The BL assisted a youthful patron the other day. Books were hunted, books were found. Zooming through the stacks together we honed in on the books he needed. "You're really good at this!" he exclaimed. Why yes, yes I am. Thanks groovy patron.

Creepy patron returns....

Last quarter The Creepy Patron (TCP) -- who happens to be a young, fairly decent-looking guy, but creepy nonetheless -- kept pestering me with possibly fake reference questions. One question, and then another, and another . . . Sigh. Then TCP started asking bizarre questions, like, "When do you work?" "Which days?" "How many hours?" Etc.
When TCP didn't turn up this quarter I sighed a sigh of relief. But today TCP returned. A sigh of another sort. And tonight, after several reference questions came the most bizarre question yet, "What's your ring size?" He says, staring at my ring finger. Ummmm..... Freaky. Thanks, TCP, for making me feel like some weird piece of library meat. That's just great.

The BL has been busy this fall; yes very busy. Between freelancing, teaching, and librarian-ing, it's been crowded to say the least. The BL did and does not think her calling is as a teacher, but the world seems to have made a little place for her at the chalkboard and so she embraces the challenge with courage and fortitude! She is also doing a little work for Google, which has been enlightening in many regards. To keep her sanity the BL has also started work on her dissertation which will be a passionate argument in favor of the preservation of the physical book. Viva la publication!!!

The Bourgeois Librarian means what she says and says what she means. She also seems to lack a filter. Men don't seem to have a problem with this and we have lively, provocative, intellectually stimulating conversations. Women, however, are inscrutable and seem to want to talk about nothing outside their comfort zone. And so, the BL accidentally spoke her mind and stuck the proverbial foot in her mouth. Sigh.

Desk Set (1957)

What a fabulous library movie.


It's everything the Bourgeois Librarian wants in a library: 1950s Steelcase desks, stacks of books, knowledgeable and plucky librarians wearing, of course, high-heels and poofy skirts. Pearls, cardigans . . . you should be able to hear my sighs of joy from here.

Desk Set is definitely requisite librarian movie-viewing.

Where has the Bourgeois Librarian been, you ask? She has been employed; not over abundantly, but employed. Reference work is great, even when the pickings are slim. One student asked what an encyclopedia is. Oh boy. Another struggled with footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies. Indeed, it's tricky business. The Bourgeois Librarian has found that despite occasional "book disdain" on the part of professional librarians, the average student just really wants to get a physical book in their hands and "find the answers." Sure, let me show you where it is.

First day on the job! The Bourgeois Librarian is very, very tired. How can just three hours of training be so utterly exhausting? Yes my dear friends, after twelve years of higher education I'm shushing as an adjunct librarian. It feels good to have a little library domain of my own, if only for four hours per week.

LIFE Magazine, March 18, 1957; a great year, a great question -- should your child be a librarian? Why yes, she/he should. Being a librarian is fabulous: great hair, great clothes, surrounded by books, nice cozy desk job, sharp pencils, lots of stamping with rubber stamps, everything is in order. It's the ideal job! The Bourgeois Librarian currently has two of them -- granted, she isn't getting paid, she's doing a little pro bono work. Actually, she's trying her "archivist" shoes and volunteering in two different archives. It's lovely -- like a library but minus the patrons! There are definite perks . . .

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.