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.... 

Superhero TWIN

Ok, I have a slight confession to make. This blog post has NOTHING to do with libraries or silly songs.

So, um, recently, I've become addicted to YouTube. Aside from Dr. Pepper, I don't think I've ever been addicted to anything before, so as far as addictions go, I think this YouTube one is fairly safe. ANYWAY... I found this cool new band called Sons of Admirals. FYI: Their names references an old English theater troop. They only have one song together, but all 4 guys are teens and record independently and YouTube silly stuff fairly often.

ANYWAY Does anyone find it funny how many times I say "ANYWAY?" Charlie is in charge of their videos and webpage and today released a new video... where he becomes a superhero and wears tights. 

Now my question is... WHY do all these people get to be superheroes, yet I can't get my own Super Chriss action figure? HUH??? Life just doesn't seem fair anymore.


 

Oh, and my favorite quote from the whole video....

And as someone who has an entire drawer in their bedroom dedicated just to dressing up clothes....

Yep, yet another twin found on YouTube.

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!!!!

Summer Reading Silly Library Commercial

Cincinnati claims to have the busiest public library in the whole nation.  True, they are in a fairly large town, but I chose to believe it is because they rock their silly library commercials.  
  

Silly library commercials=more patrons through the door.  

Just another reason why my great and darling director should make full use of my talents.  **hint, hint, hint**

 

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.

I'm a ROCK STAR!!!

So last week, I received the following email:

Dear Chriss,

Congratulations!  You are a ROCK STAR!!!  Seriously.  Emmys, MTV Awards, Bloggies, Nobel Peace Prizes are all in your future.  Trophies shall soon be overflowing your shelves.  Librarians the world over shall be requesting your autograph.  Hollywood will be making movies of your rise to success.  Legions of groupies shall be screaming your name!  I bow to your greatness.
Brandy

P.S. Can I have your autograph?

Ok, so MAYBE I embellished just a TEENY TINY bit, but not much.  I promise.  The phrases "officially elevated to Rock Star status" and "attracting groupies" were definitely in there.

So... I'm now officially accepting groupies.  Please submit an essay of 500 words or less of why you would like to be my groupie.  Pictures are also welcome.

Ways to promote my rock starness:

• Make "I HEART Chriss" posters, stickers, tshirts, etc.  Feel free to put them on Zazzle so fellow groupies can find them as well.  Not great at creating graphics?  No worries.  Get this tee from Amazon and just sharpie in the extra "s."  Other acceptable phrases...
• Chriss Rocks!
• Esme: Cutest Puppy in the World
• I want to be like CHRISS when I grow up.
• Chriss's Groupie

• Make a Fanatic Squidoo lens, blog post, or whole website discussing me.
• Write a Rock Star Chriss skit.  Perform it at Staff Day.
• Design a Super Chriss Superhero action figure.
• Post a vlog on YouTube discussing my greatness.  Rave.
• Send tributes.  I appreciate homemade cookies, pink boas, photo collages of my greatness, etc.
• Be creative.

P.S. Brandy, the autographed photo is in the mail.

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**

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.

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?