July 8, 2016

Today was an interesting day. I went to work this morning and it didn't feel like I accomplished much because I was on the desk for most of the morning. I edited a picture of Lin Manuel Miranda for my Hamilton Read Alike sign, which took awhile, and then went and grabbed a stack of books for the display. I had just enough time to go downstairs and add all of those to a record set and change their location in the system to being on a display before I had to take over the reference desk. That was unfortunate because I really wanted to get the display set up.

Throughout the morning we had one phone call about finding custody forms and two people stopped by looking for forms. I think one of those people was from the phone call, but there was apparently also someone the other day looking for custody forms. It's really odd. The first guy that came in today was a little irritated, I'm assuming with his current situation, and he took it out on everyone. He came up to the desk and asked where to get the form and when we said we weren't sure he said they had sent him up from circulation and they said we would be able to help. He wanted to know if they were lying to him downstairs. Not a great start. Then he made a comment when he asked if he could come behind the desk and I said “yes” and the other librarian said “no”, at the same time. That was my bad because I'm still no used to having the separation of a desk. We weren't able to find what he needed but he thanked me, which was good, but then he told the other librarian to have a good day and she didn't hear him because she was still trying to find information for him. So he turned around, stared at her, and said in a stern, less-than-pleasant voice “I said have a good day”, and waited for her to respond. It was awkward.

The second lady had almost the same question and I think she needed the same type of form and we were equally unhelpful. We've got a lot of stuff about statutes but nothing with forms. They both said at the courthouse they had told them they just needed one form and that it was free. They apparently didn't tell them what form or where to find it though. And the closest place I could find the book of probate forms the lady was looking for was forty-five minutes away. When I got home I texted my friend's mom to see if she knew of any place in town that would have custody forms. That isn't her specialty but I thought maybe she would have some colleagues that might know. She said she'd look into it.

I went to lunch at one o'clock and when I got back at two o'clock I did a walkthrough and was then supposed to have my first month review with my boss. She sent me home instead, after signing the form saying I had read the personnel manual. Tomorrow I technically work nine and a half hours because the administrators don't work the weekends and I will be the only librarian in the building, which means I am in charge and won't be able to leave for my lunch break. When that happens you have to take off that extra hour and a half earlier in the week. My boss had forgotten about this and I didn't remember it being mentioned in my training, although it probably was. She didn't realize this before I got back from lunch or she would have just told me not to come back. It would have been nice to not waste fifteen minutes getting back to work, and then another fifteen minutes going back home. It would have also been nice to finish my display.

I was already supposed to get off early to make up for my extra time with the conference (and I still need to make up twenty minutes next week) so with even more time I should have been that much more productive. It should be no surprise that I wasn't. I added a few more clues for the scavenger hunt and got the briefest of starts on the two blog posts I have to write about the ALA divisions I chose. Those are due Sunday and I am over thinking it to the maximum degree. The instructions are slightly confusing and the rubric is really vague, and that doesn't help. I also think that maybe in this case my over thinking is a way for my mind to be full consumed with a single thing rather than trying to juggle all of the things I need to be working on. It's not working though because over thinking leads to me becoming indecisive and then I just shut down. And doing nothing is not a great way to get stuff done.

My goal today started with finishing both blog posts. Then just one. And now my goal is to finish both of them tomorrow. There might be enough down time tomorrow at work if I can get both of my displays done, to work on one of the blog posts. If nothing else I'll have an hour at lunch to work on it. Then I can finish it up and start on the second one when I get off work. It really sucks that I have to work this weekend. There is a good chance I'll have to wake up early Sunday morning so I can finish them up before I go to work. Next week will be even busier. Can't wait.

It is now midnight and I have to wake up for work in the morning, continuing the streak of not getting enough sleep.

July 7, 2016

I woke up early this morning and got ready. After my shower I was going to text my practicum supervisor to see when the meeting was scheduled. She beat me to the punch, however, and told me there wouldn't be a meeting today. It was really tempting to go back to bed but instead I spent three hours working on the scavenger hunt. I'm now trying to change all the questions I came up with into more of a clue format. I made progress. I came up with a bunch of questions the other day and the goal is to narrow it down to twenty, so I also need to keep that in mind so I don't spend time coming up with clues for questions that won't be used.

At work I did things. Most of my day was spent coming up with book lists for display purposes. For one of them I started going with the idea of books with “Revolution” in the title because one of the other librarians suggested a Revolutionary theme due to the recent holiday. I thought my idea was clever but my boss suggested I try to go with a Hamilton theme due to the continued interest in the play. So I found a bunch of books related to the founding fathers and other people around that period. I should have plenty of books and now I just need to come up with a sign.

I also started coming up with a list for historical fiction books because that's another display I have this month. I got a decent start on that one, I think, but got distracted by other work-related things. Like helping patrons and figuring out my time sheet. The HR lady, my boss, and I finally settled on an official hour total for the ALA conference and my boss did the math to see if I was over or under on hours. I ended up only being about an hour and forty minutes over, which is impressive. To counteract that I will be leaving early tomorrow so I'll be back to even.

Tonight was my first time closing as the most senior person. Technically. There were people in circulation who have worked there way longer than me but I was technically in charge. The last time I closed as the only librarian the assistant with me had worked there longer than me so she knew what she was doing. Tonight the assistant was the new guy who was hired last week I think. On top of that, the end-of-the-night announcements weren't working over the PA system. They would come on but you could only kind of hear them if you were standing directly under a speaker. When those announcements don't work it is the job of the adult services librarian to read the script over the PA system. I tried that and it was equally quiet so I went with the other option which was a combination of the PA system and the speakerphone of every phone in the building. The phones were way more audible than the PA system but still quiet and really only audible for people near a phone. It wasn't very useful for patrons not near a desk. Regardless, I made the announcements anyway, and felt like an idiot. The PA system has been broken for three days now and I am hoping it gets fixed tomorrow because I also have to close Saturday and Sunday.

On my way home I got behind a pack of cars that seemed to all be engaged in a 35mph race on a road where the posted speed limit is 45mph. We should have all been going 50mph. The saddest part was that there were two school buses pulling away from the pack with every passing second. In what world are school buses the fastest thing on the road?

When I got home I ironed a pair of pants, somewhat successfully, and then spent the next two hours reading the last fifty pages of the personnel manual. I have a meeting with my boss tomorrow and have to sign the form saying I read the manual, and I didn't want to lie about that. I also think I need to know what I want all of the tech classes to be this Fall. Yikes. I might just have to wing that one.

Now I'm going to bed because it is midnight and I am freaking tired. I'm falling behind on sleep and it's going to be awhile before I can catch up. I need to keep squeezing in practicum hours and I also need to write two blog posts for my ALA conference class by Sunday. Good grief.

July 6, 2016

In my tired state last night I forgot to mention that last night was Chipotle night. All new people were working so I didn't end up with enough food in my bowl for two meals, just enough for me to kind of regret eating all of it. Following dinner I showed YouTube videos and then the pictures I took in Orlando. Then a couple hours were spent starting the setup process for my mom's new phone. It didn't go perfectly smoothly so the process was not completed. The rest of my night was kind of blown working on that and we didn't even finish. I could have transferred her number to the new phone but she doesn't have a screen protector yet and I didn't want to take off the plastic currently covering the screen because then I would have to clean the screen in a couple days when the screen protector arrives. I also wanted to make sure I got everything backed up and moved over to the new phone. So she's going to keep using her old phone until we get all that sorted out.

This morning I woke up way earlier than I would have liked so that I could be at work by eight o'clock. This was my first time opening during the week. It's pretty much the same as the weekend but we don't have to count money, so it's easier. I close this weekend and it has been a couple weeks so I'm actually going to have to remember how to do all of the money stuff.

Today was a productive day at work. I made a personalized reading list for a patron, I added more DVDs to my display because several of them have been checked out, I updated the chat statistics spreadsheet, I learned how to process homebound books (which I think I may have done a bit of for my homebound patrons but it felt entirely different today), and I did other things that aren't coming to mind at the moment. I filled my day.

Near the end of my shift the HR lady came over to talk about my hours at the conference. I had given her the very detailed chart with all the time for each session and travel but it turns out she didn't need it that detailed. We're apparently counting from the start of the first session to the end of the last session, which on most days equaled more than eight hours. It actually seems to make things way more complicated than it needs to be. The libraries that my classmates work for just paid them for eight hours every day, nice and simple. I am now getting paid for more than that which makes figuring out how much time I need to add or subtract from my actual time at work much more confusing. I know that I was at the convention center for more than eight hours most days but I think I would prefer just counting it as eight hours to make things easier for everyone. Unless doing it this way means I get to take an extra day off or get to leave early some day, because I could use that for my practicum and schoolwork. If it ends up meaning I need to make up hours, I'm going to be annoyed.

On my breaks at work today I worked on my scavenger hunt questions. And after dinner I continued working on it, getting in about three hours today. That brings me up to eight hours so far this week, which means I only have fourteen and a half hours to go this week. Good grief. I finished up the draft of my scavenger

July 5, 2016

This morning I woke up, got ready, and headed to campus. I had a brief meeting with my practicum supervisor and we probably spent an equal amount of time talking about the ALA conference and the assessment project. I think the plan is for her to send me all the Excel files so I can combine all the data and make it look better. I believe we're also supposed to have another meeting on Thursday because the other librarian will be back in the office and we haven't had a meeting with all of us in quite awhile.

Following the meeting I spent about three hours wandering around the library and coming up with possible questions/hints for the scavenger hunt. I started at a computer on the third floor so I could use a computer and look up stuff on the library's website on an actual screen, not just my phone. Then I spent quite awhile in the stacks, covering two or three different levels, trying to come up with stuff. One of the ideas is for the students to look up a book in the catalog and then find it in the stacks. I wasn't sure what book I wanted to pick, and went through a few different ones, but then I had the idea for Laurel & Hardy. I checked the library catalog on my phone and found that they had a few books in the stacks, on the level I was currently on, so I tracked them down. There were three books about them right next to each other (I think they had more stored off-site) and I went with one that was filled with pictures from all their different films. I don't imagine it is a book that is checked out too frequently so along with having them find it I kind of also want them to look in the book and answer what film is featured on page ninety-nine. The answer is Brats, and I chose it because it is one of my favorites. If the book is checked out they would just have to take a picture of where the book should be on the shelves. After that I wandered all over the library. I went to the fourth floor and included taking pictures of vinyl, CDs, and DVDs. I went to the fifth floor for pictures of the special collection displays and the statue. And I went down to the first floor for periodicals. I also have several items where the students would need to use the library website. I feel like I have the beginnings of a good scavenger hunt.

After leaving campus and before heading home, I went and got my oil changed. Turns out I was almost two-hundred miles over my little sticker. And several months past the little sticker. I can't imagine ever hitting the mileage before the month on the sticker. Anyway, I got my oil changed and as part of the service they also filled up my tires, so I'm all good again on that front.

I managed not to accomplish anything the rest of the day. I've definitely hit that lull in productive activity caused by an overwhelming amount of stress. It's rough. I'm feeling guilty about work because I really feel like I'm just putting in the bare minimum. I'm too stressed out by all the other stuff in my life at the moment to really devote much energy to my job. Although I am focused while at work and I'm not supposed to work on work stuff when I'm not at work, something that has been stressed multiple times, so maybe I'm doing alright. But I doubt it. I'm also stressed out by the hours needed for my practicum. I feel like it should be centered around my projects rather than the time I spend on them, kind of like school, and work (sometimes). My goal should be finishing my two big projects, not reaching a certain number of hours. But I get it. I think the idea is to treat it more like a job where you're clocking in and out, putting in your time. Something I would have appreciated more if I wasn't also juggling a full-time job and other schoolwork. Speaking of, schoolwork is also stressing me out. I've got blog posts due this weekend and I also have to work this weekend. I don't have a day off until next Tuesday, which means I'm going to have to find the motivation to work on those after getting home from work. Can't wait.

My most recent distraction has been skateboards, more accurately, cruiser boards. Prior to this distraction I was distracted by fountain pens and paper, and I am still into that stuff but I don't have any time to write. I also don't have any time to skateboard, which is fine because I also don't know how to skateboard. But I have always wanted to learn and that is all my brain needs to embrace the idea and run with it, in order to avoid the more pressing responsibilities in my life. I think, if I survive the summer, my graduation present to myself will be a skateboard. I had one as a kid and never learned to ride it, but maybe if I put the time into getting a decent board that actually works, I will be motivated enough to learn. Not any tricks or anything, because I don't want to kill myself. I just want to learn how to ride.

Now I'm going to go to bed because it is 11:30PM and I have to get up early for work. My boss wanted me to experience opening during the week so she scheduled me at eight o'clock tomorrow instead of nine o'clock. I'm not a fan of that but at least I'll get off at five o'clock instead of six o'clock, so that's something.

July 4, 2016

 I kind of did things today. I wrote a discussion post for my capstone class and I wrote an initial, summary reflection for my practicum class. I also put in about an hour on my practicum, coming up with possible scavenger hunt questions/hints. That's not as much as I would have liked to accomplish but way more than I thought I would.

When I wasn't doing that stuff I looked at skateboards and pre-ordered No Man's Sky. I have been psyched for that game since I first learned of it and I was excited when it got delayed until August. In theory I will be done with school by then and only have my job to worry about, which means I will have time to lose myself in that game for a bit. I also renewed my ALA membership today and I was able to join PLA, LITA, LIRT, LRRT, GAMERT, and NMRT. I am looking forward to being able to become more active in at least one or two of those groups as soon as I finish school.

Tonight we watched fireworks out on the back deck. There were way more fireworks than last year and way less mosquitoes, so it was pretty cool. The weather was pretty muggy, especially for being late at night, and almost reminded me of Florida. I guess tomorrow it is supposed to get up to 100 degrees which I am not looking forward to. I planned on spending the day at home and working on stuff but then my phone reminded me that I have a meeting scheduled on campus tomorrow. I believe it is about the assessment project. That should be a good thing because maybe that project will get started. And it will give me a chance to wander around the library and come up with more questions/hints for the scavenger hunt. I need to get 22.5 hours a week for the next four weeks for my practicum. On top of 40 hours a weeks for my actual job and all the time I will need to work on my other classes. July is going to be a stressful month.

Now I'm going to go to bed because it is after midnight and I have to wake up early for my meeting. I love waking up early.

July 3, 2016

 I slept for nine hours last night and it was pretty satisfying. I would like to do the same thing tonight. I once again didn't really accomplish anything today. I am going to regret these days in the coming weeks when I am running out of time and super stressed out.

I watched YouTube videos and spent about an hour looking at Twinery.org, which is something I learned about at the conference. It is an open source program “for telling interactive, nonlinear stories.” So basically choose your own adventure stories. Someone at the conference used it for library instruction and I thought it would be interesting to use it for the freshman orientation I'm working on for my practicum. I still need to come up with the scavenger hunt questions, which is my current job, but I thought once that was done it would be fun to try and integrate that into a choose your own adventure type of story. I'm getting a bit ahead of myself, probably trying to avoid my current responsibilities, but I'm getting ideas for the future. I'm going to need more hours for my practicum and if I can get the scavenger hunt done I can definitely sink some time into creating a choose your own adventure.

I spent a lot of time looking at backpacks and bags today. I don't need a new backpack or bag (especially because I just bought a new bag that I really like) but it is apparently my new distraction. I also spent time looking into Penny Boards, which are small plastic skateboards. Over the past several months I have watched a lot of skateboarding-related videos. I've also been into skateboarding my entire life. But I have never actually skateboarded. I had one when I was a kid but I only ever rode on it down the driveway while sitting on it. My body would not hold up well to a fall and that has always been enough of a deterrent to not get on a skateboard. Recently, however, I have become more intrigued with the idea of getting a skateboard and learning to ride, as a form of transportation rather than something to do tricks on. I don't really need one for transportation but I think it would be fun. So every now and then I look. A Penny Board would be nice just for it's compact size (both the original or the slightly larger nickel board) but I also like the big cruiser boards or longboards. And there is also a regular skateboard. I'll probably never get one but it is fun to entertain the idea.

Now I'm going to go to bed. Tomorrow I actually need to accomplish things. I need to put in some time with my practicum and I need to write stuff for my classes. I've got discussion posts for my capstone, blog posts for my conference class, and a reflection for my practicum. At least a tiny fraction of that needs to happen tomorrow.

July 2, 2016

 I slept until eleven o'clock today, which sounds like sleeping-in but due to being up late last night I only got the normal amount of sleep. And the normal amount of sleep was not enough. I've been exhausted all day and even took a nap at my desk. Two naps actually. One leaning back in my chair with my feet on my desk, and one with my head on my desk. I should have just gone back to bed but then I probably wouldn't have gotten out of it. Not that it really would have mattered because I didn't do anything today.

I watched YouTube videos and clicked around the internet and tried to stay awake. I don't know if my trip is catching up with me or if being overwhelmed with all the work I need to do is manifesting itself in physical exhaustion. Or maybe the mental exhaustion from being overwhelmed is causing physical exhaustion. It's probably a mix of all of the above.

Regardless, I have a whole bunch of stuff I need to do and I didn't do any of it today. I just kind of zoned out and the day disappeared. It's now eleven o'clock and it feels like I just woke up. And I'm ready to go back to sleep.