. Yes, I have a wish list, and it’s typed and ready. But who knew the high-powered world of education would have such stress? So I’m busy getting together another, last-ditch list. The things that I didn’t prioritize in my last order have another chance. Easy arithmetic gets more tricky when there’s a deadline.

At the same time, I’m trying to get the student data input properly so we can finish the Automating! As well as getting down to business with the never-returned materials. Student metrocards are now being held hostage. Is this legal? I don’t know, but it’s getting the attention of the parents. So now, the books are coming back. Weird.
AND we have another week of RIF book giveaways to organize ---on again, off again, oh, wait, it will happen tomorrow. So, forgive the delay in this blog…I’ve been getting to work on a lot of my “resolutions,” though, you see.

Should I question the practice of delivering money to libraries in such an urgent, last minute way? Is it strange that I had to make my own call to find out about yet another several hundred dollars? If I never heard about it, would it revert to the school budget to be spent on, I don’t know, a new printer for someone else’s office? This is just idle speculation, of course. But it doesn’t make me feel very well supported or professionally valued or calm. Is there another way? Just wondering.

2003-02-03T20:52:00.000-05:00

The other night, I caught the last twenty minutes of the film Party Girl on tv. I haven’t seen it in a while, probably since around the time I was applying to library degree programs. In the movie, Parker Posey has one of my favorite scenes in a library: noticing a patron re-shelving a book incorrectly, she works herself into a frenzy, and ends up standing on a table, announcing “why don’t we just put the books ANYWHERE WE WANT!” (my paraphrase.) The part of the movie that hit me most this time, however, was near the end, where she’s pulling one book after another off the shelf in a quest to find masters program information. I remember where I was when I did the same thing---back at my “home” library, where I had listened to storytellers, been in summer craft programs and the book club, worked as a page, and done high school homework. After so many years away, it was the place where I took the first step to my current blissful (well, almost) situation in the high school library. I found her enthusiasm very touching. And her rave-y dancing at the end was cool, too.

2003-01-30T18:43:00.000-05:00

Ok, here are some New Semester’s Resolutions, taking effect as of February 2003:

1. Read my students’ “most wanted” books and evaluate which ones belong in the high school collection.
2. Read more library-related web pages and get out to see other high school libraries.
3. Re-evaluate storage and display areas in this library. For example, keep old newspapers filed more neatly and less steal-ably.
4. Find out who those people are in the building that I still don’t know; meet them.
5. One word: automation. Make it work.
6. Do more outreach (read: arm-twisting?) to enlist student volunteers.
7. Um, don’t want to bite off more than I can chew. Be more zen.

It’s funny how hard it can be to keep student helpers motivated. Some kids are terrific, natural workers. Most have never had any kind of job before. On one hand, I feel this is a good opportunity to instill a positive work ethic, train them to ask questions, report back when they’ve completed a task, check their own work. On the other, I just want someone who can alphabetize, y’know? Also, there’s always the volunteer who doesn’t want to do much (the tasks are too tedious or not glamorous) except sit at the circulation desk and be important. For example, if another student comes in the door, she wants to ask for their pass, or help them find a book on John Adams. Nevermind that she’s likely to grab John Q Adams instead---

What I need to look for is a rubric. Maybe in a library management book? How to evaluate and have the kids self-evaluate. Then I can give them grades. (Like all the other teachers.) Is that a good thing?

2003-01-28T20:42:00.000-05:00

Growing up, I never had to approach a mountain of dinner dishes to be washed by hand. My job was merely to empty the dishwasher, a chore I hated. It wasn’t until recently that I understood the joy of a dishwashing machine, after years in an apartment that lacked that convenience.

My students have never encountered the wall of green volumes that comprise the Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature. They haven’t squinted at the small print, scratched notes onto cramped slips of paper, gone into basements looking through old magazines. When I attempt to show them our district’s periodical databases, the students’ lack of enthusiasm puzzles me. How can they understand the gift of a tool or shortcut, if they’ve never had to do it the long way? What kind of understanding can they have of the database, without ever seeing the original journals?

My impulse is to give them an old-fashioned worksheet (yikes!) that forces them to grapple with the Readers’ Guide and the kind of step-by-step thinking it requires. I don’t want to make them miserable and I don’t want them to waste time---they would rather jump on the Internet anyway. But I want these students to have a clearer picture of why and how to use articles. Then maybe when they use the database, they’ll see how lucky they are!

2003-01-24T23:35:00.000-05:00

So far, no word on the horror-presentation. I hope the teacher doesn’t get raked over the coals---but I’m sure there will be more on this next week.

On a lighter note:
As I drove home from school today (freezing cold and wrapped unrecognizably in a scarf, hat, and hood) the people in the car stopped at the light next to me beeped their horn. They waved --- I waved back, assuming but not recognizing that they were students. Then, the girl in the front seat flashed her public library card, while the girl in the back seat tried to return her library book to me…from the window of the car. I’m fairly sure that it was a book from the public library, not the school, so I shook my head and yelled “sorry” as the light turned green. But she may have just been trying to return an overdue school library book, in which case---I don’t know! Was I supposed to lean out and take it from her in the middle of rush-hour traffic? Anyway, I guess they were able to tell who I was.

2003-01-23T20:35:00.000-05:00

Can authentic student research ever be a bad thing?

Several classes that had worked in the library last week (using books and the Internet) came back to show their classmates the computerized presentations of their work. The class I worked with did pretty well---although to be honest, quality varied. PowerPoint allows the kids to add images and text and drawings and clip art to their projects, which gives them a chance to show learning in a non-verbal way. They made some good visual choices, I thought.

What I heard later, though, made me very upset. Another class was presenting their work when an outside “observer” came into the library. The students were narrating what they had learned. Since I had not worked with this group, I was doing paperwork on the other side of the room, away from the large display monitor. I noticed at one point that the room had grown amazingly quiet. The students listened intently to a classmate present information about the controversy surrounding abortion.

I heard her telling them background facts about pregnancy and describing the several kinds of abortion. The audience was disturbed by the vividness of the information and images. But, as they are all high school seniors, it seemed ok to me that they were getting in-depth facts.

Well, apparently, the instructional specialist who had come to view the presentations (although, she was not part of the planning or the research process) flipped out about this project. She went yelling to the principal about inappropriate pictures and demanding meetings. The teacher is now worried about getting fired. What happens next?

As a librarian (who believes in access to information and free speech and all), I’m appalled that a student’s natural impulse to learn and share information is going to cause such an uproar. I feel angry that a visitor, who has not seen the assignment or the rubric with which it will be graded, can assume to know what these students should see. But I also know that parents can be like powder kegs---the administrators need to keep them from blowing up. I just hope that this teacher is allowed to continue his sincere best, and learn about CYA (covering your ass.) I will follow up on this, as soon as I know anything.

2003-01-21T18:30:00.000-05:00

Some wooden shelves fell down today. I came into the library this morning and quickly noticed that the usually pristine (yeah, right) room was marred by a huge pile of social science books on the floor. This is strange because, last month, the neighboring bookshelf was fixed after I noticed it was falling apart. Not falling so much as slowly splitting. The head of the construction/ janitorial department, after explaining how he had no one to take care of it as he had just lost three men from his staff, sneaked in overnight and bolted the pieces together. So I was feeling smug, knowing that the furniture was back under control. Oops.

Not much happening. The students are all studying for finals and New York Regents exams. Teachers are grading papers; they haven’t started discussing their plans for next semester. At least, not with me.

Wait, there was one plan: P__ and D__ asked me for some Harlem Renaissance art books. While we searched for some good material in the “oversized” section, she asked him if he would teach the kids the Charleston. Then the three of us did our various imitations of ‘20’s night-lifers, kicking up our heels and spinning imaginary strings of beads. (I knew I needed to take up dancing again.) Luckily, the large art books are out of sight from the main desk, so I didn’t have to explain to my principal why we were goofing off on duty.

I really enjoyed writing “__” instead of someone’s name just now; I feel a thrill of kinship with Jane Austen.

A low point in my day came when I realized that the one book on my recent order that I wanted most of all was not sent. I hadn't made it clear enough that Maus: A Survivor's Tale was a priority when it came to spending but not exceeding the book budget. There had better be more money! However, we did get some other graphic novels/ comics. More about the new books when I'm looking at the list again.

And I'm running out of time to write my new semester's resolutions. I'll even take suggestions!

2003-01-14T20:56:00.000-05:00

A lovely class came to the library to do research this week. They had paper, pens, their assignments, willingness to listen, good manners. What had I done to deserve such a nice group? I was prepared with English and Spanish materials and had cajoled most of the computers into working. The kids spent two periods getting facts to answer their specific research questions. They even remembered to bring their first day’s notes back on day two. We looked up info on topics like “What was the cause Cesar Chavez was working for?” and “Why is it a problem for pregnant women to take drugs?” It seemed that the students were taking a point of view, getting interested. They were really independent and directed, not just wwwandering around the web. Now they know how to use databases to look up magazine articles---AND why they should bother trying. Later on, the students will be putting together PowerPoint presentations of their work. I’m going to invite the teacher to present them in the library.

Someone came by to ask if I knew anything about weaving. (He was flipping through the large dictionary as he asked.) I’m not sure, I told him, except that in Carousel, Julie Jordan spends so much time gazing at the roof that she can’t tell the warp from the woof. And, behold, those were the words he was looking for. A small, victorious, musical theater trivia moment.

More fun with dictionaries: an ESL teacher looking up the meaning of the expression “dressed to the nines.” I start singing “Don’t cry for me, Argentina,” which uses that expression, and follows it with “at sixes and sevens with you.” So do I get extra ESL-credit for using two number-based idioms in one sentence?

According to Stacie Marinelli on her site “Image and the Librarian,”
in the film Salmonberries (starring kd lang, not as the librarian), an Inuit father greets his librarian daughter as "my beautiful educated princess of the world of books."

I think I’ll email that one to my dad.

2003-01-09T19:32:00.000-05:00

Computer virus protection took on a new look today in the high school library. One of the students who used computer #14 draped his monitor with an unwrapped condom. It is safe to assume it was new, because the wrapper was on the floor beneath the chair; I am happy to report that spermicide was involved, just in case. However, better protection might have been provided by putting the condom around the floppy disc prior to insertion. Anyway, I was disgusted but also pleased to see they know what they are and where to get them. Thanks to the teacher who disposed of it for me.

Speaking of silly computer puns---

I had serious information retrieval problems yesterday, but not from a database, the Internet, or a book. No, it was accessing information from within my own body that gave me trouble. I tried to learn a dance sequence---a kind of charleston step. My brain seemed to understand the commands, but the knowledge (that I know is in my feet) was strangely elusive. Now, you may wonder, why was I tap dancing? Well, don't you know, it's quite the thing. Even Richard Gere is doing it. I thought it would be fun. And good exercise. But it was not as easy as riding a bike. (I barely kept up with the group.) I may keep trying, though. We should ALL only look as fabulous as the Misses Z and Mr. Gere in the new movie musical, Chicago. There's some inspiration! Not to mention the wonderful release of making a hell of a lot of noise.

2003-01-03T18:35:00.000-05:00

We're back to school after a quick vacation. I didn't do any new reading during the break---just went back to Pride and Prejudice. (I guess I had done a good sales job on myself, as well as with my student last week.)

There are almost no students around yet, as they are probably still in warm climes with their families while we slog to school through the sleet. This gave me a lot of time to chat with teachers, as well as catch up on paperwork. A few kids came by for new books or to wish us a happy new year. Those who come to help did their usual chores, plus putting away carts full of new books that have been on display. The day was routine, even though being back at work was out of the ordinary; it seemed like we had never left. Lucky us, we've hit the weekend already.

Maybe it's time to make some library resolutions for the new year. I'll work on it for the new semester, how is that?

2002-12-21T08:10:00.000-05:00

I had a great conversation this week with a student I hadn't seen before. She was carrying her new RIF book from the recent Reading is Fundamental giveaway I labored over, so she was endeared to me at once. This is a kid who has read Fellowship of the Ring and every book in the English teachers' libraries. Apparently, she was too shy last year, but Hooray! she finally came to the school library.

This girl is devouring fiction of all kinds and asking for suggestions from everyone. She wants happy endings, though. She was quizzing me about the end of the LOTR trilogy, to make sure she isn't going to wind up crying. I think anyone will cry, if just because they've finished the story and there's no more to read. Still, I encouraged her to keep going with it. And responding to her questions, "no, Gandalf doesn't have a brother, but be optimistic." (The movie trailers are everywhere, giving hints, and getting my students excited about it in a way they weren't about the first movie. It's wonderful to see them keyed up about something that their teachers love.)

Somehow, then, I asked her if she'd tried any Jane Austen. She was under the impression that Pride and Prejudice had to do with the civil rights movement, an understandable mistake! I told her about the plot, trying to add some context about the urgency of a good marriage, and that you can tell the shallow characters from the way they obsess about status and titles. And about the romance and happy ending. So now she has Austen to read over the holiday break. Later, I heard from her English teacher that she's eager to try it, and had asked her, "is this good?" I'm hoping to have added another frequent reader and visitor to the roster.

2002-12-16T17:40:00.000-05:00

A question to think about:
Why do people approach the reference desk with the phrase "You don't have _____ , do you?"
I like to be more positive than that, and I turn the question around in my own mind as they say it. Like, "Do you have" or "Can I get" or something that exhibits some hope. It often surprises me, patrons' disbelief that the library might just answer the question/need of the moment. And of course it makes me thrilled to say, "Here it is, any time, you're welcome" and the like.

But I think this points to the fact that many people underestimate what they can get from their library. My spouse says, "it's more like a gamble than a sure thing, when you walk in the door. I know I'll find something interesting, but I don't expect to find exactly what I wanted." And we are a demanding and instant gratification-needing society, right? So waiting for interlibrary loans can seem interminable. Maybe it also depends on finding the right library yourself---my sort-of-nearby local branch serves me much better than the one down the block. (Oh well.)

Nevertheless, when student after student comes up to me and says "you don't have..." , I sometimes am overwhelmed with the need to tell them "Can you make that a more optimistic question?" And sometimes they do.

2002-12-15T09:07:00.000-05:00

I spend my days working as a "teacher of library" at an urban high school. Now that I've been there for over a year, I thought I would start to reflect on the experience by writing about it. Maybe this will help capture the things I talk about to myself on the way to work (not out loud, almost never): the kids, the library, the teachers, and whatever else is on my mind.

Lots of the librarians I know are really cool and hip, and not like the many stereotypes of "Marion the librarian." This blog will be about trying to stay hip, keep on top of the current library and teaching news, and keep up with bestsellers and kids' interests. I've been called a hipster librarian, but I know this is a relative thing. Let's just say that, compared to some people I've worked with, I do more than read books. My special interests in comic books, movies, and musical theater have also come in handy.

Here's a list of most-requested books in the past months:
The Color of Water
The Coldest Winter Ever
Push
Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, vol. I - III
Addicted
LOTR/ The Fellowship of the Ring
and books about pregnancy, witchcraft, and gangs.

I'm always glad when they ask for books. It gives me hope that kids will keep reading and keep using libraries.

2002-12-15T08:13:00.000-05:00

I'll start with a test.