Time Out!

A vacation is in order, as my schoolwork is reaching alarming levels.

Before I go, look over the conceptual renderings of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios! (click on Gallery) Is it just me, or is it odd that Hogsmeade is covered in snow but Hogwarts isn't? Aren't they right next to each other? ::shakes head::

True story.

I am very much over library school.

This is what happens when my brain ceases to function

I get a shit-ton of Twilight ridiculousness from Danielle and picspam the heck out of you. Never mind I've been trying to write a post for three weeks now... this is clearly more important than children reading! False.

• Jasper in his element
• Snuggie fun has just begun!
  
• Click here for even more Snuggie fun!!
• I'm disturbed by this... so it must be absurd
• Cake!
  

A term paper by any other name...

...will still be annoying to write whether it is being turned in to a professor at the School of Communication, Information and Library Studies or the newly proposed name change School of Communication and Information. Fortunately, the application for my degree I filled out earlier in the week shows that regardless of what the board of governors actually decides upon, I will be a SCILS graduate, not an SCI graduate.

Let me back up a bit and give a brief summary of what the heck is going on. If you're in New Jersey or conversant with Rutgers happenings, then you may please allow your attention to wander down to the next paragraph. For the rest of you, here's what you need to know: Brandy new to the job, SCILS Dean Jorge Reina Schement decided to further the school's emphasis on communications while repeatedly shafting their largest program, library science. The dean argues that the change to SCI away from SCILS will provide a more cohesive unity in the represented schools and ease confusion many outsiders face upon hearing School of Communication, Information and Library Studies.

Excuse me? How does that even make sense? Previous to knowing anything about library science I knew SCILS had a library program. Why? The name told me so. It's that simple. Now that I am only too-versed in library theory I can understand the correlation between libraries and information as a brand, but to the common public? I can imagine it now...

"Hey you wanna give us some money? We need help with library advocacy blah blah blah. Oh you will!? Fabulous! Make that check out to the School of Communication and Information. No... I'm not trying to scam you into giving money for communications and IT, it's our name. ... Yes I know it doesn't say library but I swear to you we teach library ish. For real! We've got the best program in school libraries. Or we did, now we're like number 5 because everyone forgets about us now that we aren't technically a library school. ... No! No! That's not what I meant! We ARE a library school but we're losing street cred because the word library isn't in our name anymore. [sigh] I can send you the FAQ brochure explaining this and other inane decisions made by the powers that be."

Here's what other folks are saying:

• Library Journal
• NJSLA
• right from the horse's mouth
• that grammatically autrocious school paper that convinced me to enter this stupid profession in the first place: The Targum

Q strikes again

My favorite seventh grader to quote has given me permission to use his first initial to distinguish him from the other kids that say funny things that end up on this johnson.

“The bathroom smells like straight up booty crack. Someone blew the bathroom to smithereens.” ::Q, the hilarious 7th grader::

OMGZ How adorable!!

I had a fondness for my library for years. Back before I worked here and even before I began the library school process, I fell in love with the outside of NBFPL. But this historical postcard makes me love it that much more! Check out more historical postcards on our website, especially if you have an affiliation of any sort with New Brunswick, Rutgers, or just plain ole NJ!


And to think, those stairs are now covered with rambunctious teenagers doing all kinds of things they can't do inside the library...

Review: For-Eeeev-Er

Somehow, despite not really liking The Sandlot while growing up I love the heck out of the scene where Chauncey* explains how long the dog will stay chained up, specifically the portion below:


So speaking of forever, how about that Judy Blume book? I think the only thing that I really have to say about it is exactly what my friend Danielle said when she saw me reading it, "That book is filthy." Since this is the internet, the italics could be misconstrued to mean that she was repulsed by this, but that is clearly why this book was worth reading. Duh. Sometimes I felt dirty reading it because I was in public. I know there was no little bunny and some jugs hanging out on the cover, but there might as well have been because I felt like I was reading straight up erotica. This is the first challenged book I read that I actually shrugged my shoulders in understanding after reading it.

The long and short of it (hehe he... apparently my mind will be in the gutter for the remainder of this review... you've been warned) is Katherine meets Michael at a New Year's Eve party and even though she tries to play it off like she isn't interested to us, the reader, she totes wants on him. Turns out that he too wants her, despite bringing some other chick to the party. Drama, drama, drama of the high school variety, and then they're going steady. They go on a date and then hang out in her house with more privacy than my parents would have allowed and start hooking up on a regular basis. The rest of the book progresses with their explicitly fooling around and professing they will love one another forever. Katherine's parents are concerned by the serious nature of their daughter's relationship and commands her to be a tennis counselor in another state. Boo hoo. End of the world to begin in five... four... three... two... one... or so it feels to someone with their first love.

SPOILER!

They break up and I laughed. Haha. Oh high school love, how naive and adorable you are. I remember you like a nagging pimple on my upper lip.

First Line:

"Sybil Davis has a genius I.Q. and has been laid by at least six different guys."

*when an actor's real name is this awesome, all names of the characters portrayed are irrelevant. For the record.

Typealzer

No, it's not a typing test (don't I wish?), but another silly internet meme of ridiculous proportions! Yaaaay! Thanks to Alicia over at the LibrariYAn I was able to access this glorious bit of html announcing that my blog is authored by a doer. That's right, I do it.

Is this my secret? Sounds about right.

The active and playful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.

The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

Writing and librarianship

Being a writer is hard work (duh).  There are many things one has to consider and even if the stars align and the plotline is in order, the remaining legwork can be tremulous and quite annoying on occasion.  For example, I have only one chapter outlined in a young adult series and despite knowing where the books are going I am hesitant to call myself a writer because of this minimal effort.  Perhaps this is because the only real writing endeavors I've had as of late is from my heyday as a creative writing major (which, as I've found, is the major of choice for librarians so I don't even know if I count this).  Even when I was in a regular workshop setting my professors' reactions to my desire to write for a younger audience led me to believe my grade would be lower than if I wrote supposed real fiction so I never even got to practice the type of writing I want to do.  How the heck does any of this encourage me?  Oh wait.  It doesn't. 

Thankfully, I have the interwebz!!  Despite never directly asking for help, especially not from the one and only Laini Taylor, help comes again and again.  First came the discovery of her amusing and inspiring blog Not a Robot many moons ago and now she wrote a post that serves as a bucket of ice water waking up my lifeless inner writer.  Thanks Laini!  :)  I can't wait for the hell that is library school to end so I actually can do things I enjoy in my spare time instead of tedious homework assignments.  

Wondering why I'm spending all this time talking about Writer Kristi(e) when we all know that this is a forum for me to spew librarianship and fandom at you?  Because part of being a good librarian, even if one has no desire to write, is understanding how books come to be.  Yes, enjoying an author's work is fine and dandy, but I find that the more I know about the writing process the more I enjoy the books I read.  Just some food for thought.  And while you nibble on that, check out this video posted on Tales From An Open Book to get a humorous look into the life of a book.  

BONAS JONAS: 

• Tales From An Open Book also posted this gem about what happens when people pretend that books are similar to Twix bars.
• Something Awful decided to rewrite the classics, need I say more?

Remember that time I was a technological idiot?

I was so excited to have my computer back that I overdid it on the whole internet thing and used up all the bandwidth my dorm allows for the week in two days. As a result, I'm banned from going on the computer. How silly. To honor my stupidity, here is the lowdown on Teen Tech Week 09 along with some other online and/or gaming information.

Here is a link to the YALSA blog detailing what to do with little to no money and still celebrate Teen Tech Week. It features several podcast type things that I can't listen to because the current computer I'm on is without speakers, but based on the blog post they seem like something worth checking out. There are videos on budgeting, TTW in the school media center, and how to get started if you're a newbie.

Speaking of YALSA, they shared an interesting survey on their blog about teens and their online presence. This reminded me of Laini Taylor's post this weekend about authors and young adults using the internet as a communication tool. Very interesting reads there, go check it out!

I was just having a conversation with someone (or a group of someones) recently about whether or not teen literacy is still declining and whether or not video games are hurting or helping. I feel like it was my Materials for YA class, but I can't be certain, so if you know you had this conversation with me please let me know. Thanks. Anyway, I had this conversation and I still think that video games DO help literacy and it turns out I'm not the only one! That's right, the ALA teamed up with the Verizon Foundation forever ago to determine the impact gaming has on literacy.

BONAS JONAS: Poetry Friday, tricked out tech style. Technically it is a remake of the Beatle's Paperback Writer, updated to say C++ Writer instead. Oh man. BUT since there is no recorded version of it that I know of, I count it as a poem. For your enjoyment, the C++ Writer.

Teens teens, they're good for the heart!

The more together, the more the farts!

Forgive me. I am in a sillier mood than usual. My apologies. Anywayz, let's see what my big bag of backlogged blogging delights has in store for you:

• An interesting video relating back to the summer reading theme of creativity and expression. Thanks I.N.K!
• Ever stumble across an accidental teen book? Read the facts so you're prepared how to handle the situation if it arises. Fortunately we have YALSA leading the way...
• Speaking of young adult associations (yes, I'm pushing it here, but work with me), Alicia of the LibrariYAn attended her first YA section meeting of the NJLA. Her reaction is interesting and allowed me, a person who has never gone to one, an inside glimpse.
  
• The month of February is all about advocacy for YALSA, for each day we get more information on advocacy for teens in the library. Here is what they had to say on day one:

I understood that if I wanted to guarantee that teens had great library services, I needed to stand up for them and for the programs and services a library can provide to them. I realized, that I couldn’t simply say “It will never happen” or “No one understands what I’m trying to accomplish” instead I needed to inform others about what teen services and teens are all about.

If I didn’t do it, who would? If you don’t do it, who will?

Thus far, my favorite entry they've published on this topic came on day two: the advocacy toolkit. Check it out!

Express yourself @ Your Library

Schiorgasboard of program ideas for this year's young adult summer reading theme:

• Zee shows us how to paint with coffee by making a neat replica of Westerfield's Extras
  
• This is more of an (anti)Valentine's day craft, but whatevsky. It's awesome, you need to see it--works out like magic. Thanks, SuperPunch! You're the greatest!
• I associate LOLcatz with library science. I never saw them before grad school, now they are everywhere. Therefore, it is a splendid idea to make LOLcat purses as a teen library program, no?
• Perhaps instead of having a bland ::point::click::enjoy:: style photography program, spice it up by having teens bring in or print their digital photos, then turn them 3-D?
• What do teenage girls love more than earrings? RECYCLING! ... They don't? Whatever, because now they can make free earrings and recycle at the same time and there's nothing they can do to stop it. ... besides not go to the program, but why on earth would that happen?
• Fabric boxes seem super easy and super-duper awesome!
• We have a knitting club at my library, but you might have a sewing club. Or you could potentially have a sewing circle. Either way, if you wish to have a sewing program, this blog post of sewing term definitions is a must have print-out. Thanks U-handbag!

Unless otherwise noted, links come from Craft: blog.

I have been waiting FOR-EV-ER* to post this!

It feels like forever, anyway.   I discovered these two amazing sites a mere day after I dropped my computer off to the hospital and have tried on numerous computers to bring this creation to the public to no avail.  

Without further ado, I give you what happens when you cross the most ridiculous collection of paintings ever made in the history of the planet with the end results of too much time on one's hands:

Why yes that is an Obama dog making linguini, how'd you guess?

*Said in The Sandlot voice.

A day in the life of a faux-brarian: Sunday edition

What's a faux-brarian, you ask? Well, take a look for yourself:

A faux-brarian is a person who is attempting to finish their MLIS while working as a library associate, causing many confusions to oneself and those around them. For instance, I often answer reference, reader's advisory and other librarian-type questions but that silly slip of paper I have yet to acquire says I am not a librarian at the present time. Oh well. Enough of that and on with the show!

• 12:50-1 PM: Stand in the cold since I am not a real librarian and therefore don't get keys to the building. Fortunately my teal tights keep me warm. Once someone with a key arrives, I scramble to turn on all the computers, printers, lights and so on while trying to figure out why the database printer continually spits out paper it attempted to print on Friday (i.e., not yesterday).
  
• 1-1:30 PM: Drink as much cappuccino as necessary to become a functioning human being while logging people into the computers for homework and games. Oh and thanks to a good reference handoff (see and I thought Reference Sources and Services was a waste of my time...look at me knowing the fancy terms) I was able to get the Green Eggs and Ham Cookbook before the patron even came downstairs to collect it. Good teamwork!
• 1:30-2 PM: Computer literacy abound. Basic things like how to copy and paste into a word document, ("let me know when your session is about to expire and it won't log you out")^3 and don't use glue by the computer, that's how technological nightmares are created. Oh children...
• 2-2:30 PM: Internal debate over whether or not I should tell a little girl no older than 5 to stop playing the sound on a Dora book because on the one hand it is an annoying sound, but on the other... she's reading. This is solved by an odd reference question boggling my mind: a young boy looking for a report on the Titanic movie. After a five minute ref. interview it is determined that he is looking for a movie review. I think... [Also, amongst other things: more computer literacy and previously mentioned tasks]
• 2:30-3 PM: Much more of the same, this time with a bathroom visit. Fun times. Sundays are the epitome of the lazy library unless a major project is due on Monday. Then it is Crazytown, USA. Running total: two new juvenile patrons have internet permission. That is all.
  
• 3-3:30 PM: Decide to work on the children's reference website update while it is relatively slow. Now that I have the finalists in the science category it is time to narrow them down into facets. Found that some of the sciences are covered (biology, environmental) while others are lacking.
• 3:30-5:00 PM: More of the same only I moved on from science to art. This is proving trickier because most of the sites I had bookmarked are dead. Time to start from scratch, which is aggravated by the fact that a boisterous patron continuously asks for a 3rd turn on the computers despite knowing the children's room internet policy by heart (which means no third turn, buster).
  
  This is punctuated by my sneaking into the youth services office every so often to have some of my bagel. A new girl is reading/playing with the sound book. Damn I hate sound books.
  
  Time to go home! I love how truncated Sundays are!