(A shorter version of this post appeared in the La Crosse weekly newspaper, Second Supper, July 30, 2009. I particularly like writing for them because I did not have to sign away my rights to my content. They have a home page where they run major stories and reviews, but my stuff only shows up in the full issue interface at issuu.com ) One of my goals for writing for Second Supper was to get away from writing so much about libraries. In that regard, this week's piece is a big ol' bucket of fail. I had started another piece--it was about going to my first library conference after taking a break for a couple years. It just couldn't get it to gel, so put it aside. Not to worry! It's still in the hopper because I know you are dying to hear about why tech support IS reference and how my friend, Steve, stalked Neil Gaiman until he got close enough to chuck a zine at him without getting arrested. This week I am participating in the Second Annual Day in the Life of a Librarian. As if librarians don't talk enough about their jobs as is, once a year they feel the need to broadcast their labors to the larger world. What follows is an abbreviated version of a typical day in my mid-sized, midwestern public library. In at 8:15 after dropping off daughter at TC. Check weekend mail, 90% of which is spam. (I know, I know! If only I'd incorporate Acai Berry A coworker who follows me on Facebook asks if I got my Second Supper article done, as I mentioned my impending deadline a few times over the weekend, including a status update that said, "Rochelle Hartman is not so sure about this piece she's writing that's due tomorrow." Before co-worker leaves office, she asks, "What is Second Supper?" Ouch! So, I school her and will hand-deliver the next issue to her desk. One of the three Rons stop by my office. My office is right next to the public access computers (we manage 40 workstations), and my door is almost always open, so frequently, patrons will stick their head in to ask for help, rather than going to the Reference desk. Sometimes those interactions turn into relationships, as has happened with the three Rons. Ron #1 has been my pal for a couple years, now. He's a retired pastor who comes in to the library just about every morning to check news, email, financial stuff. The other two Rons are guys I helped set up email accounts and gave basic internet instruction to. They were both quick studies, so they don't ask for help much any more, but they do usually stop in and say howdy. This is actually one of the best parts of my job. Working in public libraries, in my experiece, is like working at Cheers--only with books and computers. Well, but without the beer (except during Oktoberfest when library staff have been known to get a contact buzz from Festers checking their email). Put in a call to the County Crisis
team about doing a welfare check for patron we've been concerned about for a couple weeks. Work on content for new website. Shhhh. Do you hear that? Nothing! That's the sound of the end of children's summer reading program last week. It's been a tantrum-free library so far today.
8:15 am -1 pm
Start of day, take two: Say hi to staff and settle in.
Web guy comes in to pitch a programming idea to me. It involves bikes and a partnership. I'd estimate that about 15-25 % of ideas we toss around come to fruition. I think that's pretty good. I like to hear ideas and encourage others to think big and share stuff, even though it may seem implausible. I send him to the Director to see if she faints or cheers. I hear later that she cheers. This does not mean will be doing it, but that we can brainstorm ways to make it happen.
Try to remember my login/password to our new web interface. The fact that I cannot remember means that I have not worked on my pages recently. *Shame.* Finally, I remember. One less dumb question I have to ask Web Guy. (You know how librarians say there's no such thing as a dumb question? It's a lie. Especially when it's from a librarian who should keep better track of her multiple log-ins.)
Social worker looking for person we're worried about. He wasn't around, but she said she’d come back.
Lunch in my office with door closed. Patron comes in anyway to ask what our policy is on watching "naked porn" on the computers. The policy is "no.”
Afternoon on the Reference Desk
- 11 laptops checked out and in
- 1 disk drive checked out
- 4 computer log-ons
- take money for prints
- Troubleshoot printing software
- "Is season 6 of 24 ready for me?
- "How do I check my email?"
- "Can I use your phone?"
- "Can you get this book for me?"
- A complex question! Market analysis assignment for student.
- IM patron wants to know status of her job application
- “Can you verify a phone number on this website? You are always really nice when I call. Are you single?”
- “Do you have an almanac I can check out?”
- Talk to IT guy about printing problems
- Email from webmaster at another library asking for help in finding stuff to help him write a website accessibility policy
- “What does it mean when the card catalog says an item is a "web resource?"”
- "Do you play internet games? Do you play Gangsters on MySpace?" (Sorry, no.)
- One of the Rons stops by to say hi.
- Crisis Team member returns and we identify patron who has been the cause of concern. She’ll observe for awhile.
- “I still can't log in.”
- Shush moment: Can you please turn your music down?
- Patron wants DVDs about coffee and
- “Do you have a cord for my camera?” (No) “How about an SD card reader?” (Yes)
- 2006 issues of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar
- "Can you find the address for editor of the St. Louis Post Dispatch?"
- "Can you find the phone number for the lady who does the Bucket List speech?”
Oh no! Someone broke the Internet (Runescapers, I’m looking at you!)! Staff and patrons twitching with anxiety. Okay--it’s just me. Back on in 10 minutes. Can stop hyperventilating now. Last check of email and tomorrow’s schedule. 5:34 pm Home time and Secret Life of the American Teenager. (Don’t judge! I work hard for my low-brow entertainment.) If you'd like to know what other librarians' days look like, check out this page: http://librarydayinthelife.pbworks.com
Tech Support is absolutely reference! When we were doing the "reference interview" part of the reference course in library school, I slept through it, because I discovered that I had been doing reference transactions for 10 years already.
Posted by: djfiander | 2009.07.31 at 11:41 AM