Wednesday, April 16, 2014

National Librarian Day




Today is National Librarian Day and now you can become
your own pseudo librarian with one of these personal library kits from Knock Knock. It comes with a stamp and check out cards so you can keep track of books you loan out. 

It doesn't help you collect overdue library fines though...and my friend, Pat, the librarian tells me that it can't teach you the Dewey Decimal System (which I'm actually OK with). She also points out that it doesn't let you borrow from every library in the state, but many real libraries do. That is pretty cool and she does help me order random books for whatever crazy thing I am researching from all over the state. 

I asked Pat (who's one of the Mystery Playground craft, photo and drink development crew) and another librarian friend of mine, Michele (contributor extraordinaire), what three things they wish every library patron knew and this is what they told me:

Pat:

1. Librarians are not judgmental. Bring any question to us and we'll help you.

2. Tell all your friends that you are a library user!  Help spread the word about all the wonderful resources and people that are at the library. Help us build support  and awareness in the community.

3.  Libraries are not just about printed books anymore (but as a good library patron they probably already know this).  We have electronic resources, speaker programs, study areas, white boards, WiFi, computers, printers, great people, and more.

Michele:

1. It is easier to find authoritative sources if you use the library's resources and suggested strategies.

2. Everything is not on the free Web.

3. In higher education the librarian will not simply provide you with an answer, instead she will teach you how to find it yourself.




Then I asked them to confess what the last book they read was...

Pat:


The last book I read was:

Longbourn by Jo Baker
Think Pride and Prejudice from the servants' point of view.  Not only a fun read, but I felt like I was back in that era.  I highly recommend it.

Currently I'm reading:

Endangered by Eliot Schrefer

I'm totally hooked by the situation: a young girl, bonobo monkeys, armed rebellion in The Congo.  It is really well written, I feel like I'm right there in the middle of it all.

Michele:
Last book I read: Armistead Maupin's The Days Of Anna Madrigal.

I am also currently in the middle of three non-fiction books for two courses I am taking: Race, Class, & Gender: An AnthologyLuck is No Accident: Making the Most of Happenstance in Your Life and Career, and Fail Fast, Fail Often: How Losing Can Help You Win.


Come back tomorrow for a special librarian inspired craft and a giveaway...

No librarians were harmed in the development of this blog post. 

7 comments:

  1. Yay for National Librarian Day! Pat is the MOST FABULOUS librarian on planet earth and my personal hero--so happy to read her wise words here. I'm fortunate to live in a city where the libraries rock (NYC, Queens in particular) and are one of our most important common goods. I would add to the three things: Libraries can save your life.

    And I'm reading This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett. Full of grace and wisdom.

    Hugs to all my west coast library peeps!

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  2. I am always telling my friends about our Charleston, SC library system, I'm addicted! My new favorite feature is the e-magazines. I love being able to research writers and books, even DVDs and Blue Rays from the comfort of my home in my jammies, and placing my order then making the trip to pick them up, and of course the hour(s) of just walking and wandering and discovering new books and authors to check out. Libraries Rock!

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    1. Carrie - this sounds awesome! thank you for your comment.

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