round seven! library day in the life

it is once again that time: library day in the life week, an online share-a-thon where library folk tweet and blog about the daily grind. what i most love this project for is the window into the working world it provides for students. even though i didn’t catch the opportunity myself (i completed my tech diploma in june, 2009), the libday week nudges me to open my sometimes-dusty wordpress account and reflect on my work.

the libday project is now in it’s seventh round(!), but i was first clued in back in january 2010 for round four. i’ve kept up on twitter with the other rounds, and even managed to squeeze in a post for round five, but libday seven comes at an auspiscious time for me and i wanted to grab hold.

next week, at the beginning of august, i start my first full-time permanent position. it’s a big deal! while the hours are more than i would like, i am pretty excited that i will be working in a brand new and beautiful library, doing youth services, working with amazing colleagues, and serving a lively, urban centre! there is a lot that is still undefined since so much is so new, but it’s going to keep me busy learning and working (which i what i like) and i intend to make the job my own.

back to the present — this libday week is the eve of a new chapter for my daily work life. currently i’m hip-deep in summer reading club. i have been covering a month in one of the smaller branches in the system, and this usually-sleepy branch has been transformed into a whirlwind of activity. i’ve been run off my feet for most of july to the point where patrons are apologising (no! don’t apologise!) for asking me questions. yesterday (monday) featured a brief medical emergency when one of our pages fell unconscious while shelving picture books, a heartbreaking four year old who had been terrified into believing she may be banned from the library for loosing a book (no! it’s fine! it happens to us all!), a colouring contest winner so excited it actually brought me to tears, and then the usual bunch of eclectic crazies who make up ‘the public’ (i would count myself here too).

tonight (tuesday) i’m working the evening shift from 1.30-9.00, but my morning is still library-filled. in about 15 minutes i’m teleconferencing into a mentoring working group meeting with some other bcla‘ers. aside this, i’m halfway through a report for the technicians’ and assistants’ sub-group of association — the results of which will determine positions for election at our october agm. yes, i do get away from ‘the library’ sometimes — but not much.

i intend to check back in here during the week — as well as cram in some tasty reading of other libday bloggers — but in the meantime i’ll be on twitter following the hashtag.

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