| Hawaii, Part 2 |
[Jul. 11th, 2009|11:12 pm] |
Tomorrow morning we pack our bags and begin the long journey back home. It'll be about 24 hours all told, because of when we are checking out of the house and when we arrive at BWI. Not all of it is true travel though, because we have time to hang out and chill tomorrow on the island before it all starts.
The last couple days on Oahu we did Honolulu area things. We did the Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor as well as Missouri the Battleship. Both were good spots to visit. The movie/TV watcher in me enjoyed seeing Jurassic Park, "Lost" island, and scenes from the Pearl Harbor movie. I know, I know, very educational. :)
Tuesday morning we hiked up Diamond Head crater and then refueled with IHOP before flying to Kona. Upon arriving in Kona, we hit the Kona Brewery. I'm pretty sure our group has kept them in business this week between the beer drinking and souvenir buying! We got to the house on Tuesday night to find the house in disarray ... at first glance we were worried people were staying here still, but it turned out that the cleaning service forgot to come after the last guests. OOPS! So the owner came and got us clean sheets and bathrooms that evening while we enjoyed the sunset.
Wednesday we headed out to the Volcano. It was a long drive and even longer to the lava flows which are only open at certain parts of the evening. So we didn't see lava, but we saw lots of rocks that used to be lava! Drove 4000 ft in elevation down the mountain to the sea. Saw some cool stuff. This island is really really different geographically from the other island we visited. Also visited the volcano winery and tried some crazy kinds of wine. A group favorite appeared to be Honey Macadamia Nut wine. We also discovered a store named "Donkey Balls" which made us laugh. Come on, you know you did too. We purchased a wide variety of donkey balls. Flaky Balls, Blue Balls, Hot balls, and other assorted balls! (I'll pause, while you ponder the thought.)
Thursday we all got sunburned. After a week of libral sunscreen application, you'd think we'd be good at it. We are. We just did not REAPPLY. ALWAYS REAPPLY! We kayaked and snorkled and then did not reapply after we snorkled because we were never dry. We went from ocean right into the boats. (It's terribly attractive, let me tell you.) 30 or 45 min later we got back to the beach and were all lobsters. Well, not patti, cause it appears that 45 spray does its job! That night, Mike and I drove to a local hotel where they shine bright lights on the ocean to attract manta rays. It was pretty cool and some of them were huge! My flip flop was a casulty of the evening. It was funny. Eventually, $5 walmart flipflops break.
Friday, the boys and Rachel went scuba diving. Apparently in Hawaii you don't need to be certified if you want to do an introductory dive. They went to around 70 feet down which is pretty deep if you ask me! Patti, Linda and I went to a coffee plantation that was "mom and pop" in the TRUEST sense of the word. We were in their living room and kitchen! We picked coffee beans which look kinda like cranberries to begin with. Did every step of the process and ordered a WHOLE lotta joe. Most of it has to be shipped but I have a tiny thing of decaf coming home with me. (And making the cars smell like coffee). That night we went to Browns Beach House which is an uber swanky restaurant in an uber swanky hotel. You know, cause I turned 30 and all.
Today, Patti Linda Jeff and Rachel headed out to see turtles and waterfalls. Mike and I drove to a couple shops and hotels looking for a painting we saw in Honolulu, but could only find the originals and not the affordable versions. We got to see the Hilton which was also uber swanky. We watched people play with dolphins which was cute and talked to a dad from Chicago. Also attempted to get Mike some sushi for lunch but they all opened at 5 so that didn't happen.
Tomorrow is travel day...and then back to the real world. |
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| Question concerning preparing for graduate school |
[Jul. 9th, 2009|10:29 am] |
I would like to work in an academic library in a position that uses technology heavily. I am considering getting an associate's in computer and information systems before entering a MLIS program to acquire a strong technology background. My local community college offers an associate's with a programming concentration and one with a networking technology concentration. Which do you think would be more useful for a library setting? Here are the courses for each specialty (they all have the same foundational courses):
Programming:
BUS 241 Principles of Accounting I | 3 | BUS 242 Principles of Accounting II | 3 | CIS 147 Advanced Microcomputer Applications | 3 | CIS 222 Database Management Systems | 3 | CIS 278 Operating Systems | 3 | CIS 251 C++ Programming | 3 | CIS Programming Electives (can include CIS 198, CIS 244, CIS 255, CIS 261 CIS 282) | 9 | CIS 281 Systems Analysis | 3 | CIS 288 Networking | 3 | CIS Advanced Programming Electives (can include CIS 213, CIS 252, CIS 262, CIS 293, CIS 299) | 9 | CIS 212 Visual BASIC | 3 |
Networking (Web technology sub-field):
CIS 147 Advanced Microcomputer Applications | 3 | CIS 151 Graphics for the World Wide Web ORCIS 197DD Flash OR CIS 197EE Fireworks | 3 | CIS 197GG Web Page Scripting (Perl) | 3 | CIS 207 Introduction to Web Development | 3 | CIS 208 Intermediate Web Development OR CIS 197CC Dreamweaver OR OAD 233 Trends of Office Technology | 3 | CIS 209 Advanced Web Development | 3 | CIS 255 Java Programming | 3 | CIS 273 Introduction to Networking Communication | 3 |
I appreciate your feedback!
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| dealing with parents is like walking in a minefield |
[Jul. 8th, 2009|05:04 pm] |
Dose anyone know the best way to address parents who yell at there kids in the library. I don't want to confront them in front of there kids so I usually just politely ask them to to keep it down and if it happens again I tell them that if they don't think there children can behave in the library they would be better off checking out books and bringing them home for the kids (even though the majority of them are just here for the computers). But today, there was a patron who I have had this issue with a few times before and she will yell at her son completely pointless things like today he dropped a book by accident and his Mother yelled at him to pick it up and then went on to yell at him about how worthless his father is. The boy had done nothing wrong, and I didn't want it to sound like I was blaming him, I ended up suggesting that in the future she goes to the Main branch which is more kid friendly. She just gave me this look like she was disgusted that I would say anything to her, and said "do you have kids" I said "no, I'm just trying to make sure the library stays quiet for everyone else" she just laughed at me, and I said "please try and keep the noise to a minimum" which sounded stupid and a few minutes later she left.
dose any one have any advice for when this happens in the future?
I know people get very sensitive when there children are involved. Out side of working at my University library this is my first Library job and I want to do well so when I apply to the MLS program I can have good references, but even my supervisor treats me like a little kid. On top looking like I'm still in high school being white makes look like I don't belong even more.
HELP!!! |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 7th, 2009|12:40 pm] |
Okay...what?
There is now an opening for children's supervisor in a smaller branch of a local public library. Uh do you think I'd going to apply for it? Of course.
But here's the thing...why is it that this particular branch doesn't have a librarian, but it's looking for a supervisor? In fact, according to the web page, there is only one supervisor and that is for the main library. Is there a reason for this terminology?
Anyone who can help me figure this out would be so helpful having only worked in an academic library.
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| question |
[Jul. 6th, 2009|09:13 pm] |
Hello, I am currently working in a small public library. I was thinking of buying bookcat for organizing it. Has anyone used it? |
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| Hawaii, Part 1 |
[Jul. 5th, 2009|09:35 pm] |
So here we are in Hawaii. It's Sunday afternoon and everything is closed around here! We went to the beach all morning and now everyone is laying down or reading so I have some time to record the first 3 days of fun.
Thursday was a very long day. None of us slept very much because we all got up before 4am to get to the airport. Our first flight to Phoenix was pretty uneventful. The layover in Phoenix was amusing ... we had all been up for almost 12 hours at that point, yet many of the restaurants were still selling breakfast food due to the 3 hour time zone change! Then we got on the plane for the longer leg. Sadly, the boys and I were in a row with non-reclining seats. That was a big fat bummer for 6+ hours. We saw a movie with Zac Efron and Matthew Perry (Matthew Perry had about 10 lines due to the style of story-telling, but top billing.) FINALLY at 2:45 Hawaii time (8:45 home time, 17 hours after waking up) we touched down. It took awhile to get our bags and rental cars, but we got on the road and headed up the coast to Laie which is where our first house is. We quickly grilled some hamburgers for nourishment and crashed. That is, until about 6am when we were all wide awake and bushy tailed!
Friday we went to the Polynesian Cultural Center for amusement, luau, and show. The food was fantastic.
Saturday we went snorkeling on a chartered boat with just 6 of us. We chased 3 different types of dolphins several miles out into the ocean. The boat was a powerboat catamaran, so the dolphins would hang out near the bow and let us splice the water for them, they'd swim along side, and they would surf in our wake. It was really awesome. Then we went snorkeling on a reef nearer to the shore. The afternoon was spent in the small pool at the house and grilling again.
Sunday, that's today, we walked to the beach and enjoyed the bathtub-warm water. Even though our house is directly on the ocean, it's cliff here and not beach. We grilled the last of the food because we leave this house tomorrow and it's hard to pack raw sausage in your carry on. :)
Tomorrow we're heading to Pearl Harbor, Honolulu and other stuff down there. We're spending tomorrow night in a hotel before going to the airport and switching to the big island! |
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| Homeless, The Saga Continues.... |
[Jul. 5th, 2009|09:15 pm] |
Be forewarned, this took place 5 days and 6 time zones ago ... so please excuse my drastic tense-jumping while writing. :)
You'll remember our apartment drama from Monday, in which we thought we had a hold on a computer but we really didn't. Then we went and actually really for sure got one at the other complex.
Tuesday morning, bright and early, I got up and headed to the apt to sign the paperwork. She forgot to tell me I needed pay stubs (and I forgot to ask, because it's been awhile). So I did what I could, and agreed to come back in the evening when Mike was there signing his half so that I could bring the stubs and whatever else we needed. During the day, I picked my mom up from the car rental place (She rented a car for the first half of her east coast vacation) so she could spend 24 hours at our place before we left for Hawaii. So 5pm rolls around and we head over, paystubs in hand, to meet Mike and show my mom the apt.
Apartment rental girl is sitting right next to a giant sign that says "No tours are given after dark." Let us remember that we live in the east coast time zone, and that it is June. Therefore, it is most definitely not dark at 5:15pm. She says "Oh, I'm sorry. I can't show apartments after 5pm." I pointed to the sign that says after dark. She says her hands are tied and she just can't. Ok, whatever. We sign all the paperwork, give them our $550 deposit & application fee, and go on our merry way.
The next morning while we were running errands, My Mom & I passed the complex's street so we decided what the heck, lets go see the model apartment now since it's not "dark." :) While we are waiting, a lady comes in and says something about how she called to do something and that she had to put her request in writing. This conversation involved many exchanges because rental agent girl and resident were not on the same page. Whatever letter she needed to write of course takes precedence over our tour so we sit down at the table to hang out some more. Previously during the day, I had spent time doing my address changing with work and committees so they'd know where to mail the checks and deposits, so I had a working knowledge of my new address. So imagine my surprise as the lady next to me writes on a piece of paper "This letter is to acknowledge the extension of my lease of apartment 506-3." Um, wait a minute, THAT IS OUR APARTMENT!
I acted like I was starting up a friendly conversation and asked, "So, which one do you live in?" And when she verbally confirmed what I thought I was seeing on paper, I quickly (and probably loudly) said "Um, rental agent friend, we have a problem! She is writing down that she wants to stay and you leased me this apartment yesterday!"
All of a sudden, they couldn't get us on that apartment tour fast enough. As they ushered my mom and I out of the room, I was full of questions. They were spewing from my mouth quite quickly, and again, probably loudly.
"Why are you letting her stay?"
"Is this legal?"
"Why did you rent us that apartment yesterday?"
"Where are we going to live?"
"If she called and asked to do this yesterday, why did you let me rent this apartment?!"
And other asundry things that I was dying to know. We looked at the apartment, took our measurements (So we could go home and figure out how all our stuff is going to fit) and went back to the office. The other rental girl had come up with a solution.
1. They are going to honor the price we were quoted for the apartment we leased. (Of course you are. How could it be legal not to? Yet they are acting as though they are saints for this.)
2. They have an apartment available TODAY, June 30 that we can rent TODAY. (Meaning, they wanted me to write them a check for July rent at that very moment.)
Um, no. We are not renting an apartment for a month that we don't need purely because they messed up and rented a non-available apartment.
Many versions of all these things happened over the next 45 minutes, I talked to Mike on the phone at work several times, and eventually we wound up with a home. We wound up with the short straw, and that is frustrating, but we didn't have any other options of places to go. Sigh. Our original one was ground floor with a patio and we could have our grill. Plus it would be easier to move in and out of because this complex has doors to the outside rather than hallways. Now we're up on the 2nd floor so everything has to go up a stairwell and we can't bring our grill. Boo. This one also has a fireplace so we lost a useable wall. So it's frustrating, but we do have an apartment. They were not willing to honor our original move in date, so we had to move in a week earlier, but the week of an apartment was pretty much the same as renting back the house for 2 days so that we could move on a weekend.
The most frustrating part was that they didn't really care and weren't really willing to help. But now it's over. Hopefully. Unless we get there on the 21st and people are living in that apartment too. :) |
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| Computer skills |
[Jul. 3rd, 2009|11:38 pm] |
I am entering my last year of undergrad in the fall and have worked in my college's library for three years and am working at a library for special needs students this summer. I'm very seriously considering an MLS. I was wondering what computer skills you've found most helpful in your jobs, as I have some free time this summer. If it makes a difference I am most interested in academic librarianship. I am generally computer-competent and was thinking maybe web-design would be an asset? But really I have no idea. Also are languages valued in admissions/job market? I speak fluent French and Spanish and would love a reason to use them.
Really any skills/experience that you have found helpful or wish you had, before or outside of library school.
Thanks! |
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| LC tutorial |
[Jul. 1st, 2009|04:36 pm] |
So, tomorrow my library is getting a high school-aged volunteer. Assuming he/she knows nothing about the LC system, I was wondering if any of you knew of a good, online tutorial. We have a small, specialized collection, so I don't need an in-depth explanation of the hows and whys of LC, just how to shelve it. I'd prefer one with some kind of little quiz at the end. The Kent State one is good, but I had trouble getting the quiz to load on our crappy work computers. I checked out a bunch online, but most were either too in-depth, lacked a quiz, or where very library-specific (i.e., "this is how we do it here at the ________ library").
Any help? TIA! |
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| DigIn program at Arizona? |
[Jul. 1st, 2009|12:11 pm] |
I am thinking about applying to the DigIn certificate program at Arizona. Has anyone here gone through it? Was it a good experience and how has it helped you? I have heard NOTHING about the program other than from the university and department. I received my MLIS in 2007 through a blended in-person/distance program, so I am fine with the online aspect of it. But I also know that online education feels like a lot of busy work to me, so I want to be sure that I get concrete skills out of the certificate.
I'm trying to make sure I want to do it before applying as it will be well over $100 for me to apply with the fees and transcripts being sent. |
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| DigIn program at Arizona? |
[Jul. 1st, 2009|12:11 pm] |
I am thinking about applying to the DigIn certificate program at Arizona. Has anyone here gone through it? Was it a good experience and how has it helped you? I have heard NOTHING about the program other than from the university and department. I received my MLIS in 2007 through a blended in-person/distance program, so I am fine with the online aspect of it. But I also know that online education feels like a lot of busy work to me, so I want to be sure that I get concrete skills out of the certificate.
I'm trying to make sure I want to do it before applying as it will be well over $100 for me to apply with the fees and transcripts being sent. |
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| YA related interview questions |
[Jun. 30th, 2009|03:33 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  curious | ] |
If you could ask a candidate for the director position at your library one question relating to teen services, what would it be?
I have an opportunity to participate in the interview process tomorrow, and everyone is trying to flood the question list with their personal bias and concerns. I would like to formulate at least one great question directly related to teens, but everything I am coming up with is like a paragraph long, or multi-parts. Any suggestions? Thanks! |
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| Being Offered a Position |
[Jun. 30th, 2009|09:03 am] |
So, I graduated as a Library Tech this spring. Been doing the applying thing and have had 2 interviews for around 30 jobs applied for.
Thing is, I called back one of the places this morning and I'm going in on Thursday to "Discuss some things" and be "offered the position". This position is a half-time job at a private all-girls school which is very exclusive - it's one of those schools that all the doctors and lawyers send their daughters to in the city. Yearly tuition for kindergarten is about five figures.
I'm at a total loss. I've contacted my teacher and will discuss things with her, but for those of you who have been to these meetings to "discuss" things, any tips would be very appreciated.
As for salary, when I went in I said that average pay was 17-18$ (Canadian) an hour, but that's the numbers for a public school. The other job I interviewed for was for the school division I live in and their starting pay as per their union is about 17.50 an hour. When I go in, do I say I've researched it and when she offers a number, do I suggest a bit more if she gives me what I first suggested? I was thinking about 19 an hour is a good number since this is my first job out of school. Edit: Have spoken to my teacher and I should be asking for much more, so that's settled.
I have no idea what else to discuss when I'm there. Dress code seemed business casual, so I'm not too worried about that, but will ask of course. We briefly discussed events and such in the interview, and I will be running book sales and such, so I think I can figure those out.
This will be a mornings job for me and then I have a part-time job otherwise I'll be holding on to for evenings, but how much of my time should I offer them? We briefly discussed clubs and once I'm settled in I'd love to be able to set up some clubs myself (I'm a huge manga fan and want to get a club going for that), but I'm not sure what the collection is like yet.
Anyway, done rambling. Mostly I just need some suggestions on what I should go into this meeting on Thursday expecting and what I should have ready.
Thanks! |
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| Our Anniversary |
[Jun. 29th, 2009|09:53 pm] |
Today marks 365 days since we stood up in front of our friends and family (clad in expensive white taffita, beads, and baseball sneakers, at least on my side) and promised to be together forever. The first 11 months were smooth crusin', the last month has been pretty much the opposite. But hey, if this is as bad as it gets - we'll take it! Even though we are living in a period of uncertainty and aren't sure where we are going to land, we'll be there together. And at least one of us will not stress out about it one iota. (What I wouldn't pay to be a boy!) :)
So here, not in any particular order, are some reasons why my husband is awesome.
-He doesn't stress out about things like where we will live. This keeps a perspective I so desperately need. He's right when he says wherever we live is our home and it doesn't matter if it's a tiny rental cave.
-We have similar taste in radio, which is good when we are riding in the car. These days, it normally means listening to 105.7... baseball and lots of people who talk about it.
-He opens the car door for me almost every time we get in the car. If it is pouring, I make him get in his side so he doesn't get soaked.
-He takes me to broadway shows even though they wouldn't fall in the top 1000000 things to do in his life. Sometimes he likes them (Jersey Boys) and sometimes he doesn't (Billy Elliot) but he takes me.
-We have similar vacation styles too. We like to just go on a whim sometimes (that won't be happening anymore, but it was fun while it lasted!) and we also like the big fun anticipated ones. We've seen so many little bits of the world in the last 2 years or so!
-He likes baseball. He doesn't like that I like Mike Mussina or the Yankees, but he likes baseball. :)
-He sings silly songs. Many times they are horrible songs such as his favorite go-to tune "Mike is right, Jenny is wrong," but they amuse me. Sometimes they have a dance. He'll be thrilled I shared that with you.
-He makes me laugh. Granted, sometimes I laugh AT him, but laughter is good. |
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| Apartment Hunting |
[Jun. 29th, 2009|05:45 pm] |
I'm pretty sure the apartment complex rulers of the universe have it out for us!
We had a hold on an apartment, which then we did NOT have a hold on because "it was already taken." But I have an automated email from the system saying we have a hold. That doesn't matter because someone else has a signed lease. Grr. They were out of 2 bed 2 bath places and the 2 bed 1 bath ones were going to be $200 MORE. That's right. More money for less bathrooms and 100 less square feet. So now we're going to the other complex that we don't like as much because it's yet another 100 less square feet and older. We'll get through this. But it's frustrating.
All the apartments in the area have this same rental computer program. And they all run on this new concept of NEVER getting to the "month to month" level of leasing. Every time your lease is up, you have to sign a new one. That is frustrating for people who want to purchase a home.
We're not really sure how all this stuff is going to fit into this apartment. We're basically putting 3 floors of life into an apartment that is just about 1/2 the size. For 1 1/2 times the money of our mortgage. Excellent.
But it is settled. We at least know where we are going. The neighborhood is pretty, lots of trees. That's the bonus. And it has a washer and dryer, which we really really wanted. And it will make any house we purchase seem like a spacious mansion. Also good, right? :)
I'm worried that the difficulties we have faced in just getting quotes, tours, and information will showcase themselves in management if anything goes wrong once we live there. If it's that hard to get help when they are supposed to be wanting us ... what will happen once they own us?
Cross your fingers that the perfect affordable house goes on the market in october or november so this can be a short term venture. Oh what am I saying? We are far past needing the perfect house. Just a decent, well maintained house! :) |
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| (no subject) |
[Jun. 28th, 2009|06:30 pm] |
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I will finally start my intern in the next week, which makes me both excited and nervous. I will seat at the reference desk most of the time, with my supervisor or a senior librarian. I wonder during the work what I could talk with my supervisor, who will work with me on my first shift. Or should I just observe what he does? Could you girrls help me out? I don't want to give her a bad first impression that it's too awkward. |
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