Tag Archives: Libraries

Tidbits from a librarians conference

The following are a few things I learned today, while at the conference of the Wisconsin Association of Academic Librarians at the Monona Terrace convention center.

Current tuition for students of the University of Wisconsin School of Library and Information Studies is $14,688 for the academic year. Back when I was a graduate student in library school (1986-1988), I believe tuition for the year was about $2,400. And you thought gas prices have been increasing too fast.

Odd Wisconsin is one of the more popular sections on the Wisconsin Historical Society’s web site. Which by the way has some wonderful resources in addition to Odd Wisconsin.

On their migration north, common loons stop in Lake Monona. During a break at the conference, while looking out one of the windows facing the lake, I spotted a loon fishing for a meal.

When I’m watching a loon in the middle of April, I get eager for summer camping in northern Wisconsin.

Soon to be Web Services Librarian

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I got the job! Oh wait a minute… I should probably back up for those of you who don’t know the whole story.

Last week I had interviewed for the position of Web Services Librarian at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. After the interview I felt pretty good about the whole thing and was very excited about the possibilities of working there. The position’s responsibilities are an interesting combination of website development and librarian duties.

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No, I do not clean the library bathrooms

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While at work this afternoon, I walked into the bathroom to use the facilities. I was dressed for work as I usually am, in a shirt and tie, with my name tag that says “Librarian.”

There was a library patron in there washing his hands (one of our regular internet users). He notices me come in and asks “So, do you clean the bathrooms here too? It’s always so nice and clean.”

For a few seconds, sarcastic (and perhaps smart-ass) answers flooded into my brain. I am glad to report however, that I summoned a great deal of self-restraint and gave him a polite answer. Since the question deserves a proper response, I thought I would do so here.

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A day at the reference desk

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This post is inspired by the weblog, Ref Grunt. I couldn’t agree more with the librarian from that site when he writes: “Some days I love working the reference desk, some days I hate it and it’s often the same day.”

In the Morning

“My computer froze.” I’ll reboot it for you sir.
Information on the Coral Castle in Florida.
“How do I download to a floppy disk?”
“A window popped up that said I won a prize.” I think that’s an ad. If I were you I would not give them your email address.

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The reason for coming to work

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Working with the public as I do at the library can be a little stressful at times. There are days when it’s hard not to let the people who are rude and impatient get to you. The other day I was experiencing a pretty hectic afternoon when a college student who was trying to find some articles on an obscure topic asked me for help. After spending a few minutes asking about her topic and refining her search, I was able to locate some relevant articles. Later, after she browsed through the articles and printed a few, she stopped by the desk and said “Thank you so much! Those were exactly what I was looking for. You know, I was at my college library and the librarian there couldn’t find anything at all. Thanks again!”

As she walked away I thought about the stressful afternoon I was having and decided that she was the reason I came to work that day.