Another year flies by

I awoke today with a strange feeling that today was somehow different. It ambushed me like a thief in the night - I'm 36 today. Literally old enough to be your mother, and because of that I am of course tired and so I will keep today's post short. The best gift of all is one I have for you: we are on the very brink of getting one of the best online sources of all - the Grove Dictionary of Art. I don't think it quite excuses me from doing nothing the rest of the year, but if my charge is, in the words of Mr. Mahler, to make us "world-class," then we are one step closer!

The view from my window

This morning they poured concrete slab for the new Arts Building just across the way, so the big plan to have the place up and ready for next fall seems to be within reach. This morning the library hosted the Parents' Association meeting, and we are getting ready for the Board of Trustees at 4 p.m., and all day long I have had people thank me and apologize for invading the space. The truth is . . . I like having company. If they'd let me I'd serve the coffee myself. Don't get me wrong, I had some things to do this morning that didn't happen, but really if given a choice between crawling around in the reference section dusting the encyclopedias or listening to a nice talk and meeting the parents . . . what would most people pick?

Right. The dust will be there tomorrow!

Library Olympics

I really need some new clothes! I have spent the better part of the day on the floor, in a skirt. My focus for the next few weeks will be weeding out-of-date materials from the collection, starting with reference, and shifting the books around to make room for new things. While I'm in there, I've been dusting - might as well do it now rather than later. (By the way, folks, I am finding a whole lot of candy wrappers wadded up and tucked behind the rows of books. Candy's forbidden in the library, of course, but even more forbidden is littering!) So there's your librarian: on the floor, trying to keep her knees out of sight, covered in dust and heaving around armloads of books like it's an Olympic event. Maybe it will be - 2012, here I come.

What's new in the library?

Other than the blog? Today I cataloged and labeled a whole bevy of new things to put out on the shelf tomorrow morning. I got your AP test prep books right here! Also, several volumes on Roman emperors, some new fiction, and the latest edition of the MLA handbook. Get 'em while they're hot.

And what's the librarian reading these days? To my delight, I found a collection of short stories by M.F.K. Fisher on the shelf. I have an abiding interest in the literature of food - I like to feed all my senses, you see, and in the interest of time I can feed several at once by reading about food - and Miss Fisher's prose has a delicious combination of lyricality and good humor that make it irresistible.

I did notice that although we allegedly have four titles by Kinky Friedman, none of them are on the shelf. Whoever took them without checking them out and is now holding them hostage . . . GIVE THEM BACK. Just leave them on the desk when I'm not looking and no one will be the wiser.

My evil plan is working!

This morning I announced the Reference Question of the Fortnight Contest and I am pleased to say that people seem to be getting into the spirit of it. The point of said contest is to encourage people to approach me with their questions instead of Google - it reinforces the purpose of libraries and librarians, and gives me a chance to show people what resources we have already, like science magazines, online databases, reference books and other materials. Google works sometimes, but:
a) it doesn't know or care if you're still confused
b) unless you really know how to do a targeted search, it gives you too many hits
c) not all the information it retrieves via the Web is really that worthwhile
d) you cannot win glow-in-the-dark vampire teeth by asking it your question

See? Ask me. Make me work for that paycheck. And of course, there's the Shakespeare nodders to consider, too.

A powerful discussion

Today the whole campus gathered together in the Thunderdome to start the discussion of Bryce Courtenay's Power of One. After a brief introduction by the AP lit students, the student body broke out into smaller discussion groups facilitated by faculty. Here in the Savidge-Bowers Library Ms. Evans and Mr. Newhams welcomed comments and input about the nature of thinking with the head as well as the heart and how that can affect one's entire life. Lurking in the background at the circulation desk I was able to observe the transformative nature of powerful literature.

People assume librarians do what we do, say it with me now, "....because I love to read." In fact, I do love to read, but in the three days I have been installed here as the librarian I haven't read more than a short article or two at my desk. Librarianship isn't really about reading, per se, - look it up anywhere and you'll see that the real definition is the organization and management of information, as sterile as that sounds - but if there's one thing that's true it is that our central mission is to promote and shepherd along a love of the written word. Today only reinforced the choice I made five years ago to become a librarian.

Contest!

New this year is the Reference Question of the Fortnight Contest. Any time you are in the library and ask an interesting, relevant question, you can enter to win a small, quirky prize and be the envy of your friends at morning assembly every other week. Here are some examples:
- How can I find more information about Florida plant species?
- What's the French word for trash can?
- How is coffee harvested?

Here are some things that don't count:
- Where's the bathroom?
- Can you help me make copies of this?
- What's a fortnight?

So, come on up to the circulation desk and ask away! You never know - you could be the one walking away with a big sparkly tricked-out bookmark or other weird swag.

Welcome back!

Welcome to the 2008-2009 school year, and welcome to the Savidge/Bowers Library Blog. Here you can find information related to library resources, activities, projects, books - just a little taste of what's new.

What's really new, of course, is the librarian. My name is Miss Mandel, and this is my first year at Out-of-Door Academy. I direct the library and teach art history as well. Please feel free to leave pleasant, relevant comments . . . especially on things you are reading!