I've worked at my job now for about nine months. Today, it finally occurred to me (after sitting in someone else's chair) that I could adjust my chair back so I can lean back. Hm... wonder what new amazing discovery I'll find tomorrow...

Yesterday on the shuttle the two guys across from me started talking about libraries. (I'm guessing they either noticed the public library we passed or one of our old ads for Summer Reading flashed across the bus's light-up advertising marquee.) Since I can't actually write anything intelligible while riding on the bus, here's my brain-fuddled, day-later rendition.

One guy said he'd forgotten about libraries and found himself thinking that if he wanted a book, he'd have to buy it. The other started saying how great libraries were. The first mentioned that it was strange to him that in college everyone went to the library--he didn't and was sort of afraid of the library. The second said that he'd used the library a lot in college. The first said he'd like the library when he was in elementary school. They both concluded that libraries are actually kind of cool. The second said, "More people should go to libraries."

It would have made a great library promotional YouTube video.

You know, there's just something plain wrong about cute Asian college students playing bad folk music for Christ. Especially when it involves a violin. Especially, especially when they're being drowned out by the Asian drum troupe.

I'm trying to figure out the most politically appropriate way to respond to a faculty member who's asked about a database I've procrastinated on investigating. I want to say "After reading an email from the colleague you also contacted about this purchase, I felt like punching said colleague, so I decided not to pursue it." Since that makes me look like a sullen, spoiled, reckless teenager (even more so than I do in general, that is), I guess I have to say something like, "I forgot about it," which just makes me seem like an incompetent teenager instead.

Ugg....
So this chick posted that she "would NEVER represent my organization and profession at a conference, meeting, or in a library wearing a hoodie sweatshirt." Hmmm... So many snarky comments, I don't know where to start. I chose academic librarianship partly because I wanted a job where I could dress comfortably. If I wanted to dress up like a corporate hack, I would have taken a job as a corporate hack--and been paid enough to have regular dry cleaning bills.

But seriously, who really cares how we look? Does it really surprise anyone that "nerdy hipster" is the young librarian stereotype? Or that middle aged woman with tote bags and sensible shoes is the middle-aged stereotype? The public doesn't care. They just want their Yu-gi-oh price guides and Everybody Poops videos. The public behaves either like me (self-service everything I can because I hate interacting with people when I'm not the superior know-it-all reference librarian) or like my husband does (walk in, ask first available person where books by Harry Turtledove are without looking at the catalog--or really knowing that there is a catalog he can use--or just wandering over to the fictin section and looking for the T's). They don't care whether the person they talk to has a masters degree or barely an 8th grade education.

Yes, older patrons sometimes had trouble believing I wasn't a student up until this year or so when I suddenly went from looking like a teenager to looking middle aged. (Though I do still get carded at the beer store where I have a frequent shoppers card...) Maybe I could have fooled them into thinking I was older with some sort of elaborate clothing ruse of a button up shirt and tasteful skirt. Or they might have just thought I was wearing a uniform for one of the local middle schools and just volunteering my time.

Seriously, though, who really cares how we look? Who really has the time to obsess over this all the time? Has reference service dropped off so drastically that librarians are sitting around with nothing better to do? Do you want some of my work to keep you busy?

I missed the shuttle this morning by literally about a minute. (I probably could have run after it, but I just didn't feel like the indignity.) This is what I get for taking that extra second to blow good-bye kisses at the cats and water my basil. The extended-cab truck that had to drive extra-slowly (small up and down ramps) in the parking garage in front of me and the woman on the stairs in precariously high high-heels probably didn't help. I'd feel worse about being late (most of the time) if I didn't carry lots of work with me to read over on the ride...

I'm feeling really dejected about my salary. I work for a good institution in a gorgeous city and have very nice collections and professional development money. But because I live in Southern California and make about what I would have made at the same rank in New Mexico, I'm constantly struggling to make ends meet, and really resenting the hell out of my job sometimes. My coworkers are in the same boat. We're union-represented but I don't think they get it, and the whole union concept makes me a little uncomfortable since I like everyone who's "management level"--and I don't think they really have much say in my salary increases. The state legislature sets the budget; the university tells the library how much money they've got to spend; and the library basically carves it up as best they can. I sort of wish I could spend a few thousand less on databases and put it in my pocket instead, but if I wanted a good salary, I guess I would have gone to work in the private sector. Still, when a small house in this area is half a million dollars and I'm sick to death of renting, I can't help but think I should have gone to law school. Or gone into engineering.