Sunday, November 15, 2009

Things and Stuff

It is now Mid November and my programs are almost finished. I don't have to much planned for December except for a few Story times for schools and day cares. I'm very hesitant about going to these locations because I'm pregnant, and kids are dirty. My Doctor who is in Quebec(vive le Quebec) doesn't want me near kids. She said that if I worked in Quebec I would of been pulled out of work immediately. Wow, Imagine being off work for 9 months then 1 year?? Dream come true, since I feel like I've been working full time my whole life. Anyhoo, not the case for Ontario workers. I have to go to work. She did write me a note to give to my boss, stating that I should not be around kids. I would feel like a wimp or a hypochondriac if I were to actually take advantage of that. But we'll see!!!
On another note, I had my first meeting with the boys book club and it turned out to be really fun, because I'm like a 12 year old boy myself, so we got along great. I gave them the option of choosing their next book, and they chose a R. L Stine book titled "boarding school and the big blueberry barf off! I figured that would be right up their ally. Of course, what I feared the most happened. I got an e-mail from an upset parent telling me the book wasn't appropriate for her boys and that I should choose a "classic". I should mention that these are home schooled kids, and I was worried that the parents would want me to give them an English class. English was my worst subject, so I was not prepared to do that nor should I, I'm not a teacher.
Anyways, I said to myself "I don't want to read any of the classics why would the boys"? What was I going to do? The fun was going to end. So, I got some advice from a very smart and diplomatic librarian and she said to tell the parent that the book club was for recreational reading and a chance for the boys to socialize. I was like" yes brilliant. Otherwise, I would fought back with words I would of regretted later and canceled the book club. I can be feisty! Instead, I laid my ground and I wasn't going to do something I didn't want to. Turns out the parent was very gracious and didn't realize the goal of the book club. She said that she would herself introduce "classics" to her boys during school time. Perfect!
It's not always easy dealing with parents. They have certain expectations from the library and staff. But really we are there to promote the love of reading and help people find these great books and important information, NOT TEACH!

Monday, October 12, 2009

gaming and boys book club

I have two pretty fun activities coming up at the end of October, which I was a little hesitant about doing at first. However, after getting a couple of kids to help me set up the Wii, I realized what an easy program to have running at the library. It's 1 1/2 hour long event, and all I have to do is make sure the little rug rats don't steal anything. Eventually, I would like to get one of those steal proof cabinets for the Wii and then I wouldn't have to worry about a thing. So, yeh for gaming at the library.
The other event is a boys book club, which will also turn out to be fun. I was worried that I would of have to know everything about boys books, which I don't. I hate fantasy, and mystery, and I didn't think jack Kerouac's drug induced stories would be appropriate for these boys. I'll wait until they are a least twelve. Anyways, I asked around and got some ideas about what 8-10 year old boys like, and I think I can handle it. I decided to start with the Time Warp Trio series, which packs in adventure and history, which I like very much. We are reading one book a month, and going to let the kids choose the other books.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

End of Summer

So, the end is near. Thank God~! I know, I should'nt wish for summer to be over, but please send your kids back to school, now! Vanier library has been very busy the last couple of months. We are located beside a day camp, so the camp counsellors like to dump their kids on me twice a day. The kids are not interested in reading, they would much rather scream and play tag. What else would you do in a library? It's very frustrating, because they don't even take out books. So, I have nothing to prove statistically that the library gets turned upside down twice a day, and us workers have to pick up after them.
I have to say with all the bustle, I met some really cool kids over the summer. I have kids from Wabano Aboriginal Centre for health, who come for my weekly Summer Reading Club activities. they are seriously funny kids, and my new source of comedic material.

In other news, I get to go on vacation up North to Iqaluit for a week. I will be kayaking, boating, mountain biking and hiking. I can't wait. My wonderful friend Jen sent me a ticket to go visit her. She's so generous. The last time I went was in January, so it will look completely different this time around. She talks about a river, but I didn't see any last time. Oh yeah, here's the kicker!My boss, who I should be getting away from, will be staying right next door to Jen's place at the bed and breakfast. It's purely coincidence, and our vacation will only be overlapping for 2 days. We do plan on going for a hike or visiting the Iqaluit library, because that's what librarians do on vacation. Visit other libraries. NERDS



Friday, May 8, 2009

Francophonie

Alex and I did a little promoting today outside of the Vanier Library. A few hundred kids came to the park to celebrate La Francophonie. This was the perfect opportunity to promote and talk about the summer reading club, which is themed AGENT 009, detectives and spies.
Although, it's my first year with the whole SRC experience, I'm glad that the theme is a good one. I didn't realize until now, all the work that went into these summer reading clubs. When I asked Alex to give me a brief explanation about the SRC, I couldn't believe the planning I was going to have to do. Eight weeks of activities!! I was like "^%#%&". Then I was like "*&^", seriously? For real?
I figured my summer, my summer was going to be consumed with this SRC. However, I later calmed down, and Alex said I can do whatever I want in terms of planning activities. Thank gaawd! So, I brought it down a notch and hopefully it will work out good, and I can still go on holidays this summer! Pheewf!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Months and Months

Wow, I almost abandoned this blogging crap, but lots has happened in the library world since, so I figured I would give you an update. We had the Author Frieda Washinsky come and do a reading for some kids from the Islamic school, and the from Assumption Catholic School. Frieda did a great job presenting and reading from some of her books. Although, she was unhappy with the mattress at her hotel, I think she enjoyed Ottawa.
We had a week long Cabane a Sucre festival here in the Parc Richelieu. The weather could of been nicer, but overall there was a good turn out. Over 1000 people came through the library that weekend, mostly due to Rays Reptiles. So, I spent a lot of time schmoozing and cleaning bathrooms. During that same week, we had an inauguration for a new Program called HIPPY. It's a free program for parents, to encourage them to read to their children before they start school. The library looked fantastic that day, and we had tons of people, reporters, and some TV crews. It was all very exciting. Earlier this week, french author Martine Latulippe came to Vanier to do 3 sessions of readings. I invited 3 different schools, and they all loved her. She was sooo nice, and we got to spend a little time together. When Vanier hosts authors it's interesting toto get to know them. For instance, I got to hang out with Meg Tilly(famous actress now author)back in September and she gave me some advice about men. It was pretty funny!
Today, on the last day of April I went to the Islamic school down the street to read stories to the whole school in honor of the readathon. I love the kids at that school, they have such big characters for little people. They are also highly intelligent and are constantly testing me on my knowledge of books, which is not that great. I only started getting into children's literature recently, due to my new job.
I'm pretty much loving it.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Alright Alright facebook!

I already have a facebook account, but I use an alias, and I have no friends. I would like to keep it that way, because facebook is a complete waste of time. I used to be an active member when facebook was first on the scene. However, they booted me off because I was using the alias Assbook Finckelstein, and they threatened to kick me off unless I used my real name. So, off I went and created a new alias, no biggy for me. I was also worried when I herd that some companies will ask to look at your facebook profile to determine what kind of person you are, and whether they should hire you or not. Not cool! Also, police, use facebook to track down illegal parties. That all said, so far with all the partying I do, I have managed to come out unscathed. I don't need any obstacle or evidence to ruin my professional life.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

BATGIRL

So lately, I have had the opportunity to work with some of the crew from Rideau, because it's under renovations. I share my office with the lovely Alexandra, and she came in the other day with a bag that said batgirl was a librarian. I totally forgot that batgirl had a day job. I think that's the coolest thing. It beats the following personas of librarians....

In the public psyche, a librarian is a woman of indeterminate age, who wears spectacles; a person with either a timorous disposition or an austere disposition, wearing a long sleeved blouse buttoned to the neck; someone who loves silence, likes books, and suffers people. Librarians don't laugh. They are covered with a thin film of dust. They have pale skins, which, when touched (as if one ever could) might flake and prove to be reptilian scales."~ Alison Hall, "Behind the Bun, or Batgirl was a Librarian "




So, my question is "why do men like librarians so much"?
If we all looked like batgirl, then maybe. But common'.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

PUBLIC ENEMY STRIKES BACK

So, my good friend Chris tried to post a comment, but I didn't have my settings right. He had some pretty good things to say about HIP HOP, so here it is....

yo, this is a very important blog post you just posted. I'll admit, i don't keep up with all the reading and braining ya'll do at the library but i'll be damned if you don't know the major and necessary musical concoction that is PE. so i wont take up too many lines acting like i live on some sort of high horse of hip hop (since i dont) but lets all keep in mind the members of the second greatest rap group ever. chuck d, flavour flav and terminator x supported by professor griff and the security of the first world (S1W) along with harry allen the media assassin (who i once met at radio station WBAI in new york) and of course the all important bomb squad. straight lampin'.

Thanks Chris.

You can also hear this musical genius on 93.1 CKCU FM on Mondays at 4pm

Who according to you is the #1 greatest rap group? I think for me it would be BDP but maybe not as influential as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

Friday, January 30, 2009

HOLY CALAMETY

Hi!
So, I haven't added 9 RSS's yet because , I can't really think of 9 daily reminders that would be useful for me. However, what I do need is a reminder of who was in Public Enemy. I was driving with my friend Kerry the other day and we were listening to Public Enemy Apocalypse 91 the enemy strikes black. Great, great album. Kerry asked me who was in PE, and I was able to answer Flavor flav of course, but then I was stumped. I even mentioned Ice Cube as being a member of PE. What the?? Anyhoo, I need to sharpen up on my hip hop knowledge. Maybe, someone can send me a daily reminder about that, now that is useful.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

operation data found

My computer is still doing funny things. It's because it's not a mac. I wasn't downloading a bollywood movie, rather it was one of those special movies wink wink. Anyhoo, I'm glad my previous post reappeared, and blogging life is back to normal.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Hi! Something strange happened. First I lost my previous post. Then I could only write in Hindi. I think my computer is possessed. I'm on my home computer and it started acting wacky after the first time I downloaded a movie.(don't tell anyone that I download movies). Anyways, thanks Joan for the nice comment, but unfortunately, it's lost in the abyss of computer data. Feel free to write some more, and tell your friends about me. Really enjoying the play more part of the seven lifelong lessons of learning.
bye
เคนे

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

library 102



Well, an other exciting day at Vanier. I did something fun yesterday. Myself and some brilliant woman from the children's department at Main went to judge a literacy fair. The kids worked really hard on their presentations and they were adorable. I really like being part of the library world even though I'm not a librarian. I try really hard to sneak into library type meetings and courses. I even applied to go to OLA for a couple of days of nerdfest. Unfortunately, they figured out I wasn't a bonafied nerd so they had to decline.
I think I'm going to go for a skate at lunch. The Vanier library is in a park and they have a really nice rink set up!!

Sunday, January 11, 2009

library 101

Hi!
I had to create a blog for a work training thing. I'm not a huge fan of blogs, but here I am. I'll try and keep it technical or bibliotechnical and not personal.
great
talk soon