![]() After many days of gray, the sun is finally out. It's a little thing but in the current environment, those glittering rays of warmth mean a lot. Here's what else is making me smile:
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I read a lot of books with my kiddo. Kid Reads is a biweekly look at what we've enjoyed recently.
*Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org
![]() For the past two weeks, a group of HVAC guys have been moving through the library space "balancing" the system. This is good because my office would hit 84 degrees if I kept my door closed. I have no idea what they are doing, but it's fascinating to see their tools and systems at work. Here's what I've been focusing on:
Romance, YA, and pretty pictures are what is going to get my through the coming years. You can see my complete TBR list on Pinterest.
*Items featured here are Bookshop.org affiliate link ![]() This week, as I climbed into an exhibit display case, I realized this was an "other duties as assigned" task. Almost every library position description has "other duties as assigned" listed at the bottom. Generally, this is code for "you might be cleaning things you don't want to clean." It's added to fill in the gaps for all of the library tasks that need to get done but aren't really "official" bits of library work. It's also there to provide flexibility since what libraries are asked to do change all the time. While most people hate this line on their position description, I once argued that it could be turned into a chance for skill development and position growth. (If you're interested in that, check out my presentation slides.) But my exhibit case cleaning work got me thinking about the other random tasks I do. For example:
What are your "other duties as assigned"?
![]() It feels like January has been 34 years long. It's just one thing after another after another. As a DC resident, the news of the plane crash in the Potomac hit me especially hard. Normally, I consume current events with abandon. This week, I found I just couldn't do it any more. My inbox was awash in breaking news alerts about the crash, new presidential administration, events in the Middle East, and various local concerns. It was all just too much. But I can't completely stop paying attention. It's important to be informed. The issue is how to be informed without being overwhelmed. The chaos this week reminded me of the webinar I gave last summer about creating your news diet. The session focused on how to keep up with current events while maintaining your mental health. The webinar is worth a watch, but I thought I would tl;dr the most important points below.
How do you stay informed without becoming too stressed? ![]() Yesterday, our kiddo demanded to be driven to school if it was raining in the morning. It was not raining this morning - but the skies were gray and the ground wet with overnight drizzle. She was bummed when I said we would be walking. Then we went outside. Suddenly, her face changed and she realized she could leap over the puddles. Hand in hand, we leapt over puddles all the way to school. It was a delightful way to start the day. Here's what else made me happy:
![]() Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff: Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life Matt Paxton with Jordan Michael Smith I just started reading this book and it's fine so far. I'm always looking for excuses to read more about getting rid of "stuff." The writing is simple and understandable. I also like the storytelling aspects. But, this book is definitely written for an older audience. There is a lot of focus on things for the retired crowd. *Books shared here are affiliate links for Bookshop.org ![]() I've had a couple of unintended extra early wake-ups this week. I am very tired. But, the weird thing about being sleepy is that I find it easier to focus on just one thing. My brain is too fatigued to multi-task so it forces me to just work on what is in front of me. Here's what I've been working on:
![]() Our library hosts webinars as a form of instruction and outreach. One webinar I host at the start of every semester is a library orientation. I do this because we always have new students and things change. I've given this presentation so often that I can basically do it in my sleep. Sadly, on Friday, no one showed up for the live session. Womp womp. Since we send the recording to all registrants, I had to perform anyway. While this is not the first time I've presented to an "empty room," it's always weird to act as if you're talking to people. I do a lot of smiling and asking if people have questions. Would it be easier to just record an orientation video? Of course! But we want the option for people to attend live and ask questions. But boy do I feel silly asking people to drop their questions in the chat when no one else is in the room.
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