Done done and done!

YAY LATI is done. The showcase was great...it really was like being at a science fair. Knowing ahead of time that I didn't have to get up and talk was a great relief. Now it's time to focus on trying to get ready for the building to ...ahem...CLOSE. I've heard this rumor but I don't know how true it is. I'm thinking that we'll get a call from Director John next week and he'll give us 2 days to close up. We WILL be ready.

The night before Show Time

I know I have to get some sleep pretty soon, but I'm sort of wired right now. I'm wondering how much I'll miss going into the LATI website all the time. Not that I'll have more free time. Seems like there's always something else to do. I'm glad it will be available to us for a while longer. I like reading what others have written, and there are 3 staff from Allegany who are doing it now. I remember when Sherry and I first started it, I was calling Pam and Nora (they took it right before us) with all kinds of questions. They were great answering what we asked...NOT answers of course...but it was nice that they calmed fears and all. We're doing the same thing for Pat and Ginny...sort of like being cheerleaders I guess. They all laughed when I told them one of the most memorable things I saw was COFFEE-IN-A-BOX at the first face to face meeting. I had never seen that before and had to ask how it poured. But would you believe that on our way to a TIG meeting last week...we stopped at a coffee bar in Cumberland before we started out and they had them there!! Now if we could only get a Panera here!

MLA

It was funny that MLA was brought up during the conference today. While I was talking to my director before the Board meeting, he asked me if I wanted to go to it! OCEAN CITY!! I've never been there although I was in Salisbury a few months ago for a workshop and saw that I was about 30 miles away from there. It was the first time I went over the Bay Bridge. Twice. Going and coming. Very impressive. So I need to check with him to see about taking the display board with us. I've never been to an MLA convention before but I have attended 2 ALAs...winter one in Boston (YAY ME) and last year the one in DC. After the first one, the lesson I really learned was to watch what I pick up to bring home. There is so much STUFF. I learned to be selective.

Thoughts continued

I enjoyed the telebridge conference today. A couple of the questions that were asked had been in my mind too, especially the question about having to actually stand up and give a presentation at the showcase. I'm feeling less nervous now that I know I DON'T have to... this speaking to a lot of people has always been a bad thing for me. In school we had to give oral book reports at the front of the classroom. I never did complete one because I'd start laughing and couldn't stop. The teachers finally realised it would never happen. I didn't make it back in time for the game this afternoon. I had to speak to our Board of Trustees. What started out as a 10-15 minute presentation took a bit longer than I thought. This wasn't a "crowd" but I was still sweating it. I didn't get back until 5:30 so I missed out. I was looking at my planner this afternoon and I can't believe I have so many outreach programs scheduled for next week. What was I thinking??? The showcase is only days away!!!

Thoughts on the past few months

I'm standing here thinking about all that has gone on in the past few months. Wow. It doesn't seem like it has been months. I know the whole LATI thing intimidated me at first because I kept hearing how much time it took and this made me nervous. Even though we are a small branch, I still multi-task. I'm the branch manager and childrens services, and there are just 2 full time staff: Sherry and me. I was worried that I wouldn't have the time that was required. With a lot of support from my supervisor, Lisa M., I brought our sub Sharon in which allowed me time in the workroom. What a pleasant surprise it was to see that most of the work to be done for LATI was covered by workshops I had attended over the years. The biggest difference I saw was LATI dug a little deeper and was a bit more detailed. It WAS time consuming to finish the resources and it all got done. I'm having fun working on our project: I do not like having my picture taken and I can't stand to listen to my voice narrating photo story. I did a photo story a couple of years ago and didn't like my voice then. It's worse now. Oh well.
....to be continued.....

Last minute things

Well. I finally finished my resources. I can't believe it. I've been checking over the whole gimongus notebook to make sure I have it all and didn't forget something....like a module feedback? I feel like a weight has lifted off of me...this was the hardest part of all I thought. The resources took a lot of time for me, but now that IM DONE it seems well worth it. Again I didn't know how far behind I was until last night. AND...I have noticed that I did forget something after all. Dan. DAN PINK. I never wrote anything about "A whole new mind". Talk about tying up loose ends. I should get back to that one tonight or tomorrow. I am looking for do our project. I don't think it will be as hard as the resources.

Thursday blog

I was reading the first of the "28 day countdown" and I noticed the wonderful adjectives that were used...prepared, excited, relaxed, well rested. Does NERVOUS count???

Project and other things

I think the 28 day countdown is going to make me panic. Really. I'm backtracking to make sure I didn't skip over/miss too many things and I'm playing catch up. My notebook is up to date; I'm finishing up other things. I'm glad to have some down time this weekend...that means no distractions and more work done. And yes, once again my building's closing date has been moved back. This makes the third time. I/we may know for sure next Thursday when the new date is set. This has totally messed things up for Sherry and I. The biggest things I've learned from this are a. Don't put too much faith in schedules and b. Make sure you have a Plan B. We had it all set that we would be moving right along in February to go to another branch at least one day a week to work on our project. Not happening. BUT...here we have a Plan B. Thank goodness for our sub, Sharon. She's going to be working a lot in the next few weeks. Then, Laura (being EXTREMELY nice) told me there's no internet connection where the showcase will be held. Oh. Okay. Since I had no clue what an aircard is...well I called Jason our computer guy. Oh. Okay. That's out then. HA...move on to another Plan B. The reason I deserve an A is for coming up with all these Plan B's! I hope I don't have to come up with Plans C and D. I know everything will eventually fall into place...after all...we've been working our project for the past 2 months!

Google

Did youse type in your names with ""'s? Sherry just had me do it...we're in the workroom working on LATI. I was totally amazed!! I had a mess of hits. I see what she means by going public. Wow.

Face to Face

I guess we made the right decision on Thursday 16 January. I had to call Honore early that morning to tell her we were under a "winter weather advisory". Sherry said that if we didn't go, the weather would hold and if we did go the weather would turn nasty. So the decision was made and we didn't go. Less than an hour after calling Honore, it starting snowing. We ended up with snow and sleet. Schools let out and our system closed down early. We heard that the traffic on Sideling was maybe 30 mph. THAT'S a scary place! First time ever I listened to my gut-feeling. But I was sorry we missed the program because whenever I go to one of these workshops, I pick up a lot of new/useful stuff. Maybe another time. maybe in good weather.

LATI assignments

I'm finally catching back up. We're taking a break from weeding, pitching and tossing and all of that for the rest of the week. I brought a sub in today and tomorrow so Sherry and I can take turns in the workroom and get busy. I thought I'd start with assignments that are due this week, and then work backwards. I had no idea until this afternoon just how far behind I was. I'm glad my supervisor knows/understands what we've been going through. I really like the health module. It makes things so much easier when you can understand what you're reading. I couldn't stand the Maryland Share portion of the community information module. I did find out that the girl who had been working on it a LONG time ago gave it up and no one has worked it since then. It made that assigment very difficult. It took a long time to complete and my frustration level was over the top. I'm really excited about the Readers Advisory meeting this week. I've seen Kelly Vikstrom in action a few times and she knows her stuff. She ALWAYS gives great presentations. (She's coming to Allegany in the spring to do a workshop). So maybe I'll be totally back on track the end of the week. I hope it doesn't snow Thursday.

On YOUR list pt. 2

I was reading through the Publishers Weekly lists...especially the childrens books. I recognised quite a few that my library owns. Have you read the Knuffle Bunny books? Theye're so neat. Looking at all the titles made me realise what a job it is in doing the ordering for my branch. I'm partial to certain catalogs and websites and it's a shame my budget isn't bigger!

Kindle

You know what first struck me? No newspaper print/ink on one's hands! I think it's fine for people who like the latest technology/gadgets/toys...but I'm not particularly interested in one. I LOVE books...REAL books that I can hold in my hands no matter how big or small they may be. I LOVE the SMELL of new books. I don't even mind getting old-book-dust up my nose. Newspapers...I read local news, obits and front pages. I read my Boston Globe online (and the actual hard copy Globe is a huge newspaper). I think Kindles are a great idea...but not for me.

I can't say I'm really surprised....

I don't have much faith in schedules.IMO schedules are created to put ME in a get-it-done-right-now mode. For the past month, besides the network acting goofy, I've been weeding out my buiding, changing programs,pitching and tossing all sorts of things, and worst of all...putting to the side (a nice way of saying PUTTING OFF) other things I should have been doing (as in LATI). Well. An email came yesterday informing me that renovation has been postponed for a month. We were getting ready to close next Saturday, new schedules for Sherry and I had been made up...all sorts of things had been accomplished and set up. I think before November 2006 I would be majorly ticked off right now. That was when we were closed for minor repairs and a new roof..."they" said closed for 9 business days when we were actually closed for 3 weeks. See what I mean? I like the idea of an extra month though, because it's buying me some extra time to finish cleaning out and weeding. I wonder if it means I'm getting used to NON schedules?

Just an idea....

In Allegany County,up until maybe a year or two ago,the elementary schools had partnered with the Allegany County Arts Council.Art teachers submitted students artwork to the council, who in turn sent it on to the libraries. We all had big display boards showcasing the students works from the schools nearest to us. They were prominently displayed in the libraries (ours were in the lobby as you come in the door). The works were changed every so often during the school year and was a great opportunity for the whole community to enjoy.So many proud parents and students! I'm not sure why they stopped it but I wish they'd bring it back.