Lessons not taught, conventions unfollowed?

Be forewarned -- this blog post has very little to do with the library or literacy in a conventional sense (though it does address a related field of literacy --that of chronological literacy).  You have been warned...



Over the past few weeks, I've noticed an interesting trend.  We're seeing a glut of children (most seem to be preteens) coming in to the library and asking staff members what time it is.  Now, none of us mind answering that question.  Even though we don't record it as such in our stats, it's one of the easiest reference questions we're ever asked (next to "where's the washroom?").  But I'm starting to find the trend a little alarming.

We have a clock in plain view behind and above the circulation counter.  The clock is large enough that I can clearly see the numbers from the opposite side of the library.  The only assumption I can draw based on that (other than sheer laziness) is that these children can't tell time -- at least, not with an analogue clock face.  I learned to tell time that way in the first grade. (if my parents didn't teach me before then -- I can't remember for sure...)

Is telling time on analogue clocks/watches a skill that's not taught anymore?  In the past year, I've heard that many children are no longer being taught cursive handwriting, and I thought that was borderline ridiculous.  But at least people who cannot write cursive can take a stab at deciphering it.  The same isn't true for people who have only learned to tell time on digital clocks.  In a very real sense, these people are functional chronological illiterates.

Perhaps this is part of a growing trend against the regular wearing of watches in favor of carrying cell phones.  When I was growing up and given my first watch (an analogue watch), it was like a rite of passage.  I got to wear a watch, and was officially a big kid!  A year or so later, it was supplanted with a more kid-friendly watch (with a stretchy wristband instead of a traditional strap), but the idea stayed with me.

A few years later, I was given my first digital watch just in time for my teen years, and my current watch was given to me on my eighteenth birthday -- to accompany my entrance to manhood.  These watches have meant a lot to me over the years.  My current watch saw me through the end of high school, my years at university, timed my exercise over the past year and a half, and even traveled to Japan with me.  The writing along the edges has been worn away, the buttons stick, and the watch face is starting to accumulate large scratches.  My left wrist has a patch of skin that's permanently pale, indented, and ridiculously smooth.  This watch has been through three batteries, five watch straps, and I absolutely *will not* get rid of it until the day it refuses to work at all.

We live in a world where so much is considered disposable and so many old things and ideas are discarded.  I implore you folks -- don't let that happen here.  Teach your kids how to tell time on analogue clock faces.  Give them a watch instead of a cell phone for their birthday -- the watch and the meaning behind it will stay with them much longer than a 3-year contract.

A match made in the ...clubhouse?

Greetings and salutations good readers,

If you keep up with my Twitter feed (helpfully displayed on the right side of this blog), you already know that I spent much of yesterday working on things related to a golf tournament the library will be hosting in June.

In the past year, we've tried to broaden the library's fundraising efforts.  We've had some success in requesting donations for the Summer Reading Club last year (thanks to all of our generous donors), and holding small to medium fundraisers such as cakewalks and our white elephant sale.  The one thing we haven't tried is a large scale event-based fundraiser.

At a fundraising meeting last summer, the idea of holding a golf tournament was brought up.  I liked the idea, but at this point, I'm not sure if I can even claim that I play golf.  After all, I didn't make it out at all last summer and only went golfing once in 2009...

In any case, Brenda, our board chair, liked the idea and she started thinking about it.  She asked Chuck, the administrator of the community centre, to help with the planning and things have been moving along since then.  We had a meeting a few weeks ago where Paula and I learned more about golf tournaments and we decided on a few of the details.

At this point, I think I should (quickly) point out that certain details may change by the time of the actual tournament.  The library has never held a golf tournament before, and we're learning while we plan this one.  As it stands right now, we're planning a team best ball tournament for players 12+ with a field of 72 players.

All golfers out there, please stay tuned for more information, and in the meantime I'll leave you with this:

Best Ball for Books:

Golf Tournament for Literacy and your Library

Tournament:  Saturday, June 11, 2011

Registration Deadline:  Tuesday, May 17, 2011

One book at a time...

Greetings and welcome to February!

If you've been around the library during the past four weeks, you've probably seen staff members doing inventory and rearranging the library.  We're getting close to the finish line on inventory.  I'm hoping (emphasis on this word) that we can finish the "people in the shelves checking things off and swearing" portion of the inventory by the end of next week.  Then we'll have a day or two of computer work, and we should be done -- about a month earlier than last year.

So what happens when we're done inventory?

1)  Post-inventory work

While doing inventory, we've found a number of books on our shelves that were not in our catalogue.  As a result, those books cannot be searched for in our computers or loaned to patrons.  Sharon, Paula, and I will be working our way through these stacks to decide what can be discarded and re-cataloguing the rest.

2)  More library rearranging

In the future, we may be combining our adult non-fiction, and junior non-fiction, and reference collections.  Right now if patrons search for non-fiction books in a particular subject, they have to go to three different areas of the library to find them.  In many cases, we have 3-4 books on a subject, but they're spread out among these three separate collections.  Putting the collections together should make life easier for patrons searching for books, and will make life easier for staff members because we won't have to draw the line between junior non-fiction, adult non-fiction, and reference any longer. 

3)  Preparation for Sitka

Sitka is the new library program we'll be transitioning to later in 2011.  Paula and I participated in a conference call for Sitka-bound libraries on Friday, and learned a little more about the transition process.

4)  Ordering books

The hardest part about doing inventory is holding off on tasks we enjoy doing, like ordering new books.  I can't speak for Sharon or Paula, but I'm chomping at the bit to start ordering again.  We'll be putting extra emphasis on non-fiction this year, as Paula has identified some areas of desperate need while doing inventory.  Beyond that, we'll continue to order the best of new fiction, children's books, and more graphic novels as we've done in the past.

We've got a lot ahead as soon as inventory is out of the way, so stay tuned!