Superhero Librarians

So some people **cough cough** Angela **cough cough** have been giving me flack over my obsession of superhero librarians and my desire to have my own Super Chriss action figure.  But today I found out that I am not the only one.  This Book is Overdue: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save Us by Marilyn Johnson is due out Feb. 2010.  Have no fear though.  Doyne has already ordered us a copy.  How far down in queue are you?

Can't wait to start reading?  Read the 1st chapter online....

Barack Would Make a Good Librarian....

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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.

Librarian on the Edge

"The Dewey Decimal System is a truly practical and efficient system... like Google for smart people."

Google Produces a Library Commercial

This would be an example of a library commercial in which I do NOT want to star. It's boring and involves no pink feather boas. **sigh** It was produced to promote Google Librarian Central. Since the last update was over a year ago and the one before that was Summer 2007, I guess it didn't do a very good job of promoting the site. I bet they're thinking, "If only Chriss and Esme had starred in the Google library commercial, it would have gone viral...." Of course they would have been right. I bet they'll ask us for the next filming....

From Across the Pond

Americans aren't the only ones who adore silly library commercials. Jon Mason introduces us to to England's own University of Plymouth library.

Things I learned about British libraries:

• Navel officers run rampant in the stacks.
• Wikipedia now contains "100% fact."
• They're the best place to find DVDs.
• Hamburgers are now the official icons for Macs.
• Oversized books are really meant to be used as workout equipment... just like Betty Glover says.
  
• Jon Mason is "devishly handsome." He told me so.

How Do You Say "Library" in Chinese?

Many jobs within the last few decades have been moving to China due to cheaper labor, globalization, etc. Add the fact that the role of the traditional librarian is changing as well. Not only have we moved to helping patrons over the phone, but most libraries offer virtual reference desks. Is it too far of a stretch that the virtual reference librarian will also soon be outsourced, too?

Just to be safe, check out these videos on how to say (and write) useful library words in Chinese....


How to Write "Library" in Chinese Symbols -- powered by eHow.com


How to Write "Librarian" in Chinese Symbols -- powered by eHow.com


How to Write "Check Out Books" in Chinese Symbols -- powered by eHow.com


How to Write "Interlibrary Loan" in Chinese Symbols -- powered by eHow.com

Not had enough? Learn more useful Chinese library phrases here!

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**

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!!!

One on One Library Tours

Since Judy P. always teases me about giving soooo much info, I think this video would be PERFECT for me to star in when we do our library commercial. Of course, I would be required to wear a pink boa... and exchange the coffee for a Dr. Pepper... or maybe a strawberry smoothie from Café Mozaki.... Yum, I love their strawberry smoothies and plain glazed donuts.... Wait.... Sorry. Back to the library commercial. I will play the part of the tour guide. Any volunteers for the confused library patron???

Oh, and Esmé says she will play the part of the Reading to Rover dog. Then she demanded a new outfit for her starring role. Silly puppy.

Library Dance Party

I think everyone has gotten that the main purpose of my blog (aside from homework of course) is to get Melissa to let me star in a silly library commercial. (Hello! Who wouldn't want to be a rock star library super star?!?!?!?) I've worked very hard to find the best super rock star silly library commercials that could easily star ME and in the process become addicted to YouTube. So for my "homework," I decided to check out their competition. I'm sure that no one's shocked that YouTube got 1st place. (Duh!) 2nd place went to BBC iPlayer and 3rd to MetaCafe.

I was HIGHLY disappointed in MetaCafe. They are riddled with ad landmines and every other video started with a 15-30 sec commercial. If I wanted that, I would watch more tv. Plus, their quality is far inferior to my beloved YouTube. Most of the videos appear severely depixilated when comparing them to one's posted elsewhere. Don't believe me? Check out Library Dance Party by Supermac18 on both channels. Both were submitted by the original artist, so in theory, they should be of the same quality. Guess again....




Library Dance Party - Amazing videos are here

As far as the BBC iPlayer goes, they disallow their tv show videos to be played outside of the UK. **sigh** I was excited to be able to watch some of my favorite silly BBC shows in their native language, but it wasn't to be. (Anyone who thinks Americans and Brits speak the same language has never been spent real time with real Londoners. Every time I talked to a non-tourist worker, I had to ask them to repeat themselves at least 3 times. "Take away" still cracks me up. **grin**)

Other video database sites:
eHow videos (They recently bought Expert Village.)
Vimeo
Revver
Howcast
Aniboom
Godtube (Christian only)
MySpaceTV Videos
Veoh
Hulu (watch TV shows, movie reviews and trailors, and more... also searches ABC, NBC, Fox, etc. videos)

Seem a little overwhelming? Go to Google Video, and they will search most of the video sites... and a few more than I have listed. Who doesn't love Google?

So that we can stick with the true purpose of this blog, Melissa, I think I can dance just as well as Supermac18... though I would prefer to change the song. This one (while funny), doesn't really work with my personality as well as most silly songs....

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.

Teen Makes Library Commercial

Apparently silly library commercials are so cool, that other people besides silly librarians are making them. Check out this teen's commercial for the Eden Public Library. We learn that lions and tigers do NOT run wild there..., but Darth Vador may show up.


AGAIN, I note that Esme and I are both ready, willing, and available to star in silly library commercials.

Why There Are So Many Hook Ups at the Library

Librarians Meet Late Night TV

So far we are about halfway through the Netracks training (if you work at DBRL), and I'm sure you have been asking yourself, "Ok, I get the whole blogging bit now, but really, what can this do for me???" Well, it might land you on late night television. Librarians Holly Hibner and Mary Kelly were featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live for their library related blog Awful Library Books. The sad part is that I was actually interested in one of the books in particular. I'm sure people who know me can guess which one. Esme on the other hand wasn't quite as excited about the book. Wonder why???

So moral of the story: If you want to end up on late night television, become a librarian.

Angela

Did you know that our resident prankster librarian Angela has never seen The Music Man??? I know. Unforgivable sin. So in honor of our favorite prankster (2nd only to me of course), I dedicate this posting to her and am including my favorite clip from the movie, Marian the Librarian. Please note all of the singing, spontaneous dancing, and turning cartwheels while reading books.

We've all had those guys that follow us around and REPEATEDLY asked us out... yet I don't think I've ever had one that started full library dance lines. I feel so unloved. **sniff**

When Patrons Aren't Quiet

I'm sure that we've all pulled a Nancy Pearl and SHHHHH!!!!! loud patrons. Apparently this guy didn't think that was enough....

DISCLAIMER: Do NOT be like Billy if you have rude or loud patrons. Just a guess, but I HIGHLY doubt Melissa would like it.

Who Wants to Play Dominoes?

Ok, admit it. Who wouldn't want to take all of the encyclopedias and do this one morning?

Sheryl has a couple of vacation days coming up.

She would never know we messed with her books.

Fulton, Mental Illness, and YouTube

In case people haven't noticed, I like YouTube. While looking around the other day for something completely different, I saw this video starring our very own Jodi. It gives a lot of good information when working with patrons with mental illness. A few of the suggestions would violate our patron confidentiality policies but for the most part, I found it helpful and informative.

If you want more information about how to help patrons with mental or physical disabilities, check out Library411 from the Missouri Department of Mental Health, the Missouri State Library, and the Missouri Institute of Mental Health .

Letter to the Director

Dear Melissa,


Yet another college library is showing us up. We cannot idly stand by and let this happen again. I hereby volunteer to star in a silly library commercial so as that we may stand up and be noticed in the silly library commercials world. Esme is also willing to sacrifice her dignity for the good of CPL. Please help us remedy this situation as soon as possible. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Chriss




PS Ellis even had a commercial filmed there....

Do You Want to be a Librarian?

1947 occupational film. It's interesting to see how the profession has both changed and stayed the same in the past 62 years.

Who is not ecstatic that we now have electronic card catalogs???

Final Straw

OMG, this is the last straw. I found some disturbing information just now which is going to require a second posting for the day. It just can't wait until tomorrow. It's just too important.

Send children out of the room because this news is too disturbing for the young among us....

KU libraries have a commercial when we do not. **scream** This is just too much to bare. How can we go on without answering this travesty??? Who among us can let the Jayhawks **shudder** trounce us in this most important of areas?

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....

CPL Staff on YouTube

Anyone want to learn how to do the Banana Chant? Justin snuck his camera into storytime one day and caught Angela and Barb teaching the kids how to go bananas and rock their mullets.



Going to be reading books to a group of children? Learn how choose the best books and keep kids interested while you read with Sarah H.



The Dewey Decimators perform at the Summer Reading Celebration 2009.

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?

Can't Buy Me Love

Apparently you can't buy love, but you can get it for free at the Des Plaines Public Library.

I love how they do funny little commercials for all of their big announcements and community events... using who else but their own children's and reference teams. The children's team even has a singing library group that performed that performed Baum's The Wizard of Oz.

NOTE: Melissa, I want to be in a silly library commercial... wearing a pink boa. Esme wants to be in it, too.

Documentary : March of the Librarians

Before not much was known on the bizarre and secretive lifestyles of the librarian. Thanks to documentary film maker nnnicck, we now have real life footage of their unique dances, customs, and eating habits.

Betty Glover's Library Workout Video

Upon being hired at the library, I was warned that librarians LOVE to eat. Bringing snacks is not necessary as there are always cookies, cakes, and Steve's homemade salsa waiting in the bullpen for us all to enjoy. Sarah even keeps chocolate in her office in case we need that sugar rush and can't make it upstairs. No wonder associates usually gain 10-20 lbs their first year.

I tried in vain to ignore cakes, muffins, bagels, and treats eagerly calling my name but was unable to resist all of the temptations. I tried going to the gym to lose the excess weight but don't really have the time as the library takes most of my waking hours each day. I could be like Director Melissa and walk the back stairs when needing a moment to stretch my legs, but that is really her domain.

Then Otter introduced me to Betty Glover the ultimate librarian fitness guru. With the help of Ms. Glover, I have learned to sweat with the book cart, staple with pizazz, and aerobisize when shelving... and the weight has just melted off. Get your copy of Betty Glover's Library Workout Video for only $69.95!!! Catch a sneak peak before ordering, and you, too, will be amazed that you can get this golden gem for so cheap. Order quickly as supplies are limited.

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?

Can You do the Dewey?

Today, I found the ultimate Silly Song Sing Along for all things library.

Can you imagine if we broke out in this song every time kids came up asking for the number to a specific subject?

**evil grin**

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?

I Want to Be a Librarian : The Musical

Apparently, I'm not the only one with super secret spy cams. Ever wondered what happens to Library Science students when studying for finals? Apparently library science students at the University of Alberta break out into song, dance, and... welll... I'm not sure.

As many of you know, we have a few library science students among us. If anyone sees Lauren, Sarah E., Lindsey J., or the others exhibiting similar behaviors, be sure to get it on film.

Those Secret Cameras at Work Again

It's cold outside, and everyone knows what that means... FOOTBALL! However our resident Super Football Fan Melissa has grown tired of the sport. Needing the comradely, w00ts and basic craziness that sports bring, she's been trying out new games and searching for THE sport will give her that same rush of adrenaline. Golf was too slow. Rugby was too rough. Ping Pong required too much international travel. After days and days of searching, I think she might have found THE one. Always there to give his total support (like all good friends), Eric decided to give it a try, too.

Yes, my friends, I once again have employed those super secret spy cams to bring you unique footage of our friends and coworkers. Let's give a great round of applause to our new DBRL Ribbon Dancing Team.

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Gearing Up for the Dewey Decimators' Annual Tryouts

With the new year coming, it's about that time of year again for the Dewey Decimators' annual tryouts. Having heard about the exciting times had at the Fulton Street Festival, MLA, and Columbia Holiday Parade, a few library funsters have decided they too want to dance with those decorated book carts. (Who wouldn't?)

Having already purchased the super secret spy cams, I decided to put them to good use again and spy on a few of our fun and fabulous coworkers as they practiced their best moves. Looks like we've got some new good recruits in our future and might even win the coveted Missouri State MLA Book Cart Drill Team Award again this year.

Don't forget to leave words of encouragement and congrats for your favorite Dancin' Machine below.

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So What REALLY Happens in AdCom???

A couple of Thursdays each month all of the librarians go behind closed doors. We hear faint whispers of decisions made and random rumors of what happens, but do we REALLY know???

After 7 years of wondering, I decided to do something about my great curiosity and get an answer to the age old question: "What REALLY does happen in AdCom?" I headed over to the new secret spy store in the mall and purchased a pea sized camera. Finding an accomplice was a little harder, but after much begging (and a little bribery), I find someone willing to wear the hidden camera. They shall remain nameless.

I just watched the feed and am absolutely amazed at the findings. Even more questions were then raised.... Just how do they get that much snow up in VGY???

Warning: Watch this video at your own risk. It is not for the faint of heart!

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7 1/2 Habits

Probably the hardest habit for me would be the begin with an end in mind... because I don't believe that it is important. While I believe that goals are important in life, they should not be concrete but should instead flow and be changeable. If I begin with the end in mind, I don't leave room to grow and learn from an experience. If I start something without making a concrete goal, I am more apt to learn and grow from the experience.

As for my easiest, I believe I am competent in several of the areas. I effectively use technology in my everyday life. I accept responsibility for my own learning and take it upon myself often to learn whatever it is that I need or want to learn. I know how to gather and find tools to help me learn. Because I already have several of these habits, I am already confident in myself as a competent learner. Most importantly though, I'm not afraid to learn. As a large group of Californians recently learned, I have zero qualms stopping whatever I'm doing just to perform the banana chant.

Go Bananas!