Blog December Post 19 - Finding a balance

Today's Destiny Card word is Balance.

This morning on my Facebook feed I came across the following poem someone had posted:

slow down mummy, there is no need to rush,
slow down mummy, what is all the fuss?
slow down mummy, make yourself a cup tea.
Slow down mummy, come and spend some time with me.

...

slow down mummy, lets put our boots on and go out for a walk,
lets kick at piles of leaves, and smile and laugh and talk.
slow down mummy, you look ever so tired,
come sit and snuggle under the duvet and rest with me a while.

slow down mummy, those dirt dishes can wait,
slow down mummy, lets have some fun, lets bake a cake!
slow down mummy I know you work a lot,
but sometimes mummy, its nice when you just stop.
sit with us a minute,
 & listen to our day,
spend a cherished moment,
because our childhood is not here to stay!

 

R.Knight 2011

 

And of course, I immediately suffered mummy guilt!!

 

I returned to work (on a casual basis) when my daughter was one year old.  I am forever thankful that my employer during that time allowed me to take 12mths leave at half pay, as many mothers don't get that luxury.

 

She was cared for by friends and my mum for a while because the shifts were a bit hard to predict.  Not long after I got full time work and she was put into daycare.  It tore into me each morning as she would cry at every drop off!!  Even when the daycare centre assured me she enjoyed it.  I do have some photos of my daughter during this time and happiness does not reflect deeply in her eyes so I know she wasn't happy.

 

My husband was working casually and in the end it made sense for him to stay at home rather than pay what he was earning in daycare fees.  So when my daughter was 2, my hubby became her full time carer.

 

While I can not dismiss the great bond this has allowed my husband and daughter to develop.  And I can not dismiss how ready I was to return to work to feel like a "person" again.  It still affected me with how little time I got to spend with my daughter.

 

Now she is in school, I think it is a lot easier.  She understands more why I have to work.

 

We spend weekends together.  I still sleep with my child even though she is almost 7 because it makes me feel better being there for her at night.  I help her do homework and read together.  And until my husband finds work, she will still get time with her dad every afternoon and during holidays (although we have started breaking that up a bit with vacation care as she was getting a bit bored and my hubby needs some time to himself too!)

 

Next year will be a test.  I have been successful in gaining another job.  So I will be working full time and also working as a part time online teacher for the local TAFE's library studies area.  It will be a test for me to find that balance - well it will be a test to the whole family!  But I know of others that do it, so will most likely be looking to them for advice where things get tough.

 

I'm excited by the challenge and feel I'll be giving back to the profession as well as developing some excellent skills myself.

 

As for my daughter and I, I think we will be doing our "homework" together.  And if we find it is not working so well, then we can all re-evaluate the situation and look for a better balance.

Blog December Post 18 - Spontaneity

Today's Destiny Card is Spontaneity.

I've been called lots of things but spontaneous is not one of them.

I like routine.  And being thrown from my routine can make me feel a bit uncomfortable.

That said - I'm willing to work on this!

I have four days of work left before I have two and a half weeks of leave.  I am now promising that when I am on leave, I will not develop a routine.  I will not feel uncomfortable if for some reason I miss going for a walk during the day, or wake up at a different time, or do something unplanned.  I promise to go with the flow!

We constantly talk about how it is good for libraries to have a similar "look" or layout to them so that once one person has worked out how one library works, they can go into another and not have to re-learn how it works.  It's a consistent approach.

But I think you will agree that libraries need a degree of spontaneity.

We need something that sets us apart from an everyday visit to the library.  Not just a new service being offered or a unique program, but something spontaneous that brings an element of surprise and jolts a library user into thinking that it might be great to come back into the library in case something spontaneous happens again.

I have to admit I'm a bit low on ideas for this one or how it would work (being a routine person and all) - but feel free to share some spontaneous ideas you might have.

I mean maybe we can expand on what we do on Library Lovers Day and on different days offer a book wrapped in brown paper (no not a naughty book) along with a borrowers other books to allow them a spontaneous read.

Or maybe we decide on a beautiful sunny day to take storytime outside without planning for it.

Anyway, you can see my lack of spontaneity is holding me back in coming up with ideas.  But I would love for people to share their ideas!!

Blog December Post 17 and a half - A champagne coated man

In a previous post about Secret Santa, I mentioned an excellent gift I received last year.

Here is the re-written Dr Suess book that I got from Secret Santa.  Warning it is rather long and I don't wish to cause any offence!

A Champagne Coated May by Secret Santa

I am Sharon

I am Sharon

Sharon I am

That Sharon-I-am

That Sharon-I-am!

I do so like

that Sharon-I-am

Do you like

a champagne coated man

I do not like them,

Sharon-I-am.

I do not like

a champagne coated man.

Would you like them

Here or there?

I would not like them

here or there.

I would not like them

anywhere.

I do not like

a champagne coated man.

I do not like them,

Sharon-I-am

Would you like them

in a house?

Would you like them

with your spouse?

I do not like them

in a house.

I do not like them

with my spouse.

I do not like them

here or there.

I do not like them

anywhere.

I do not like a champagne coated man.

I do not like them, Sharon-I-am.

Would you try them

in the pool?

Would you try them

on a mule?

Not in the pool.

Not on a mule.

Not in a house.

Not with my spouse.

I would not try them here or there.

I would not try them anywhere.'

I would not try a champagne coated man.

I do not like them, Sharon-I-am.

Would you? Could you?

In a car?

Taste them! Taste them!

Here they are.

I would not,

could not,

in a car

You may like them.

You will see.

You may like them

in a tree?

I would not, could not in a tree.

Not in a car! You let me be.

I do not like him in a pool.

I do not like him on a mule.

I do not like him in a house.

I do not like him with my spouse.

I do not like him here or there.

I do not like him anywhere.

I do not like a champagne coated man.

I do not like him, Sharon-I-am.

A train! A train!

A train! A train!

Could you, would you

on a train?

Not on a train!  Not in a tree!

Not in a car! Sharon! Let me be!

I would not, could not, in a pool.

I could not, would not, on a mule.

I will not try him with my spouse.

I will not try him in a house.

I will not try him here or there.

I will not try him anywhere.

I do not like him, Sharon-I-am.

Say!

In the dark?

Here in the dark!

Would you, could you, in the dark?

I would not, could not,

in the dark.

Would you, could you

in the rain?

I would not, could not, in the rain.

Not in the dark.  Not on a train.

Not in the car, not in a tree.

I do not like him, Sharon, you see.

Not in a house. Not in a pool.

Not with my spouse. Not on a mule.

I will not try them here or there.

I do not like them anywhere!

You do not like

a champagne coated man?

I do not

like them,

Sharon-I-am.

Could you, would you,

in a stable?

I would not,

could not,

in a stable!

Would you, could you

on a table?

I could not, would not, on a table.

I will not, will not, in a stable.

I will not try him in the rain.

I will not try him on a train.

Not in the dark! Not in a tree!

Not in a car!  You let me be!

I do not like him in a pool.

I do not like him on a mule.

I will not try him in a house.

I will not try him with my spouse.

I do not like him here or there.

I do not like him ANYWHERE!

I do not like

a champagne

coated man!

I do not like them,

Sharon-I-am.

You do not like them.

SO you say.

Try them!  Try them!

And you may.

Try them and you may I say.

Sharon!

If you will let me be,

I will try them.

You will see.

Say!

I like a champagne coated man!

I do!! I like them, Sharon-I-am!

And I would try him on a table!

And I would try him in a stable..

And I will try him in the rain.

And in the dark.  And on a train.

And in a car.  And in a tree.

They are so good so good you see!

So I will try him in a pool.

And I will try him on a mule.

And I will try him in a house.

Maybe not with my spouse!!

And I will try him here and there.

Say!  I will try him almost ANYWHERE!

I do so like

a champagne coated man!

Thank you!

Thank you,

Sharon-I-am.

Blog December Post 17 - Commitment

Today's Destiny Card is Commitment.

 

This weekend I read the following article in the Sydney Telegraph: We've failed to give kids education they need.  Seeing as it's coming to the end of the National Year of Reading, I thought this article was quite interesting.

 

It says that Australia is rated 27th of 48 countries test for reading skills.  And goes on to say "One quarter of our students even failed to meet the minimum standard for their age group, despite being among the relatively most advantaged in terms of reading resources, home environment and the emphasis on early grades on reading skills."

 

I'm a bit shocked.  The article then discusses how schools are continually asking for funding to deal with this issue, yet since the funding has been supplied the result has not improved.  So where are we going wrong??

 

I think an earlier article might hit the nail on the head.  In Well-known children's author Mem Fox says parents key to children's literacy as teachers want funding redirected, children's author, Mem Fox says: "I am so tired of that. If parents don't enjoy their children enough to read to them, if they don't make the time to do that with their kids, then whether they be rich or poor, disadvantaged or advantaged, if they don't make that time to love their children enough to do that for them, then they will not learn to read happily, quickly and easily.  Parents have a huge role here; it is not about teaching at all, it is just about reading to them."

 

When you decide to have a child, you make a commitment that you give that child the best chance you can give at providing them with a safe and happy upbringing.  But as a parent you also have a responsibility to teach them.

 

Yes when they get to school age there will be some things they learn better from a teacher, but as with everything they learn, they need their parents to support them and assist them where needed.

 

As an information professional and a lifelong reader, I read to my child while she was still in the womb and as soon as she was out of it, I kept going.  I recognised the importance of doing this simple task - not just to get her ready as a reader, but to create a bond between mother and child.

 

It's unfortunate, that some parents don't recognise this role or perhaps they can't read themselves.

 

Or perhaps it's a time thing.  As a parent, you often hear that we should be spending more time with our kids and less time working - well if only life was that simple.  With the economic situation the way it is, it is almost impossible to live without both parents working.  I realise there are arguments against this as well and we all have different standards of living we like to live to.  However, you must agree that we are all time poor.

 

I have an internal argument about homework.  My daughter got homework in kindergarten/prep, and while as a parent and child it frustrates you that you are spending quality time sweating over getting homework done, at least I get to see what my child is learning and how they are going with it.  That said, I think that the time would be better spent reading to/with your child then sweating over homework.

 

So what do we do if our children are not growing up knowing how to read?  If parents are failing their children by not teaching them to read or not being able to teach them to read?

 

I won't dwelve into the fact that the school library seems to have lost it's importance somewhere in the system as I think this is not the crutch of the situation.  Learning starts at home, so how do we, as information professionals, ensure that we assist in getting this message out there?  That reading to your child is important? 

 

I know libraries are doing some great things - but what do we do about those that haven't yet stepped through our doors??

Blog December Post 16 - Trust

Today's Destiny Card word is Trust.

 

There has been an interesting discussion over on the This Week In Libraries LinkedIn page about dealing with "old fashioned" colleagues and  managers.

 

The original question read: I notice that in public libraries at least some colleagues are still somewhat afraid to show themselves as a professional. To be proud about their work in their social network (I heard someone say: If I had to wear a uniform, everyone in the bus to work would see I'm a librarian, with fear in her voice...). And not only fysical but also online. Maybe they want to twitter with the library account, but with their personal account showing that they are a librarian... brrrrr. I think that's a shame and sometimes it irritates me. Do you recognize this and if so, how do you deal with it?

 

But then it changed to be more about how to get "old fashioned" colleagues to move with the times with regard to social media and technology.

 

I'm a proud librarian and I'm proud of my place of work - so I won't dwell on the first question.  I also know that my library staff are proud of what they do too.  However, I'm not sure how they would sit wearing uniforms and I know that they are certainly not comfortable promoting the library online.  I don't think the promoting online part has anything to do with being ashamed of what they do or where they work - it is technology uncomfortableness.

 

Technology uncomfortableness (excuse spelling and the fact that it may not even be a word) is not fear of technology - as they are all quiet happy to use computers - it's being uncomfortable or not confident in using a tool/device that they have not used before.  And where people like me jump in and try to "play" with something new until it isn't uncomfortable anymore.  My staff stop at stage one - they look at it, see that it is something new and they don't know how to use it - and then don't know how to take that next step without guidance.

 

And I think that is the point - guidance.  Maybe that should be the word of the day but I can link this in with trust - it's coming.

 

While the original post relates to social media, I'm going to relate it more to any new technology or device.

 

Our library has introduced downloadable eAudio books, Ancestry.com and we are about to launch Zinio - downloadable eMagazines.  With the first two products/resources, I found that my staff felt more comfortable and trusted themselves to be able to promote these resources to our library members, after they had received training.  And not training from me, because I feel it's a bit like children, when a parent tries to show their child something, sometimes the child won't listen because they know their parent too well or don't think their parent knows what they are doing (not saying I don't know what I'm doing), but when someone new and fresh shows the child something, the child absorbs.  The same can be said with my staff.

 

Often I will show them something, it sinks in a bit but not as much as having someone new and fresh providing the training.  It is also a formal step whereas if I train them they would take it as informal and possibly not as serious.

 

So I provide them with the access to and time to attend formal training on the resources we are introducing.  And they trust that I will do that.

 

That said, with Zinio due to the timing of the training, I was the only staff member available to attend and the launch will be happening when I am on leave.  I have downloaded the user manual and sent the link around and asked staff to take time to familiarise themselves with this new resource.  I trust that they will do that (fingers, toes and eyes crossed - shhhh).

 

This week I will sit with those I can sit with and go through it with them and I will assist over the telephone with those I can't yet get to.  Then when I return from holidays, I will organise a formal training session in a time and place they can all get to.

 

So to sum up, I think to overcome technology uncomfortableness you have to provide your staff with support and training and trust.  And eventually that technology uncomfortableness will be less so.

 

 

Blog December Post 15 - Communication

Today's Destiny Card word is Communication.

Yesterday communication happened in a good way and a bad way.

At 7.40am I was contacted by our facilities manager that one of my branch libraries had been broken into.  At this stage, as he was still at home, he could only tell me that a window had been broken and our cash holders were found outside.

I then phoned the casual staff member that was to be working there that day as I was working at a different branch and let her know.

I then had another phone call from our Council ranger saying that if our casual could come and get him first and he could take her through the library without touching anything to see if anything was missing.

So I rang my casual back and let her know.  My casual is one of those that goes beyond the call of duty, so even if she wasn't supposed to be in at work till 9.30am, she said she'd head up to the library now - she doesn't live that far from the library.  I was thankful for this as my hubby needed the car and I had to get small one to school and get the other branch library open.

Later she rang to give me an update, and the facilities manager also called in to report the windows had been fixed.

So in that case, the communication worked well.

However, as we are going through a restructure, I totally forgot to inform my new deputy general manager.  So with tail between my legs, I contacted her late in the day - and was very thankful that she had been kept in the loop and totally understood when I apologised for not calling.

So while my communication had been good between my casual and I, it had fallen down between my reporting manager and I.  But we will be having a meeting about libraries and the break in on Monday.

Now back to the break in - I expect to get some hand slapping as we really shouldn't be keeping money on the premises and it should be locked up etc etc.  However, the library has been functioning this way for the last 20 odd years without a break in - honestly, why would a thief think there would be heaps of cash in a library??  We are only a small branch and I would think they were lucky to get $100 out of us.  And they went straight to where we keep the cash which means they've been in the library a few times to know where we keep it.

Retrospect is a wonderful thing and really this incident is probably a good thing because it will force us to look at our current money handling processes and make necessary changes.

And if they catch those that did the break in - I'm planning on asking to include community service in the library as punishment - because I'm sure they will enjoy spending days on end putting books in order!!! 8-)

Blog December Post 14 - Giving

Today's Destiny Card is giving.

 

Quite fitting for the month of December as we do seem to do a lot of giving during this month with Christmas and all!!

 

Libraries are constantly giving.  We give people access to information, we give people a space, we give people access to technology, we give people escapism, and the list goes on.

 

Unfortunately, the powers that be often see the library as a place where too much giving (in terms of dollars) happens and not much receiving.  And this can be the hardest thing for libraries to justify.

 

Value is often viewed in monetary terms, and lets face it, libraries don't bring in the dollars.

 

The library value calculator is a good tool to put the value of libraries in monetary terms, but this is really a justification to the library user.

 

There have been many state reports that show the economic value of a library.  Enriching Communities says: Economic activity measures the contribution of public libraries to the economy in real terms and was estimated at $810.2 million. Thus for each dollar expended on public libraries, $2.82 of real economic activity is generated.

 

Of course, economic value is not the only value library users/communities gain from libraries - Enriching Communities also mentions the following:

• Library users visit for an average of 35 minutes, view the library more as a cost-saver than a time-saver and are attracted mainly by the fixed collections, the availability of professional support and the friendly atmosphere.
• The top five outcomes from public library use are enhanced quality of life; enhanced enjoyment from hobbies; ability to obtain information not available elsewhere; facilitation of lifelong learning; and support for children’s education.
• The top five contributions to the community were seen as being a safe and pleasant place to visit; supporting educational facilities; facilitating lifelong learning; encouraging responsible social behaviour; and ensuring access to the Internet for all. The underlying themes are clearly those of safety, harmony, equity and education.
• Public libraries principal contribution to community culture is through their lending, reference and local history collections. There is also an appreciative audience for cultural activities such as local art displays and talks by visiting authors.

So as library professionals we have to show those that are looking for the monetary value of libraries, that it's not all about money - it's about the things I have just listed above.  Libraries give our communities all of those things.

 

And in return, well I don't know about you, but I certainly get a warm fuzzy feeling inside when I think about what I have provided to my community through being a library professional and a human that more often than not, has a relationship with them!!