The Things I've Seen...

When I started at Mid-Continent Public Library in 2008, I had no idea what to expect.
By the end of my second week, I realized that I wanted to make libraries my career.
Three years later, I was given the opportunity to move forward with that career when I became an Assistant Branch Manager.

Moving up is great, and I'm sure I will move forward career-wise, but I can't tell you how fortunate I feel to work in libraries because of the "bonus" things I've done.  There are so many things that I have experienced that I never would have if I had chosen a different path.  I helped with the Wall that Heals in Blue Springs.  I was suckered into theatre because of my connections through the library.  I joined the chamber of commerce and met some really great people, too.  I have experienced three library conferences that just blew me away.  Not only did I learn and apply some really neat things, but I also met some great people that I'm sure will be in my life for years to come.  I've been in multiple parades and one time I was the book cart drill team leader!  I watched a veteran's round table at the Veteran's Salute last weekend and learned about a Vietnam veteran who actually got help for his nightmares.  Of course, I've witnessed the impact that libraries have in communities, too.  That Summer Outreach Program was incredible, and I smile every time a student comes in and says, "You were at my school!"

Sure, I've had some rough days.  It's also been tough to adjust to the whole management thing.  Through it all, though, these gems of the library see me through to the next day, and they will keep me going throughout my career.

I feel weird talking about my career.  I don't feel like I'm old enough to have an established career, but I also feel like I do have one.  I hope I'm not making anyone jealous, but, then again, I hope people are jealous.  I'm lucky and selfish about it.  :-)

*NOT* a Crooner

Friday was the last day at the branch for one of Red Bridge's longest employees.  She was definitely a staple at Red Bridge, and I know that she touched a lot of lives.  She wanted me to sing a song for her at her party, since she hadn't seen me perform or sing.  I said I would, but honestly had no idea what to sing.

I first thought that I could try a classic crooner song by Frank, Bing, or someone else fancy.  Then I realized that I couldn't pull that off.  So then I started thinking about newer songs about goodbye and stuff, but most of those songs seemed really sad.  Then, I thought about Charlie Brown, like I do a lot.  I decided to sing "Happiness Is..." from the musical.  As it turned out, it was a very appropriate choice.  A song about the little things in life meaning big things was just what she wanted, and what she believed.  There's a video somewhere of it too.

The party was great though.  A lot of people showed up, and we gave her a personalized scrapbook with blank pages filled with guests' names.  Tomorrow is her last day, but I'm sure she will be back.
Tomorrow is also the last day for Diana at the old branch.  I went to her party on Friday, too!  I guess I was a busy guy.  Between the food, gifts, and huggy goodbyes, it was a full day.  I don't know when she'll pop in at the branch, though.  She's always doing something, so she may not for a while.  :-)

Two great children's librarians are retired now... wonder what the future holds?

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Today, the computer pods were put into place.  Thankfully, they were only SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR for two days.  Besides the fact that the final blueprint changed thrice since we had last talked about them, they look really great!  I think that the patrons will really like them.  The print station is even between them so it is more accessible.

After lunch, I decided that I should put up the Christmas Tree that we got from my former branch, Blue Springs South.  I have to say that everyone was pretty excited to have a tree.  Granted, there weren't a lot of lights on it, but I think just having the tree up helped the atmosphere of the library.  For an added touch, we wrapped some boxes (and maybe a ream of paper) as gifts to place under the tree.  It was a lot of fun, and again I was told that it was nice to have me there.

When I first took the job, I was very excited.  Then, when I started the job, I was distraught.  I didn't think that I was cut out for managing, or even for the Red Bridge Branch.  I'm starting to get the feeling that maybe I was meant to be here.  You can call it whatever you want, but I like to think that the branch librarian knew exactly what he was doing by hiring a person with an opposite personality.

I am glad that someone likes my ideas though.

This is *NOT* Goodbye

I wrote a letter to the Blue Springs South Branch staff because I've always felt I write better than I speak, and I didn't want to get emotional and not be able to finish the letter if I read it out loud.

Dear Blue Springs South:

I accepted the Assistant Branch Manager position at Red Bridge with mixed feelings.  While I am exciting to be moving forward in my career, I am sad to be moving on from this branch.  For the past three years, I have gotten to know you.  I am proud to know all of you, not only as co-workers, but also as friends.  A lot has changed in the branch in those three years.  As those changes have happened, your spirit and camaraderie has remained strong.  I can honestly say I have never worked with such an amazing group of people, and I don’t know if I ever will again.  You have set such a high standard for me. To think that I could find a group to surpass you is almost unimaginable.

You have taught me so much about work and life, and I can never repay you for that kindness.  You have comforted me in times of trouble, and you have praised me in times of great happiness.  You have supported me in everything that I have done, within the library and beyond.  That support has been invaluable.  I have learned so much, and I hope to learn more as I move on.  It is difficult leaving such a close-knit group, but I know you are all just a call or quick drive away.

You are all fantastic, and I know that Blue Springs South is one of the best branches (if not the best branch) in the system.  I believe there is a reason that Blue South was chosen to usher in the new customer service model.  You can do it, and I see only bright things for everyone at the branch.

Again, you are the best group with which I have ever worked.  I am honored to know all of you.  I wish you luck in everything, and I hope to visit often (or at least bring food or bug you on Facebook).  It’s impossible for me to be in a bad mood around you, and I hope that your spirit never changes.  Thank you for everything that you have given me.  Remember, it’s never goodbye.

Calling All Men

Recently, I was meandering through the shelves of non-fiction, and stopped suddenly when I saw a rather small book just before all of the computer books: 100 Must-Read Books for Men. Intrigued, I picked it up and checked it out to compare my reading habits.

Within the pages of this small book are names such as Hemingway, Fleming, Melville, and London. It lists some very well-known books and some very obscure books. It is published as part of the Bloomsbury Good Reading Guides, and the editors have attempted to pique the interest of male readers. Though many people may stereotype "man books" as full of action, sex and violence, this is not the case. There is a wide variety of books that may appeal to different men altogether. They have thematic lists of books, and there are over 500 books listed for further reading as well!

After reading about some of the more obscure titles like The Ox-Bow Incident, I found myself wanting to read a lot of the books on the list. I have a lot of catching up to do.  Out of 100 titles, I have only read four. There are many classics on the list, and sadly that means I haven’t read them. Maybe, I’ll try to read more in the future. Free time is hard to come by sometimes.

If you are a man (or a woman; there’s no reason that you can’t read these) looking for something to read, whether it is similar or a far cry from what you’re used to, you should check out 100 Must-Read Books for Men and see how you measure up to the list.

If you’re curious, the four that I have read are You Only Live Twice by Ian Fleming, The Motorcycle Diaries by Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara, Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, and The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger.

This Link Is Too Long for Twitt…

August 02, 2011


Twitter, the online micro-blogging tool, has changed the way that we communicate online. Users can update (or tweet) multiple times a day, hourly, or by the minute to let others know what is on their mind or what they are doing. This is great as long as you stay under 140 characters, including spaces.

However, if you have found a really great website or want to share a link to a database, 140 characters may not be enough. Some links tend to get excruciatingly long, and even after converting some of your words to text talk (c u l8r), your tweet may end up looking like the above title: cut off.

Luckily, there are resources out there that allow users to share extra long links to their hearts’ content. One such resource is bit.ly. By going to their website, users can copy their long URLs and paste them into the box on the screen. After clicking on the Shorten button, bit.ly will produce a much shorter link (usually 13 characters) that can be used on twitter. In this way, users can tweet a link and still have room to comment about it. For example: ”I just read this great article on tsunamis! You should check it out: bit.ly/giscID.” The length of the actual link is far longer, and would make it harder to comment on twitter.

If you are on twitter and don’t know about bit.ly yet, you should take a look at it. While you’re there, you should follow our branch (@MCPLBS) too!

Geo-what?

May 04, 2011

Spring is upon us, and there’s no better time to get out and enjoy the weather and nature itself. There is a great way to do so and gain a sense of adventure at the same time. If you have a GPS or a smart phone, you can participate in the worldwide adventure of geocaching (pronounced gee-oh-cashing)!

What is geocaching? It’s been around for hundreds of years, but in the past 20 years it has really boomed in popularity. Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting endeavor that utilizes GPS coordinates. Players hide geocaches in parks or on trails, and mark them with coordinates. If you want to join in the fun, you can look up cache locations on the internet at geocaching.com and load them into your GPS or smart phone.

Every cache has a different “treasure,” though the treasure is not monetary. Treasures are usually items that can be traded, or they can be special trinkets that are on traveling missions. Every cache has a logbook, so take a pen or pencil to mark that you found it. Always put the caches back just as you found them for the next seekers to find!

Geocaching is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, see new places, and, most importantly, have fun. The game is ever changing because new caches are hidden every day, and there are already millions located worldwide! For more information, you can check out our catalog for geocaching books,geocaching.com, or even Blue Springs Parks and Recreation. Happy hunting and good luck!

An Enigma of Aviation

February 28, 2011

What do airplanes, satellites, World War I epics, oil drilling, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder have in common? One man named Howard R. Hughes, Jr.

Howard Hughes was born in 1905 to incredibly successful parents. In fact, his father invented an oil drill bit that revolutionized the industry. After inheriting his father’s company and the millions of dollars with it, Howard turned his sight from business to Hollywood. He produced a myriad of movies, but his greatest success and expense was Hell’s Angels, a World War I epic in 1930. The movie required over $4 million, 18 months of filming, and over 100 planes, which Hughes commissioned to be built.

Hughes’s fascination with planes continued throughout his life. Hughes broke the air speed record in a plane that he had designed, and he acquired Trans World Airlines where he invented the precursor to the modern commercial airliner. He also designed the Spruce Goose, a giant wooden plane that was supposed to carry military and supplies behind enemy lines.

Hughes and his companies also engineered the shell for the Voyager satellites and laid the groundwork for satellite television. Hughes managed all of this and more while living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

You can find out even more about Howard Hughes at the library. Check out the movies, The Aviator or The Amazing Howard Hughes. The library also has numerous documentaries about the enigma that was Howard Hughes, and you can look up his biography in the American National Biography database.

How the States Got Their Shapes

November 09, 2010

Why does Missouri have the boot heel? Why is Michigan in two parts? How come Texas is so big, but Rhode Island is so small? If you’ve ever wondered about the eccentricities of the 50 states or would like to learn about them, then we have the perfect book for you.

How the States Got Their Shapes is a fascinating book that addresses many of the questions about just that. It explains why some states have mostly straight borders, while others are surrounded by rivers. It also looks at the driving forces behind naming and shaping the states. The History Channel even aired a miniseries based on the book. After you read How the States Got Their Shapes, perhaps a road trip is in order to explore the boundaries of the states.

If a road trip is not what you’re looking for, you can pick up Lost States by Michael J. Trinklein. It is a brand new book, and it gives a fun history lesson about the states that never were like Franklin, Chippewa, Montezuma and Yazoo.

Mo Knows Learning

October 25, 2010

You may or may not have heard of Mo Willems, but you most likely have seen his works. He has become very well known for his award winning children’s books. His works include the Pigeon series, Elephant & Piggie books, and Knuffle Bunny. Recently, he has written Big Frog Can’t Fit In, a pop-up book.

Besides his children book awards, did you know that he has won six Emmys? It’s true! Mo worked on Sesame Street, and while he was there, he won the Emmy Awards for his writing. Willems has a talent for connecting with children, and making memorable stories that enrich children with common concepts of personal relationships. Come check out Mo Willems for the kids, or for your own personal enrichment!

Getting a Second Chance…and a Third…

October 06, 2010

Jeff Winston has had an average life. He and his wife Linda haven’t been able to have children, but they have spent the last twenty years together. In 1988, when Linda calls Jeff at work to talk, Jeff suddenly suffers a heart-attack. He feels the excruciating pain; he feels as if he’s fading away. Then, he feels himself breathe into nothingness and death, but how can he feel if he is dead?

When Jeff opens his eyes, he finds himself in his dorm room at Emory University in 1963. He is eighteen, but still has the memories of his life. Jeff has just won the opportunity to do something everyone wants: rewind and live life again. He now knows what the future holds for sports, stocks, President Kennedy, and anything else he remembers. There are so many ways that Jeff can take advantage of this wisdom, and that is exactly what he does. He relives his life with new wealth, love, and luck along with new heartbreaks, but everything is not as he remembers. The movie, Starsea, is released in theaters and is bigger than Jaws will ever be, not to mention, it is 4 years earlier. The past is not how Jeff remembers. Does this Starsea movie hold the answers to his questions; a meaning to his lives?

Ken Grimwood’s novel Replay is a fascinating sci-fi adventure. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. Even though Jeff Winston keeps reliving the past 25 years of his life, every replay is different, and he learns and experiences distinctly different things. Jeff gains wisdom from each of his lives, but the most important question that he needs to answer may not matter in the end. Replay reminds readers to sieze the day because the possibilities are endless, even though our lives may not be.

Frindle

September 16, 2010

Frindle: frin-dəl – noun. It is a new word created by Nicholas “Nick” Allen to replace the word “pen.”

Why don’t all the words in the dictionary mean what they say? Mrs. Granger doesn’t understand. She has to be the worst English teacher EVER! Nick decides to start using the word “frindle” instead of pen, and it catches on quickly. All the kids in school are using it, and pretty soon it is the coolest word in school. The teachers do not like it though. They try all sorts of wild stunts to stop the kids from using THAT word!

Andrew Clements’ first book is great! It is such a fun read that answers the question, “What would happen if I came up with a word that everyone (except the teachers) liked?”. Frindle has won numerous awards, including the Sasquatch Children’s Book Award, and with an award name like that, the book HAS to be good!

Your Family @ Your Fingertips

September 09, 2010

All patrons of Mid-Continent Public Library have access to the Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence, MO. From there, you can use a seemingly endless supply of resources to find your ancestry.

MCPL has access to Ancestry Library Edition at the branches, which is a useful tool for starting out on your genealogical quest. However, if you want to save a trip to the library, you can check out Heritage Quest, a genealogy resource which you can access from home. Though some of the sources overlap, such as census records and freedman’s bureau records, many are unique. Heritage Quest has access to thousands of family history books, memorials, and local history articles, which are not readily available.

When you are ready to begin (or continue) your family research, be sure to stop by the Midwest Genealogy Center, or visit our website for more genealogical resources.

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Again, you can access any of the above resources with a valid library card at mymcpl.org. The display was created by Erin, one of the many talented librarians that work at the Blue Springs South branch.

As a side note, the Midwest Genealogy Center is the largest free standing building in North America dedicated solely to genealogical research.

The Bleak and the Beautiful

August 18, 2010

Did you know that Cormac McCarthy, an American novelist and playwright, won the Pulitzer Prize for his book, The Road?

The Road is a journey into the lives of a father and son travelling on a road after a mysterious disaster wipes out nearly all human life. I never thought that bleakness could be described so beautifully, but just like in No Country for Old Men, McCarthy speaks of the landscape’s vast emptiness. I felt like I was there with the travelers, experiencing their world. I saw the gray sky; I heard the distant sounds in the night; I tasted the wind-blown dust and smelled the promise of food as they did.

Throughout the bleakness of The Road, there was this underlying constant hope that they will make it to the coast and find other survivors. It’s no mystery why McCarthy won the Pulitzer for this book. I think you should read The Road. In fact, I would suggest it to anyone. When you’re done reading that, try All the Pretty Horses or No Country for Old Men.

DIY Automotive

August 09, 2010

We all have car problems, sooner or later. When those problems pop up, it’s always nice to have the resources to fix them. If you’re the hands on type of person, we offer three automotive databases to help you in your times of need.

The Auto Repair Reference Center and ChiltonLibrary.com are accessible from home. They offer wiring charts, step by step repair procedures, and even videos to help with your maintenance. Both services cover most makes and models back to 1945.

If you find yourself at the library, you can use Mitchell 1 OnDemand5.com. It has extensive information for many makes and models.

As always, if you need assistance with any of these services, feel free to ask at our circulation desk! Good luck with those repairs.

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All of the aforementioned resources can be accessed from mymcpl.org with a valid library card. I do *NOT* love my job at all. Yes, that was sarcasm.

Food and Entertainment Have Their Price

July 13, 2010


Katniss Everdeen is the pride of District 12 because she is one of the best hunters around, even at age 16. The Capitol, a corrupt, oppressive government which rules over Panem, selects her younger sister for the 74th Hunger Games. Katniss volunteers to take the place of her sister and soon finds herself in a fight to the death with 23 other competitors, all teenagers. If she wins, she gains a lifetime of glory and freedom from the poor living conditions. If she loses… well, she doesn’t want to think about that. To complicate things, Peeta, a competitor from her home district, professes his undying love for her. There can be only one winner, posing difficult choices for both young competitors.

The first installment of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy is a nail-biting, joy ride through Katniss and Peeta’s adventure in post-apocalyptic North America. The third book, Mockingjay is due out in August, and the movie has been announced for next year. There’s still time to catch up with this incredible book that’s up for both the Truman and Gateway award this year. Suzanne Collins has made her name by writing epics for teens and children alike. She has a knack for writing descriptive, fast-paced stories, and Hunger Games is no exception. Be sure to check out Collins’ Underland Chronicles series too, if you’re feeling ambitious.

Addition

July 07, 2010

I’d like to tell you about a book I recently read, but, first I want to give you some background.

First, I am an avid reader of Unshelved, a library-themed webcomic. Secondly, I am a male librarian and even though I love romantic comedies, I am not a big fan of romance novels. Finally, I usually prefer Juvenile and Teen Fiction over Adult Fiction (less drama).

While fumbling through some historic Unshelved strips, I came upon a Sunday book club, which has been their tradition, about Addition. I requested it, but was hesitant to read it because it had that pesky heart on the spine and it was an adult book. Well, I took the plunge anyway and began reading…

Toni Jordan’s Addition is a romance… well, not really. There is some romance, but I didn’t find as much as I expected.

Grace, the heroine, has an OCD… well, not really. She just likes to count. She counts everything. She counts so much that it keeps her from having a “normal” life. OK, maybe it is an OCD.

So, she steals Seamus’s banana to make sure she has 10, and they keep running into each other afterwards. Seamus is there helping Grace deal with her counting, possibly sacrificing his sanity. Though there are some romantic interludes, Addition is more about Grace’s struggle with her uniqueness and how she sees the world.

As I read it, I may have questioned some of my own habits. Don’t worry though, there is a happy ending, and no matter what your habit, vice or eccentricity, there’s a way to make it all work. Besides, average isn’t always average; even average can be very unique.

Life or Something Like it in a Nuclear Bunker

This post originally appeared on June 30, 2010

Eli & Eddy Yanakakis were having their ninth birthday party when their father urges the family to seek refuge in their nuclear fallout shelter. This is it; apocalypse starts now. The next few hours are a blur, but when Eli realizes that his twin, Eddy and grandmother are not with the family in the shelter, he assumes the worst. Eli and his family need to remain underground for 15 years in order to avoid radiation poisoning, and a few years in, rations are dwindling.

Times are tough and mysteries keep piling up. Brand new CDs? A sketchy internet connection? Eli’s dad is insistent on avoiding those important questions, not to mention the Supplements. Eli has always been fascinated with numbers and codes, but will it be enough to escape the underground prison? Would it be worth it to escape his father just to end up in a bleak post-nuclear world?

S. A. Bodeen makes her writing debut with a bang in The Compound. Up for both the Truman and Gateway awards, The Compound takes readers inside the mind of Eli Yanakakis and the rift that exists between him and his family. There are a couple of jaw-dropping moments that will keep you from putting the book down. Check it out and experience life in a nuclear bunker with a crazy man.

The Hills are Alive… and 50

This post originally appeared on the Blue Springs South branch blog on

June 23, 2010.

While sorting through some library items today, I was blown away by a book I came across: The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. If that sounds vaguely familiar to you, good! 

The Von Trapps are the family featured in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music. Rodgers and Hammerstein are one of the most famous songwriting duos in history. They collaborated for several musicals, which have been based on other works such as plays (Oklahoma!, Carousel), and novels (South Pacific, The King and I).

The Sound of Music is the only work based, though loosely, on a true story. Maria Augusta Trapp wrote her memoir in 1949 and even includes pictures of the family. The real Maria doesn’t look a thing like Julie Andrews, and Georg Von Trapp wasn’t anything like the cold, stern dad in the movie.

I’m proud to say that the Blue Springs South branch is the only one south of the river that has a copy too! The musical just turned 50 and the movie is now 45 years old! So, if you can’t wait until the holidays when they ALWAYS play it on TV, come into the branch and check out the movie, or find out where it all started and read The Story of the Trapp Family Singers.