Patty's Palaver

Proclivity

2012-01-03T17:47:00.002-07:00

It started with a simple conversation about New Year's Resolutions. I said I was glad to see the morning newscasters frankly saying they did not stay up until midnight and they did not make any new year resolutions. Me neither. Why bother to say I'm going to lose 20 pounds and/or exercise when I am only setting myself up for failure.

Sounds like a Democrat, says my youngest son -- who continually berates my political opinions.

Why are you saying that? It has nothing to do with my politics. There are people with a proclivity for weight gain.....

There's another democrat word, he scorns me.

What?

Well, nobody else uses a word like proclivity --is it even a word? What does it have to do with diets or exercise?

Good grief! Do I need to get a dictionary?

Of course not, because by then the conversation had deteriorated into a brawl. Now it is two days later and I'm getting out the dictionary to see if it is connected to democrat in any way shape or form. Proclivity is "an inclination or predisposition toward something," so I was using it correctly to talk about "a proclivity toward weight gain." If my son is as clever as he thinks he is, he could be using it equally well to describe his mother's "proclivity towards big words" or equally awful, his mother's "proclivity toward democratic ideals." In that case he would be using the stronger definition of "a strong inherent inclination toward something objectionable." Won't he be proud!

I have college educated children. I have hard working children. But sometimes they forget the reverse is also true -- they have hard working, thoughtful, experienced parents -- and sometimes we are right. I think using big words is part of my parental duty to help my grown-up darlings use their grown-up brains. Even when we don't agree or see eye to eye, language skills, vocabulary and conversational repartee is my gift to them.

Merry Christmas, children
And Happy New Year.
Mom

Exhausted Brain ?

2011-12-13T11:17:00.009-07:00

A Buffalo friend handed me the article he had tried to explain to me; it's from "Newsweek," Nov.7,2011. A little article by Dr. Andrew Weil, who is well known and likeable. He is quoting others about the growing trend for depression in modern society. He lists all the things pushing us into unhappiness, primarily our changing life style. Our sedentary, over-eating, noise-y, over stimulated, unnatural lives is causing problem after problem. In essence "our brains aren't equipped for 21st century life." Our brains are suffering from "information surfeit." Weil suggests intervention with simple tips: sleep in darkness, more human interaction, spend time outdoors, find quiet places, and a few other suggestions.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2011/10/30/andrew-weil-s-spontaneous-happiness-our-nature-deficit-disorder.html

Coincidentally "American Libraries," Nov/Dec 2011 has an article talking about the value of "a gadget-free quiet zone." Much like the reading room at your library, the George Amos Room at our library. Easy chairs,
fine art, and a fire place. Maybe not perfect because our room does host meetings and it does have wifi access. Still it is a quiet place in comparison to the rest of the building clicking with computer noise and story time laughter. And it gives me pleasure to see the newspaper readers or book readers cozily ensconced in cushy sofas and chairs. Libraries have traditionally adapted to the needs of their customers by creating spaces for different age groups, different readers and users. Maintaining a quiet zone takes us back to the "sacred stacks" concepts of academia and the original public libraries. It's a good thing -- for patrons and librarians.
http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/columns/my-mind/unplugged-space

Overall, I was glad to read these articles. I'm glad I'm not totally crazed by the incessant bombardment of information and noise. It's my brain. And now I know it's okay to turn off the television and sit quietly. I can smile with the simple pleasure of our George Amos Room. I don't have to stimulate my brain with computer searching at 10:00 at night. Life is good, and quiet is good for me.

Listening

2011-11-10T17:28:00.004-07:00

I've had a remarkable fall for listening. My attention has been gripped by writers with the wonderful series of visiting authors brought to our library and schools by a Recreation District grant. Jack Gantos, Pete Hautman and S. L. Rottman have talked to adults and students about writing. How do you pick a topic? Gantos says write what you know -- and he tells the students with a map about his childhood neighborhood, his friends, the empty lot, the mothers, the dogs. From these stories he creates the characters and plot of his novels.

When do you write? Anytime he feels like it, says Hautman, which is most of the time because he is working on seven books right now. Good grief. How do you keep them separated? Like any good actor, Pete is a different character for each book, so he just gets into the "part." Of course there are always deadlines to meet, and that encourages him to pay attention to completing one book or another.

What do you do when you have a good idea but you can't write? In her easy going way, Rottman talks about putting down the first word, the first idea, the first sentence. It doesn't matter where you start, beginning, middle or end. But all the authors agreed, first you have to write. Every day. Use a journal. Do your homework. Just write.

It has been a good month for listening. Hunting camp stories about no elk, missing the elk, getting lost, walking far distances, no snow, too much snow, and endless miles of frustration and delight. Outlaw Tom O'Day shared the adventures of the Hole in the Wall, jail time, miles on horseback, and the silliness of campfire legends.

Just before hunting season I shared the pleasures of listening at the American Heritage Center advisory board meeting, a tour of the Platte County Macfarlane ranch, a benefits "road show" presentation, a discussion of the possibilities for a "Saturday university" series, and most recently a Patrick McManus recitation. Of all my skills, listening has been a hard one to acquire -- of course, I'd rather be talking. But I must say this month has been overwhelming, and listening has been extraordinarily beneficial for me. I'm anxious to see if I can hone these skills, or if I'll lose the tendency with my chatty exuberance.

October fest

2011-10-19T16:30:00.003-06:00

This past month (4 weeks) Library staff have had a remarkable revival !!! Several were able to attend the Wyoming Library Conference -- our annual opportunity for training and learning from other librarians. Two of us were program presenters; one of us is the WLA President who resided over the meetings. All of us had the opportunity to talk to book vendors, school vendors, equipment vendors. We shared the excitement of presentations on public service, new technology, and meeting old friends, making new ones.

It has been evaluation month. I love evaluations. I love seeing goals set and met -- or not. I love that every staff member here works towards something, learns something new, tries something. This library is filled with creative, energetic, funny, serious people. This library is filled with professionals.

Just today we celebrated. We have exchanged gifts with each other, and today Pumpkin Pals shared a harvest meal. Oh, my, gosh -- librarians are good cooks. The homemade soups, pies, breads, salads were superb. It was a fitting conclusion to the silly, secret pal gifts and nonsense. It was a grand day of comradery and appreciation for each other.

Aren't I lucky to work in such a great place!

Comeuppance

2011-09-21T16:12:00.004-06:00

Don't you just hate it when these young whippersnappers are right -- and you are wrong. Well it happened to me today when one of my bright new librarians argued with me about one space or two after a period at the end of a sentence. And she was jubilantly right! Man, I hate that.

Worse, I'm not totally ignorant of the history of typography. I understand the changes from the typewriter to computers and automatic press. I realize the difference in monospaced fonts and proportional fonts. Still I did not realize that the standards had changed as early as the 1970s -- or that the standard now is one space, not two.

Boo-hoo. I have aggressively kept the two spaces because of a personal comfort level, and because I like it. It feels right, proper, grown up. And my sweet young thing, the librarian, was delighted to hand me the writers' manual and an on-line blog -- practically spitting in my face. And another sweet young thing quietly told me she has been editing my documents for more than five years now. Yikes! The world is topsy-turvy, and I am the under-dog.

The question now is: can I change? Or will I retain the antiquated habit of yesteryear? Please note: I have deliberately double spaced this entire blog. Proofing the "preview" I find my double spacing has disappeared -- foiled by a computer. Alas alack.

Fall melancholy & Centennial Fever

2011-09-20T19:06:00.004-06:00

I am longing for fall. I am longing for a snowstorm. And I understand I need to be careful about what I wish for, but I'm truly trying to slow down the ridiculously fast pace of life. Why, you may ask? Because there is no rest. But driving through the Big Horns to enjoy the leaves is restful. Staying home for a day because of snow is restful. And I look forward to those activities this week.

Twice this month I have attended funerals for 90+ year old men who led good lives, enjoyed the children of their extended family, worked hard all their lives, and made good friends. Busy men. Men who appreciated their lives, their homes, their families. So perhaps I am a little melancholy.

I am fortunate that I can equate my life to theirs. I have an extraordinary family -- extended and work family. I see the cycle of life in the changing generations. I see people who enjoy their jobs and work towards excellence. I share the excitement of change. I hope you are as lucky as I am.

This week is Book Sale week at the library. Our sale includes about 50-50 discard and donations. There are some wonderful clean, new books looking for homes. From the romance novel to biographies to the sports and how-to books, there are good choices for all ages. It could solve your Christmas shopping problems -- there really is a book for every one.

In addition the Library is proudly exhibiting paintings by Dave Paulley that portray history of Wyoming. It's part of our Centennial efforts. And everyone who has seem them is tickled with the details of the first telegraph, the first train and the fine scenes depicted in the paintings.

Last Saturday I spent the day in the park for the Centennial Festival -- it rained. So the celebration was not as busy as anticipated, but it was great fun with lots of outstanding music, good food, and the burial of the time capsule. Campbell County volunteers continue to make the year notable. And your library reference department has helped deliver tons of 1911 trivia to the exhibits, the calendar, and radio announcements. Every department has shared Centennial Fever, and we hope you have had a touch of it too.

The Practicality of Living

2011-08-08T17:55:00.010-06:00

My sister has been here for her annual visit, and as usual I have had the opportunity to mull over that whole web of kinship, fraternity, appreciation, and recognize that my Dorry is still one of my heroes. She is one of those charming people with humor, good organization,and lots of survival skills.

I've decided to call it The Practicality of Living, and I've been thinking hard about it for two days. I use to think it was pure German-Scottish stoicism -- just getting through life without complaint. But Dorry reminds me of the humor that "just getting through" involves. There is grace and good-nature in my sister. There is shock at wrong doing and mis-speaking. There is outright laughter at the absurdities. And there is the talent of biting your tongue.

I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself that I can negate the old stoic concept -- it's a real chore to remain emotionally impassive. The Practicality of Living allows a much more generous attitude towards adverse circumstances and real tragedies. Again Dorry is my example. But so are the people I work with at the library.

Last week a co-worker woke up to find water in her bedroom and bathroom -- both upstairs and down. Yikes. What a mess. But she came to work and allowed her husband, plumbers and contractors to deal with the mess and to find a solution. Yes,she is heart sick, and so am I for them, but she had the good sense of the Practical.

I actually see Practicality every day at the library from patrons who have misplaced their library cards to the librarian who finds the solution. From the children's program that is so successful twice as many people showed up as were expected. What do you do? You make it work. Conversely the sad times when no one shows up, you make that work too -- there's a lot of soothing in library work.

I think about the angst of teenagers and the vulgar language of young working people. I think maybe they need this sense of Practicality -- every day is a new day and our job is to get through it with kindness, grace, humor. It is not our job to make life miserable for every single person around us.

I think maybe I should Google this. Surely Dorry has not created this philosophy of living nor I named it. Surely this is the American way of "get'er done." So I "googled" it, and there are practicalities of all sorts of things, and I finally found one website even listed quotes on practicalities.

Since I began writing I talked to a neighbor the day after her retirement
cabin burned, and she spent a day listing the canned goods items in her kitchen before returning to Gillette for a day. Since I began writing another co-worker is dealing with her father-in-law's electrical accident that has him recovering in a burn unit. He will be alright, and so will she. Because they are already accepting the practical aspects of getting through.

Altogether, I've had an interesting week. Dorry on the other hand has had the week from, well, you know. Beginning with the 20 hours of airplane travel to get here, to the botched return trip -- I'm still waiting to hear from her. But I do know that her practical attitude will get her through the mess-ups, and this too will pass.

August already !!!

2011-08-02T08:17:00.005-06:00

I don't know how I missed July, because I had mentally composed a blog about watching people in the airport -- my library trip to New Orleans provided unprecedented pleasure in people watching and a huge educational opportunity to see a city recover from disaster of such magnitude as well as a dose of library philosophy, national planning, and authors. It was amazing.

Here it is August, and my sister came to visit from Connecticut. Her travel was not filled with the pleasures of an airplane full of librarians. She entered her east coast airport at 4:30 a.m. and arrived in Gillette at 9:15 p.m. (11:15 EST). She barely slept for 5 days as she adjusted to altitude, temperature, and the houseful of insanity that she came to visit.

My brother and his wife came too. A high school classmate and her husband came to visit for a day, and we went to the Big Horns for lunch. My husband has been frantically working on our new lawn, and he is in landscaper's hell -- moving squares of dried sod and replacing them with green; adjusting sprinklers, and replanting plants that I put in the wrong place. Throughout all of this I have been emptying four generations of accumulated keepsakes and household items from my grandma's house. It's a simple life.

Does any of this have anything to do with library work? Of course it does. My office is my sanity. It's amazing how easy it is to concentrate on daily work chores when you want to block out everything else. So I get to do my blog, work on library board packets, develop a training program for WLA, read book reviews, complete unfinished projects.

We worried all spring and through June that summer would never come. Well, it's here in all it's glory, heat, and confusion. I thank my stars every day that I have an indoor job, a challenging profession, and a place to share the chatter and clutter of my other life.

Time Flies --

2011-06-21T17:33:00.004-06:00

It cannot be the end of June already. I've been mulling over a graduation theme for weeks -- the timeline of life. The division of life by 30 year increments and our goals and roles in those increments -- the history of a person. But now it's the end of June -- far beyond graduation ramblings. Now I am watching the rapid passing of flowering trees -- include the brand new trees in the library's back yard -- spindly trunk with nice white flowers on the newly leafed branches. Now I am considering the end of this budget year and the beginnings of next. How did this happen? We have planted flowers in the library sign planter. The tulips have faded away. And we still have not had a "hot" day of full tilt sunshine. The snow is off the mountain road, but the peaks have not yet melted. Is it really the end of June?

Overall this acceleration of time may be good for the soul. No time to fret about the landscaping that is not completed while we wait for enough sunshine to pour cement. No time to worry about the aging family members who are coping with poor health. There is barely enough time to celebrate a 4 year old's birthday. There is just enough time to cook the steak for Father's Day. There is light at the end of the tunnel, because there is only one more work weekend this month, and the 4th of July may be the opportune time to catch a breath.

But will that breath be an escape to the Big Horns? Will it be a cold beer on my back porch? Will it be that extra hour of sleep without an alarm to wake me? Will it be enough to remind me that it is summer time -- and the living is easy? Perhaps. Or not.

I do know that my busy, fast month has my brain filled with new ideas, new stories, new books, and that I have shared as much information as I possibly can with the people around me. I think they are ready to see me crash into a quiet puddle of reflective time. And so, I will try.

May Day mess

2011-05-06T17:24:00.004-06:00

Unbelievable. May Day is one of my all time favorite holidays. It began in grade school with those maypole dances. It continued into my own teaching days when I had the girls phys ed class dancing around the football goal post. It was a new idea to them. It continued to my little boys delivering May day baskets to their aunts and grandmas. And I have tried faithfully to deliver flowers to the favorite women in my life because I can't remember birthdays nor get enough done at Christmas time. This year I utterly failed.

So what is this May Day mess that I am in. I'm not sure it's even the fault of May. It may not even be my fault. I just plain ran out of time. There was a blizzard on Saturday, and Sunday had too many "duties." So my flower shopping stopped. Well, honestly, it never got started.

I did get my desk cleared off this month -- but that just created piles and piles of things to get done. For instance today, May 6, I read my last blog and found three typos in it. I was working on a grant, but addressed to the wrong foundation, Yikes. That got fixed quick.

I read Darcy's blog http://teenlitmom.blogspot.com/ and her "Hush" review of teen lit included a list of things teenagers can now do in the library that was not allowed in "the good ole days."

Then I read "10 Ways Libraries Matter in a Digital Age" in the "American Libraries Journal." It's stuff Darcy, and I, and other librarians know, but maybe you don't know.
Libraries serve the disenfranchised -- anybody can use the library.
Libraries are gathering places -- our meeting room statistics prove that.
Libraries are a first step to literacy -- that's why we have story times.
Libraries are there for all ages -- do I really need to explain that?
Libraries help people use the internet -- it provides information.
Libraries help people use the internet better-- research, forms, getting started is tricky.
Libraries are interested in your privacy -- and we can advise you on your protection.
Libraries are hubs for preserving the past -- it's more than genealogy; it's preservation too.
Libraries are there in a crisis -- it is a source of information and internet help.
Libraries offer the human touch -- whether it is a good book or community services, they can provide it because patron care is important.

Author Greg Landgraf provided a good list for the American Library Association, and for all of us to re-think the importance of libraries. And for me, the importance of May. I have a lot to live up to, and so does our library.

Good Friday

2011-04-22T18:59:00.003-06:00

What a day. Totally cloud covered all day with spitting snow. Gray, Gray, Gray.
A no meat day and a holy day. It has been an amazing Lent for me -- maybe it is the priest re-telling stories we hear annually. Maybe it is his story-telling gift which has made me think about Christ on the cross so often today. When I think of the years with my own children and the joy of Easter, and my grandchildren now enjoying the fantasy of Easter, I struggle with the dis-connect between the true meaning of this Sunday and the commercial meaning. I must be aging, but I'm not feeling cranky. I am just bemused by a story much bigger than the Easter bunny.

It has been a quiet day in the library office -- almost no phone calls today, which means all of us were concentrating on bookkeeping, cleaning files, catching up on unfinished reports. Two of us remained long after hours because that sense of accomplishment was upon us. I can actually see my desk top.

Can you believe we can have such miserable weather! It's way beyond April showers. The blustery wind is more like winter blizzard that spring rains. Spitting snow barely wet the streets all day, but now it's wet and dropping temperatures, which can only mean icy roads tonight. One of favorite things to tell visitors is WY has sunshine nearly every day -- so what happened today? Still I'm grateful for the sense of peace I'm feeling to have completed major clean-up work today. Tomorrow and tomorrow are are family days. It gives me a sense of completion. All is well.

Illumination

2011-04-05T08:03:00.004-06:00

Saturday morning there were clouds above Gillette, but as I drove toward the Big Horns, the peaks were glowing a startling white. Still, the face of the mountains remained cloud covered and dark. I could distinctly see the individual mountains, the crags of the canyons, the unique profile of the mountain top. The white snow was sharply white, white, white. Maybe incandescent is the word. I was watching the long range in total awe. When I arrived in town, I hurried to my mother's, loaded her into the car and drove back to Crazy Woman so she could enjoy the view all the way back to Buffalo.

Incandescent -- white, glowing or luminous. Illumination -- a lighting up; brighten with light. The mountains were luminous, and I have been puzzling over the word this week, because of the spiritual or intellectual use of illuminate. Those shining mountains created a huge internal reaction in me -- much like beautiful music, a good book, an exquisite painting, a fine party.

My week has been especially fine since I have combined all those attributes in one weekend. I'm reading Dan Brown's LOST SYMBOL. I attend both a Celtic guitarist, Jerry Barlow, program at the library. I watched a stage production of THE MUSIC MAN that may be the best I ever saw of that musical. It all started on Friday night when I attended the Pearls of the Prairie Awards Dinner with a roomful of people I both like and admire. I purchased a small painting that is now hanging in my living room. It was a super event and honored a couple of local people who truly deserved the awards.

Maybe I'm overdosing on illumination. Or maybe it's April and the hope of spring. I noticed I did not do a March blog -- and that's because I was grumpy all month. March is a hard month on library workers as it seems to be the peak of research questions, unhappy people, and not enough hours in the day. Maybe not enough sunlight for any of us seasonal people. But now everything is looking great as we get ready for National Library Week. There are flowers everywhere in our building as the "decorators" prepare. There are programs celebrating Our Stories, Our Heritage @ Your Library to dually celebrate the library and the county's 100 year anniversary. There are so many good things ahead, that March moodiness has just disappeared.

If you need a little illumination this month, drop by your library for a good book, a tour of the art collection, or attend Monday's Folklore and Legends - A Legacy of Life or Thursday's Tales and Tunes. And don't forget to thank a librarian this month for making life a little brighter.

Civility Matters

2011-02-18T10:00:00.006-07:00

It's not an especially new term. It is a serious term. It's about good manners, respect for your fellow man, sportsmanship, honoring your mother and father. It's about good behavior in public places, barn language versus parlor language. It's about verbal abuse and dishonor. Man, the list just goes on, because if you don't behave well in your own home, in your own yard, how do you learn to behave well at the football game, the restaurant, the library.

As a librarian it shocks me when young men come to the library and ask for help standing in a t-shirt with the B-word on it. Really? Do I have to help you while you blatantly call me a B?
It shocks me when young parents have a toddler walking around in a one-sie with the F-word on it.
It is upsetting to listen to pretty young women spew vulgarity and vindictiveness from their mouths while discussing their day at school.

As a librarian I am a firm believer in the first amendment rights of free speech, but does free speech mean I have to participate in these forms of verbal abuse?
Are there no longer rules for good behavior or etiquette?

Frankly I think there are, and I think part of my job is to remind patrons of appropriate public behavior. So in our building we use quiet words and the suggestion that they turn the shirt inside out, lower their voices, and remember their good manners. It works for us.

Wyoming Humanities Council has created a year long program on Civility Matters, and a growing list of editorials is available on their website:
http://www.uwyo.edu/humanities/info.asp?p=29251
Or Google "Civility Matters" and it brings up a million hits.

Libraries have become very social places. We've come a long way from "Shush" and silence, but if civility matters at all, it needs to matter at your library.

100 Authors -- 100 Years

2011-02-11T13:46:00.004-07:00

It's February -- Love your Library Month.
It's 2011 -- Campbell County's Centennial Year.
100 Authors -- an exhibit created by Natrona County Public Library --
But it FITS Campbell County perfectly this year.
100 Authors sent letters and photographs to NCPL, which was celebrating their 100 years as a library, and those clever librarians created an exhibit that is hard to resist.

Everytime I walk through the library atrium I browse through a few letters, and every one so far has made me smile. One author says "every writer is an avid reader." That's something to think about. Another author said "I couldn't be a writer without the library" which he uses for information on details, geographic backgrounds, etc.

You don't have to be a writer to love your library. But if you have ever used your library to find something to read, to learn something practical or new, to listen to music or watch a movie, then maybe you know why authors love libraries.

Stop by this month, and ENJOY 100 Authors.

"The Write Stuff"

2011-01-24T18:03:00.004-07:00

Did you see it? The article in the "American Profile" magazine in the Sunday paper, January 23, 2011. It's a nifty little list of authors with their photos, birth and death dates, and a paragraph about the books that keeps them on the list of America's
favorite authors. Who can disagree!

We all studied them in our high school and college classes. From the poets, Dickinson, Emerson, Poe,Whitman, and Frost, to the one book wonder of Harper Lee, no one can argue about the importance of TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD, GONE WITH THE WIND, or
OF MICE AND MEN. Poor ole Mark Twain has been rolling in his grave with the recent rendition of ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FIN without the N-word. Has it really come to this? Can we really tell our young readers that Huck Finn's friendship with a black man has to be so radically changed that black history is now altered.

My mother told me "There are 173 swear words (or some such number) in the first chapter of MICE AND MEN." So of course I immediately read it to see what the fuss was all about. What I read instead was a gut wrenching story of the depression era.

The list did startle me with the birth and death dates: earliest born was James Fenimore Cooper in 1789; only 3 were born post 1900; Salinger died in 2010, and only Harper Lee survives. Born in 1926, she is the youngest on the list Are there no new American authors challenging this list of classic writers?

Maybe not. Do you know any? Each of the 20 authors were listed with a website to visit for additional information. Did you know there was an Emily Dickinson Museum or a F. Scott Fitzgerald Society. There is a Walden organization and a "timeless Hemingway" .com. I know your favorites are on this list, but I'm now struggling for a 20th Century top 10 or top 20. Maybe I'll find one -- or make my own.

Post holidays -- Post ALA

2011-01-13T16:37:00.002-07:00

Has it really been a month since I exorcised my home-moving stress. I didn't even get to the good things that happened -- the December 24 open house that lasted for three days as friends and family dropped in to say hello and look at our family-made home.
It was great fun to actually have room to have that much company. Hooray for me.

New Year's weekend was blizzard days, and frankly I just hunkered down and unpacked boxes -- slowly, contentedly. I really love my new home.

Back at work I was hectic in my preparation for the mid-winter conference of the American Library Association. It was in San Diego, and I think this may have been the first time in my life that a trip to warmer climate became really important to me. And this was my third ALA conference as the WY representative, and I felt relaxed about my duties and the topics under discussion. The library profession is a unique blend of literary opportunities, social justice discussions, and the business of running the professional organization. There were hundreds of meetings during the four days, 10,000 people in attendance, and miles of walking. If you are a true book lover, you too can buy a ticket to visit the book sellers. And I had the pleasure of hearing authors talk about their books and writing.

It's a shame to tell you, but I think Kathy Reichs may have been my favorite. She is the forensic anthropologist who writes the Temperance Brennan books and the creator of "Bones," the television series Of course, Bones has been altered a lot from her book heroine and herself, but her presentation on her two alter egos, and now a teenage series, was charming.

If you prefer nonfiction, you would have been charmed by Richard Rhodes, the author of 22 books. He is a serious man who writes about serious topics, but he too is surprised by his subjects and where they take him.

Andre Dubus III, Ted Danson, David Levithan, Stewart O'Nan, Armistead Maupin, and Susan Vreelan and many more were in attendance and speaking. It's a heyday! And I was lucky to be there. Evidently my pre-holiday angst is gone.

Resilience

2010-12-09T12:57:00.005-07:00

The sun is shining, and today we are celebrating the Endowment Bonus check. It is a good day. In fact it has to be part of the total bounce back to last week's disasters.

The tree cutting has left a hole in our backyard landscape and view-scape. So we have to look forward to spring plantings. I'm curious to see what snow drifts will be created by the lack of wind break across the north parking lot.

I've lost a pound this week which I'm crediting to the jump into the pick up which I'm driving while my car is being repaired. And even the remodeling set-backs seem minor -- although it may mean we move after Christmas instead of before. This week it doesn't really matter.

So what is this resilience? What allows human nature to count bad things one week and cheerfully recover the next? At one time in my life I thought I had to repeat personal stories, drama, angst, three times -- to grandma, to my husband, to a friend. Now I'm writing it in a blog and sharing with everyone I know -- and maybe some I don't know. Is this progress? It really doesn't matter. But I do like thinking about this human "ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change."

That ability has taken libraries into the computer age. That ability will improve libraries worldwide as we move into the arena of information finders and instructors of skills for information seekers. The world is recently fascinated about the amount of information that is at their fingertips, but librarians have known this for a long time. We were not keeping the secrets, but the computer age has sped up the demands, and our skills have had to increase accordingly. Resiliency.

Life is good in my world -- at home and work.

Way beyond three ......

2010-12-07T13:46:00.003-07:00

I knew it. I knew that the car wreck was not the end of my disasters. Since then I forgot the paperwork for the appliances when we went to retrieve them from the store; I disagreed with the construction"committee" about the trim color of the remodeled kitchen; I argued with my mother about her rights as a senior citizen. I was verbally abused for 24 hours before I was able to escape to the peace and routine of my work life. It is relatively blissful.

However, I'm still struggling with the lifetime of patterns we inflict upon our selves. Those bad habits that begin in our youth -- consistent tardiness, crying when we are scolded, anger over contradictions, blaming someone else, not defending ourselves in an appropriate manner. Can I blame my mother for everything? Probably,
but I try really hard not to do that. Because I am a grown-up; I should be able to handle my personal trauma by myself.

Still I am tempted to go back to the bookshelves and look at MY MOTHER MYSELF again, and check out ADULT CHILDREN OF DIVORCED PARENTS. Who says I can't have a lifetime of trauma and blame it on my parents!

A nice thing did appear in my mailbox this week, a 2005 article by Ben Stein:
http://www.benstein.com/121805xmas.html
Stein is a Jewish man and his comments are about his appreciation of Christmas, because he likes people who celebrate God, no matter which God. The letter I received was a derivation of his letter including a blast against the changes in schools and the anti-American concepts. But I was glad to read Stein's acceptance
of a great being and a greater plan. It totally lets me off the hook for all the
childhood angst and guilt that I am suffering this week.

I have a theory too that December is the month of extreme frustrations -- holiday planning is not for the weak of heart. To add insult to injury, a row of trees was removed from the library property to clear the way for electric lines. AND there
is a mobile home caught in the intersection of Boxelder and 4J blocking traffic everywhere.

Ah yes, my three bad things are a mere blip on the compass of life.

December -- already

2010-12-01T15:29:00.003-07:00

I'll be darned. It was a perfectly nice Thanksgiving with a drive to Lincoln, NE on bearable roads and the company of a charming granddaughter. There were two sons and five grandchildren for dinner and Friday shopping day for those who chose to attend. So what happened on Sunday when I smashed my right front fender in my hometown and what happened on Monday when my sinus started to drain leading to a major ear ache. Are good things always followed by disasters? And is there a third disaster coming this week?

There is a huge good thing as our library will be receiving a large gift for the endowment campaign this coming week, so we will have a mini-celebration then and a bigger thank you celebration in January. This has been a huge effort spearheaded by the library crew itself. All these clever hard working people keep coming up with ideas to remind every library user and citizen that we need their help. Both The Foundation and Library boards have been consistent in their support and help with fund raising events. And businesses and individuals have been generous with big and little donations. We know fund raising is a process, and we are learning more every year about that process. What tickles us the most is the generous attitude of everyone who walks through the library door -- they want the library to have the attributes of good public service, information for ALL, a building to be proud of, long into the future. Your public library is here to stay because where else will you find that car repair manual, the stock market report, that movie, book or magazine, and now computer access.

Life is a humbling experience -- personally we are frequently reminded that we are not in charge; professionally we are reminded that an institution is bigger than the individual. In my library world it is both humbling and exhilarating to know that there is a community of individuals who support the vision of libraries for all citizens. It is exciting to be part of a statewide effort to provide library services for residents and visitors. This may truly be the start of an exceptional month.

Living with Excellence

2010-10-26T17:05:00.005-06:00

This has been an interesting month for me -- it's evaluation time, and it really is a pleasure for me to review the evaluations of library employees. It is more than interesting -- I learn so much about library operations. How do things get done at the library? Who makes those book selections? Do you think it's funny that it's not
me? I did until I learned how efficiently the labor of selecting maybe 10,000 books a year is done.

Each department has its own areas of expertise, and each department divides that expertise amongst its regular employees. How smart is that! I like learning about the team work. I like know that several people know the steps of the operation of book ordering and that their illnesses or absences from work will not stop the work from being accomplished. It is a form of "assembly line" excellence at the library.

Last night I had the pleasure of attending Fright Night. It is the Halloween extravaganza prepared by the children's department for family fun. About 200 people attend one of the two nights with children and grown-ups dressed in costumes. There are no prizes, but there is music, singing, dancing (well, sorta dancing) and story telling galore. It is simple fun, and annually we have a full house. The excellence of public programing, the excellence of storytellers, the excellence of children and parents together make Fright Night a tradition that cannot be ignored.

My husband and son went to the mountain the first day of elk season, Oct. 15. They walked a ridge toward a meeting point and a friend waiting in a pick up. My son walked through without seeing or hearing elk and waited in the pick up for his dad. After about an hour he walked back across the ridge; he saw elk but not his dad. It was another hour before the three men met on the road and heard the full story of Herman walking into a herd of elk bugling and grazing. He had his scope on a 6-point but chose to enjoy the view instead of shooting. Nirvana. For a lifetime hunter, the excellence is in the hunt. Herman will return to the mountains this season. He may or may not shoot, because the first day was perfection.

My life is a special pleasure this month. Our house remodel is at the tile and carpet stage. My sons have families and the special joys they share. The tree by the back door of the library has been pure gold for weeks. The library staff has learned so many new things, improved library process and service, and continued the tradition of excellence. I'm a lucky girl!

Lost Weekends

2010-10-04T17:25:00.003-06:00

You know my summer has been hectic with the remodel, but the first month of fall has actually been worse. The Library hosted a film series on Sunday afternoons. Big mistake. Great weather -- and football season. At least that's what we are blaming the meager turn out on. The WY Humanities Council sponsored a mind-boggling series called "Addictions" which had very little to do with drugs -- think instead about greed, power, and adrenaline. Every week we enjoyed scintillating conversation with professors from Gillette College. Every week every attendee spoke about the films we watched and the addictions it portrayed. It was such a fine series, we want to try another. But not during Indian Summer.

In addition to the film series, the Library hosted its Annual Book Sale, Banned Book Week,and a grants workshop. It restarted children's Story Times. And staff attended WY Library Association meetings in Casper. It has been a busy month for all of us.

But not too busy for a weekend drive in the mountain with my Mom. She and I have been inspecting the golden aspen in the Big Horns. It doesn't take a lot of time, but we certainly derive a great pleasure in it. I frankly am amazed that I have reached that time in life when the "Sunday drive" is a crucial part of my week.
Ah, well. Time does indeed fly.

Weekend in Worland

2010-09-13T11:29:00.002-06:00

It was my reward -- go the WY State Historical Society annual meeting. This year in Worland, WY. Basin country. It was a refreshing time for me as I have not seen most of my history friends for over a year. Worland treated very well. The charming mayor welcomed us, and the local cooks properly fed us. It was a good meeting, a great
awards luncheon, and a lovely evening. I did not attend the bus trip, but one of the true benefits of Historical Society is the opportunity to visit locations on private land and to listen to the local story tellers bring history arrive.

Most importantly I want to tell you about the awesome Washakie County Museum. It is new and it is pretty perfect. For one thing it has an outstanding series of exhibits on the dinosaurs of the Sundance Sea region. I think we all know about WY dinosaurs, but this museum has beautiful, easy to understand, and hands-on exhibits that really share that information. I fell in love -- with the Scottish cattle baron in the cowboy section. And I think the cattle war to Spring Creek history may be the best exhibit I've ever seen on the changing values and vigilantes in WY.

I ever drove through the "historic" home section of Worland an enjoyed the architectural changes the four tree lined streets display

So Thank You, Worland, for sharing your treasures with me. I had great fun -- until my deer encounter on the way home.

Day after Labor Day

2010-09-07T15:04:00.004-06:00

Who knew that the day after Labor Day would have all the disadvantages of a full moon?

It has been a strangely weird "Monday"-type day with all sorts of unusual library duties. It falls on a fairly fortuitous week, because I'm working on a my self-evaluation. Sometimes when I'm asked what I do all day as a library administrator I sort of stumble over my explanation. Today I have no doubt. I am the arbiter of library policy. I am the final decision maker. I am the "fireman" who puts out the flames of chaos.

There was an early morning telephone call asking me to explain why the library has to pay for boxes for DVDs. There is a request from a judge who was curious why the box replacement was part of a victim impact request for damages in a theft from the library. It's because we pay for security boxes for the collection -- which obviously did not work in this case.

Then I had a phone call from a woman who has a restraining order against her father who has two library books which she had checked out for her young children. Grandpa was refusing to return the books to put her library card into jeopardy. What do we do about those "lost" books? We found a compromise.

Another mother had called to have her child work off a library fine, which we nicely arranged. But the child has not fulfilled his obligation. What do we do about the fine on the library card?

I sent another librarian to the police department to collect our stolen discs and determine if they are in good enough shape to put back into the collection. They are.

Annually we review our workload. Annually we need to set goals for ourselves. But when you are a fire fighter you bounce from one disaster to the next, and sometimes miss the humor of your work day. I am not missing the humor today. I am seeing the necessity of my job. Sometimes the "buck stops here" becomes more than a saying.

My husband and I spent time at our family cabin this holiday weekend. We cleared brush, cleaned the cabin logs, and applied on fresh coat of oil. It was labor intensive for me -- I do have an office job now. Still it was a relaxing weekend of a hard working partnership -- and we broke the family record for painting the cabin -- under four hours. We got back home to find the yard mowed and water by one son and a grandson and cement work done by another son and his wife. We should leave home more often. I even had time to take my Mom to dinner at the Historic Sheridan Inn, which was a lovely outing.

So my Tuesday good humor is a result of "holiday" labor and a sense of why I work. It is a good day.

Away

2010-08-19T08:22:00.005-06:00

It was a three day wake that has kept me away from the library this month. It was a total celebration with four generations of family and memories, memories and new memories. My brother Jim was the middle child of five and his siblings and cousins remembered him with fondness -- no love, because quiet Jimmy was a funny, loving man. So there were family albums, beer, mountain trips, rodeo events, and food, food, food. The seven minute burial ceremony was the only formal goodbye, but Jimmy was with us through a true celebration of life.

It's strange to come back to work rested and happy after such an event, but I think my family truly revitalized me. What does that mean to the library? It means it's time to catch up with program planning, end of the summer activities, election contacts, WLA, annual audit, county meetings, and more, more, more.

Still I have the glow of a time well spent, the memory of a man well loved, and a family that understands the importance of family. How lucky am I!

How can it be?

2010-07-14T17:41:00.002-06:00

Mid July already! How can it be? I know exactly how -- it's work; it's home; it's travel; it life in general -- too much life. Still I have so many things to share with you I may lose track of it all. I attended ALA in Washington, D.C. 26,000 + plus librarians under one roof -- I expect that would be the world's worst nightmare for my youngest son, but for most of us librarians it's pleasure combined with work as we compare budgets, new book titles, work related issues. I attend ALA as the WY librarian representative, and I attend long hours of meetings, starting early morning and lasting most of the day. I did sneak in a number of author visits and a couple of museum visits. But one meeting scheduled for 8;30 at night until 10:00 I skipped.

I went to see my sister Dorry in Connecticut, leaving D.C. on Amtrack. I'm such a WY kid the train ride was a real treat. And she's such a good sister, she took me to museums, to her library, and fed me Peruvian food and family meals. I just enjoyed the time with her, working in her postage stamp yard with its English garden. It was pure pleasure. Connecticut is one of the places that is so tree filled and green that when you drive the interstate you see no houses, no filling stations, few signs, just trees. Even when you know you are surrounded by a million people. It is lovely.

I had felt guilty about leaving work because July 1 was the BIG Day of transition. All fiscal control was removed from the library and placed in the centralized county management system. What can I say. The administration staff has been remarkable as their controlled, efficient, honest labor has been turned upset down. They have remained amazingly calm, respectful, polite, as they adapt to the different system. In order to meet the county's needs and to meet the laws regulating the library, their work load has increased. but they can actually find humor in the situation.
So here and now, I thank Debbie, Peggy and Terri for their outstanding work and contribution to my sanity.

So you would think my weekends would offer me a sense of relief. Well, I guess it does, because I have accepted the role of camp cook for the house builders who are remodeling a 1950's bungalow into our retirement home. Husband, sons, grandchildren, daughter-in-law, and every friend and relative we can rope into helping have dug a hole, poured cement, put up walls, wrestled trusses, and I'll bet this week I have new shingles. I have decided it is the house that love has built. And I am happy, happy, happy to be the camp cook -- even if I miss my Sunday nap.

Enough already? No wonder I've lost track of time.

There go the blossoms

2010-05-26T17:19:00.004-06:00

With all the rain, wind and cold air of this past month, my tulips and flowering crab apple tree have made my spring. It's like standing in a pink heaven in my back yard. The big tree creates a pink canopy in the small yard that I have, and it just makes me giddy with pink happiness. The tulips that I have faithfully added to a sidewalk strip have totally startled me every time I look out my back door. The yellows, reds and stripes are so striking -- and some of the varieties are huge. What fun for me.
When I walked across the front lawn of the library today, the blossoms from the flowering trees were falling off making the whole parking lot fragrant with the sweet spring smell. Someone recently told me they hate the flowering spring trees because they had the clean up of the fallen blossoms. That just makes me laugh aloud. They blow away or dry up quickly into little brown leaves. How easy is that!

Right now the black clouds are building and there is a thunderstorm warning. I expect my pink blossoms will be scattered across my backyard and down the alley by the time I get home this evening. Spring and all it's glory will be gone. But this year the 5 days of sunshine, beauty and fragrance that I have enjoyed have been memorable.

Picture perfect

2010-05-14T15:52:00.007-06:00

I was describing a scene from the audio book I am listening to this week to my co-workers. The heroine is describing her attendance at the funeral of her boyfriend, and the sympathy of his sister who describes the heroine as "the love of his life." Only the heroine is struggling with the guilt of knowing that they were on the brink of a break-up. She is determined not to cry for the love of this young man, not to cry for sympathy for the sister, not to cry at the final hymn. As they walk out of church, the sister says "Oh, my, you are bleeding!" Indeed she was. She had bitten her lip so hard to stop the tears.

It's so real. To hear the story is as accurate as a self-read. I almost had to stop the car and shed a tear or two myself. Hearing a story like this is as grand as listening to your teacher read in grade school -- or a parent read at bedtime.
Hearing a story is as strong as old-time radio stories; as real as black and white movies. The characters are yours. The story becomes you. Because words are powerful, real, true when put together well.

Story Time for Grown Ups has evolved from this need by grown-ups to hear stories, so Gillette Public Access, GPA, is now hosting five minute stories from the library. Now, we are talking stories -- not jokes, but short literature. Although I'll admit that some jokes are so well-crafted they might be included.

I'm thinking more about DVDs, cassettes, playaways,as a way to catch up with nonfiction, young adult, and fiction that I don't normally read. It is pure escapism, and I laugh when I sit in my garage listening to talking books before I find a stopping place where I can turn off the key or stop the playaway.

It's simple enchantment -- and I cheerfully recommend to you.

May -- week 1

2010-05-07T10:15:00.002-06:00

I love May Day. I have for a long time. I have great childhood memories of the day and great memories with my boys and grandchildren. I love the "giving" of flowers on May Day, and the awakening of spring that the day portends. So what happened this week with our gray skies and cold winds. Only an outstanding bouquet with a May Day pole in it -- an anonymous gift sitting on my desk -- has brightened my days. Last Saturday I had the fun of making flower deliveries. My mother rode around town with me as I dashed in and out of homes making my "secret" deliveries. You and I know none of it was secret -- but still I brought flowers and sunshine and a cheerful "Happy May Day" to a few people who share the ups and downs of winter and spring in Wyoming. We all know the secret of May Day.

It's almost funny to think about this pagan ritual in our modern day atmosphere. Why do we hang onto these traditions? For me it is the pure fun of it. I remember May Pole dancing as a child, and I used it when teaching physical education. I had the girls dancing around a football goal post. Now I use May Day instead of Christmas to honor my sisters-in-law, especially, with little floral gifts. Christmas has become way too cluttered.

Last week I read a Bob Budd story about Wyoming spring mud for a new GPA series called Story Time for Grown Ups. The short story described the seven steps of getting un-stuck from mud. Two steps are gun-it and gun-it again, and the final step is dynamite. It sort of sums up the frustrations of muddy roads, and maybe even winter and our muddy lives. Right here in the midst of May and Spring Fever we are still digging ourselves out of the messes. Oh, my. It could be discouraging if
I didn't think of May Day and the pure bliss of that perfect day.

Happy May to you all.

The Black Cloud

2010-04-03T12:11:00.005-06:00

What a strange winter this has been. What a strange month, not only have I struggled with the political climate in our county and a family loss, but now I've had a month of pneumonia with two sets of antibiotic treatment. Then came April Fool's Day. First a librarian apologized for hitting my car in the parking lot. April Fool's! And it was funny, because I have had a couple of parking lot wrecks. Then my son, the contractor called to say, "Mom, the house is a mess. There is cement dust everywhere." Really? "Yes,really, Mom. I don't know what happened, but your bedroom is the worse." Really. Then the meeting with the county commissioners, which was civil but unfinished.

So when I saw the book on the library shelf this morning WHY SH*T HAPPENS, THE SCIENCE OF A REALLY BAD DAY by Peter J. Bentley, I had to pick it up. Dr. Bentley, PHD, has the curiosity led him to an exploration of Murphy's Law (If it can go wrong, it probably will.) and science. Why do bad things happen, and how can we gain control. Ah ha. That's just what I need. From bad dreams and oversleeping, to microwave fires, to overflowing bathtubs, Bentley provides the science for the errors and suggestions for improvement, but I didn't find a theory on the black cloud or a reason why bad things happen in threes, or multiples of threes.

So I'm still seeking explanations for April Fools' Day -- and my month, and my winter. Do you have an explanation for me?

Jimmy

2010-03-13T13:06:00.002-07:00

My brother Jim died. Not today. But a week ago. Alone in a hotel room. It is the phone call I've expected all winter.

Jimmy was the middle child in our family of five. The middle boy too. He was typical of so many middle children, quiet almost to the point of disappearing except for his cockeyed grin, the twinkle in his eye, and a fabulous sense of humor that often changed a situation or a day. I have a photograph of Jim in a pious first communion poise -- and there is no piety in that grin. That was Jimmy, child and man.

I share this news with you on a library page, because this is the fourth library family death in four weeks. It has become part of the management history of this horrific winter of tragedies. It is part of the cycle of life and a lesson in institutional history. How do you keep a public facility operational when staff members have not just a work life -- but a real life? Or is work the real life and the rest merely a shadow? Too much.

What I do see as institutional is the caring and sharing of coworkers. The intent to take care of each other as well as the library. Making sure the shifts are working so there is time for grieving and time for work. Making sure the customer receives the attention and service he needs, while staff protect a tender, tired coworker.

One of the greatest joys of library work is the variety of every day, of every question, of every search. There is no monotony in our work days. There is challenge, humor, concern. We take special pride in taking care of our patrons. This winter we can take special pride in taking care of each other.

Thank you, CCPL staff. You make it easy to come to work.

Lady in the Mountain

2010-03-02T13:12:00.007-07:00

On a recent winter drive from Gillette to Buffalo, I had a conversation with the Lady in the Mountain. It was her fault. She looked so stunning, dressed in snow-white, lying there so peacefully, just waiting for a visitor. So I talked to her about the first time I heard her story -- from my mother, who grew up know all the names of the mountain peaks, lakes, creeks. She knew where the best pastures were along the sheep trails, how much time it would take to get to them, and lots of the practical lore of living next to the mountain. When Buffalo put in the walking path along Clear Creek, I had a great conversation with another old-timer who want to be sure there were markers along the route to identify the peaks and the Lady. I laughed when he told me that, because he is the only other person who ever talked to me about her.

So -- do you see the Lady when you drive west? Do you understand her patience as she lies there -- or maybe you see only impatience? Have you seen her fine brow and the tips of her toes?

And do you know the story of the Seven Brothers? Have you fished in their lakes?

Do you know how the Big Horns got their name? There's a great Arapaho story about the evil step-father and the rescue of a boy by the sheep.

Even Lake DeSmet has a love story for a legend.

All this surrounds me when I make that drive on a sunny afternoon or a star-lite night. You can find those stories at your library -- and much more. Mythology or history, I'm never sure which, but it tends to blend together when I'm driving.

February 12

2010-02-12T16:20:00.005-07:00

What a strange week it has been! Last Saturday I spent the morning putting my 88 year old mother in the hospital with pneumonia and infections. Saturday night I celebrated a birthday with my family -- it was a stupendous night of music and dancing with the grandsons. Mom is still in the hospital, and my husband is conscientiously making the daily checks on her while I work a town away. Meanwhile the roads have remained good so I can travel back and forth. AND of course the library is working like a charm.

There are a lot of us here dealing with ailing parents and jobs and homes. Just like you. Today we had a raffle drawing to get a great basket of chocolate home to a winner -- for Valentine's. Last night was the Library Board meeting, and we took photographs of them for Read Posters. Tonight the local mayor is being honored for his work as an arts advocate -- I bought a ticket for the dinner, but I won't be going to Cheyenne. A snow storm is coming. A kitchen sink in the staff lounge had a little leak. My car tires were low -- cold air or a slow leak? People are coming and people are going. It is a busy crazy week -- just like life. And I'm so glad I'm here.

Snowflake Carnival

2010-01-26T18:23:00.004-07:00

Who knew it would be so much fun!!!! A Saturday afternoon in cold old January, and the library was filled with warmth and laughter. The Children's department sponsored a Snowflake Carnival for little ones and grade school students, and the Wyoming Room was filled with parents, grandparents and kids galore. What were they doing? Why, carnivaling, of course. Ring toss, fishing pond, cup cake walk, bingo, and a clever pail of sand filled with creepy crawlies for kids to find. A craft table, bowling for pop, and several other silly games were manned by volunteers -- a wonderful group of 4H kids came to help,library workers, student volunteers, and adult volunteers were all there smiling too.

So let me talk about magic. The library magic. The magic of children's laughter. The pure shining delight of toddlers. The "big" kid happiness of winning a prize. It was all here at your library. I felt lucky to be here too.

It was a lot of work. A day of set up and making space work. There was a lunch room with hot dogs and hot chocolate. There was the bingo room. And everything else was organized in the big room. It took a day to clean up -- putting equipment away, returning things borrowed.

It was a fund raiser. The youth service librarians wanted to sponsor an event to help the Library Endowment Challenge. Selling tickets at 25 cents apiece and a small lunch, they managed to raise $1,300. How many tickets did they sell? Wow.

So thank you. Thank you for letting us enjoy Saturday with you. Thank you, librarians, for one more extra at your library. This was a volunteer effort and more that greatly appreciated. The Snowflake Carnival might be my highlight of the month.

Happy New Year

2010-01-04T18:04:00.006-07:00

Greetings to you all, and happy New Year. Several interesting things have occurred at your library recently. A News-Record reporter came in and talked to us about technology changes in the last 10 years, which led to other changes in the last 10 years, and even to current changes with the relationship with the County Commissioners and Library Board. Only ten years and so many changes.

Then I opened my e-mail to find rather caustic comment from a library customer (?)-- I hope it is from a newcomer in the community. But there is no name nor email address attached for me to make a private reply. And I do have replies.

"Your list of services should not be two clicks deep into your website. The linking you have to outside resources is great, but (in) this day (and) age, everybody knows how to use Google. Your list of services/products/catalogs/ should be specific."

Hmmmmm. The Library has a committee which is making constant changes in the website, so it does change fairly often depending on what is being featured and what library products we are promoting. We depend on one library computer trouble-shooter and bright young staff members to help us -- above and beyond their regular jobs. The card catalog itself IS NOT Google, but it is a professional library service used by the entire state of Wyoming. Frankly, we are rather proud of our progress in this area.

"Why are all your events centered around kids & teens? Why make your library a destination for teenagers that just need a place to hangout in the vague hope that eventually they will become regular patrons?"

One third of the county's population is under the age of 18. The average age of county residents is 33.5 years, so the average citizen is probably a parent of one of those annoying kids or teens. We provide lots of activities and events for them because it is better to keep them busy than just roaming around the building. We love our children users, and traditionally libraries have been considered a safe place for kids. That does not make us a full time babysitter, and we do retain the right to expel a child for misbehavior, and we do. For you, it is probably wiser to stay away from the building during morning story times (another one of those pesky library traditions that encourages literacy) and during the after school rush when older kids come in to wait for parents, do homework and socialize. And yes, I hope they all grow up to love their library, just like you do.

"Why don't you have a book club for groups of people (teachers, seniors, etc?)"

We have a small group who attend a fall book discussion with me or without me. There are three other book clubs who use the library for their organizations or friends. Would you like to start a club for your interest group? We can help you.

"Why not add a podcast to your website? Employees or those who frequent your library can get together and record a discussion of the new releases or the new events going on at the library."

Again this comes down to manpower and the internet committee --who have discussed the possibility of pod casts. Frankly, we are just too busy helping library users to be creating podcasts.

"There is a growing minority population in Gillette. How are you catering to their needs?"

There is a Spanish collection in both the children's area and in the adult area. In addition library staff members are active participants in groups like ESL (English as a Second Language), Even Start, and we have actively helped and supported other literacy organizations and efforts in our community. Staff members have taken a Spanish for libraries class, and several members work to maintain those skills.

"Why not an event about rare book collecting? Make brochures from your events so those that can't attend are able to download the information shared at the event."

We have cut back on adult program because of poor turn out. However, if you would like to sponsor or teach a rare book class, we could help with a meeting room space, information, and even some expertise. The Library does make many brochures and book marks in house about events, collections, programs. I hope you are seeing some of them.

"How about an annual horror story contest for Halloween that will be read on the local radio network the night of Halloween?"

Have you attended our Halloween events yet? I think you would be pleased with the activities around the scariest night of the year.

"Do you have someone who knows about all the databases and goes to the local high school & college academic clubs and classes to explain why using the library's resources will make their lives easier?"

WE DO. Reference department librarians are booked at schools and the college. Wright Branch librarians go to the Wright schools. We have distributed brochures to home-schooled families and developed informational sheets for junior high notebooks. This we do extremely well. I'm sorry you did not know.

"Runescape? Really? How about an event for parents on what is a MMORPG and what game ratings symbols mean?"

First you should know that Runescape was carefully researched and on the approved lists for students. We have sponsored a parent and child workshop on computers -- no one came.

"What about an event for those just entering the workforce on how to keep your private life private, while using Myspace/Facebook?"

Just this fall the library used a Walmart grant to sponsor a series of classes for entering the workforce with the WY Workforce Center. It was well attended. I don't believe that MySpace/Facebook privacy issues were addressed. Another good idea. Thank you.

"Or just stick to being an overstaffed miniature convention center, either way."

Now this was a low blow. We have three meeting rooms with no services to speak of, and I'm sure Cam-plex does not consider us competition. Overstaffed? I think not. We have only 35 FTE, full-time equivalents, 3 shifts a day with part-time people. We are saving your tax dollars and providing bright, efficient, effective workers who believe in public service right down to the tips of their toes.

Well, I feel better. Now that I've answered the questions, I have to wonder about the writer. Did someone deliberately jerk my chain? It worked. Currently the library is seeing a consistent 25% increase in usage, checkout, questions asked and answered. We like the idea that we are heavily used by a growing community that is seeking ways to get answers, read books and newspapers, watch movies and listen to music without cost. We like being a tax supported entity that does not charge its users. We like helping library patrons, newcomers and old-timers.

Stop by and visit sometime. I'd like to put a face and name to the questions.

Snow and Cold

2009-12-15T18:40:00.003-07:00

It's just not normal. All this cold, cold, cold, and snow. I remember the day when my Mom and Grandpa said "It's too cold to snow." Well, it is. And still it snows, and swirls, and generally makes life miserable. And I have leather car seats. And I'm tired of wearing wool socks. Already. How will I get through a long winter?

Normally I love the January, February, March snows. I'm used to no snow at Christmas and heavy snow for Easter. So what is the deal. Is it like everything else -- life changes?

Today I took my Mom to the doctor for an annual check up. Me too. They called it a well-woman check up. I felt excellent going in, but I came out with a long list of things to follow up on -- calcium, vitamin D, blood tests, and more. Her too. So now I'm saying I went in a well woman and came out blah. How can that be?

So am I grumpy? Is it the snow and cold? Perhaps. Or perhaps it is the Christmas season -- a time of too much indulgence. Or perhaps life is not the kind and gentle proposition I assumed it should be and never has been. Perhaps it is the books I've been reading -- I'm on my third young adult novel, and all three have been depressing in a rather goofy way. Perhaps I need lighter fiction! Or perhaps I just need to STOP WRITING !!!!

Board loss ?

2009-11-23T15:55:00.004-07:00

On Nov. 10 the County Commissioners used GASB 54 audit changes to declare the end of boards for six county agencies which have been traditionally and legally run by county appointed boards. Deciding that changing fiscal responsibility from the hands of the boards to direct control by the Commissioners would eliminate the need for the boards.

Not so, says most of the sage members of the voting community. What about the voice of the people? What about the training for political leadership? How else do citizens become well acquainted with the calendar, budget, and responsibilities of the county agencies?

Not so, say I. What about Wyoming Statutes 18-7-101 to 106? What about the clearly defined membership of a board with term limits and no compensation? What about the clear definition of taxation and the library fund? How do you ignore these laws?

Is there another way to attain the perfection of GASB 54? I think so. Is there a better way to attain the perfection of library organization? I think not.

Will the difference of opinions be solved? Of course it will. And the library will continue operation and services to a huge public clientele as usual.

Flu Season

2009-11-06T15:19:00.004-07:00

Just when I thought all was right with the world, it became flu season. The whole sense of pandemic and the world coming to an end is pretty overwhelming. And I had a first had view of the whole mess.

Hunting Season. Our family gathers in a cabin in the Big Horns, and I had a great 24 hours with my grown sons and five grandsons -- and others. There was a lovely day of snow, and the hunters were elated. I cooked, and that night I thought I had poisoned the whole bunch of us as three of us vomited -- and other stuff -- all night. It was horrific, and a daughter in law, one grandson, and I were all hauled out of the cabin the next day. From Sunday night to Thursday, 11 of the 12 people at the cabin had the flu in a wide variety of symptoms.

You have to laugh at life. It just throws all these things at you. The hunters hunted; they saw a lot of things, but missed their shots. They took turns cooking, cleaning and hunting, and they tell me it was a great week. Okay.

It's now week two, and I have a head cold. Do I believe in the power of the flu bug, virus survival and epidemics? I do now.

Young Women

2009-10-20T14:02:00.003-06:00

Last weekend my husband and I attended a great birthday party for one of his brothers, who triumphantly celebrated his 80th, at Leiterville Country Club. The room was filled with a gaggle of aging siblings and spouses, and Don's children and grandchildren. It was a happy, noisy time.

But the best part for me was when two of the nieces, one at a time, came to tell me their good news. Both of them were bright-eyed, blonde, preschoolers when I married into the family. I barely knew them, but both of them (and their sisters and brother) have been a joy to watch grow into working professionals and fine parents. One of them told me she and a sister had been accepted into the National Boards program for educators. She shared her application process and plans for the next three years, and I am just as tickled as she is! What an opportunity -- and how courageous she is to tackle this new venture. I am so proud of her.

Then the other one stopped in front me to share her good news. I don't know if they planned this one-up-manship or not. But this young woman has been appointed as an assistant to the National Special Olympics which will be heading to Greece in 2011. Holy Smokes !!!! What an honor! And it puts her on a whole new playing field -- at both the national and international level. That is just outstanding. I am so proud of her.

Four years ago I attended a library leadership class in New Mexico, where I trained with a group of young librarians, both male and female. It was the first time I felt proud of the direction we are going as a whole in the library world. It made me feel like libraries are in good hands because of the knowledge, passion and skills these young workers possess.

My nieces gave me that same feeling of confidence in the future. And when I think of it in a broader sense, it makes me feel confident in the generations to come. Young women today have been raised differently than I -- or you. They are way more secure in their options and the skills they have attained. Maybe because you and I broke that glass ceiling and worked hard to be super-women. But I truly think they are aging into their roles as the "leaders" way more gracefully than I did.

Generational differences are funny things, but library work has always had that humbling factor -- it is the institution, not you, that is great. My replacement is out there, or maybe already in here. The Library continues whether I do or not. I think that has made it easier to appreciate the changing of the guard. I grew into "my turn" and now I need to prepare the next generation -- and maybe the one after that. It's called "mentoring' and it's a lot like parenting and grand-parenting. You watch -- a lot. You watch the mistakes as well as the good things. You remind them to get up and dust off their britches and try it again. You give them opportunities to try things -- talking, running, traveling, speaking, explaining, writing -- and for us in the library world, reading and researching.

My nieces have given me great news this week. They have unique goals and opportunities, and they shared them with me. In addition they allowed me some special reflection time and a sense that all is right with the world. I hope you too have the same opportunity.

September's gone

2009-10-09T08:30:00.003-06:00

Thank heavens.

In 1916, Mabel Wilkinson responded to an advertisement looking for a librarian who could "pack a horse...and shoot straight." In this fine tradition, three Gillette librarians took a pistol safety class. And we were shocked at how poorly our book knowledge translated to shooting skills. But we gamely attended our classes, and we did pass. This is especially surprising for me, considering the fact that I managed to black both my eyes from the recoil of a small derringer. Of course it was a 410 derringer.

Nevertheless, I have recovered. Seems like my year has been too much about recovery.

And today, watching this second October blizzard, when my yard and broken trees have not been cleaned up from the first blizzard, is a little discouraging. Then I think about all the positives of challenges. I drove across town without a wreck. The library is warm. I do not yet have flu symptoms.

Like Mabel, I can celebrate this month.

Monday mornings

2009-09-19T15:22:00.005-06:00

For a couple of weeks now I've been thinking about the simple pleasure of walking through "my" library first thing on Monday mornings. Often the housekeepers and I are the only ones in the building, and I hear the whir of the vacuums as they early morning workers arrive before staff and customers to clean floors and restrooms. The day long effort to fight dust and finger prints does not end when the doors open, but the early morning visits are when the three of us can exchange concerns and worries about faulty locks, dirty furniture, floor stains. As the morning sun shines through the atrium windows I smell their cleaning solutions and take comfort in the knowledge that the building caretakers are doing their jobs very well.

Shortly before 8:00 a.m. staff members begin arriving -- bright eyed and cheerful, because we all love to come to work. They chatter about their weekends and start the daily routines of checking in the overnight book drops, turning on the computer equipment, making sure chairs are in place and children's toys are picked up. It usually is -- because the evening crews pick up as they leave the building too. Still, it is that sense of morning pride and purpose that tickles me. Every county employee in the library buildings (Wright and Gillette)come to work, no matter what shift, prepared to meet their day with that same pride and purpose. How lucky am I to be working with such a crew of dedicated professionals! How lucky are you to have tax-paid employees who like to work and take pleasure in their jobs well done!

By the time I settle into my desk in the administration area, the other desks are occupied and the paper work begins the daily shuffle. Sometimes it seems we hide in the background, but I think we like to think that we make life easier for those librarians in the front of the building by doing many of the onerous tasks for them. I just know that my morning walk-through reminds me of the pure joy of being in a building filled with books and good will. What more could I ask -- on Monday morning or any other.

Wahoo!!!!!

2009-08-21T10:57:00.004-06:00

I just walked down the basement steps, then couldn't remember how I got down there -- steps or elevator. It was the steps!!!! Wahoo !!!!! You may think that is memory loss, but I think my knee is healed enough that my mind did not have to concentrate on taking those steps, very carefully, one at time. I was thinking about my work mission. Am I healed? Well, not truly, not yet. But I am well enough to be thinking about things other than pain and therapy and the healing process.

I am thinking about my messy desk; the amount of paperwork I have managed to avoid; the things undone that need to be done, and how long will it take me to catch up. All week my goal has been to clear my desk, complete my obligation to WYLD, Historical Society, Pearls of the Prairie and Halls of Art.

Already I am being bombarded by ALA documents for my new role as ALA Councilor. I am waffling about my obligation to spread the ALA word on Health Care. Do I really want to be involved in the debate? Why is the American Library Assoc. in the debate at all? Yes, we all know health care needs help. Yes, we all support the need for health care, but at what point is it my library job? Hmmmm.

This is an interesting avenue I have started walking -- and evidently talking. I can and do talk easily about the library world. I live and breath library values of access, confidentiality, freedom of information, literacy, democracy, etc. I may be of less value supporting freedom for Cuban librarians and a single approach to health care.

Currently I'm thinking a lot about The Library Foundation, Inc. Their efforts to raise funds for the Public Library Endowment Challenge has been awesome -- but there is so much more to do. Library staff members have been awesome in their support of the Endowment Challenge -- but there is so much more to do. We need ideas, volunteers, donors -- so don't hesitate to contact me.

And I have been thinking about a new magazine, well, new to me, "Men's Journal," which I read at an auto shop this week while I was waiting on my car. There was an excellent article on deaths in extreme sports.

And I have been thinking about "America's Got Talent," and totally enjoying the variety and levels of skills among amateur singers, dancers, acrobats, magicians, well, you know the tv show. My gosh, there is so much out there.

And now I'm thinking, at last, I'm clicking on too many cylinders which may be as good an indication as walking down the stairs that I am healing. Thank heavens.

8 Weeks

2009-07-31T15:37:00.006-06:00

Well, 8 weeks plus 2. Evidently I am a slow healer. Not from lack of trying. But somewhere, hiding inside my knee, is that cantankerous something, probably scar tissue that just does not want to let go of that new joint. So my life is still all about me and physical therapy -- and frankly, I'm pretty sick of Patty.

In the meantime, the library continues it's tradition of excellent service. Summer reading is winding down -- no more programs, but lots of prizes for kids who bring in their reading lists. Wright Branch Library had road work isolating them from their community, so they have lots of prizes left to give to their summer readers.

And the Endowment Challenge completed it's first year with the Foundation and staff raising over $60,000. With the match from the State grant, there is now $120,000 in the endowment fund. How great is that for the future well being of your library! The Rummage Sale planned for August 7th and 8th is the next big event.

The county budget has gone into effect for 2009-2010, so we'll be able to buy new books for the continuous book-appetite of our community of readers. Did you see the article about "Where does your property tax go?" in the July 30th "News-Record"? Did you notice the bargains you get at the Library, Museum and County Fair?

I have completed my term as WYLD president for a Wyoming library association, and have only one committee commitment left for them. I do have a stack of thank you notes to complete and mail.

I have been keeping up with the e-mails, signatures for vouchers, professional documents and magazines. I have sold my mother's house in Arizona. I am now hosting family visitors with more coming next week.

Well, thanks. I needed this reminder. I am lucky to work at a library, to have outstanding staff, and I am lucky to have the support of friends and co-workers. Now if this darn knee would just bend a little more ......

Patty

One Month

2009-06-23T14:20:00.004-06:00

It was right after the May board meeting that I had knee surgery, and just before the June meeting when I came back. That does not mean I am a healed bionic woman, but I am on the mend. And I am still in the phase of daily amazement about how well -- or not so well -- my body heals, or does not heal.

Of course, being off work is always a humbling experience in library land. The library does operate -- and it operates very well -- with or without me. I don't have to be here to check out a book for you. There are plenty of well trained people in the building who can help you with books and research.

It was a curious three weeks for me, staying home, sleeping a lot, finally getting bored enough to wash windows and woodwork. That is really bored. And I had curiously good care from my husband who kept my knee ice packed whenever he saw me sitting or reclining.

I have met an interesting group of professional physical therapists, who despite their reputation have not made me cry. They have made me laugh, and we share goofy stories as they distract me from the monotony and discomfort of knee repair work.

It is only a month. I do have to remind myself as some mornings I hobble to work.

It is only a month. And I do still groan when I roll over in my sleep.

It is only a month. I am gaining, and I will conquer.

It is only a month......

May already!!!

2009-05-01T12:30:00.002-06:00

How did this happen! How did I miss a whole month of blogging! I definitely have plenty of things to say -- so why didn't I? We finished up on the budget work at the library; now we wait. We've had some good training days for GIS and downloading eaudio and dvds. We've been bemused by the fluctuating spring weather. And I moved my mother from Arizona to Buffalo, WY.

Yep. I have become my mother's keeper. I have resisted -- and so has she -- but the time has come to bring her home to her birthplace. She has insisted that she would never leave Arizona -- she loves that summer heat. But last week she and I drove from Casper to Buffalo in on-and-off snow storms. I'm sure she must have been questioning her sanity. I was heaving a big sigh of relief -- we made it.

I think this is going to work. I think she is in a good place, and ready to be here. I think I can manage my work life and her retirement home life and my home life. I think I can because I have support from my family and my workplace.

May Day has long been my favorite holiday. It is usually a sane time of the year, but this year I forgot May Day. So I am already starting the month behind myself. As I leave work today, I will pick up flowers for my in-laws and good friends and deliver them en route. I started this tradition 20 years ago -- longer if I think about the years my little boys delivered baskets for me.

I like the soothing delivery of a little gift outside the norm. The "hi-how are ya" thinking of an unexpected greeting -- not Christmas, not Easter, not wedding. My sisters-in-law would miss my delivery -- they do call if I forget. So I will finish my day with a visit to them this year. Just as I have finished my visit with you.

"We're tough girls!"

2009-03-27T12:54:00.005-06:00

"We're tough girls" chortled one of my lady-like librarians as she faced her evening shift after a two day blizzard. And indeed we are. In spite a day of shoveling out driveways. In spite of roads still covered in 15-20 inches of snow. In spite of a yearning to cover our heads in our quilts and pillows. A full staff opened the libraries of Campbell County on Day 3 of the blizzard of 2009. Now the city and county tell us that it will be another week before all the roads are cleared, but we "tough girls" showed up with smiles and welcomed library visitors with good cheer.

And there were plenty of visitors -- lots of men snowed out of their construction and mining jobs, lots of small group meetings who had missed their Monday - Tuesday gatherings. Everyone trying to catch-up. And that's one of the reasons the "tough girls" made the effort to get to work. We are needed.

The Post Office has nothing over us. Through rain, sleet and snow, library workers know that we are a necessary service when other organizations are closed -- evenings and weekends we still have a notary service, FAX, copy machines, internet access.

We have free books, magazines, newspapers, videos. We have meeting space, study space, reading space. All the amenities of your office, when you can't get to your office. Those are all reasons the "tough girls" get to work.

We are grateful every day for road workers who clear the main arteries of our community -- and our parking lots. If they were not working all night, we could not open the building to rescue the other stranded residents and visitors.

Spring blizzards are not unusual for us. It a challenge of wit and wills, and the tough girls came through with flying colors -- again.

Essential vs Nonessential

2009-02-24T07:35:00.008-07:00

It's budget time. The necessary evil process that prepares us for next year. This year there are real challenges real threats, real fears. Not so much as other states and other libraries, because Wyoming economy is still fairly healthy. But we expect the downturn that has hit the national and international markets. How do you prepare for that? Our County Commissioners, our primary source of funding, are taking a serious look at all county agencies and the core functions of those agencies. That is their job.

My job is to protect the library, the building, the employees, and the service provided to library users. But the charge is essential versus nonessential services. Do we do anything at the library that is nonessential? We don't think so -- or we would not be doing them. Detractors point to the teen room, as a new service. But teen literature has been designated for nearly 20 years, and teen programs have been part of library services for more than ten years. The remodeled teen space improved access to the book collection so much that circulation of teen books immediately increased by 30%, and it has remained that high. Teens are reading. And the teens have an advisory board to help supervise events and a volunteer group learning about public service. Is that nonessential?

The library extension service may be nonessential; it is unusual. But it has been part of the library for close to 20 years. We make home deliveries to shut-ins of all ages -- non drivers, handicaps, injury and surgery patients who are recovering at home. We service mini-libraries in senior centers. We coordinate volunteers for library projects and for one on one computer classes. Our adult and teen volunteers donate more than 1500 hours a year, saving the county $24,000 in salary. Are these things nonessential?

Are adult programs, collections, reading challenges nonessential? Are story times nonessential? Where do we draw the line for developing literacy, creating a passion for reading, encompassing the pure joy of learning, sharing, exploring that the library offers?

Historically, the State of Wyoming has accepted public libraries as a core service. The first WY library laws built the library into the county system of 12 mil funding as an essential county agency. Why? Because like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, Wyoming legislators recognized the need for informational services to maintain a public strong enough and knowledgeable enough to run the government. Voters need information. Reading skills and access to information are requirements for a strong democracy. In 1916 a horseback librarian, Mabel Wilkinson, rode across a couple of WY counties surveying residents for their interest in opening a public library in their county seats. Andrew Carnegie included WY libraries in his building program. Recently WY legislators have continued to support the public library systems by funding the on-line systems for the card catalog, circulation, and acquisition of library materials. Wyoming continues to support their libraries.

Now you may argue that the only essential services are police, fire, roads. Really? Is that enough to keep your community healthy? No need for childcare, education, cultural opportunities. No, siree. You don't need reading for pleasure or to find answers. You don't need information to help with decisions on car buying or elections. But national statistics show that is exactly what we need especially in times of recession. Library use increases steadily as book and magazine buying declines. That makes sense. Right?

This is a tough year at your library. It looks like we may have several tough years and tough decisions to make. So you'll probably be hearing more from me on essential versus nonessential. Let me hear from you too. I'll be needing your advice.

Patty

Lucky Week

2009-02-12T12:37:00.006-07:00

The first week of February was incredibly good to me. I attended the American Library Association, which is a true perk of my job. Going to a national conference allows me to grow as a librarian, and this meeting gave me an opportunity to become acquainted with Denver. I usually drive through the city enroute to other places. Not only did I attend wonderful workshops and programs -- I won an iPod, an iTouch iPod. And I'm still trying to figure out what to do with it. Yes, the children are helping me.

When I got home I attended the AVA annual fund raising event and totally enjoyed the festivities with a Russian theme, music, and food as well as the art auction. And I won a bright red, curvaceous teapot made by Ariane Jimison. I have been coveting that teapot for several months, ever since I saw it first at her exhibit. I thought maybe they knew it, and the drawing was rigged, but they assure me that it was not. It's just good luck.

Now all this good luck has made me nervous, because after winning a car last summer, a pick up drove into my basement. So I'm counting by threes now. If I count all the nice spoiling that I received for my early February birthday, it's time for my luck to change. Uh, oh. Does this mean my next blog will reflect the change in luck and I will only have my happy memories of the first week of February????? I can only hope not. I'm still repairing my house.

Denver ALA

2009-01-30T10:41:00.004-07:00

Last night I heard on the Denver news about the two librarians who died in a car accident enroute to the airport after their American Library Association meetings. Tuesday that could have been me and another librarian as we returned from the weekend of meetings in Denver. It was my first extended visit to Denver, and the meetings were held in hotels and the Convention Center. We were shuttled through the streets of tall new buildings and the great old ones. But best of all were the meetings and the opportunities to visit with the wide variety of visitors. I was appalled and sympathetic to the number of people from low altitude who were truly suffering in the mile-high climate. Most of them were not uncomfortable, but some were truly stricken.

Still it is the programs and training that are of the greatest value to librarians. Hearing a Nobel Peace Prize winner describe the beginning of his bank as a small town rescue effort when he learned of a village of 44 people who were in debt to the money lenders for $27. He loaned them the money in order to remove the threatening presence of the loan sharks from the village, and he was paid back every cent. His philosophy of loaning to the poor and to women was new to India, and new to most banking institutions. However, he now has a branch in New York City that is proving equally successful. Dr. Muhammad Yunus has two books about his social business concept, the Grameen Banks and microloans.

There was a morning speaker series that included Leigh Rubin, a cartoonist who uses his family situations to create "animal" cartoons; science fiction writers Kevin J. Anderson and Dom Testa interviewed each other and shared writing habits and stories about their stories; Richard North Patterson talked about his new title ECLIPSE which combines his knowledge of North African history and modern day events.

In addition to the program this winter meeting is focused on the business of American Library Association. For many years I have worked with committees on "intellectual freedom." Recently I have become fascinated with the sound of these combined words.

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM intellectual freedom intellectual freedom

In the Library world, the term embodies the first amendment rights of freedom of speech which translates to patron privacy, collection development that provides both sides of every argument, meeting rooms and gathering places without prejudice, and much more. But as I age and mull over those words, I love the challenge of them -- intellectual freedom. I have the freedom to be intellectual --- or not. I can think -- or not. I have a place where I can find information on everything. I have the source -- the font of all knowledge -- at my library. AND SO DO YOU.

Now I have an extended to-do list and not enough hours this week, but I also have a new balance and a reminder of why I love being a librarian, and the special gifts of my current job.

Clearing the Library desk

2009-01-17T12:50:00.006-07:00

It has been a ridiculous week at my library office, and the desk top proves the total chaosof the week. So I came to work this Saturday morning with the intentions of being prepared for next week -- which is a short week already, which means I will be behind again. The first thing I did was review minutes of the Library Board meeting, and of course spent time with the thesaurus and dictionary until I found the perfect word -- acquiesce. It fit perfectly, but even to write this sentence, I had to go back and verify the spelling.

The week began with a domino effect of maintenance issues: no heat in the building; the gas meter froze; no hot water, which we thought was the gas issue, but it turns out there was a broken part on the new water heater, only a $1.50 part, but a second day for repairs. Then the City Water guys came to discuss changing out the meter, and that took some time. And there was time spent on a housekeeping walk through for immediate and long term fix-its. Thank heavens for maintenance workers and housekeepers. They are truly the ones who maintain your public buildings, and they do it well.

Above and beyond these issues I've been working on WLA (WY Library Assoc) meeting plans, WYLD (WY Library Database)issues, ALA (American Library) issues and meeting plans. It's not very often that all the organizations fall into the same week, but for some reason, January became the planning month and I've been tied into email and phone conversations with everyone this month.

Local meetings have included planning for staff training, Library board, Red Hat Society and a spring event, courthouse Halls of Art, and several meetings I just could not attend. I do work at the Library and take turns with lunch coverage and space supervision. So now it actually makes sense. My desk is a mess. Today's goal is to get it under control. Is is possible or is a monster of behemoth appetite that just will not let go of me? The sun is shining, and I'd really like to be outside -- and I will be. Soon. Ho hum.

Year End

2008-12-30T12:25:00.005-07:00

It was almost too much this morning. Another windy, snowy day in Wyoming. It seems like we are getting punished this month, and bad weather did interfere with our Christmas week plans. But now it's noon -- there is still lots of wind, but the sky is blue and the sun is shining. Yes, I know, I need to write more than a weather report -- and that is my intention.

I met today with the Library Foundation Board. It is a group of volunteers who have worked hard on the Endowment Challenge fund raising effort for six months. I am proud of them, and I am proud of the library staff who have diligently volunteered hours of planning, promoting, baking, donating to library efforts for this matching fund. We have raised close to $45,000 thus far. And it seems to me that is huge for a group of amateur fundraisers.

Of course, I then have to moderate my praise, because we can raise as much as $295,000 for an equal amount of matching fund. So how do I sustain that effort? How do we maintain a nice momentum over the next five years?

Never say Never. Praise, praise, praise. Thank, thank, thank. Are you bored and tired of me yet? I'm sorry. But I can't stop. It's my job. And I have been blessed to be placed among hard working, giving people. Both volunteers and co-workers. So what is the motivation? The LIBRARY of course. We see the LIBRARY as the source of all that a community can be -- a people center, a resource center, an information center, a recreation center, an internet access, a literacy resource, and reading, reading, reading. We understand the skills and talents of the people who work here who will help the people who use the LIBRARY, not just today, but tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. We appreciate and understand that endowment building is not for us, the people of the present, but for tomorrow's people. If you want a library tomorrow, then you take care of it today and plan for tomorrow. That is what endowment building incorporates.

As 2008 ends, we have barely begun the Endowment Challenge. I look forward to the coming year with special events, raffles, sales, programs. I look forward to working with volunteers and staff who share the LIBRARY enthusiasm and energy. And I hope you will join us in the endeavor that will help sustain your library far beyond us.

Happy New Year -- Patty

Weekend -- blues or good news !

2008-11-23T14:37:00.004-07:00

I have spent Saturday and Sunday clearing my desk of fall paperwork. Why is this so hard for me? I seem to have been born with a gene that collects paper. It is a true curse. I use the paper as my reminder to do something. So every piece of paper I handled this weekend required me to do something. That's fairly rare -- because usually when I have this paper clearing freezy I've completed most of the tasks that they have reminded me to do. But the last couple of weeks have been a terror of meetings, and meetings, of course, create labor. Now I am feeling totally satisfied that I am caught up -- until next time.

I love my job. It offers huge opportunities to try new things, meet new people. But this fall has been a true whirlwind of activities. I'm looking forward to the holidays in November and December where I can walk away for a few days. Besides I do have grand-babies in my life, and it's time to smell the roses -- or least the smell of baby powder, junior high sweat, and the silliness of being a grandma.

My husband cleared the garage of boxes last week -- bringing me a stack of 8-10 boxes of -- you guessed it -- paper work. Some of it is serious to keep stuff -- history research, documents, family papers. Most of it I will be able to cheerfully pitch out because I am no longer interested in the topics. I do have a box of material, scraps from my quilting and embroidery phase, which I'll need to keep for those retirement years -- I wonder if it is mildewed yet. Oh, my. I guess I'll have to open that box too.

So it's time to go home. Yesterday I struggled with my computer problem and had a helper find my word processing. And tried to watch a DVD but the new television box wouldn't let me in -- my helper says I need to check the plug-ins. Who knew? I thought Bresnan had me all attached.

Is this a good weekend? I think so. I feel fairly satisfied, energized, ready to go -- literally. We are driving to Lincoln, NE for Thanksgiving. I'll talk to you later.

Patty

It's dark outside...

2008-11-07T17:43:00.006-07:00

and it has been a long week for most of the library staff. We had a wonderful event at the library on Sunday. It was a Tea Party -- or a Tea Pot Extravaganza. The party was one of those examples of a plan coming together for the good of the community -- or the library in this case. Campbell County is blessed with long-term employees who really have a lot of expertise about a lot of things. So in the midst of reorganizing our staff structure, in the middle of a series of author visits, in a continuation of heavy duty events from rummage sale, to book sale, to fright nights, to regular working hours and expectations, we hosted a tea party.

And it was beautifully done with staff donating hours of planning and work, decorating tables, borrowing teapots galore, and cooking and creating tea-foods. How lucky is this institution! How lucky is this community that you have employees who go the extra mile.

Now it's Friday night. It's dark, and it's cold. We have had our second attack of winter, and everyone was ready to go home tonight.

At home I have an interesting challenge. I've had an unused computer in my house for two years. I bought it for my mom as a bribe to get her to return to WY. She did not. Now I have a series of her manuscripts to type up for family. And I have a series of oral history tapes from a Buffalo pioneer to transcribe. I have no word processing on my computer. How did that happen? I don't know. But I am determined to get a new program installed tonight. So I can't be tired, or hungry, or cranky tonight. I still have work to do. You do know the old adage "no rest for the wicked." Somewhere along the line I must have been very naughty. Yeah. Right.

Domino Effect

2008-10-26T18:25:00.007-06:00

Or do you prefer "when it rains it pours"? I am normally an upbeat sort of person but the last couple of months have not been particularly kind to me. You may have heard a teenager drove his pickup into my basement wall, so I have been pursuing the holy grail of contractors and insurance adjusters -- with minimal success. I am worried, not so much about the corner of my upstairs collapsing over the shattered concrete wall, but about the whole concept of insurance that would accept a bid that I don't think will do more than patch the problem -- not restore the building to it's intended stability. And I have finally gotten mad at the driver who has put me through two months of angst -- I really am slow to anger, aren't I.

Work remains a salvation in a time of stress at home, but even work has been trying because like so many others in Gillette, we work hard responding to the increasing use of our facility. There are a lot of people visiting the library -- with good cause. There are outstanding people working here who understand the concepts of public service. These past weeks have involved multiple programs, fund raising and evaluations. What can I tell you -- work has been work and stress.

Two weeks ago I went to see my Mom in Arizona. She is in a nursing home there.

Should she be? I don't know. But she won't move closer to her children, and she has five options. So I go down to visit her, follow up on her finances and other needs.

On my way home, I jumped out of my car in Casper and twisted my knee, involving a week of crutches and a shot of cortisone while I recovered. No good deed goes unpunished.

So finally, today, I am feeling healthier. I am feeling a little more level headed, ambitions, ready to go. It's almost spooky -- will the shoe drop again. Or have the dominoes fallen altogether now. I should now list some good things for you:

the drive was beautiful; hunting season is almost over; my husband bought a used car for me on the internet; my Mom seems healthy and content. Tomorrow will be a good day.

October daze

2008-10-08T18:30:00.004-06:00

Last weekend I drove in the Big Horns, and I was horrified to see the colors were nearly gone on the higher altitudes. Clear Creek canyon was still stunning, but how fleeting is this season when we move from too hot summer to too cold winter. This weekend I'm driving to Arizona to visit my Mom, and I'm worried about leaving in a snowstorm on Friday. AccuWeather assures me I'll be fine coming home on the following weekend.

I'm sneaking this break as it is -- between a vastly busy fall library season. We have authors, book discussions, film, and Fright Night in the final weeks of October. And November begins with a bang with a Teapot Extravaganza, a classical guitarist, Poetry Alive and another author. It's mostly Fate that brings us to this pinnacle of programing -- artists are traveling and offer to appear at our library. Who could say no to them? And we have author funding from the Recreation District to bring in these creative programs for all ages.

In between all this we are raffling a Honda scooter for the Endowment Challenge. Evidently we just don't know any better. It's a syndrome I see a lot in Campbell County. That drive to work well, steadily, consistently, graciously, and intelligently. If we have activities, we should combine them with our fund raising effort for the Endowment. But holy smokes, sometime I need to sneak in that trip to see my Mom. I just hope it is a leisurely visit and an beautiful drive so I can return home jazzed for the coming weeks.

I hope your Indian summer is more tranquil than mine.

Stress - less

2008-09-16T17:09:00.005-06:00

September already. It has been another too-busy month. And I've had problems at home -- a pickup drove through my basement wall. Yes, that was me--or at least my house on the front page of the paper. I was not in the house, and frankly I was relieved that the house was not burning down when I had the telephone call from the fire department. But now, a week later, I am in the throes of angst while I try to find a fix for the damage. I keep thinking about the good ole days when the insurance man showed up with the repairman to fix things that were broken. Hmmm.

And it's evaluation time at work. I rather like evaluations. I like the opportunity to look back over the year and see what has been accomplished. I have outstanding library workers, people who give that extra hour when needed without complaint. Librarians are natural care givers, and they want everyone who comes to the library to leave feeling successful -- with a book in hand or finding the information they sought. Still evaluations are time consuming with three steps of time consumption, documents following the chain of command, and a fiduciary responsibility tied to the merit raise system. So evaluations become a stress.

My free time, if you want to call it free, has been interesting too. I worked with the Historical Society to host the statewide annual meeting here in Gillette. I worked with Pearls of the Prairie to submit nominations for the Governor's Arts Awards. I worked with the state library organizations for a directors' retreat and program. STOP. That's enough. No wonder I'm tired this month.

I read where Sarah Palin had asked her local librarian about censorship and banning books. Banned Books Week is the end of September. The librarian was not offended nor worried. It is a frequently asked question, and she accepted the question as inquisitive, not judgmental. It is such a common question that most librarians have a standard answer which includes an explanation of procedures for filing a complaint. Still in this election year, where everything is being scrutinized to death, it is way more interesting to think about than a pitbull with lipstick.

Ah, yes. It has been an interesting month -- and I really am not stressed at all.

Raspberry picking

2008-08-16T09:59:00.007-06:00

Yesterday morning I went outside in the morning cool The grass was wet and the air smelled of that wonderful combination of soil, plants, and a touch of summer heat. The raspberry bushes were beckoning. This is my third summer in my Gillette home, and these bushes have been an unexpected summer treasure. I've had multiple picking crops this summer, and this morning picking was near perfect -- fruit just the right size and color, cooled by the night, and rinsed clean by the rain. I don't know if the pleasure was all in the moment or in the memories picking fruit brings to me.

I recall the misery of childhood picking gooseberries and chokecherries with grandma. The silent drudgery of working in the hot sun. Still I took my own children on lots of chokecherry picking trips, because by then I was making my own jelly, and they loved that sweet treat. I don't remember those trips as being a punishment, but more of a raucous competition to see who can pick the most cherries. I do remember that August heat, hot kitchen cooking, lots of flies, and the steadfast determination that I would make jelly, can corn, beans and peas, peel and freeze apples. It sounds almost pioneer like, but you and I know it was nothing like the pioneer effort. If I ran out of homemade, I could always go to the store and buy a can.

So what is the lesson of raspberry picking? Honest labor. Success with a tough task. Preparation for winter.

Are these the traits that carry into my library world? Where is public service? Technology? Well, they could be there too. Isn't public service a form of care taking? Looking out for the future. Isn't technology a form of improving methods, changing methods? Are these traits I bring from learning and changing from childhood? Maybe. Or maybe those darn raspberries have carried me into a world of nostalgia, and I best escape and get back to work.

July in Library Land

2008-07-25T13:31:00.002-06:00

Sue Knesel and I attended the American Library Association conference a couple of weeks ago. It's one of those mind boggling events that puts 14,000 librarians under one roof -- well, one convention center and adjacent hotels for additional meeting space. Plus 1,000 or more vendors who are selling books, furniture and equipment for libraries. It's like a gigantic carnival -- with special events and booths, a gazillion things to do. Now you know I have three adult sons who cannot visualize 14,000 librarians altogether --"Are they all like you?" the smart alecks ask. "What do you do all day?" "What do you talk about?" "Well, never mind, we really don't want to know."

Nevertheless, librarians never run out of things to talk about, to compare, to seek answers and solutions. It is a surprisingly congenial crowd, and yes, there are men in every meeting. Sue concentrated on training and information for young adult users and children's programs. I focused on management tools and enjoyed a series of keynote speakers and authors. Both of us learned about and attended the celebration for the Library of the Year award which honored Laramie County Library, Cheyenne, as the outstanding library in the nation this year. Both of us were thrilled to hear the authors who won the Newbery and Caldecott children's books awards give their acceptance speeches. Wow. They were articulate, funny, original, and touching.

How does this trip affect our work in Campbell County? What do we as taxpayers get out of library travels?

Sue has, over the years, made exceptional contacts nationwide with writers who make commitments to visit Gillette and spend time in the public schools and at the library. For instance, Greg Mortenson, best selling author of THREE CUPS OF TEA, said he would come to Gillette. She has worked with librarian-writers who include Gillette as an example of excellence in youth services. I watched a program with astronaut Sally Ride who is writing a series of children's books about Earth using photographs from space flights. Wow. We have got to have them. And we are working on a staff development plan for library staff with information garnered at workshops.

Conferences are a combination of education, contacts and camaraderie. Every library worker who attends a workshop or conference brings something back to our working community by sharing with me, other staff members, and the library board. This month we have trained notaries, paper rescue for disasters, and one leadership class. All of them will improve services at your library. Aren't we lucky to be living in Campbell

County where we have the opportunities for growth and improvements!

Patty

The week that was....

2008-06-19T07:39:00.002-06:00

It was a terrific week. The first week of June was a real adventure. As president of the WYLD Network Consortium, I spent three days in Buffalo at the annual meeting -- which is a series of workshops and business meetings. I even had the pleasure of leading a tour at the TA Ranch. It was a gorgeous outing -- primarily because the spring rains stopped long enough for us to walk from the old ranch house to the barn
without getting stuck in mud or drenched in rain.

Then the truly unexpected happened. Becky N. called to say "we won the car!" And indeed we did. She and I bought a raffle ticket on a cute, red Audi coupe, and for a week we shared custody of our new toy. It was a great ride, and Becky decided she could not resist that fun. The car is hers.

Then Art Smelser brought a couple of treasures to the library. The family history of Blue Gate Creek homestead, the George Amos property, and other family memories have been compiled, and the two books are on the library shelves. Or you can buy the Smelser Family story at the Rockpile Museum. For the library which continues to honor George Amos, the information is of special value.

Meanwhile, library work continues at a rapid rate. The Children's Department counted 1,306 kids attending the first two weeks of summer reading programs, 11 sessions. The adult and teen readers are earning prizes too. The Library Foundation is tackling the intricacies of the matching funds for the Endowment Challenge-- and yes, we want your donations beginning July 1.

Altogether it was a fantastic, workaholic, surprising week. I'm truly lucky to be your county librarian.

Library Endowment Bill

2008-06-02T16:43:00.003-06:00

It's a challenge in Fund Raising 101. Campbell County Public Library has been extremely blessed over the years with good financial support from the county, so fund raising has been fairly minimal in recent years. However, the one to one match created by WY Statutes 18-7-201 through W.S. 18-7-205 is a challenge we cannot ignore. Matching the $295,000 creates an endowment fund of nearly $600,000. And when the state challenge reaches $2.3 million, CCPL will earn another $100,000. $700,000 cannot be ignored.

Why not, you ask? Why do we need an endowment? There are many reasons, primarily the boom and bust cycle in our county's economic history. The Library Foundation, Inc. is the nonprofit group that provides the extras for the Library system that the county budget cannot provide. Do you remember the years when buying books and computers for the public library was not a priority? We do. The Library Foundation provided additional funding for those items. Currently The Foundation is a serious supporter of volunteer programs for both students and adults. It provides funding for additional staff training, public programs, and even some frivolous items that do not come out of your tax dollars.

Once the endowment is in place and earning interest money, it is the interest that The Foundation can use to enhance the goals of the library: maintain our professional workforce; provide the services required by our changing community's needs, and raise awareness of the diverse library opportunities.

Endowments are building blocks for the future. In this case we can even applaud the legislative effort to "bring bucks back" to Campbell County. Some of those tax dollars paid to the State are being funneled back to our county. Whoopee!

Wyoming has been endorsing "rainy day" funds for a long time now. July 1, 2008 begins the campaign for public libraries to earn endowment funding. Based on the recent efforts by the junior college system, public libraries across the state will be working separately and together to create some stablility for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. This is a noteworthy event for all librarians -- all library users -- and even those of you who appreciate the concepts of free access to public information, books, knowledge, education.

Please join the Library Endowment Challenge by thinking of a monthly donation, an annual donation, an occasional donation, no matter the size. Right now I am focusing on increments of $10,000. That's do-able, isn't it? I would love to be able to start the Endowment Challenge with $10,000 donated on July 1 -- not before. It doesn't count if a check is dated or deposited before July 1.

How many of you can donate $5 or $500 on July 1? Oh, yes. I'll take anything in-between -- anything larger and anything smaller. Hmmm. That does sound fairly greedy. But it's not for me. It's for your grandchildren.

If you want more information about the Endowment Challenge, just call Patty at 687 -9201.

Remarkable writers

2008-05-13T16:23:00.005-06:00

Twice this month -already-- Campbell County has had the great good fortune of hearing from two outstanding writers. Terry Tempest Williams, in partnership with the University of Wyoming, presented a writers workshop in Gillette. Kent Meyers, the author for Wright's One Book, One Community event, spoke in Wright. Both were remarkable. Both are entirely different. Both were very special for their audiences.

Meyers' book THE WORK OF WOLVES is a beautifully written story about four unrelated people who are drawn together by the plight of starved horses. Meyers', a college professor (Black Hills State) in Spearfish, described the book as a modern western. He talked about his job as a writer, and he said all westerns carry the themes created by Owen Wister's THE VIRGINIAN, with a bad gunfighter, a good man, and a series of tense situations, not unlike STARWARS. Meyers talked about his original story and how he combined the other characters with their stories and tensions. He said the book took 5.5 years and six drafts to write.

The most powerful part of Kent Meyers' presentation was him -- he was very comfortable talk about the craft of writing and the work of putting a novel together in all its layers. The novel definitely reflects that effort. Most western readers will recognize his characters, and non-westerners should learn an appreciation of the themes. It was a great evening at the Wright Branch Library.

Terry Tempest Williams brought one of her "weather reports" to Gillette. She is checking on "community climates" and looking for the voices within the communities that she visits. The award winning writer is from Utah and appreciates the natural wonder of our western states, but her visit to Gillette revealed her as an outstanding listener and a gifted teacher. She met with a group of local people, primarily writers, who shared with her their stories of life in Gillette. On Saturday she led them through an apparently simple writing exercise which led to an astonishing variety of stories connected to nature and to our county. It was an amazing event that touched every heart in attendance.

Since I'm talking about writers, I want to mention Michael and Kathleen Gear again. I saw them receive an award from Mountain Plains Library Association, and they gave a talk about their writing partnership, their affiliation with archaeology, Native American culture and history. I just checked their website, and it sounds like them. They are a pleasure to listen to and to read, and I was so tickled that other states were not as familiar with them as we Wyomingites. The Gears converted a whole new audience.

Aren't we lucky! We are able to attract writers to our state and our communities. We have writers who truly express what we are feeling, what we know.

Patty

Libraryland

2008-05-03T15:47:00.006-06:00

My gosh! April flew by, and I have not managed a single blog. But I have been full of blogging ideas, because I have attended two major conferences this year where I have heard and learned so much about the library world and the possibilities for the future.

In the month of March, 2008, Campbell County Public Library increased it's people count by 2,000 people over March, 2007. 2,000 more people came to the library this March than in March a year ago. It is a tremendous number -- what did we do with those 2,000 extra people? We let them borrow books and movies. We encouraged them to try the databases for information. We provided free internet access.

At the Mountain Plains Library Association this week, I was reminded that Campbell County is really doing all the things libraries are meant to do. We provide both the traditional and nontraditional collections. We take pride in public service, and we work hard to make sure the library patron walks out the door with the right book or media to solve his quest or to fulfill is reading desires. I actually chortle when I hear other libraries explaining programs that they have just established, which CCPL has long maintained. It reminds me how lucky we are with staff who have who have been unafraid of innovation and who have worked hard to maintain service and programs.

MPLA honored three Wyoming people -- well, four because one of the awards was for Michael and Kathleen Gear, the Wyoming writers who have worked diligently creating fictional lives for early Americans -- we are talking 16,000 year old tribes and people. Another award was for Debbi Iverson, recently retired Sheridan College librarian, who worked tirelessly for MPLA and a leadership institute to encourage librarians to stay ahead of the pack for the western region. The fourth award went to a young, cowboy librarian at the University of Wyoming who has created unusual partnerships with in the University to develop lifelong learning skills which has impacted library instruction and services. That's exciting news for all of us.

Previous to MPLA, I attended the SIRSI/Dynix conference which is hard hitting, information packed sessions on the electronic products used by the Wyoming library consortia for card catalog and check out services. The products invented, improved, and maintained by the corporation changes the daily work life and possibilities for the incredible in all public libraries in the state. This is a "meeting of the minds" when software creators and librarians come together to talk about how the nuts and bolts work, what improvements need to be made, and where we are going. It's enough to take your breath away.

Thundersnow

2008-03-29T12:46:00.004-06:00

It's spring in Wyoming. And we know it is because Thursday we saw the phenomenon of "thunder snow." You got it. Thunder/lightening and a snowstorm all in the same instant. I remember old timers talking about winter and spring storms -- forever. I understand the theory of "too cold to snow" and rings around the moon and potato planting on Good Friday. Thundersnow, however, just takes my breath away. Wow.

Our office discussion this week circled around the arrival of spring flowers. My sister sent me a spectacular bouquet of iris and yellow tulips. It arrived in a cardboard box, delivered by FedEx. Why did these flowers even survive? Yet they have provided us spring colors as they have opened up and shared their beauty. Next came the daffodil delivery from the Cancer Society fund raiser. This morning I watched the Cherry blossom festival on a tv news program. The trees in Washington DC are in vibrant bloom.

But there are no spring flowers peaking up in my yard. In fact my flower beds are still covered in snow. I planted additional tulips, crocus and jonquils last fall, and I am anxious to see if they have survived. I need to know that they will harken spring for me for years to come. But it has not happened yet.

Obviously March 21 means nothing in Wyoming -- unless we use the date as one of HOPE. Hope does spring eternal -- or is it spring is hope -- or hope is eternal. Anyway, the thundersnow remains our strongest indication of spring on this last day of March. April showers will surely come -- as will my garden flowers.

Happy spring watching to you -- Patty

Perfection

2008-03-07T16:48:00.003-07:00

I just walked past the George Amos Room and saw the perfect library photograph. Grandma and Grandpa, Mom and three children were ensconced in the sofas and easy chair in front of the fireplace. Every one of them was reading a book.

How often do you make family visits to the library? Do you share that passion for reading that your grandparents or parents shared with you? One of my favorite memories raising my boys was the week they spent creating "Charlotte's Web" in a bedroom. There was yarn everywhere -- from doorknob to window frame, from ceiling light to bedpost. It was a work of art, sincere concentration, and great good humor. It was a pleasure.

As a grandmother, the pleasure continues with the little children as we work together on stories, words, pictures. I have a two year old who really doesn't want to talk, but he can make the sounds of every animal in the world. Really. I did not know what a zebra or giraffe sounds like -- but he does. He is equally good with mechanics catalogs because he can make engine, tractor, saw sounds too. Ah, my.

So you see, it's true. A simple picture is often worth a thousand words. My library picture today brought a rainbow of memories to me. It was a good reminder, because today was an early release day for school, and there was lots of after school energy bubbling through the building. Thank heavens for blue skies and good weather. Nearly all of our young visitors spent part of the afternoon outside throwing snowballs and tromping through water puddles.

It's already March, and Sunday clocks spring forward. We are still looking for more snow, and all I want to do is curl up in front of the George Amos Room fireplace and read a good book.

Learning, learning, learning

2008-02-15T07:42:00.004-07:00

Do you remember the old "school of hard knocks"? That's the location of jobs, family and experience that teaches us skills. In my world of professionals -- librarians, administrators, historians, and professionals -- there are even more opportunities to learn: workshops, conventions, meetings. There is an amazing the overlap of technique and experience.

For instance, at a recent class on listening skills the instructor talked about how mothers learn early to get on their knees and listen intently to the explanations of their 2 or 3 year old child who is struggling with language skills. Moms are successful listeners. How then do we carry those skills into business meetings and customer service? We do, you know.

At a recent class via internet there were a group of librarians talking about the future of libraries as part of the community. Just like the old rural schools, libraries have become an essential part of communities for sharing cultural events, information, and reading and research resources. Many Hispanic communities maintain their libraries to maintain their identity as well as to adapt to their new world. I think CCPL has long recognized the role of the library as the center of community information. Reference librarians keep information and contacts about social services right at their desks to answer questions. There are frequent telephone calls to the library to ask about locations of meetings and events. And the meeting rooms are continually busy; so busy that people often come here first to find out that their meeting is somewhere else; so busy that people often come here to meet and congregate at the study tables or quiet corners. This is exciting for all of us, because it means we are a natural source of space and information for our communities.

Lifelong learning is more than a catch phrase. At the library we continuously combine what we have learned in the school of hard knocks and in the professional training that is available to us. It creates exciting, changing opportunities for all of us, and I hope it helps all of you with better service and possibilities for learning too.

Book Discussions

2008-02-08T14:19:00.000-07:00

How can this be? And why is the cold weather hanging in here so long! I've been wanting to tell everyone about the wonderful books I am reading right now. They are memoirs written by modern American women writers. They are outstanding. Every chapter I've read has been a treasure in itself. I'm reading the series called Ordinary Lives, which is the Humanities Council series for the Wright Branch Library book discussion which will be held in March and April. I don't know when I've enjoyed a series so much. The writing is beautiful, and the memoirs vary from Ann Dillard 1950s urban area to Pat Mora memories of five generations of her family who have all lived in her home. Mary Clearman Blew is somewhere in between, but her Montana ranch family stories are so familiar to me as a Wyomingite that I feel like I know her relatives. I've read the Madelieine L'Engle memoir before, but I'm anxious to read it again for the comparison to these other outstanding writers.

Gillette book discussion series is Writing Wyoming with books by Wyoming authors. WOW, a whole series by Wyoming writers. And Jeanette Lukowski from Gillette College will be the discussion leader. I'm looking forward to sharing those sessions too.

The book discussion offers readers an opportunity to share their opinions about books, to explore new writers and writing styles, to love or hate a book and still have the pleasure of discussion with other readers. If you want to get excited about reading again, join us in Wright or Gillette for a book discussion this March. Books will be available at your libraries, and schedules and times are available there too.
Patty

Happy New Year

2008-01-02T15:46:00.001-07:00

What a strange holiday season! Miserable travel weather, and the Tuesday holidays presented the challenge to all employers -- do we stay open or close on Monday. Thank heavens there are so many options in the modern world. Thank heavens people still have a sense of loyality to their jobs, to the public, to co-workers. The places that could close, did. And the places that need to stay open, did. Still it's flu season. Our staff has been ravaged with sinus infections and flu. It made me worry about the whole pandemeic issue -- at what point should we close just to survive?

Now why am I thinking such morose thoughts when I had a perfectly lovely week -- in spite of one miserable night for myself and surgery for my husband. We have three sons with families who were able to share the holidays with us. We have bright-eyed, active grand children who make me laugh aloud. Serves those boys right to have kids they have to run to keep up with!

I didn't make a resolution this year. I didn't even stay up to watch the crystal ball drop. But I did go to the bank this morning to establish a savings account, and the wellness program starts next week. What a sign of the times. Or is it aging when you know there is only so much you can do. Only so many hours in a day. Only so many projects that can be completed. It's a blessing really, because finally you can say "this I can appreciate and do." "That I can ignore."

For all of you, I hope 2007 brought satisfaction. I hope 2008 brings equal happiness and success.
Patty

Snow and cold

2007-12-14T12:10:00.001-07:00

Looking out the window today, the library parking lot looks like a skating pond, shiney and gray with a touch of overcast skies. It's just December, and with the steady cold and snow, it's hard to count my blessings. But a Christmas card from an old friend made me smile. He was filled with good cheer and listening to holiday music. He sent the challenge: Close your eyes and recapture you best holiday memories. That made me laugh because I already have some good memories from this year, and I look forward to more.

December is not just about snow and cold. It is the end of the year, and so much has happened this year. The library has had two outstanding community read events. A stunning piece of artwork was added to the property. The work of the remodel is over and job routines are feeling like routines again. We are busier than ever with the number of new people in town, and we can actually help them learn about their new community and state. We help them stay in contact with the family they left behind, and we provide recreational and educational materials for their leisure and family time.

There are not a lot of jobs as satisfying as a librarian's. And right now, right this minute, I like the view from my window.

"Cassanova was a ....."

2007-12-07T11:01:00.003-07:00

CASSANOVA WAS A LIBRARIAN by Kathleen Low is a new book which tickled my fancy. The concept that anyone can love books enough to be a collector is a pleasing thought. There are lots of funny stories about librarians, and even with the stereotypes, librarians appear as heroines in lots of stories. This book even includes bumper stickers and the cartoons, which leads Wyoming State Library right to the forefront of librarians with personalities. Have you see the mudflap girl reading a book yet?

The svelte miss has become a hot topic on library blogs - is she a concept that we want to endorse? Or not? Still WSL is promoting a younger image with bumper stickers and book marks proclaiming: “My other card is a library card” and “You can have my Book when you pry it from my cold dead fingers”. These slogans are not new to the library world, but they are new to us, and a bumper sticker that reminds us that truck drivers, coal miners, and carpool moms are all readers and library supporters is just as enticing as the idea of Cassanova as a librarian.

It's fun facts that really started me on the Cassanova book, because I was look for a related series of books on "oddities." Books about bizarre buildings, crop circles, weird science, and other curiosities can be found at your library. It's why librarians love their jobs -- every day we find or learn something new to us. It's part of the fun of browsing the shelves, handling books, reading. I especially love it when my argumentative family can be hushed when I quote a fact or statistic which I have recently read or found. I even love starting the family argument by proclaiming a little known fact.

Put some fun in your life. Enjoy your free public library.

Library Endowment Bill

2007-11-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

I was so pleased when The News Record carried a page 2 article on the Library Endowment Bill. The funding and foresight is so incredible that it takes my breath away. What will your public libraries do after the coal is gone? Who will support the extra programs, the innovative thinking, the opportunities that your public library offers?

The WY Library Association has requested a million dollar match for the 23 public library systems in the state. Yes, that is a million dollars for each county, because that is how WY libraries were created and continue to be funded -- through the county mil. But this funding is outside the mil levy. This money will not be in the county coffers. It will be maintained through the foundations for each of the 23 county libraries, which means the interest from the endowment can be used for the extras that the county cannot normally afford. More computers, more books, more programs, maybe even a roof repair or an addition.

Like so many things in the state that is affected by the boom times, the Legislators asked for a system of funding that will be equitable to the small counties without mineral tax income. So the match will be in tiers -- Campbell County is a 1 to 1 match, while Niobrara is a 3 to 1 match. That may not seem fair to this county, but it does seem fair to librarians in the state who watch places like Lusk who struggle year in and year out to keep their library open. Public libraries are an essential part of the educational and cultural resources of small communities, just as they are for Gillette.

If you have an opportunity to talk to any of local legislators this winter, remind them to support the Library Endowment Bill for the good of all public libraries in the state. If you have questions, just drop me an email or call Patty at the library. I have answers.

Bumper stickers

2007-10-25T18:28:00.001-06:00

I am so tickled! "The Library Journal" for October 1, 2007, has cute coverage of the Wyoming libraries bumper sticker campaign geared to 18 to 30 year olds. Bring the World to Wyoming has been the poster/campaign effort for a couple of years but this year we have jumped off the deep end!

We are promoting the "mud flap girl" to encourage young men to read. "We're shifting gears" reads the mud flap girl bumper sticker. Bizarre you think? Not I, and not in Gillette where we see shift workers all day long. The library offers so much reading material for everyone -- why buy books, magazines, newspapers, DVD when you can borrow them for nothing? This is just a reminder for our young men that the library is a place for them to find books too.

Two other bumper stickers "You can have my book when you pry it from my cold dead fingers" and "My other card is a library card" sport the Wyoming library logo of a cowboy riding a book. Aren't we a sassy bunch!

And if you want more -- Wyoming State Library is offering a huge selection of library logo items for sale --- http://www.wyominglibraries.org/ under Marketing libraries.

Whoopee! Christmas shopping is almost done.

Cather and Lockhart

2007-10-23T09:32:00.001-06:00

For the past few weeks, I've been immersed in the world of female, Western writers. The Big Read has been studying Willa Cather through MY ANTONIA, and it has been great fun deciphering the novel and the autobiography that Cather has imbued in the stories.

Cather combined her knowledge of immigrant settlers from her years in Red Cloud, Nebraska, and developed her writing style with advice from other writers to "write what you know." Antonia arrived on the Nebraska prairies with no English, worked as a hired girl, became a "fallen woman," and finally succeeded as a wife and happy mother of a brood of children. Her journey was typical of numerous immigrants and settlers.

Caroline Lockhart has been compared to Cather as a woman writing about the West, but Lockhart was impassioned with the mythology of the cowboy. Her novels too became convoluted with her personality and blended fact and fiction in a less than flattering way for herself and her heroes. Still Lockhart is a Wyoming legend. She first visited Cody in 1904, and she wrote her novels from her Wyoming home. THE COWBOY GIRL; THE LIFE OF CAROLINE LOCKHART by John Clayton is a good read about the woman who pursued her dream of western adventure and independence.

Two women writers, two totally different visions of the west. Both of them have made my life more interesting this month, and they have challenged me to take up my pen again.

Free books, free movies, freedom

2007-09-24T13:42:00.001-06:00

It is a wonderful fall to be a library user because the Wyoming BIG READ project is providing a free book for a "catch, read, release" program at your county libraries. Willa Cather, the writer, the person, and her book MY ANTONIA will be featured for the next several weeks. Pick up your book today -- and share it with friends and family.

The next Borderline film will be this Sunday, Sept. 30 at 1:30 What are the boundaries in your life? What are the boundaries -- borders-- in the lives of the movie characters? The discussion will give you an opportunity to walk a mile in someone else's moccasins. Join us for a movie and talk. Refreshments are provided.

Today, Monday, Sept 24 is Family Day in Wyoming and a "Conversations to Go" kit is available at the library for you and your family. More than 90 questions are in the fast food box -- ready for you to share a conversation at your dinner table. Take advantage of this give-away at your library.

Banned Book week is Sept. 29 - Oct. 6. It's a reminder that your library and America provides unique opportunities to read, learn, seek opinions through the first amendment. Freedom of speech encourages opinions, and opinions are what you get in the wide variety of fiction and nonfiction books supplied by your library. Why are books banned ever? "Ahoy! Treasure your Freedom to Read and Get Hooked on a Banned Book" this week.

Patty

Reading backwards

2007-09-18T17:57:00.001-06:00

I've just discovered Martin Amis. I listened to TIME'S ARROW this week, and I'm really fascinated by this author. The novel was almost strange as it tells a story backwards--starting with the introduction of Tod O. Friendly, a dying American doctor whose death is being observed by an unknown entity -- probably one of the doctor's hidden psyches. The story is backwards. Literally. As I listened to the events and conversations, even some of the sentences were repeated backwards. Still, I did not lose track of the story of Dr. Friendly who previously served as one of Hitler's doctors at a concentration camp.

So of course I've looked to see what else we have available by this British wrtier and learned that this bizarre style is an Amis trademark -- not the backward story so much as the unusual narrator and the circumstances of good and evil.

Have you read Amis? Are you fascinated too? Gotta go -- gotta check out another book.

More Library quotes in modern fiction

2007-09-07T07:43:00.001-06:00

Ah-ha -- there are more quotes--

"Libraries are the one American institution you shouldn't rip off"
Barabara Kingsolver, ANIMAL DREAMS

Kingsolver's point? Why steal what you can have for free? It's your building, your materials anyway, so you are stealing from yourself? Sharing information and recreational materials is part of the fun of libraries, stealing denies a whole lot of people that fun--even the thief. What do you think Kingsolver is telling us?

"A man's library is a sort of harem."
Ralph Waldo Emerson, THE CONDUCT OF LIFE, 1860.

You gotta love Emerson -- he has created an outstanding word picture. The fanciful harem dancing in book form? Or is it the heroine? Or is he dreaming of a room full of ideas, thoughts, poetry? A place where you can linger in pleasure indefinitely. Ah, Emerson, your description may be perfection.

And thank you, Richard, for sharing these quotes.

Authors librarians love

2007-08-27T16:40:00.000-06:00

Just today a coworker shared a quotation with me:

“Then I used the most valuable and unlauded investigative resource in the United States, the lowly reference librarian. Their salaries are wretched and they receive credit for nothing. Their desks are usually tucked away in the stacks or in a remote corner where they have to shush noisy high school students or put up with street people blowing wine in their faces or snoring in the stuffed chairs. But their ability to find obscure information is remarkable and they persevere like Spartans.”

James Lee Burke
Tin Roof Blowdown, 2007

Of course it was a reference librarian who brought this to my attention. Burke really hit the nail on the head when he described their job. Over the years there have been lots of hidden tributes to library professionals -- and para-pros for their insatiable appetite for finding the answers to your questions.

Do you have a favorite library/librarian quotation from a popular -- or not so popular -- novel? Will you share it with me?

Thanks -- Patty

Adults and reading

2007-08-23T14:32:00.001-06:00

Did you read the articles about the Associated Press-Ipsos poll with the headlines about 1 in 4 adults read no books last year?

Can you believe it! Instead of celebrating 75% of adults who do read a book every year, they chose to underscore the number of healthy reading habits for American adults. There are so many things going on in our lives -- and most of us read every day. Sure you do. You read road signs, cereal boxes, instructions, newspapers, and internet information. You read fiction for escapism, and you read nonfiction when you want to know something. A good biography can be inspirational, historical and just plain entertaining. Car repair manuals, quilt books, baseball coaching, cookbooks are in continuous demand in book stores, libraries and on your home bookshelf. So don't try to convince me that adults are not reading.

What is your favorite reading habit? Are you an internet junkie? Are you reading anything special right now? Let me know.

Patty

Finding a good book

2007-08-17T17:54:00.000-06:00

It's such a pleasure when you find the perfect book. Amazingly that perfection varies and changes--if not day to day, at least year to year. I've been puzzling about reading perfection ever since I picked up SMILA'S SENSE OF SNOW several years ago now. This month I read DYING IN THE CITY OF FLOWERS by Victoria Edwards Tester. It's a small book, and it does not seem to fit a genre. I have finally decided my excitement in little books is a purely visceral reaction to the words. This first person account about a rather ignorant woman whose child is stolen by her no account husband and her Peruvian mother in law. So why did I become attached to her? Why did I wait eagerly to pick up that book in every spare moment? Why did I lose sleep over her? I don't know. I was rooting for Viola's success, and I fell in love with her and her child. And the only reason I can almost define is the pure beauty of the lyricism, the rhythm of the sentences.

Do you have books that you just love? Do you want to share the authors and titles with us? Can you explain why you love a book? Is it the story? The character? The joy of the reading?

Recruitment tool

2007-07-18T09:17:00.001-06:00

Have you used your library as a recruitment tool? Have you brought potential home owners or employees to the library? If not you are missing a grand opportunity to impress newcomers with a beautiful community center with fantastic services.

Everyone wants to live in a community which offers a wide variety of recreational and cultural activities. Your library provides activities for all ages, and recreational reading as well as information about your favorite recreation is certainly standard fare at your library.

Recently I toured a mother and teenage son through the building while Dad was at an interview. The boy patiently walked through the children's area and adult stacks with us. He browsed through the book shelves in the teen room and looked at the variety of reading and game spaces. As we left the area, he said "This is reason enough to move here, Mom." Once animated we discussed science fiction authors and the sci fi collection that is available at your library. He was sold.

Let me know if you have other visitor impressions that you would like to share. Tours are available to you by calling the administration office, 687 -0009.

Patty

New ideas ??

2007-07-02T14:30:00.001-06:00

They say there is nothing new under the sun, but the American Library Association taught me a few things. For instance, do you remember the old book mobile that travel through Gillette? I saw the new models. Even better, I saw portable branch library. I book kiosk which holds 500 books, and it can be place almost any where. The price tag was pricey -- but cheaper than a building. I wonder how many kiosks we could use in Campbell County ??????

I saw a nifty advertising sign for the front desk. It looks like a flat screen television, and it could list the daily/weekly activities or run a book discussion series.

I saw the new Checkpoint program that allows library customers to "comparison shop" books and to earn bonus coupons from local merchants. Google too is coming up with solutions for library users. The new programs are aimed at self-service libraries. How to you feel about that ?????

The theme for the conference was transformation -- 21st century libraries have transformed. Like it or not, we are more computerized, nosier social and cultural centers, and still customer oriented. The future is in the hands of the consumer, and library patrons have not been shy in making requests. Have you shared your wishes with us yet ?????

Garrison Keillor

2007-07-02T12:58:00.001-06:00

It was the voice we all recognize from "A Prairie Home Companion," and he regaled us with childhood memories and the librarian at Lake Wobegon. Garrison Keillor delighted us all at the closing session of the American Library Association.

Keillor has a talent for language, and he made us laugh describing the "library crypts where authors go to die." He is concerned is newest title PONTOON, coming out this summer, will soon be living in basement storage along with Grace Livingston Hill and Fitzgerald.

"Reading is the privilege of living mroe than one life," Keillor said. Instead of being trapped in our limited lives -- isolated on a ranch or the chaos of the city -- readers escape to other adventures. His librarian allows him to "move through history" using the library books.

And he reminisced about the history of libraries that allowed smoking and the pipe smoke mingled with the smell of old books. He described the art of reading a newspaper and the special style of holding the paper like Cary Grant.

Keillor says things like the library is a place where "the gift of writing and correcting on paper" is a process that is endorsed; the library "is a place of comfort;" the library is "our route to freedom." He used the term "sacred stacks," a not uncommon term to librarians, but it embodies the feeling generations of people have about the library where they grew up and learned. Keillor's library is a place where people gather, where they can unwind, where they can think. "I like to sit there and think," he said. "I can plug in my computer if I want to. I go there when I don't want to give my attention to the world.'

Best of all, Keillor sees the future at the library. "I believe the future is in the hands of the bowed heads I see at the library -- working, thinking."

There were 22,000 librarians at the conference. Many of us had the pleasure of Garrison Keillor. It never hurts to hear praise, and it never hurts to recognize the importance of your public place in the eyes of someone else.

Are you a Keillor fan? Have you checked for his books at your library? Or do you listen to him on the radio?

WYLD things

2007-06-06T09:25:00.001-06:00

Last week several of us attended meetings of WYLD at EWC, Torrington. Wyoming Libraries Database is the contracted consortium of public, academic and school libraries that maintains the automated services of the card catalog, computerized check out and interlibrary loan. It is the management group that makes policy decisions. It is the authority for cataloging decisions, and it is the annual training opportunity.

This year the training included classes on the director's station (statistical reports), Java client (the next language change for the major components), DXL and resource sharing (interlibrary loan), and data management. Does it sound like Greek to you? Sometimes it does to us too, but that's why we have annual training --to learn what's coming down the pike so we can better serve you.

What is really special about the WYLD meetings is the opportunity to visit with other Wyoming librarians and share good ideas and problem solving. Often time we are in contact via email or telephone, but we don't always see faces or know the person at the other end. Meetings provide the opportunity to "see" the other guys. This year I was especially tickled to see a number of new faces -- young people coming to work in the library environment. Thank heavens. I worry a lot about the baby boom retirement years and what will happen to our libraries -- but in many ways the young people are already providing solutions for all of us. Whoopee. Long live the library.

Eastern Wyoming College was the host site for the meeting, and the library staff provided an evening meal featuring Medieval fare, entertainment and costumes. It was charming and fun -- and huge amounts of work. It was a special treat for all of us.

Well, that's probably more WYLD things than most people want to know. Enough.

Feature of the Month

2007-05-22T10:45:00.001-06:00

There is a lot of excitement in the building -- and in the community -- with the Rosetta Stone Online. I think it is because there has been radio and television advertisement in connection with this Language - Learning Database.

We in the library world like databases, because -- unlike many internet sources -- databases have qualified, verified, scholarly information connected to them.

The Rosetta Stone in particular is an easy to use source for learning languages. Remember the old cassette tape process we all loved 20 years ago, or those language labs for your college classes? I think the Rosetta Stone replaces those efforts with a process that is geared to your individual comfort, your schedule.

Try the Rosetta Stone -- and let me know how you like it. Russian, German, French, Spanish and English lessons are available for you at http://www.ccpls.org then click on Magazines and More.

Greetings

2007-05-09T17:37:00.002-06:00

It's a new frontier for this librarian -- but libraries are truly a continuously changing frontier. There are so many things that we can talk about that I can hardly stand the suspense. As a library user -- you know the great opportunities the library offers. Books, books, books are just part of the picture. Yes, maybe the greatest most important part. but what about..... Videos, CDs, DVDs Spanish language material

Magazines galore and access to back issues of everything you can think of ---

Health information

Gardening information

Car repair manuals and schematics

NPR recommended books --- Best Sellers --- Favorite Authors

So let's talk---We can talk about anything, because your library is THE place to go when you want to know.