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.

After the Lights Go Out...

PA SYSTEM: May I have your attention please. The library will be closing in 5 minutes. Please take any books and other materials to the checkout desk now. Again, the library will close in 5 minutes.

YOUNG CHILD: Whaaaaaaahhhhhh! I don't wanna go!

MOM: But honey, the library is closing. And if you don't leave, the library monsters will eat you.

OK, so I've never head a mom tell their two year old that a library monster will eat them, but parents do tell their kids some weird stuff to get them to leave.... Like the mom that said we would lock the kids in and not let them leave until morning... which actually made the child want to stay even longer.

So.... What really happens when libraries close for the night?

Unfortunately, childrens and teen librarians at 
Oshawa Public Libraries let out secrets slip.  Evil Canadian librarians!

If Librarians Had Super Powers

If you could have a superpower, what would it be? from Library Beat on Vimeo.

What would happen if librarians could have a super power? Think they would use it for good?

Librarians at NSLS were asked just that. What super power would you have??? Answers run the gambit from flying to invisibility to "brewing coffee in my mouth." Anyone think Greg has a twin in Illinois? Kinda scary thought, I know.

 

Well, I already know what my superhero costume would look like. We all know how super fly I look in my pink feather wig, lipstick face mask, and Super Grover Super Fly tee. 

But as far as super POWERS???

• Turn into Fancy Nancy at will....
• Convince Sarah that yes, we really DO need to have the Pigeon Party come to town and perform "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" just for me... and have Mo in the audience... and then the audience would BEG me to do my rendition of DLTPDTB... and then I would get standing ovations... and Hollywood contracts... and Mo would dedicate his next Pigeon book to me.... Mo Willems adores me. It's TRUE, I tell you. A person can't just make this stuff up....
• Be awarded the I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN award due to thousands of patrons nominating me as the greatest library lady... ever.
• Oh, yeah, and world peace.

Oooohhhh, then I could get me own action figure....

Would anyone else care to share their own coveted super power?

My Dearest of Blog Readers

You may remember a recent blog post where a certain Brandy proclaimed my excellence and named me, **tear** yes, ME dear readers, a ROCK STAR! Of course, I humbly acknowledge this as fact.

A few days ago, Brandy again reached out and asked that I use my Super Rock Star status for the good of librarians everywhere. She pleaded that I find at least 3 library related sites that can help them, too, try and achieve my level of greatness. I spent HOURS searching the web over for the best of the best to help my para and pro colleagues in their hour of need.  For easiest of access, please remember to add each of these sites to your RSS Reader.  From them, you shall gain more leanring than all of your years combined of library science classes. 

If colleagues proclaim shock upon you cracking more than one joke per week, proceed to check out Dewey's pearls of wisdom IMMEDIATELY.  This teen services librarian shows the lighter side of the library world.

Are you stuck in a fashion rut?  Is your closet filled with old cardigans and tasselled loafers?  Do people know that you're a librarian without even asking?  If so, check out The Lipstick Librarian.  This library fashionista is sure to change yoru wardrobe right around!  In case of Library Fashion Emergency, please read the TIPS section for a quick fashion fix.


My dearest of blog readers, you all know it is my heart's desire to star in a  silly library commercial.  Maybe... just maybe... one day, @ Your Library will spotlight me in their blog. Each Friday, they show off a few library videos from around the world.  They also do other things, but I know this is what YOU would find most important of all.


Want to have an action figure in your very own image???  Follow the Great Nancy Pearl, and MAYBE she will give you tips and hints on how she did it.  Her action figure and the Super Chriss Super Hero figure will soon be doing their own silly library commercial.  Stay tuned for details.

Now my dearest of readers, I know that there are MANY more librarian blogs and sites of note out in the world.  As I was doing my HOURS of research JUST FOR YOU(!!!), I kept careful note of each one and compiled an exhausted list of all of them that had been updated at least once within the last 9 months.  I will update it as I find more.  Enjoy...  Librarian Blogs.

Barack Would Make a Good Librarian....

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Gothem City Librarian

Anyone accurately guess the other librarian with her own action figure?  If you said Batgirl, you were right.  Enjoy her pilot episode... that apparently never got aired on TV.  


She's a little on the feisty side....

I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN Award

So the American Library Association, Carnegy Corporation, and New York Times ran a contest called I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN. Patrons wrote in and told exactly WHY they loved their librarian.  Each of the 10 winners won $5,000 cash, a $5,000 travel stipend for the winners' awards banquet, a plaque and a plaque for their library. 


So let's add a new New Year's Resolution to the list... to win the 2010 I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD.  (An MLS is required to win, but really, if let's say 100 patrons nominate me, SURELY they would overlook that little blip on my resume.  After all, degreed librarians are already rich.)  Rules state that a PATRON must nominate me you.  Hmmm.  This blog might just have to turn from the "Get Melissa To Let Me Star in a Silly Library Commercial" blog to the "Nominate Me for the Next I Love My Librarian Award" blog....  Then again, I'm good.  I think I can handle both campaigns at once. 


TO DO

• Campaign Posters.
• Buttons.
• More library patrons following me on Twitter. 

Um, Sarah, can I announce my candidacy in Story Time?

NOTE: They do NOT get an action figure made of them, too, so we can't kill two resolutions with one proverbial stone.

See the interview with the 2009 winners below.  Anyone else get that one of the libraries doesn't even have Harry Potter?!?!?!  How do they function?

Nancy Pearl's My Hero

I love Nancy Pearl. I've only read a few chapters of Book Lust. I typically don't read articles about her. I've never heard her speak. BUT I idolize her. WHY? She has her own action figure!  Who wouldn't like that?

So over the last few days, I've been writing out my New Year's resolution. The list includes writing a certain number of articles for eHow and lenses on Squidoo, keeping up with my blog posts, getting the starring role in a silly library commercial and getting my own Super Chriss action figure. In my head, it looks like what I wore for the Superhero Dress Up Day.... You know....The day that Marlene and I dressed up as superheroes United Way fundraiser..., and patrons kept looking at me weirdly. (Ok, the always look at me weirdly, but you know... pink feather wig, black cape, tulle skirt, superhero mask, pink Super Fly Grover tee.)

So going back to my idolization of Nancy Pearl and thus my desire for my own action figure.... In my head, I play "Nancy Pearl" like most little kids play Barbie. "Nancy Pearl vs the Loud Teenagers." "Nancy Pearl Ssshhhh's Palin." (Nancy NEVER would have stood up to a certain grouchy ex-Governor and refused to weed out "controversial" books. She would have stood up in that meeting and given a great big "Shhhhhhhh!")

Maybe when I get my action figure, Superhero Chriss and Nancy Pearl can star in a silly library commercial TOGETHER. **sigh** I dream BIG.

QUIZ: Anyone know the other (fictional) librarian that has her own action figure?  Click here for the answer....

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.

Can you Beat the Director in a 5K Race???

Superhero Brett Bonfield, director of the Collingswood Public Library, challenged patrons to a 5K race. All proceeds went to raise money for a new Teen Area to keep teens from doing "less glorious habits." Why is he a superhero? Apparently, he has a hotline in his office that lets him know when patrons are in trouble. After receiving a call that Mr. Johnson is trapped beneath a tree branch while trying to return a library book, Superhero Brett races off to save him (and the library book) from certain doom. RUN BRETT, RUN!!!

Super Librarian: Protector of Knowledge and Free Entertainment

It's a bird. It's a plane. NO, it's SUPER LIBRARIAN!!!

Library staff at the McCracken County Public Library in Kentucky are not just good, they're SUPER. How would you like to have their uniforms while helping patrons each day?