The BL has a job! . . . working for her father. Does that count? Long hours and the promise of meager income -- sounds like a job to me! But seriously, it's great to be working and doing something I love, and being useful, and having a purpose, and -- whoa, I'm hyperventilating.
Yesterday the Bourgeois Librarian was feeling smart; so she wrote to a some high-up at the Smithsonian about writing a book review. Mr. High Up wrote right back to thank her! Wow, such professionalism, such a human touch -- what's wrong with these people I'm submitting job applications to -- they can't even write a "you're not hired" letter! Good grief Charlie Brown. And on that note, happy Great Pumpkin.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are happy days for the otherwise aimless Bourgeois Librarian, because on those days she gets to volunteer in an archive! Yes, she files, she sorts, she scoffs at acid-laden filing materials while preserving those tender relics of history. Soon the rare books will be in order and she can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that another bunch of books have been tended and cared for. Each book must be cataloged and ordered accordingly -- it's lovely lovely work. If only I could get paid for it . . . ?

Parties aside, the Bourgeois Librarian must admit to feeling a bit of ennui lately. Each new day promises to bring many new adventures, but every evening the never-arriving adventures are put on hold until tomorrow. Yes, while amazingly energetic in the presence of other people, this wayward librarian is a puddle of lifelessness when left alone. Should she go out in search of lox today?

The Bourgeois Librarian is on her way to a party. The BL is not entirely sure how she feels about parties -- they can be loads of fun, but then some can be frightfully depressing. Today's party will be in a foreign language -- literally -- and so she is a tad bit concerned. Speaking in a foreign language tends to be extremely exhausting, and since she knows hardly anyone at the party to begin with, she is likely to come home tired; too tired, perhaps, even to read (Gasp!).

The BL also has a confession to make. She has been very, very lazy these past few . . . er . . . weeks. But especially so these past few days. She has resolved to turn a new page and reform! Reform, I say! The success of this venture will be posted on in days to come. For now, with clean socks and nerdly attire she is ready to attend said party and do her best.

The Bourgeois Librarian has been gone far too long, dear reader. She apologizes profusely. Since you last heard from her she was a library student, and prior to that working temporarily in a southern public library. Since that time The Bourgeois Librarian has graduated and become a bona fide librarian. Now calm the cheering, she is loathe to inform you that all has not gone to plan. Not only is The Bourgeois Librarian not yet Queen of the Library, she is not even employed!!! So pitiful in fact that the archive she hoped to volunteer for has not returned her call.
But dry your tears, she perseveres! The Bourgeois Librarian is still putting her well-honed skills to use around the house. Things are getting very . . . very organized.

The Man Who Never Was (1956) has a sultry American librarian, Lucy (Lucy the Librarian) played by Gloria Grahame. Very nice! There is even one scene where she is seen in situ in her library context. Yes, girls, this is what good-ol' American librarianship is all about, and don't you forget it. Poor Lucy is always falling for army boys who go off and get themselves killed. She may love books, but she loves those boys and the engagement ring on her finger even more.

Twilight Zone (1959) - 2x29 - The Obsolete Man

This Librarian is Obsolete, but that's not all. It's a little weird, but hey, it's the Twilight Zone. . .

Library school is busy, very busy when taking 5 classes, but it's not un-doable. I mean, it's not like getting a masters degree in art history where they flog you daily and make you feel like you are unworthy every nanosecond of your daily scourging (which lasts all day, if you didn't catch my drift). Anyway . . . Yes, library school is fun! Especially if you take a laptop to class and work ahead, hee hee hee.

Coming soon: the caricatures of library school professors.

As the 7/13/06 blog posting says, "Another case of deaccessioning gone wrong." So true. Libraries don't need Shakespeare anymore -- who's our highest bidder??? See it here at New Criterion

Two fun links.
Library Lovers
a myspace group on and about libraries.

and:
Phi Beta Kappa
a great podcast on the love of reading in the age of technology.

Thing I heard while working the circ desk this week:

"Ma'am? Do you have any books about Captain Underpants?" Said by earnest young lad.

"I never even read the book! How could it have water damage?" Said by irate -- and innocent -- female patron.

"What exactly do I have to do to get a library card?" Said in hostile manner.

"Thank you, honey."

"Did that thing already scan the books?" quizzical.

"I had a book once, but I can't remember the title or the author." It's going to be all my fault.

"Do you have any poems? . . . Some of the one's I heard as a child." definitely going to be my fault.

"Two dollars a DAY???" Could count veins in forehead.

Great blog on public librarianship and other relevant musings:
Dispatches from a Public Librarian

See especially Dispatch 19 for a handy list of tips for entering library school.

The Bourgeois Librarian spent the morning working at the branch library where she served not just the "public" but that special facet of the public, the "proletariat." No one really talked to her, choosing instead the other desk clerk. She did, however, check in 12 DVD rentals -- oops! I mean, check-outs (it's not like we're Blockbuster or anything -- or are we?), and a half-dozen or so erotic novels (that's the nice way of saying "smut"). Zane was particularly popular today.
Branch libraries must be suffered through. And remember, if it weren't for the public computer terminals, you would be out of a job, so pull out those guest cards and let 'em at it!

The Bourgeois Librarian would like to apologize for her recent "loosing of her cool" in some rather frustrating technical blogging issues. Operator trouble strikes again.
On another note, have you ever noticed that public libraries are simply filled with too much "public"?
On another even more distant note, I must recommend
The Well Dressed Librarian blog
He truly understands the need for bow-ties and fountain pens. We understand.

ARG! The stupid little . . .! Blogger is not uploading properly and you may this posting may never make it to the final page. I think in a wild attempt to destroy the little ad that was looming over my text that I may have done serious injury to my blog. The Bourgeois Librarian may be geeky enough to be a librarian but not savvy enough to blog, evidently.

"Circulation, how may I help you?"
Thus began a long and painful phone conversation which proved to be the poor man's way to get free phone sex -- call a friendly library of course! Yes, the joys of public librarianship! Dull-witted, or trusting at any rate, that I am, I let this man drone on for ages before I realized what the "jelly-like" massage equipment was that he was describing. I told him it sounded like a reference question and transferred him. He hung up on the male librarian who answered the call.

In some sort of moment of weakness I clicked on something or other that promised to put advertisements on my blog, which would, of course, "make me money." Why I stooped so low, I know not. But The Bourgeois Librarian is sorry and feels that, well, it wasn't very bourgeois of her. If her meager abilities have succeeded, the annoying ad is now gone. However, if it still persists, you have her deepest apologies.

Welcome to my new blog, The Bourgeois Librarian. Actually, it's a bit of false advertising since I am actually not yet technically a "librarian;" I am merely a library student -- horror!
So, why the name "Bourgeois Librarian?" Well, being neither "conservative" (other than I like to conserve things) nor "liberal" (other than being liberated from blue-collar labor) -- I'm a monarchist -- I found that the first step in any librarian's blog is to determine which side of the fence you fall on. I considered calling my blog "Feudal Librarian," but that just didn't have quite the same tea-with-crumpets ring to it as "bourgeois." Yes, I'm exactly what Marx despised, and why aren't I landed aristocracy? We leave that mystery for another day.
Let's just say that when I'm Queen of the Library, Manga is gone, along with a horde of other literary screed; old books will be treasured and patrons will be sushed. Yes, perhaps I'm a biblio-tyrant, but what can I say, better to be bourgeois than bland.
Stay tuned and follow the career of an outspoken, extroverted, and fabulous . . . Bourgeois Librarian!