Summer is the busiest time of year in the Central Children’s Library. Actually, we are wildly busy any time school is out; the summer is just the most sustained period of busy-ness. Many of my colleagues have been preparing for summer programming since the end of March Break. All through
Continue readingTag: my working life
wmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: # 9, or why this new librarian found the reference desk a little scary
In this post, I described doing reference as “a bit scary,” and Impudent Strumpet asked why. I started to write an answer, ran out of time, then found myself on my first real shift at the reference desk! During my training and orientation weeks, I did two half-shifts at the
Continue readingwmtc: my life at the children’s library so far (plus happy birthday to me)
What a difference it makes when you enjoy going to work. What a difference when you don’t dread your job. Wow! This is what I’ve done in my new position so far. – I participated in the finale of Grade 4 Read To Succeed, in which the winning classes – the classes
Continue readingwmtc: in which i remember what big life change feels like
Even though I’m following several important news stories – from the revelations about the massive NSA domestic spying campaign to the slow-motion implosion of the Conservative Party of Canada to the show-trial of Bradley Manning – I seem unable to blog about anything but my own life. I remember two other times
Continue readingwmtc: in which i enjoy my first day as a librarian, and explain something about library work
Yesterday was my first day as a librarian! And it was great! I’m only doing orientation and training right now, but I can tell how much I’m going to enjoy this job. I love the environment; I share the same goals and many of the same values. I have concerns,
Continue readingwmtc: in which i officially become a librarian
We interrupt this travelogue to bring you an important announcement. I got my first librarian job!! This is a part-time, temporary position in the children’s department of the Central Library, where I was a page for 14 months. I am thrilled. But wait, there’s more! I also interviewed in a
Continue readingwmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: # 6
This is my first unhappy “things i heard at the library” post. Today I saw a child being abused. It happened so fast, it was over and the parent gone before I had could clearly register what had happened. I was sitting on the edge of our lighthouse, the play
Continue readingwmtc: corporate greenwashing and the myth of consumer sovereignty
One of the wonderful things about no longer working for Evil Corporate Law Firm – and there are so many! – is no longer contributing to a firm that represents some of skeeviest organizations in the world, including the Conservative Party of Canada. I’ve worked for many a skeevy law
Continue readingwmtc: now it can be told: why i have hated my job for the last four years
This is a post I’ve been waiting to write for years. I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster for the past few days. While the War Resisters Support Campaign was pulling out all the stops trying to keep Kimberly Rivera and her family in Canada, I was waiting to hear
Continue readingwmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: # 5
“Where can I find book number 285?” The boy’s face was so earnest and so excited. “What book are you looking for?” I asked. “Book number 285.” “Is that the title of the book?” “No, it’s the book’s number. The title is ‘Quick and Easy Cooking’”. “You want a book
Continue readingwmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: # 4
“Oh man, you gotta read these books! These books are the best! They’re not even really books. There are pictures! And jokes! And they’re really, really funny! And they’re super easy to read! These are the best! You gotta read these books!” The books that are “not even really books”?
Continue readingwmtc: why unions? would you rather have input into your working conditions, or not?
I’ve never understood why so many working people have it in for unions. I understand why employers don’t want unions: unions give workers input into their own working conditions. A union workplace shifts the balance from the employer having 100% of the power to the employer having some amount less
Continue readingwmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: # 3
“What are you doing?” “Putting books away.” “Why are you doing that?” “So people can find them later.” “Do you have any books about fishing?” “Books on fishing… let’s see. Oh look, here’s one with Winnie the Pooh fishing.” “I put that there!” “You did?” “I did! I put that
Continue reading