The librarian is back.

Life in a small town library is very uneventful. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and it hasn't. Yet. Besides my pessimistic nature, I am enjoying this new atmosphere. I have come to the conclusion that my last library had made me cynical and apprehensive. I realized that I am not as friendly as I used to be which is hindering my contact with my community. So from this day forward I will be going back to my non-cynical post graduation euphoric state of mind. Where I thought I was out to save the world of their information-less selves. Hi I'm Tollula and I will be your librarian.

My new library is really small and mostly caters to young families. Therefore, the programing is directed towards children. But I have found something interesting. We are the neighborhood teen watering hole. Because our building has a front and back exit, our front entrance is facing the High School. We are in the direct path of the kids going home from school. So they walk through our library, past the circ desk, past the ref desk and drink water from our water fountain and keep going out the back door. Like clockwork after 2:30pm groups of teens walk by without a second glance. I think it's hilarious!! It is my mission to try and divert them to our YA collection or at least say hello and acknowledge we are here and we are not here just for their thirsty needs. Here is what I have come up with so far:

• Plan A: Place book "trough" in their path filled with YA titles. Results: A couple from the herd glanced at the collection.
  
• Plan B: Fill the "trough" with graphic novels that were recently made into movies. Results: Some of the "glancers" pulled away from the herd and stopped to explore more and commented on the titles. Set them back down and caught up to the group.
• Plan C: Combine popular titles, bios and graphic novels but add a "Coming soon: Cracking Dawn" banner to attract attention. (I'm hoping some of them are Twilighters and will order the book. I just placed it. So I will keep you posted on the results on Monday)

Does anybody else have any ideas? I want to approach them and start a communication with them, but don't know how. They don't stop other than to drink water. I don't want to make any sudden moves and spook them.

May I pick it up for you as well?

Patron Stories:
(Conversation over the phone)
Patron: Hi I would like to find out if you have movies.
Me: Yes we do. Which movie are you looking for?
P: That one movie with Johnny Depp, I need to know if you have it for me to check out. Do you have it at this library over here?
M: I can check. Do you know the title?
P: Yes, "Blow". B-l-o-w, with Johnny Depp. Do you have it over here at this library? Which branch are you?
M: We are located on 3rd and Atlantic. Which branch do you want it from?
P: The one over here at 3rd and Fairfax. Can you tell me if they have it?
M: I'm sorry but that's another system, let me check if they have it on their online catalog.
P: Do they have it?
M:I'm still searching. Do you know the name of the library? or the zip code where it's located?
P: No.
M: Ok, I found it. Yes, they have it. Would you like their phone number?
P:No. Can't you put it on hold for me?
M: I'm sorry I can't. They are on a different system. I can give you their number and they can put it on hold for you.
P: But you said you found it! Why can't you put it on hold.
M: I found it on their online catalog which you can access as well from your home computer or you can call them.
P: Whatever! click

You're WELCOME!!! -_-...

Stupid question of the day.

One patron asks another patron waiting in line, who clearly has ash on his forehead, "Is it ash Wednesday?"

(insert canned laughter here)

Excuse me. Do you work here?

Library Patron stories:
(Me at the reference desk at 3:30pm)
Patron: Can I put my name down for the study room at 4pm.
Me: No, I'm sorry it's first come first serve. So you will have to come back at 4pm.
P: But I asked the girl and she said she will be done at 4pm.
M: You'll have to come back then to get it. You can't reserve it in advanced.
P: But she said I could.
M: Who did?
P: The girl in the room.
M: She doesn't work here. I do, and I'm telling you you can't.
P: Oh ok.

Sorry for the inconvenience

Patron Story:
I just had an encounter with one of our regular complainers. This patron comes to the library regularly and always finds something to complain about. If it's not the computers it's the kids are too loud, or his book wasn't in or someone was talking to loudly. Today it had to do with the bathrooms. In his defense I agree with what his complaint was (our bathrooms being out of order and our staff didn't help direct him to a working facility), but the way he went about it is what really got to me. Instead of just stating the facts he demanded to see the supervisor. I am the only one available, so he grills me on my title. Then tells me that if we don't rectify the problem he will go to our Board of Supervisor and maybe even embarrass her in front of her counsel meeting and complain about our poor regard for our patrons. But like the professional that I am, I apologized profusely and assured him that we will try to accommodate our patrons and hope that he will not feel the need to take it so far. He is not a wacko who just threatens. He is a wacko who has followed through in the past and we have heard it from the top. We all know who he is and try to avoid him. But it was my turn today. Go figure.

Movie Review
"JUNO" is a great movie! I recommend everyone to go see this movie. The humor and feeling of it is very much like "Little Miss Sunshine". Nuff said.

Slow Friday:

The Friday after Christmas and before New Years is very slow. So here is my reference log for the day:

10-11am

1. I'd like to reserve a computer?
2. How can I reserve a computer?
3. Can I make a computer reservation?
4. The computer is frozen.
5. Can I get a computer reservation?
6. The computer doesn't want to work.
7. Can I get a study room?
8. Computer?
9. Can you help me find a book. It doesn't come up in your catalog?
10. I have a computer reservation at 11am. Where is it?
11. Can I get a computer reservation?

12-1pm

1. Can I have my library back?
2. Can you help me find this title in Spanish?
3. Can you help me find it?
4. Can you help me find a book on knitting in Spanish?
5. Can I have my pin number?
6. What happened to your foot?
7. Here is a gift for you for Christmas for being so nice. :)
8. I already used the computer on the express, so you can delete my reservation for 12:30 in case someone needs to use it. (how nice)
9. (Wow! Real ref question)I'm doing research on a couple and they listed their intention to marry back in 1934. Does that mean they got married within that year? If so, where can I find that record? I'm calling from Oregon.
10. Do you check out books here?
11. Can I reserve a computer here?
12. Where's the bathroom?
13. Me: Is this your child? Can you please stop him from running around the stacks and calling out for "mama"? Thank you.
14. They sent me from the front, I'm looking for computer programs for children. (me: to learn how to use the computer?) No, programs to help teach my child about letters and numbers. (me: sorry we don't have that here. We have books to teach you how to work the programs, to teach children to use them.) So you don't have program disks we can take home and practice letters and stuff? (No, we have Leap Frog (c) programs you can use here at the library).
15. Can I get a study room?
16. How can I use the Wi-Fi?
17. me:I'm sorry but you can't use your cell phone here.
18. me: Ma'am please stop your child from yelling and running through the stacks.
19. Can I make another computer reservation?

2-3pm

1. Can I check to see if I have anything late?
2. Do you have "Forrest Gump" on dvd?
3. Do you have "Harry Potter" books?
4. Do you have legal forms here?
5. How can I get a library card?
6. Is there somewhere I can enlarge a page?
7. Can I get a computer?
8. Can I have a computer?
9. Can I cancel my reservation?
10. I am looking for a "High Noon" on dvd.
11. Do you have "How to win friends and influence people'?
12. I'd like to cancel my reservation.
13. Can I make a reservation? I just got my number from the front. (me: no sorry. You need your card to make reservation.)
14. Do you have a book or anything on "Mario"? (me: like mario brothers? The video game?) Yes, anything like that.
15. Do you have "Goosebumps" videos?
16. Can I reserve a computer?
17. Do you have the movie "On Dangerous Ground"?
18. Can I make a reservation?
19. Can I make a reservation for a 15 min computer?
20. Can you tell me which computer I am on again?
    

Book Review:

Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi is another great collection of stories from Iran. In this book she recounts stories of women and their experiences. It is a graphic novel that allows you to connect with the characters of her life.

Library Stuff:

Now it seems our profession is attacking another website other than wikipedia. Read all about Yahoo answers here. I myself use it once in a while. Of course I follow up on the answer and don't take it as face value, but that's just me.

Patron Stories:

I approached two teens at the express computer when I noticed they have signed on for a second time, while there is another patron waiting.

Me: Would you please sign off? There is a person waiting for the computer and this is your second session.

Patron: I'm already signed off, I'm just sitting here (with a smirk while his friend snickers in the background.)

Me: If you get up from there so she can use it that would be great.

P: Yea that would be great. (As he is getting up.)

(I ignore his comment and go back to the desk. They stand/lean on the computer station next to the one he was on while he talks to his other buddy on the computer. Now I am getting upset. We don't allow people to loiter by the computers.)

I walk over to them very calmly. They don't notice I'm heading towards them and very loudly say:

Me: Excuse me, guys?! You cannot stand here and chat. If you would like to continue your conversation you need to go to another part of the library. You can go sit down on one of those desks.

Neither of them expected me to approach them again. They were in shock and just stared at each other. They quietly walked to the desk. LOL

Another story: Two girls come up to the desk for a computer reservation. Our policy is that you cannot make an appointment w/out your card. If you don't have it the circ desk gives it to you once, after that you must have you card. This young lady had her number on an old crumpled post it.

Patron: Can I get a computer? I just got my number up front.

Me: You just got this? (as I handle the post it.)

P: Yes.

M: Ok, the next computer is not available until 3pm is that ok? (As I look up her account to check for a note as to when she received this number.)

P: yea, that's ok.

M: I'm sorry. But it shows here that you received you number on the 21st. You need to go back up there and get a new library card if you have lost it. I can't make you a reservation.

P: Yea? Ok.

Ha! Try to pull a fast one on me will ya?! (I told you it was slow day. lol)

I don't want to come back!!

I just came back after a winter's break of 5 days. And the place is just as I had left it. Same old rude patrons that demand "the internet", cell phone shouting, computer hogging, smelly, rude people who don't know the meaning of good will towards men. ARGH! Doesn't anybody have anything better to do than to go to the library the day after Christmas? Go to the mall and torture those people with your returns and you fighting over the After-Christmas-Sales. Yes, I'm bitter.

Book Review:

Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi is the follow up to her first book that documented her childhood in Iran. This second book continues her story as she experiences life away from home in Austria. She encounters different cultures, people and ideas that shape her life.

I recommend her book for the sole experience of learning about a political refuge's ordeals in Europe. Living in Southern Cali I only have experience as a Mexican immigrant. So it was interesting to read about the refugees in Europe. Satrapi's tales are at times entertaining but you can't help but feel her loneliness and unhappiness because she is away from her family. Go out and pick up this book. You will learn a lot about Iran's culture and religious atmosphere.

Creepy customer

Patron Stories

I'm trying to sit perfectly still. Sssshhh. One of the new creepy guys (picture is not the actual image) has shown up. Last time he was here he was yelling obscenities in the Resource Center. The time after that he tried to join a private meeting we were having with our higher ups, to make sure he wasn't "missing anything". He is now using one of our Internet computers with his headphones on with the volume full blast. I would normally approach a patron that is doing that, where I can hear the sound, I ask them to turn it down. But not today. I'm hoping he doesn't see me and try to engage me into conversation/argument. I'm sitting here praying for the last 30 minutes to pass so that he leaves. Don't. Make. A. Move. Ssshhhh....please leave quietly.

Rushed patron

Patron Stories

Setting: Me at the ref. desk 10am, right when the library opened.

Patron: EXCUSE ME!! (rushing towards me) This computer says it's reserved for 11am and i tried signing in but it won't let me because it's reserved for this hour (10am)! But it's a lie because it says it is reserved for 11am and I....

Me: Which computer is it and I'll check the reservation?

P: Comp 15

Me: Yes, in fact it is reserved for 10am. But there are several computers (like 10 of them!!) available you could go on which are not reserved at this time.

P: Ok, but my complaint is that the screen was misleading saying it was available for until 11am. I wouldn't have wasted my time on it I am in a hurry!!!

Me: I'm sorry about that. I will email our IT dept.

(If she was in such a hurry she could have just jumped on another computer w/out wasting her time talking to me and complaining about it! She wasted more time with me than just signing onto another computer. What a yutz!)

My Evil co-workers

Yes. Evil. Why oh why are you weeding so much? There is no need for you to weed the 800's and gut it dry! Leave us please some poetry, some sonatas, some shakespeare! PLEASE! If you don't like books, don't be a librarian! Don't take it out on our small collection.

Are you looking for A Long Day's Journey Into Night? Sorry, it's gone! How about some classic Emerson? Nope try another library. OH! It hurts just thinking about it. (sigh) Stop the madness!



Patron Stories:

An aide tells me a patron is using his cell phone to listen to music in the computer room. He won't turn it off. I ask him to please turn it off. He says, "I have come before and if I can't afford to get earphones for the computer, someone else has told me it's ok to lower it so I can hear it softly. How is that different from using my cell phone softly?" Me: I'm not sure who you spoke to, but that is not our policy. If you don't have earphones you can't listen to the sounds from the computer you must turn it off. Patron: I see how it is. Fine.
(p.s. if you can afford a cell phone you can afford $5 earphones if you want to listen to music at the library so badly! )

Patron (thinking): hmm? The librarian just came up to me and asked me not to use the cell phone in here. Let me talk even louder and walk to the echoing hallway that resonates all over the building. That will be better right?
Me: Can you please get off the cell phone or go outside. (ARGH!! The hallway is not outside!!!!)

Intresting Ref Questions

Patron: You don't have banned books here right?
Me: Yes, we actually have a lot of them. Which one are you looking for?
Patron: Well it's a movie. About Christopher Columbus.
Me: So you want a movie about Christopher Columbus?
Patron: Yes, but I don't remember the name of it.
(WHA?! How? Huh? What does that have to do with banned books?)

My day

Situation: Emergency door is opened. Alarm goes off. Librarian 2nd in Command is walking by. He pauses. Looks around to see if anybody saw him notice it. Doesn't see anybody. Walks away. Alarm is still blaring.

My Reference Log

A Wednesday afternoon two hour stint at the reference desk:

1. Can I have a computer?


2. Do you have Hawaiian music?


3. Can I order some movies?


4. Can I get a computer?


5. Can I get a study room?


6. Can I get a computer?


7. Can we both sit at the computer?


8. What computer was that again?


9. Where can I sign up for a computer?


10. Why can't we share a computer?


11. Let me speak to a manager.


12. I'll go find another computer somewhere else! (after speaking to manager)


13. (Phone) Can I talk to the CRC? What are their hours?


14. Is this where I make a computer reservation?


15. Can I have a computer?


16. How do you spell "cirrhosis"?


17. Can I get a study room?


18. Can I get a computer?


19. Can I get a computer?


20. You can't use your cell phone in here.


21. You can't eat that in here.


22. Please keep it down you are very loud.


23. Can you restart my computer?


24. When is your next computer reservation?


25. That's your earliest one?


26. What computer did you say I had?


27. Where are your "Halo" books?


28. Where are your scary stories? Like Goosebump?


29. Can i have a computer?


30. Can you help me find this book in the shelves?


31. Can I get my ID back?


32. 
    
    

Patrons

Patron etiquette:
When you see an Information Professional such as myself speaking to somebody else, don't just come up and interrupt asking if you can ask me a question. I am busy! Yea, you are not the only person in the library! People standing in front of you in line got there first even if you think you are the most important person to your self, you're not for the rest of us. K. Thanks.

Patron: Can I check to see if someone I am looking for is here or has used a computer. Me: No, sorry. We can't give out that kind of information.
P: Oh really?
Me: Yes.
P: Well can I ask you if you've seen this girl? She is about 5 feet tall, with dark hair and "morenita" complexion.Me: (pause) are you serious?
P: Yea.Me: There are a lot people that fit your description here (In East Los Angeles!!! And you are talking to one of them dumbass!). Sorry.
Same patron later on.
P: Can I make a computer reservation?
Me: Sure. The next one is at 12:30. Is that ok?
P: Sure. Is that for half hour or a full hour?
Me: Full hour.
P:What time do you open?
Me: 10am
P: Why are your reservations in increments of 30 minutes? Like 11:30, 12:30...?
Me: Because not everyone shows up at 10am to use a computer. They come in later on and use it from 10:30 till 11:30 and the person after them uses it from 11:30 to 12:30 and so on.
P: wow that is weird.
(Really?!?! Is it really that weird? This is an adult I'm talking to, right?)

New FAV blogs

Thanks to OEDB's poll, "Top 25 Librarian Blogger", I have found my new favorite blog. A Librarian's Guide to Etiquette is full of sarcasm and dry humor covering clever topics such as "Being the Kick-ass Librarian", "Dressing for a library interview" and other helpful tips like "Being a Whistler". I guess those of you who are not librarians and might get the jokes, but if imagine your local librarian following these guidelines it is very humorous. I particularly enjoy the topic of being territorial in which peeing is the solution to marking your territory. Good reading. :)

Here's some patron etiquette:

When using a public computer at the library always take handy wipes with you. The person who might have been using it before you could have had a cold and sneezed their snot all over the place w/out covering their mouth. I've seen it happen folks.

TV

I have a new favorite show. Mad Men on AMC is an awesome show that deals with the world of advertising men on Madison Avenue NY in the early 1960's. I love the dress and the background settings. Even though it's full of racial, sexist and other non-pc talk, the storyline is awesome. The development of these characters is enthralling. I can't wait for the mid-60's cus I know some of the housewives will be declaring their Independence. Though it looks like they are really trying to hard to shock the audience by showing a lot of shots of pregnant women smoking/drinking, people driving w/out their seat belts or drunk and people drinking all the time. At first this last part I thought was an exaggeration, but I spoke to one of my co-workers and she says it's all true. It just so happens that she was a secretary for an ad firm on Madison Avenue NY in the 1960's and it was exactly like that. With the ass pinching and 3 martini lunches. Yup that was real.

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.

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.

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.

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."

Pet Peeves

Mantra

When dealing with unruly teenagers who a)will not stop talking b)stop using their cell phones c) share the computers with 4 of their friends to be on myspace; I have to chant my mantra to make me feel better about dealing with them:

"At least they are not on the streets. They chose to come to the library. They are not bad, just like to share. Ahh oooohhm"

I swear, it's like shooing a flock of pigeons in the park. I walk through the computers and tell those who are standing behind their friends watching their monitors to disperse, they do. But as soon as you are a good distance away, they flock right back. I had to kick three of them out last week, it felt good. But I don't want to do that too often for fear it may lose its power.

Pet Peeve #2: Trying to "Shock" the librarian
I have had kids come up to ask for material just to try and see how I would react. Hustler, Kama Sutra and Porn Industry 101 will not shock me. Be warned I will give you the material if we have it, so be prepared to be embarrassed.