Lost phone

I found a cell phone left at a PC so I took it downstairs. I thought I could look and see if I could call someone from his/her address book. This always makes me nervous because you never know what kinds of personal information I would come across and later regret seeing. I had no idea what age this person was, but I had found a “mom” entry, so I decided to call that number.

Lady: Hello?

Me: Hi. My name is Gina and I am from the *Salem Library. I think your son might have lost his phone here.

Lady: Oh. Well, aren’t you sweet. Thank you.

Me: I thought to call you. Do you know a way to contact him?

Lady: Well, (laughs) I am in Fresno, and where did you say you are at?

Me: Oh, I actually know where that’s at. I am in *Salem City.

Lady: What did you say your name is?

Me: My name is Gina. I’m a librarian here.

Lady: Well, sweetie, thank you. He does mention going over to that library. You know what, I’ll call his friend. Thank you, sweetie. God bless you.

Me: Thank you. Have a good night!

One minute later… A man comes up to the desk asking for his phone.

Man: I think I lost my phone.

Me: I just called your mom.

Man: You did? Thank you. What is your name?

Me: My name is Gina.

Man: Thank you, Gina.

Me: Your mom sounds really nice.

(:

*all names changed for fun

Patron of the Day- teen edition

I meet a lot of different types of teens during our teen programs. One of the teens I recently met this school year is a good artist. She shares with me her sketches whenever I see her, and one time she asked what I thought about a series of characters, and wanted to know which I liked the best. I felt honored that she wanted my opinion since I can’t draw for anything. She drew 10 or so of the same character in different ways. We talked about heroes, villains, storyboards, and she was drawing on the back of scratch paper. I mentioned there’s this one paper that already has the lines drawn in for you that way you don’t have to draw those in.

Yesterday, I saw her at our program and I gave her a couple pieces of storyboard paper leftover from a past teen drawing program, and told her that this was the storyboard paper I was talking about the other time. She thanked me for the paper, then I handed her another folded paper. I also had made her a birthday card since she casually mentioned that it was going to be her bday soon- well, it wasn’t really a birthday card, but I do this thing for my family and friends where I actually photoshop a picture since I can’t draw and am cheap, on folded 8.5x11” paper that I think they might like, and then I’d write my personal message in the inside. It is kinda cheap looking too, but it is my thing that I do for people, and they seem to like it so I just kept doing it for years.

Anyways, I made and handed this teen a folded birthday card with a picture based from one of the characters that I thought she might like. She unfolded the birthday card and she said, “OMG! That is awesome! Look, that’s like that character and it is holding a small cake…hahaha…how did you know?” and before I could respond again, she gave me a hug, and thanked me again. I felt really happy that she was happy with my cheap looking birthday card. She told me that September 12th is her birthday, which is today, so I hope she is having a good time celebrating.

2 years later...

I started writing in my blog again because not only do I like to write and share with others what it is I do for work, but because I was asked by a special someone why I hadn’t blogged in awhile. I actually don’t remember why I stopped, but I do know that a lot has changed in 2 years. I wouldn’t have been able to get through any of the changes in my life without the love and endless support of my husband. I don’t always know how he does it, but he makes me often feel like the luckiest person. Now I found the job of my dreams, I’m a fulltime Teen Librarian, and I believe this is where I want to be.

This is what I have always wanted to do once I started taking my graduate courses, and learning in the field at different library systems. I’m still learning and being trained on things like software systems and applications. Even today I learned another layer of my job position, which also brings more responsibilities and power. Awesome. I got my latest position this past April, which ironically was also the time I planned on getting married. I didn’t plan on this job coming along, but I knew I had to take the teen librarian position when it was presented to me. Best decision ever.  

I’m also much busier than I thought I would be. This also means that I may not write on this blog all the time, but I will when I can. I am thankful all the time for what I have in my life, and what I have accomplished because you won’t believe how long it took me to get in this position. Let’s see what I can accomplish in another 2 years…

The Mommies on the Bus

Storytime is back in session! Tonight’s theme- Back to School. I started out with summer books, and then transitioned to getting ready for school books. When I did the “Wheels on the Bus” song, there is a part where it goes… the mommies on the bus say, I love you, I love you, I love you… and this is when I have the parents hug their child. I was looking around the room and the parents look so happy bonding with their child, meanwhile, all the kids get squished and smiling as if they are saying... aww shucks (:

This Will End in Tears )*:

This Will End in Tears: The Miserablist Guide to Music by Adam Brent Houghtaling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read through this miserabilist book at random, mostly because I didn't know some of the artists but I wrote down the names of topics of interest (i.e. Breaking up, breaking down, cheating, divorce, decay, disintegration, self-harm and disease). It is funny because I am actually finding a lot of my favorite introspective artists in here (:

View all my reviews

Patron of the Day

As some of you may know, I also clerk at the library. So, today I was at the circulation desk when a lady and her child zoomed past a line of two people waiting and approached my desk…

Lady (in a rush): Hi, my card isn’t working.

Me: You know, you just cut those people off in line.

(I gestured to the woman next to us.)

Lady (not looking up at me): Oh.

Me: Ok, you see that sign over there… (waiting for her to look at me or the sign… then FINALLY looks up)… that’s the line, and you just cut in line in front of those people.

Lady (irritated): Well, I didn’t see her.

(I looked over to the next person in line who is now being helped by my co-worker)

Me: You say your card isn’t working?

Lady (looking at me now): Yes. I don’t know why.

Me: It isn’t working because you owe fines that add up to X amount of dollars. You need to pay some of it to checkout.

Lady (mad): I don’t have the money right now.

Me: Then I can’t help you right now.

Lady walks away sad.

Karma.

Cats Storytime!

I didn’t get 1…or 2, BUT 3 HUGS today at storytime.  We had taken a couple weeks break, and tonight was my first night back.  Tonight’s storytime was one of my favorite animals- CATS! (:

Setlist:

*(book) Grumpy Cat

*(flannelboard) Hey Diddle Diddle

*(action) Can you do sounds like a… cow, chicken

*(movement) Chicken Dance!

*(action) sounds like a… pig, dog

*(book) What Will Fat Cat Sit On?

*(flannelboard + paint bucket) Rainbow Kittens

*(movie) Katie loves kittens!

*cat stickers!