Great News

So, I haven't posted in a little while.  I'm sorry.  I want to post at least twice a week, but with everything going on that hasn't been happening lately.  It may not happen in the near future either.  I have a job.  At Murray State University.  As a reference librarian.  With Business liaison (I really like that word for some reason) duties.  I'm an emergency hire (which means if they just hate me or I suck at my job, they can get rid of me next year), but I'm not worrying about that right now.  I'm gonna bust my ass.  Hopefully, that'll work in my favor come Spring.

The paperwork is mostly done.  I actually started work on July 1st.  I'm not allowed to mess with the tech stuff yet (have to go through all the HR stuff next week), but I did get to settle in a little.  One of the reference librarians showed me around and walked me through a few things.  The librarians and staff are just great.  They don't mind answering my silly questions and seem pretty relaxed as a group.  They all seem to get along and play off each others' strengths and weaknesses.  It's nice to see a group of people mesh that way.  I've worked several jobs where the people did not get along as a group and couldn't get work done.  MSU is way different.  I already feel included and like my work will be valued.  It's a damn nice feeling. 

I've got lots to do this Summer and during the Fall semester.  I've got an entire set of LibGuides to play with, accreditation work, instruction duties, reference duties, collection development duties, etc.  I'm also going to be working with a couple (few, dozen, ?) committees.  I find I don't mind the prospect as much as I thought.  Throughout all of this, I'm going to be working on some of my own research and attempting publication at some point. 

I'm overwhelmed, overjoyed, and looking forward to this coming week.  I'm excited and nervous all at the same time, and it's got my stomach all in knots.  But it's wonderful.  I love library work.  Especially academic library work.  It just never feels like "work" to me.  I get to help people find info, help people learn how to find their own info, research, write, contribute, and feel productive.  And I don't have to stay in one spot at a little cubicle all day.  I have various duties that keep me moving (mentally and physically).  It's just...wonderful.  So damn wonderful. 

Ok.  I'm done with the sparkly-eyed wonder of finally being an academic librarian.  I'm sure I'll find something to bitch about this semester.  Life's no fun without a few complaints.  :)

I'll try to keep up with posting.  Maybe a few things from my work.  But I'm focusing on the reference position, so the blog comes second.  I'm hoping I can blog on the weekends, but I make no promises.

Happy Fourth of July!

Personal Happy Post

So, I was all freaking out about my 29^th birthday.  It’s one year from 30, boo hoo.  Woe is me. 

But apparently 29 is going to be an awesome year.  I got asked out while walking the corgi pup, I’m tan, I have a job, I got asked out again at an auto parts store, I figured out how to recharge the AC in my car all by myself, I helped start a community garden, I got a job, I got a Kindle (thanks Hubby), I found some wonderful art by a local artist, I got a job, a new accessory store opened in the mall, I have wonderful shoes, I got a job, and I got a job.  And all that’s been in the last ten days.  Seriously, I’m employed!  At an academic library!  I actually had to turn down another potential job in order to take this one.  How awesome is that? 

I met with the reference team and the Dean last Thursday.  They are such a cool bunch of people.  The Dean was helping move shelves for frack’s sake.  I’ve only met a few people in higher up positions willing to do grunt work.  It’s nice to see.  They’ve got so many things going on right now.  The library is getting some renovations, including some new tech.  I’m really excited about working at this place.  And I’m nervous.  I always do this.  I get nervous.  Then, the first day I’m all badass and sassy.  I’ll be fine.  I’ll post more about this once all the paper work goes through.

Oh, I also received a copy of The Digital Cuttlefish Omnibus for my birthday (thanks Mom).  In celebration of such fantabulousness, I am posting a pic of a truly geeked out collection of cephalopod paraphernalia. 

Yes, I will be wearing that necklace.

I'll be back soon with more library topics.  I'm in the middle of a few at home projects I need to get out of the way. 

Early B-day Present

I got a Kindle!!! My hubby just gave me my b-day present early. Bloody hell! I got a Kindle!!!!!!!!!!!

It's the End of the World as We Know It! Or Not.

I had a wonderful day yesterday.  My neighbors, their kids, and I dug up a garden bed for a small community garden.  I've got blisters and bug bites.  :)

We decided pizza and beer would be a great idea last night.  We all wanted to celebrate the world not ending in addition to the garden.  I didn't come inside until about four this morning, so I'm tired and sore.  But I feel accomplished about the garden.  And snarky about the world not ending.  I guess all those rapture morons will have to wait for the sun to go flooy just like everyone else.

I Can Haz Job?

I have an interview in about an hour.  Nervous but wearing a fabulous dress.  :) 

I've actually snagged the possibility of a couple more interviews in the coming weeks at more libraries.  I'm excited!

Update

It's raining AGAIN.  But we're not flooded at my location.  And the crazies have remained indoors the last few nights, which means no more shootings as mentioned in my previous post. 

I know I shouldn't bitch about these things given what happened with the storms and tornadoes in recent days. 

I'm lucky compared to many people, and I am very happy about that.  I hope all those in the way of harm are able to pick their lives back up after all this is over.

Now that my internet is acting almost normal (the storms play havoc with my connection) I'll be posting some library related postings.  I even have one to post tonight!

On top of storms and flooding, we get this

The Ohio River is flooding.  Paducah has put all the flood gates in place along the flood wall.  The river might get to near record levels.  I'm safe enough from the river, although our street flooded a few mornings back.  And some of the streets closer to the river were evacuated.

We've had nasty storms and strong winds.  The Hubby's folks are trapped in their tiny town.  All the roads to their town have been closed and the back roads are flooded.  Murray State University actually closed down yesterday due to the high winds, storms, and power outages.  And my Mother lost her favorite (and her puppy's favorite) tree.  It was a gigantic oak tree, and the wind just tore it up by the roots.  All's left is a big gaping hole in the ground. 

And on top of all this we just had another shooting on my street. 

And I come from a region of gun owners.  My husband is a gun owner.  So, I know the difference between gunfire and fire crackers (in case anybody wondered).  The neighbors also heard the shots.  Luckily, the cops are down the block on what looks like a drug bust in one of the apartment buildings.  I'm so sick of apartment living.

This wasn't that bad of a neighborhood.  We live near a main road, near the park for frack's sake.  The city of Paducah can't have more than 25,000 people.  And yet we have a rather constant crime spree down the side streets.  The people who aren't dealing illegal stuff are dealing in the legal drugs (mostly pain meds in this area).

People are crazy.  Why does anyone feel the need to fire off a gun in a residential area?  Oh, right, drugs.  I don't care what people do in the privacy of their own homes.  Really, I don't.  Just don't bring your crack/meth/pot dealing selves out in the street.  Stay inside and put the guns away. 

I was going to post some class summaries I had finally typed up, but you know what?  Screw it.  I'm going to bed (which is well below window level). 

If I manage to wake up in a less than uber-anxious state, I may post some actual library related write-ups before I head out with a friend to a chocolate tasting in Murray.  If I wake up scared out of my mind and freaking out, I'll be huddled in a corner all day with the corgi-pup (and the Hubby when he gets home from work).  I don't worry about the cats.  The cats can fend for themselves.

Oh, and before the gunfire, I linked to some more blogs (look to your right) related to library and information science topics.  Go read in your safe cozy homes and feel sorry for me.  I could use some sympathy right about now.  :(

Bibliotherapy? Woo or Valid Practice?

I picked up my copy of American Libraries from the ALA today.  I came across a topic I’d never seen before: bibliotherapy. 

Bibliotherapy is defined simply enough as therapy with books.  It has some links to poetry therapy and is touted by some children’s librarians.  Apparently, it has a long history in the United States.  But something about it had my skeptic senses tingling near overload. 

I decided to conduct a simple search using Academic Search Premier-a general database I have access to through the University of Kentucky.  I typed in “bibliotherapy” into the search box and managed to get 374 hits dated from 1949 to 2011.  I narrowed the search by requesting only scholarly (peer-reviewed) resources.  This dropped the number of records down to 299 in that same date range.  To narrow the search again, I utilized the subject term “bibliotherapy” from the sidebar.  At this point, I had 184 results.  I decided to browse through the abstracts.

The abstracts discussed the use of bibliotherapy for childhood depression, adult depression, alcoholism, anxiety, gambling addiction, geriatric care, etc.  Several of the articles focused on the use of “self-help” books.  The other thing I noticed, and this is the biggie, is that most of the study abstracts indicated bibliotherapy only works, or works better, when it is combined with other means of therapy-like counseling or medication.  And some of the studies that indicated it did work were very small.  Before I’d buy this, I’d need large study groups and definite controls.  Compare bibliotherapy for depression against medication, and then show me the results. 

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I know reading and books open worlds and provide a wonderful means of engaging the mind and imagination.  They are great escapes.  They can be inspirational and pull readers out of the issues plaguing their minds.  However, I don’t think reading is necessarily the best way to fix mental problems.  And I really think “self-help” books are mostly a load of bull.  Reading fiction, true-life stories, biographies, textbooks, etc. all open up a reader’s world.  Books expand minds and introduce us to new ideas.  They show us worlds we might not otherwise be able to access.  But, self-help books? Really?  That’s what’s going to solve depression and anxiety?  Most of those books are wishy-washy and over-priced, telling readers to “look on the bright side” or “imagine your perfect life, and it’ll happen” or “mind over matter” and on and on.  Some of them talk about souls and angels and all manner of woo that won’t do your brain any good at all. 

Think about this for a minute.  Who decides what the main problem is?  Who selects the books?  Are we talking trained psychologists?  Or children’s librarians?  I think these issues are important.  I don’t want the local librarian psychoanalyzing and treating me or my kid.  I want a therapist or someone with credentials.  In some ways I can see bibliotherapy as harmless.  It’s like homeopathy that way.  It might not hurt even if it doesn’t help.  But then I think about the possibility that people with detrimental problems, not just teen angst or temporary depression, might be talked into bibliotherapy when what they need is counseling and medication.  That bothers me.  It bothers me a great deal.

My Hubby and I watched his brother go through depression and multiple attempts on his own life before he finally committed suicide.  A self-help book wasn’t going to help him.  Medication and therapy were helping, but there were other circumstances causing problems (we found out later).  This guy wasn’t illiterate.  He read, he painted, he was a pharmacist, he had a sense of humor and a love of fantasy and science fiction. 

And on another personal note, I suffer from minor depression and anxiety.  I’m a reader.  I’ve read the self-help books.  I’ve connected with characters going through similar problems.  But that didn’t get me over my problems.  You know what did?  Medication.  It gives me the mental space I need to be strong.  It stabilizes those wonky chemicals that get out of balance due to genetics and/or life circumstances.  We’ve all had days with the bad brain chemicals.  Some of us end up with more bad days than others.  It doesn’t even take an overly strong medicine or a high dose to balance me out.  But without that tiny chemical push in the right direction, I don’t balance.  And books become an escape at that point, not a way through my depression.

Now, those are my personal experiences.  I’m not an expert on this subject.  I haven’t dug through the studies.  My gut reaction to this and my reaction to the brief perusal of the article abstracts could be way off.  Maybe, bibliotherapy works.  But I need more convincing.  If any of my readers have any thoughts or info on this topic, let me know.  I’m in need of some educating.   

And to be fair, I have found one self-help item that actually helps.

Life Update

I thought I’d post an update on how life is going. 

My to-do list for the blog keeps getting longer.  I’m gonna have to stop myself at some point.  I do have the items on my list planned out (even when I’m not employed I live my life by day planner), but it may take a few weeks to get everything I want posted.  At least I won’t run out of blog material in the near future. 

The weather in Kentucky is still crazy.  Three days ago it was lovely.  Two days ago it was uber hot.  And yesterday we had thunderstorms with tornadoes and hail.  The temperature dropped, and I woke up freezing this morning.  Then, today decided to be sunny and in the fifty-degree range.  All of this crazy weather makes my joints ache and causes sinus problems, which makes me dizzy.  Then, I get slightly annoyed and frustrated, which leads to anxiety, then apathy.  So, I sit around boring myself or trying to cheer myself up with lolcats (I know, I know).  Then, I feel unproductive and make extra long to-do lists and trudge my way through all the library job lists I can find.  And, then, I still feel unproductive. 

Luckily, I have a fix for the next day or two.

I’m getting ready to sit through two pre-recorded American Library Association webinars.  One of them focuses on budget issues.  The second focuses on weeding collections.  I’ll take notes and post about the experience here in the next day or two.

I did get the corgi-pup brushed and cleaned today.  Anyone who owns a Corgi will understand what a massive accomplishment (and pain in the ass) that is without the help of a professional groomer.  The corgi-pup’s regular (and totally favorite) groomer got her hand caught in a leash attached to an uber-crazy dog that decided to drag her across a room.  She’s still not sure when she’ll be back to grooming.  Corgi-pup had a sad face after learning of her groomer’s unfortunate injury and demanded peanut butter biscuits to improve her mood.

She means business

Update and a New To-Do List

I’m not going to promise a Monday Summary tonight.  I have several articles selected, but I’ve had a busy weekend and can’t seem to get the sleepies out of my system today. 

My mother-in-law had surgery Friday.  Doctors discovered she had breast cancer last year and she had a single mastectomy.  They finally decided to remove the other breast this year (after she asked and kept having calcifications).  Her chances of the cancer coming back are significantly lower with both breasts gone, so she had another mastectomy on March 25^th.  We spent several hours visiting Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  She’s doing great.  She went home today and is handling things pretty well.  She’s still got quite a few treatments to finish up, but we think she’s out of the woods.  Her hair is also finally growing back-she’s got one of those pixie cuts going on right now.

My hubby was also on call last week.  He stays on call from 6am until 11pm for seven days straight.  It’s very annoying and stressful.  I’m just glad he’s not on call 24/7.  However, it made the weekend just that much crazier on an emotional level. 

And it’s frackin cold again.  It was all sunny and warm and then, BAM, freezing nights and lots of cold rain.  Crazy Kentucky weather.  *grumbles*

We did get our television fixed and my Mother is coming out tonight.  Mom, Hubby, and I may just veg out in front of the TV with zombie movies and popcorn.

I am going to leave a little to-do list up.  It tends to get my butt moving on my projects.  So, here’s what I’m working on for the blog:

·       Course Summaries:  My MSLS degree courses deserve some mention, so I’m putting together some VERY BRIEF summaries of the courses

·       Monday Summaries and Friday Fallacies

·       EBooks:  I’d like to post a few comments regarding eBooks in the future

·       Databases:  I’m going to review a database or two every week starting in a couple weeks

·       Information Literacy and Critical Thinking Course Syllabus:  I’ve got all sorts of ideas for course layouts I’ll be attempting to post

·       Research:  I’m working on updating a bibliography on video games and critical thinking.  I’m also looking into some other topics, such as information literacy and critical thinking in libraries, violence and libraries, etc.

·       Reference Questions:  Believe it or not, I get reference questions all the time.  I’m not employed as a librarian at the moment, but I still seem to be the go-to person for reference.  Hell, I have people I’ve never met sending me questions through friends and family.  I’ll be posting some summaries of the interesting ones with patron permission.

A Wonderful Day

Bourbon and Coke with strawberry pie (courtesy of Hubby’s aunt).  Corgi-pup and Bengal-boy both got walked.  I met a nice lady with a Kindle.  And the weather is delightful.  All in all, it was a wonderful day.

And, I managed applications for three jobs.  This is good, considering all the letters I have to write and research I have to conduct in order to apply.

Now, if I can get my television fixed (waiting on a part), I’ll be a perfectly happy camper.  I miss my zombie movies and my zombie games.  I miss my zombies.

Yes, I know I’m weird.  But weirdness is good.  Weirdness is fun.

I’ll have a Monday Summary ready tomorrow.  Stay tuned.