Paraprofessional of the year!

Library Journal's Paraprofessional of the Year goes to Multnomah County Library employee, Steve Roskoski! Steve is a Library Assistant, which is the job I used to have. To the public, a Library Assistant is the same as a Librarian. I've only ever heard wonderful things about Steve but I've never worked directly with him.

Complete article here: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6533025.html

Word of mouth marketing

Interesting article about a marketing company in London that is paying cab drivers to subtly talk about their product. It feels dirty to me (you think you're having a real conversation but you aren't) but I think all good marketing is a bit dirty.

Imagine if libraries used this form of marketing. You're at a band's show, about to buy a CD. the guy next to you leans over and says, "No reason to buy the CD here. The Omaha Public Library has it to check out for free. Then you can copy it to your computer."

OK, maybe not the last part but you get the idea. How much would we need to pay someone to do this? Not much, I think.

The job

Many of you have asked for a review of my new job and while I keep thinking of things to say, my laziness overpowers me and it's always later...later...later.

Later is now.

How's my new job? It's....good. I'm in week three and my first complete week. The first week I took off two days to drive to Colorado Springs for the funeral. They second week we were closed on Monday for President's Day (and I had the stomach flu). So this is the first week that I've felt like I could dig in and really learn. I spent most of last week on the circulation and info desks, two places I feel pretty comfortable. Info desk is like branch work, with a lot of forwarding questions to the upper floors.

It was last night that I had a little freak out because this week I started learning government documents, genealogy, the Nebraska history room and business. And it's this week that I started feeling like a total idiot. I actually work the desk for the first time today and I am dreading not knowing how to answer people's questions.

Sample questions from yesterday:
--What year did the first Ford Model A roll off the assembly line at the Omaha Ford plant?
--What did United States National bank change it's name to when it was bought out in the 1970s?

Yeah, you can't do a Google search for either of these. The first one requires a microfilm search. Microfilm! I didn't even know that people used microfilm anymore but this library has an entire room full of machines and a separate genealogy room.

In other words, it's a totally new experience for me. But that said, the people are incredibly nice. When I had the flu last week, one of the children's librarians gave me a get well card. And one of my office mates gave me an old Colombia Sportswear jackets because I don't have a warm enough coat. So generous and nice.

The building itself is a bit of a shock for me. I didn't realize how much money Multnomah County Library has. I have a desk but not my own computer. The reference desks were built before computers so the monitors are set way to the right and the keyboards directly in front. It's very bad ergonomically. The chairs are old. I mean, I used to sit on a $800 ergonomic chair! Everything is just not as new and snazzy. It's not a bad thing, but an adjustment.

I found a local science fiction/fantasy group that is throwing a convention in summer. I'm writing a "Live Long and Prosper" proposal for the library to connect with the community. That's the thing about this job. Besides working the reference desks, I don't have a lot of direction. I will be leading a project to integrate biographies that are not cataloged as biographies (sports, music, etc) and switch them to the B Dewey number. Other than that, I feel like I need to find my own projects. We'll see how that goes.

Ok, now stop asking me how my new job is! :-)

why i haven't been around

Ry's mom died last week. Some of you know that she had been very sick since she was 16 years old and had a double lung transplant, blood dialysis and many other things. It was one of those things that is hard to know how to feel about. She was in so much pain the last few years and it's comforting to know that she won't be in pain anymore. But Ry is very close to his mom and it was still a shock.

Gail was a pretty amazing woman. I don't think I could have handled that amount of pain for such a long time and she managed to endure with humor and an amazing amount of tenacity.

I drove out to Colorado Springs (about 9 hours) last Thursday, drove back with Ry today and he's flying back to Portland early tomorrow morning. It's been good to see him but an emotional rollercoaster of a weekend. I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow so I could run weekend errands but I recognize that they were wonderful to give me the time off in the first place--in my first week. Thank you, Omaha Public Library.

The Nebraska caucus

It was pretty great. There were about 1400 people just at my location and about 1000 of them were for Obama. I sat in the undecided section (about 40 of us) and faced the Obama people. This is what I saw:


I don't know if it was because he was in Omaha two days before or what, but the Obama fans were out in force. Their enthusiasm was incredible and they tried very hard to convince us undecided people to joint them. A rep from the Obama and Clinton campaigns made a speech, answered questions and then we had to choose a side or our vote didn't count. There was no way to vote for someone other than the big two because it was all about percentages. This was too bad because I did a bunch of research the night before and I really like Mike Gravel, a former senator from Alaska. His tax ideas seem a bit nutty but I align with him philosophically better than Obama or Clinton. Check out some of his youtube videos...he will make any video that a supporter puts together. Power to the People and Give Peace a Chance, Corruption , Young Men and Women and Two Mikes are some of my favorites. This is his official youtube channel.

I worry about Obama's lack of experience. I worry about the Clinton dynasty. I worry about both of their ties to corporate America. Mike Gravel, because he's not going to win, can say what he wants to say and I like what I hear. Silly me, in a year that offers a black man and a white woman to choose from, I'm leaning towards the old white man.

At the caucus, I voted for Clinton. Partly because I like her slightly better than Obama and partly to give her one more vote in the room. And a lot because of this:


How cute is that?

Recycle!

After my recycling trauma, it cracked me up to watch this video---made by someone in Omaha!

(they must own their house and have that glorious green tub to recycle with)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80Ky4B9FCJI

I'm a Librarian!

Today was my first day of work...I am finally a real Librarian. I'm sure you all want details but I am exhausted. I haven't worked a job in two months. My life is really hard.

Pictures from the caucus soon.

Caucus

Tomorrow, I am participating in the Nebraska Democratic caucus. I only found out about this two days ago and since I thought I had until May for the primary, I am still undecided. So, reply in the comments and let me know: If you had to caucus tomorrow, would you stand in Clinton's corner or Obama's corner?

sicky mcsick

I am on day four of being sick and I am sick of being sick. I've managed to do some kind of exercise every day but that's about it. It's frustrating because I had plans for the week. I was going to go to the art museum, clothes shopping, lots of working out, haircut, mani/pedi and more Omaha exploration. None of it has gotten done. And now I find out that Barack Obama is in town tomorrow for a free rally and I want to go! Hopefully, tomorrow will be the day that I wake up and feel better.

You know what sucks? Being all alone in a new city and sick.

The Splendid Table in Portland!

Someone has to go to this because I am so sad that I can't go.

The Splendid Table's Willamette Valley Wine Tour, 2008

Lynne Rossetto Kasper and crew are hatching a plan for a tour of Oregon's wine country August 5-10, 2008.

Tentative plans include stays in Portland, (one of America's great food towns), and winery visits to some of the area's finest vintners guided by a nationally recognized wine authority. The potential tour may include an opening night reception and tasting with Lynne Rossetto Kasper, as well as the opportunity to accompany her to the extraordinary Portland Farmer's Market.

If you're interested in future updates about this trip, we'll e-mail you with specific information as the plan develops!

Sign up for info here.

Goals for the next few days

Today's goals. Sit by the window, watch the snow fall and nurse my first Omaha cold.

Tomorrow. Workout and catch up on Bloglines. I'm sure things have been happening in the library world in the past 3 weeks. I figure I should know about that before I start my new job.

The rest of the week. Go clothes shopping. I need some new, professional clothes.

Off to watch the snow fall....

I'm a Nebraskan

Yes indeed, I now have Nebraska plates and a license. I am officially a Nebraskan.

For my touristy jaunt this week, I went to the zoo. I didn't think I'd go because I have mixed feelings about zoos. My mom worked at the LA Zoo when I was a kid, we always visited every zoo in every city when we traveled and there are some things about zoos that make my heart hurt. The crowds really seem to bother some of the animals and while some enclosures are wonderful and spacious, others are cramped. I hate seeing an animal pace, knowing that they are slowly going crazy.

I've heard wonderful things about the Henry Doorly Zoo and decided to give it a shot. Plus, I figured I was the only one crazy enough to go to a zoo in 10 degree weather. Here's proof.


Don't believe me? This is an outdoor frozen waterfall.


It was cold. Really cold. But I'm finding that I kind of like the cold and find it refreshing and exhilarating. I also loved that no one was around, the animals were curious about me and as natural as you can find in a zoo.

The zoo had some really nice exhibits, like this enormous desert dome.



It was huge and most of the animals ran free. I also loved the orangutan area (my favorite zoo animal) because I have never been so close to a giant ape. The gorillas were the same way and I didn't realize how huge a silverback gorilla is. It was a bit intimidating.



Of course, it wasn't perfect and it had enclosures with sad and pacing animals. The big cats made me very sad. When the tigers saw me, both of them made sad cat noises at me and rolled over on their backs like they were starved for affection. I'm trying not to humanize them too much, but it is clear to me when an animal is in distress.

And by popular request, here is a picture of my apartment. I don't have much furniture but that's leaving me a lot of room to workout.