Tales from the CDG Tardis

Hollywood Librarian Scottish premiere last night. I set out dressed to impress: 5 inch heels, feather boa and antique gloves. Yes, and a top and skirt before rumours really start flying. The taxi driver was intrigued and I ended up telling him all about the film and the profession. Was disappointed that no red carpet was put out (not even a PBS reading rug…)

The film was interesting and absorbing. To be honest I’m not really sure what I was expecting - had gone with a fairly open mind. The old film footage was fun but there was too much of it - we’d got the point fairly early on. Although it was nice to be reminded of that lovely film The Station Agent. The interviews were interesting but were definitely biased towards public libraries - we didn’t really get a sense of the cut and thrust of different sectors, nor of any transferability. The story of the Salinas closures and political campaign was well told and made its point. I also found the prisoners’ contributions interesting.

My overriding sense, to be quite truthful, is to wonder why I don’t love my job in the way those librarians all loved theirs. Am I in the wrong sector, the wrong profession, the wrong country? Or have I just not learned to recognise the inspirational moments and to find the heartwarming story amidst the everyday grind?

Back to the day job after my week’s holiday. (Actually it feels like about Wednesday already after spending much of the weekend catching up on Career Development Group work.) The whole day is spent processing emails and responding or filing them. By hometime I have got the inbox from 240 down to 30, which is not bad at all. Although I wonder sometimes whether this counts as actually working or whether it’s just rearranging the furniture.

Shocker of the day was finding out that a well-used specialist resource will no longer be available. I’ll be sad to see it go. I like choice and I had chosen this particular resource for sound reasons. Now the choice resembles a Discworld restaurant menu: soss, egg, beans and rat.

A student asks for advice on plagiarism - he wants to include a long paragraph from a particular source, together with all its hyperlinked references.  It’s worrying and I try to explain why this isn’t acceptable and how else can approach his coursework. Feel a bit out of my depth really.

Many CDG emails flying around - dividing my brain between national conference in April, our Raising the bar senior event in June, Presidential Reception and Scottish Revalidation course in May, to say nothing of the much anticipated Scottish screening of Hollywood Librarian. Wondering whether to buy a feather boa specially. Have the hair for a bun but sadly not the training.

If my mental space needs to be partitioned into any more compartments it will require a trip to IKEA for some of those gauzy curtain fabrics. A new colleague joins the team today and has been bombarded with information and paperwork - maybe I could share my IKEA head-curtains.

We are starting a book group for library staff tomorrow, so need to ponder what I’d like to read on all my journeys up and down the country. I’m thinking anything that doesn’t have the word ’strategic’ or ‘operational’ anywhere in the title will be acceptable. In fact a picture book with large letters and a reassuring ending would suit me just fine.