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!