Help Make Me a Superhero!

See? I already have the superhero outfit!

Apparently Gale/Centerage Learning (aka the most powerful library database people) heard my plea to become a Library Superhero Action Figure. Unfortuantely Gale's unable to just give me the award. They need YOU to nominate me. 

What happens if I win? They make me into a cartoon superhero librarian(!), put me on a lunchbox AND superhero trading cards. (I know.... It's like Oh. My. God!!! exciting.)

So, what do you need to do.... Go to Are You a Librarian Superhero, give them my name (Chriss), where I work (Columbia Public Library) and why you think I'm Da Bombdigity and should have my own superhero lunchbox... staring me... Super Chriss.

Ok, so the "official directions are...

3.     To participate: Visit the Are You a Librarian Superhero Facebook Web page www.gale.com/superhero Post your nomination for an outstanding librarian (each a “Nominee”) on our wall, including: the Nominee’s name; where they work; and what makes them exceptional. Include how this person makes a difference for the community and patrons, and how the library is improved because of their process or presence (each posting, an “Entry” and each participant posting a Nominee, an “Entrant”).

I'll leave it up to you to explain just why I'm the most awesomest....

Remember, only you can make me into a Superhero Lunchbox.... 

The Power of ME

Ok, so I admit that I am SLIGHTLY... um... silly... bizzare... creative... ORNERY. Yep, that's the word! I give lots of kids tours at the library, and I always find it important to let kids know people's names and practice what we should say when we need help and and blah blah blah.

Sometimes we even tour the bookmobile. After all, who doesn't think a traveling library is just... like...the coolest? We also practice saying HI to Mr. Eric our bookmobile driver. hehehe No, I'm serious. We smile big, do a half circle wave and say HI MR. ERIC in a bubbly voice. After all, Mr. Eric doesn't get to give tours, but we need to show our love.... Right?

So a few weeks ago, I gave a tour to a fairly large group of homeschoolers... and for some reason, they kept giggling... the whole tour. I did check and there was no broccoli stuck in my teeth. Several parents told me later that their kids think it's HILARIOUS that I say "friends" and "silly geese." Hey, we've all got our quirks.

ANYWAY, a mom came up last week and said that her kids practiced ALL DAY and giggled through dinner one night at just the thought of going on the bookmobile and saying "HI MR. ERIC!!!!" And do you know what? They did it!

Eric's response

Chriss put you up to this, didn't she?

 ** snicker**


Well, we couldn't just leave it right there, could we? Nope. They've been given a new mission for the next bookmobile excursion. I think I happened to mention his love of dancing....

 

Oh, and today.... I was told that Angela is my minion.

Oh, the Power of Me!

The Insulting Librarian

We've all had those patrons at whom we've wanted to scream "WTH?!?!?!" Come on. You can admit it. I won't tell anyone. PROMISE.


Some of us even have little homemade voodoo dolls... and an extra stash of stick pins at our desks.... Not that we've ever used them or anything... but.... Well... ok... may once... or twice....


Anyway, we've all met the patrons who have had enough, but what do you think happens when it's the librarian who has no constructive release of bad energy? like my voodoo doll....

Idea : How to Get Teens Into the Library

Known Fact: Libraries struggle to get teens into the library. I have tried my best to bring in the masses with Summer Reading Dances, pet rock training schools, and good old fashioned bribery, but it's just too hard to compete the the average teen's busy life style....

Or it WAS....

I found the solution. No need to thank me. Ok, if you REALLY want to, do so by nominating ME for the I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD. No pressure.... Have you started the application process yet? **sigh**


 Oh yeah..... Solution. Wait for it.... 

Wait for it....

Library Flash Mob Dance Parties!  **wild applause**

Did I hear skepticism in your applause? You don't quite believe it will bring teens in en mass?  **sigh** Skeptics. Just check out what happened at the Seattle Public Library earlier this summer.....
  


Told ya so!

Oh, Melissaaaaaaaa!!!!

Can You Help Me Now?

I've gotten calls from several states away before..., but from the half way around the world???


Glad to know librarians have my back in case the need arises....

Dolly Misses Mommy

Now we all know that Dolly’s mommy Pam is one crafty lady. My girls absolutely love Pam’s recycled bottle dog toys. Feeling a little homesick, Dolly asked to come with me to my Yarn Party craft program where we teach kids how to knit and crochet. Knowing it was something her mommy would enjoy, she thought learning a new craft might make her feel better.

My friend Kirsten volunteers for the program (and has the patience of a saint), so I asked her to teach Dolly how to crochet during a slow point. We learned a few things... the most important of which is that thumbs are important when crocheting.... 

It got a little busy and I'm ashamed to say that I lost track of Dolly for a few minutes. Imagine my mortification upon seeing Dolly riding Kirsten's service dog Ruby.  **AGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!**  DOLLY!  Get off Ruby NOW!

Ruby gently reminded Dolly that she is NOT a horsey... or a lion statue... or a tiger statue.... 

Thankfully Ruby is patient with little girls and the two parted friends.  **deep sigh of relief**

 

Dolly: Summer Reading Super Star

Summer reading began June 8^th, and we've already signed up over 2,400 kids and 230 teens!!! Dolly saw what fun the kids were having (and saw little kids got a free book if they finished) and DEMANDED to sign up, too. No worries, Pam. I made her ask nicely. I know she was excited, but that's no reason to be rude.Dolly signed her name and age on a yellow ducky.

 

Miss Angela explained the program to her. She's supposed to put a sticker on the calendar every day that someone reads to her. When she uses up all 30 stickers, it means she read for 30 days and can come back and pick out a free book to keep forever and ever.

 

Dolly was so happy that she wanted to shake Miss Angela's hand.

 

Dolly wanted to get started on her reading right away. She picked out Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems (one of my FAVORITE books). She wanted to give Pigeon the keys. Unfortunately the Bus Driver came back early. Mean Bus Driver!

Dolly hung out with the story time puppets while I worked during the afternoon... or so I thought. When I couldn't find her, a thorough search began.... Anyone want to guess where we found her???

That's right.  She was trying to steal the new children's bookmobile. Apparently Eric left the keys in the ignition.

Before leaving for the day, Dolly found her ducky on the wall of other summer reading rock stars.

Facebook : Not My Favorite

Facebook is only good for one thing... trying to beat Heather's husband Ira (who does not wear a red clown nose and did not used to work at CPL) at Hatchlings.  I have tried many atimes at trouncing him.  Unfortunately, he has a faster Internet connection... and more ways to plot my Hatchlings demise.  BUT one of these days, that boy is going down.  Mwah ha ha!

As for libraries on social media sites.... It totally depends on how they use the space....

Good Ways For Libraries to Use Facebook

• Create a fan page for their favorite story time lady.  **cough cough**
• Getting more people to nominate me for the I Love My Librarian Award.  I KNOW that all of you have already nominated me, but others may not know how to do this... and we don't want them to feel bad just because they did not know.... 
• Inviting people to bring their favorite library workers bribes... um... tributes... like cookies.

Unfortunately, with as many good ways to use social media, there are many bad ways.  I've seen a Shelfari account by a teen services library tell readers tell teens who read chick lit that such books are stupid and worthless....  Aren't we supposed to be non-judgmental???

IMHO there are much better social media outlets than
Facebook... like Twitter.  Twitter is always good to let the fans know about special programs and such... (like my awesome tea party).  One of our favorite story time dads even uses it to post pics and videos of us rocking it out.  (Doesn't Liz look cute at our Valentine's Day Tea Party???)

Truth be told though, I really wish the library would disable Facebook, Myspace, and such sites out at the desks.  More times than I can count, I've seen status updates from Periodicals or Tel Ref or seen coworkers ignore patrons just so as that they could read up on friends' latest dramas.




 

Bibliocommons : Social Media for Libraries

I'm all about social media.  How else would the world over know about my facinating lifestyle here in the children's library??? 

• Without my blog, how would my friend Diane in NY know about my crazy (and rythmicly challenged) co-workers???  
• Twitter reassures me that the roads are safe & Pigeon has not found a way to steal a bus (yet). 
• Without social media, it would never have made it all over the library yesterday that I had somehow stabbed myself through my leg and was knocking at Death's Door.  (Rumor mills are funny.  Throw in social media, and it can be worse than those old telephone party lines.)  I'm fine BTW.

I digress.  Point being, social media has played a major function in the lives of nearly everyone in the US. 

I have been a long time fan of LibraryThing and have expiremented with similar programs on Facebook.  The new Bibliocommons tends to be a cross between several of them.  Always good when libraries step into the main stream.  =0)

So.... my FAVORITE things about the new catalog....

• You can hit the back button without messing up your searches.  Really.  The best thing EVER!!!
• Making lists. Anyone who knows me can attest to my love of lists.  If you find something DBRL doesn't own & another one does, you can add it as well as websites.  Now if they will only let me add photos....
• Being able to keep track of my collection. 
• Adding notes, comments,....  I get to be a critic.  Twilight got 1/2 out of 5 stars.  Mwah ha ha.

Things I wish it had, but doesn't....

• Avatars.  Esme is my avatar for almost everything, and this would be another great way for people all over Mid-MO (and the world) to learn just how cute she is.
• Profiles.  Ok, I admit, I like to read people's profiles.  Even if it is only a line or two.  It lets you know what the person is all about, what the like to read, etc. Me for instance.  My Blogger profile reads: I'm silly, and I like to randomly break out into song and dance. That's all you need to know. **grin**  I'm sure most of you will agree that just about sums me up.

PS... Don't forget to do the Scavenger Hunt.  A drawing will be held for all those who participate, and a few lucky winners will get restaurant gift certificates.  Who doesn't love food?

We ROCK

Apparently we ROCK!  An anonymous patron left the following message on the white board in Study Room 2....

... and I didn't even have to bribe them.  =0)

Hmmmm.... Wonder if they, too, will nominate me for the coveted award....

Program to Get Your Adrenaline Pumping

Having already perfected the arts of Story Time, Shhhhing, Reader's Advisory, Librarian Pranking, the Banana Chant, I have decided to share my wondrous talents help Marilyn come up with adult programming ideas.  

During finals week, students at NYU gather at the law library and dance WITHOUT music for 60 seconds....  They do it for a full week and have themes each time.  ("Party in the USA," "Awkward Dance Moves," "Dirty Dancing," etc.)  WHY?  Let's off steam, keeps them from falling asleep, future lawyers need to practice their dance moves, adrenaline start pumping again,....  

There is NO sound to this video, so it can be watched with full effect on desk.

 

So, Marilyn, how we should do this program....

• Steal the Russ Mobile and hang a disco ball and strobe lights in the Quiet Reading Room.
• Each night... say at 7:45... lower the ball and start the lights.
• Start the Conga Line, the Tush Push, or maybe even the Banana Chant with positioning dancing patrons close to the glass walls.
• Dance for 5 mins.  (1 min is not REALLY enough to get the adrenaline pumping again.)

Now, I know you're thinking, CHRISS, JUST HOW MUCH DR. PEPPER HAVE YOU DRUNK TODAY????   (Only 1 glass... so far.)  But think about all of the community members driving by who would get curious and come into the library to check us out and join in with their own dancing moves.  We could be like Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act.  Pretty soon, all of the study tables will be packed, no books will be left on the shelves, we'll run out of new library cards... and all because of starting a Silent Library Dance Party during finals week.


Please, dear readers, let Marilyn know by posting below just how much you want to show all of Broadway your boogie moves while helping students get through those long hours of studying.  And MAYBE if we become famous enough Nancy Pearl will invite us to DANCE for her much the same way Whoopi was invited to sing for the Pope.

Library Infomercial

@ Your Library named this library infomercial as the BEST library commercial on YouTube. Created by a patron for a library video contest at Berlin-Peck Memorial Library in CT, this amateur video maker beat out professionally made commercials like those created for San Francisco. (His French **cough cough** accent shows he has had a major Quebec influence, but we won't fault him for that.)

Psst! Melissa! SoBoCo has a lot of Lego's for one of their programs.... PR has a video camera..... **hint, hint**

Disability Etiquette

It took me a few minutes to recognize where this video on Disability Etiquette in the library was filmed. I knew it looked familiar, but for some reason, it just didn't sink in.

There are a few errors that I noticed in the Service Dog Etiquette section near the end. The handler states that service dogs will have a halter or vest and should be able to show you identification if asked. Missouri state law does not require this nor does the ADA. Many times, service dogs have no identification as there is no official paperwork required by the state to be carried by the dog or handler at all times. Any paperwork that someone might show you is not official and can be downloaded off of the web by anyone.

If you suspect that an animal is not a service dog, then you can ask if he is a service dog and if there is anything the dog can do for the person that the person can not do by themselves. (Emotional Support dogs are NOT the same as service dogs and do not qualify as such.) You may NOT ask what disability the person has. If you refuse service to someone who has a genuine need for a service animal, you can be sued and you will lose. Also, according to Columbia law, service animals are not required to be on a lead either though most will be for safety. (Esme has multiple canine friends who are service dogs.)

I know I have broken this cardinal rule about interacting with service animals when my friend comes in with her dog, but do not touch the dog, talk to him, or in any way try to distract him from his handler. Do not get between the two. Never offer the dog food, treats or water. If the dog appears thirsty, you CAN ask the handler if they would like water for the dog and then give it to the handler to give to the dog.

Dogs are not supposed to be petted when they are in "work" mode. If someone wantss to pet the service dog, the handler must take off their vest or other work gear and then give them a release command. This is a lot of work, so avoid doing it. If you see a young library patron trying to pet a service dog, stop them. More than once, I've stepped between a child and a dog in the library. You can then explain that the dog is at work and can't be distracted. I've yet to meet a handler that minds when we do this... and most prefer it.

Need more information on service animals? Service Dog Central

The Library Minute

Arizona State University's library has the library minute. It introduces library services in a fun (and silly) way. Note information on zombies, discouraging forklifts, Spam: everyone's favorite meat in a can, and their library goon squad.

How DBRL could put their own special spin on the Library Minute..... Esme is dressed up in a pink boa and librarian costume. (Yes, I had to throw in the pink boa.) Then we could call it "Library Minute with the Puppy Fashionista." Great idea. I know. I've got several more. Stay tuned.

When Patrons Go Home Disappointed

We've all heard Marilyn tell us how important it is to try our hardest to get patrons the information they need even if we have to go WAAAAYYYYYYY above and beyond.

A guy went to a library in Ohio and was disappointed with his library experience... so took the time to make an animation and post it on YouTube. Sometimes what we think are small things are significant to others....

The Book Bike

Here's a cool idea. This Chicago guy wrote to publishers and asked for free books. He takes them on the back of his bike to parks and other places around Chicago and gives them away. It's caught on so much that individual people have started donating books to his cause. The Friends have so many books left over after the sales that are great quality. I've even got some best sellers that were in pristine condition after the sale. Wouldn't it be cool to take those to adult literacy events, festivals, and other places that we go and just give them away?

Improving Library Customer Service : The Roving Librarian

Over the last few months, I've helped more and more patrons who haven't been to the library in years. Many times parents are reliant upon their children who come in with school classes, grandparents, or friends. Check out this video by The Mentor Group Training, Inc. They give tips and tricks on how to help those patrons who are coming back for the first time in years and who often don't know how to ask for what they may need.

Added bonus: Sung to the tune of What Do You Do With A Sleeping Baby (storytime standard.)



In case you didn't get what each letter stands for...

M - Meet and Greet the Patron
A - Ask a Quick Question
P - Probe for Clarification
H - Hear the Patron
A - Assist the Patron
T - Thank and Invite them to Return

Do you have any tips and tricks you want to share about helping patrons young or old?