I think I'm growing a lot more comfortable at work. I've been here for maybe a month and half now. I'm getting to know everyone in the library a lot better and I'm getting in to the stride of it. I know the regular patrons, the volunteers, the people. Libraries really are about people.
I'm the youngest person officially on staff. It kind of stinks to know that I'll only be here for another six weeks. By then I will really know the place and the collection and the circulation system.

Now from experience with shelving and things I even know what topics call numbers are actually talking about. An 800 isn't just an 800 to me, it's classic literature and 600's are technology, cooking, agriculture and housing and electric stuff. I'm figuring out that mysterious librarian code. Heck I am starting to learn how to use the micro-film machines and how to help patrons with basic printing and computer problems. I also fill out an average of three new patron cards a day.

Hell I'm going to be bored when I get back to school. This public library is another ball game from my small college library. I think I'm actually going to miss it. Sure it will be nice to have time to do homework and things but I think I'm going to miss the activity, the challenge. With an average of three people manning the circ desk at school I am going to be really bored too. Even with two people here it's almost too many. There's always something to be done but the quiet stretches are almost more hellish than the busy times. At least busy goes by fast.

Most of our patrons are older people or senior citizens. They blow through the mysteries and large type fiction like the big bad wolf through the pig's straw house. They prefer books over TV. I would never expect it but then again why shouldn't I? I feel much the same way. Why watch TV or a movie when you can read a book that has more details, better story and everyone appearing exactly as you want them too. You can even cast your favorite actor or family member or friend or enemy.
Yeah, books are better. :-P

I have found it is possible to sustain injuries at the library as well though....namely my head meeting the unforgiving edge of the circ desk as I bent over to grab a book. My co-worker's response, unaware as I muttered curses and blinked back tweety birds "Well you're making it hard on yourself doing it that way". The only evidence of the bonk from yesterday is an egg on my face when I squinch my forehead or my head protesting as I bend down. It is also feels great when you drop a seven hundred page hardcover on your sandled foot or go half blind as you sneeze from all the dust stirring up from a book not touched in years.

But the library is a great source of last name ideas or characters from the patrons I see. It is a place to touch history, a place where books are older than you and some just hot off the press.

I appreciate it here. I mean I could be working in McD Land or something. Instead I am here, in the space of a trillion words continuously flowing and forever patiently waiting for someone to pick them up and be pulled in to their world just a few words away.

With that it's almost time for me to leave.
Peace.
Signing off from Library Land
~Lo

P.S.
A Shot of Real

There are things about the place that are awkward though, like writing down old decrepit spine labels around the corner from the pay phone. People have the most private kind of conversations in public at the library. Sometimes I honestly wish I wasn't there but other times it's a sneak peak in to how much life can suck for people. I really have to make sure my heart and mouth are iced over at those moments, that I'm just doing my job.
Did I mention spine labels suck? They are boring and terrible and my left wrist definitely hates me after those days of writing down so many numbers and names and then going to type them up. I'd rather shelve any day.
However spine labels are almost a requirement on Thursdays. My co-worker on those days has never outwardly expressed it but she definitely hates me at the desk and unnecessarily rides my ass and checks out my schedule and tasks when that is not really her business. She also has one of those old people condascending voices. She's the one that had no sympathy when I nailed my face on the desk. Needless to say I don't like Thursdays much and prefer to stay away from her even if it does make my body groan terribly to do spine labels.

My supervisor rides me too but she's naturally a terrier and I accept that. She just wants shit done and has done amazing things with the library since she's been there (though not without contestation and still present behind-the-back mutterings from staff).

The only male working there was commiserating with me today. I actually had the chance to talk to him while covering down stairs. I think I have a friend in him. He's four years younger than me but pretty cool. I don't work with him really since I work upstairs in the adult services and he's pretty much confined to grunt work in the youth services and some times upstairs grunt work. I'm actually allowed to use the circulation system and he can't so that kind of sucks. It means he has shit stuff to do every day ruled by Mandy, Kay or Angie. Angie tends to talk in a semi-baby-am-I-going-slow-enough-for-you voice a lot too. I feel for the guy. He loathes shelving. I loathe shelving in youth services which he does. I do it and get a notice sent to the library group underhandedly complaining about my utter stupidity for not understanding their wacked out order (Evil Thursday Lady likes to read them to me with relish). Upstairs I do not mind. Pretty straight forward with where everything goes and there are not any strange sub-sections. So yeah, it was nice to complain about the shitness of being young and a newb to the staff.

So yeah, some times it does suck there.