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.