I was shifting some books today and this idea randomly popped into my head XD I’m usually the one who teaches new staff how to shelf-read.
Tag: librarians
Librarians, ghosts, mental-health & diverse characters: A Spoiler-Free Review of Archival Quality
Yesterday I was examining our library’s New Book display, as I am wont to do, and I noticed this book:
Graphic novels are one of my passions, so poked through it and soon realized that this book was SO relevant to my interests that I had to read it immediately.
It’s a book featuring:
- diverse characters
- ghosts and creepiness
- a librarian as the main character
- reflections on mental health
So, I scarfed it down on my lunch break!
Weir and Steenz have created a compelling mystery buoyed along by a wonderfully morbid setting and interesting characters. The style of the graphic art is lovely, and for that alone I’d be glad to have this book on my shelf.
^A poignant observation from the beginning of the book: If I had to visualize it, I’d say it makes me think about the walls that protect beach towns from flooding. The water rises and then retracts, and the wall holds, but it leaves line marks. You can tell it’s been there. You know it’s coming back.
There were a few places that the story fell a bit flat (some plot points needed further explanation or illustration, and the ending felt a tad rushed to me) but overall I enjoyed this story.
I give it 4 glaring skulls out of 5!
ALC, Jasper Municipal Library, impulse purchases, eating too much, and almost burning down our hotel room (?!)
On The Conference
The Alberta Library Conference has been a blast so far. Everyone is in a really good mood because we are in Jasper and the weather is absolutely gorgeous!
^flags from recent Pride week, and the lovely mountains, which always remind me of The Lord of The Rings.
The conference is being held at the Jasper Park Lodge, which is super fancy (and has an awesome cafe with super passionate barista!)
On Friday my manager and I attended a pre-conference where we learned about being savvy when talking to the media. I volunteered to be a mock interviewee (i’m trying to take opportunities to work on my public speaking, because it’s still a bit out of my comfort zone…).
We attended the First Timer’s Reception in the evening where they had tons of free books (unedited proofs and advanced readers copies) for us to take!
Yesterday I presented my session, There’s a Graphic Novel for Everyone (Yes, Even You!). Although my nerves did suddenly appear and I felt my face reddening, I did enjoy sharing all I’d learned about graphic novels the past few months. I saw some familiar faces in the crowd, even a few smiling strangers, and a bunch of people have come to me afterward to give positive feedback and ask me about accessing my resources lists and presentation materials, which fills me with joy!
^Playing the ukelele during group-work to avoid awkward silence!
I had about 45 people register, which is wonderful! Like I’ve said before, even if one person finds some information in my presentation useful or interesting, then I am a happy woman. I hope lots of people were inspired to take a closer look at how awesome graphic novels are! When my session was over, I was suddenly hit with a wave of exhaustion, but the good kind.
Some other highlights of the conference:
- Keynote speaker Scott Bonner, Director of Ferguson Municipal Public Library, on his experiences serving the community during turmoil in Ferguson, Missouri.
- Adventures in Animation, where many practical ideas were shared about lively, community-focused programming
^these feminist posters are so awesome!
- Stand Up! Access to Justice, where I learned about recent and upcoming resources being created by the Centre for Public Legal Education in Alberta (CPLEA)
- an author talk by Trevor Herriot, where he shared his passions about birds, grassland environments, Indigenous traditions and meeting places, and conservation
- Keynote speaker Sheila Watt-Cloutier sharing her deep knowledge on the current condition of the Arctic and Inuit adaptation to a warming climate
- Learning, Art and the Third Age, where we looked at the importance of art programming and created a quick, cool, group art project
^colourful community art that took only minutes to create
- Up With Voices: Zines, where we learned about zine collections and creation, zine workshop programming, and an exciting Indigenous zine project currently in the works
These are just a few highlights, but overall this conference has been amazing and I wish I could have attended every session!
Jasper Municipal Library
Of course we had to visit Jasper Municipal Library at some point! Thursday morning we got directions from a lovely woman at the Jasper info center. The library is a mix of modern and cosy. I am in love with the cute manga-style posters welcoming you in. A library staff told me they were created by a local teen for a program!
We also stumbled upon this adorable Little Free Library in town.
Regarding Impulse Purchases
We had some time to explore the Jasper shopping scene a little bit.
I promised myself I wouldn’t spend any money on cheesy souvenirs, but we were exploring on Thursday morning and I fell in love with these finger puppets. A grown woman can spend her money how she likes, right?
Not pictured: the one I got for Mom for Mother’s Day 😉 SORRY MOM, IT’S A SECRET.
I also tried on some really expensive patterned pants in the Fairmont Lodge store, and of COURSE they fit me perfectly. Comfy + cute pants are tricky to find, so I got out my wallet resignedly.
Brookies, Lattes, General Facestuffery
On Wednesday evening when we arrived, we had a delicious meal at the restaurant beside our hotel, and a quick soak in the outdoor hot-tub, we retreated to our room for the night.
^ My wellington was super yummo.
We also ate in Jasper town-site as well as the Jasper Park lodge buffets.
The Coco Cafe has the coolest bathroom design, and lots of funky art throughout.
At the Fairmont Fitzhugh’s To Go, I tried my first ever Brookie (Brownie/Cookie) and Cruffin (Croissant/Muffin).
The Brookie was the winner.
On Nearly Burning Down Our Hotel Room
On thursday morning, we knew we would have to talk to the hotel staff because our room was ridiculously hot. We had kept the air conditioning on all night but with no success. We talked with the hotel desk staff who said that the air conditioning wasn’t set up properly from the winter and that we shouldn’t use it. We advised them that it was emitting cold air so they basically said “oh, OK then, guess it’s alright”.
When we returned that evening the room was like the deepest steaming crevice of hell. Something was obviously messed up. We called the desk. A guy came up and urgently advised us that there was no exhaust hose connected to the air conditioning, so although it was providing cool air from the front, all of the hot air was escaping out the back directly into the curtains behind. “This is bad” he said. “This could have caused some damage.” My manager and I imagined having to call our library admin staff to advise them we’d burned down our hotel (this became a running joke for the rest of the shenanigans we got into on the trip).
Ah well, what happens in Jasper stays in Jasper.
It seems like Elijah Wood didn’t take up my offer in a previous post to crash the conference, unfortunately. IT’S COOL I’M STILL FANGIRLING FOR YOU ELIJAH 😀
Why do libraries matter today?
When I recently announced joyously that I had finally been accepted into the Master of Library and Information Science program, I got a variety of responses. Mainly “woohoo!”s and things like that, but also the occasional question about why I chose this career, or even something as refreshingly candid as this comment from an online friend in a Kakao group chat:
Oof.
There is a certain nostalgia associated with libraries. Many people (and this included me to an extent before I began working in a library 7 years ago) have an idea in their heads of what a library is. Perhaps they are even rather fond of this very concept of a library, and they romanticize it lovingly in their heads. Theirs is a quiet, austere place filled with rows and rows of books. Their library might resemble one they frequented as a child, or saw in a movie. In their memory, the library is a place that you turn to when you are in need of a book, or a quiet place to study. In their library, bespectacled, cardigan wearing women “shhh” you for turning the pages too loud.
This idea of a library endures, supported by some popular media and the notions of those who maybe haven’t visited their public library in recent memory.
However, this library is not my library.
Certainly, some of the above aspects are present in some parts of some libraries some of the time. But, the libraries of today offer so much more than that outdated model.
Libraries offer services in line with the times and are constantly updating to best serve their patrons in this age of rapidly changing technologies and emerging means of information sharing. In the libraries of today, you may access multiple services in a visit without so much as seeing a book.
People of all ages and all walks of life are welcome in the library, where they are treated with respect and dignity, and able to access information, technologies, entertainment and services that they might not be able to access otherwise. The library is a space where you aren’t expected to buy anything, there’s no catch.
I know I am not saying anything that hasn’t been said before, (check out this legendary twitter smackdown if you haven’t already: https://twitter.com/i/moments/922965302761025536?lang=en ) but this is a message that needs to be reinforced again and again, as clearly there is a need to defend libraries from the detrimental actions of those who don’t understand them.
I’ll shout it from the rooftops if I have to: Libraries are for everyone to access information, education, entertainment and services that enrich their lives and foster lifelong learning.
Here are just some of the kinds of things you might be able to do at your public library today at little or no cost:
- check out an ipad or ereader on loan
- use a free wifi connection
- get one on one homework or reading help
- access full-text, peer-reviewed articles for assignments and research
- borrow the latest video games, movies, magazines, and music (FOR FREEEEEE)
- utilize a community makerspace with tools and technology
- attend a resume building workshop so you can get that job!
- 3D print whatever your mind can fathom
- practice yoga, zumba, tai chi, meditation, etc.- namaSLAY!!!
- meet up for a weekly parenting or breastfeeding support group
- reserve a study or meeting room
- attend a movie night and enjoy popcorn and the big screen
- participate in a writers circle
- access resources for preparing for a Citizenship exam or other exam
- receive cuddles from a therapy animal program
- create crafts or learn how to paint a masterpiece step by step, maybe with some wine and cheese- like paint night, but cheaper!
- participate in a cosplay competition or learn how to create cosplay looks
- get help accessing genealogical records and researching your family ancestry
- peruse board games and card games to take home, or to play at the library (Cards Against Humanity anyone?)
- print and scan important documents
- share at a seed-swap or learn about beekeeping
- learn a new language in a conversation group
- download audiobooks, ebooks, videos, music, and more from home or on the go with your library card
- “borrow” a human through a Human Library project
- visit (or add to) a community art display
- get referrals to a variety of social services
- find help fact-checking that dubious looking article your aunt sent you on Facebook
- dress up with some razzle-dazzle for a seniors social dinner and dance
oh yeah, and you can also check out books!!!
My library is a vibrant, busy, exciting place, full of possibilities. My library is for everyone.
Truly, libraries are vital community hubs. I can’t imagine a world without libraries. It hurts to try imagining.
HideNGoShauna 