STOP FORWARDING!!!!

Forwarded emails irk me!! I have this old co-worker whose only form of communicating with people is by forwarding stupid jokes, chain mails and pictures of fat naked women. I HATE THAT!!! I never read her emails and have deleted her from my address book hoping that she will get filtered out. She gets sent to my junk mail but I still get them. Then not only do I get it from her but she sends them to another old co-worker who later sends me the same email again!! I have no problem deleting them w/out reading them, but what I really hate is that they don't even have the courtesy to BCC everyone instead of having all the people they forward it to see everybody else's email. I don't know her friends, so I don't want them having my email address. It's no surprise I get a lot of junk mail. Ok, so I have told her "Stop sending me this crap!!!" But still does. Can anybody help?

Book vs. Movie

In my experience all books that have been made into movies are generally better than the movie production. There is one exception, Devil's Advocate the movie was way better than the book. But yesterday I went to see The Nanny Diary and it sucked. They changed so many aspects of the book that were critical to the story and what the author intended to convey. Three main things were changed that I think made the movie bad. 1) Nanny was raised by her single, bitter mother who wanted her strive for excellence. This ruined it because in the book Nanny has to deal with her close family who she goes to for advice and encouragement. Her role model is her grandmother who supports her in her decisions but also makes her think why she takes on nanny positions. 2) In the movie they make it seem like she came upon becoming a nanny by accident. In the book she has had years experience with being a nanny and uses all her past experiences on know how to deal with Grayden and the X's. Being a Nanny is how she worked while going through college. 3) Her school status. One of the main conflicts of the book is the fact that she is in her senior year at NYU and while she has to deal with the control freak, boss from hell Mrs. X she also has to finish her senior thesis on time. This element of the book would have made the movie more interesting. At the end of the book the Mrs. X's of the Upper East Side are summarized as a force to be reckoned with and the cycle of nannies continue. So all in all, I don't recommend this movie. The book wasn't all that as it is, but the movie was worse.

How to talk to a widower

by Jonathan Topper was a very sad book. Because of the death of his wife, Doug has to learn how to deal with his stepson and moving on. There were times in the book where I really wanted to cry. Just the fact of how much he loved his wife and how quickly she was taken from him was the sad part. Once he started dealing with real life it became humorous. His family and friends were wacky that you had to laugh out loud. I recommend this book.

My Day

This was my day of questions in a 4 hour reference day:
Can I Pre order new releases advertised on our poster.
Computer reservation.
Where’s computer 8?
Is there a computer class here today?
Is your catalog working?
Can I reserve a PC?
Can I have more paper?
Can I get a computer?
Can I get a library card?
Where can I get the new releases?
I ordered 300 a month ago and haven’t received it.
Why is myspace blocked?
Can I make a PC reservation?
The computer won’t let me log in.
Can I reserve a computer?
Can I place a movie on hold?
Reserve a computer.
Reserve a computer.
Reserve a computer.
Where can I make copies?
Can I have paper for computer?
Can I reserve a computer?
Can I reserve a computer?
I’m looking for this book that I had checked out before and I don’t see it anymore. It was in row 8.
Can you print directions for me?
Can I get a computer?
Can I get a computer?
Can I get a computer?
can I get a computer?
Can I get a computer?
Can I get a computer?
Can I get a computer?
Can I get a computer?
Is that computer taken?
Where are your plays?
Can I get a computer?
Can I get a computer?
“”
“”
Where are your books on neurology?
Can I get my ID back?
Can I get a computer?
Can I get a computer?
"Hey kid! Don’t ride your scooter in here."
"Sorry, there can only be one person per computer."(x10)
"Please turn off your cell phone. "(x10)
Can I use the computer if I owe $15?
Can I use the computer if I don’t have my computer card?
I need an article published in the newspaper the date my son was born.
I need to find an article in the LA times that has to do with Patagonia and was printed a couple of months ago.
Can I get a computer?
Can I drop off a book I checked out from Montebello here?
Which computer was it I reserved?
Where is it?

Who's ready for autumn?!

I AM!!! I am so tired of the 100 degree weather. I'm tired of dressing cool to get to work and then putting on a sweater to deal with the AC. I crave scarfs, sweaters, boots and coats, the cool wind blowing in my hair and fresh smell of rain. Autumn, hurry up and get here!!

Austenland

With a book dedication like this I could not resist this book:

"For Collin Firth

You're a really great guy, but I'm married, so I think we should just be friends."

Austenland by Shannon Hale was very entertaining and funny. Like the main character Jane I too love the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice and fell in love with Collin Firth because of it. The writing of this novel was very similar to that of Jane Austen which made it more interesting to read. Though I have not read all of Miss Austen's books, the book is an easy read.

Jane, a graphic design artist is obsessed with finding her Mr. Darcy and in the process has gone through several relations that have scarred her for life. Her great-(rich)aunt leaves her an unusual gift in her last Will and Testament which takes Jane to a surreal Austenland. I know there are many of you Austen lovers out there, so I recommend this book to you. You will not regret it.

My Patrons

I have regular patrons that annoy me so much that I gave them a nickname. The first is Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum. They are a married couple that always come in and cause trouble. I have been yelled at by them at least once since I've been working here with their irrational demands and complaints. They complete each other because they cannot comprehend how the world doesn't revolve around them.

The next couple is Heckle & Jeckle. They are a pair of "Emo" friends that always come in with their loud iPods, and snotty attitude. They gather at a computer with other friends and cause a raucous. They have a wanna be mohawk and tight jeans . They are rude and obnoxious when approached about their loudness and continue to ignore the rules of the library.

Then there's Uncle Fester and Igor this is another married couple that come in and think they own the place. After being yelled at by Fester they no longer come and ask questions at the desk when I'm here. I think he is embarassed about how he made an ass of himself.

So those are my patrons. Ahh! The joy of librarianship.

Oh Manny, Manny, Manny

The Manny by Holly Peterson was "eh!". It was too unrealistic and boring. The book is about a working mom who in an effort to help her 9 year old son deal with his absent father, who is always working, she hires a male nanny = A Manny. Throughout the book Peterson touches on Jamie's marriage and how it is falling apart. So you pretty much know where this story goes.

I think this is more of a fairytale. If you work hard and raise wonderful children, you can hire a great father figure for your children and fall in love giving you the strength to leave your dead marriage and the man who doesn't respect you. BORING!! The writing was long and drawn out where she didn't get to the point. Especially the parts about Jamie's career changing job. I was just not buying it. So, I don't really recommend this book.

Dreaming in Cuban

Dreaming in Cuban by Christina Garcia was a very good novel about a family and how they coped after the Revolution. Story jumps from the different points of view of the family members through three generations. After Castro takes over Cuba, the del Pino family is split between following El Lider or have Cuba the way it used to be. The eldest daughter leaves with her family to the USA and her father later follows. The remaining members of the family, Abuela Celia, Felicia and her three children experience the hardships of rations and censorship.

I really enjoyed this book because the author did a great job of portraying the passion between the two sides of the Revolution in one family. I really rooted for each character and their individual feelings. One thing that really stood out to me is how miserable the lives of all the female characters were. With no exception, they were all unhappily married, crazy, dealing with cheating husbands, abuse, self loathing, deranged mother's in law, lost loves, abandonment issues and paranoia. It makes me think that the author went out of her way to ensure that the reader knew how much a Cuban woman suffers. But it was fascinating to read about their experiences. I recommend this book to anyone. It's not as filled with "spiritual symbolism" and the like, like Sandra Cisneros or Isabel Allende and I think that is why I liked it.

Patron Stories

I was told I "ROCK" today. Yes, that's right. I ROCK! I think that is the best compliment I have received since I became a librarian. I always post the ridiculousness of my patrons but today I wanted to give me a pat on the back. I had a patron that could not print out a document from his thumb drive. I thought it was because we don't have the program that he used to create it. But he insisted that he created in Word. He was so baffled and confused that he brought out his laptop and I walked him through it. Of course the problem was that he created it in with the new Vista Word program. Yea. If you save it with the Vista program these older computers (i.e. those created before 2007) cannot read the file. How convenient for Microsoft. So I figured out how to save it as a Word 1997-2003 document. He was able to save it to his thumb drive and we were able to print it. TA DA!!! And that is why I ROCK.

Ok, this rant is back to my discussion of "Family Place" libraries. Our library has been set up with the idea that if we bring toys to the library it will encourage young families to come and read while their little ones play. So kids of all ages come play, be loud, run and yell in the library. And we are not allowed to say anything because it's a "Family Place". Our superiors have given us research to help us understand why they do this. They claim that once children go on to Middle and High School they lose interest in the library because they no longer have the same attention lavished on them when they were kids through storytime, summer reading programs and games. Well duh! How about instead of creating more areas of play for kids, we fund more programs for adults and young adults? Of course kids are going to lose interest in something that has lost interest in them once they are adults? It's like having your first 4 years of grammar school be filled with nothing but games, puppies and prizes. Then when you hit middle school, BAM! You are expected to sit still for long periods of time just listening to someone lecture. There would be more school drop outs if that was the case.

I'm just saying, I don't agree with the whole "Family Place" concept of a way to keep children interested in the library once they become adults.

Two books I finished reading just because.

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee and Flip Flopped by Jill Smolinski are two books I struggled with in order to finish them. First off, Free Food was too long. There was no point in having all that detail about so many characters. The main character, Casey, is a Korean girl newly graduated from Princeton. She attended with a full scholarship and now has to deal with the real world and due to her poor background she doesn't have the same privileges her rich classmates have. I was fascinated by this story because I always wondered how people adjusted to that kind of life. The idea of coming from a poor family and background and then being sent to an Ivy League school where you know everyone is richer than you is something I always wondered about. I knew of classmates who went on to Ivy League schools and never knew what happened after that, so I've always wondered.

Casey has a difficult time adjusting to being on her own in New York after her father kicks her out for acting superior. She goes through several relationships and deals with her mentor's overbearing need to help her. I got bored through the middle of this book, but I had to finish it. I just couldn't let it go.

Flip Flopped was a fun read. The main character (I can't even remember her name) was funny and made you cheer for her. Th title of this book was right on to described her state of mind. She flip-flopped from one extreme to the other when it came to her life. After having caught her husband cheating on her, she is trying to go through divorce proceedings, but she has second thoughts all through the book. I really hated Kam (I remember his name, darn it!) because I don't care how the island people of Hawaii are, he was just lazy and irresponsible and I refuse to believe that a whole group of people are like that. I mainly finished the book, though I lost interest in it half way through, was because I wanted to make sure she stuck it to him in the end with the divorce. It was very anti-climactic, so I was not too happy with it.

My List

I just finished reading The Next thing on My List by Jill Smolinski, which is a great book about meeting your goals and facing the challenges of life.

June Parker is determined to complete the items on a dead girl's list before her 25th birthday. Her ambition and motivation helps her have a better life and understand the people around her. I relate to this character because I use lists all my life to help me get things in order, from my education, love life and career goals, I have relied on lists to keep me focused. I think they are the reason for which I have accomplished what I have so far. I really recommend for you to read this book. Though it has some serious undertones the characters are funny and relate-able.

Are libraries selling out?

Yes! In order to compete with the Barnes and Nobles of the world the public library has changed its rules. Specifically to my library we now have a "Family Place" which is an area that has toys, chairs and child development books in a section of the children's area. The idea is that parents with small children can still come to the library and read up on what information they may need. What really sucks about this is that it's not like the kids sit quietly with their toys while their parents read on the side. No. Parents bring their kids just to play. Like it was Chuck e Cheese or something. Kids get together and play with each other, throw toys, yell and fight with each other while their parents sit and talk very loudly, not taking into consideration that in fact they are in a library. I'm sorry, but a library should be quiet. A library is one of the last places remaining that you can sit and quietly relax with your research or book. You can't even relax in the movie theatres anymore, with all the cell phones, babies crying and loud talking. So library administrators, Stop It!! Bad administrators!! How would you like it if I came into your board rooms and said everyone is allowed to bring their kids to your meetings and provide loud battery operated toys? Lets see how productive your meetings will be.

Men's Guide to the Women's Restroom

By Jo Barrett was not what I expected. The story is about a woman who has just gone through a divorce and is trying to get her life back on track by going back home to Austin, Texas. She tries to move on with her friends and new boyfriend who she thinks might be the real thing. Her understanding of the women's bathroom as an inner sactum inspires her to write a book for men, so that they understand why we go to the bathroom in groups. (I don't do that. Only when drunk. tee hee )

I guess I expected something more from the male point of view and why they are so confused as to why we travel in herds to the restroom. The character's personality was fun and at times made me lol. I kinda recommend this book if you want something fun and light to read. It didn't leave me wanting me more.

Has this ever happened to you?

When people find out that I am a librarian, they treat me differently. Like I'm supposed to know everything. You know like when some insecure guy comes upon a boxer and tries to trick him into a fight to prove that he is just as good as the boxer. Yea. People do that to me. They ask me question and try to stump me. Why? I do not know. What they don't understand is that I don't know everything, I just know where to find everything. I don't claim to be the smartest person in the world and know every fact at the drop of a hat. But if you ask me for some information and I research it for you. Don't question me. "I did the research!" So don't question me. If you weren't going to take my answers at face value then don't ask me to look up stuff you!!!

Heaven. I'm in heaven.

I never understood when people described chocolate as a comfort food. That every time they ate it, it made them happy and relaxed. I don't like chocolate. I'll eat it once in a while but I don't crave it like some other people. I prefer something more salty and crunchy than sweet and gooey. So I was recently pleased with my new discovery. A Diablito. On an excursion I took with my in-laws to try a new place where they have "tortas ahogadas" I came upon this concoction called a Diablito. It mainly consists of crushed ice, like a snow cone. But it's the toppings that make it magic. It's a mixture of tamarindo, chamoy, chile, salt and lemon. This is was the only place I knew that had them. So I had 2 before I left. Today I find out there is place close to where I work that sells them. YEAY!! One of our library pages went out and got me one for lunch. MMmmmmm comfort food. I was in heaven the full 10 min it took me to eat it. It was so comforting that I was able to block out the people around me. Tan!Tan!

I don't want what your'e having...

I know this chick who always talks about stuff like she was the one who discovered it or invented it. When she became a mother she would tell everyone how great it is, the feeling of loving someone so much. Everyone should go out and become a mother so that they can experience this great new feeling. She would even tell people who already had kids and describe this to them. Yes, I think they already knew about her discovery but she still told them like she was the only person in this world to experience it. Also, when she finds a new toy to purchase she is the first person to have discover it. Wow, everyone should get this new blackberry/BMW/a pool/a tattoo. She discovered it. She doesn't just boast or brag, but she tells it like she is so excited about this new development and how everyone else should get it too because she has and their lives are better for it. Like whatever she is up to it's the thing to be doing or else you suck.


I hate that.


You don't see me going around bragging to people and telling them, "Have you ever gotten your Masters? It's great! You should, everyone should experience this at least once in their lives. Your mind expands, you get a better paying job and you are a better person for it." NO! I don't do that. Because I know a Master's isn't for everybody. I know that not everyone wants a Masters. Not everyone has the need to stay in school for two more years and apply that kind of commitment. Their lives are not less than mine because they don't have one. Jeesh people! GET A CLUE!
tan! tan!



COñO PUES!

Waiting For Snow in Havana by Carlos Eire is the most recent book I finished reading. It's a memoir about the authors life in Cuba before the revolution and his subsequent exile from the island. His description of events that happened to him and his experiences as a boy were a great read. The story gives you an in depth knowledge of what life was like for the Cuban people once they left Cuba. I recommend this book if anything just to read about what Cuba was like prior to its ruin by Fidel. His family's experiences are sad and heartwarming at the same time. I loved his use of Cubanism and sayings to add to his storytelling.

Shelfari.com

I just found this great new site called www.shelfari.com/tollula it's like myspace but only for people who read. Browsing through my doctor's magazines I found it mentioned in the Oprah magazine and thought I would take a look. I LOVE IT!! Once you sign on you can add books to your "shelf" with reviews so people know what you are reading and get recommendations from them. Also, it allows for people to create groups based on their interests. So far I belong to groups that allow me to talk about my fave genres of Chic Lit and mystery novels. I don't have any friends yet, cus no one I know loves to read like I do. Maybe I'll make new ones. Well just thought I would let you know about it so you can join and be my friend. :)

Blackbird Sisters Mysteries

After having read and reviewed the first Nancy Martin book I read, I couldn't stop reading the next couple of them in a row. So I just finished the last one and I am sorry that there aren't anymore. I don't want to give anything away about each book so I will give an overview of the series.

How to Murder a Millionaire, Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds, Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die, Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too and A Crazy Little Thing Called Death by Nancy Martin are some of the greatest books I've read in a long time. The character development through each book is incredible. The main characters of Nora, Libby and Emma have such great depth that you can't help but know what they are feeling and going through. Nora's relationship with Michael Abruzzo tugs at your heart strings.


The stories of each book are similar in that they take place around a murder and the Blackbird sisters trying to solve the mystery. But each has an individual characteristic about each plot and just when you think you have figured out Nancy's formula for determining who the killer is, she changes it on you. By far my most favorite thing about her books is the relationship between Nora and Mick. Their emotions are so well described that you can't help but feel their pain and passion. I have found myself laughing out loud as well as crying. I am totally gushing over these books but I think everyone should read them.

Summer Time Reading

Summer

I am so overwhelmed with summer reading. Which is odd because my reading patterns should not change based on a season now that I am no longer in school. There are a lot of new books coming to the library that I find interesting so I have three on my desk waiting for my attention and four that I am reading now. It takes me longer to finish reading a book when I do this because I don't devote my time to just one. By next week I should have finished the Blackbird Sisters Mysteries by Nancy Martin. I am so hooked on this series that I had to go to a competing library system to get the next one in order because our system was taking so long. Though I am hesitant about finishing it because these are the last two books left in the series and I don't know if the author will write more. I hope she does.



I have initiated a book club at home and we will be meeting next Friday. Our club is reading Waiting for Snow in Havana by Carlos Eire. Hopefully it will be a success and I will keep you posted on how the discussion went. Let me know if you'd care to join.



It's nice how the library slows down during the summer. There aren't so many people here after school or in the evenings trying to finish last minute projects. But the down side is that the kids that have nowhere else to go during the day hang out in our air conditioned building therefore causing general mayhem.



Library Pet Peeve #4 Patrons describing the physical appearance of a book rather than the content.

No, I don't know where the book that you saw last week, is about yeay high and has a green cover is located. I have seriously had patrons ask me that question. When I ask them what it was about they say, "I don't remember. But it was good and sounded interesting, but I don't remember what it was about." Or they give me a title they had seen before and they swear that is what it was called. When I do a search for a similar title or find the correct one, they argue with me about it and say that isn't it. Or when I tell them I can't find that particular title they look at me like I'M the moron because saw it here last week!

Isn't there a war on?!

RANT

Ok, if anybody else talks to me about PH and her jail time I am going to scream. I was in the break room and the topic of conversation by all the pages/aides was about this celebutante like they knew her. The topic of conversation on Kevin & Bean on KROQ has been non-stop PH news!! The pages/aides continue on to discuss more pressing topics such as the relationship between Beyonce and Jay Z and how confused they were about it because they had heard Jay Z was with Ciara. ARGH!! Will these kids look outside their MTV and People? There is a war going on, an AIDS epidemic and global warming! Stop worrying about pop stars and the people they sleep with!!

SUV's
I was recently in a fender bender and had to take my car in for repairs. (Stupid chick backed into me! But I'm not bitter.) So I am driving an SUV as my rental car and I love it! It's amazing how people get out of your way on the freeway and actually back off from tailgating you when you tap on the breaks. But the most amazing thing about it is that I figured out that all drive thru windows are made for SUV's! For a long time I have struggled to reach the windows of Starbucks in my Mazda and it is a really headache stretching out to the server and making sure I don't drop the money in the crevice that is the curb and my car. But now that I have an SUV it's so easy! These windows are made for the height of such a vehicle. Which makes me upset. With the increase of SUV's now everything is catered them. Stupid fast food establishments only want to make a drive thru accessible to large, gas guzzling vehicles. Just thought I would point this out so you know next time you are struggling with your mocha frap and the server and wondering why this is so difficult!



Patron Stories
It always amazes me how people are suspicious of anybody who offers them service for free. After printing a patron some resources online he argued with me that I didn't need to print out all the information cus he doesn't want to pay for all the pages. I had to tell him that it was free. So any information he requires we will give it to him. He was shocked. Some people think of us as an exclusive club that you have to pay to access material. They ask us how much it costs to be a member and are happily surprised to find out that all of resources are free. Maybe we should charge people and they won't take us for granted. Yea right! Like that would ever happen.

WHY?!!

Ok, seriously.
Why me? Why is it that every time some guy wants to take out his anger and frustration it's on me? I, who am perfectly cordial and professional to all my patrons, always deals with people who accuse me of being rude to them? Today a patron came to me and asked me about his computer. He had reserved comp #18 at 7pm. It was 6:59 by my clock. So I told him they will be kicked off as soon as it's 7pm. "But why are they still on? It's 7pm", he asked. I said, "the time on his computer might be a little off. Give him a couple of minutes and if he doesn't get off and I'll ask him to. But let me check your reservation, do you have you library card?" So he gave it to me and I looked it up and his account showed that he has a reservation @ 7:30pm on computer #5. I told him so. And he said no he doesn't. He made it for 7pm. And I'm showing him the screen. Then he says, "You know what. You are obviously too busy to help me so I'll go talk to someone else you can help someone else!" I stared at him and said, "sir it's the same system." "no. I'm done with you. You are so rude and lazy and don't want to help me. All you do is sit there." AAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so I helped someone else. The librarian next to me started helping him and was about to walk over to computer #18 to kick that person off. I stopped her and said, "I checked his account. He doesn't have an appointment until 7:30pm." He yells at me, "I'm done with you." He tells my colleague, "this person has been so rude and she doesn't want to help me." I then got up (my shift was over) and I couldn't help myself and said, "You have a nice day sir." and walked away. ARGH!

Why? Why doesn't my colleague Nebraska* who literally is rude to patrons get this? She blatantly does not look people in the eye, points to directions they should head to, does not answer their questions but rings a bell to have the page help them and ignores people who need help. WHY doesn't she get yelled at?! She goes out of her way to be rude to people and no one yells at her! I am getting really tired of this sh**!!

*Not my colleague's real name.

New York Stories are Over

Wolves in Chic Clothing by Carrie Karasyov and Jill Kargman is my last New York based book. I swear!! I've grown tired of them. For now. They all pretty much have to do with the same things such as shopping for high fashion, eating at the best restaurants and being part of a committee to the right fundraising events. Boring! I pushed myself to finishing this book just to complete my NY series of reviews. :O)

The plot revolves around Julia who is new in town and is trying to make it in jewelry design. She works at a famous fictional jeweler called Pehlmans and is "discovered" by the owner's daughter and made her assistant. Unbeknowest to her, Lel Pehlman has ulterior motives for hiring her. This book reminds of the old George Cukor film called The Women (1939) starring Norma Shearer, Rosalind Russell and Joan Crawford only because it's so catty. The character of Polly is parallel to that of Russell's in the movie and is why it reminded me of this story and how they manipulate this newcomer for their own enjoyment. I don't really recommend the book, but I recommend The Women.

Basic Elements of a Library
There are three basic elements that I have found are in a public library.
1. The homeless person: who comes to the library everyday and stays all day. Everyone tries to stay downwind from this person. They don't draw attention to themselves and are at the library mainly to keep warm/cool.
2. Daily phone call: from a crazy patron. Yes, they are crazy. They call for the same things everyday and keep you on the phone for extended periods of time. One can determine when they are on the phone by the roll of eyes of the librarian or assistant as they realize they have been the chosen one to pick up the phone that day.
3. Patron that knows all the tricks. This patron religiously comes to the library and knows all the tricks to the computers. How to do it to where they can get extra time. They lurk and wait for people not show up for their appointments and pounce on the computers while there have people who have not used it all day. They know to use the children's when there is no one around to tell them otherwise.

Keep your eyes open, this is happening in your community. :0)

Cake anyone?

Have Your Cake and Kill him Too by Nancy Martin is a great mystery novel. I love this author's way of writing and getting to the point. This series of novels are called the Blackbird Mysteries, which are about three sisters who inadvertently get involved in murder cases. The characters of Emma, Libby and Nora Blackbird are some of the greatest characters I have read in a while. They have their own personalities, but you also get a hint of their similarities as sisters have a way of doing.
Nora is a social columnist for a local Philadelphia newspaper. The sisters are socialites who no longer have any money once their parents take off with the family fortune to escape the tax collector. The relationship between Nora and Michael, a mob heir is fascinating as a way to complicate the plot. This particular book has to do with a murder case that involves a social scandal and sex. The stories that go around the actual murder are so intriguing that I don't want to jump to the end and learn "who did it" because I want to know what happens with the parallel events. As you can tell I am reading all fun reads lately, but that will change. So enjoy it while it lasts.

Patron Update

Remember the weird-o who yelled at me for no apparent reason? Well he has been coming to the library everyday and today he came to the desk asking for some help. I could tell he was totally embarrassed to have to come and ask me for help after his ranting that he couldn't even look me in the eye. I kept smiling at him (remember the comment he made about my smile?) and assisted him like the professional that I am. But I was gloating internally.

Hot Tamale?

Hot Tamara was not a good title for this book. Mary Castillo's book about Tamara, a twenty something Latina and how she deals with her Mexican parents is not what you expect from this title. The title implies that you are going to be regaled by the escapades of liberated Latina and her adventures in single-hood. The book is more about how Tamara had to struggle to leave the nest and make her life the way she wants, rather than how her mother wants it to be.

I really enjoyed the book because the relationship with her mom is so familiar. The point of this story is that Latinas, you have the choice to do what you want with your life. Despite the fact that your parent's are traditional and want to protect you from the world, it's up to you what you make of it. Tamara is the example of the woman who broke away from tradition and survived to tell the story. Yes, your mother will get over you moving out and getting your own career. Tamara's best friend Isa is her counterpart who is a "good" girl and did whatever everyone expected of her which has lead her to unhappiness. I recommend this book is a great example of Chica Lit.

Privacy Issues

I had my first run in with a patron who asked information on his child. As you will learn (you future librarians out there) in Library Class 101, when someone comes into the library and asks information on another patron's library record you are not allowed to disclose said information. I had a gentleman come in today asking one of our pages to tell him if his daughter checked out any books today. Our page directed the patron to me and I explained that we cannot disclose this information. He said that his daughter had told him that she was going to be at the library doing homework and she had been here all morning, so he wanted to check to see if in fact she came to the library. I told him we could not look that up for him. He said, "Why? Doesn't her name come up when you enter the library card number?" I said, "yes, it does. But it is our policy that all library records are confidential and we cannot disclose this kind of information to anybody." He was shocked. He just wanted to know if his daughter had been here. I told him it was a security measure and we had to protect our patrons. We have no way of knowing that in fact he was her father. He was about take out his wallet to prove it, but I stopped him telling him it was not necessary for him to prove anything, because he was still not going to get the information. Just to make sure, I consulted the lead reference librarian and she backed me up. He finally left but I was a little shaken from the experience. I didn't think I would encounter this issue so early in my librarian career, though they do prepare us for this in library school. Having spoken to my collague again about the situation, she was surprised because she had never had to encounter something like that in all her years as a librarian (which have been a lot). I was pretty proud of myself. Bring on the Patriot Act!! (just kidding)

Yeay Reading!

I love it when I discover a new author and find out that they have written more than that one book. Right now I am reading Nancy Martin's Blackbird Mysteries and have found there are several, so I have my summer reading list ready!

Yes, another book review

I told you I would have more time to read! I just finished reading Momzillas by Jill Kargman. Once again this book takes place in New York and tells the story of Hannah a new mom who is being ostricized by the momzillas of NY. Momzillas are women who are overly obsessed with being the perfect mom that they are competitive in their clothing, schools, activities, and social standing all in the name of motherhood, while slightly neglecting the actually upbringing of the child. The story is interesting only because of the different stupid things the moms did in this book in order to compete. The ending was kinda too generic for my taste and wrapped up nicely.

I need to start reading more intellectually stimulating books! But not anytime soon, because I am reading two other chic lit books, so be prepared to read those.

Patron Stories

Um...ok. Why do people feel the need to shout in a library? I had this lady today walking down the aisles yelling out her daughters name. I finally shushed her and she's like, "Well I'm looking for my daughter." I said, "Well look and stop yelling."