Day Sixteen

Today was busy and exciting!  I got to the library early today, so to kill some time before I was supposed to head out on a book drop-off run with Dori and Ryan, I started working on some subject headings.  After about an hour, it was time for us to go out on the run.  The run was really interesting.  I find it fascinating just how many things a librarian can do.  It's not just sitting behind a desk.  Dori actually gets to go out and deliver books to people who aren't able to get out very much, and to see how much these people value the social interaction they get with the librarian, and the driver (and me on this trip!) is so wonderful!

After the run, I worked on a few more subject headings, and then I went to talk with Laurie about my project.  She and I agree that we are going in the right direction, but she still wants me to find addresses for more optometrists and opthamologists to add to the list of addresses that we're going to send the letter and flyer out to.  We also talked about me possibly observing at TIPS (Detroit Public Library's Telephone Reference Service) to get more reference experience, as well as possibly spending some time with the head of the Children's Services Department at DPL.  Our conversation was interrupted when Laurie received a call from one of the staff members leaving for lunch saying that Laurie's van was being broken into.  Laurie rushed out of the room.  Apparently it was all a misunderstanding, and the man was there to fix a windshield on someone else's car that happened to be in a different parking lot (he was just confused), but Laurie said that on her first day at the Douglass Branch some car parts were stolen from her van, so she's had it happen before!  After she got back, Laurie also talked about possibly taking me to visit some of the other branches of DPL just to get an idea of how the other branches, that aren't specialized libraries like Douglass, work.  

While Laurie was gone taking care of her van, I was left at the reference desk by myself, and a gentleman came up asking for cookbooks and books on nutrition.  I haven't been taught how to search the system for a book, so I went back in the back where the books for the Library on Wheels are housed to take a look at what sort of cookbooks we had.  I saw Dori and asked her if we had any cookbooks, and she asked me what TYPE of cookbooks he wanted. I felt silly for not thinking to ask that before, as it is a question that should've been asked in a basic reference interview. By the time I got back, Laurie was back at the desk and she was able to take care of it for him, but I felt stupid for not thinking to ask him some reference interview questions before going off to search for a book for him.

Later Dori came in and discussed reference interviews with me, and how it's the first thing you should do when a patron asks a question.  I knew this, but somehow today it slipped my mind completely, and my first instinct was NOT to do a reference interview.  Dori was really nice about it, though, and it made me feel better.

I spent the rest of my time working on the rest of the subject headings that I needed to get through.  I found some books that sounded interesting while I was reading through the synopses, so I may have to check some of them out!  Right before I was getting ready to leave, I talked with Dori again, this time about job prospects.  She was saying that if I wanted to go into services like the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, I'd probably have to move out of state, as there aren't many jobs opening in Michigan.  I wouldn't be opposed to moving out of state, but it's something to think about.  She also said she'd send along any job openings she sees, whether they be for Children's Services or something like the LBPH.  It's incredibly nice of her to do that.  Overall it was very good day.

Day Fifteen

Today I changed my hours and went in from 1-6pm, so that I could attend the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped's monthly book club meeting at 4:00.  The book club was great.  Not everyone read the two books that they were supposed to have read, but people still contributed, and it seemed as though they just enjoyed being able to get out and be around each other.  Dori and I were both surprised at how many people showed up, because we were worried that the weather would deter them from coming.  We still had about 10-15 people though, so it was a pretty good sized group.

Going back to before the book club, I started off my day by going over some subject headings with Dori.  I had made a few mistakes in the last batch, so we went over how I could correct them.  Then, after that, I worked on some more subject headings.  This time I worked on Adult and Teen fiction subject headings, so the synopses of the books were a bit more interesting for me to read than the non-fiction selections.

After I was done with the subject headings, I worked on my project for Laurie by creating address labels with the addresses that I compiled last Tuesday on them.  These labels are going to go on the envelopes we send out the flyers and the letters about LBPH and LOW (Library on Wheels) in.

I also got to observe Jesse give another typing lesson.  This student was much better at typing than some of the other students I observed.  He also showed her how to open and close programs using keys on the keyboard rather than a mouse, as it would be difficult for her to use a mouse with limited vision.  So that was very interesting to watch.

Day Fourteen

Today was an exciting day!  First off, I did storytime!!  It was really fun.  I only had one child for the actual storytime (I was honestly surprised there were any children with the weather this morning) but more children came in just in time to do the craft!  They all seemed to really enjoy themselves, and they really liked the craft, so I was pleased.  The one little girl that was there when I read the stories came up and hugged me before she left, which totally made my day.  I think I'm going into the right profession!

After I cleaned up from the craft and put my books away, I started my time at the reference desk.  It was really quiet throughout the early afternoon, so I spent part of my time looking at an American Girl catalog, because after talking to Janet yesterday about the American Girl tea party, I came to realize that there are new American Girls that I didn't even know existed!  And some of the American Girls I grew up with are "retired" now.  So I brushed up on my knowledge of the American Girl books.

Later in the afternoon, Carol, one of the librarians in the Children's library, was away from the desk and the phone rang, so I answered the call.  It was my first reference question!  The patron wanted to know when James Brown died ... it seemed a weird question to call the Children's Department for, but I searched it and found the answer for her. (He died on December 25th, 2006, in case anyone was wondering).  Toward the end of my shift a mother and her daughter came up and asked for books about Jupiter and Journalism.  The librarian was talking with another patron, so I went to help them find the books they were looking for.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find any books on Jupiter or Journalism (I found some books on planets and space, but that was it) so once the librarian was free, I asked her if she could help us.  She said I could go ahead and leave, and she'd take care of it, since it was past time for me to leave.  So I don't know if the patrons found books on Jupiter and Journalism or not, but I hope they did!

Day Thirteen

Today was another short day.  I spent the day at the HYPE center for teens at the main branch of Detroit Public Library.  HYPE stands for "helping young people excel".  Today they opened late and were closing early because they were short-staffed, which is unfortunate.  When I got to the HYPE center there were no teens in the room except for a girl who helps run the makerspace program that happens on Thursdays.  The librarian that I was supposed to be working with was at a meeting, so I just wandered around and looked around the room.  The HYPE center is really a cool place.  They've got video games set up to play, they've got plenty of seating and computers to work on, they have study rooms as well as three television monitors that I was told are almost always playing a movie of some sort.  Today the movie was Naruto.  I'm not much into Anime, but the HYPE center has a huge selection of Anime movies for the teens to pick from.

When Janet, the librarian, finally came in, she showed me around, again, and talked about how they're running out of shelf space for books because they don't have anyone to take on the project of weeding the collection because they are so short staffed.  If I were at the Main Branch more often, I wouldn't have minded taking on the project of weeding the HYPE center, but alas, I've already got a lot going on at the Douglass Branch.  I also talked with Janet about an American Girl tea party she is planning for May.  It is not meant for teens -- Janet also works in the Children's Library--but it sounds like it would be an interesting program for American Girl fans.  The girls (or boys) would bring in their dolls, and they'd have lunch and work on a craft such as making hats for their dolls.  They're even trying to get an author of some of the American Girl books to come in and speak!

After about 3pm, it started getting busy at HYPE, because school was now out for the day.  I watched some of the boys play video games for a while, and talked to Janet about my storytime tomorrow.  I have to admit I'm a bit nervous, but I'm hoping it goes well!  If not, at least it will be a learning experience!  And unfortunately, although the girl who runs the makerspace program was there, all she was doing was working on getting supplies together for a craft time she does on Saturdays, and she invited the teens in the room to help her if they wanted.  So there really was no makerspace program, which was kind of disappointing.  Maybe next time I'm there!   Before I knew it it was time to go!  It was a quick day, but overall it was very interesting.  I hope my schedule allows me to get back to HYPE soon!

Day Twelve

Today was a short day.  First I went to the departmental meeting for the Children's/Teen librarians of DPL.  I knew Detroit Public Library had a lot of different branches, but it was cool to see most all of them represented in the meeting! (Douglass doesn't have a children's or teen librarian, so nobody from that branch was there; there could have been a couple others that weren't represented, as well).  The meeting was run by the head of the Children's Department at Main Branch.  She talked about some of the things that have been going on the past month at DPL having to do with youth services, including an author talk that was held a couple of weeks ago.  Then we had a guest speaker come in to talk to us about her series of children's books that focuses on the relationship between fathers and their children.  It seemed like an interesting series of books.  She's only written three books in the series so far, but she plans on writing 24!

After the guest speaker was finished, summer reading program was discussed.  The t-shirts for the children's theme ("Dig Into Reading") and the teen theme (I can't remember what that one was called) were displayed, as well as promotional materials such as posters, lanyards, stickers, bookmarks and tattoos.  One of the t-shirts for the teen summer reading program, that I can't remember the name of, was really cool.  I kind of wished I worked at the library so that I could have a t-shirt of my own!  The meeting ended by all of us attempting to do a craft that the head of the Children's department thought would be fun to carry out in all of the branches.  Unfortunately, the craft was kind of difficult, as it involved weaving and crocheting, (the goal was to make a pot holder) and most all of the librarians agreed that it would be too time-consuming for younger children, but might be fun and easier for teens to do.  I personally struggled with it, however!

After the meeting, I took the time to meet with Carol, one of the children's librarians at the main branch, to discuss my craft for Friday, and to ask her if she had any popsicle sticks we could use for the craft to stick the puppets on.  She let me have a whole bag full of them!  After that, I went and printed off the template for the puppets.  So it looks like the craft is coming together and I should have everything I need!  Now I just need to practice reading the books for storytime!

Day Eleven

Today was pretty quiet.  I started off the day by working on my project, and compiling a list of nursing/retirement homes in the area that we could send the flyer and letter with information about the Library on Wheels and the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped to.  Once I was done with that, I worked on some more subject headings for Dori.  I'm starting to get a little burnt out with Adult Non-Fiction, as that's what I've been working on for the past few times, but I still enjoy it.  It's not very difficult work, but it makes me feel as though I'm doing something productive.

Next, I went to observe Jesse giving a lesson to one of his students, but it turned out it was at the end of a lesson so there was nothing to really observe.  What's worse is that Jesse asked me what my name was, again, because he couldn't remember.  It made me feel kind of bad, because I've been there for almost five weeks now, and I'd like to think I'm making an impression...but perhaps not.  In Jesse's defense, he's only there once a week, and I didn't see him last week, but still.  Sometimes I feel so awkward, like I don't quite fit in because I don't work there, and that certainly didn't help.

After that, I worked on the flyer portion of my project.  I think I came up with a decent flyer to advertise the LBPH and the Library on Wheels, but we'll see what Laurie thinks (she's on vacation this week). It's a bit plain, I think.  After I finished up the flyer, I spent the last hour of my time at the reference desk with Aaron, one of the librarians.  One question I was asked while Aaron wasn't there was where the nearest post office was. Otherwise, it was pretty quiet reference-wise, despite being a busy day at the library since it had been closed the day before for President's Day.  It continually amazes me how many people use the library daily; even if it's just so they have a place to keep warm.

I finally thought of a craft for my storytime on Friday.  We're going to be making puppets and decorate them to look like a family member.  The puppets are just paper cutouts in the shape of people that we're going to glue onto popsicle sticks.  I think it'll be fun! I hope the kids will enjoy it! I'm going to the Main Branch tomorrow morning for the Youth and Teen Services departmental meeting, so that will be interesting, I think.

Day Ten

Today was great!  First off I helped out with storytime.  Since yesterday was Valentine's Day, today we read books relating to love.  One of the books was a Clifford the Big Red Dog book, and Carol the librarian that I was working with, brought in a Clifford stuffed animal for the kids at storytime to enjoy while she read the Clifford book.  One of the boys at storytime said that Clifford was his favorite, and was so excited to read the Clifford story.

After storytime I looked at some craft and trade magazines that Carol had to see if I could get any ideas for when I do my storytime.  I was thinking of having the kids make cards to a family member, since my storytime is family-themed, but that honestly sounds a bit boring, so I'm going to see if I can't try to come up with something else.  One of the magazines I looked at was the Oriental Trading Company catalog.  We just talked about the Oriental Trading Company in my Programming for Children and Young Adults class not that long ago -- it's a great source for different kinds of crafts, decorations, or trinkets to give away as prizes at programs like Summer Reading Program.  It was fun to look through their catalog and see all of the different things they had to offer.

After that, I helped out at the reference desk.  It was pretty quiet, so Carol and I talked, and she gave me some materials that she thought may be of interest to me, like a Black History Month activity booklet the library prints out for children. After a while a patron. came in looking for a particular book, and Carol went to help him.  They could not find the book, and when Carol told me the name of the book, I was certain I had just seen it when I walked by the graphic novels, earlier.  I went to check, and sure enough I found it.  It made me happy that I was able to help out a patron, and find a book that even the librarian was having trouble locating.  Unfortunately, although it was the correct book, it turned out to not be exactly what the patron was looking for.

For the rest of the time that I was there, Carol and I brainstormed, and searched the internet for crafts that I might be able to do for my storytime next week.  We didn't decide on anything, but I have some more ideas to pick from!

Day Nine

Happy Valentine's Day!  

Today was a bit crazy.  I got to my practicum an hour early so that I would be ready to go when we left to drop off books at the nursing home at 10.  I used the extra hour to work on my project a bit more, and finish up the letter that we would send out detailing the services that the Douglass Branch for Specialized Services offers.  I sent that off to my supervisor, Laurie, as she wasn't in today, and then got ready to go for the book delivery.

We were supposed to leave at 10, but the librarian I was supposed to ride with was late getting to the library, and then the assistant manager pulled him into her office.  Something had happened the previous day with regards to the bookmobile, and it seemed like he was getting the blame for it.  I tried not to pay attention to what was going on, as it wasn't my business, and just waited patiently.  In hindsight, I probably should have found something to occupy me until we were ready to go, but I couldn't think of anything at the time.  So we ended up not leaving until closer until 11, which ended up being fine, but the librarian felt really guilty that he had kept me waiting and was worried that the nursing home would think we were unprofessional for being an hour late.  Luckily, the time at which we showed up actually happened to work better for the nursing home, so it all worked out!

First we talked to the activities coordinator at the nursing home about what we plan on doing, and when we'll be dropping off books in the months to come.  Then we delivered books to the patrons who had requested them.  As for the woman I had picked out some books for, she didn't look at the books while I was there, so hopefully I did a decent job!  She seemed happy just to see us and to be getting books from us.  The activities director emphasized that we were really bringing the residents of the nursing home something to look forward to, and that she hadn't seen some of them get so excited.  It was a really nice feeling to think that I was helping to make someone's day.  I think it also brightened up the day of the librarian that was with me, as his morning hadn't started off very well.

When I got back to the Douglass Branch, I touched base with Dori, and worked on some subject headings for her.  Today I worked on Adult Non-Fiction.  That took up the rest of my time until it was time to go!

Tomorrow I will be at the Main Branch in the Children's Library observing storytime and the reference desk.  Next week is when I'm supposed to be running my own storytime, so that's exciting!  I'm nervous, but hopefully all will go well!

Day Eight!

Today was hectic! Today I was invited to ride along with one of the drivers, Ryan, while he picked up patrons to take to the Wayne County Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped for their monthly book club meeting (they partner up with the Douglass Branch LBPH).  I then was invited to go along to the book club meeting and take part in the discussion.  Unfortunately, I had only read one of the two books that they had read for this month's meeting, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, but it was still nice to sit in and listen to what they thought of that, and the other book, which was called The President's Daughter, which sounded like it would be really interesting.  It was a fictional account about the daughter Thomas Jefferson had with his slave, Sally Hemmings.  It was nice to meet the people in the book club; they all seemed like avid readers, and certainly don't allow their lack of vision keep them from enjoying books.  Plus, they were all very kind, and I enjoyed getting to know them.

Before I went to the book club meeting, I was asked to pull books for a patron who I (along with a librarian and driver) will be visiting at her home on Thursday so that we can drop off books to her.  She reads Children's-level books, and particularly like books about animals.  Horses are her favorite.  So, from the selection of Juvenile fiction that was available from the library, I tried to pick out books about animals, a couple of which were about horses, that I thought would interest her.  It was difficult, though, because I have never met the patron, and I wasn't given a list of what she has previously read; I just was asked to pick out books that were juvenile fiction and were about animals.  So we'll see if she actually likes what I picked out!

And that's all I did today, as by the time I got back from the book club meeting, it was time for me to go!  On Thursday I will be going a retirement facility to visit the previously mentioned patron and a couple of others to drop off books to them.  I think it will be a great experience!  

Day Seven

Today was a bit discouraging.  Everybody seemed to be in a grumpy mood, and it kind of rubbed off on me.  My supervisor, Laurie, wasn't there today, so I kind of felt like nobody knew what to do with me.  She left two other librarians in charge, in case I needed anything, but I got the impression that I was left to my own devices.  This was probably a good thing, because there won't always be someone around telling me what to do; I have to start taking initiative and working on things independently.  So I took the time to go ahead and start on the project of creating a letter to send out to businesses and other places regarding the services that the Douglass Branch for Specialized Services offers.  I got a draft started, and worked on the part of the letter that highlights the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.  I still have to work on the second part of the letter that details the services that LOW (Library On Wheels) offers.

Once I was done with that, I sent an e-mail to Laurie with the first part of the draft (as she had previously asked me to do) just to make sure that I was on the right track with the letter.  I then went over to talk to Dori to see if there were any subject headings she wanted me to work on.  Today I worked on Adult Non-Fiction.  I didn't find non-fiction quite as exciting as fiction, but I still don't mind working on the subject headings, at all.  After a while, Dori invited me to take a break from the subject headings and observe Jesse instruct a new student on how to type using the computer.  For her first day, the student made excellent progress.  I told her that I struggled when I first learned how to type, and I didn't have a visual impairment.  This seemed to make her feel good, as she kept chastising herself for making minor mistakes.  At the end of the lesson, I took the time to talk to the student and get to know her a bit.  I think she appreciated that, as well.  Jesse seemed to appreciate it, too.

I was supposed to be observing and helping out with Makerspace at the HYPE center in the Main Branch on Thursday, and go out on a book run to a senior living facility on Friday.  Unfortunately, personal matters have arisen and I will no longer be able to do either of those things this week.  I'm disappointed, but I'm hopeful that I will be able to experience both of those activities in the future.  I'll be sure to blog about it when I do!

Day Six

(I forgot to post this on Friday!)

Today was kind of a quiet day in the Children's Library.  It started off with storytime.  This week we read stories about polar bears and made polar bear puppets out of paper bags.  I was told that might be doing my own storytime on the last Friday in February!  The theme for the month of February is Friendship and Love, so I spent part of my lunch break trying to find books for my storytime.  I decided on books that had to do with the love families have for each other.  I have yet to think of a craft for my storytime, but I'm sure I'll think of something.

Miss Janet, the librarian I worked with today, showed me a great resource for finger plays (songs and rhymes you use your fingers to act out - kind of like "Where is Thumbkin?" if you remember that...).  She also showed me some of the resources they use to make sure that their children's book collection is up to date.  For example, she showed me a book called A to Zoo which is a resource that lists popular picture books for children.  She also invited me to come to the Children's/Teen Services department meeting on the 20th, so I will be attending that!  I think it'll be an interesting experience.

I spent the rest of the day at the reference desk.  I was hoping to visit the HYPE center for teens, but when I had time to go visit, the librarian that is in charge of HYPE was at lunch.  I will be working/observing in there next Thursday, though, so that'll be fun.  Every Thursday HYPE does what's called "Makerspace" where they do crafts and other hands-on activities with the teens.  I also learned today that next Friday I will be at the Douglass Branch, and I will be going along on a trip to drop off books to patrons at a Retirement/Rehabilitation facility.  I'm looking forward to that.

With every passing day that I am at my practicum, I am starting to feel a little more comfortable and less like the awkward person who doesn't belong there.  I think it will still be a while before I'm completely at ease.  I still feel as though I am just a visitor, which I am, but I think as i get to know the people I am working with better it will start to feel as though this is a real job.