4.23.2004
Love is in the Air
There's nothing like www.lovecalculator.com to get preteens all giggly and jiggly.
There's nothing like www.lovecalculator.com to get preteens all giggly and jiggly.
4.08.2004
Last night as I was closing one of my favorite kids burst into my area and ran around all the computers. I asked him what he was looking for, and as he turned around to face me, he burst into whacking sobs. I panicked a little and asked if he was okay, did something happen, tell me why you're so upset.
"I *sob* lost *sob* my *sob* backpack!"
It broke my heart immediately. My ten-year-old self would have behaved in the exact same way if I had lost my backpack. What else does a kid have that is his and his alone? If he's like other kids here he keeps his money and all his valuables (printed copies of hip hop stars, trading cards, library card) in his backpack. On top of that my parents would have unhappily driven me back to the library while lecturing me the whole about keeping track of my things.
We're not supposed to touch the kids, but I found myself putting my arm around his shoulders. I told him that we'll go ask at the circ desk because that's where people turn in lost stuff. He could barely walk over to the desk with all his crying. Sure enough, another kid turned in his bag and all his stuff was inside. "Thank *sob* you *sob*!"
"I *sob* lost *sob* my *sob* backpack!"
It broke my heart immediately. My ten-year-old self would have behaved in the exact same way if I had lost my backpack. What else does a kid have that is his and his alone? If he's like other kids here he keeps his money and all his valuables (printed copies of hip hop stars, trading cards, library card) in his backpack. On top of that my parents would have unhappily driven me back to the library while lecturing me the whole about keeping track of my things.
We're not supposed to touch the kids, but I found myself putting my arm around his shoulders. I told him that we'll go ask at the circ desk because that's where people turn in lost stuff. He could barely walk over to the desk with all his crying. Sure enough, another kid turned in his bag and all his stuff was inside. "Thank *sob* you *sob*!"
4.05.2004
Random Stuff
A 10 year old boy recommends that I ready Carolyn Haywood's Betsy series. They're "fabulous" he insists. He has to do a book report and asked my advice for other titles just like Betsy. It must be at least 100 pages but not more than 110 because that would be too much. After pointing out quite possibly every J Fic title he settles on School Story by Andrew Clemens.
A teen couple finally asks me for help. They're looking for Where the Sidewalk Ends, which amazingly is available and on the shelf. The guy then asks for "the other one" - "I think it's called Flowers in the Attic."
The staff called the po-lice in the early evening. A group of older teens rushed into the teen center and asked "Miss, why the feds?" I had no idea at the time, but oh, lemme take a stab at it. Perhaps the almost daily verbal harassment of staff and customers in the library. The loitering out front and blocking the entrance for others. Maybe it's the frequent vandalism. Or, wait, the pot smoking behind the library. (Hey you Mr. Big Coolie tokin at the liberry, yes we can see you.) It could also be that every damn day a customer bitches about kids running wild in the library. We have no security. We have no social workers, assistant principals, or guidance counselors on staff. We are librarians.
A 10 year old boy recommends that I ready Carolyn Haywood's Betsy series. They're "fabulous" he insists. He has to do a book report and asked my advice for other titles just like Betsy. It must be at least 100 pages but not more than 110 because that would be too much. After pointing out quite possibly every J Fic title he settles on School Story by Andrew Clemens.
A teen couple finally asks me for help. They're looking for Where the Sidewalk Ends, which amazingly is available and on the shelf. The guy then asks for "the other one" - "I think it's called Flowers in the Attic."
The staff called the po-lice in the early evening. A group of older teens rushed into the teen center and asked "Miss, why the feds?" I had no idea at the time, but oh, lemme take a stab at it. Perhaps the almost daily verbal harassment of staff and customers in the library. The loitering out front and blocking the entrance for others. Maybe it's the frequent vandalism. Or, wait, the pot smoking behind the library. (Hey you Mr. Big Coolie tokin at the liberry, yes we can see you.) It could also be that every damn day a customer bitches about kids running wild in the library. We have no security. We have no social workers, assistant principals, or guidance counselors on staff. We are librarians.
