wildlife and expired life @ the library

Okay, I'm going to ask: What's with the fruit flies swarming the Info Desk? They tend to congregrate near the 2nd in Command computer station. I have found no food source that would explain their existence. Do they aspire to be reference librarians?

While shelving the reference books last night I came across someone's lunch meat on a physician's manual. I'm sorry, but there is no reality, alternate or otherwise, where lunch meat in, on, or around the reference books is acceptable. Please take your lunch meat with you when you leave. Dead cow, even in delicately thin slices, does not complement the reference collection. Thank you.

we need crayons @ the UGL

Crayola image borrowed from Crayola website.

I spent 3 hours yesterday morning attempting to appease the creative impulses of a six year-old. Her mother sat nearby at a computer and almost completely ignored her. Lori, over at Access Services (aka Checkout) helped me out with some coloring pages she had created for her Programming for Youth Services class, but that great idea went awry when I realized we had no crayons. Little Artistic Genius decided to cut out the pictures instead using the scissors chained to the table behind me. Big Mess ensued.

Sigh!

I will admit right now that I'm not a huge fan of kidlets, although I do have an amazing amount of patience due to a stint working at a group home for the developmentally disabled. There is no way that I could ever be a Children's Librarian, and I am really grateful that others, like Lori, aspire to such a noble profession. I couldn't do it. Lori said I did a really good job with the above-mentioned ankle-biter, though. She said,"You can't tell that you really don't like children." :)

Some things to keep in mind re: children at the UGL.
1. Do not allow little ones to treat the information desk like playground equipment. I know it's fun to hang from the (very high) desk, but it could put your eye out. So just don't, okay.
2. Give them recycled paper to draw on and (hopefully, if we get some crayons) color.
3. Inform parent (if said parent can be found) that she/he must watch their children. I'm not a nanny.
4. Artistic vision should be encouraged but not when it involves using all the staples in both staplers and/or all the tape in the tape dispenser.
5. When offered a handmade "crown" by above mentioned Little Artistic Genius put it on and wear it proudly. Tell the kid it's the Information Crown and that you are the Queen of Information.

Dear Patron...

Dear Patron, Welcome to the program. I see you are taking the introductory reference class. I know this because I have just shelved 50 books that you left in huge piles on the table. I am trying not to be annoyed by you, as we shelve and de-shelve side by side in the reference section. I wish you would acknowledge yourself as the cause of this additional shelving I have to do, but since you didn't, I am hoping that LIS newbies visit your future place of employment.
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Dear Patron, What is up with the atlases? Every week it's the world atlas, the atlas of the Middle East, the Michigan atlas, the SouthEast Michigan atlas. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT EVERY WEEK?
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Dear Patron, You said the book was called Health Applications. I asked you if that was the exact title and you assured me it was. I searched and came up with nothing, but you insisted your instructor said it is here. After I discover it is actually called Health Concepts and Applications, you say, "oh, yeah, that's it".

Didn't you tell me you knew the exact title? What was the purpose of acting so positive when you really didn't know it at all? Now I never believe anyone when they claim to know anything about what they need. I have become jaded.
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Fasten your seatbelts...

Welcome to another fall semester at the always-exciting ClubUGL! It’s been an adjustment from the quiet of the summer semester (minus the CATs, of course!), which has its pluses and minuses. It's nice that the hours are passing quickly and there is no time to be bored. However, the questions this time of year are VERY repetitious, to the point where I know which text they want when they say, “It’s called Nutrition…” and whether we have it or not. (Answer: Nutrition: Concepts and Applications and yes, we have it, but it is probably checked out.)

Our favorite patron seems a little out of sorts, with the new GSAs (welcome to you both, by the way!) and the students who sit at his favorite computer terminal. There was a theory brought forth that he is actually an anthropology student and is doing a study on our Information Desk culture. He’s doing enough observing to write a solid thesis already!


Several people have come up to me lately and asked, "Do you have any information?". I don't know why they think this is terribly funny. My reply is "no, we are all out of information for today." Apparently this satisfies them.

Have a great fall semester! And don't be shy-post to this blog!