Where one door closes, another opens...

In life, we often have to make difficult decisions. I made one of those decisions this week when I accepted the library director position at North Versailles Public Library and submitted my resignation from my current position of director of marketing and development and teen librarian at the Western Allegheny Community Library.

 

The decision has prompted a range of emotion. Excitement at the opportunities present at this new position. Sadness at the thought of leaving my coworkers who after three years together have become family. Anxiety at the realization that I'm switching jobs and getting married in the same month. But mostly I'm just happy. Happy to be moving on.

 

When I graduated from Kent State University, I told myself that I wanted to be a library director within three years. I missed the mark on my graduation date but I'm still within a year. I'm proud of the hark work I've completed and the contacts I've made since then and that at the age of 30 (gasp) I will be a library director!

 

So as my final days wind down to a week and I prepare for my replacement (two people!), I'm met with bittersweet feelings. The excitement continues to mount (it probably doesn't help that our wedding is less than a month away!!) but also sadness to say goodbye. As my dear friend Alex says, "It's not goodbye, it's see you later."

 

So, here's to new beginnings (a little closer to home!)!!!

 



You Can't Always Get What You Want

As a librarian, I always hope that attendance number will remain high and consistent throughout the entire summer.  Last week was amazing and I had hopes that we would maintain those numbers.

I guess my hopes were too high.

On Monday, we had 14 teens signed up to dissect owl pellets.  Now, that's not a huge number but I was happy with it because I scheduled it because I was hoping more boys would come.  A few hours before the program, however, the township switched our picnic grove.  With the confusion, only six teens ended up coming.  What a let down...

Then last night, I had 25 kids signed up to make glow-in-the-dark t-shirts.  That's a big number and glow-in-the-dark paint in that quantity is not cheap.  Well, seven cancelled within the hour before the program, which is fine because it became a more manageable number since my volunteer wasn't coming either.  It turned out that only eight showed up.  Where were the unaccounted for 10?

I don't know if it was the weather - not wanting to leave the pool or air-conditioning but it was frustrating.  Every teen gets a reminder call to, so they knew about it.

Here's to a better week next week, which actually starts tonight with a sleepover of 30 tweens at the library.  I'm feeling tired already.

All in a week at the library...

People often ask what a typical day in the life of a librarian consists of and the answer is that every day is different, which is one of the reasons I love my job so much.  Each week is no different.

For instance this week, we used our creativity, practiced relaxation and learned crime scene investigation skills.  What a week!

On Monday, the girls made magazine picture frames by rolling colorful pages from magazines into tubes and gluing them on to a shoebox lid.  I was worried they might have trouble but the frames turned out awesome.  They are pretty expensive to buy in the store.

Then on Tuesday the tweens relaxed and learned some new yoga techniques. It was the first time for many of them and they all had a great time, especially during the wall hands, which even the librarians did!  We were supposed to try it outside but it was too hot.

And finally on Wednesday, all of the teens went to PTI to learn crime scene investigation skills from one of the department instructors there.  They learned how to match fingerprints, analyze handwriting samples and determine what evidence was used for a break-in.  I learned that I have a rare fingerprint, which only 5% of the world's population has...interesting.

It was a fun week and I'm excited for next week - owl pellet dissection lab in the park and glow-in-the-dark t-shirts!

What do you want to be when you grow up? A LIBRARIAN!!

Today I read in my Self magazine the following career advice:

 "Find a job that brings out your favorite childhood memory and you will be happy."

This made me smile because I can honestly say I am fulfilling my childhood dreams.  OK.  I am fulfilling my realistic childhood dreams.  I wanted to be the first woman president or the first lady but yes, I wanted to be a librarian.

When most kids were playing school, I played library.  I checked books out to Annie and Meg.  I made my own cards for my books.  And I loved to read, so much so that I missed a lot because my face was in a book.  There were many times when my famous words were..."after this chapter."

Right now is my favorite time to be a librarian - summer reading, which programming begins Tuesday with a tie dye and paint party!

I am so thankful to be a librarian.

One of my favorite quotes about librarians:

“Librarians are the coolest people out there doing the hardest job out there on the frontlines. And every time I get to encounter or work with librarians, I'm always impressed by their sheer awesomeness.”
― Neil Gaiman

I think I need a bigger library!

Since October, the library board and staff have been waiting patiently to hear about the possibility of a new library.  Its actually been a 21-year process for some of the staff, since we have continued to outgrow our current space every year.

It's a good problem though when you have a collection that no longer fits on the shelves and programming rooms that are too small for the amount of people attending.  However, after some setbacks in recent years, my coworkers and I have learned deal with these issues.

When I was in graduate school, we learned in some of the classes about moving a library collection or designing a library space but I never dreamed that as a librarian in this economy I would really ever have that opportunity.

Well, after nearly nearly nine months of anticipation...

WE GOT OUR NEW BUILDING!!!

It was official last Friday - May 25.  We will be moving sometime in the near future to a much larger space (three times the size of our current facility).  It is exciting to beginning "a new chapter" and thinking about the possibilities will now be able to offer the community.

I am thrilled to actually be able to offer programs without limits on participants; get my own work space (I finally have a desk, so I'm not really complaining); and have an actual teen department with display space, couches, study tables, etc.  The architect said we can dream big to start!

The new space is a former office/industrial building, so major renovations are needed to make it usable as a community library but even minor updates will be a big improvement to what we are currently working with.

I am so thankful to be a part of this "new chapter" and hope that the youth services department (we are pushing for a combined children's, tween and teen) will be able offer bigger collections, provide better programming and continue to make a difference in the lives of our young patrons.

So here's to a "new chapter"...

I would be lost without my volunteers.

Sometimes, I forget to say thank you but I am blessed with a dedicated team of volunteers at the library who help with programs.  I say I need help...they sign-up; never asking what they will be doing.

Yesterday was no exception at the summer reading kick-off.  The board, staff and teens graciously stepped up to assist with the event.  It would have been impossible without them.

They made cookies.  They registered participants.  They montiored program sign-ups.  They painted faces.  They served pizza.  They watched the moon bounce.  And they dressed up as a character.

With no complaints!

It's not just last night either.  Those same volunteers help me periodically throughout the year and the teens volunteer all year.  Libraries would not function without volunteers.  We are so lucky.

Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer. 

~Author Unknown

Happy Summer Reading!

June 1

For many, this date is insignificant but for me is the start of an event that defines the next three months for me. 

TEEN SUMMER READING!

For the last six months, my colleagues and I have been planning for summer.  We have experienced a range of emotions from stress to excitement.  We have anticipated June 1 since January. 

The evening went well overall.  We expected a bigger turnout but the weather, graduation and another major event in the area prompted different results.

Now, that it is over I'm met with those same emotions - stress and excitement for three months of three-four programs a week. 

Let the summer begin! 

Librarian Support Groups

Today I got to spend the morning with other teen librarians at the fabulous Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh for the teen summer reading training.

These meetings are often much needed doses of support and reality.

Sometimes I get very frustrated and think that I'm not doing my job to the best of my ability... My participation numbers are too low. I'm not conducting enough outreach. I haven't found the perfect time and day for programs.

Then I go to meetings with other teen librarians. We talk. We vent. We share ideas. And I realize that we all have the same problems. It's not just me. It's not just my library.

I love my job and after coming back from these meetings, I often realize I am grateful to have such a wonderful job, awesome teens and supportive colleagues.

My name is Carrie and I am a teen librarian.

From Strep to Success

Last week was crazy with grant deadlines and I had the hopes that this previous week would bring productivity with another grant to submit, a presentation to deliver and the biggest program next to summer reading to execute. Wrong.

Monday brought a terrible sore throat and after two doctor's appointments I was rendered contagious and out of commission for two days. Say what? Not what this frazzled librarian needs and I will admit that I tried unsuccessfully to work from my bed but sleep won.

Thanks to my supportive coworkers who led my outreach visit; my awesome parents who made me raspberry smoothies and soup; and my amazing boyfriend who brought me flowers and a get well care package, I survived.

And after three negative strep tests, it was declared a bad viral throat infection. Great, thanks for messing with my schedule.

With the final grant submitted and presentation delivered, I finally rested better yesterday. Tonight I am going to rest much better knowing that today's program is done as well.

AND BECAUSE...

I am fortunate to work with the most fabulous teens. They raised $960 at today's Annual Teen Read-A-Thon, which supports teen programming at the library.

AND BECAUSE...

The grant that my colleague and I submitted back in August was awarded $5,000 this week to start a new department. No details right now, sorry.

So, finally I will give myself the best medicine for my lingering sore throat, headache and fatigue...SLEEP WITHOUT A CARE.

National Library Card Sign-Up Month

In honor of National Library Card Sign-Up Month, a bit of friendly advice from your favorite librarian.

"Get a library card, if you don't already have one!!"

A library card is a passport to the world, the key to unlocking a wealth of knowledge and the ticket to your imagination...

So, you might ask, what will the library card offer me? Well, here is a list of 10 things that your library card can do besides checking books out that you might not have known.

1. Access to e-books for your Nook.

2. Learn a foreign language using a database.

3. Offer periodic discounts at local museums.

4. Get a book from any library in the country!

5. Survive the washing machine.

6. Participate in the summer reading program and win lots of great prizes.

7. Check out books even when the power goes out!

8. Get free Wi-Fi access, even from the parking lot! We like when you come in though!

9. Meet a new friend - the person who signs you up for the card.

10. Educate the future of our communities. Kids can get a library card at three at some libraries.

Yes, that little piece of plastic really does a lot. No they aren't paper anymore! And, we will even give you one for your keychain!

What are you going to do tomorrow then? GET A LIBRARY CARD!!!