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May. 9th, 2008 @ 02:42 pm Can a Library_grrl Get a Hand?
Current Mood: cheerful
Hello all! 

I hope this isn't breaking any community rules!

Have any of you heard of [info]therealljidolwriting competition? 
I have been a contestant for almost seven months now! 

We started off with 154 people back in October and are now down to the top nine. Each week we are given a topic to write about, then the LJ community can vote on their favorites.  There are some really great writers over there, if you are looking for something cool to read. This week's topic was "Moments of Devastating Beauty."
 
So...I wanted to invite any of you, who might be interested, to read my piece for the week here.
And, if you like it, to please vote here. Voting ends tomorrow - Saturday - at 9:00 a.m.

Do check out the other contestants as well, they are a diverse and talented bunch - but I'm the only librarian :)  
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[info]monkeysugarmama, posting in [info]library_grrls
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May. 9th, 2008 @ 03:47 pm You wonder how they made it to higher education....
Current Mood: grumpy
I work part time for my uni's library system in computer services and laptop checkout.

( It got long, so I cut for your flist's sake )

x-posted to [info]customers_suck
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[info]mathnerd, posting in [info]library_mofo
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May. 9th, 2008 @ 01:38 pm Stupid Thing of the Day
The AV selector, in her glorious wisdom (/sarcasm) has decided that we will have Wii, xBox 360s and PS2 games available for checkout. Well, they were getting stolen. (Like I said they would.) So, they've made dummy cases to keep out on the shelves and when someone wants the game they take the dummy case to the circ desk and the clerk will go to the back and get the actual game and case.

Our patrons are now stealing the dummy cases.

*thunk*



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[info]bibliophile1887, posting in [info]libraries
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May. 9th, 2008 @ 12:03 pm way to yell at the pregnant lady...

 

So some of you may remember the mini-maelstrom I set off in March by posting about the man I blocked from looking at boobies on the internet.  Whatever your opinion may be about public porn, you might like to know he came back....

We had a guest patron (meaning they can just use the internet, they don't live here) whose card was banned on 3/17 for viewing pornography.  I was the one who banned the card, so I recall the incident personally - bare boobies 10 feet away from me.  When he ignorned the 1st warning, I then banned the card outright.

He came in last night and could not get on the Internet, one of my librarians looked up the card, saw the ban note, and explained it to him.  He came in again this morning, got me, and I informed him I had a screen shot of the ban notice, that I recalled the incident, and I was sorry but he would not be able to use the internet.  He then proceeded to yell (literally, a very raised voice) at me for several minutes while I stood my ground and told him there wasn't any way around it, he can't use the internet.

What was really interesting is, he never once denied looking at porn, instead, his main argument (he felt the need to make this point several times) was that it was the Library's responsibility to filter.  After all, he lives in Kentucky and every library there has filters.

And if he had tried to say he didn't know what incident I was talking about, I was half ready to whip out LIBRARY MOFO on him, ha ha ha!!!

It was pretty funny actually, 2 patrons came up to me afterwards (because the whole dang library could hear it) and said "bravo".

I'm like, dude, do you think yelling at me and making a spectacle is going to make me back down or something??  I pity people who don't know who they are dealing with....

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[info]librarianlovely, posting in [info]library_mofo
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May. 9th, 2008 @ 12:14 pm UW vs. UBC?
Hi there,

I applied and got into MLIS programs at both University of Washington and University of British Columbia. I'm having the hardest time deciding between the two. Does anyone out there have experience with either of these programs? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

cross-posted to libraryschool
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[info]lyricalisse, posting in [info]library_grrls
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May. 9th, 2008 @ 12:06 pm UW vs. UBC?
Hi there,

I applied and got into MLIS programs at both University of Washington and University of British Columbia. I'm having the hardest time deciding between the two. Does anyone out there have experience with either of these programs? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

cross-posted to library_grrls
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[info]lyricalisse, posting in [info]libraryschool
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May. 9th, 2008 @ 10:01 am Dreaded news

When I saw that letter from SCSU in my mail box my heart started racing.  I'm sure anyone here can relate to that.  I had my husband read it and his expressions said it all... not accepted.  
This news was heartbreaking to say the least.  I have since felt determined to try again.  This time I will have to try harder, starting with the GRE.  I have to say, finding this group has been inspiring and helpful.
Is there anyone who has had a similar experience... did not get in the first time, but tried again.  What was the response the second time?  I am wondering if it is worth the Application Fee to try again.  
I really appreciate any feedback and advice.  Thanks!

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[info]mknis, posting in [info]libraryschool
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May. 8th, 2008 @ 10:44 pm I'm being tested.
I embrace the spirit of the library, I really do. I'll gladly carry the library banner into battle: information on anything for anyone. I'd take a bullet for what libraries represent. Truly.

But I have to remove and replace holds on the movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks" and while I feel I can happily do the first step, I find I'm hesitating over the second...
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[info]qacdefeej, posting in [info]library_mofo
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May. 8th, 2008 @ 07:24 pm Buttons are nice
Dear Patron,
  Sitting with your arms crossed giving the monitor pissy looks is not going to open internet explorer.  Its called a mouse.  If we could do things just by thinking about them I would have killed you with my thoughts months ago.  All of you.
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[info]redcardhooligan, posting in [info]library_mofo
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May. 8th, 2008 @ 05:49 pm (no subject)
Current Mood: angry
I have two incidents to rant about. I'll make my post short.

Incident #1: Why people vandalize items in the public library is beyond me. Yesterday some brat kid scratched "motherfucker" into the surface of one of the study room tables. You realize that mommy and daddy's tax dollars paid for that table, yes?

Incident #2: Another suck involving a bunch of brats. We have a rule in the library that patrons are not allowed to eat food outside of the library cafe. Unsurprisingly, they break this rule all the time. So, anyway, I caught this girl eating some chips in one of the study rooms. Sometime later I catch her, body turned away from me in a "clever" attempt to keep me from seeing her stuffing her face, quickly finishing off her chips. I lecture again, this time with her and all her asshole friend smirking and giggling. God, I sometimes hate our patrons.
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[info]hiroeb, posting in [info]library_mofo
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May. 8th, 2008 @ 02:34 pm A Notice From the Department of Redundancy Department: (and now for something completely different!)
Current Mood: aggravated
Don't you love it when you're 5 HOURS into an incredibly complex and time-consuming project and suddenly it's decided from above that it should be re-done in a completely different way, thus rendering the previous hours of toil entirely pointless?

I know I do.

/Just spent 5 hours printing out hundreds of case dockets, complaints, and exhibits
//About to spend another 5 hours downloading the same case dockets, complaints, and exhibits to a local server instead.
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[info]aaeichsteadt, posting in [info]library_mofo
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May. 8th, 2008 @ 10:26 pm How not to use a library
I ordered a knitting book from another branch, possibly the last copy in circulation, some *person* (and I use the term advisidedly) has gutted the book robbing 44 pages from the book and using PACKING TAPE to fix it. I was spitting mad when I saw it. We can't proove who did it but WHY? I checked, the book would cost you from £0.85 (+P&P), photocopying the pages would have cost 8.80 Euro in a library.

I'm still kinda angry, I withdrew the book from stock (after consulting with the branch) because it's missing 44 of 176 pages, and what's worse some of the remaining pages are coming out.

Part of the ire has to do with the fact that this is the book I knit my Chemo Cardigan from, the cardigan I knit while going through chemotherapy. I'm now planning to buy myself a complete copy but this is just vandalism.
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[info]wyvernfriend, posting in [info]library_mofo
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May. 8th, 2008 @ 04:09 pm Tell it to someone who cares...
Dear Student,

You are only allowed to renew your books over the telephone if your fines are less than £5, and yours are more than that. Oh, you can't come in and pay because you're sick? Well, that's no problem - if you bring us a doctor's note, your fine will be waived. You don't have time to go to the doctor's? Then you will have to pay the fine. Oh, you'll pay the fine when you come in (some time next century?) but you want your book renewed now? Sorry, can't renew the book while the fine is outstanding. I see, you need the book renewing because you're TOO BUSY to come in and TOO BUSY to get a doctor's note and you have EXAMS and YOU NEED IT RENEWED ***NOW*** BECAUSE YOU'RE A SPECIAL SNOWFLAKE WHOSE TIME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYONE ELSE'S, AND FURTHERMORE THE RULES SHOULDN'T APPLY TO YOU!!!!! Are you even listening to me, student? It's against the rules and I won't do it, and I don't care if someone else did it for you before, and I WON'T put you through to the librarian because he has no spine and I'm not gonna let him give you a free pass on this shit. Fine, slam the phone down on me. If you'd been polite and let me get a word in edgeways without having to actually shout you down, I might have got around to telling you that you could pay your fine by credit card over the phone, and thus get your books renewed today. But I didn't get to mention it, cos you were too busy being an obnoxious, snippy little c**t. Now go stew in your own juice. Happy to help. Have a nice day.

The Killer Desk Bunny
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[info]redandfiery, posting in [info]library_mofo
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May. 8th, 2008 @ 07:50 am need some ideas
 I was asked to help with the summer reading program this year and was told they need an activity planned that would would be more activity and less craft. We're doing a sporty/olympic theme and the librarian who normally does this said in the past they would have done some sort of math olympics but the ppl that helped are not up to it this year etc. due to health issues etc. Soooo, it has to be something that can take place on library property, for 70some kids (give or take a few). We do a morning program for younger kids and an afternoon program for older kids... and we only go up to 5th grade so you can gather age ranges from that. The activity can be different for the younger kids than it is for older kids. We have some crossover in the age ranges due to siblings etc.

Any ideas?

I kind of thought of relay type races, but we have to have an indoor plan in case of rain, so even if we planned on that, we have to have an alternative and our space inside is limited. I also thought of a scavenger hunt but that would be too hard for the little kids and I already know that ppl would not want the kids all over the library. They pretty much try to keep them down in the kid's section. So, I am at a loss.
 
x-posted to librarians
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[info]toddzgrrl02, posting in [info]library_grrls
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May. 8th, 2008 @ 05:12 am UT iSchool Admissions???
Current Mood: worried
Current Music: Cut Copy - Midnight Runner
Hi all. I'm applying to UT's MSIS program for the spring and I'm kind of nervous about my chances of getting in. I have a 3.4 or 3.5 upper division GPA and around a 1000 on my GRE though I want to bring that up over the summer. Their website is pretty vague about their usual acceptance, other than a 1250 average GRE. I'm hoping my grades will make up for the test though, but... I don't know much about the program:(

Does anyone have any knowledge of this program and their average numbers or personal experience? Can anyone calm me down about this? Thanks:)
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[info]4th_wiggin, posting in [info]libraryschool
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May. 7th, 2008 @ 02:55 pm Here's another one
  A few weeks ago, one my outstanding security officers, call him Guru in Training, sees a obvious underage girl coming into the library. Since we adhere to strict truancy laws, he asked her were her parent was? At about this time Johnny Scumbag comes in and states that it is his girlfriends daughter and it was OK becuase the mother knew she was out of school. My officer, smelling a rat, contacts one of our local beat officers who swoops on the unsuspecting couple. The jist of the story is, she is 11 and he is registered sexual predator. oh wait, it gets worse. The police call the mother of said child and she states that yes she knows Johnny scumbag is a convicted pedophiles but believes the charges are false. The young lady was supposed to be in school and mommy dearest had no idea she was out. Not to mention we watched them on camera as they held hands and whispered stuff in her ear as the walked down the street. Moral of the story, an attentive Guru is worht their weight in gold.
Oh and by the way, Johnny Scumbag was put in jail for violating his probation, guess what the stipulations were? You guessed, no kiddies.
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[info]securityguru, posting in [info]library_mofo
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May. 7th, 2008 @ 11:51 am Somedays you get the Bear...

As a Security Professional, I love librarians. You guys are so warm and fuzzy and always look for the good in people..Yuck Yuck. So here I am putting this piece of shit out of the library for just being a nuisance and carrying a weapon. All in the days work for the Mighty Security Guru. But even better is when I get to work and look at the news and find out the scumbag was caught with a naked 12 year old girl in a tent. By the way he is 24. Too which everyone was in shock. But the best part of day is the day I orignally put him out of the library a librarian actually said to me, "Can't we give him a chance?"
Librarians, if you are fortunate enough to have a Professional Security Supervisor, listen to them.

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[info]securityguru, posting in [info]library_mofo
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May. 7th, 2008 @ 10:47 am Microsoft Office Newbie Mofo
Current Mood: aggravated
I haven't posted anything on here in awhile because, frankly, I haven't had anything to complain about. But, today, I just had to post this:

( Read more )</lj-cut)
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[info]annegirl80, posting in [info]library_mofo
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May. 7th, 2008 @ 01:24 pm web 2.0 et al
Hey gang,

A few months back I posted about a project I was doing about networking amongst librarians (especially library students). I didn't follow up on it because I jumped the gun big time and ended up getting swamped with assignments (you know how it can be). The project has become a lot more focused and what I'm interested in is the usage of web 2.0 technologies (which to be honest I'm not terribly familiar with) and community building/networking amongst librarians/library students. Here in the UK there is dick-all and the minor attempts that are made to construct some sort of network generally go ignored. It appears that there is loads more happening in the US. If anyone can point me towards examples or have any experiences they would share, I would be vey grateful!

Hope the books are treating you well,
Alison
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[info]miss_burlington, posting in [info]library_grrls
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May. 7th, 2008 @ 01:59 am University of Pittsburgh FastTrack?
Current Mood: curious
I'm interested in learning more about University of Pittsburgh's FastTrack MLIS degree. I'm hoping someone here is a former or current student and can give me some more information than is on the website.

I'm specifically interested in opinions about the online degree process, the pacing of the classes (is two years too fast?), and the on-campus portions of the program (did you find them useful?).

The program seems to be a nice hybrid of on-campus and online courses, which appeals to me.

Also, is it worth it to visit the campus if it's going to be an online (mostly) degree?

Thanks!
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[info]kelandry, posting in [info]libraryschool
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