No Time

Now that I'm working full time and as an auxiliary, I have no time to read. How can this be? Well, I still read before bed, during my lunch hour, during most meals and snacks, in the bathtub...but approximately 10.5 hours a day is now taken up by work and commute, and what little time remains is devoted to exercise, cleaning my apartment, a happy vegetative Veronica Mars watching state, conversation with friends, and most importantly my daily 9:30 webcam date with my supple scientist. Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the new job- I just don't handle change well - at first, stay tuned for more positive laments. In the meantime, here's a quick run down of the reading I mostly completed last week!

Karin Fossum - Calling Out for You! - Adult Mystery
This is the first mystery I have ever read with no resolution. Ooops, did I spoil it for you? Well you should be forwarned. I do believe I know who the killer was, and it was fairly obviously stated, but they good guys will never get him (I think)...There is a lot of psychology to this Norwegian thriller!

Alice I Think - Susan Juby - YA
The hands down funniest teen novel I have ever read (even beats Adrian Mole)...

The Royal Diaries- Cleopatra VII- Daughter of the Nile- Kristiana Gregory
Too bad Cleopatra actually ends up marrying her brother, rolling herself in a carpet to be delivered to her lovers chambers, and eventually kills herself (luckily that stage of her life wasn't reached in this diary - that might not be the intended shining example of female leadership for young girls). As one libararian said, "Yes, oh your reading one of those books we all recommend but no one has actually read!" - I still recommend it.

Paul Moves Out - Graphic Novel
Sweet, poignant, lovely ending. Can't beat anything from Drawn and Quarterly Press.

PS- due to technical difficulties, this old post is finally making it up! I'm sorry for the poor upkeep of this blog lately - I promise better blogging habits in future!

Party Dress

It's time to put on my party dress! My days of wandering are done (for a little while) as I begin a full-time children's position this week. I have agreed to stay available for weekend shifts with another system and I am also wrapping up with a few weekend shifts at the academic library where I'm a part-timer. So the lithe librarian is working both full time and as an auxiliary - may the exhausting adventure continue. Well, at least I don't have to change my blog title! After 8 months of working as an auxiliary, I have honed my versatility and reference skills, and have both experience the thrills and disillusionment of such an existence. I stand by my original observations posted on February 25th:

Starting off as an on-call librarian is a bewildering experience for many. I drive approximately 1000 km each week. Over the past 6 weeks I have worked in communities that I have never before visited.

The most difficult part of working on-call has been navigating my way to new branches. Generally I use mapquest to formulate directions, but this process may need to be re-evaluated. Some directions have made absolutely no sense in the stark light of reality. There are streets I have never found. And never will find.It just doesn't matter. All that is important is getting there. Alive.

Gas stations have been my salvation. There is something comforting about the helpfulness of a stranger with absolutely no obligation to be so. Particularly for a librarian, who spends all day on a reference desk helping others. It's nice to get some service in return.

One day when I was driving through on of those endlessly looping exits, going over, under and around the freeway, I thought about how unmoored I felt. Geographically lost yet again, feeling emotionally bereft missing the community and ideals of library school, suffering from the physical symptoms of job-related anxiety (always be nice to new people, remind them of breaks, show them where things are, and never snap at them when they ask a question)...

I never really finished this thought. I don't know if I ever will...the destiny of an auxiliary is to be cast adrift. To have split allegiances. To not truly belong to any one place or group. You become a stronger individual. You simply do things your own way whenever possible. You utilize the unique skills set you have to offer and draw on your range of experience. After all, the job is about people and books wherever you go. (I know, I refuse to say information, I'm a traditionalist, for me it's still about books!)

I'll be whistling while I work! Tarrah!

Sound Bytes

Things People Said to me At Work This Week:

Both you girls have very good auras. (older man addressing myself and another librarian)

Thank you and God Bless. (reposing to providing contact information from the red book)

Do you know what this is? (while on my friggin lunch break - I must look like a librarian)

I need a book about hiccups, bedbugs, and thyroids. (Further investigation: Thyroid problem killed his CAT.)

Oh what's this? Not that I have hepatitis, I'm just interested... (while looking in health section)