I have a confession to make. I really hate New Years celebrations. Really, really hate them. I've never been a big fan of the thought of New Years to begin with. This whole "out with the old, in with the new"...phooey! I'm also a little leery of the whole thought of resolutions. I usually start thinking about my goals for the next year around this time, and I suppose some people consider those resolutions...but I guess I've always thought of New Years resolutions as these "big changes" we all intend to make for the new year. Like, I'm going to lose that 50 pounds I put on at Christmas or I'm going to have that nosejob so I can go out in public and feel normal again. *sigh* I guess it's always good to start new. But as for this New Years celebration, I'll be buried under the covers in bed!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Burr, burr, burr!
I don't know about you...but I'm freezing!Winter certainly arrived in rare form this weekend, didn't it? A 50 degree drop in one day...because, hey, why not? This is Iowa, right? Yeesh!
Ah well, welcome to winter!
Monday, December 1, 2008
World AIDS Day
Today marks the 20th Anniversary of World AIDS Day. Started in 1988, its purpose is to increase awareness, highlight the importance, and show unity around the common cause of this disease.
The numbers are staggering and frightening when speaking in terms of this disease. According to the World Health Organization, roughly 33 million people are living with HIV worldwide. That is more than the total populations of New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago combined. Two-thirds of those people reside in sub-Sahara Africa. And within some of those countries nearly one in five adults are infected with HIV. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the number of people living with HIV increased 150% between 2001 and 2007.
Once thought of as a predominately homosexual disease, today the vast majority of HIV infections are transmitted via heterosexual sex. Nearly half of all adults living with HIV are female. In America alone, heterosexual sex accounts for one third of new diagnoses.
Stigma and prejudice are key components in the spread of this disease. In many communities, people with HIV and AIDS are shunned and abused. Because of the social stigmas attached to this disease, many people don't seek treatment for fear of being ostracised. Political and cultural attitudes also play a significant role in the spread of HIV and AIDS. Oftentimes, accurate and reliable information is stifled, while inaccurate information is allowed to flow freely. There are often fears of promoting adequate sex education information to youth.
This disease knows no bounds. Millions upon millions are affected around the world every day by this disease. Millions upon millions more will die from it. There has been speculation that entire generations could be wiped out in Africa because of AIDS. It is frightening to think that we would allow a disease to do just that.
I hope you will make it a point today to educate yourself on HIV and AIDS. That you will consider your own health and well-being, as well as that of others. And that you will take a moment to recognize the millions already lost from this disease.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
It's a broken record kinda day
I have had 11 calls so far today asking what time we close.
10 of those consecutively.
1 of them happened to be from the Assistant Director of the Marion Public Library!
The call that broke the streak? From our Youth Services Librarian, Alicia. (And I won't even begin to discuss that conversation!)
For the record: We close at 8 pm this evening.
Thank you.
10 of those consecutively.
1 of them happened to be from the Assistant Director of the Marion Public Library!
The call that broke the streak? From our Youth Services Librarian, Alicia. (And I won't even begin to discuss that conversation!)
For the record: We close at 8 pm this evening.
Thank you.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Police Evidence?!
So here I was, this afternoon, at my Linn Area Reads meeting at the Marion Public Library, immersed in a very serious discussion of humorous staff antics when a Marion staffer came in to interrupt. Evidently, Marion had been having some theft issues and discovered the patron who was involved in the acts of thievery. He was arrested and charged with said thefts.
However, when the police searched his home, they discovered more than just Marion items that had been stolen. The picture above is one of two items of ours that had been stolen.
Now, first, might I point out that I find it totally hilarious that it was still in the evidence bag when I got it back this afternoon. Second, if you look at the picture you'll notice a line that says location. Read what follows and try to stifle the laughter! Bedroom wall?! I don't know if that means it was attached to the bedroom wall, or it was inside of it. But the fact that the item location was bedroom wall makes this whole situation that much more humorous in my eyes! And you thought our jobs were so quiet and peaceful?!
Friday, November 21, 2008
I am at a loss...
...for words, that is...I just can't seem to come up with anything to blog about lately.
I suppose that some of the problem could be that I have had the stomach flu for the last couple of days (Which by the way, so conveniently showed up when I was on a date...talk about first impressions...yeesh!).
Or perhaps its just a simple case of writers block. I've been trying to participate in NaNoWriMo this month. For those of you unfamiliar...NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write a 175 page novel (50,000 words) by midnight November 30th. According to the website, "Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly." Although I have a pretty good idea as to what I want to write about, it's been a bit of a struggle to get it all out.
Or quite possibly, it's just that I'm really that boring!
I suppose that some of the problem could be that I have had the stomach flu for the last couple of days (Which by the way, so conveniently showed up when I was on a date...talk about first impressions...yeesh!).
Or perhaps its just a simple case of writers block. I've been trying to participate in NaNoWriMo this month. For those of you unfamiliar...NaNoWriMo stands for National Novel Writing Month. The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write a 175 page novel (50,000 words) by midnight November 30th. According to the website, "Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly." Although I have a pretty good idea as to what I want to write about, it's been a bit of a struggle to get it all out.
Or quite possibly, it's just that I'm really that boring!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Fly Guts
Pat killed a fly on my computer and now there's fly guts on my screen...just thought you all should know.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Evidence of Love
It is written in the colors
Of a thousand autumn twilights
Painted in the eyes of a child
Spoken as forgiveness
By an honest open hand
It’s the friend who will walk the extra mile
It’s the giving,
When there is not enough
There is everywhere
The evidence of love
Our dear friend and colleague Linda Nash, passed away on Monday, November 3rd.
The loss that our staff is feeling right now is immeasurable.
Linda's spirit was indomitable. She was truly a force to be reckoned with. Her strength and integrity through physical disability, cancer, and various other illnesses was inspirational. Her humor and laughter were second to none. But more than anything, it was her love. Her love and her passion. The evidence of her love abounds. From her wonderful family, to her dedication here at Hiawatha Public Library, and her presence in the community, the evidence of Linda's love is everywhere. Yes, there is truly everywhere the evidence of her love. And as I sit here, with tears running down my face, it is the one thing that I will miss so much about her.
But her love will remain...always...
I love you and miss you Linda.
It’s living in the rich earth
Waving in the wind
It’s music that moves us to believe
And dying in a small town
Knowing where true life begins
It’s hope beyond what we can see
It’s the mercy, when tears are not enough
There is everywhere
The evidence of love
*Lyrics by First Call*
Of a thousand autumn twilights
Painted in the eyes of a child
Spoken as forgiveness
By an honest open hand
It’s the friend who will walk the extra mile
It’s the giving,
When there is not enough
There is everywhere
The evidence of love
Our dear friend and colleague Linda Nash, passed away on Monday, November 3rd.
The loss that our staff is feeling right now is immeasurable.
Linda's spirit was indomitable. She was truly a force to be reckoned with. Her strength and integrity through physical disability, cancer, and various other illnesses was inspirational. Her humor and laughter were second to none. But more than anything, it was her love. Her love and her passion. The evidence of her love abounds. From her wonderful family, to her dedication here at Hiawatha Public Library, and her presence in the community, the evidence of Linda's love is everywhere. Yes, there is truly everywhere the evidence of her love. And as I sit here, with tears running down my face, it is the one thing that I will miss so much about her.
But her love will remain...always...
I love you and miss you Linda.
It’s living in the rich earth
Waving in the wind
It’s music that moves us to believe
And dying in a small town
Knowing where true life begins
It’s hope beyond what we can see
It’s the mercy, when tears are not enough
There is everywhere
The evidence of love
*Lyrics by First Call*
Monday, November 3, 2008
Oh yeah, vote this!
As I'm sure you're all well aware of by now, tomorrow is election day. (And if you aren't aware, then I have to ask where the heck you've been!)I am not going to endorse any candidate in my blog. (For one, I'm not allowed to...) Or tell you what issues are important. But I am going to encourage all of you to get out and vote.
"Why vote?" "Who cares?" "I don't like either of the candidates"...I have heard these statements so much over the last few months. These statements not only annoy me, they actually kind of infuriate me. You should care. And you should vote. Period. We have a system in this country that allows us the opportunity to elect our officials. We have a system that allows us to choose. These are extraordinary rights we have in this country. Ones that are guaranteed. There are hundreds, if not thousands of places in the world where people actually die attempting to do something that we are guaranteed.
Further more, it is important to remember all of the people in this country, whom years ago, fought so that we could all have the right to vote. In 1870, African Americans got the right to vote, in 1920 it was women who got the vote, in 1940 it was Native Americans, and in 1971 it was all of us 18 and older. These groups made sacrifices to allow us this right. It's important not to forget that.
Again, as I stated before, I will not tell you who to vote for, or what issues to care about. I have my positions on both of them, but will keep them to myself. But I will tell you to get out and vote, it's one of the most important duties as citizens we have.
I've cast my vote already...now it's your turn!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Just another manic Monday...
We are experiencing some technical difficulties today. They moved our server back to Cedar Rapids from Marion yesterday and now it doesn't want to work again... *grrr face* Our poor tech guys are probably ready to explode!
So...this means that we will not be able to access our database. We cannot access your account, we cannot check anything in, we cannot pay off your fines. Basically...we can't do squat. I'm totally convinced that once we actually do have the system up and running we're not going to know what to do. Seriously!!
In the meantime, sorry for the inconvenience and hopefully we'll be back up and running very soon!
So...this means that we will not be able to access our database. We cannot access your account, we cannot check anything in, we cannot pay off your fines. Basically...we can't do squat. I'm totally convinced that once we actually do have the system up and running we're not going to know what to do. Seriously!!
In the meantime, sorry for the inconvenience and hopefully we'll be back up and running very soon!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
As I'm sure you're all aware October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.This is a very important issue to me, and one that is very dear to my heart. For one, my mother and my aunt are both breast cancer survivors. Two, I am a firm believer in affordable and accessible health care for women. This is a disease that knows no boundaries when it comes to women. But it is one that is slowly becoming more and more treatable with advancing technologies.
This weekend thousands of women will be hitting the streets of Cedar Rapids for the 18th Annual Especially For You Women's Race Against Breast Cancer. The proceeds from this race have gone to help 4,308 uninsured or underinsured women receive more than $1 million in breast-care services. The best part about this race? All the money stays local. It all goes to help women in the area.
This weekend I'll be one of the thousands of women hitting the streets of Cedar Rapids in support of affordable local breast-care services...will you?
Monday, September 29, 2008
It's heeeere!
HAPPY BANNED BOOKS WEEK!!
And just remember:
"A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone." ~Jo Godwin
And just remember:
"A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone." ~Jo Godwin
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
So many reasons to celebrate...and whine...
So here we go...
We are currently celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month here at the library. Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15th, which is the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries--Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico declared its independence on September 16th, with Chile following on September 18th. The celebration continues through October 15th. I have put a display up in the library to celebrate, come on in and check it out!
And of course there's Banned Books Week coming up! (Like I'd let you forget...) As you already know, we have the censorship exhibit up from the Long Island Coalition Against Censorship. It really is an interesting exhibit, so please do come in and check it out. We will also be having an adult reading program that will be coinciding with this week called, "Elect to Read Banned Books." (Get it? We're trying to tie it all together with this year's election. Kinda the whole two birds with one stone thing...yeah, we're just that good.) This time around we will be having you read banned books and then filling out your slips for the drawing. And can I just say, the prizes are pretty darn cool...because I picked them out!
On another note, we are still having issues with the notification system. We are having to manually call and e-mail people who have items on hold. At this point, we are not sending out any overdue notices either. So watch those checkout slips, kids! Please continue to hang in there with us as we get this whole thing figured out. (And if we call you 17 times about holds, don't turn us in for harassment!)
Also, we have begun to charge fines again as of September 15th. So allow me to reiterate my first point...watch the checkout slips...or log into your account online to keep track of your due dates.
And finally, my allergies are killing me right now. So if I sneeze on you, my sincerest apologies!
We are currently celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month here at the library. Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15th, which is the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries--Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico declared its independence on September 16th, with Chile following on September 18th. The celebration continues through October 15th. I have put a display up in the library to celebrate, come on in and check it out!
And of course there's Banned Books Week coming up! (Like I'd let you forget...) As you already know, we have the censorship exhibit up from the Long Island Coalition Against Censorship. It really is an interesting exhibit, so please do come in and check it out. We will also be having an adult reading program that will be coinciding with this week called, "Elect to Read Banned Books." (Get it? We're trying to tie it all together with this year's election. Kinda the whole two birds with one stone thing...yeah, we're just that good.) This time around we will be having you read banned books and then filling out your slips for the drawing. And can I just say, the prizes are pretty darn cool...because I picked them out!
On another note, we are still having issues with the notification system. We are having to manually call and e-mail people who have items on hold. At this point, we are not sending out any overdue notices either. So watch those checkout slips, kids! Please continue to hang in there with us as we get this whole thing figured out. (And if we call you 17 times about holds, don't turn us in for harassment!)
Also, we have begun to charge fines again as of September 15th. So allow me to reiterate my first point...watch the checkout slips...or log into your account online to keep track of your due dates.
And finally, my allergies are killing me right now. So if I sneeze on you, my sincerest apologies!
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Censorship in Schools and Libraries
We have an exhibit up in our library called "Censorship in Schools and Libraries". The exhibit is sponsored by the Long Island Coalition Against Censorship, which is an association of educational and community organizations that have joined together to oppose censorship and to defend the rights of free speech and free press as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The purpose of the exhibit is to bring awareness to the various types of censorship and all the challenges it has produced in schools and libraries. The exhibit features 34 illustrations and explanations on censorship.
We have put up this exhibit to coincide with Banned Books Week at the end of this month. Banned Books Week, celebrated every year by libraries around the country is meant to bring attention to books that have been challenged (their removal from school or library shelves was requested). According to the Office of Intellectual Freedom (a subdivision of the American Library Association) there were 420 reported challenges in 2007. It is often estimated that many more go undocumented every year.
As I have said before, this is probably one of my favorite weeks of the year. I love the whole idea behind Banned Books Week. But more importantly, I love the chance to educate the patrons I serve about an issue that I feel very strongly about. It continually amazes me that there are challenges to materials in libraries. It amazes me even more that sometimes those items get removed. Most often than not, the reason for the challenge is that someone is offended by the content or language used in a book. If I could make a list of everything in our library that offended me, it would be very long. No lie. It would. But I also know that if those books that I can't stand weren't here, I wouldn't have a job. That's the beauty in libraries...we support all ideas. No matter how controversial, unconventional, or ridiculous the idea might seem to some, we at libraries will do our best to protect it and provide access to it.
I would highly encourage all of you to come out and see the exhibit. It is very interesting and at times even a bit humorous and shocking. But it is an important lesson that needs to be taught, and I hope that you all will be willing to learn.
We have put up this exhibit to coincide with Banned Books Week at the end of this month. Banned Books Week, celebrated every year by libraries around the country is meant to bring attention to books that have been challenged (their removal from school or library shelves was requested). According to the Office of Intellectual Freedom (a subdivision of the American Library Association) there were 420 reported challenges in 2007. It is often estimated that many more go undocumented every year.
As I have said before, this is probably one of my favorite weeks of the year. I love the whole idea behind Banned Books Week. But more importantly, I love the chance to educate the patrons I serve about an issue that I feel very strongly about. It continually amazes me that there are challenges to materials in libraries. It amazes me even more that sometimes those items get removed. Most often than not, the reason for the challenge is that someone is offended by the content or language used in a book. If I could make a list of everything in our library that offended me, it would be very long. No lie. It would. But I also know that if those books that I can't stand weren't here, I wouldn't have a job. That's the beauty in libraries...we support all ideas. No matter how controversial, unconventional, or ridiculous the idea might seem to some, we at libraries will do our best to protect it and provide access to it.
I would highly encourage all of you to come out and see the exhibit. It is very interesting and at times even a bit humorous and shocking. But it is an important lesson that needs to be taught, and I hope that you all will be willing to learn.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
It's coming!!!
Autumn, that is!
It's about this time of year that I start to get really antsy because I know it's just right around the corner.
The one thing I love the most? When you start to feel (and smell) the first tinges of it in the air. I caught the first of it just the other day and now that's about all I can think about every time I step outside!
It's about this time of year that I start to get really antsy because I know it's just right around the corner.
The one thing I love the most? When you start to feel (and smell) the first tinges of it in the air. I caught the first of it just the other day and now that's about all I can think about every time I step outside!
There is something truly magical about this season. Truly. I can't decide if it's the richness in the colors or maybe it's the crispness in the air. Whatever it is, it will forever remain my favorite season and the one thing that I will always look forward to!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Eee-yah!
Greetings! I have lots of new news to pass along (and whine about)!
First, the City of Hiawatha is hosting an event on September 6th from 12pm to 12am called "Fill the Sandbags
For Students" Floodfest. The goal of this event is to raise roughly $25,000 (hopefully more) to assist students displaced by the floods in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. The event will be held at Gutheridge Park and will include local bands, food vendors, children's activities, and a live charity auction. All net proceeds from this event will go to the Cedar Rapids Community Schools Foundation for assistance in helping students affected by the floods. This is a great way to get out help those in need and raise money for a very good cause. Oh, and I should mention that I'm on the committee that is planning this and I can say that we have some super cool things to auction off! So be there!
Second, Pat and I are planning to do a display in September that will coincide with Banned Books Week. For those of you who still don't know (because everyone should by now...) Banned Books Week is like, totally my favorite week of the year. Totally. Banned Books Week and intellectual freedom rights are the main two reasons why I love being a public librarian. For real. Anyways, more on this to come later!
Finally, I am addressing this last issue because I am so tired of answering this question 30 times a day. We still don't know when the online catalog is going to be back up. Sorry, we just don't. The biggest reason, is that we don't have an accurate counting of what we lost in the flood. All three libraries lost materials due to it and although we are getting a better picture of what was lost, we are stil lnot completely and totally sure. So, all I ask is for your patience and understanding (so that I don't flip out the next time someone asks me that question!).
First, the City of Hiawatha is hosting an event on September 6th from 12pm to 12am called "Fill the Sandbags
For Students" Floodfest. The goal of this event is to raise roughly $25,000 (hopefully more) to assist students displaced by the floods in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. The event will be held at Gutheridge Park and will include local bands, food vendors, children's activities, and a live charity auction. All net proceeds from this event will go to the Cedar Rapids Community Schools Foundation for assistance in helping students affected by the floods. This is a great way to get out help those in need and raise money for a very good cause. Oh, and I should mention that I'm on the committee that is planning this and I can say that we have some super cool things to auction off! So be there!
Second, Pat and I are planning to do a display in September that will coincide with Banned Books Week. For those of you who still don't know (because everyone should by now...) Banned Books Week is like, totally my favorite week of the year. Totally. Banned Books Week and intellectual freedom rights are the main two reasons why I love being a public librarian. For real. Anyways, more on this to come later!
Finally, I am addressing this last issue because I am so tired of answering this question 30 times a day. We still don't know when the online catalog is going to be back up. Sorry, we just don't. The biggest reason, is that we don't have an accurate counting of what we lost in the flood. All three libraries lost materials due to it and although we are getting a better picture of what was lost, we are stil lnot completely and totally sure. So, all I ask is for your patience and understanding (so that I don't flip out the next time someone asks me that question!).
Monday, July 28, 2008
Moving Stinks
So I moved this weekend...
To a new apartment in Marion.
And...now...
my everything hurts...
ow-wee....
To a new apartment in Marion.
And...now...
my everything hurts...
ow-wee....
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Rules of the Library Card
Have you ever seen the movie Fight Club with Brad Pitt?
In the movie, Brad's character rattles off a list of rules about the Fight Club. I decided that it was a pretty good set of rules and mirrored my rules of the Library Card after it...
Enjoy! (And obey!)
In the movie, Brad's character rattles off a list of rules about the Fight Club. I decided that it was a pretty good set of rules and mirrored my rules of the Library Card after it...
Enjoy! (And obey!)
#1 the first rule of the Library Card is, you always bring your card
#2 the second rule of the Library Card is, you ALWAYS BRING your card
#3 if someone says I forgot, I can't remember, do I have to have it, the transaction is over
#3 if someone says I forgot, I can't remember, do I have to have it, the transaction is over
#4 one card to a patron
#5 one card at a time
#6 no shirt, no shoes, no card
#7 library cards will last as long as 4 years
#8 if this is your first time at the library, you have to use your card
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Those hazy, crazy, days of summer!
Did summer finally come in with a bang, or what? I'm not sure about the rest of you...but I'm not a big fan of the summer heat and humidity that we get here in Iowa. It's just so...sticky. Ick.
Ah yes, but with summer comes the onslot of summer reading programs here at the library. We have done quite well here for participants this summer, all things considered. We have certainly seen an increase in circulation and in patron visits since the flooding. I'm not entirely sure if that's translated to more people participating in our summer reading programs or not. But hey, we're just excited to be helping out our fellow libraries in any way we can.
Speaking of fellow libraries, we have been fortunate enough to have the company of several staff members from the downtown library out here working. We have also become like a second home to our LSA office associates and librarians as well. So needless to say, we've been a bit crowded here. It's a little difficult with our regular staff not to be stepping all over each other in our closet...er...I mean, workroom. So add a few more to the mix...and well...we just might be going out on the road with a routine!
But the reality of it is that we could not have possibly been able to make it through the last month without them here. They have been a wonderful addition to our staff and have been a joy to work with. So a big thanks to all the staff from CRPL who have been out here helping us...we really appreciate it!
In closing, we are coming upon the end of our summer reading programs...but we still have some great programs planned. Also, don't forget that John Sanford will be here on Tuesday, July 22nd at 7pm at Washington High School!
Ah yes, but with summer comes the onslot of summer reading programs here at the library. We have done quite well here for participants this summer, all things considered. We have certainly seen an increase in circulation and in patron visits since the flooding. I'm not entirely sure if that's translated to more people participating in our summer reading programs or not. But hey, we're just excited to be helping out our fellow libraries in any way we can.
Speaking of fellow libraries, we have been fortunate enough to have the company of several staff members from the downtown library out here working. We have also become like a second home to our LSA office associates and librarians as well. So needless to say, we've been a bit crowded here. It's a little difficult with our regular staff not to be stepping all over each other in our closet...er...I mean, workroom. So add a few more to the mix...and well...we just might be going out on the road with a routine!
But the reality of it is that we could not have possibly been able to make it through the last month without them here. They have been a wonderful addition to our staff and have been a joy to work with. So a big thanks to all the staff from CRPL who have been out here helping us...we really appreciate it!
In closing, we are coming upon the end of our summer reading programs...but we still have some great programs planned. Also, don't forget that John Sanford will be here on Tuesday, July 22nd at 7pm at Washington High School!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
I want my...
baby back, baby back, baby back, baby back...RIBS!! YUMMY!!
That's right kids, this weekend is the 21st Annual Barbeque Round-up, and yours truly here is planning on stuffing herself silly! I looove myself some ribs!
If you have never been to the Barbeque Round-up, I highly suggest you attend! There are vendors from all around the country that come here to lil' ol' Iowa to compete for our tastebuds! That's right, they're here to compete. As you go around tasting (and tasting some more...and some more...) you need to keep tabs on which vendor you liked the best. Because you will be asked to fill out a ballot at the end for your favorite.
Now, I'm going to let you in on a little secret here...the best way to really enjoy BBQ Round-up is to split up. Get a big group together and everyone goes to a different booth and orders a sample. They give you roughly 3-4 ribs and sauce with each sample. You then meet back up and split those puppies up! This way, you get the best of all worlds! Take it from a seasoned BBQ-Roundup veteran, this is the way to go!
Hope to see ya'll there! I'll be the one stuffing my face...er...wait...that'll be most of us...nevermind!
That's right kids, this weekend is the 21st Annual Barbeque Round-up, and yours truly here is planning on stuffing herself silly! I looove myself some ribs!
If you have never been to the Barbeque Round-up, I highly suggest you attend! There are vendors from all around the country that come here to lil' ol' Iowa to compete for our tastebuds! That's right, they're here to compete. As you go around tasting (and tasting some more...and some more...) you need to keep tabs on which vendor you liked the best. Because you will be asked to fill out a ballot at the end for your favorite.
Now, I'm going to let you in on a little secret here...the best way to really enjoy BBQ Round-up is to split up. Get a big group together and everyone goes to a different booth and orders a sample. They give you roughly 3-4 ribs and sauce with each sample. You then meet back up and split those puppies up! This way, you get the best of all worlds! Take it from a seasoned BBQ-Roundup veteran, this is the way to go!
Hope to see ya'll there! I'll be the one stuffing my face...er...wait...that'll be most of us...nevermind!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Floods--2008
I cannot begin to put into words the awe and absolute devastation that I am witnessing in this city of ours. Never in a million years did I ever believe that I would see something so catastrophic.
Natural disasters like this don't happen here. They happen somewhere other than here and I watch them on the national news in disbelief, but also in relief that it's not happening here.
But then it did.
It happened here.
In a catastrophic way.
I have yet to run into one person in this area who hasn't either seen the footage on television or actually witnessed it for themselves. Most have that glazed over look in their eye. The kind of look that recognizes they've seen something terrible and yet, cannot even begin to process it. It is just totally mind-blowing to see downtown Cedar Rapids right now. It looks surreal. Like something out of a bad movie. But it's not. It's real. Very real. It is so devastating to see buildings swallowed entirely by water. Buildings, that we here are all so familiar with.
One building in particular, that I and my fellow colleagues at HPL are all too familiar with is the Cedar Rapids Public Library. I cried when I saw the building in an ariel shot on the news. It literally took my breath away to see how high the water was around that building. And then to think about how high the water must be inside the building made me sick to my stomach.
For those of you who don't know, I am a former employee of CRPL. I spent three years of my life in that building, oftentimes on a daily basis. I know the books and the building intimately. I know the employees just as intimately. It breaks my heart to think of what is possibly lost in that library. Not only in damage to materials and structure, but to the staff who works so hard to make the library what it truly is. I have always loved libraries. They very often feel much like a second home to me, because of my familiarity with them. So to see one in such a condition is like seeing my own home...just devastating.
Obviously, there is more than just the library that is affected by this tragedy. Thousands are misplaced from their homes. Businesses in the downtown area are destroyed or at the very least water damaged. Our city, as well as hundreds of others around the state of Iowa have months of hard recovery ahead of us.
As I stated in the beginning, it is just so hard to put into words what I have seen over the last few days.
But I, like hundreds of others will be there when the waters recede to help with clean up. We will rebuild. But we most certainly will never forget.
Please keep all Cedar Rapids citizens and others in your thoughts.
Natural disasters like this don't happen here. They happen somewhere other than here and I watch them on the national news in disbelief, but also in relief that it's not happening here.
But then it did.
It happened here.
In a catastrophic way.
I have yet to run into one person in this area who hasn't either seen the footage on television or actually witnessed it for themselves. Most have that glazed over look in their eye. The kind of look that recognizes they've seen something terrible and yet, cannot even begin to process it. It is just totally mind-blowing to see downtown Cedar Rapids right now. It looks surreal. Like something out of a bad movie. But it's not. It's real. Very real. It is so devastating to see buildings swallowed entirely by water. Buildings, that we here are all so familiar with.
One building in particular, that I and my fellow colleagues at HPL are all too familiar with is the Cedar Rapids Public Library. I cried when I saw the building in an ariel shot on the news. It literally took my breath away to see how high the water was around that building. And then to think about how high the water must be inside the building made me sick to my stomach.
For those of you who don't know, I am a former employee of CRPL. I spent three years of my life in that building, oftentimes on a daily basis. I know the books and the building intimately. I know the employees just as intimately. It breaks my heart to think of what is possibly lost in that library. Not only in damage to materials and structure, but to the staff who works so hard to make the library what it truly is. I have always loved libraries. They very often feel much like a second home to me, because of my familiarity with them. So to see one in such a condition is like seeing my own home...just devastating.
Obviously, there is more than just the library that is affected by this tragedy. Thousands are misplaced from their homes. Businesses in the downtown area are destroyed or at the very least water damaged. Our city, as well as hundreds of others around the state of Iowa have months of hard recovery ahead of us.
As I stated in the beginning, it is just so hard to put into words what I have seen over the last few days.
But I, like hundreds of others will be there when the waters recede to help with clean up. We will rebuild. But we most certainly will never forget.
Please keep all Cedar Rapids citizens and others in your thoughts.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Drowned Rat?
I don't know about the rest of you...but I'm starting to feel a little tired of the rain!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Random Whines...
It's been awhile, hasn't it?
Ahh yes, but have no fear!! Your fearless whiner is here with a whole new list of random and scathing whines! Let the whining begin...
Well...let's see...I made the decision that two jobs wasn't enough torture and have decided to add yet another to my already pretty busy schedule. I recently started as a front desk supervisor for the Rockwell Recreation Center. It basically amounts to me swiping membership cards and folding lots and lots of towels. And as I have already discovered, I will never be able to be totally anonymous again. Evidentally, there are a number of you HPL patrons out there who also happen to work out there. So, if that's you, you'll be seeing me there...I'll be the one eating peanut butter bon-bons and drinking a big mug of coffee behind the front desk. That's right, I am the total antithesis of what this place sets out to be. Heh. Who knows? Maybe it will bring about a whole new change in me...riiiight.
I've been in the process for the last week or so, of weeding the VHS collection again. I swear...that thing is one giant, growing, living organism...that breeds. No matter how many of those things I get rid of, there's ten more that reappear in its place!! Oy! But this time I've done a very heavy weeding of that area. By heavy, I mean that I've managed to reduce the collection to just one set of shelving. I know that some people find it difficult to imagine us getting rid of materials in our collection, but we have to. Not only for aesthetic purposes, but also to make room! Those shelves get a little snug sometimes! Anyways, to make the point short and sweet: I chucked a bunch of VHS videos out of the collection and they are now for sale in the Friends booksale room for $1 a piece.
Finally, I have decided that I will totally unfit to be a mother someday. Hear me out on this one. I have been dog-sitting for my boy for about the last week and a half while he has been taking care of a sick loved one in his family. At first, my initial thinking was "Meh, no problem...I can totally handle this!" My thinking now? "What in the h*** was I thinking!?" I can't tell you how many times in the last week I have almost forgotten to feed her. (For the record, she has been fed the entire time, no need to call animal control yet...) If hasn't been forgetting to feed her, then it's been trying not to beat her into oblivion for waking me up at 5 am barking at god knows what outside the window. I am not a morning person, and there is nothing that can piss me off quicker than getting woken up even before my stinkin alarm clock goes off in the morning. But then to make the matter worse, there is nothing out there!!!! Nothing!!!
*sigh*
I really do love the dog.
I do.
Really.
Just not when she wakes me up at 5 am. So, if I'm whinier or crankier than usual this week, it's because I'm sleep-deprived and covered in itchy German Shepherd hair.
That's about it for now...hopefully I'll be back a little sooner next time...until then...peace out!
Ahh yes, but have no fear!! Your fearless whiner is here with a whole new list of random and scathing whines! Let the whining begin...
Well...let's see...I made the decision that two jobs wasn't enough torture and have decided to add yet another to my already pretty busy schedule. I recently started as a front desk supervisor for the Rockwell Recreation Center. It basically amounts to me swiping membership cards and folding lots and lots of towels. And as I have already discovered, I will never be able to be totally anonymous again. Evidentally, there are a number of you HPL patrons out there who also happen to work out there. So, if that's you, you'll be seeing me there...I'll be the one eating peanut butter bon-bons and drinking a big mug of coffee behind the front desk. That's right, I am the total antithesis of what this place sets out to be. Heh. Who knows? Maybe it will bring about a whole new change in me...riiiight.
I've been in the process for the last week or so, of weeding the VHS collection again. I swear...that thing is one giant, growing, living organism...that breeds. No matter how many of those things I get rid of, there's ten more that reappear in its place!! Oy! But this time I've done a very heavy weeding of that area. By heavy, I mean that I've managed to reduce the collection to just one set of shelving. I know that some people find it difficult to imagine us getting rid of materials in our collection, but we have to. Not only for aesthetic purposes, but also to make room! Those shelves get a little snug sometimes! Anyways, to make the point short and sweet: I chucked a bunch of VHS videos out of the collection and they are now for sale in the Friends booksale room for $1 a piece.
Finally, I have decided that I will totally unfit to be a mother someday. Hear me out on this one. I have been dog-sitting for my boy for about the last week and a half while he has been taking care of a sick loved one in his family. At first, my initial thinking was "Meh, no problem...I can totally handle this!" My thinking now? "What in the h*** was I thinking!?" I can't tell you how many times in the last week I have almost forgotten to feed her. (For the record, she has been fed the entire time, no need to call animal control yet...) If hasn't been forgetting to feed her, then it's been trying not to beat her into oblivion for waking me up at 5 am barking at god knows what outside the window. I am not a morning person, and there is nothing that can piss me off quicker than getting woken up even before my stinkin alarm clock goes off in the morning. But then to make the matter worse, there is nothing out there!!!! Nothing!!!
*sigh*
I really do love the dog.
I do.
Really.
Just not when she wakes me up at 5 am. So, if I'm whinier or crankier than usual this week, it's because I'm sleep-deprived and covered in itchy German Shepherd hair.
That's about it for now...hopefully I'll be back a little sooner next time...until then...peace out!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Marriage proposals and such...
I am writing today to share an experience that happened to me yesterday.
I was proposed to.
A marriage proposal.
At a stoplight.
No lie.
I was sitting at the stoplight at the intersection of Williams Blvd and Wiley when a car pulls up to my passenger's side window (which happened to be down) and I hear a "Hey."
I turn and look to see a man leaning out of his driver's side window.
"Will you marry me?" he says.
My jaw drops...look of utter shock and confusion comes across my face.
"Please" he says, "marry me."
By now, I'm wondering if I'm on candid camera.
"No?" he says and begins to pout.
"I don't think so" I tell him.
He drives off.
That's a first for me...a marriage proposal at a stoplight...and here, I always thought it would be so much more romantic! Ha! However, I did tell my real sweetheart to get on the ball and propose already. I mean, I may just have to take up the next person who proposes to me at a stoplight! *smiles*
Hope ya'll have a wonderful weekend!
I was proposed to.
A marriage proposal.
At a stoplight.
No lie.
I was sitting at the stoplight at the intersection of Williams Blvd and Wiley when a car pulls up to my passenger's side window (which happened to be down) and I hear a "Hey."
I turn and look to see a man leaning out of his driver's side window.
"Will you marry me?" he says.
My jaw drops...look of utter shock and confusion comes across my face.
"Please" he says, "marry me."
By now, I'm wondering if I'm on candid camera.
"No?" he says and begins to pout.
"I don't think so" I tell him.
He drives off.
That's a first for me...a marriage proposal at a stoplight...and here, I always thought it would be so much more romantic! Ha! However, I did tell my real sweetheart to get on the ball and propose already. I mean, I may just have to take up the next person who proposes to me at a stoplight! *smiles*
Hope ya'll have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Bruce Hale is coming our way!!
That's right book lovers...be afraid, be very afraid...bwahahahaha...Okay, actually, not really! Bruce will be the first author to visit the Metro Network as part of the Out Loud! Author Series. He will be here (yes, here!) at the Hiawatha Library on April 29th at 4 pm to speak to ages young and old about his books and illustrations.
A little background on the author: Bruce was raised by wolves just outside of Los Angeles, California (no lie, that's what his website says). Bruce has written and illustrated over 20 books for children. A speaker and avid traveler, Bruce has visited numerous schools, colleges, universities and national conferences. He currently resides in California with his wife Janette and when it's alright with the lizards, will get a dog someday!
Bruce is the author of the Moki the Gecko children's books and also the Chet Gecko Mystery series. (Evidentally, he has a thing with lizards...) A little background information on the two series:
"What do you get when you cross Raymond Chandler with the Marx Brothers? Meet Chet Gecko, a sassy, wisecracking fourth-grade detective from Emerson Hicky Elementary. He’s everyone’s favorite elementary-school detective and lizard of mystery."
Chet Gecko: Case File
Who is Chet Gecko? Our research reveals:
• Favorite foods: Stinkbug pie, Pillbug Crunch bars, wolf-spider lasagna.• Siblings: Little sister Pinky.
• Dislikes: (See siblings.) Also, math class, broccoli, homework, lima beans, cooties, and crying reptiles.
• Likes: Mysteries, food, best friend Natalie Attired, food, comic books, food, and of course, food.
• Little-known facts: Dodgeball champion, two years running.
• Hobbies: Teasing sister, reading, cartooning, skateboarding, knitting doilies for submarines. (Just kidding about that last one.)
• Business: Danger.
"Moki is a Hawaiian surfing gecko who loves to laugh. Each book follows Moki and his animal friends on a Hawaiian adventure, full of warmth and humor. Whether Moki's hanging ten, saving Santa, or sizing up a Black Bufo, he and his Hawaiian animal pals always offer young readers an exciting adventure with just a little bit more."
We look forward to seeing you (and Bruce) here at Hiawatha Public Library on April 29th at 4 pm to see and visit with Bruce Hale! So be sure not to forget to bring your favorite copies of Chet Gecko or Moki books for Bruce to sign! I know I'll have mine ready!!
P.S. Bruce, if you're reading this...I love lizards too!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
"PL-AAH" The Final Chapter
Okay, okay...I promise this will be my last blog post about PLA! Just a few quick odds and ends to wrap up about my experience at the conference.
I cannot believe that I forgot to include this in my other blog posts! I got to meet Gene and Bill who are the creators of my all time favorite comic strip ever... Unshelved!
You don't even know what these guys mean to me. They are my hereos. I feel like we are connected on some deep librarian spiritual level.
I literally squealed like a little girl when I saw them at the exhibits hall at PLA. No lie. Squealed. And then when I actually got up there to meet them? I gushed and giggled obnoxiously like pre-teen girls do for the latest boy band phenom. It was so terrible. Yet, so right! I actually got them to autograph a t-shirt and a book for me.
Oh god, I'm feeling so flustered and giddy just typing about this. Be still my heart. The only thing I didn't manage to do was get my picture taken with them. That's okay. They're images will forever be imprinted on my heart. *smiles* Could I really be anymore pathetic?!
Actually, yes, I really could be! The exhibits hall at PLA was insanely big. By insanely, I mean you could easily take two days and never make it through all of the vendors that were there. Insane. And the best part? Every one of them wanted to give you free stuff. I love free stuff. But the thing was...it wasn't the cheezy, stupid stuff...it was cool stuff. Like books. Lots and lots of books. I came home with five...count 'em...five big bags *full* of books. It actually got to the point that I had to make trips to the car because of how much stuff I had. Most of the books were advanced copies of books that will be coming out in the next few months. But hey, who cares?! They're free books!!
*sigh* So I think this will wrap up what I will blog about my experience at PLA. There's plenty more I could probably say...then again...you're probably sick of me gushing about it. "Enough" you say...get back to the whining...you're right...enough.
I promise.
I cannot believe that I forgot to include this in my other blog posts! I got to meet Gene and Bill who are the creators of my all time favorite comic strip ever... Unshelved!
You don't even know what these guys mean to me. They are my hereos. I feel like we are connected on some deep librarian spiritual level.
I literally squealed like a little girl when I saw them at the exhibits hall at PLA. No lie. Squealed. And then when I actually got up there to meet them? I gushed and giggled obnoxiously like pre-teen girls do for the latest boy band phenom. It was so terrible. Yet, so right! I actually got them to autograph a t-shirt and a book for me.
Oh god, I'm feeling so flustered and giddy just typing about this. Be still my heart. The only thing I didn't manage to do was get my picture taken with them. That's okay. They're images will forever be imprinted on my heart. *smiles* Could I really be anymore pathetic?!
Actually, yes, I really could be! The exhibits hall at PLA was insanely big. By insanely, I mean you could easily take two days and never make it through all of the vendors that were there. Insane. And the best part? Every one of them wanted to give you free stuff. I love free stuff. But the thing was...it wasn't the cheezy, stupid stuff...it was cool stuff. Like books. Lots and lots of books. I came home with five...count 'em...five big bags *full* of books. It actually got to the point that I had to make trips to the car because of how much stuff I had. Most of the books were advanced copies of books that will be coming out in the next few months. But hey, who cares?! They're free books!!
*sigh* So I think this will wrap up what I will blog about my experience at PLA. There's plenty more I could probably say...then again...you're probably sick of me gushing about it. "Enough" you say...get back to the whining...you're right...enough.
I promise.
I'm done.
Over and out.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Song List for a Moody Day
I've been feeling a little moody lately (surprise, surprise!). I think a lot of it simply stems from the lack of decent weather. I mean really, do we still need snow in April?!
So, last night, while feeling rather moody and sipping on a lovely glass of riesling, I came up with a top ten list of good moody songs. For some of them, it's moody lyrics and for others it's a moody beat. If you're feeling moody lately, like me, then check out my list. (Preferably with a good glass of wine!)
Molly's Top Ten Moody Music List
1. "Shelter" by Ray LaMontagne
2. "Hit the Ground" by Lizz Wright
3. "Pieces Don't Fit Anymore" by James Morrison
4. "What Is It This Time?" by Jamie Liddell
5. "Prison" by Melissa Etheridge
6. "Feelin Love" by Paula Cole
7. "Red House" by Jimi Hendrix
8. "Autumn" by Paolo Nutini
9. "Missing Your Love" by Jonny Lang
10. "I Know" by Jude
So, last night, while feeling rather moody and sipping on a lovely glass of riesling, I came up with a top ten list of good moody songs. For some of them, it's moody lyrics and for others it's a moody beat. If you're feeling moody lately, like me, then check out my list. (Preferably with a good glass of wine!)
Molly's Top Ten Moody Music List
1. "Shelter" by Ray LaMontagne
2. "Hit the Ground" by Lizz Wright
3. "Pieces Don't Fit Anymore" by James Morrison
4. "What Is It This Time?" by Jamie Liddell
5. "Prison" by Melissa Etheridge
6. "Feelin Love" by Paula Cole
7. "Red House" by Jimi Hendrix
8. "Autumn" by Paolo Nutini
9. "Missing Your Love" by Jonny Lang
10. "I Know" by Jude
Thursday, April 10, 2008
What would be your top ten list?
I've been reading several "bookish-like" magazines lately that offer up reviews and lists of books to read. Several also interviewed celebrities and authors as to what their favorite or most influential books might be.
These magazines and articles have got me thinking about what my top ten list of favorite books would be. It's surprisingly tough to narrow down! Every time I think I may have my list complete, I remember another really good book that I would add to it.
So here's my question to you lovely blog-reading folk: What is your top ten list of books? Feel free to respond on this blog or shoot me an e-mail!
Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
These magazines and articles have got me thinking about what my top ten list of favorite books would be. It's surprisingly tough to narrow down! Every time I think I may have my list complete, I remember another really good book that I would add to it.
So here's my question to you lovely blog-reading folk: What is your top ten list of books? Feel free to respond on this blog or shoot me an e-mail!
Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
"PL-AAH" (Part Deux)
I told you I'd be back with more!!
So...It's been a couple of days since I got back from PLA (The Public Library Association's National Conference in Minneapolis for those of you who don't follow along very well!). We're pretty much all moved back into the library after the big carpet re-do (even if we still can't find anything). Now, I *finally* have some time to reflect!
To say that the whole PLA experience was amazing would be doing it a great injustice. I honestly cannot put into words just what an incredible experience this conference was for me.
For one thing, it made me realize that many of the problems that we face as libraries here in the state of Iowa are actually faced by libraries all of the country. And as odd as it sounds, it's really quite a comforting thought. It's nice to be able to come together from all over the country and say "what can we do to change this?" or "what has worked for you?" Or sometimes it's just a simple, "oh, you had that problem too!" I loved being able to converse with other librarians about our similarities and our differences. In doing so, I realized how so very lucky I am to be a public librarian in Iowa. Our little state is quite progressive when it comes to recognizing the importance that our public libraries play in our communities. So you all should feel very fortunate that you're here with us too!
I attended many wonderful sessions while at the conference. One of my favorites was on safety and security at libraries. I know that many would think its ridiculous for libraries to need a session on safety and security. But what many don't realize is that we deal with *all* of the public. Key word: *all*. Almost every librarian I know has some sort of "war story" of a patron interaction gone bad. The guy who did this session was fantastic! He had been a security guard at a public library in North Carolina. He was blunt and to the point with his presentation, but downright hilarious too! One of my favorite lines from his session was actually something that his grandmother had told him as a little boy. She said, "Son, some people are just mean as hell...just like your granddaddy over there...just look at 'em!". What a hoot! He was actually discussing the different people that we meet throughout our days working at the library and in that case he was referring to those people that seem to always have a perpetual chip on their shoulder.
I also had the opportunity to see Nancy Pearl speak at a luncheon. For those of you unfamiliar with Nancy, she is the other of "Book Lust" and "Book Lust 2" as well as her newest addition to that family "Book Crush." She also happens to be the model for the Librarian Action Figure (complete with actual "shushing" motion!!). It truly was an honor to be able to see her speak. She was delightfully funny and also inspiring! For more info on Nancy check out her website at: http://www.nancypearl.com/
I did happen to get some down time away from the conference and was able to do some shopping (Helllooooo IKEA!), eat at some great restaurants, visit the Walker Contemporary Art Museum (meh...not a fan of modern art...but I went at the urging of friends), and the Minneapolis
Sculpture Garden. The picture to the left is Christina (Circulation Manager for CRPL) and I in front of the world famous "Spoon Bridge and Cherry." And yes, that is my leg around her...and no, there was no alcohol involved at this point in the evening! (I plead the fifth as to what happened later that evening! Ha!)
So, apart from getting lost in downtown Minneapolis multiple times (by multiple I mean at least twice, if not more everyday I was up there)...the entire experience of PLA was an amazing one. Amazing enough that I'm already firing up the whining, begging and groveling in hopes of being able to attend PLA in Portland, Oregon in 2010. Wish me luck!
To say that the whole PLA experience was amazing would be doing it a great injustice. I honestly cannot put into words just what an incredible experience this conference was for me.
For one thing, it made me realize that many of the problems that we face as libraries here in the state of Iowa are actually faced by libraries all of the country. And as odd as it sounds, it's really quite a comforting thought. It's nice to be able to come together from all over the country and say "what can we do to change this?" or "what has worked for you?" Or sometimes it's just a simple, "oh, you had that problem too!" I loved being able to converse with other librarians about our similarities and our differences. In doing so, I realized how so very lucky I am to be a public librarian in Iowa. Our little state is quite progressive when it comes to recognizing the importance that our public libraries play in our communities. So you all should feel very fortunate that you're here with us too!I attended many wonderful sessions while at the conference. One of my favorites was on safety and security at libraries. I know that many would think its ridiculous for libraries to need a session on safety and security. But what many don't realize is that we deal with *all* of the public. Key word: *all*. Almost every librarian I know has some sort of "war story" of a patron interaction gone bad. The guy who did this session was fantastic! He had been a security guard at a public library in North Carolina. He was blunt and to the point with his presentation, but downright hilarious too! One of my favorite lines from his session was actually something that his grandmother had told him as a little boy. She said, "Son, some people are just mean as hell...just like your granddaddy over there...just look at 'em!". What a hoot! He was actually discussing the different people that we meet throughout our days working at the library and in that case he was referring to those people that seem to always have a perpetual chip on their shoulder.
I also had the opportunity to see Nancy Pearl speak at a luncheon. For those of you unfamiliar with Nancy, she is the other of "Book Lust" and "Book Lust 2" as well as her newest addition to that family "Book Crush." She also happens to be the model for the Librarian Action Figure (complete with actual "shushing" motion!!). It truly was an honor to be able to see her speak. She was delightfully funny and also inspiring! For more info on Nancy check out her website at: http://www.nancypearl.com/
I did happen to get some down time away from the conference and was able to do some shopping (Helllooooo IKEA!), eat at some great restaurants, visit the Walker Contemporary Art Museum (meh...not a fan of modern art...but I went at the urging of friends), and the Minneapolis
Sculpture Garden. The picture to the left is Christina (Circulation Manager for CRPL) and I in front of the world famous "Spoon Bridge and Cherry." And yes, that is my leg around her...and no, there was no alcohol involved at this point in the evening! (I plead the fifth as to what happened later that evening! Ha!)So, apart from getting lost in downtown Minneapolis multiple times (by multiple I mean at least twice, if not more everyday I was up there)...the entire experience of PLA was an amazing one. Amazing enough that I'm already firing up the whining, begging and groveling in hopes of being able to attend PLA in Portland, Oregon in 2010. Wish me luck!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
PLA--other wise known as "PL-AAH"
Oh... my, my, my, my, my, my...where to start this post?!
So, I spent the last four days in Minneapolis at the Public Library Association's National Conference. (And when I wasn't actually at the conference, I was getting lost in downtown Minneapolis...more on that later...)
So, I spent the last four days in Minneapolis at the Public Library Association's National Conference. (And when I wasn't actually at the conference, I was getting lost in downtown Minneapolis...more on that later...)
And wow. Just...wow. Talk about amazing...and overwhelming...and amazing...and incredible...and yeah, I'm still trying to process through the entire experience of it all.
I have never been to a national library conference before. I've attended the Iowa Library Association's annual conference a few times and various other workshops around the state of Iowa. But a national conference was a beast I had yet to conquer. Until now!
The thing that still is so mind-blowing to me was all of the people. There were roughly 5,500 librarians from all around the country registered for this conference. (That's almost the same amount of people who reside in my hometown!) I met librarians from Oregon, Alaska, California, New Jersey (or "Joisey" as they like to say!), Indiana, Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Texas, Illinois, Washington...and the list goes on! We came from all walks of life, libraries of various sizes and populations, yet we were all there for the same reason...to learn and share about our experiences as public libraries. As one of my conference cohorts put it, "it reaffirms everything I know and love about being a public librarian." She is so right.
As I said before, I'm still trying to process the entire experience yet...but I know for sure that I'll be back with more posts as I come to more exciting and mind blowing conclusions! So, stay tuned!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Possible threats...
So, I'm having some issues. We've had yet another rash of thefts from our CD collection here at the library. As was previously noted, I tend to get a tad bit upset about this. So instead of whining about it (I know, miracle, right?!) I've been creating a list of possible threats instead.
Threat #1: You mess with my CD's...I mess with you.
Threat #2: You take my CD's...I break every last one of your fingers.
Threat #3: You steal CD's...I torture you needlessly until you give them back.
Threat #4: You take multiple CD's...I take one finger for everyone stolen.
Threat #5: You steal CD's from me...I pin you up outside our building and let all the taxpayers of Hiawatha throw as many water balloons at you as they wish.
Threat #6: You "accidentally" wind up with CD's that are not checked out...I "accidentally" remove your fingernails...with pliers.
Threat #7: You lift CD's and I catch you...you've just bought yourself a one-way ticket to shelf-reading the entire library...until you're blind.
Threat #8: You mess with the CD collection...I'll see to it that you and the Hiawatha Police Department become very closely acquainted.
Threat #9: You take CD's...and I send the library mafia after you...let me just put it this way...you thought Al Capone was bad, he's got nothin' on these ladies.
Threat #10: Finally, you should know that I am not above death and dismemberment.
Threat #1: You mess with my CD's...I mess with you.
Threat #2: You take my CD's...I break every last one of your fingers.
Threat #3: You steal CD's...I torture you needlessly until you give them back.
Threat #4: You take multiple CD's...I take one finger for everyone stolen.
Threat #5: You steal CD's from me...I pin you up outside our building and let all the taxpayers of Hiawatha throw as many water balloons at you as they wish.
Threat #6: You "accidentally" wind up with CD's that are not checked out...I "accidentally" remove your fingernails...with pliers.
Threat #7: You lift CD's and I catch you...you've just bought yourself a one-way ticket to shelf-reading the entire library...until you're blind.
Threat #8: You mess with the CD collection...I'll see to it that you and the Hiawatha Police Department become very closely acquainted.
Threat #9: You take CD's...and I send the library mafia after you...let me just put it this way...you thought Al Capone was bad, he's got nothin' on these ladies.
Threat #10: Finally, you should know that I am not above death and dismemberment.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Green beer anyone?
Happy St. Patty's Day, to ya!
As someone of Irish descent (if the last name doesn't give it away, the first name most certainly will!), I feel a little obligated to wish everyone Happy St. Patty's Day. My Irish lineage comes from my father's side...check out the link below to find out a little bit more about the history of my name
As someone of Irish descent (if the last name doesn't give it away, the first name most certainly will!), I feel a little obligated to wish everyone Happy St. Patty's Day. My Irish lineage comes from my father's side...check out the link below to find out a little bit more about the history of my name
(we're even cool enough to have a family crest...wooo!):
http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.fc/qx/keating-family-crest.htm
Like many Irish families, mine came over during the potato famine and settled in New York before branching out. Speaking of potatoes...my mother always tells the story of the first holiday that she and my father hosted for his family shortly after they were married. My mom made a little side dish of potatoes to go along with the rest of the meal. As the dishes started to be passed, my mom soon realized that after 3 people, the potatoes were gone! My poor mother, embarrassed, went back into the kitchen to make more! Ever since then, she makes at least a triple batch of potatoes when my father's side is over for dinner! Like any good Irish family, we sure do like our taters!
Finally, I'll leave you with an Irish blessing...
An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,and warm your heart and home.
http://www.houseofnames.com/xq/asp.fc/qx/keating-family-crest.htm
Like many Irish families, mine came over during the potato famine and settled in New York before branching out. Speaking of potatoes...my mother always tells the story of the first holiday that she and my father hosted for his family shortly after they were married. My mom made a little side dish of potatoes to go along with the rest of the meal. As the dishes started to be passed, my mom soon realized that after 3 people, the potatoes were gone! My poor mother, embarrassed, went back into the kitchen to make more! Ever since then, she makes at least a triple batch of potatoes when my father's side is over for dinner! Like any good Irish family, we sure do like our taters!
Finally, I'll leave you with an Irish blessing...
An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours!
P.S. If you're going out in search of green beer tonight...please do so responsibly! (And drink one for me, because I'll be working!)
Thursday, March 13, 2008
I love ugly animals...
So, this blog really has nothing to do with the picture to the right...but I h
ave a thing for ugly animals and wanted to share it! You may laugh, but it's true! My favorite animal in the whole world is frogs. Yep, those slimy, ribbett-y, hopping little creatures. Love 'em!
Anywho, onto more interesting subjects than my random odd obsessions...like cheap, nasty jelly beans...okay...I'm done...seriously...
I'm going to be attending the Public Library Association's National Conference in Minneapolis from March 26-29th. I'm super-duper excited about this!! You have no idea how much whining, groveling, nagging and begging was involved on my part in order to be able to go to this conference. I *literally* started begging to go to this conference over a year ago. No joke. Ask Jeaneal. I haven't shut up about it since I saw on the website that it was going to be in Minneapolis for 2008. Yeah, really excited about this one!
I mean, just think, there will be hundreds upon thousands of librarians from all over the country decending upon Minneapolis for this conference. Be afraid, be very afraid! Bwa-ha-ha-ha! Actually, in all reality, I'm just very excited to be able to network, attend workshops, and see vendors. It's going to be very cool and I'm sure ya'll are going to have to listen to me rave about it for the next 6 months. So get ready! I do want to send a shout out to our Friends group for their assistance in the registration fees. I'm very thankful!
Which reminds me, that is also the week that we will be laying down some new carpet in the library. (And me, the slacker, will get out of most of the work!) Because of the new carpet, we will be closed March 21-24 and March 31-April 1. We will be offering reduced services from March 25-30. These services are limited to: *check out of reserved items only, *returns, *Pre-printed tax forms only, *No juvenile programming or internet service. Please also keep in mind that Marion and Cedar Rapids will be offering full services during this time, so if you have a need that is urgent, don't hesitate to contact them for additional assistance. Finally, remember that you can return materials to any of the metro libraries as well as any of the Hy-Vee grocery stores in the Cedar Rapids area as well.
That's about it for now! Here's a re-cap for those of you who don't love me enough to read my entire post:
*I love ugly animals and cheap, nasty jelly beans
*I'm going to PLA in Minneapolis
*We are getting new carpet and will be closed for about a week
There you have it! Later tators!
ave a thing for ugly animals and wanted to share it! You may laugh, but it's true! My favorite animal in the whole world is frogs. Yep, those slimy, ribbett-y, hopping little creatures. Love 'em!Anywho, onto more interesting subjects than my random odd obsessions...like cheap, nasty jelly beans...okay...I'm done...seriously...
I'm going to be attending the Public Library Association's National Conference in Minneapolis from March 26-29th. I'm super-duper excited about this!! You have no idea how much whining, groveling, nagging and begging was involved on my part in order to be able to go to this conference. I *literally* started begging to go to this conference over a year ago. No joke. Ask Jeaneal. I haven't shut up about it since I saw on the website that it was going to be in Minneapolis for 2008. Yeah, really excited about this one!
I mean, just think, there will be hundreds upon thousands of librarians from all over the country decending upon Minneapolis for this conference. Be afraid, be very afraid! Bwa-ha-ha-ha! Actually, in all reality, I'm just very excited to be able to network, attend workshops, and see vendors. It's going to be very cool and I'm sure ya'll are going to have to listen to me rave about it for the next 6 months. So get ready! I do want to send a shout out to our Friends group for their assistance in the registration fees. I'm very thankful!
Which reminds me, that is also the week that we will be laying down some new carpet in the library. (And me, the slacker, will get out of most of the work!) Because of the new carpet, we will be closed March 21-24 and March 31-April 1. We will be offering reduced services from March 25-30. These services are limited to: *check out of reserved items only, *returns, *Pre-printed tax forms only, *No juvenile programming or internet service. Please also keep in mind that Marion and Cedar Rapids will be offering full services during this time, so if you have a need that is urgent, don't hesitate to contact them for additional assistance. Finally, remember that you can return materials to any of the metro libraries as well as any of the Hy-Vee grocery stores in the Cedar Rapids area as well.
That's about it for now! Here's a re-cap for those of you who don't love me enough to read my entire post:
*I love ugly animals and cheap, nasty jelly beans
*I'm going to PLA in Minneapolis
*We are getting new carpet and will be closed for about a week
There you have it! Later tators!
Friday, March 7, 2008
I promise...
This is my last complaint about the winter weather...okay...maybe not...so I lied! (Hey...I need something to complain about and if it's not the library then it might as well be the weather!!) Has it not been a rough winter? I mean, seriously! I had to laugh last weekend when it was about 50 degrees out and there were *literally* people walking around in flip-flops and tank tops. (You think it's been a little rough?!)
I think my mom stated it best last night when she said, "Hey! We've gone four days without precipitation! Maybe spring's finally on it's way!" Now, mind you, my parents live an hour south of here in Washington and didn't get the crud that we did on Wednesday morning. But bless my mom for being the optimistic one...I'll just continue to whine about it until the middle of summer!
So, I found this cartoon today and couldn't help but share it because it expresses so much of how I feel right now--a little robbed by winter!
Here's to a "precipitation-free" weekend! Woo!
I think my mom stated it best last night when she said, "Hey! We've gone four days without precipitation! Maybe spring's finally on it's way!" Now, mind you, my parents live an hour south of here in Washington and didn't get the crud that we did on Wednesday morning. But bless my mom for being the optimistic one...I'll just continue to whine about it until the middle of summer!
So, I found this cartoon today and couldn't help but share it because it expresses so much of how I feel right now--a little robbed by winter!
Here's to a "precipitation-free" weekend! Woo!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Duh nah nah-nah nah nuh da dun
*They say it's your birthday* Duh nah nah-nah nah nuh da dun *Well, it's my birthday too, yeah!* For those of you who can't figure out what tune I'm singing it's "Birthday" by the Beatles.
Yeah, that's right...it's my birthday...the big 2-6. Past my quarterlife crises of the 25th year and on to the 26th. Yep, four whole years away from 30. *scary* I mean really, what do I have left to look forward to?!? My mid-life crisis? (Only if it's a good one and I get a Ferrari and lots of really fabulous shoes!) I suppose I shouldn't be so pessimistic about getting older. I'm sure there are lots of things to look forward to...like menopause...sorry...too much information! Anywho, this birthday really hasn't been a bad one. I got to eat a half a pan of really yummy cake. I received some beautiful flowers from my beau. Tonight, after work I get to go have dinner and pig out. I recieved lots of great birthday wishes via phone, e-mail and other electronic communications. So really, I should be grateful that I have so many wonderful people around me to celebrate with!
Let the party begin! Duh nah nah-nah nah nuh da dun...
Yeah, that's right...it's my birthday...the big 2-6. Past my quarterlife crises of the 25th year and on to the 26th. Yep, four whole years away from 30. *scary* I mean really, what do I have left to look forward to?!? My mid-life crisis? (Only if it's a good one and I get a Ferrari and lots of really fabulous shoes!) I suppose I shouldn't be so pessimistic about getting older. I'm sure there are lots of things to look forward to...like menopause...sorry...too much information! Anywho, this birthday really hasn't been a bad one. I got to eat a half a pan of really yummy cake. I received some beautiful flowers from my beau. Tonight, after work I get to go have dinner and pig out. I recieved lots of great birthday wishes via phone, e-mail and other electronic communications. So really, I should be grateful that I have so many wonderful people around me to celebrate with!
Let the party begin! Duh nah nah-nah nah nuh da dun...
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tax Season
Ah yes...that lovely time is upon us again...
No, not the beginning of spring or the blossoming of flowers...I'm not that optimistic!
No, no...it's tax season, baby! Yep. Tax season. It's kinda one of those things you either really hate, or you really love. You either get money or you don't. I generally don't mind tax season, except for one little thing...you see, we provide tax forms here at the library. Key word: provide. This does not mean that I know what they are for or what they mean. There is a good reason I pay for mine to be done. I am numerically challenged. I admit it. I'm okay with it. I've accepted the fact that I still need to count numbers above 10 using my fingers. It's all good. If I could kiss the guy who invented the calculator, I would!
But, this "challenge" of mine, also leads to an aversion of anything even remotely dealing with numbers...including tax forms. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to get on the IRS website to look up and print off a form that you may need. But don't ask me what the heck you need it for, or even if it's the right one...because I'm clueless. Clueless! And please, please don't get upset with me when I tell you that I have absolutely no idea what form your sister's, aunt's, grandfather's, cat's, cousin needs for a form. Trust me, I am thee last person you would want any kind of tax advice from! I can't even balance my checkbook...wait, I've never balanced my checkbook...see what I mean?! You don't want my tax advice!!
But if you do need help with your taxes, we have some wonderful gentlemen from the AARP that do taxes for free. You need to set up an appointment with them by dialing 211, which will connect you with the United Way and they will hook you up.
Again...we provide forms here at the library...but we are clueless as to what the heck they are for! Leave that to the professionals...again...not us!
Happy taxing!
No, not the beginning of spring or the blossoming of flowers...I'm not that optimistic!
No, no...it's tax season, baby! Yep. Tax season. It's kinda one of those things you either really hate, or you really love. You either get money or you don't. I generally don't mind tax season, except for one little thing...you see, we provide tax forms here at the library. Key word: provide. This does not mean that I know what they are for or what they mean. There is a good reason I pay for mine to be done. I am numerically challenged. I admit it. I'm okay with it. I've accepted the fact that I still need to count numbers above 10 using my fingers. It's all good. If I could kiss the guy who invented the calculator, I would!
But, this "challenge" of mine, also leads to an aversion of anything even remotely dealing with numbers...including tax forms. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to get on the IRS website to look up and print off a form that you may need. But don't ask me what the heck you need it for, or even if it's the right one...because I'm clueless. Clueless! And please, please don't get upset with me when I tell you that I have absolutely no idea what form your sister's, aunt's, grandfather's, cat's, cousin needs for a form. Trust me, I am thee last person you would want any kind of tax advice from! I can't even balance my checkbook...wait, I've never balanced my checkbook...see what I mean?! You don't want my tax advice!!
But if you do need help with your taxes, we have some wonderful gentlemen from the AARP that do taxes for free. You need to set up an appointment with them by dialing 211, which will connect you with the United Way and they will hook you up.
Again...we provide forms here at the library...but we are clueless as to what the heck they are for! Leave that to the professionals...again...not us!
Happy taxing!
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Children Reading to Dogs
Okay...so normally I use this space to rant and whine, but today I'm not going to...that's right you can let out a sigh of relief...I had the priviledge last night to snoop in on a program that Alicia has been doing for a little while now called "Children Reading to Dogs."
The program is sponsored by Therapy Dogs International. The purpose behind this program is to help encourage children who may be struggling with reading or feel uncomfortable reading out loud. The program allows children a safe and comfortable place to practice reading, while also allowing them to interact with the dogs. Who doesn't love a friendly puppy?!
During a session, specially trained therapy dogs and their handlers will come in and spread out around the room. Children are assigned times and come in and sit down to read to the dogs and their handlers.
It was such a joy to watch these children with the dogs and the handlers. You could see not only how happy it made the children to be there, but how excited the dogs were too! The children seemed to respond very well to the dogs and their handlers.
The dogs are specially trained to be calm and almost submissive to the children. We had a little show and tell session afterwards and it was amazing to see the dogs follow commands! (Especially since I have a dog who will follow commands *only* with a treat in plain sight!) They all were so unique in their personalities and yet as gentle as could be. I had the distinctive opportunity to meet them all before the program actually began and it was wonderful! I even got a few kisses from some of the dogs (not the handlers...ha!).
If you haven't had the opportunity to check out this very unique and wonderful program, I certainly urge you to. It is truly fantastic!
If you would like more information about this program check out:
http://www.tdi-dog.org/childrenreadingtodogs.htm
The program is sponsored by Therapy Dogs International. The purpose behind this program is to help encourage children who may be struggling with reading or feel uncomfortable reading out loud. The program allows children a safe and comfortable place to practice reading, while also allowing them to interact with the dogs. Who doesn't love a friendly puppy?!
During a session, specially trained therapy dogs and their handlers will come in and spread out around the room. Children are assigned times and come in and sit down to read to the dogs and their handlers.
It was such a joy to watch these children with the dogs and the handlers. You could see not only how happy it made the children to be there, but how excited the dogs were too! The children seemed to respond very well to the dogs and their handlers.The dogs are specially trained to be calm and almost submissive to the children. We had a little show and tell session afterwards and it was amazing to see the dogs follow commands! (Especially since I have a dog who will follow commands *only* with a treat in plain sight!) They all were so unique in their personalities and yet as gentle as could be. I had the distinctive opportunity to meet them all before the program actually began and it was wonderful! I even got a few kisses from some of the dogs (not the handlers...ha!).
If you haven't had the opportunity to check out this very unique and wonderful program, I certainly urge you to. It is truly fantastic!
If you would like more information about this program check out:
http://www.tdi-dog.org/childrenreadingtodogs.htm
Monday, February 11, 2008
I refuse...
I refuse to get out of bed until spring...that's it...I've made up my mind...you can't make me!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
In light of...
"My books are very few, but then the world is before me - a library open to all - from which poverty of purse cannot exclude me - in which the meanest and most paltry volume is sure to furnish something to amuse, if not to instruct and improve." ~Joseph Howe, 1824
In light of recent articles on KCRG's website and on the Des Moines Register's website regarding proposed library funding cuts at the state and local levels, I feel the need to share with you all my vision of libraries and what we really stand for.
After reading user's comments to these articles online, I feel like there are some very common misconceptions about how we work and are funded. I also feel like many don't realize the relevance and importance of our existence in communities.
And so, without further adieu, here is the *official* Whiny Librarian's vision of public libraries. *cue dramatic drum roll please*
I have a passion. A burning passion. That passion is public libraries. Of all the institutions in the world, public libraries to me, are the singlemost important institutions that a society can have. (Did I mention that I'm passionate about public libraries?! Oh...it gets better...) Libraries provide more than just books. More than just the internet. We provide access. Unfettered access to all information, to everyone.
We offer a place to freely exchange thoughts, opinions, and ideas. This is truly the basis for public libraries, the ability to exchange views without bias and without censorship. No matter how controversial it may be, it is welcome in a public library. Where else in society is it acceptable and even encouraged to practice such exchanges?
A library is truly democratic principles at their finest. And we, as librarians, are the sole protectors of those rights. This is why we are activists. This is why we fight against those who want to try and diminish our importance. This is why we fight against those who want to take away our freedom of access to information. We fight because we truly believe and understand just how crucial and important our place in society is.
We are supported by local and state tax dollars. Because of this we provide free services and access to materials to everyone. I've read a lot of comments recently from those who believe that public libraries should charge entrance fees and membership fees. Would you charge each child an attendance fee at a public school? How about for the fire department to make a call to someone's house? Again, these are free services supported by tax dollars. Not everyone may need to use them, but as a democratic society we support them and the need for them. This stands true for public libraries as well.
My hope is that libraries will never lose their status in society. I also hope that future generations will continue to see the importance of supporting such institutions. I hope that our communities will see the libraries as living, growing and changing. Because of this, I also hope that our communities realize the neccessity and importance of adequate funding for us as well. We are so vital to our communities and serve so many roles. We are needed.
Finally, I will leave you with a quote by Malcolm Forbes:
"The richest person in the world - in fact all the riches in the world - couldn't provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library."
In light of recent articles on KCRG's website and on the Des Moines Register's website regarding proposed library funding cuts at the state and local levels, I feel the need to share with you all my vision of libraries and what we really stand for.
After reading user's comments to these articles online, I feel like there are some very common misconceptions about how we work and are funded. I also feel like many don't realize the relevance and importance of our existence in communities.
And so, without further adieu, here is the *official* Whiny Librarian's vision of public libraries. *cue dramatic drum roll please*
I have a passion. A burning passion. That passion is public libraries. Of all the institutions in the world, public libraries to me, are the singlemost important institutions that a society can have. (Did I mention that I'm passionate about public libraries?! Oh...it gets better...) Libraries provide more than just books. More than just the internet. We provide access. Unfettered access to all information, to everyone.
We offer a place to freely exchange thoughts, opinions, and ideas. This is truly the basis for public libraries, the ability to exchange views without bias and without censorship. No matter how controversial it may be, it is welcome in a public library. Where else in society is it acceptable and even encouraged to practice such exchanges?
A library is truly democratic principles at their finest. And we, as librarians, are the sole protectors of those rights. This is why we are activists. This is why we fight against those who want to try and diminish our importance. This is why we fight against those who want to take away our freedom of access to information. We fight because we truly believe and understand just how crucial and important our place in society is.
We are supported by local and state tax dollars. Because of this we provide free services and access to materials to everyone. I've read a lot of comments recently from those who believe that public libraries should charge entrance fees and membership fees. Would you charge each child an attendance fee at a public school? How about for the fire department to make a call to someone's house? Again, these are free services supported by tax dollars. Not everyone may need to use them, but as a democratic society we support them and the need for them. This stands true for public libraries as well.
My hope is that libraries will never lose their status in society. I also hope that future generations will continue to see the importance of supporting such institutions. I hope that our communities will see the libraries as living, growing and changing. Because of this, I also hope that our communities realize the neccessity and importance of adequate funding for us as well. We are so vital to our communities and serve so many roles. We are needed.
Finally, I will leave you with a quote by Malcolm Forbes:
"The richest person in the world - in fact all the riches in the world - couldn't provide you with anything like the endless, incredible loot available at your local library."
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Help us!
I want to again remind you all of a few e-mails that I have received in the last few days from the Iowa Library Association and the State Library of Iowa regarding possible state budget cuts. The governor is proposing an 18% cut to state library funding for the FY 2009 budget. This would be a cut of roughly $1,119,000! The breakdown for those cuts would be as follows: The State Library would lose $135,000. The Library Service Areas (Like East Central Library Service) would lose $259,000. Finally, Enrich Iowa would lose $725,000.
Any budget cuts that affect libraries are serious, and trust me, it will not be easy for the State Library and the LSA's to swallow losing that money. But the real kicker of all of this is the $725,000 from Enrich Iowa. Enrich Iowa is a direct state aid program for Iowa's public libraries. Many libraries throughout the state receive aid from this program. The amount varies on the population size of the city. For example, if this budget cut goes through, we at HPL will lose roughly $2,200. I know that seems like a fairly small amount, but let me give you a little perspective...that $2,200 is almost what I get a year in my budget for purchasing new CD's. Ouch.
Larger libraries will see more of a cut. Waterloo is looking at roughly a $15,000 loss, Marion is looking at roughly $7,000 and Cedar Rapids is closer to $20,000. For a library in the position of Cedar Rapids (who is already facing another round of massive budget cuts at the city level) this state funding can provide crucial. At the opposite end, smaller libraries may rely on their share of this funding for helping offset the costs of new computers or even materials. Again, losing even $800 out of their budgets can be very detrimental to their services.
So please, do your part to help out all libraries in the state of Iowa and contact the governor at http://www.governor.iowa.gov/administration/contact/ and also your local legislators at http://www.legis.state.ia.us/findleg/ Let them know just how important your libraries are to your communities. We, as librarians can only do so much...the rest is up to you!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Winter Reading Programs...
are here!! We have two winter reading programs currently going on here at HPL. And by george, you should be really excited about them...because we certainly are!!
Our Adult Winter Reading Program is called "Cold Nights, Hot Reads." It runs from January 21-March 3. This program is for those 18 years and older. When signing up, you'll receive your reading log and a free book of your choice from our secret stash. All you have to do is fill out a little slip for each book you read with your name, phone number, title, and a little blurb of what happened. Drop your slip in our little trash can "drawing bin" at the front desk and then sit and wait desperately by your phone for us to call you to tell you that you've won! Oh...you want to know what the prizes are? Well, after much groveling, begging, and pleading by yours truly, I managed to con Starbucks into giving us some lovely prizes ranging from a pound of their delectable coffee to mugs, etc. Yes Virginia, there is a Coffee-Claus!
Our Youth Winter Reading Program is called "Polar Pages." It runs from January 21-February 28. This program is for preschool through high schoolers. Stop in for your reading log and get started! For each hour read by independent readers and each half hour by read-to-me readers, you will mark off a picture. When you complete a level you get a prize! There are four levels--which means four different prizes! The prizes range from coupons to local restaurants to nifty bookmarks, etc. If you happen to complete level four, then you will receive a free book! That Alicia is pretty good about coming up with prizes and even better at recommending good books! So stop in and see her for more details!
Hope to see ya'll soon!
Our Adult Winter Reading Program is called "Cold Nights, Hot Reads." It runs from January 21-March 3. This program is for those 18 years and older. When signing up, you'll receive your reading log and a free book of your choice from our secret stash. All you have to do is fill out a little slip for each book you read with your name, phone number, title, and a little blurb of what happened. Drop your slip in our little trash can "drawing bin" at the front desk and then sit and wait desperately by your phone for us to call you to tell you that you've won! Oh...you want to know what the prizes are? Well, after much groveling, begging, and pleading by yours truly, I managed to con Starbucks into giving us some lovely prizes ranging from a pound of their delectable coffee to mugs, etc. Yes Virginia, there is a Coffee-Claus!
Our Youth Winter Reading Program is called "Polar Pages." It runs from January 21-February 28. This program is for preschool through high schoolers. Stop in for your reading log and get started! For each hour read by independent readers and each half hour by read-to-me readers, you will mark off a picture. When you complete a level you get a prize! There are four levels--which means four different prizes! The prizes range from coupons to local restaurants to nifty bookmarks, etc. If you happen to complete level four, then you will receive a free book! That Alicia is pretty good about coming up with prizes and even better at recommending good books! So stop in and see her for more details!
Hope to see ya'll soon!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Depressed and whiny...
I feel so very depressed today. My Packers lost in overtime to the stinkin Giants. We should have had that win...hands down...and Brett *literally* threw it away when he threw an interception in overtime that resulted in the Giants getting good enough field position for a field goal. (Quiet sobs...)
Maybe I'll be able to talk about it more later. But right now it's just *gulp* too painful.
And then there's just the usual whiny bitterness about the weather. I realize it's winter and it's Iowa and we get cruddy winter weather. But I'm starting to think that if I have to clean the "wintry mix" off my car one more time I may need to seriously consider being committed. It's just getting to be a little ridiculous! At least I can still find humor in the situation...
Anyone else feel like a goner? :)
Maybe I'll be able to talk about it more later. But right now it's just *gulp* too painful.
And then there's just the usual whiny bitterness about the weather. I realize it's winter and it's Iowa and we get cruddy winter weather. But I'm starting to think that if I have to clean the "wintry mix" off my car one more time I may need to seriously consider being committed. It's just getting to be a little ridiculous! At least I can still find humor in the situation...
Anyone else feel like a goner? :)
Monday, January 14, 2008
I have to start off this blog post with a big cheer for my Green Bay Packers! I was so proud of them this past weekend as they beat the pants off the Seattle Seahawks! (That's what you get for leaving, Mike Holmgren! Ha!) And...thanks to the Giants beating the Cowboys, we now get homefield advantage for the NFC Championship game!! Whooooo Packers!!
Alright, enough trash-talking...onto more serious subjects...like library abuse. Our library has been abused a lot lately. First there was the vandalism. We had two windows broken in our building. One in Pat's office and the other in the community room. To me the most frustrating thing about that whole situation was that it was a library. It's not like we're a large corporation that's putting people out of jobs and ruining lives. It's not like somebody would need seek revenge by "sticking it to the man". We are a library. We live and thrive on serving our communities. We accept and welcome all ideas and all walks of life. For someone to vandalize our building is not only disgraceful, it is simply disgusting. What did we ever do to deserve such an act against us?
Another act of library abuse that has recently hit our library is the theft of four Harry Potter books-on-cd. The interesting thing about this theft is that whoever happens to be doing it is only stealing the discs and then leaving the case stuffed in the easy reader's in the children's section. As I discussed in an earlier blog, we have had a lot of problems with stealing as of recently. It is difficult not to take it personally when we have items stolen from our collection. For one, the replacement cost can be pretty substantial (especially with books-on-CD). For another, it is free to check the stuff out!! Where else in this world can you check out stuff for free?!?! *sigh*
Finally, in another act of library abuse, the govenor is proposing an 18% reduction in state library funding for his fiscal 2009 budget. Per an e-mail from Barbara Peterson, President of the Iowa Library Association...I am passing this information on to you all in hopes that you will come out and support your local libraries. We need to make not only our city governments aware of what budget cuts do to our libraries, but our state representatives must be made aware as well. Here is what we received in our e-mail:
"As you probably know by now, the governor's FY 2009 budget proposal cuts state library funding by 18%! That is $1,119,442! This would cut the following: State Library $135,000; Library Service Areas $259,442; and Enrich Iowa $725,000. The $725,000 cut to Enrich Iowa came from the infrastructure fund known as RIIF. The governor's proposal removes $1,000,000 from RIIF. $50,000 of that had gone to the LSAs, and the remainder ($950,000) to Enrich Iowa. Then, only $225,000 is put back in the general fund as a replacement for the $950,000 in RIIF funding that had been going to Enrich Iowa. This results in the $725,000 net loss to Enrich Iowa.
As you can see this will affect libraries in a big way. The overall budget has a 6% increase in spending and libraries are suffering an 18% cut.
The end result would be that services to all of Iowa's library users would be
devastating. The only way that you as an Iowa Librarian or Library Advocate can
make a difference is to first contact the Governor at
http://www.governor.iowa.gov/administration/contact/ or chet.culver@iowa.gov,
letting him know you are opposed to this and what the consequences would be for your
library. It is my understanding that if you use the Governor's website to contact
him, you will eventually get an answer.
Second, email or talk with your local legislators. Again, you can find that information at http://www.legis.state.ia.us/findleg/. The more contacts the governor and the legislators receive, the more attention this issue will get. We want them to know that the governor's budget cuts for libraries needs to be changed.
As Mike stated in his alert, we need to be adamant, yet polite. Thanking the
governor and the legislators for past support is always important. Also, please
have your Trustees, Friends, and other library supporters contact the governor and
local legislators. Mike's Alert Part II stated, "In the last year, 64% of your
representatives' constituents held library cards and, collectively, made some 16
million visits to public libraries. This is a fact that needs to be heard by both
the governor and local legislators."
So please, do your part to help us out!
Alright, enough trash-talking...onto more serious subjects...like library abuse. Our library has been abused a lot lately. First there was the vandalism. We had two windows broken in our building. One in Pat's office and the other in the community room. To me the most frustrating thing about that whole situation was that it was a library. It's not like we're a large corporation that's putting people out of jobs and ruining lives. It's not like somebody would need seek revenge by "sticking it to the man". We are a library. We live and thrive on serving our communities. We accept and welcome all ideas and all walks of life. For someone to vandalize our building is not only disgraceful, it is simply disgusting. What did we ever do to deserve such an act against us?
Another act of library abuse that has recently hit our library is the theft of four Harry Potter books-on-cd. The interesting thing about this theft is that whoever happens to be doing it is only stealing the discs and then leaving the case stuffed in the easy reader's in the children's section. As I discussed in an earlier blog, we have had a lot of problems with stealing as of recently. It is difficult not to take it personally when we have items stolen from our collection. For one, the replacement cost can be pretty substantial (especially with books-on-CD). For another, it is free to check the stuff out!! Where else in this world can you check out stuff for free?!?! *sigh*
Finally, in another act of library abuse, the govenor is proposing an 18% reduction in state library funding for his fiscal 2009 budget. Per an e-mail from Barbara Peterson, President of the Iowa Library Association...I am passing this information on to you all in hopes that you will come out and support your local libraries. We need to make not only our city governments aware of what budget cuts do to our libraries, but our state representatives must be made aware as well. Here is what we received in our e-mail:
"As you probably know by now, the governor's FY 2009 budget proposal cuts state library funding by 18%! That is $1,119,442! This would cut the following: State Library $135,000; Library Service Areas $259,442; and Enrich Iowa $725,000. The $725,000 cut to Enrich Iowa came from the infrastructure fund known as RIIF. The governor's proposal removes $1,000,000 from RIIF. $50,000 of that had gone to the LSAs, and the remainder ($950,000) to Enrich Iowa. Then, only $225,000 is put back in the general fund as a replacement for the $950,000 in RIIF funding that had been going to Enrich Iowa. This results in the $725,000 net loss to Enrich Iowa.
As you can see this will affect libraries in a big way. The overall budget has a 6% increase in spending and libraries are suffering an 18% cut.
The end result would be that services to all of Iowa's library users would be
devastating. The only way that you as an Iowa Librarian or Library Advocate can
make a difference is to first contact the Governor at
http://www.governor.iowa.gov/administration/contact/ or chet.culver@iowa.gov,
letting him know you are opposed to this and what the consequences would be for your
library. It is my understanding that if you use the Governor's website to contact
him, you will eventually get an answer.
Second, email or talk with your local legislators. Again, you can find that information at http://www.legis.state.ia.us/findleg/. The more contacts the governor and the legislators receive, the more attention this issue will get. We want them to know that the governor's budget cuts for libraries needs to be changed.
As Mike stated in his alert, we need to be adamant, yet polite. Thanking the
governor and the legislators for past support is always important. Also, please
have your Trustees, Friends, and other library supporters contact the governor and
local legislators. Mike's Alert Part II stated, "In the last year, 64% of your
representatives' constituents held library cards and, collectively, made some 16
million visits to public libraries. This is a fact that needs to be heard by both
the governor and local legislators."
So please, do your part to help us out!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Now is the time to come together...
Welcome to 2008! Weeee!
Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted, between the holidays and taking a little time off, there really hasn't been a whole lot of time to blog. (Or breathe...) But you know I can't go long without a good whiny rant!
I'm not sure if you've been following the situation in Cedar Rapids with the budget cuts and the library...but to say the least, it has not been pretty. Sadly, it doesn't appear that it is going to get better any time soon. Last night the Cedar Rapids Public Library held a town meeting to discuss what is going on with the budget situation, as well as to rally support for the library.
First I must explain, although we are part of a Metro Network with Cedar Rapids, we here at Hiawatha get our funding from the city of Hiawatha. Technically speaking, budget cuts at Cedar Rapids do not mean budget cuts for us. However, whatever happens with Cedar Rapids will eventually trickle down and affect us here too. So, we here at Hiawatha have good reason to be concerned with what is going on downtown.
With the previous statement in mind, I also chose to attend the meeting for two other reasons: (1) I am technically a resident of Cedar Rapids and (2) I am a former employee of CRPL who still has many friends and former co-workers that I am concerned about.
The meeting started off with a wonderful report by the Vice President of the CRPL Board of Trustees, Susan Corrigan. She spoke eloquently about the vision of the Cedar Rapids Public Library and its mission to serve the community. She also explained the effect that the previous budget cuts have had on the library and what future cuts may do to the library. She stated explicitly that this is not a library budget problem, but a city budget problem...a very important point. It was a very impassioned speech and one that I think had a very strong effect on those attending. We then heard from patrons about their experiences with the library and their testimonials about why it should be spared from further budget cuts.
We also heard from several public officials at the city, county and state levels. This is where things got a little tense. From my vantage point and opinion it seemed like a lot of finger-pointing and excuses. We were told that the city is trying to work with the state who is trying to work with the city, but that neither one had come up with a good solution as to how to solve the budget problems. But the one thing missing from these responses by the public officials? The library!
I think we all can acknowledge that the budget problems being faced by Cedar Rapids are complicated and messy. That they are difficult and at times, very painful. However, our concern last night as citizens was about our library. Not one of those public officials shared their vision for what they felt the library should be for the community! Not one of them recognized the sacrifices that were being asked of the library board and the staff!
This, to me was extremely dis-heartening. I felt that several of them didn't even understand the basic principles of what it means to be a public library. One public official even suggested possibly using usage fees as a means of obtaining more funding for the library. Seriously?! Seriously?!!! Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of having a public library?? A little snippet from the American Library Association's mission statement might help clear this up for that public official:
ALA will promote efforts to ensure that every individual has access to needed information at the time needed and in a format the individual can utilize, through provision of library and information services.
Goals:
All individuals have equal access to libraries and information services.
Instruction in information use is available to all.
Government information is widely and easily available.
Library collections are developed, managed, and preserved to provide access for users to the full range of available knowledge and information.
Access to information is facilitated by bibliographic organization.
Library use is high.
Fees are not a barrier to library access and service.
*source-- http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/governingdocs/policymanual/mission.htm#mission
I truly felt that several of the public officials failed to see the importance and significance of what public libraries do for the communities that they serve. But alas, I suppose this whining by me is not doing any good either. This does, however, provide me the opportunity to drive home the real point of this blog...now is the time to come together. I really hope that this town meeting last night will be a catalyst for change on both sides of the fence.
I hope that the public officials who attended last night will be moved to learn more about their public libraries and take the time to visit them, tour them, and educate themselves about them. I hope that they take the time to learn about the ALA Library Bill of Rights and the mission of the American Library Association. I hope that they look to the State Library of Iowa for suggestions and guidance.
I hope that those 380 some odd people who attended last night seek out their friends, families, and neighbors...anyone who may listen to them and advocate on behalf of their library. I hope that they continue to support the library and their programs. I hope that they write and call their public officials and continue to voice their concerns about what further budget cuts will do to their library.
But most of all I hope that both sides can come together and recognize just how very important libraries truly are.
Finally, a quote from a poem called "Library" by Paul Engle that was in the agenda from last night's meeting:
"Libraries are alive, walls tremble, books bounce on their shelves. In terrible times enter, your life comforted by their lives."
Sorry it's been awhile since I've posted, between the holidays and taking a little time off, there really hasn't been a whole lot of time to blog. (Or breathe...) But you know I can't go long without a good whiny rant!
I'm not sure if you've been following the situation in Cedar Rapids with the budget cuts and the library...but to say the least, it has not been pretty. Sadly, it doesn't appear that it is going to get better any time soon. Last night the Cedar Rapids Public Library held a town meeting to discuss what is going on with the budget situation, as well as to rally support for the library.
First I must explain, although we are part of a Metro Network with Cedar Rapids, we here at Hiawatha get our funding from the city of Hiawatha. Technically speaking, budget cuts at Cedar Rapids do not mean budget cuts for us. However, whatever happens with Cedar Rapids will eventually trickle down and affect us here too. So, we here at Hiawatha have good reason to be concerned with what is going on downtown.
With the previous statement in mind, I also chose to attend the meeting for two other reasons: (1) I am technically a resident of Cedar Rapids and (2) I am a former employee of CRPL who still has many friends and former co-workers that I am concerned about.
The meeting started off with a wonderful report by the Vice President of the CRPL Board of Trustees, Susan Corrigan. She spoke eloquently about the vision of the Cedar Rapids Public Library and its mission to serve the community. She also explained the effect that the previous budget cuts have had on the library and what future cuts may do to the library. She stated explicitly that this is not a library budget problem, but a city budget problem...a very important point. It was a very impassioned speech and one that I think had a very strong effect on those attending. We then heard from patrons about their experiences with the library and their testimonials about why it should be spared from further budget cuts.
We also heard from several public officials at the city, county and state levels. This is where things got a little tense. From my vantage point and opinion it seemed like a lot of finger-pointing and excuses. We were told that the city is trying to work with the state who is trying to work with the city, but that neither one had come up with a good solution as to how to solve the budget problems. But the one thing missing from these responses by the public officials? The library!
I think we all can acknowledge that the budget problems being faced by Cedar Rapids are complicated and messy. That they are difficult and at times, very painful. However, our concern last night as citizens was about our library. Not one of those public officials shared their vision for what they felt the library should be for the community! Not one of them recognized the sacrifices that were being asked of the library board and the staff!
This, to me was extremely dis-heartening. I felt that several of them didn't even understand the basic principles of what it means to be a public library. One public official even suggested possibly using usage fees as a means of obtaining more funding for the library. Seriously?! Seriously?!!! Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of having a public library?? A little snippet from the American Library Association's mission statement might help clear this up for that public official:
ALA will promote efforts to ensure that every individual has access to needed information at the time needed and in a format the individual can utilize, through provision of library and information services.
Goals:
All individuals have equal access to libraries and information services.
Instruction in information use is available to all.
Government information is widely and easily available.
Library collections are developed, managed, and preserved to provide access for users to the full range of available knowledge and information.
Access to information is facilitated by bibliographic organization.
Library use is high.
Fees are not a barrier to library access and service.
*source-- http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/governingdocs/policymanual/mission.htm#mission
I truly felt that several of the public officials failed to see the importance and significance of what public libraries do for the communities that they serve. But alas, I suppose this whining by me is not doing any good either. This does, however, provide me the opportunity to drive home the real point of this blog...now is the time to come together. I really hope that this town meeting last night will be a catalyst for change on both sides of the fence.
I hope that the public officials who attended last night will be moved to learn more about their public libraries and take the time to visit them, tour them, and educate themselves about them. I hope that they take the time to learn about the ALA Library Bill of Rights and the mission of the American Library Association. I hope that they look to the State Library of Iowa for suggestions and guidance.
I hope that those 380 some odd people who attended last night seek out their friends, families, and neighbors...anyone who may listen to them and advocate on behalf of their library. I hope that they continue to support the library and their programs. I hope that they write and call their public officials and continue to voice their concerns about what further budget cuts will do to their library.
But most of all I hope that both sides can come together and recognize just how very important libraries truly are.
Finally, a quote from a poem called "Library" by Paul Engle that was in the agenda from last night's meeting:
"Libraries are alive, walls tremble, books bounce on their shelves. In terrible times enter, your life comforted by their lives."
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