Thursday, March 22, 2012
I've been away, news from PLA
Hey there, everyone. This librarian has been limping along with a repetitive strain injury and have therefore neglected this poor blog.
To atone, I want you to feel like you were at Public Library Association in Philadelphia!
Click on this link to view handouts from the presenters!
To atone, I want you to feel like you were at Public Library Association in Philadelphia!
Click on this link to view handouts from the presenters!
Thursday, March 1, 2012
21 ways to buff your browser
Hey, listen, I am getting this great info from my online American Libraries subscription. You so get your money's worth, here!
21 ways to buff your browser
21 ways to buff your browser
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Non Violent Communication/NVC
My American Libraries Association discussion group on Linked In is having a very interesting conversation about dealing with difficult people. One person shares:
Personally, I've found the principles and model of nonviolent communication (NVC) to be invaluable for diffusing emotionally charged situations, as well as being of value generally in my life and relationships. In short, the NVC model is to listen empathically and express honestly using these four principles:
- observations
- feelings
- needs
- requests
When you begin to listen to someone's angry attack as being their emotional reaction to their perception of an unmet need, then you can start to redirect your energy from defense or counterattack to listening and responding to the request (which is often not stated explicitly.) Likewise, if YOU are the one who is upset, you are much more likely to get your needs met by expressing your upset in terms of what you perceived/observed, the feelings that you have in response to that perception, your need, and a specific request (not a demand) for a resolution.
If anyone is interested in more info check out: http://www.cnvc.org/Training/
And remember, whoever is saner in the moment takes responsibility for the level of the relationship! :-)
Posted by Peter Bromberg
- Group: American Library Association
- Discussion: Tips for dealing with angry/difficult patrons/co-workers?
Personally, I've found the principles and model of nonviolent communication (NVC) to be invaluable for diffusing emotionally charged situations, as well as being of value generally in my life and relationships. In short, the NVC model is to listen empathically and express honestly using these four principles:
- observations
- feelings
- needs
- requests
When you begin to listen to someone's angry attack as being their emotional reaction to their perception of an unmet need, then you can start to redirect your energy from defense or counterattack to listening and responding to the request (which is often not stated explicitly.) Likewise, if YOU are the one who is upset, you are much more likely to get your needs met by expressing your upset in terms of what you perceived/observed, the feelings that you have in response to that perception, your need, and a specific request (not a demand) for a resolution.
If anyone is interested in more info check out: http://www.cnvc.org/Training/
And remember, whoever is saner in the moment takes responsibility for the level of the relationship! :-)
Posted by Peter Bromberg
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
I Can Make You Happy?
We have many Self Help books available at my library.
the
way with a SMILE!!!
Recently when I checked in a book being returned
I thought the title
read...
“Can I Make You
Happy?”
On second glance I
realized it said, “I Can Make You Happy”
My finger had blocked the
“I”, which was right on the edge of the cover so I misread it...what a
difference
the placement of the "I"
makes! It also changed a question into a statement.
The author is Paul McKenna
some of the other books he's written are:
"I Can Make You
Thin"
"I Can Make You
Sleep"
"I Can Make You
Confident"
"I Can Make You
Rich"
My favorite husband
suggested that HE, my hubby, could write a book for me titled,
“I can make you
irritated”! This doesn’t happen very often, but every once in a
while…boom zoom to the
moon!
I wondered, "What is this
guy a miracle worker?"
Turns out he has a PHD and
is an international best selling author...
considered as “one of the
world's most important modern self-help gurus."
The book is dedicated to
his father who he says..."had the gift of making others happy."
(What a super thing to be
remembered for.)
Now, what makes this
author think HE can make ME happy…. I am basically a happy person,
sure things get me down;
but I try not to take things too seriously. I laugh at myself as
much
as I can. Try to look at
the bright side of life… Let a smile be my umbrella…Keep my sunny
side up…and all that
jazz!!!
I checked out the book to
see if there were any magical solutions, some of the chapter titles
are:
The Habits of
Happiness
New Routes to
Happiness
The Power of
Perspective
The Values of
Happiness
The Value of
Emotions
and the final chapter
is
Bringing it All
Together
One of the Five Instant
Pick-Me-Ups listed is “Happy Posture”, I suppose if you stand up
straight and look alert,
you will be happy and everyone around you will be positively
influenced.
One of the Magic Habits to
get into is “Smile and Laugh” I do this all the time!
There is a Hypnosis CD
included; it must be very powerful because it comes with a
disclaimer:
Do not use the CD while
driving or operating machinery.
Yikes! That's a bit
scary, so be careful if you choose to try it, I didn't.
Whether you choose to just
listen to the CD or just read the book, or do both, the claim is
you
will still..."notice an
amazing increase of happiness in your life."
OR maybe you can just
continue on down the road of life, greeting each bump along
So come on in and check out your library's "Self Help"
section if you need it, if not we have plenty
other interesting books, magazines, DVD's, CD's etc for you to check out
and enjoy!
posted by The Vest Librarian!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Web tracking
My partner had emailed me an adorable picture of our cuter than cute cat recently. He noticed that an ad came up for the ASPCA with a picture of a cat. Needless to say, he was worried. Coincidence? Or web tracking???
Here's an article to read on the subject
I don't know. Maybe we should go back to longhand....and typewriters. But...let me just post those cute pictures of my cat on Facebook, first.....
Here's an article to read on the subject
I don't know. Maybe we should go back to longhand....and typewriters. But...let me just post those cute pictures of my cat on Facebook, first.....
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Speed Book Dating
In my linked in American Library Association Discussion group, people are coming up with some great program ideas. Join in!
Look at this one!
What about "Speed Book Dating"? Everyone brings a favorite book (or two or three in case one of the "dates" has already read what you bring!) I know this has been a hit at some nearby public libraries. I can't find links to any of the local (RI) examples at the moment, but here's one described in the UK for World Book Night!
http://www2.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/spaceForThought/LiteraryFestival2012/LSESU%20Speed%20Book%20Dating.aspx
or look at this
Look at this one!
What about "Speed Book Dating"? Everyone brings a favorite book (or two or three in case one of the "dates" has already read what you bring!) I know this has been a hit at some nearby public libraries. I can't find links to any of the local (RI) examples at the moment, but here's one described in the UK for World Book Night!
http://www2.lse.ac.uk/publicEvents/spaceForThought/LiteraryFestival2012/LSESU%20Speed%20Book%20Dating.aspx
or look at this
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Yikes!
Not sure what I think about this
I definitely don't like the reference to the "tired public Library"
I definitely don't like the reference to the "tired public Library"
Well, now that I have made up my mind to attend the Public Library Asssociation Conference in March, I just got a mailing about the 27th Annual Computers in Libraries Conference. This conference will be happening in Washington, DC and it sounds like a wicked pissa! However, this librarian will be leaping to Philadelphia and reporting whatever I can there.
Anyone going to the other conference, tell us all about it!
So much to learn!
Anyone going to the other conference, tell us all about it!
So much to learn!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Happy Birthday, Charles Dickens!
This librarian is leaping one day late to tell you that yesterday was Charles Dickens' birthday!
Lots going on in Lowell!
More about Charlie from BU
Still more from the Washington Post
When I think of Charles Dickens, I think of how glad I am that I am nothing and I mean nothing, nada, like Miss Havisham. You'll never see me sitting around in an old wedding dress looking at a cobweb covered table. (Plus, I have a lady help me with the cleaning every two weeks to prevent such atrocities).
In honor of this birthday, let's celebrate! This is a great time to get that Dickens display going!
Lots going on in Lowell!
More about Charlie from BU
Still more from the Washington Post
When I think of Charles Dickens, I think of how glad I am that I am nothing and I mean nothing, nada, like Miss Havisham. You'll never see me sitting around in an old wedding dress looking at a cobweb covered table. (Plus, I have a lady help me with the cleaning every two weeks to prevent such atrocities).
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Brookline Blogsmith--keeps you leaping
A fine, independent bookstore that keeps the leap in librarians and bibliophiles of all types is the Brookline Booksmith. Here's a link to their blog! Much fun!
Desk Set...it still holds up!
The Library Time Travel Conference
Moderator: Henry David, in this era of emerging technologies, how will the book hold up?
Henry David: "A truly good book teaches me better than how to read it. I must soon lay it down, and commence living on its hint. What I began by reading, I must finish by acting."
Moderator: William, how do we teach our patrons in this new era of social media?
William Shakespeare: "'Tis better to be brief than tedious."
Moderator: Mark, how do we best educate youth in this ever changing world?
Mark Twain: "I have never let schooling interfere with my education."
Moderator:: Melville, what do you think about the Internet?
Melville Dewey: The eternal conflict of the good and the best with bad and the worst is on.
Moderator: 50, what do you think about libraries and librarians?
50 Cent: I love you like a fat kid loves cake.
Moderator: Mark, what should the rule be about checking out kindles and nooks at our libraries?
Mark Twain: Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it.
Moderator: Henry, what do you think about drive up hold pick up at the library?
Henry David: A broad margin of leisure is as beautiful in a man's life as in a book. Haste makes waste, no less in life than in housekeeping. Keep the time, observe the hours of the universe, not the cars."
Moderator: 50, would you think we should do more musical programming in our libraries?
50 Cent: Don't much good come from me, but my music is a gift from God, so I'm gonna use it.
Moderator: Will, what would you say to people who feel that libraries are over, finished?
William S: 'Tis better to be vile than esteemed When not to be receives reproach of being, And the Just Pleasures lost, which is so deemed, Not by our feeling, but by others seeing For why should others' false adulterate eyes Give salutation to my Sportive blood?
Moderator: ????
Melvelle Dewey: The librarian must be the librarian militant before he can be the librarian triumphant.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
something to look forward to!
One important librarian tool: get out of the building! It could be a walk on your break. It could be a conference. Save those pennies. Seriously! There is nothing better than exercising the mind and being at a conference, feeling the excitement, honing one's skills, meeting new people. Of course, there are always non library vacations too.
Even with those, you can take a busman's holiday and visit the local library. Take notes. Take pictures. (With permission, of course). It's really important to keep away from "ruts" by having that something to look forward to. I am cogitating about some conferences as we speak.
Some day, I will join IFLA and go somewhere exotic. Maybe not today, though.
http://www.ala.org/
http://www.nelib.org/
http://www.ctlibraryassociation.org/
http://www.ifla.org/
http://rilibraries.org/annual-conference
On the other hand, the Krafty Librarian says that we should expand our conferences...and go to more than just library conferences.
Either way, keep finding that something to look forward to.
If you can't get out of the building, how about a webinar?
Okay, and if the budget is really tight, get a good book and sit on the bench. Bring a legal pad in case you need to take notes.
By the way, here is an interesting site about libraries and social media. Look at this while you are thinking about what to do next.
Since it is February, we need to keep the spring in our step!
Even with those, you can take a busman's holiday and visit the local library. Take notes. Take pictures. (With permission, of course). It's really important to keep away from "ruts" by having that something to look forward to. I am cogitating about some conferences as we speak.
Some day, I will join IFLA and go somewhere exotic. Maybe not today, though.
http://www.ala.org/
http://www.nelib.org/
http://www.ctlibraryassociation.org/
http://www.ifla.org/
http://rilibraries.org/annual-conference
On the other hand, the Krafty Librarian says that we should expand our conferences...and go to more than just library conferences.
Either way, keep finding that something to look forward to.
If you can't get out of the building, how about a webinar?
Okay, and if the budget is really tight, get a good book and sit on the bench. Bring a legal pad in case you need to take notes.
By the way, here is an interesting site about libraries and social media. Look at this while you are thinking about what to do next.
Since it is February, we need to keep the spring in our step!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Patriots lost....all is not lost
Well, for those of you who are Patriots fans, I am so sorry!
And, for anyone who is frustrated at work because something did not go the way that you planned, I offer:
1) some humor: Imagine, if you will, doing an entire reader's advisory program on Westerns.....reading Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey...okay, some of you aren't finding that funny....oops, have I stepped on some spurs, here? It seemed funny to me...
2) Some wisdom from a book called The Crabby Angels Chronicles
"People don't change" is a terrible affirmation that many people use to try to guide their hearts from yet another disappointment. But the real pain comes from wanting people to be different than they are and from having expectations for them to meet. Spiritual maturing is about releasing people to be whoever they are (even Giants fans --my words there) even if you don't approve or like it........
This is your choice today-better or bitter?
The LLL loves that! So, even if you don't get a winning team, even if you don't think that my joke about westerns is funny, even if you don't get the funding for the extra staff person, or the job that you applied for, or if your car got a flat tire, whatever it is.....
This is your choice today-better or bitter!
How can you bring this to your library life today?
And, for anyone who is frustrated at work because something did not go the way that you planned, I offer:
1) some humor: Imagine, if you will, doing an entire reader's advisory program on Westerns.....reading Louis L'Amour and Zane Grey...okay, some of you aren't finding that funny....oops, have I stepped on some spurs, here? It seemed funny to me...
2) Some wisdom from a book called The Crabby Angels Chronicles
"People don't change" is a terrible affirmation that many people use to try to guide their hearts from yet another disappointment. But the real pain comes from wanting people to be different than they are and from having expectations for them to meet. Spiritual maturing is about releasing people to be whoever they are (even Giants fans --my words there) even if you don't approve or like it........
This is your choice today-better or bitter?
The LLL loves that! So, even if you don't get a winning team, even if you don't think that my joke about westerns is funny, even if you don't get the funding for the extra staff person, or the job that you applied for, or if your car got a flat tire, whatever it is.....
This is your choice today-better or bitter!
Friday, February 3, 2012
Office Gossip, go ahead, make my day better
It is really difficult sometimes to simply do one's job and to avoid being pulled into the fray. Here is my advice. Do one's job and avoid being pulled into the fray. Why? Because that is what we are here for. Why else? Because you will feel better for doing one's job. Sure, some gossip is compelling and maybe worh hearing.
One can learn things from getting the pulse of what is being discussed.
However, what are we doing in our libraries? Why are we here? We are here to get something great done.
How can we keep ourselves focused and positive? My experience with certain kinds of gossip is that the energy feels negative. It feels destructive and unhealthy. Not a place that this LLL wants to go.
What are your thoughts about office gossip? I am interested to hear!
One can learn things from getting the pulse of what is being discussed.
However, what are we doing in our libraries? Why are we here? We are here to get something great done.
How can we keep ourselves focused and positive? My experience with certain kinds of gossip is that the energy feels negative. It feels destructive and unhealthy. Not a place that this LLL wants to go.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Don't jump to conclusions!
They should....why can't....This ought to....Whatever it is, and believe me, I have been there. It may not be true that it ought to be different. Sure, in my mind it is clear that our library should have certain wonderful, glorious services for the teens who come here after school primed up and full of energy. We should have an olympic sized pool, a track, a coach, a trampoline. Seriously, this would help them to use up all of that excess bounce and drive. Then they could calmly read and/or use the internet.
However, someone would have to build the pool and put in the gymnasium. Librarians are not trained in the management of these facilities.
Nor should I assume that the teens should simply simmer down when, clearly, they can't. It seems to me that there should be all kinds of money and facilities for our teens. They need things to do after school!
There is no point in my jumping to the conclusion that things should be different then they are. Or, if I really believe that, then it behooves me to do everything in my power to change that.
It can be so tricky, working with the teens. We think that they should understand our point of view. They think that we should understand theirs. There are all kinds of studies about the biology of the teens' brains. Everybody knows that they are hungry after school. They need snacks. Also, they are not always best served by the schedule that they are forced to adhere to.
Sigh. Maybe I should jump on the trampoline until we get this figured out.
However, someone would have to build the pool and put in the gymnasium. Librarians are not trained in the management of these facilities.
Nor should I assume that the teens should simply simmer down when, clearly, they can't. It seems to me that there should be all kinds of money and facilities for our teens. They need things to do after school!
There is no point in my jumping to the conclusion that things should be different then they are. Or, if I really believe that, then it behooves me to do everything in my power to change that.
It can be so tricky, working with the teens. We think that they should understand our point of view. They think that we should understand theirs. There are all kinds of studies about the biology of the teens' brains. Everybody knows that they are hungry after school. They need snacks. Also, they are not always best served by the schedule that they are forced to adhere to.
Sigh. Maybe I should jump on the trampoline until we get this figured out.
customer dis-service
The LLL's partner went to the vet the other day to pick up a prescription for our kitty cat. He was the only customer. There were two receptionists. They were deep in conversation about a particular computer program that was not working well. He waited patiently. One of them finally noticed that he was there.
"May I help you?" she said.
As he was explaining, she interrupted him to start talking about the computer program with her fellow receptionist. Somehow, she did manage to get the prescription, but her conversation continued to focus on the computer problem and she seemed to have forgotten that he was there.
Needless to say, he was not happy.
It is important that we not fall into the habit of forgetting that our valued customers (yes, valued, because without them, what really is the point?) are the whole purpose of our being in the library! If they feel forgotten or like an annoyance, do you really think that they will speak well of us? Do you think that they will come back?
Sure, it is annoying when the computer malfunctions, but, computer or no, the customer is the whole point, no?
Let's remember what the point of our library is. We are here to serve the people who come in and give them a good experience. Otherwise, they may go somewhere else next time.
"May I help you?" she said.
As he was explaining, she interrupted him to start talking about the computer program with her fellow receptionist. Somehow, she did manage to get the prescription, but her conversation continued to focus on the computer problem and she seemed to have forgotten that he was there.
Needless to say, he was not happy.
It is important that we not fall into the habit of forgetting that our valued customers (yes, valued, because without them, what really is the point?) are the whole purpose of our being in the library! If they feel forgotten or like an annoyance, do you really think that they will speak well of us? Do you think that they will come back?
Sure, it is annoying when the computer malfunctions, but, computer or no, the customer is the whole point, no?
Let's remember what the point of our library is. We are here to serve the people who come in and give them a good experience. Otherwise, they may go somewhere else next time.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
inspirational moments/food for thought
They approached the circulation desk with big smiles on their faces. The woman was checking out three books. She explained that she and her partner often sit together at home, happily reading.
"I like to read more than I like to eat!" she explained.
"Wow!" I said. "That is really saying something!" It behooved me then to confess the truth. This LLL often likes to read and eat. It's not mindful, I know. Don't worry. I'm careful not to spill anything.
"It's okay," she said.
The intimacy of the conversation with the two happy customers yesterday reminds me that our libraries are places that bring happiness to all sorts of people on all sorts of levels.
Who would have thought that someone would prefer reading a book to eating? That is truly food for thought!
Of course, this begs the question of food and drink policies in the library. Times have changed so much. The ideal, in my opinion, is to have a lovely cafe at the library. This is, of course, not always possible. The library where I work has come up with a compromise that is working well. Drinks must be covered. Food can be eaten within reason. No eating at the computers.
One advantage of ebooks that occurs to me is that there is no way to spill food on them! Of course, if one spills something on the machine, that could be a disaster.
Here's an update on my partner and his kindle fire. He isn't really taking to it at this time. He prefers going to the library and browsing for the title that calls his name. On the other hand, a friend of mine who is recovering from surgery says that her kindle is extremely useful. She is finding books too heavy to lift right now and the kindle is, to quote the baby bear, "Just right".
I have been watching that old favorite film, "You've Got Mail." You know, the one with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan? The superstore bookstore vs. The Shop Around the Corner? We libraries are a bridge for our users. We continue to teach and help people to navigate the waves of change that are moving through our culture. Our role as teacher and navigator is increasing. We represent the friendly face of the "shop around the corner" and yet we can teach about those items purchased from the superstore (amazon.com) or the new device that the user is struggling to come to terms with.
We are the ones who help people to make wise choices and to put a human face on this ever changing landscape. I know of one library that turned out to literally be a port in the storm when there was a power failure in their community. They opened their doors to their friends and neighbors.
"I like to read more than I like to eat!" she explained.
"Wow!" I said. "That is really saying something!" It behooved me then to confess the truth. This LLL often likes to read and eat. It's not mindful, I know. Don't worry. I'm careful not to spill anything.
"It's okay," she said.
The intimacy of the conversation with the two happy customers yesterday reminds me that our libraries are places that bring happiness to all sorts of people on all sorts of levels.
Who would have thought that someone would prefer reading a book to eating? That is truly food for thought!
Of course, this begs the question of food and drink policies in the library. Times have changed so much. The ideal, in my opinion, is to have a lovely cafe at the library. This is, of course, not always possible. The library where I work has come up with a compromise that is working well. Drinks must be covered. Food can be eaten within reason. No eating at the computers.
One advantage of ebooks that occurs to me is that there is no way to spill food on them! Of course, if one spills something on the machine, that could be a disaster.
Here's an update on my partner and his kindle fire. He isn't really taking to it at this time. He prefers going to the library and browsing for the title that calls his name. On the other hand, a friend of mine who is recovering from surgery says that her kindle is extremely useful. She is finding books too heavy to lift right now and the kindle is, to quote the baby bear, "Just right".
I have been watching that old favorite film, "You've Got Mail." You know, the one with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan? The superstore bookstore vs. The Shop Around the Corner? We libraries are a bridge for our users. We continue to teach and help people to navigate the waves of change that are moving through our culture. Our role as teacher and navigator is increasing. We represent the friendly face of the "shop around the corner" and yet we can teach about those items purchased from the superstore (amazon.com) or the new device that the user is struggling to come to terms with.
We are the ones who help people to make wise choices and to put a human face on this ever changing landscape. I know of one library that turned out to literally be a port in the storm when there was a power failure in their community. They opened their doors to their friends and neighbors.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
No mistakes? Namaste
A teacher whom the LLL likes says that people used to say 'namaste' to her. She thought that they were saying 'no mistake'. The teacher thought that they were so wise! Imagine if, when you shoot off that email and think, "I forgot to change that one detail" and realized, "wait! That was supposed to happen!" But why? To remind you to check more carefully next time. To remind you that you are human. To remind you to take a breath.
There are any number of reasons. This concept is comforting during our busy days trying to get so much done and then, let's say, getting interrupted. Suppose, for example, you were working on project A, but person B is out and needs to be covered. No mistakes! This is how it's supposed to be. Or, perhaps, the phone system goes down for an hour. No mistakes! It's a chance to have some freedom from the ringing sound and to talk with the friendly people in tech support.
Radical, perhaps. But comforting!
There are any number of reasons. This concept is comforting during our busy days trying to get so much done and then, let's say, getting interrupted. Suppose, for example, you were working on project A, but person B is out and needs to be covered. No mistakes! This is how it's supposed to be. Or, perhaps, the phone system goes down for an hour. No mistakes! It's a chance to have some freedom from the ringing sound and to talk with the friendly people in tech support.
Friday, January 27, 2012
The Programming Librarian
The LLL loves programming. When she worked as the manager of a mid sized urban branch, she programmed from morn til night. She loved being able to bring Puccini to her public for free. She had authors of all types including Omar Tyree, an urban fiction writer. The library was alive with programs and art exhibits. Every year, there was a special event and celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. If you want to make your programming dreams come true, get inspired here.
Multi--scratch that Single Tasking
The LLL often tries to do too many things....as if you don't? Come on! You're not fooling me! That pile on the desk (or in some cases, falling off of the desk.....)can only be gotten through by doing one thing at a time. It's true! (Unless we put it all in the circular file...just kidding). Here's the thing....we really can't do more than one thing at a time. That's why you should not text and drive. Cut that out!
If you look at your Chase's Calendar, you will see that February 21st is Single-Tasking Day. "Multitasking is ineffective-and may cause brain damage! Today, do only one thing at a time without feeling guilty.
More from the Dull Men's Club!
If you look at your Chase's Calendar, you will see that February 21st is Single-Tasking Day. "Multitasking is ineffective-and may cause brain damage! Today, do only one thing at a time without feeling guilty.
More from the Dull Men's Club!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Whose business is it. Anyway?
All of the Leaping Librarian's Life, there has been the nasty business of comparisons. To wit:
"she colors better than I do."
"They don't have to go to religious school, why should I?"
"How come they have their own room and I have to share?"
Etc. etc. and on and on.
So then we get to the land of adult (a dolt?) hood.
"They don't come in on time. Why should I?"
"That one gets.......and I don't."
"Thus and so never does the......(fill in the blank.)
The Leaping Libertine Librarian calls this "The Negative Domino Theory." What it means is that, when one indulges in this sort of thing, one loses one's leap and begins to limp. The coloring or working that one is doing is lost in the land of negative dominos. The focus becomes on what isn't what shouldn't what ought not....Meantime, the glorious possibilities of what could be and what already is....they vanish like the LLLs paycheck after she has seen a few bright, shiny objects with her name on them.
It is my solemn vow to you that this LLL is going to avoid the negative domino game. And, further, she is inviting you to do the same. Sure, we will slip from time to time.....We will drive by the Mcmansion with the four garages and we will forget, for just a minute, that we were going to stay the course. We were planning to keep the focus where it belonged...on what is good right now. We are going to work on our own drawings...our own library, our own part in the tapestry that is our library.
We will work towards that library with the gift shop and the atrium and the roving reference and the hands free phones and the edevices and the unlimited educational opportunities and the.......but, in the meantime, we will look at what we have. We will watch the library users as they come in to our doors and we will give them our own wonderful brand of service. Are you with me?
"she colors better than I do."
"They don't have to go to religious school, why should I?"
"How come they have their own room and I have to share?"
Etc. etc. and on and on.
So then we get to the land of adult (a dolt?) hood.
"They don't come in on time. Why should I?"
"That one gets.......and I don't."
"Thus and so never does the......(fill in the blank.)
The Leaping Libertine Librarian calls this "The Negative Domino Theory." What it means is that, when one indulges in this sort of thing, one loses one's leap and begins to limp. The coloring or working that one is doing is lost in the land of negative dominos. The focus becomes on what isn't what shouldn't what ought not....Meantime, the glorious possibilities of what could be and what already is....they vanish like the LLLs paycheck after she has seen a few bright, shiny objects with her name on them.
It is my solemn vow to you that this LLL is going to avoid the negative domino game. And, further, she is inviting you to do the same. Sure, we will slip from time to time.....We will drive by the Mcmansion with the four garages and we will forget, for just a minute, that we were going to stay the course. We were planning to keep the focus where it belonged...on what is good right now. We are going to work on our own drawings...our own library, our own part in the tapestry that is our library.
We will work towards that library with the gift shop and the atrium and the roving reference and the hands free phones and the edevices and the unlimited educational opportunities and the.......but, in the meantime, we will look at what we have. We will watch the library users as they come in to our doors and we will give them our own wonderful brand of service. Are you with me?
Minuteman High...keeps me leaping
The leaping libertine librarian's son goes to Minuteman High School in Lexington. When she was there today, one of the people who run the bakery (oh, the smells! homemade chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven, sourdough bread, brownies with chocolate icing....) was so gracious. She was singing the praises of this fine institution. One of the recent graduates got a full scholarship to the Culinary Institute of America and now works at the Ritz Carlton somewhere. (Weren't they bought out by Taj or some such?)
The point is, this woman's passion for the school and all of its shops speaks volumes about the place. The teachers there really seem to love what they are doing. It seems that their mission is more than just a job. There is a tone, a feeling in the building. It seemed to the LLL that the place was humming and thrumming with excitement, careers being forged, learning....actual joy.
This is what we want in our libraries. We, too, are shaping and forming peoples' lives. We may be providing a warm place to sit for one person, a job hunting workshop for another, an English language learning experience for someone else. Sometimes, we are the ones who help to form the impression of the organization one way or the other. Are we helpful? Open minded? Thrumming with excitement like the woman at Minuteman High? If not, how can we "kindle" (no pun intended) our own spark? What would it take?
The point is, this woman's passion for the school and all of its shops speaks volumes about the place. The teachers there really seem to love what they are doing. It seems that their mission is more than just a job. There is a tone, a feeling in the building. It seemed to the LLL that the place was humming and thrumming with excitement, careers being forged, learning....actual joy.
This is what we want in our libraries. We, too, are shaping and forming peoples' lives. We may be providing a warm place to sit for one person, a job hunting workshop for another, an English language learning experience for someone else. Sometimes, we are the ones who help to form the impression of the organization one way or the other. Are we helpful? Open minded? Thrumming with excitement like the woman at Minuteman High? If not, how can we "kindle" (no pun intended) our own spark? What would it take?
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Piero Ferucci--on dealing with difficult people
Circ librarians are blessed with the wonders of books drifting into our lives at just the right time and place. Here are some excerpts from The Power of Kindness by Pierro Ferrucci
"The virtue of patience is first of all about dealing with difficult people: Those who won't listen to reason, easily get upset and just refuse to get along..."
"Then we also have those people who clearly make a nuisacne of themselves. Let's face it, in our everyday life we are destined to run into them all the time: the ones who interrupt us every other word, who criticize us for the sake of criticizing, who insist on getting our time or attention or money, who whine or sabotage, who start talking to us and won't let us go even though they know we are in a hurry, and so on. Everything is relative, so we are all at different times both victims, and to some extent, persecutors. We have all met difficult people, and have all somehow been difficult ourselves for others-perhaps without even realizing it.
But some people are champions They get first prize for pushing our buttons. Our reaction when faced with them is to feel irritated. And we either express our annoyance or suffer in silence. It is also possibile, however, to practice the art of patience and to help these people feel better about themselves.
I had proof of this once in an airplane. To start with, a plane is, for many of us, an extremely frustrating place. it is hard to endure the time, crammed with others for hours in a noisy, unstable contraption. But what happens if our neighbors are a nuisance? Well, behind me on this flight was seated a man who was clearly drunk-and growing louder and more aggressive the more he drank. At one point, he dropped his meal tray: French fries, mushrooms, and macaroni went rolling down the aisle. Then suddenly I was shocked to realize he had brought a huge toad in a box. (Don't ask me how he got past the security check.) Soon the stewardesses stepped in. But instead of reproaching him, as I secretly hoped they would, they began to talk with him, joke, pour him a little more wine, admire the toad; and they cleaned the mess without a word. The drunk calmed down and soon fell asleep.
This is one of the hardest criteria for testing our patience: having to deal with someone insufferable. Those stewardesses get full marks. It seems to me that what works is not to react to the annoyance, but instead to treat the person with skill and kindness. Difficult people are not used to that type of treatment-they are usually neither liked nor tolerated. And what happens if you continually meet with irritation? They end up falling into their role of nuisance. With our own reactions, we all unwittingly help reinforce their role. They are often unhappy people who-belive it or not-awkwardly and desperately try to be accepted..........
This is the Leaping Libertine Librarian talking now. This is how we differ from google and amazon.com and the gadgets, the nooks, the kindles, etc. We are live flesh and blood people. We can make the difference in the experience of our staff and of our customers. We can be patient. We can be kind. We provide a real person, a human face to help answer those questions, to ease the stress, to explain the parking situation, to help find the book.
Here is an example from my day off. My partner and I drove all the way to Newton, MA to go to the Taste cafe. This is an independent place with lovely food. Unfortunately, the place was being renovated. So we settled on the ubiquitous Starbucks. The customer service was terrific. The food, however, did not have the heart and soul of the coffee house. There is something about a place that makes their own "real" food rather than the packaged, chain type of a place (and I love Starbucks, don't get me wrong). We librarians represent that real human connection that our taxpayers are entitled to. We are often filling more than one role in our days. Manager, collection developer, social worker, incident reporter, promoter, marketer. We wear so many hats.
Therefore, let's be patient with ourselves and those we serve. Let's remember that we are not a "chain". We are not impersonal. We really do represent a place of patience and kindness, a place of connection.
"The virtue of patience is first of all about dealing with difficult people: Those who won't listen to reason, easily get upset and just refuse to get along..."
"Then we also have those people who clearly make a nuisacne of themselves. Let's face it, in our everyday life we are destined to run into them all the time: the ones who interrupt us every other word, who criticize us for the sake of criticizing, who insist on getting our time or attention or money, who whine or sabotage, who start talking to us and won't let us go even though they know we are in a hurry, and so on. Everything is relative, so we are all at different times both victims, and to some extent, persecutors. We have all met difficult people, and have all somehow been difficult ourselves for others-perhaps without even realizing it.
But some people are champions They get first prize for pushing our buttons. Our reaction when faced with them is to feel irritated. And we either express our annoyance or suffer in silence. It is also possibile, however, to practice the art of patience and to help these people feel better about themselves.
I had proof of this once in an airplane. To start with, a plane is, for many of us, an extremely frustrating place. it is hard to endure the time, crammed with others for hours in a noisy, unstable contraption. But what happens if our neighbors are a nuisance? Well, behind me on this flight was seated a man who was clearly drunk-and growing louder and more aggressive the more he drank. At one point, he dropped his meal tray: French fries, mushrooms, and macaroni went rolling down the aisle. Then suddenly I was shocked to realize he had brought a huge toad in a box. (Don't ask me how he got past the security check.) Soon the stewardesses stepped in. But instead of reproaching him, as I secretly hoped they would, they began to talk with him, joke, pour him a little more wine, admire the toad; and they cleaned the mess without a word. The drunk calmed down and soon fell asleep.
This is one of the hardest criteria for testing our patience: having to deal with someone insufferable. Those stewardesses get full marks. It seems to me that what works is not to react to the annoyance, but instead to treat the person with skill and kindness. Difficult people are not used to that type of treatment-they are usually neither liked nor tolerated. And what happens if you continually meet with irritation? They end up falling into their role of nuisance. With our own reactions, we all unwittingly help reinforce their role. They are often unhappy people who-belive it or not-awkwardly and desperately try to be accepted..........
This is the Leaping Libertine Librarian talking now. This is how we differ from google and amazon.com and the gadgets, the nooks, the kindles, etc. We are live flesh and blood people. We can make the difference in the experience of our staff and of our customers. We can be patient. We can be kind. We provide a real person, a human face to help answer those questions, to ease the stress, to explain the parking situation, to help find the book.
Here is an example from my day off. My partner and I drove all the way to Newton, MA to go to the Taste cafe. This is an independent place with lovely food. Unfortunately, the place was being renovated. So we settled on the ubiquitous Starbucks. The customer service was terrific. The food, however, did not have the heart and soul of the coffee house. There is something about a place that makes their own "real" food rather than the packaged, chain type of a place (and I love Starbucks, don't get me wrong). We librarians represent that real human connection that our taxpayers are entitled to. We are often filling more than one role in our days. Manager, collection developer, social worker, incident reporter, promoter, marketer. We wear so many hats.
Therefore, let's be patient with ourselves and those we serve. Let's remember that we are not a "chain". We are not impersonal. We really do represent a place of patience and kindness, a place of connection.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Library of Inspiration
Here's a lovely site that reviews film, literature and music that inspire the creators.
The Library Of Inspiration
The Library Of Inspiration
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Guilty pleasures--keep me leaping
Okay, it's true. I like Barry Manilow. It was very snowy here today. I was out shoveling my driveway with my IPod and Barry was crooning to me about the Copacabana. It gets worse. When this librarian was working at a medical library and going to library school, sometimes I would check out romance paperbacks. The kind that have no redeeming value whatsoever. I would sneak over to the circulation desk and watch that one of the sophisticated librarians whom I had come to respect was not there. It seemed to me that if she found out about my guilty pleasure, she might never look at me in the same way again.
It's hard to bear this sort of cross. One tries to go to meetings and be sophisticated while at the same time wanting to burst out in a chorus of "Mandy". This reminds me of the time years ago when one of my superiors discovered that I was reading The Godfather by Mario Puzo. He seemed so disappointed that I could stoop to such a low level.
And while I'm at it, I might as well tell you that I love to read books about polygamous cults and that I am currently reading a book about Scientology. Polygamous cult books that I have enjoyed include Shattered Dreams: My Life As a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer and Escape by Carolyn Jessop . It gets worse: I have very much enjoyed watching the HBO series Big Love.
Why on earth would the leaping libertine librarian tell you these shocking but true tales? To free you up. You see, you can let your hair down sometimes and have fun. Read those trashy books. Listen to Barry Manilow (or your secret musical pleasure...Abba anyone?) It makes you happy. You know it does!
It's hard to bear this sort of cross. One tries to go to meetings and be sophisticated while at the same time wanting to burst out in a chorus of "Mandy". This reminds me of the time years ago when one of my superiors discovered that I was reading The Godfather by Mario Puzo. He seemed so disappointed that I could stoop to such a low level.
And while I'm at it, I might as well tell you that I love to read books about polygamous cults and that I am currently reading a book about Scientology. Polygamous cult books that I have enjoyed include Shattered Dreams: My Life As a Polygamist's Wife by Irene Spencer and Escape by Carolyn Jessop . It gets worse: I have very much enjoyed watching the HBO series Big Love.
Why on earth would the leaping libertine librarian tell you these shocking but true tales? To free you up. You see, you can let your hair down sometimes and have fun. Read those trashy books. Listen to Barry Manilow (or your secret musical pleasure...Abba anyone?) It makes you happy. You know it does!
Stand Up Librarian!
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Keep it up, Meredith!
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* slides, with speaker notes, are available at http://paulsignorelli.com/PowerPoints/10-19-2010--Difficult_Patrons%5B1%5D%5B1%5D.ppt. (May take up to 20 or 30 seconds to download because there are quite a few images there.)
* archived recording remains available on the WebJunction site at http://www.webjunction.org/events/webinars/webinar-archives/-/articles/content/107413665
*An article we wrote to support the webinar is also still posted on the WebJunction site at http://www.webjunction.org/interpersonal/-/articles/content/109602848.