Teaching Technology (The Blog Lives)

Sadly, during the most exciting semester of my library career my blog suffered tremendously. I had the most to write about, and I wrote the least!

Anyway, every Thursday night I help teach blogging classes as the local library and I absolutely love it. Today was my first class back from a short break, and it's just the best way to spend an evening. There was a dear elderly woman tonight who just couldn't keep up and I sat with her throughout the class and we worked together to create her blog and make a few posts. She actually typed on one of her practice posts "I am at the library tonight. A very nice young girl is helping me". How sweet is that!?

I had forgotten how much I LOVE teaching technology. It's one of my favorite parts of being a librarian. So, I guess we'll add one more specialization to the growing lists of specializations I'd like to have... archives, special collections, public libraries in general, outreach/programming, technology..... That kind of makes me a plain old generalist doesn't it?

Nice German Man Says...

Nice German Patron: These kids with earrings and painted hair – Hitler wouldn’t have stood for it. I’m a survivor of Nazi Germany and Hitler was a better man than most of our politicians. He never lied about what he was doing. He was a poor uneducated fellow who never could have gotten into power by himself. It was the wealthy bankers who put him in power and they are responsible for what he did.

You know the bankers would take over this country, but they are afraid of the people who have guns. They are trying to destroy America, the constitution. Did you know that president Bush can tap your phone line if you say certain things? If you say “president bush” or “nazi” or “communism” a machine will record your conversation.

huh?

Not a Lie

Me: What can I help you with today?

Patron: You know, I used to be able to move things with my mind when I was a child, but I have kind of forgotten. Can you help me find some books that will help teach me again?

Me without even blinking: Oh sure, here is the call number for our books about telekenisis

I've really entered another dimension. What's the best is that it doesn't even phase me. I love this job.

That's a Reference Question

This is exactly what happened on an actual phone call at the library the other day


Patron: "Well, are you LDS?"
Brooke: "I prefer not to answer personal questions"
Patron: "Well, I just need to know if you think I can be forgiven for my sins"
Brooke: (internal galsp) "You know, I just don't feel comfortable advising you on this issue, I would suggest you contact a religious or spiritual leader"

Que Triste!

So, I was updating the community hallway in the library today and I heard uproarious laughter and shrieking coming from the girls bathroom. I went inside and it had, sure enough, turned into the Provo High School bathroom in a matter of seconds. Hairspray, tons of eyeliner, and the ever popular butt-showing lowriders. Since it was during school I kindly asked the girls what they were doing at the library during school hours. (I should point out that were all 15 year old sassy latino girls - it doesn't really matter, but it helps you imagine it) "Um, like somebody dropped us off, 'djou know?" "We just had to use the bathroom."

"So, you're done by now, right?"

At this point they all looked a little nervous and one of them bolted into the bathroom. When she came out a few minues later she had a pregnancy test and she looked really relieved. But then her friend said to her "No, you have to wait three minutes stupit". It was killer.

My first thought was 'oh my heck, she needs help' So old lady library kicked in and I went through all of the adoption resources we had in the library and all of the pamphlets on dealing with teen pregnancy (not that we have many, really this is provo). But then I thought 'if she isn't pregnant she needs to know about how to not get pregnant!' But then I knew I would get fired for sure. I was just so struck with how young she was and how much she didn't know about having a baby, or not having a baby (obviously, since she was taking a pregnancy test). Eak.

So, ultimately I decided to let them have their moment alone in the bathroom and I don't know how things turned out. I realized that If I were to be High School librarian and I got to know the kids it would be hard for me to remain objective about their personal lives. Can you imagine coming home from school and telling your parents that your High School librarian had talked to you about contraceptives...can you say fired? Well, for sure here anyway. I don't know. I don't mind saying that I think abstinence only sex education is ridiculous and I can't beleive the government funds it. But maybe my job isn't worth that issue? But really, when you think about this lives of teens and their possible unborn children...maybe it is? Not yet I guess. I'll wait 'till I'm a sassy old woman with nothing to loose and some serious clout to swing around.

Library Perks

I think I'll start sharing some of the funny/wonderful/puzzling things that happen to me at the library on a daily basis. Max has to put up with them all the time, so I thought I'd share the love.

Yesterday a little girl of about 9 came into the stacks on the second (nonfiction) floor and asked for help looking for some pretty grown up books about remarkable women in history. We talked for a while and she told me that her mom would only let her check out 6 books at a time and wasn't that so lame? I looked down at her and said "you are a little bookworm aren't you?" She immediately responded "Bookworms turn into Butterflies...it says so on one of my bookmarks." Is that so cute!