It's been a GRAND Day!

Here we are in the Yavapai Lodge in the Grand Canyon National Park, about a quarter of a mile from the South Rim.  This morning, Andrew and I woke up around 6:30 and got ready. We had a breakfast buffet included in our package, so we headed there around 8. The bags were transferred to the lodge from the hotel we stayed in last night – so they met us at the lodge today.

At 9, there was a Wild West Show, complete with horses and a shootout, and then we boarded the train. Andrew and I sat in the Luxury Parlor car – the Chief. We had fruit and rolls etc (though, we’d already had breakfast, of course) and there was also a (cash) bar in our car. Over the course of the two and a half hour trip which covered the 63 miles from Williams to the Grand Canyon, we were able to go out on the observation deck at the back of the train, or up to the ‘bubble dome’ between performances from a roving pickin’ cowboy and the mayor straight from the show earlier.

Once we arrived at the Canyon, we immediately boarded our bus for our tour of the South Rim. Everything was going swimmingly until the rain clouds rolled in! It seemed like we only had about 10 minutes at each stop before the rain would pick up again and drive us back to the bus. But… in those few minutes at each stop before the rain hit, we saw the most absolutely breath-taking, stunning views of the canyon you can imagine.  I can’t wait to upload some pictures!!

After the tour and a buffet lunch, we checked in at the lodge and found our room.  Due to the lateness of our lunch, we weren’t really ready for dinner – so we wandered around for a bit, and found a few super cool lookouts that we hope to visit again for SUNRISE tomorrow morning.

So…. To bed we go, see you tomorrow!

MKE to PHX and beyond!

Hi from Williams, AZ! Just a quick check in - because I'm tired. There's a two hour time difference here in Arizona and I've basically been up for close to 24 hours by this point.

But, yesterday after our morning-after breakfast, Dad took Andrew and me to Milwaukee. Our initial plan was to go see Chris and Bob (and EMILY!!!) at the hospital, but after a slower start then we'd originally planned, it didn't work out. As a side note, we plan on coming back to Milwaukee as soon as possible to see them and meet Emily.

This morning, we left our hotel in Milwaukee at 5:30 am local time via the airport shuttle that the Hyatt runs every day, and headed to the airport. Security took a bit longer then we'd expected - Andrew even did the back-scatter x-ray! :( - but, we made it to our gate with plenty of time to spare. The flight to Phoenix was great - and then we had about an hour layover before our flight to Flagstaff. In Flag, we rented our car (a Toyota Camry from California!) and left the airport. On the way, we stopped at a Micro Brewery for lunch. I had a wood-fired pizza and Andrew had some shrimp tacos - and we each had one of their beers. The weather was so perfect - and scenery so amazing! that we decided to sit outside in their bier garten.

After lunch, there was about a half hour- or 40 minute drive to Williams. We got to the hotel (super cute, but we're about the only ones in our demographic) and crashed for bit.


Okay - dinner was good, but I need to go to bed now!!! More later. <3

Oh, that's right... I have a blog to update! part 2

It's kind of ridiculous that I posted this SAME thing almost a month ago and I still haven't had time to update!

Since I last posted, I've gotten that much closer to the biggest milestone of my life - my wedding! We're down to 10 days now, and the time is just flying by! We are basically ready, just a few last minute things to get in order. But, to quote Andrew's Uncle - we're keeping in mind that this is "a celebration, not a performance!"

This, on top of finally graduating with my MLIS, has made for a busy time. Hence the lack of posting! :)

Thanks for hanging in there with me...

Oh, that's right... I have a blog to update!

Sorry I've been MIA this week. As my first full week in ILL, I've been learning a lot of new things and it's been pretty busy. I've also been taking advantage of the fact that I now have a lunch break to explore the great food options Madison has to offer! I should curtail that though, I can't get used to spending money for lunch every day! :)

This week has also been my first without homework, since I finished up grad school last weekend. I had a lovely dinner out with my family to celebrate, now I'm just waiting for the professional job offers to start rolling in... in my dreams! It's still a very tough market out there. I'm lucky I finished my degree already having a job, otherwise I wouldn't have been so well off.

We're also just slightly over a month away from the wedding, as if I needed more to do! Though, that too is going quite smoothly - just a few last minute details to worry about.

All in all, life is good - to use my father's favorite quote. Thanks for sticking with me during this time of transition! Hopefully, I'll have more time next week to get caught up on my RSS feed and find some great stuff to share with you all!

Lots of changes, Max... Lots of changes

Today is my last day as Operations Manager of the Google Book Project. I have worked, with various titles, on this project for over two and a half years. I came to this job because I had recently graduated from my undergraduate studies and was on my way to completing my master's degree and I needed full-time work in a library.

This is a library - and they had full time work.

...That was basically the only draw.

It was not what I wanted: it was not a public service position, it was not in a public library, it was not near my house, I could not drive to work (and therefore could not have much freedom during the day)... But, it was relatively gainful employment that would perhaps move me closer to my goals. So I took it.

I was never not applying for other jobs while here. Pretty much every public library job within a 50 mile radius was researched, applied for, pined after, and eventually mourned as it slipped away; a graceful, yet curt, form letter arriving in the mail. I applied for the jobs I knew I'd never get (seriously, HOW does one gain 'professional experience' when no one will hire you for a professional job?!), the ones that were geographically impossible, and even the ones that devalued the profession (professional librarians are PROFESSIONALS, we have degrees and we need them every day! Please, don't refuse me basic health care!). But, here I stayed.

Eventually, I began to gain new experiences and found new opportunities. I got to go to my first professional conference (WLA). I began to take InfoDesk shifts in the Reference Department and Circulation Desk shifts each week. I became an active member of the Staff Development Committee, I got to know more people across campus. I attended local conferences, talks, and programming. I grew as a person and as a Information Professional.

I kept working on my MLIS. (I even got reimbursed for some of my tuition!)

Now, I'm sitting at a bit of a crossroads - both personally and professionally. I will be awarded my degree very soon, and I'm getting married this Fall.

And, I'm changing jobs.

Tomorrow will be my first day in the Interlibrary Loan Department of the Memorial Library.

This is still not my 'dream job' - it is still in a basement, it still has limited patron interaction (though, more then before), I'm still in an academic library that I cannot drive myself to everyday. I will have to start taking lunches, which will lengthen my day by an hour - which admittedly won't be AS bad now that I won't have to do homework every night...

But, it is a stepping stone. Another in a long trail across a river of doubt and uncertainty that every early-career professional meets.

I plan to add this next notch to my belt, so to say, and take from this new experience as much as I can - just as I've done with every new set of duties, commitment, position and new opportunity I've taken.

Wish me luck!

University of Minnesota researchers reveal Wikipedia gender biases : UMNews : University of Minnesota

This is a very interesting article and something that I'm a bit embarrassed to say I wouldn't have noticed. So much of how we write, what we remember and how we share is dependent on our gender and when we're using an information resource that is solely based on perspective, it is very important to keep those biases in mind. As information professionals, it is also something we should be incorporating into our instruction - just like the importance of conveying appropriateness of resources, our patrons should be made aware of possible inherent bias in sources like Wikipedia.

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University of Minnesota researchers reveal Wikipedia gender biases : UMNews : University of Minnesota

Attempting to remember my place, and suceeding - but while suceeding, failing in other much more important ways

The title is purposefully cryptic and annoying because that's how I feel. Allow me to explain...

I should remind my reader that I currently hold two library jobs - one, which garners a certain amount of respect and authority (whether real or imagined...) and one which, although engaging, fun, and in the type of library where I would like to work the rest of my life - is much lower on the totem pole, so to say.

So, last night while doing the second of those two jobs, I was asked a relatively simple question by a patron. Whenever this happens, I always have a moment of self-doubt. I am not doubting my ability, mind you, rather, I am doubting the appropriateness of answering said question given my official position in the library. Believe me, I'm not trying to sound like I'm one of those "that's-not-in-my-job-description" people - I'm not. Honestly, I don't think there's any place for that in libraries because we all must be team players to present an attractive front for our users... but I digress...

I *do* pause though, and think the following thoughts: a) note to self: I'm a shelver. b) I don't want to give the wrong impression of either the position or the library by overstepping my bounds. c) ...how stupid is that? d) well, I'd better take this patron over to the desk before they think I'm some sort of robot who's just powered down in front of them...

Needless to say, I find myself arriving at that last thought and then kicking myself the rest of the night. I took this job to get back into the public library and show the folks there that I am worthy of a full time appointment. And, sometimes I really feel I'm doing myself a disservice. 

What People Don't Get About Working In a Library

This should be required reading... !

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What People Don't Get About Working In a Library: "
Article by Derek Thompson in The Atlantic Magazine.


The Librarian #1

'We are not mere cart pushers. This job requires a Masters degree for a reason.'

People have made an extremely strong link between librarians, libraries and books. This is only natural, but it really sells short the full value of libraries and the full scope of librarian work. Libraries offer so much more than moldy old books. There's also music, movies, tv shows, video games, and electronic databases that span a whole galaxy of scholarly and practical information unavailable to any level of googling. Additionally, libraries offer free internet access that is utterly vital in many poor and rural communities. As government services migrate online, good citizenship almost requires an internet connection. Libraries also provide a free space for local groups and communities and have been at the forefront of job search training and computer instruction. Coordinating all of this are the humble librarians. We are not mere cart pushers, let me assure you. This job requires a Masters degree for a reason.
"

Vonnegut Library: we just want you to read it and decide for yourself

YES!

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Vonnegut Library: we just want you to read it and decide for yourself: "
'The KVML will be giving away free copies of Slaughterhouse Five to students from Republic, Missouri’s high school (yes, the school that banned Slaughterhouse Five last week from their curriculum and school library). If you are a student at Republic High School, please e-mail us to request your free copy of the book. Please provide us with your name, address, and grade level. We have up to 150 books to share, thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor. We think it’s important for everyone to have their First Amendment rights. We’re not telling you to like the book… we just want you to read it and decide for yourself. We will not share your request or any of your personal information with anyone else.'
"

Libraries are More Important Than Ever & Stats Confirm It

There! Proof! Our degrees are not useless! :) Also - great job Downey City Library for keeping yourselves relevant!!

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Libraries are More Important Than Ever & Stats Confirm It: "

Downey, CA Patriot: If you thought libraries were going the way of the dinosaur, think again. Recently, on a sunny Thursday morning at 9:50, there was a group of about 20 people anxiously waiting for the Downey City Library to open its doors. At 10 a.m., the pacing hordes darted inside, many claiming computers in the computer lab, while the rest headed for the adult and children’s sections.

Libraries have long been considered an essential part of having an educated and literate population and while library budgets continue to get slashed, it could be argued that they are more essential now than ever before. Many assume that the digital age we’re living in will soon render libraries obsolete, but library attendance says otherwise.

Last year, 416,605 visits were made to the Downey City Library, which is an increase from 2009. The checkout of library materials also increased by 4 percent, with 491,355 items being loaned out. It’s more than a numbers game, however. The services that the library provides to the community are irreplaceable and so are its librarians.

Senior librarian Jan Palen has been with the Downey City Library for 16 years and as California’s economic climate becomes more volatile, the free programs that Palen and her team provide to the city become all the more crucial. One has to wonder, however: How much importance does the city place on books and reading?
"