Well, it’s not official until you’ve put it on the internet, so here goes:
My husband and I are moving to Boston, where we both are starting new jobs! I’m going to be Head of Reference and Adult Services at Weymouth Public Libraries!
It’s an exciting new opportunity with a new director. I’m looking forward the excitement and responsibilities of a new job.
Read about my job search thoughts over at the Desk Set blog.
I was craving some Indian food and went to peruse the cookery titles at my library. I loved all the bright colors on the book jackets, and started leafing through a few titles.
There were some mouth watering recipes in this book, but the gem was the little bit of patron censorship. While this cookbook lacks photographs, there are lovely historical drawings and illustrations- giving a context to the region and the people.
Why, I didn’t know there were adorable pink tank tops for the women of Ancient India! Learn something new every day!
Clearly this is not an indigenous part of the book, and upon the removal of the sticker, we see the women’s breasts.
I started to chuckle and immediately was curious about what other stealth censorship had occurring in library books. What were the motivations of the censor?
I’ve always found a benefit of running, is that it keeps me grounded and relieves stress. I can lace up, head out and work through an issue and come up with a solution. Or better yet, forget about what was bothering me when I return home salt faced and filled with endorphins.
The goal setting bleeds into my work and personal life. Which is why I was struggling not having a spring race to train for. I kept going back and forth about needing to sign up for a race and not being able to hit the Register button. I finally did, and signed up for the Long Island Half Marathon on May 1. I’ll be joined by a friend, Samantha and hopefully a few other runner friends.
I’m very excited to have a spring time race and I love to race a half marathon. I’m hoping for a sub 1:50 race, as it proved itself possible at Staten Island, a rather hilly course. I raced a 15k two weeks ago, with an 8:43 pace. It will be hard to bring that down 30 seconds a mile in the next 3 weeks! I’m hoping to at least be in the range of my previous half marathons, 8:30 pace.
A selection of cool technology links floating around the interwebs:
This January didn’t get off to the running start I thought it would. I wanted to run about 55 miles, and eked out a measly 9. Oh my, that is just so embarrassing.
The month started off with some wonky knee issues, then a holiday to Mexico, and then a snowstorm every week. I’d set out to run on my days off or mornings free, only to have a minimum of 5 inches waiting or active precipitation.
However, I did have the second sorest day of my life, first being the marathon. I attended an IronStrength class with Dr. Jordan Metzl, a superfit, gregarious sports medicine doctor. Since attending the class, I’ve done the workout three times, trying to do it at least twice a week. Seriously, check it out- it’s a serious leg and core strengthener.
I may got some dirty looks from my runner friends, but it was sort of nice having a small break from running. I was eating well, spending time with my husband, reading, working on other life projects. I knew that soon enough I’d be layering and lacing up, but for the time being it was nice to leave my sneakers in the corner. That said, I’m ready to start running in February and getting back that structure.
Back in 1995, I attended orientation at my new high school. I went through the various station, picking up my schedule, meeting my field hockey coach, nervously eying all the new students around me. One of the last stops was at a table covered with boxes of Apple laptops. My high school was one of the first in the nation that required students to have laptop computers. This program was visionary in 1993, and I see the use of iPads and tablet computers a continuation of technology in the classroom.
There is much talk about how the internet is changing our brain, the ways we process information, and how we interact with each other. In educating youth, I think technology can play an important role in furthering curriculum, as well as teaching our youth to balance technology in their lives.
Webb School in Tennessee will require all students to have an iPad in Fall 2011. Putting aside socioeconomic issues, I am excited about how teachers and librarians will use these tools for teaching and collaboration.
Article:
Somewhere Apple Execs Are Smiling: iPads Are Now Mandatory at This Private School
I don’t blog enough about libraries and technology. I’m going to change that.
One of the most popular reference questions from January to April is “where are the tax forms?” This year, librarians across the US will hear that question even more as the IRS and many states have stopped sending booklets to homes. In an movement to shift more to e-filing and being green, it places a larger burden on libraries to provide these forms. The IRS provide the forms and booklets to libraries for free, but it requires our time and services.
So the problem:
My library has the 1040EZ booklet, and all the forms. Our customers keep asking for the 1040 and 1040A booklets. Yesterday, while helping a patron I offered to email him when the forms arrive. He happily provided me his email address and went on his way. A few hours later, I offered to email another patron, but she didn’t have an email address. “How about I call you?”
The Solution:
After these two interactions, I created a Google Form that would allow us to intake email addresses and phone numbers to contact our patrons. It takes just an extra step in the reference interaction, “No, we don’t have those booklets in yet. Would you like me to call or email you when they arrive?”
The form is very simple, asking for just two pieces of information. Once our forms arrive, we can send a mass email out notifying our patrons or give them a call. It’s bookmarked on the desktop of the ref desk computer and in Firefox, and has been added to the rotating banner on our homepage.
Simple technology solution, high impact customer service.
The form is at bit.ly/taxforms2010.
We all start off the New Year with a set of goals and plans for the year. With high hopes, stars in our eyes we set off hoping to check those things off. But, what happens when you have many ambitious goals? This past week, back to work after a lovely Mexican holiday, I’ve found myself thinking about my goals for the year. We were treated to a snow day on Wednesday. Bryan and I made plans to go sledding. However, it was my only day off this week and I had a stack of grown up work to do.
I have other goals I’d like to accomplish this year and in order to give those priority at this time, I need to scale back on the running goals- more specifically the New Jersey Marathon. Marathon training is all encompassing, as I learned this past fall. It consumed my evenings and weekends, all my thoughts were about running, fueling, resting. While it could have been consuming as a result of first time experience, I doubt that subsequent marathons would be less consuming, especially as goals develop and change. While it’s a good thing to reassess goals to ensure they are attainable and realistic, it feels a bit of a defeat. I should be able to manage all my goals, and better yet- achieve them all! Realistically, I know I need to prioritize.
However, running is a priority. It helps me stay fit, stay sane and benefits all aspects of my life. Training for races is goal setting, breaking each week down to different runs and workouts. I’m modifying my early 2011 running goals to speedy half marathons. I had an unofficial sub 1:50 at the Staten Island Half and I’d like to make that my new PR sometime this winter and early spring.
As the snow was falling on Times Square, I sat watching the Hood to Coast movie with 16 other members of my relay team. For the uninitiated, Hood to Coast is a famous relay race that starts at Mount Hood outside Portland, OR runs through the city and ends at the Pacific. The movie covered 4 teams: The Dead Jocks (legacy team), Heart n Soul (Kathy collapsed on the course last year, no heartbeat for 2 minutes!), Thunder and Laikaning (sedentary animators, no training), and R.Bowe (a memorial team for runner Ryan Bowe who died suddenly at age 30). Admittedly, I signed up for the Reach the Beach as it sounded fun- something different than a few laps around Central Park. I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be- 3 legs, up to 16 miles on little to no sleep over a 24hour+ period.
All runners come to the sport with their own reasons and motivations, but most of us will say: I have to do it. It keeps me going. It was captivating watching fellow runners take their emotions, their spirit to a race that requires teamwork, logistical planning and a whole lot of fun. We gathered in the lobby after the film for a quick photo, and I started to realize that I was going to have to rely on the strengths of my teammates through the training and planning. We’ll all use the best of our skills to make this come together. Together we’ll make it to the start through speed workouts and beer outings, and together we’ll cross the finish line.
So, a new year. 12 months of exciting new releases, must reads, awards, new tales of love and sorrow. I kicked off my 2011 reading by devouring two books under the warm Riveria Maya sun: Into Thin Air and Exely. I’ve been on an Everest kick lately and Krakauer’ s story is a must read. I picked up an Exely galley from work attracted to the story about a kid searching for his father and the dual narrators.
Back to New York and settling into Super Sad True Love Story, which 100 pages in is hilarious, grabbing me with a future New York that feels very real. (Also, dual narrators.)
Whilst relaxing on the white sand, thinking about the new year, my goals and plans, I considered my reading goals. Well, I started to when my husband was scolded me for never picking up any of his recommendations, while he has read a handful of mine. I admitted to the inequality and agreed to read his recommendation of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay next. (Which dovetails nicely with Super Sad True Love Story about Jewish men in NYC).
So dear friends and readers, looking for suggested titles for the next 11 months. Classics, darling favorites… let’s hear them!