New Directions

At the end of June, I will be leaving libraries with a decade of experience under my belt thus far. I have accepted a job offer in Ohio, the Administrative Assistant to the CEO of the company. There is a lot of organization and keeping on top of things involved, both of which coincide with both my library and theater stage management experience. I will continue the blog as able because I am still planning on pursuing my education and eventually a Masters in Library Science, but I might experiment with different directions that this blog might be able to go, while still fitting in with the original nerdy library roots. I'm very excited by this move, as it puts me close to family and my best friend, who happened to be moving to the same area already, and is a wonderful opportunity to grow in a larger and more diverse society, as well as the career opportunity. (There is also currently a "coming soon" sign for a public library right down the street from where our apartment will be--I'm very excited to get in there and review/compare its services and organizations and collections: nerd heaven. :) )

Another life update: to commemorate my decade anniversary of working in libraries, I got a tattoo of it! I came up with the design when I took a pop culture class on comics and graphic novels. I found that the title I choose, PN-8-1-1-2-3, was really a classification of myself and my main interests, how I've found that ink runs in my veins.
As with all my tattoos, there is symbolism behind every part of the tattoo. The PN is the Library of Congress classification system, used commonly in academic libraries. 811, 812 and 813 are Dewey Decimal call numbers and are commonly used in public libraries. They are arranged as such because my roots are in public libraries. PN is literature, 811 is poetry, 812 drama and 813 fiction.

One day I'll have to tell you more about the graphic novel class I took. Until then, you're able to view most of the books we read on my shelfari account (to the right).
Also, I'm taking American Literature II right now and I'm working on putting up the novels we've been reading in the second half of the semester.

I always mean to update much more than I do, but life, work and school are a lot to juggle and upkeep at once--sometimes the fun things get pushed to the side. C'est la vie, yes?

Update and Harry Potter

It's been a long time...and I apologize. Between working two jobs and having school in the fall and spring, I've been a bit busy.

However, I do still manage to update my shelfari account (see my shelf to the right!), and am currently reading the Harry Potter series. For the first time. I know, I know...how have I managed to work in libraries for almost a decade and not read them?!?! It's pure madness. However, now that I've started them, I can't seem to get enough. I'm halfway through the sixth book and am slightly dreading the day when I close the seventh for the last time. Rarely am I able to find a longer series that holds my attention. I've often said that a good young adult series should be three or four books long, as most young adults will drop a series after a few books (let's face it: attention spans aren't what they used to be). Even the James Patterson Maximum Ride series, although amazing, got to be a bit repetitive after a while and I almost wanted to stop reading them (great for younger readers, the chapters are only a few pages long, so you can fly right through them!). The Harry Potter series, although longer than my recommended series length, pulls you right in to each book and you don't want to have to stop reading. I, unfortunately, didn't follow my own advice about reading the books before seeing the movies, but the books are so detailed the movies couldn't keep up with everything. I'm terribly excited to finish and see what other differences there are. Keep an eye on my shelfari!

Libraries as Safe Spaces

I believe this article covers an important aspect of libraries, especially public and school libraries, where librarians are sometimes called to act as counselors. I know from personal experience in a public library that there are a lot of teens who will identify with different staff members and most of the time, they just need someone to listen to them and possibly give advice. I am speaking in general, but this article is very specific about the queer community. I think that this group is targeted more in schools and it's still a subject that is a big deal in a lot of communities. Libraries tend to be safe places for any minority, as they are the holders of knowledge. About everything. And librarians are taught to not judge based on anything to do with a person or what their requests are. So it makes sense that this is where people go to find a safe space.

I had an experience in a public library where it was the only place I felt safe to come out as a lesbian because I knew these people and I trusted these people with what was the biggest secret I had at the time. If I wouldn't have had that safe space to come out in, and if I wouldn't have had the librarians that put the books in my hands that told me there were other people like me...I honestly don't know what would have happened. Libraries being safe spaces for everyone to go and have the information they need and have safe people to talk to is important. Librarians aren't counselors, but sometimes they are the best form of therapy.

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/columns/my-mind/libraries-safe-spaces

Zombie Library!

In Alaska's largest public library last night, zombies roamed the stacks in order to teach people about being prepared (and to have a little fun, of course!).

http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/features/10312012/zombies-invade-library

Banned Books Week--Flash Mob

Lafayette College hosts literary flash mob to kick off Banned Books Week

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2012/10/lafayette_college_hosts_litera.html

Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury died at the age of 91 on Tuesday (6/5). He was best known for Fahrenheit 451 (if you haven't read it, stop reading this and go to your library or local bookstore right now and read it), as well as being an often challenged or banned author.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/ray-bradbury-author-of-fahrenheit-451-dandelion-wine-remembered-by-fans/2012/06/07/gJQA9dVKLV_story.html

The Illuminator

The Illuminator : and a Bible for the 21st Century is a movie I watched recently about a group of monks who wanted to create a Bible for today's audience, but keep with the old traditions as well. The film takes place about halfway through the process (2005) and shows how Bibles have been made by hand centuries ago, as well as the technology used nowadays for this one-of-a-kind Bible. 


Fantastic watch. 5/5 stars.


P.S. Thank you to Noah for thinking of lending it to me!

Find out more here! http://www.saintjohnsbible.org/