365 Photos Day 335

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One of my patrons asked if I'd read this yet. Nope, I'd been avoiding it because it looked like one of THOSE books. (THOSE books=something that is rather like an Oprah book, most of which make me want to run away screaming)

"I think you'd like it. Give it a try," she said.

"Lalalalala," I said.

Then I got to thinking about it. I recommend books to my patrons, but it really should be a two-way street I think. If I don't value their "hey, you should read this" moments, then they might stop valuing mine. Sure, getting people hooked up with the right book is part of being a librarian, but in a way, it's more a shared love of reading that's the bond.

So, I did what I usually do when faced with a book I just do NOT want to read.

I get the audio. Somehow when I outsource the actual reading it's a whole lot easier for me.


And within the first 2 tracks, I was entranced.

Part of it is the different readers doing a wonderful job (bad readers=forget it, life's too short) and really bringing the characters to life. Part of it is the way it's written--in epistolary format, through letters back and forth.

Or maybe it's the right book at the right time.

In any case, I'll be telling her how much I like it. And definitely thanking her for her recommendation.

365 Photos Day 321

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Ah, standing order list time. How I (don't) love thee.

It's always a tricky balance between what the patrons want and what we can afford. This year I've been instructed to really hack our list back based on how much each book costs on Baker & Taylor and our book budget.

I usually play the odds that most of the authors won't publish more than one book a year (unless said author has taken to publishing 6 or 7 a year...I'm looking at YOU, Mr Patterson), but can't this year due to the new management.

At least I get to pick our authors, so I'm OK with giving a little to get a little.

365 Photos Day 317

317/365

This is the second time I've listened to this book. And it's the second time that I'm still mad that Lee Scoresby & Hester were killed.

So not cool to kill off the good guys. Not cool at all.

NaBloWriMo Day 12

Saturday, 12 November 2011
Free Choice Saturday

I just finished reading "The Return of Sherlock Holmes" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I need to pick out a book to read before I go to bed tonight (well, actually this morning, because it's already Sunday), but I already know it's going to be at least a half-hour process.

Why it takes me so long to pick out a new book I haven't a clue. There's plenty to choose from all within 5 feet of where I am sitting. Reading is supposed to be fun, not stressful.

It depends on what I'm in the mood for. It depends on if it's a library book and when it's due. It depends on what time of year it is. It depends on how the book feels in my hands when I open it.

When I was in college not-so-long ago, I had to come to terms with the fact that while I was knee-deep in homework and reading assigned stuff, the publishing world was NOT going to stop, and thus, I'd never be able to read everything I wanted to read.

This makes me rather unhappy. No matter how fast I read, and I can read fairly quickly, I'll never be able to plow through as many books as I would like.

First world problems, indeed.

NaBloWriMo Day 10

Thursday, November 10, 2011
What is your secret (or not-so-secret) passion?

My not-so-secret passion is books.

Disclaimer: I'm a librarian, which doesn't necessarily coincide with loving books, but it helps.

I love to read. I'd rather read than watch TV, which is good since my family tends to monopolize the TV anyway. I have 3 bookcases, all of which are double- or triple-stacked with books I have yet to read, and yet I still buy more.

My Mom taught me how to read when I was 18 months old. She'd found some kit (I think it was called 'Teach Your Baby to Read') at a garage sale and modified it. It was something where the parent was supposed to hold up something like 5 flashcards and say, "This says _______." This was supposed to happen a couple of times a day, I think, but she just did 1 flash card at a time and then taped it on the wall. When my Dad got home (if he wasn't out on a fire), he'd take me over to the wall and ask what the word was. Mom said sometimes words would come up that she hadn't taught me what they were for real, like 'elbow', in which case she would say, "This says 'elbow', and this IS your elbow."

This worked pretty well, I think. I can't remember a time when I wasn't able to read. I used the same method with my Kid, starting around when she turned 2, and she's an avid reader too. Well, except when she's in school--since she's taking a full college load this year, she only has time to read her textbooks, lucky her.

My husband says (half-joking, mostly seriously) that he could drop me in any town any where, and within an hour I'dve found the library. This is probably true. When I studied abroad in Scotland between my junior and senior year of undergrad school (the summer of 2006), I found the library in St Andrews in 45 minutes (and got a library card in another 5), and the Central branch of the Edinburgh library the first day (but I didn't get a library card there).

I can do (and have done) without lots of things in this life. Except books. That's where I draw my line in the sand.

365 Photos Day 310

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There's just something about lazy Sundays that makes life worthwhile...

365 Photos Day 290

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For whatever reason, I tend to only read these authors when it's cold outside. They aren't my summer authors. Maybe it's because their writing styles aren't exactly light and fluffy. Maybe it's because I associate Great Britain with cold and rainy weather.

Doesn't really matter. All I know is that I'm really enjoying reading them again.

365 Photos Day 280

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One of the best parts of being a librarian is getting new books for the library. As of now, I can still choose our books all by myself. This may change soon, so for now I'm enjoying it while I can. You know, making hay while the sun shines and all that.

365 Photos Day 272

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Thursday night was our second Books and Bars Winsted Edition.

'Room' by Emma Donoghue was the book for discussion. There were definitely some interesting conversations going on, and the discussion was lively. Basically it's a book told from a 5-year old's point of view about the room he and his mother live in. As an adult reader, one quickly figures out that it's not by choice that they are there, although the little boy doesn't seem to grasp that. It's kind of like the Jaycee Dugard story, from what I'm understanding.

I didn't read it, though. I was there for show, I guess. Although many of our patrons said it was a pretty good read, I just don't need/want that kind of topic taking up brain space. I was just hoping he wouldn't call on me (like he did last time) to comment, but I still enjoyed the different takes on the same book.

I have less than no desire to belong to a book club myself, but that's mainly because I just like to read a book for myself, not necessarily to dissect it later. However, I'm OK with going to something like this a couple of times a year, because seriously, how many book clubs meet in a bar? Exactly.

365 Photos Day 240

240/365

The past few days at work I've been in our Back Room of Doom (storage room) sorting through and boxing up donated books for next year's book sale. This is the un-glamorous side of being a public librarian, I think. Some of the books that get donated are in awful condition and after handling them I just want to take a bath in bleach. Some of the books are in great condition, and I can use them in the collection or as replacement books.

This is a good start, but I still have quite a bit to sort through and count and box up.

Yay for the Back Room of Doom! Always entertaining!

365 Photos Day 215

215/365

Finally getting ready to repaint my office. This picture is from today (Thursday, 4 August) because I can't find the ones from yesterday.

This is only a couple of my bookshelves. And yes, most of the shelves are double- or triple-stacked. It makes looking for books almost like Christmas sometimes. "Yay! I'd forgotten I even HAD that!!!! Woooo!" Whereupon I put it back on the shelf and forget about it until the next time.

365 Photos Day 140

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Book sale time! This was taken after we'd closed for the day. I'm not sure how many books were sold today, but I do know that I had to do some condensing on the various tables before I left.

Most of these were donated. It's amazing how generous our community can be sometimes.

365 Photos Day 139

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This is what we (sort of) affectionately call our "Back Room of DOOOOOOOM" (say it in an announcer's voice...it works better).

I spent the vast majority of the afternoon at the library getting ready for the booksale that'll be happening this upcoming weekend. I brought all the books that I'd stored in the back room out, plus weeded 544 (all but 75 today, yes. It was fun. In an odd sort of way.) more.

All winter long, when we get donated books, I sort through them, keep the ones out I want to add to the collection and then box up the ones that'll be booksale fodder. I stack as many boxes as I can under that countertop, as well as against the wall that is just behind the door that would be at the far left of the picture if I'dve left the picture uncropped. Suffice it to say, the boxes this year were over my head, and it's a good thing they didn't fall on anyone going through here to get to the restroom.

The boxes that are currently under there are empty. I don't think we've had quite this many books on the booksale in a few years, but that's OK. Book sale proceeds go toward funding the Summer Reading program and to other projects the Library Board is working on (which is nothing right now, but that's OK too).

My boss walked back there and said, and I quote, "HOLY SHIT THIS IS CLEANED OUT BACK HERE I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME IT WAS LIKE THIS!!!!! YOU SHOULD TAKE A PICTURE!!!!" If I'dve been thinking, I'dve asked for a raise. But alas, I was probably toting yet another load of boxes out to the tables.

365 Photos Day 110

110/365

I am thoroughly enjoying this book right now. I don't read many classics anymore, but when I do, I find that I can read them for FUN and actually enjoy them, rather than reading them because I HAVE to, and for an English class.

I know that there are classics that I am expected to not only have read, but also to be able to speak about in a coherent manner. And I've read most of them. Begrudgingly, yes, but read them nevertheless. I can't even begin to enumerate all of the literary works that it will be way too soon if I ever have to read them again in this lifetime (Hemingway's 'For Whom the Bell Tolls' is definitely on that list), but there are others that I've given a second try, only to find that yes, I actually enjoy. There are some that I wonder if perhaps I'd have a better understanding of now, with some more life experience behind me, but that I really don't want to have to re-read in order to find out ('The Scarlet Letter' by Hawthorne and 'Walden' by Thoreau are on that list).

I do have a shelf of classics that I'm slowly working my way through. Sometimes I find the audio version to be easier, because let's face it, a good reader, preferably with a plummy British accent, can make (almost) anything palatable.

For now, though, I'm reading 'The Scarlet Pimpernel' and lamenting that we couldn't have read this in school rather than Dickens' 'A Tale of Two Cities' (also on the list with Hawthorne & Thoreau).

365 Photos Day 96

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This week's Storytime letter was Pp. Of course I read 'The Princess and the Pea'...but I picked a book that was a little more multicultural than perhaps the kids were ready for. Which is good, I think.

Some of the younger kids were confused because the princesses didn't look like they normally do, which is blonde, blue-eyed, and white. One of the little guys kept asking, "Lisa, who's that?" when we'd see a picture of a princess. He wasn't buying that princesses looked like that.

The population out thisaway is rather, well, white (mostly German in heritage). I still remember back when my Kid was playing t-ball (so she'dve been about 5ish), and one of the moms (actually out-loud) said, "Well, I just take my kids to the Mall of America so they can see what black people look like." I remember thinking, "Whaaaaaa?"

When I was in library school, I took a couple of children's multi-cultural literature classes. One of the things that stuck with me was when one of my classmates posted something on the class forums along the lines of "well, my patrons probably want books they can relate to (about white people), so that's what I'll give them." Our professor went off the deep end and came back with, "THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE MULTICULTURAL LITERATURE THE MOST."

Maybe, maybe not.

As for me, though, I try and mix it up for the Storytime kids. Maybe it'll stick in their heads that not all princesses are blonde & blue-eyed, but that it's OK, because they're still princesses. Maybe I'm helping these kids look at life through a wider lens, and helping them realize that there's more out there than this small town.

Or maybe I'm just confusing them even more.

Whatever. I still liked the book.

Here's pictures of the princesses:

365 Photos Day 83

83/365

I went to an event here in town called Books & Bars. The guy who moderates it, along with some of his regulars, made a special road trip out to do this. The book we had chosen was Monkeewrench by PJ Tracy, which was one he'd wanted to do for awhile, so it worked out well.

It was fun, mostly. I really really really really don't like dissecting a book after I've read it. I think it's a holdover from high school Honors English and all the years I was in college. I like to read the book, enjoy the book, then put away the book and move on to the next book. I do not like to question the motives or deeper meanings of the book. I do not like to attempt to gauge where it should fall within the Literary Canon. I do not like to completely pick apart the book and analyze every little thing.

One other thing that kind of, but not really, surprised me was the small town mindset that some participants had. All I gotta say is, "Thank you, Mom, for making sure that I understood that there is more than what is within any given small town, and thank you and Dad for teaching me tolerance via your actions and words."

365 Photos Day 64

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It's been a day of "breaking a lot of eggs to make an omelette". I had a bookcase here, which has been relocated to Steve's office. I bought 2 new bookcases, and he assembled them for me. Then, when it came time to put them into place...they didn't quite fit.

Dangit.

Until Steve came in with a hammer and some scrap wood and "persuaded" the bigger bookcase to move over just enough that he could force the new ones into place.

In the meantime, it looks like a bookstore threw up all over my office floor.

But, at least they look nice, right?

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These are my book notebooks. The big one is what I have read/listened to/watched (I keep track of movies I've watched too). The little one is my "I want to read these someday and if they're part of a series I want the exact order so I can read them in order and if I don't write them down I'll forget about them" notebook.

The big notebook was started because Steve said one day, "How many books do you read a year?" When I answered that I didn't have the faintest idea besides, "Not as many as I'd like to read," he said it'd be kind of cool to keep track for a year.

That year has turned into 6. I don't write down what I think (or don't think) of the books, just merely the dates I read them. I can usually remember if I liked them or not, as well as most of the important details. You know, like what color the cover was, and maybe even what the weather was like while I was reading the book. I can tell right when I was in the middle of a really bad semester because I might have only 3 books listed for the entire month. Conversely, I can also tell when I was between terms because there's a whole lot more books.

The little notebook is interesting to me because it kind of shows how my reading tastes have changed from the time I started back to school until now. There are also some random titles that I haven't a clue as to where I came across them, nor do I remember anything about the books themselves. Those are always a crapshoot as to whether I'll actually like the books now, but it's fun to get them and try and figure out what drew me to them to start with.

Since I just finished the book I was reading (Hell's Corner by David Baldacci), I am flipping through my little notebook to see what catches my interest.

365 Photos Day 37

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I spent most of my day with Inspector John Rebus.

It's so nice to be able to read for fun, even though sometimes, especially Sunday afternoons, I keep thinking, "I'd better get cracking on my homework..." (I hear that side-effect of 7 straight years of school will eventually go away. One hopes.)

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This is my Valentine's Day gift from my sweet husband. Yep, all this. I'm practical that way. Flowers tend to die very quickly in this house, so today he took me to Half Price Books (where I got the Midsomer Night DVDs--sets 1, 2, and 3, and The Office season 1, all using my awesome 20% coupon), then IKEA (where I got curtains & CD boxes for his office, since the ones I bought weren't big enough), then to Barnes & Noble where I found books I didn't even know I was looking for (which happens frequently when I'm there).

All in all, much better than flowers.