Author: Barbara

Services framed by setting

Had my regular eye doctor appointment on Saturday – and ended up talking about . . . . what else? Libraries. The technician who did the screening saw my occupation on the health history form. Then she told me that she and her family liked to go to library X much better than library Y (both in our region) because X has better children’s books. Library Y is even in the town where she lives.

Now the interesting thing is that both X and Y get the same books, ordered by the same selector. Only difference is that X is a beautiful new library, with lots of artwork and a skylight. Y is a . . . . well, let’s just say it’s an older facility in line for a facelift or replacement. But when my eye technician goes in, she sees the collection illuminated by the environment. Hmmmm, makes you think.

I Quit – and it’s OK

April 2008 will go down in my personal history as memorable not because of something I accomplished, but because of something I quit. I’m a high-energy person, thriving on conquering challenges. But I’m also a nurturer to those around me, advocating for taking care of yourself, all things in balance, setting reasonable limits, yada yada yada.

I even wrote about quitting (or not) last August, when I reviewed Seth Godin’s book The Dip. So, it was to that blog post I returned when I found that my latest journey to 23 Things on a Stick wasn’t working out the way I planned. In the book, Godin talks about slogging through the long dip between the excitement of starting and the triumph of finishing. He talks about the light at the end to which you power toward when you’re in the Dip.

So it was in January, when I signed up for the 23 Things along with over 1,000 other library folks in Minnesota. I pumped it up and was overjoyed when many of the staff in our regional library took the journey with me. There were warning signs that this was destined to be my first big failure (oh, there have been others I suppose, but I forget). In the first place, I wasn’t willing to garbage up (my perception) this, my real blog, with 23 Things posts. So I created another blog. Secondly, I barely signed up in time to participate, and only managed 3 Things for the month of February. Thirdly, I should have known I was a little too over-zealous when others around me didn’t want me to know that they were doing the program, lest they disappoint me. What a crock!

Well, that inner voice inside me kept getting louder and louder. Real life intervened as I moved into a new house and learned how to install baseboard trim (including staining and finishing). Days at work were long: dark in the morning, dark at night. And I only did 3 Things. And frankly, my posts about those 3 were way below even the *good enough* standard I promised myself I’d satisfy for.

So, I dug out the blog post. This is one book I didn’t buy, and boy, am I sorry. Here are some of the review points I wrote with my very own paws, and my personal eye-openers as they related to my lack of success with 23 Things:

  • If you can’t be #1 or #2, get out (ala Jack Welch) yup, my posts weren’t #1 or #2 in quality or quantity
  • It’s easier to be mediocre than it is to confront reality and quit. Mediocre is not part of who I am or ever will be – and I like it that way.
  • If you’re not able to get through the Dip in an exceptional way, you must quit. I neither had the strength or desire to get through the Dip. The light was invisible to me.
  • The opposite of quitting isn’t waiting around, it’s rededication. There was plenty I should be excelling at, and 23 Things wasn’t one of them. (Stop by some time and see my baseboard, curtains, etc.)
  • It’s OK to quit if the project isn’t worth the reward at the end. I anticipated 2 rewards: new knowledge (I knew most of this stuff) and a flash memory stick from the sponsoring organization (I have gazillions of them around the house.)
  • Pride is the enemy of the smart quitter. yup that hit me where it hurt. Especially when other librarians across the state e-mailed me about my lack of posts. ouch.
  • Decide in advance when you should quit. While I hadn’t done this, my lack of commitment was certainly evident.

April 16th was the last day to win a prize. About the 1st of the month I thought about ramping it up, like some of my friends did. Just about then 2 events in my family climaxed and sapped my attention and energy. So, here it is today, April 17th, and I’m a 23 Things quitter. Ugh.

But wait . . . . I may be a quitter, but I’m not a failure. I started the program, so did lots of others. I did learn one new thing – I created an avatar. It never interested me, and I’m sure I’ll never do it again. Lots of people didn’t get to magic #23. But everyone tried something new and acquired familiarities with something different and potentially valuable. There’s the value.

I’m fairly bursting with pride for the 8-10 librarians in my region who did finish (haven’t got the final report yet). Hip hip hooray. And I fairly whooped when I opened our library blog this morning, and saw one of my colleagues’ appropriately used new trick. She said it was one of her 23 Things. No, she didn’t finish either. And we’ve agreed that we’re going to walk through it together on our own time, recognizing our successes and forming our own support group. Anyone want to join us?

Yin and yang of life

Welcome to the world, little one
IMG_1267

In the midst of sorrow for losing one, comes the joy of birth of another.

Ecclesiastes 3 – A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Affirmation

Every once in a while it’s good to remind myself how good my job is, and how important and valued is the business I’m in. It would be tempting to lose heart with the daily battles that aren’t easily won because of inadequate funding or ill-informed news stories like the one in my previous post stating “. . . . libraries have slowly lost their place at the forefront.”

Then a blast of sunlight cuts through the gloom, and I am re-energized. Such was the case this week, when I was asked to travel north to one of my communities to join community members in touring a potential new library site. In that town, the much loved branch library is crammed into a space one quarter the minimum size that it should be. While everyone has agreed that the library needs more space, it looked like it would not happen for a good long time.

Then a property went on the market and it appears to be a strong possibility for a new home for the library. So I joined the group of community movers and shakers that included the mayor, city council, library Friends and board, county commissioners, and city and county officials. Even a representative of the Congressman’s office came and presented her personal check. We toured the facility and then sat down to talk about how to make this happen. It was one of those pinch-me-this-is-a-dream moments. While there were healthy questions and resolute plans to research potential pitfalls, the over-riding attitude was we can make this happen.

It was a wonderful afternoon. This town values their library and the role it plays in the community culture. I was reminded once again why we’re there, and in every other community in our region.

Welcome, PLA

The Public Library Association is holding its biennial conference in Minneapolis this week. Two years ago, when we were in Boston for the 2006 conference, all the southern librarians were in a panic when they learned that the 2008 meeting would be in frigid Minneapolis. Minnesota librarians assured them that late March is spring in our state — no need to worry that you don’t have warm enough coats. Well sorry . . . we lied . . . but not on purpose. But please, enjoy our warm hospitality and skyways!

I am a little disappointed in the media welcome though. Not much news coverage, and the online KARE 11 story shows that the reporter is not familiar with libraries like the ones in the small towns I’ve worked with. The report begins: “Once the backbone of communities, public libraries have slowly lost their place at the forefront. However, thousands of librarians are in Minneapolis this week to make sure their not forgotten.”

Well, I beg to differ. Many libraries are part of the backbone infrastructure that supports their communities. And furthermore, the PLA meeting is more than a rally to raise library popularity. And I won’t even comment on the writer’s deficit in literacy skills, demonstrated in his lack of discernment between their and they’re.

Anyway, welcome, library colleagues! We’re glad you’re here for another inspiring PLA Conference.

Be nice

Received a reminder from the universe this morning . . . that a little goodwill goes a long ways to diffusing short tempers. I went on Flickr, and saw this error message screen. Delivering bad news with a bit of a smile goes a long ways towards good customer service. I wrote about this about 18 months ago, following the receipt of a similar message from Blogger. It bears repeating — when we have something to say (whether it’s on the circ desk or online) that has the potential to be disappointing, do it with good humor. And promise (as Flickr does) that “we’re looking into the problem right now.”

Flickr error screen 26 March 2008, Hold your clicks a moment please. Flickr has the hiccips. We’re looking into the problem right now.
Flickr error

Doing and loving

Whenever some idea crosses my path more than once in a short time, I stop and take notice. I’m not sure if something or someone is sending me a message, or if it’s a lesson of the universe that I’m just now ready to learn.

At any rate, such is the case this week that I’m getting a message not from a deep philosophical or theological source, but from sports. Watching the high school hockey tournament tonight (doesn’t everyone in Minnesota watch high school hockey in March?), a coach talked about recruiting players. He said he looks for kids who “love the game.”

I’ve heard the same words a number of times the last couple of days, as sportscasters and the green and gold faithful eulogized the career of Packer quarterback Brett Favre*** following his retirement announcement. While he certainly broke almost all the records, and arguably may be the best quarterback ever, what everyone says most is that he had fun. And his fans had fun with him.

Many people have said (in various way) – “do what you love and love what you do.” It certainly makes getting up in the morning a lot more fun, when I can’t wait to get to work (well, at least most days, unless it’s double digits below zero). I have way too many acquaintances and even friends who are on the retirement countdown. They have no joy or love for what they’re spending the majority of their waking hours doing. How sad!

Thanks for the memories, Brett!

**By the way, thanks to my staff for the sympathy card — it’s been a rough time for us cheeseheads.

Requiem for Krispie Kreme

Sometimes you take a photo and you don’t know how significant it will be. Such was the case on February 15th when a group of us attended a product demo for security cameras. Along with his presentation, Steve brought a box of Krispie Kreme doughnuts. Since we don’t have a Krispie Kreme up in our neck of the woods, I popped out the camera and took a picture. Doesn’t this just make your mouth water?
Krispy Kreme Dougnuts
Little did we know, that it was the last box of Krispie Kremes we’d see in Minnesota. On February 21st, Krispie Kreme ceased Minnesota sales. WCCO news story.

Krispie Kreme’s short tenure in Minnesota has been newsworthy, but sales have evidently been less than profitable. The first store opened in Maple Grove in 2002. They had to call the cops to control the traffic jam around the doughnut shop (now there’s an irony). At that time I lived in Rochester (about 75 miles south) and people coming through the Cities would stop in Maple Grove and pick up a box to impress their friends.

A couple years later, we got a Krispie Kreme in Rochester. It was pretty popular for a while, but closed up fairly quickly. The last time I was there, the empty store (without the signature “Hot” light) stood monument empty.

What’s this got to do with libraries? Well, other than the doughnuts were brought to a library, when I went to the Krispie Kreme website, I found out that Krispie Kreme solicits visitors to join its “Friends of Krispie Kreme” (just like library Friends groups). The site promises that Krispie Kreme will “regularly send you timely information about exciting new products, special offers, and local events.” What a neat idea, to sign up Friends on the website!

Apostrophe Ambiguity

My Veterans Day post concerning to apostrophe or not to apostrophe garnered at least as many hits via search engines as any other single post I’ve written. Seems that we are an apostrophe-challenged society, but I’m heartened to see how many people are searching for correct usage.

So now as I write notices to close libraries on Presidents/Presidents’/President’s Day, I am moved to write another apostrophe post. So I went to Wikipedia, and found that all 3 have instances of correct usage:

President’s Day — when speaking of only one president

Presidents’ Day — when recognizing multiple presidents

Presidents Day — favored by the Associated Press Stylebook, which is followed by journalists and public relations folks

So, in case you’re wondering, I settled on Presidents Day. Have a good one, if you’re lucky enough to get it off. And, in keeping with U.S. Senate tradition since 1862, read George Washington’s Farewell Address.

Washington’s Farewell Address, from The Papers of George Washington at the University of Virginia:
Handwritten Facsimile
Transcription

Service Expectations

I’ve moved to a town with no bagels! What a shock. The rhythm of my weekend life is disrupted – start coffee maker, make quick pickup trip to bagel shop, enjoy morning paper with fresh coffee and bagel. My expectation for available retail facilities is shattered. There are no bagels in this town – and the little frozen things in the supermarket just won’t do.

I’ve moved several times; this is the 9th city I’ve called home in my adult life. In each new home I anticipate that certain services will be provided by governmental and retail business. Most times I’m satisfied: the post office supplies me with a mail delivery box, the newspaper shows up daily once initiated, the garbage truck takes away the trash when I set it by the curb, and the house of worship delivers a predictable experience. A balanced complement of retail provides food, clothing, shoes, and take-out Chinese. So, when I don’t find a reasonable facsimile to something I’m used to having, my equilibrium is completely out of whack!

What expectations do people have of libraries? Time-tested amenities include books to check out, pre-school story time, and tax forms. Other service expectations may or may not be satisfied, depending on local priorities. You may or may not find movie DVDs, audio books for your MP3 player, public computers, or a wireless signal to hook into with your laptop computer. Even more frustrating may be the inconsistencies in privileges to use the library’s resources. For instance, in some libraries you can sit at a table and read a book, but you need a library card (verified with a permanent address) to use a computer.

What can the public expect when they see a “public library” sign? Should there be core services available to all? Should there be consistent requirements for use? Should those core services be tied to receipt of public dollars? Should it be the responsibility of entities receiving taxing authority to provide funding for core services? What are the core services? And who defines all this?

And in the meantime, maybe I’ll have to open my own bagel shop.