Random thoughts about books

I like books that tell stories from alternating points of view. I read one book about a girl's birthday called Leap Day (it was her 4th/16th birthday). I really liked that each chapter was narrated by a different character, although it all took place in one day. How do I find more books like that? I did some Reader's Advisory searches and found The Portrait of a Lady. I just finished that one- whew, at 600 pages it was the longest novel I've ever read! It portrayed different viewpoints, but the one and only narrator was separated from the story. After more searching, I found the term "alternating perspectives" and read several mediocre books just because they fit that requirement. Ugh.

Cataloging library science books is pretty awesome, because I get to see all these books that I would otherwise never see and know existed. If I wasn't there and wanted to see them, I'd have to either buy them or request an ILL. Some I am extremely glad I didn't put any effort into procuring, realizing that they are simply a bound collection of journal articles, like the one pictured. What greedy bastards- charging that much just to gather and re-print articles!!

I found several great cataloging books (cataloging books about cataloging = metacataloging, woohoo!) that I did buy because they seemed quite useful. It's not like I learned the details of MARC cataloging in library school: there I learned mostly theory. That's why all these jobs require a minimum of 3 years experience. Ah, the great catch-22 that appears with all new job postings- how can you get experience if no one will hire you? I've been interning/volunteering at the state library for 1 1/4 years now, which sounds good to me, but unfortunately I've learned that HR people eventually ask how many hours a week I work, and it's never enough.

I found out that there are copy catalogers at the library system where I work. They work at HQ and are less qualified and make less money than I do. And people wonder why there are problems with the catalog? The least they could do is transfer me over to be a copy cataloger at my current salary. Then I could get more experience, even though I'd have to continue living with my mother because I've had to begin repayment on my student loans. There aren't many job openings at all in this climate, but most seem to be for upper-level positions. I'm wondering if the people getting these jobs are all unemployed, because the lower-level positions sure aren't opening up. I found a couple awesome job openings for interns, but get this: you have to still be in school. Seriously? Maybe I'll send Fox Entertainment and CNN each a nice letter telling them what I think of their requirements.

What I really need to do is start interning at an academic library. But I like working at the state library, and I'm comfortable there. I can't seem to find the motivation to call UGA to inquire about a position, and especially to leave the state library. If I started at UGA, maybe they would like me and find a place for me once the state hiring ban is lifted. I think I would like living in Athens.

Random thoughts about public libraries

One of my favorite things about libraries has always been the community boards out in the lobby. That and the handouts they have for everything you could think of. If you want to know what's going on around town, specifically the smaller things, including small businesses like yoga studios, etc., you knew you could look there. That's what I miss the most where I work, because we're not allowed by the county to have such boards. You'd think the county would want its citizens to gather together. Oh well.

Why do so many people check out xmas books and films from the library throughout the year? I guess some people don't worry about ruining the xmas spirit before the holiday season arrives. It just astounds me because I would have thought most people waited until holiday season to get in the mood.

You can go a whole year at the library without being asked something, then two people ask in a row. It is so strange. Anyone who has ever worked retail knows that people always come in waves. It's generally feast or famine, all or nothing, a waiting line or an empty building. I want to know why that happens.

Force-fed satisfaction

It seems very rude to force things on people, but I'm learning - and working on - doing just that. Because sometimes that's what you have to do in order to satisfy. For most people, if something seems too complicated, or if they think they would be wasting your time by asking for help, they will just pass on whatever it is they wanted to do. If you insist, however, that they go ahead and request the book or create the account, etc., they get what they wanted, learned something new, are incredibly appreciative, and ultimately leave with a good feeling about the library.

Does your library have members?

In the most recent American Libraries newsletter, there was a link to a blog post about a talk at the recent American Library Association convention. "Patron" or "Customer"? Consultant Makes the Case for "Member". What a brilliant idea! That way everyone is part of a club. No one wants to be patronized, and we all know that customers are not always right, especially when they habitually claim that their late items were actually on time. It's a simple idea, but I've never heard it before, not even when we were discussing it in library school. Members have cards, and people who aren't members are guests. They pay dues in the form of taxes.

Gender bias or gender difference?

I am so sick of people talking about gender bias, especially regarding management. I'm sure it happens here and there, but overall we're pretty much equal as far as employment goes. In the library world, most of us are women. Yet a much larger percentage of library directors are men. Why is that? Are people still so sexist they have to hire a man to do the job? But wait: how many women vs. men apply for management postitions? Men just tend to be more ambitious. That's how it is. Many women have no interest in having power.

Regarding salary (in)equity, I believe that men are generally more daring when negotiating salaries. I also believe that they are more proactive in asking for pay raises, if applicable. There are differences between the genders. I don't know about you, but I'm glad we aren't all the same.

Photo courtesy meganpru

We read banned books

The most challenged book of both 2006 and 2007 is a children's book based on a true story of a couple male penguins raising a chick from an orphaned egg. The book is And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell. It must be a terrible book if it's been challenged more than any other for the past two years, right?

The library I work for is in a conservative community, so they never even purchased the book to begin with. After thinking about it for a while, I finally ordered the book through ILL (inter-library loan) from another library that saw value in adding this wonderful children's book to their collection. I was surprised it was as good as it was. It was so sweet, I almost cried. What on earth could be wrong with it?

What a good book to teach children about different families and about adoption. Oh no, they're gay! People really piss me off. Kids everywhere are not getting the chance to read this book that's destined to become a classic. Why? Because their parents are homophobic. This really happened, people! Get over yourselves and realize that homosexuality is perfectly natural. For goodness sake, don't teach your children to hate!

I bought my own copy, and I recommend that everyone else buy at least one copy. Buy one for family, buy one for friends. 

Note: The library where I work has bought a few copies since this post. They are shelved in the "Parenting" section.

Classify by discipline, not subject

While looking through this book I cataloged at my internship this morning, I had an epiphany. Let me begin by saying that they don't really teach the Dewey Decimal Classification System in library school anymore. We briefly covered it in my cataloging class, but it wasn't enough to learn how to build numbers. Recently, this problem has been a big topic among catalogers and library schools. That's the most important reason for an internship- to learn this stuff and get practice. Anyways, this book explained that the DDC is arranged by discipline, and not by subject. At first they sound the same, especially since we say "subject" for the classification numbers at work, but there is a distinct difference. "It is the mode of discussion that is scientific, not the subject." Since the mode of discussion for theology books is "scientific," they are cataloged as nonfiction. Otherwise they would have to be fiction, of course.