Anonymous againIt will come as no surprise to most of you that I have decided to stop updating this blog, since I haven't updated the damn thing in a month, anyway. When I began using Twitter to post my more entertaining refdesk moments I thought it would free the blog for incisive commentary. Obviously I have none to offer. However, I am going one step further. I will no longer post to

Anonymous again It will come as no surprise to most of you that I have decided to stop updating this blog, since I haven't updated the damn thing in a month, anyway. When I began using Twitter to post my more entertaining refdesk moments I thought it would free the blog for incisive commentary. Obviously I have none to offer. However, I am going one step further. I will no longer post to... Read the rest of this post

In the EveningI know I've twittered this information, but for the rest of you I'll say that our new reference desk setup, stuck amongst the public terminals, sucks. I repeat, it sucks.Deaf sentence, by David Lodge.Ranma #13.The verbally abusive relationship, by Patricia Evans.Guest pass.Shut up!Websites to help kids move up to their grade level, in Spanish.At least it's quiet tonight, apart from

In the Evening I know I've twittered this information, but for the rest of you I'll say that our new reference desk setup, stuck amongst the public terminals, sucks. I repeat, it sucks. Deaf sentence, by David Lodge. Ranma #13. The verbally abusive relationship, by Patricia Evans. Guest pass. Shut up! Websites to help kids move up to their grade level, in Spanish. At least it's quiet tonight,... Read the rest of this post

I suppose you have to take it somewhere. Some guy I never saw figured that a corner of our quiet library stacks was the perfect place to ... release.But I, weeding the biographies, heard his desperate shout:"OBAMA WON!"Nothing more.He sounded really pissed.

I suppose you have to take it somewhere. Some guy I never saw figured that a corner of our quiet library stacks was the perfect place to ... release. But I, weeding the biographies, heard his desperate shout: "OBAMA WON!" Nothing more. He sounded really pissed.

My ImportanceI thought I worked the evening, so came in at noon, but I had misread the schedule. In other words, I wasn't at work this morning when I should have been.No one noticed.

My Importance I thought I worked the evening, so came in at noon, but I had misread the schedule. In other words, I wasn't at work this morning when I should have been. No one noticed.

Busy AfternoonFriday afternoon was tough. Not only were we working with the local community college's new influx of naive students, new to serious research and often new to computers, but the schools had a half-day so loud kids were filling the place up early. And it was raining, so people who might have wanted to leave chose not to. We were running all over the place.At 3:15, a surprise: the

Busy Afternoon Friday afternoon was tough. Not only were we working with the local community college's new influx of naive students, new to serious research and often new to computers, but the schools had a half-day so loud kids were filling the place up early. And it was raining, so people who might have wanted to leave chose not to. We were running all over the place. At 3:15, a surpris... Read the rest of this post

In the AfternoonSalesmanship books.Crying baby."From rage to reason," by Janet Langhart Cohen. (Over the phone. "I ... just ... can't ... find ... my ... card ... anywhere ...")Computers are over there, sir.She calls back with her barcode, but I've already found it."Yes, or no," by Spencer Johnson.Some year's best horror anthology series.I can't notarize that, sir.Coworker: "My husband started

In the Afternoon Salesmanship books. Crying baby. "From rage to reason," by Janet Langhart Cohen. (Over the phone. "I ... just ... can't ... find ... my ... card ... anywhere ...") Computers are over there, sir. She calls back with her barcode, but I've already found it. "Yes, or no," by Spencer Johnson. Some year's best horror anthology series. I can't notarize that, sir. Coworker: "My husba... Read the rest of this post

In the Evening:She's never used a computer before. She doesn't know how to use a mouse, type, or "spell," as she puts it. So I go and print her credit report for her. "What am I supposed to do with this?"He's astonished I've heard of Ben Hecht.Where is area code 817?Videos on the Justice Department.WOW Gospel 2006.Pen.1991 Honda Civic repair manual.Does she need to be here for tonight's book

In the Evening: She's never used a computer before. She doesn't know how to use a mouse, type, or "spell," as she puts it. So I go and print her credit report for her. "What am I supposed to do with this?" He's astonished I've heard of Ben Hecht. Where is area code 817? Videos on the Justice Department. WOW Gospel 2006. Pen. 1991 Honda Civic repair manual. Does she need to be here for tonig... Read the rest of this post

On a Lovely Friday Afternoon:Request for Jordan Sparks and Phil Stacey CDs, from a coworker.What on earth was the title for the second Star wars film?Pencil."Once a king, always a king," by Reymundo Sanchez.She's entering high school. Can't she get an adult card? Sure, and so can her mother.Oops, I'm not supposed to be here right now ...(One hour later)Notarization."Authors like Zane."We don't

On a Lovely Friday Afternoon: Request for Jordan Sparks and Phil Stacey CDs, from a coworker. What on earth was the title for the second Star wars film? Pencil. "Once a king, always a king," by Reymundo Sanchez. She's entering high school. Can't she get an adult card? Sure, and so can her mother. Oops, I'm not supposed to be here right now ... (One hour later) Notarization. "Authors like ... Read the rest of this post

MockedI was reminded of this at a meeting today. A couple months ago I decided to give Stephanie Meyer's Twilight a try, since so many people were reading it. I was on desk glancing at the first chapter when I hear:"BWA-HA-HA-HA! You're reading 'Twilight!' That's a sissy book. You must be a big girlie!"I looked up and saw a girl with glasses, probably in middle school, whom I had never seen

Mocked I was reminded of this at a meeting today. A couple months ago I decided to give Stephanie Meyer's Twilight a try, since so many people were reading it. I was on desk glancing at the first chapter when I hear: "BWA-HA-HA-HA! You're reading 'Twilight!' That's a sissy book. You must be a big girlie!" I looked up and saw a girl with glasses, probably in middle school, whom I had nev... Read the rest of this post

Since Twitter has been Absolutely Useless Lately:In the Evening:Four straight faxes.The fountainhead on CD.Copier advice.Word has resume templates, sir."Can you tell me if Venus has a ring around it?"I think the weird hippy guy is hitting on Librarian K.Competing in analytics, by Davenport and Harris.Sorry, we don't loan out Windows operating systems, sir.Could you turn your IPod down, please?

Since Twitter has been Absolutely Useless Lately: In the Evening: Four straight faxes. The fountainhead on CD. Copier advice. Word has resume templates, sir. "Can you tell me if Venus has a ring around it?" I think the weird hippy guy is hitting on Librarian K. Competing in analytics, by Davenport and Harris. Sorry, we don't loan out Windows operating systems, sir. Could you turn your IPod do... Read the rest of this post

In the Evening:Twitter seems to be down."You got any history movies? ... You know, civil rights movement or slavery?"Don't run!I don't know why they transferred you here, sir. We don't renew items.OCDYep, we have WIFI.The so-called "stimulus" forms.DVD loan policy.I swear that patron looks just like Popeye's dad Pappy.Encyclopedias are over there, kid.A whole bunch of ILLs by Brenda

In the Evening: Twitter seems to be down. "You got any history movies? ... You know, civil rights movement or slavery?" Don't run! I don't know why they transferred you here, sir. We don't renew items. OCD Yep, we have WIFI. The so-called "stimulus" forms. DVD loan policy. I swear that patron looks just like Popeye's dad Pappy. Encyclopedias are over there, kid. A whole bunch of ILLs by Bren... Read the rest of this post

I come back from a vacation, refreshed, ready to tackle the new extraordinary challenges that have cropped up while I was gone.And I find everything exactly the same. The same patrons, the same questions, coworkers and gripes. I am disappointed. I wanted a fresh start. I wanted something new. I wanted to find the kids section crawling with alligators. I wanted to learn that Bin Laden had

I come back from a vacation, refreshed, ready to tackle the new extraordinary challenges that have cropped up while I was gone. And I find everything exactly the same. The same patrons, the same questions, coworkers and gripes. I am disappointed. I wanted a fresh start. I wanted something new. I wanted to find the kids section crawling with alligators. I wanted to learn that Bin Laden ha... Read the rest of this post

Library War (Toshokan Sensou)The most important librarian anime since Read or Die has started its run in Japan!Apparently in the story the government has begun to crack down on what the citizens can read, and the only the librarians can stop them! And they're serious. Look! Angry librarians with guns!If they actually gave us guns, we librarians might choose to shoot other things besides