The Original Warrior Librarian

School Library Humor 101Revision

2012-01-29T20:59:00.006+11:00

Tomorrow is Day 2 of the new gig, albeit just a short-term one. On Friday (Day 1) I re-learned a valuable lesson that I had, admittedly, forgotten. Do not, under any circumstances, joke with classroom teachers about any overdue books they may (or may not) have from the preceding scholastic year. Teachers do not consider this an appropriate topic for frivolity. I had forgotten that.

But otherwise things are going pretty well. I'm rostered onto Staff Morning Tea with some faculty colleagues on Wednesday; I'm reliably informed that biscuits (cookies for our American Cousins) will be welcomed. A few things for my To Do list for tomorrow include speaking with the new Year 7's on their very first assembly at High School (I'd mention that I'd been trying to do that for four years at my previous gig, but then what's the point of reliving the past?); also the printing of booking sheets for teachers with classes, together with other forms for unsupervised seniors using the library during lesson time.

Generating 'the calendar' for the library software system so that borrowing can commence with meaningful master date dues; setting up the paperwork for (student) overdue notices; clearing mail backlog accumulated during the holiday period; many other Bits and Pieces; and maybe the most challenging task of the day - get familiar, like really quickly, with the collection so that the newest enrolments can come to the library and receive something that at least approximates useful Reader Guidance.

You've gotta get 'em young (or in this case, new) to hook them for regular recreational readers. Geez, I didn't even get a chance to boot up the OPACs on Friday, let alone browse the shelves.

And then just to put the cherry on top of the day, there's a staff meeting - or possibly two, I'm not sure on that one - at the end of the day. Hmmm ... that might be an even bigger challenge, given that during the holidays I fell into that wonderful - although ultimately counterproductive - habit of a Nanny Nap after lunch.

I will admit that at another gig, many years back, I fell asleep during an after-school meeting, but (apparently) also snored. Must have been someone else, surely?

Some Reader Instruction needed here ...

2012-01-26T19:44:00.001+11:00

see more epicfails

Spam of the Week: The Economy

2012-01-26T11:49:00.006+11:00

*Dear Prime Minister Gillard, *

Please find below our suggestion for fixing the Australian economy.

Instead of giving billions of dollars to banks that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan. You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:

There are about 5 million people over 50 in the work force.

Pay them $2 million each severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire. Five million job openings - unemployment fixed

2) They MUST buy a new Australian car. Five million cars ordered - Car Industry fixed

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis fixed

4) They MUST send their kids to school/college/university - Crime rate fixed

5) They MUST buy $100 WORTH of alcohol/tobacco a week ... And there's your money back in duty/tax etc

It can't get any easier than that!

Also:*Let's put the pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home. This way the pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.

They'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment,wheel chairs etc and they'd receive money instead of paying it out.

They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance. Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.

A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring their meals and snacks to their cell. They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.

They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling,pool and education. Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid would be free, on request.

Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with gardens. Each senior could have a PC a TV radio and daily phone calls. There would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and the guards would have a code of conduct that would be strictly adhered to.

The criminals would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised. Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week. Live in a tiny room and pay $400.00 per week and have no hope of ever getting out.

Think about this (more points of contention):

COWS:* Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Goondiwindialmost three years ago, right to the paddock where she slept in the feedlot at Bony Mountain? And, they even tracked her calves to their stalls.

But they are unable to locate 125,000 illegal immigrants wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow. *

Also:* Think about this ... If you don't want to forward this for fear of offending someone -- YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM! It is time for us grumpy old folk of Australia to speak up!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

On behalf of my fellow Curmudgeons, I thank the original author - whose identity is now losts in the mists of the ethernet - for so clearly articulating these thoughts.

A terribly sad day

2012-01-24T19:11:00.004+11:00

We went to Bowral for a family picnic today, and I had been intending to write on the plethora of bookshops in the Southern Highlands township.

But on the way there, we were witnesses to a triple road fatality. The truck travelling beside us on the dual lanes - literally a metre from us - left the road as we watched, crossed the bushy median strip, and drove into incoming traffic.

If you are of a religious bent, please say a pray for the three people who died. If you are not of such beliefs, I hope you can spare some time to reflect on the fact that no matter how awful your day was, your family and friends will get to see you another day.

Barcode People: How clever is this?

2012-01-19T22:24:00.003+11:00

So many clever people in the world, it makes you wonder why libraries are continually having to justify their continuing existance to the bean counters and nay-sayers of the world.

Just sayin', ya know?

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside ...

2012-01-14T14:47:00.007+11:00

... for a few days of creative retreat. Kiama on Australia's south coast - a mere 2 hours easy drive from Sydney, with pit stops and photo opportunities - had near-perfect weather. Although there was not a huge volume of creative product out-putted, I always figure quality is as important as quantity, at least in situations such as this. But who could resist sitting on a sunny veranda with a pot of tea and the daily crossword?

But my evening reading material of choice for this time it was a re-release of Alistair MacLean's Ice Station Zebra (under 10 bucks in my now-favoured book emporium). I'd always found his characters were a bit too 'blokey' for my palette, but I'd forgotten how extraordinarily long his sentences are/were. Almost whole pages, in some cases.

Now I'm thinking that I want to revisit a whole lot of other authors of that period (Ice Station Zebra originally being published in 1963) to see if this is yet another trend that has been creeping up on us largely unnoticed.

Sure, huge numbers of our younger folk do not appear to be capable of concentrating beyond the span of a txt msg, but I'd thought of we older gentle folk as having a greater textual stamina. Maybe I'm wrong? Like, that'd be a first. Not.

(May I be permitted to admit that I do like my constructed phrase, 'textual stamina'? As far as I know, I just coined it. But I am told that sometimes we hear or read such phrases and then later recall them and imagine that they are our own creation. Anyone hear or read this phrase before? Or am I destined to yet again embarrass myself? Feel free to drop me a line on this.)

Plan A: The Harry Potter Exhibition

2012-01-08T19:06:00.005+11:00

So the plan for this weekend was to borrow (ie hire - the difference being that 'hire' was for a charge from a commercial organisation, whilst 'borrow' would have been for free if our local public library had not already lent them out) all the Harry Potter movies that are legally available.

Then, we'd have a home Movie Marathon before we shelled out huge bucks to go see the Harry Potter Exhibition now currently on in Sydney at one of our fine tax-payer funded public buildings.

The DVD player died before the first disk was even inserted. Naturally, it was 6 weeks - nearly to the day - out of warranty. Never fear! Money grows on trees; we bought a new one. Sound quality is dodgy to say the least, so now it's jerry-rigged through the stereo system's speakers. Which means juggling three different remotes. Still cheaper than buying a hi-fi (remember that term?) home theatre system ...

Just finished reading ..."Seriously, I'm kidding"

2012-01-07T11:25:00.006+11:00

This is the third Ellen DeGeneres book; I haven't read the first two yet. I was a big fan of her TV sitcom - and not just because of the setting - and was disappointed that it was cancelled. But that was back in the days when I still watched TV.

I did enjoy this book very much. The humor was gentle and witty. But in comparison with some of my other favorite humor authors (eg PJ O'Rourke and the late Erma Bombeck) , it was a light read in more than one sense.

What was particularly interesting was the physical interaction with this book. I'd bought it as a present for one of my daughters (at her request), and borrowed it from her after she'd finished it. Interestingly, it was handed over with a set of verbal instructions that included not to open the pages too wide, as that wrinkled the cover down along the spine. Which in fact is true; I experimented with a new book in a store that shall remain nameless. I'd never considered this aspect of borrowing from a professional librarian perspective.

Which is in itself interesting; the former Warrior Librarian proofreader pointed out a few recent 'typos' and asked what kind of librarian did I think I was? So I shared with her my current worksite manager's perspective. I am apparently not a librarian at all, I am a teacher. Which is why I must close the library at recesses and go supervise the girls' toilets. Geez, and there I was putting all that effort into getting my library qualifications and everything ...

Have I digressed? Or am I marching firmly down the middle of the concourse?

Foolish Beliefs

2012-01-05T20:36:00.003+11:00

Is "Warhorse" an 80 year belated film tie-in?

2012-01-04T19:30:00.011+11:00

The movie Warhorse may not be for everyone. For some, there will be not enough blood and guts on the battle field; for others, there may be too many tear-jerking moments. For me, this was a hugely spooky experience; the plot had so many parallels with one of my most precious of my childhood reads, My Horse Warrior.

As an aside, I remember the flaming I got for belittling the prose style of some of the writings of the Horse Story genre in modern Children's Literature. I was told (amongst many other things) I didn't understand the bond between adolescent girls and horses. Pfft! This is the person who nearly dropped out of university because I completed a Diploma of Riding Instruction before I finished my science degree. I wanted to be a riding instructor more than a geologist. Long story. I ended up doing a few years of both, together with some other stuff that isn't related in any way to Librarianship.

Anyways, I still have my first edition My Friend Flicker. And also my beloved book My Horse Warrior; written by Lord Mottistone (General Jack Seely) and published in London in 1938 by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd. Illustrations by Mr A.J. Munnings, R.A. Sadly, I don't have the first edition (yet), but a 1938 reprint.

Those of you who have seen the movie will note the similarities to the scanned images above. Even the countryside in the sketch above is almost identical to the locales used in the movie. The sample page from the forward pretty well sets the scene for much of the book.

My copy is a little water stained on the spine, which shouldn't worry anyone but me because it isn't for sale. Enjoy the movie if you haven't already seen it. I'm going back for a second look - but more particularly at the credits.

The Craft Room Makeover ...

2012-01-02T22:23:00.004+11:00

... is 95% finished. Just some fine tuning to go, like finding somewhere to put the clock - without which, time starts to lose meaning in this room. But in a good way. Total cost of shelving approx AUD$300.

The Craft Room

2012-01-01T18:07:00.008+11:00

Yep, you have to click on the image to be able to read the whole thing. I'm not saying that everyone is going to find it worthwhile, but indulge me. I'm experimenting here. Enjoy!

Just finished reading ... "206 Bones"

2011-12-28T20:29:00.006+11:00

I do like a good mystery, with a touch of the macabre thrown in for good measure. Which I guess is why I enjoy Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs so much.

I found 206 Bones a good read, particularly with the little twist in the end. The plot was not predictable, the characters underwent a credible development, the action was well-described. At times the use of language was a little heavy, but still eminently readable.

The downside was Ms Reichs' stereotypical portrayal of The Librarian, including the actual appellation of 'the dragon'. I guess I can live with this small flaw if I concentrate on the fact that this was the viewpoint of the character, not the author. At least I hope so. I'd have to check with the author to get an accurate assessment; it's always best to go to the source for confirmation. Isn't it?

I think that Cornwell may be a marginally better writer, with Reichs' a marginally better 'storyteller'; if that makes any difference to anyone.

This was one of my pre-Christmas purchases; with the closure of two major book stores at my local mall, I'm happy to say the book-nook (not its real name) is a pretty good substitute. Not a big range, but a more consistently interesting bargain table. What you throw up on the swings lands on the round-about? Or words to that effect ...

Competition Notification: Random House

2011-12-27T17:42:00.005+11:00

Whatever else I may be, I am consistent. I didn't win the recent mega-lottery ($35 million), nor any other major prize. Or minor one for that matter; although I did once win ten bucks in a game of chance. As far as I know that wasn't declarable on my income tax, but I guess I should have notified the Tax Office anyway, just in case.

Anyways, for those who like a dabble, Random House is offering chances in a prize. I can't give you the URL, coz The Usual Parties may well consider that I might be benefiting in some way - which past experience confirms that even one cretin with such a belief is sufficient to generate a complaint; two cretins sharing such an erroneous belief got me into huge pooh. Or poop, if you prefer.

And no, offering proof makes no difference to the determination; a review is apparently not an option. Nor does making an official complaint about the determination, the lack of investigation, and the clear denial of Natural Justice or even just a fair and unbiased investigation make one scrap of difference ...

I may have digressed there for a minute. Good luck with Random House's offering.

Season's Greetings, and Bah Humbug from the Cat

2011-12-24T13:44:00.008+11:00

Although the family Christmas feast is still 24 hours away, Christmas eve dinner is already in the planning stages, although the actual 'menu' is still being decided.

In the mean time, the table is in the process of being 'dressed - and the cat is more than ready to start eating anytime some food might appear.

Northern hemisphere friends are likely to notice the air conditioner - instead of a fireplace or central heating-type climate control.

Expected temperature is around 28 to 30 degrees C. Humidity will be high enough to render a BBQ a little uncomfortable - at least here in Sydney.

Tomorrow is Christmas for us and ours. Whatever you do with your day, whatever your beliefs, may the day be peaceful, happy and safe.

Munching in the Twilight Zone

2011-12-20T14:05:00.008+11:00

In the spirit of what is clearly the absolute worst of blogdom, thought there may be someone who'd like to know that a colleague and I have just returned from visiting our closest vending machine.

Although this was not quite haute cuisine, Family Christmas is but a few days away, where I'm sure I'll consume calories at levels that are neither healthy or safe. And more than likely enjoy every last nibble of the same, food wise.

I'm still searching for high-carb reading material with little or no redeeming literary merit. Yummy!

Yes. I am back.

2011-12-19T13:00:00.011+11:00

A lovely two-week Long Service Leave has now finished, and I am back at my desk after a 14 day cruise to New Zealand. Pretty good, apart from 2 days of sea-sickness when the swell was over 4 metres (and remember that's an *average* height).

(I did embark as a passenger, but got rolled off as cargo at the end. Who'd have thought that eating almost constantly for two weeks would cause a weight gain?)

But what's almost even better, I'm back for only two days, then it's another five weeks of annual leave. Nice, huh? I think the world will manage to continue on without me at The Desk.

Of course, I will still be at a keyboard, although at a secret location known only to the Australian Taxation Office, the Electoral Commission, the Roads and Traffic Authority, local and state governments, my employer, Australia Post, and a few hundred other government and non-government organisations ...

Yes, we have no bananas?

2011-12-02T22:55:00.008+11:00

I don't know what the library funding situation is in real-world Banana Republics, but it sure is thin on the ground over here in this part of the world. Particularly school libraries.

Our wonderful public libraries seem to be provisioned by very proficient bean-counters, or possibly very dedicated and scary Friends of the Library folk.

Media coverage of what appears to be completely unrelated events does help shine a feeble light on the matter though.

On November 29, the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald announces Federal budget cuts, complete with a table of figures to lend it that patina of gravitas. Then on December 1, we learn from Page 1 of the Sydney Telegraph that our politicians have been given a huge pay rise - by an independent tribunal, of course. So the Australian prime minister will earn more than the American president.

Of course, the purists will say that these are federal matters, and school funding is a state one. To which the answer is of course 'pffft', particularly given the official Government Response to School Libraries and Teacher Librarians in the 21st Century Enquiry.

Yep, things are grim. Nope, you ain't gettin' any money to fix it.

Best 'Book Competition of the Day'?

2011-12-01T22:26:00.006+11:00

What would be a better prize, a years' supply of books, or a trip to New York?

That'd be easier to answer if the second option was four trips for one person?

What the heck! I'm happy to take either. Mind you, I'm not giving you the URLs for either one, coz there's this little tiny core of evil people waiting to make yet more assumptions and subsequent complaints to do with my being in the pocket of mega-multinational corporations and somehow making a squillion dollars. Which would of course explain why I am still in an entry level position - with a commensurate salary - in a school library.

What need to do now is find out how to phonetically represent that sound you make when you're drinking and laughing simultaneously, and the drink comes out of your nose.

eBooks: Still a long way to go

2011-12-01T22:20:00.004+11:00

So, the retail store that was bankrupt into closing and has now re-opened as an online store sure has a whole truckload of items on offer, including eBooks. Time to load up the olde eBook reader for the holidays. Hmmm ... what to buy when mere cents are required?

Lets try the old 'humor' search and see what's on offer. And just who is this author?

How cheap can cheap books get?

2011-11-29T20:51:00.003+11:00

Monday's drive out to Penrith in the stinking heat in a non-air conditioned vehicle was the pits; but well worth the trip to participate in the Western Sydney Region Teacher Librarians' 2012 National Year of Reading Think Tank, hosted by Penrith Public Library. Great ideas getting tossed around there.

As an extra special bonus, I got to visit the cheap book place everyone is talking about, in the adjacent Penrith Plaza. Sure does have a heap of quality books for the minuscule amount of five bucks. Good luck to my colleagues who are authorised to take advantage of these retail outlets. I'm still trying to figure out why that select group school principals, who control the working conditions as well as the budgets of school library folk would object to getting a little more bang for their buck.

Anyways, having traversed the shopping mall to get to the library, just outside the library were paperback spinners stacked with library culls selling for 20 cents each. Oh boy!

But in today's email came what has to be the cheapest of the cheap books. A company called Free eBooks wrote to tell me that they currently have a 50% off sale ....

2011 Best Books?

2011-11-26T21:20:00.005+11:00

The UK Guardian Newspaper has published its list of the Books of the Year.

I don't want to say too much about this list, cos there's a few 'personnel' who may complain to the 'authorities' (again) that it somehow shows I have a financial interest in the Guardian newspaper, and I'd be in yet more poop.

There's got to be something wrong with a government system that says they don't have to proved guilty of an unfounded allegation for which there is no proof; you that have to prove yourself innocent - when even Blind Freddy can see it's a malicious and vindictive complaint. Not to mention a backlog of allegations of which you aren't even informed!

No, no ... we're not speaking here of San Salvadore or any similar country. This is Australia, a Constitutional Democracy. Or so we teach in our schools.

A financial interest in the publication? Heck, I don't really even have an interest in their best books list ...

Dessert. Yummy!

2011-11-22T19:12:00.006+11:00

So you take your basic After-Dinner fare, and look at the choices for presenting it so it is a delight to the eye as well as the palette. Mmmmm. Add ice cream, cream, or both?

And just think! Shortly there'll be an addition with blood pressure apparently well on the way up!

Ah, the carefree life of library folk with the sound of the beeping of bar code scanners during stock take; the cheerful discussion about what eBook reader is best for libraries with very small budgets - not to mention various formats for eBooks and proprietary software for same; the future of the profession hanging in the balance once again; the generation of yet more policies, procedures and documentation.

So much to do ... (Part 1)

2011-11-13T19:40:00.005+11:00

Today I collected up all my borrowed stuff, and returned everything to the library. What exhausted me was the next six hours on the 'net looking for this picture. Isn't it brilliant?

The Use of Positive Attitudes

2011-11-08T20:38:00.003+11:00

Days of Celebration: Do we need a few more?

2011-10-31T14:49:00.002+11:00

I was very disappointed to find out that World Zombie Day had come and gone (October 8th), without my even knowing about it. So, as one does, I went a-searching for any other significant day of which I should be aware.

Who knew that there was International Awesomeness Day? Given that it's on March 10th (Chuck Norris' birthday), there's plenty of time (now) to prepare for the next one.

Seems to me like there should be a whole raft of other days of international celebration. Anyone got any suggestions?

This Week's Achievements

2011-10-22T11:28:00.003+11:00

This week I completed over 2 thousand data entry units, plus relocated over two tons of resources. Luckily the resources were on wheels! And had power steering with air conditioning and quite a good sound system ...

The current gig is still continuing, but comes up for review in a week. Makes me think of the posters about "what has been seen cannot be unseen". A person could do worse with their time to do a Google image search for that. Just a thought, not a suggestion or anything, you understand?

Wise Words for today: Sarcasm

2011-10-22T11:26:00.001+11:00

Grammar is not a dirty word, is it?

2011-10-12T19:28:00.003+11:00

Original author unknown. Will acknowledge when author is tracked down.

The Bookcase Project

2011-10-11T09:46:00.002+11:00

PhilipMSr responded to Rules for a Home Collection Weed (10/8/11), and wrote:

"I like the photo and wish you would add it to my bookcase photo collection site. I have two Australians which view the site, but not bookcase photos from them. Please share this comment with your fan base so there will be more representation from Australia."

So there you go, PhilipMSr. I hope you won't be too disappointed to find out that book cases in the Antipodes are pretty much the same as anywhere else on the planet.

Screaming Part 2: Stressed Librarians

2011-10-11T09:39:00.003+11:00

After searching for suitable AV material for Information Literacy Lessons, I came across this invaluable piece of advice for library folk who need a good scream. I'm just about to go do the costings for this project, which I think should have top expenditure priority in any library. Picture hopefully coming soon ...

TED and Conventional Wisdom

2011-10-07T11:41:00.008+11:00

I signed up with TED today. Did you ever see that bumper sticker [slash] t-shirt [slash] poster that said "Everyone's entitled to my opinion"? I suppose this is a reaction against that other saying "If I want your opinion I'll give it to you".

And speaking of supplimentary wisdom, I wish that I'd thought of this when I was asked (by someone 20 years my junior!) hadn't I heard about "not hanging out the dirty washing in public"? The circumstances you can guess at, but if I'd been in a different frame of mind I may well have countered with "is that like sweeping the dirt under the carpet?".

Ah well. Yet more of l'esprit de l'escalier.

Rules for a Home Collection Weed

2011-10-04T10:21:00.004+11:00

In the interests of efficiency and sanity, and of course with the benefit of Hindsight, it would probably have been a better idea to finish the cull before the Garage Sale. Which is interesting at least from the perspective that October is Mental Health Month.

But the truth of the matter is there was so much junk in front of this book case, we couldn't get to the lower shelves - which is why all the upper shelves are neat and approximately "Dewey-ized". OK, it's just the sports books that are close together, but hey! This is my home library and I'll put books together on the basis of their size if it suits my mood at the time. I know that will sound rash and dangerous to some of my colleagues, but I'm standing firm on this one. Let them take me to court if it upsets them! We live in dangerous times, and I feel like I'm up to the challenge, at least on the matter of home library organisation.

But I have digressed. Is anyone surprised? Hidden on the lower shelves were the "resources" that were a bit iffy the last few times I was culling. Favorite picture books from my children's early years - fairly poor condition, but would these be something my children might like to pass on down to their children? Books I had picked up at sales (some at 90% of their RRP like "101 Things for Bright Boys to Do"), with the intention of including them in the Day Job library - but given the rejection of the application for reimbursement for the last Ripley's Believe it or Not (at less than $20), now headed elsewhere.

What are the culling guidelines for a professional library, as opposed to a home library? Frequency of use? Condition? Likelihood of future use? Bias? Currency? Relevance to the curriculum (school and academic libraries?) From my personal perspective, biggest difference is that of sentimental value - which should count for zilch in a professional library, but it's up there with the biggies in a Home Library Collection.

New Donations Policy

2011-10-01T10:37:00.005+10:00

We had a Garage Sale (Yard Sale for our US cousins) today. Mostly it was just the usual junk that isn't used or wanted - only horded away "just in case".

We've had them before, over the years. But this year marks a First Ever inclusion - books. Until now, I'd always given our 'pre-loved' books to whatever library I was working in.

As we are a family of diverse reading preferences, our cast-offs generally help fill a number of gaps in various collections.

This year, things have changed. Over the last four years, I've donated over 2000 bucks worth of books to a Library of My Acquaintance. As they say, "no good deed goes unpunished" ... those who know what's going on will understand. The others will just have to wait for my official autobiography. Which, I suggest, you will need to read sitting down. The movie rights are still open for negotiation.

Anyways, although only getting a dollar or two for books that cost over $40 originally, any funds raised will go towards additions to our Home Library. Seems fair to me.

Justice for all?

2011-09-27T10:41:00.007+10:00

He was 14 yrs. 6mos. and 5 days old --- and the youngest person executed in the United States in the 20th Century

In a South Carolina prison sixty-six years ago, guards walked a 14-year-old boy, bible tucked under his arm, to the electric chair. At 5' 1" and 95 pounds, the straps didn’t fit, and an electrode was too big for his leg. Now, a community activist is fighting to clear Stinney’s name ... You can read the rest of the news report here.

Sixty years later, and folk are now interested in the truth. It'll scare you - especially when you find out that this is still going on now, and where YOU live.

Here in Australia, a hundred years after his execution, Harry "Breaker" Morant may receive a posthumous pardon (see here) following the investigation of new evidence by Australian Navy Commander James Unkles.

However, the British government, who conducted the trial in 1902, refused to grant the pardon (see here). Australian Navy Commander James Unkles commented ''It is pathetic. Dr Fox appears to have been advised by a group of faceless public servants. The responsee does not address the legal issues involved. We will grind on until this matter is the subject of judicial review. This is only the beginning."

Is this our new poster-boy for justice? The South Carolina case re-opened after 60 years, "Breaker Morant's" steamrolling investigated after more than 100 years.

Meanwhile, here and now in this state, if a government employee gets "investigated" due to malicious and spiteful complaints by a manager - you're likely to be found "guilty" - based on no evidence at all and exclusively heresay - even to the extent of ignoring the recommendations of its own internal investigator. Cases won't be reopened even only months after they've been closed - regardless of how compelling the evidence or how many primary witnesses come forth unsolicited.

Anecdotal evidence together with mainstream media reports would seem to indicate that the incidence of suicide by public servants is escalating. (Interestingly, the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not record the occupations of suicides.) Would a firing squad ultimately be more humane?

Are YOU OK?

2011-09-15T18:47:00.006+10:00

Today was "RUOK Day". The purpose is to raise awareness of suicide prevention, and introduce small kindnesses such as asking someone who is stressed, troubled, in a crisis, etc if they are OK.

Then, of course, you have to be prepared to listen - really listen, not just stand by looking at your watch with one foot poised for take-off. That's the hard part.

You'll never know how much you can do for someone in a crisis situation, until you listen to what they have to say.

The three objectives of RUOK Day are:
(1) Help employees and students feel good about themselves by connecting with, and supporting others.
(2) Increase connection and support within groups.
(3) Through reducing stress and depression, help reduce Australia's suicide rate.

Stress and depression are the largest contributors to lost productivity in Australia, directly costing employers an estimated $10.11 billion a year (Medibank 2009).

The R U OK? at Work initiative is intended to help combat workplace stress by urging employers and business leaders to actively encourage positive, meaningful conversations between staff and ensure they know who to turn to when they’re not OK.

Every workplace can choose how they would like to run R U OK? at Work, all we ask is that when employees take time out for a coffee or a break on Thursday September 15, they're encouraged to start a conversation with someone they care about.

Interestingly, just a few weeks ago I was told - officially, and in writing - that under our employment conditions, there is "no entitlement to a morning break". This was in response to a number of other questions I asked ... I didn't even raise that issue, only those of parity and natural justice. Is it any wonder there are increasing instances of stress in our profession?

I really really wanted to make a few phone calls today, and just let a few people of my acquaintance know that its people like them, with their bullying, intimidation, inflexibility, self-serving selfishness, pettiness and abuse of their position are the reason why there are so many work-place related suicides.

I didn't make those phone calls. But I have third-party documentation witnessing that a number of workplace bullies read this blog - ironically so they can use it as fodder for their whining, trite complaints. It's possible that I'll be told to remove this posting. Also possible that I'll get yet another reprimand, and maybe worse. Guess what? I still figure that my employment arrangements do not negate my right to have an opinion and express it publicly. Last time I looked, Australia was still a democracy.

I will await the inevitable, and share the outcome.

Shame File: School Library Expenditure

2011-09-13T19:10:00.008+10:00

How can a school spend $0.00 on their library, and then bank over a million dollars? These figures are from a school's annual report. Just to let you know that this is a government high school in NSW, but not one where I am employed (nor ever have been).

This is a public document available through the Internet, without any password etc requirements. You can locate it through a Google (or other search tool) search for "NSW school annual report" [insert year]. You will get a clearer image by clicking on this one, which will enlarge it.

At the bottom of the document it says "the school" invites you to contact them for more information. I wonder if anyone did.

Sort of makes me want to go check out some others ...

Hey! Just for comparison, this is the library expenditure for the geographically closest school to the one above. Interestingly, the schools are about the same size.

You can see this one spent more than $25K on their library, and banked "only" $708, 000.

Their income was $3,285,896 for 1165 students ($2820 per student). Library expenditure was $25231 ($21 per student).

Notably this school excels academically.

The first example's income for the same year was $2, 999,720 for 1200 students ($2499 per student). Library expenditure was $0.00 total, or equal to 0.00 per student.

Both schools are in an area of socio-economic advantage. Both are for the 2010 school year. Go figure ...

It's so hard to get good help these days ...

2011-09-11T20:35:00.004+10:00

... but when you think about the fishy pay, lack of training, not actually caring too much about the outcomes, toilet facilities, etc, then I suppose it's only to be expected. So here's a tip - don't expect much from your cat, except cat hairs in your printer. Sigh.

Where do YOU go to scream?

2011-09-07T19:38:00.004+10:00

So it was just another one of those days, where somewhere back down deep in the reptilian part of your brain you know that a good deep scream will somehow help you cope. The question is where does one go, if you're in a city - let alone an office?

Back in the day where horror flicks were all the rage, one could have popped in and let loose with the general movie goers, at the appropriate times, of course. No one ever screams at the pictures any more - at least not that I've heard for maybe 20 years. Maybe I'm going to the wrong movies?

Folk in rural areas might be able to find a spot isolated enough for a belly roar - but for city folk by the time you've driven anywhere far enough away from folk who might become alarmed, the urge for a bellow will probably have passed.

In an office? Forget it. Someone will call in SWAT or ALA or something, and you'll have to fill out forms and be assessed and maybe even have your shoelaces taken away. Or so I believe - I'm not talking from experience here.

There's a woeful lack of soundproof areas available for primal screams. Under OHS (or OSH if you're in another hemisphere), someone should do something about it.

Just my thought for today.

Poster #2: Inclusive Education

2011-09-05T21:22:00.003+10:00

Don't forget your artificial plants ...

Poster #1: Teaching and learning for horticulturalists

2011-09-05T21:11:00.004+10:00

Give your potted plants clear instructions (click image to enlarge for easy reading).

The New Gig continues ....

2011-09-05T21:04:00.004+10:00

... with another desk "make over". Ah yes, a few more lunchtimes well spent on workplace ambiance.

Not to mention an increase in the depth and scope of the Visual Resource collection. The ephemera off to the extreme right side is my lunch - you can't get much more ephemeral than that, can you?

This I gotta see!

2011-09-01T20:04:00.002+10:00

Today, I discovered an "undo" button on the office shredding machine. I'll try to remember the camera for tomorrow so I can prove I'm not making this up (who knew that the day would come when my word was not longer good enough).

I gotta try to work out how I can see the shredder working in reverse - I can't imagine how it's going to join up all those little strips of paper and return them back to the original document.

Did funding go down the toilet?

2011-08-26T14:34:00.003+10:00

I know that one shouldn't laugh - but have just come across the (Australian) National Public Toilet Project. You can enter your location, or proposed location before you travel, and find where the toilets are, or even use the trip planner. How good is that?!!!

This is brought to us as a project of the National Continence Management Strategy. Really.

Which leads nicely into today's Critical Question: What happened to those Home Toilet Libraries? Perhaps the convenience of that particular multitasking could be enhanced to a community level? Imagine Public Toilets with a set of Encyclopedias available within the same building. Improve your mind while attending to .... errr ... other needs?

Completely unrelated is the news that in NSW, there will be $20 million funding available in tied grants for the Premier's Sporting Challenge. Sadly, such tied funding is not available (yet) for the Premier's Reading Challenge. Nor, obviously, such brilliant original reading promotion, and literacy supporting strategies, such as the above.

The New Gig

2011-08-14T12:02:00.008+10:00

At the moment I'm format-shifting public domain data. Same employer, different work site, different reporting line.

Initially the physical environment was a little bland, but was soon cheered up by (my own private funding) expenditure of less than twenty bucks. Sure, it's still not exactly vibrant or titillating, but at the moment no one is sure how long this gig will be - a few weeks or months? Maybe it needs a poster or two?

What your favorite author says about you ...

2011-07-24T21:04:00.004+10:00

... from Huffpost Books is quite interesting. This site says that if you are a Kurt Vonnegut fan, then you "... have an original and slightly absurdist way of looking at reality..."

So it really isn't your favorite author speaking about you personally. After all, how many people could someone like Kurt Vonnegut actually have met. Considering the billions of Internet-enabled folk world-wide, any of whom might land on that website, statistically it's pretty unlikely that he'd know any of them. Particularly as he died in 2007.

Nevertheless, the site does give food for thought. Shame the list stopped at only 12 authors. I wonder what the analysis would be for a reader with a passion for Chaucer? Or perhaps Matt Drudge? Or those that retire to bed with Library Management Policies ....

The Knee: Part 2. Diversional Therapy

2011-07-16T22:03:00.006+10:00

I can't believe someone was actually interested in my knee! Apart from the medicos who use their fees to put their kids through college. Thanks hugely, Felicity!

Since you asked - and I'll really try to keep this at less than 20,000 words - it's healing nicely. The strange thing though is that after I found out about The Site Manager's complaints about me last November, I pretty much lost interest in even reading. But in preparation for the convalescent (knee) period, I visited the most excellent Max Webber Library and borrowed heavily. They have a borrowing limit of 30 items, which doesn't seem like a 'limit' at all to me.

I also bought a few books at Bargain Basement prices, owing to so many fine bookshops going into liquidation. Very, very sad, really. Happy to say though, that I am now once more enjoying reading. Funny, that.

How disruptive can an unconscious Warrior Librarian be?

2011-07-15T11:53:00.006+10:00

The Knee certainly seemed to have taken on a life of its own; I hadn't realised that - until at the dinner table one of the Resident Teenagers asked if there wasn't something else I could talk about.

Typical teenager. If it wasn't about them it wasn't interesting. I mean, this is about me! What could be more important than that?

So last Friday, I underwent the dreaded - although officially described as minor - operation. I was told that the knee surgery was very successful. Great news, huh? The fact that I stopped breathing ("transiently") and had to be resuscitated apparently made me "transiently" famous.

And I missed just about all of it, except the end part when I awoke to ECGs and oxygen masks and about 200 people running around me dressed in medical staff garb. OK, it may not have been 200. I didn't actually count them. And I wasn't in any condition to hand out survey forms and collate statistics.

But anyway, it just goes to show that even when I'm unconscious, I still inadvertently cause dramas. Sigh.

I wish I'd written this ....

2011-06-24T08:39:00.002+10:00

I'm sorry if you're really busy doing important things, but you really do have to drop everything immediately and read the following article "An Honest Facebook Political Argument":
http://www.collegehumor.com/article/5996384/an-honest-facebook-political-argument

Huge thanks to the original clever author Chase Mitchell, who also has some other pretty good original stuff at the same page.

Organising "Personal" Papers: I've been busy ...

2011-06-22T19:59:00.009+10:00

Stage One is almost complete. At the moment, most of the labels have not been permanently fixed; as the archive boxes fill up, there's the usual shuffling about and starting new boxes.

Some of them are filled beyond capacity by single-topic files - gee, bet you can't guess which topics. Not.

Luckily my local stationer had few mark-downs recently. Added to which, of course, it's given me something to do.

Educational Value of Facebook?

2011-06-22T10:16:00.002+10:00

The passage below is an excellent definition for the Fantasy genre of fiction - but lacks any attribution, statement of authorship, references ... nor paragraph structure.

Fantasy is a genre of fiction that uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in fictional worlds where magic is common. Fantasy is generally distinguished from science fiction and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of (pseudo-)scientific and macabre themes, respectively, though there is a great deal of overlap between the three (which are subgenres of speculative fiction).In popular culture, the genre of fantasy is dominated by its medievalist form, especially since the worldwide success of The Lord of the Rings books by J. R. R. Tolkien. In its broadest sense however, fantasy comprises works by many writers, artists, filmmakers, and musicians, from ancient myths and legends to many recent works embraced by a wide audience today.Fantasy is a vibrant area of academic study in a number of disciplines (English, cultural studies, comparative literature, history, medieval studies). Work in this area ranges widely, from the structuralist theory of Tzvetan Todorov, which emphasizes the fantastic as a liminal space, to work on the connections (political, historical, literary) between medievalism and popular culture.

We are making progress, but by golly - there's still a long way to go.

Senior Moments: The Carjacker

2011-06-11T10:00:00.005+10:00

Too good not to share ... but unfortunately attribution not yet available (I'm working on it). Click on image for a clearer and larger view.

When LS meets RL: Part 2

2011-06-09T13:00:00.008+10:00

I've never been in a library that didn't find it necessary to provide signage of the Bleeding Obvious type. And I don't believe there is a household in the Western World that has teenagers who are not Selectively Blind, as well as Selectively Deaf, regardless of how technologically proficient they are.

So here's a helpful little sign that is about to go into service. You are welcome to adapt to your own needs, be it at home or at work.

When Library Science meets Real Life ...

2011-06-09T10:20:00.010+10:00

... or, I was so bored that not only did I actually did put the spice rack in alpha-order, but created a "closed stack" (actually "closed basket") for lesser-used spices. This will be shelved in a designated cupboard known as The Cupboard with the Other Stuff in it (COS).

That may well become the second in a series of two cupboards for such purposes, and thus will be known by the acronym B-COS.

But wait, there's more! I also used "promotion" of those products that I believe would be more popular if they were used more often (like, der!) . Plus, I "inter-shelved" non-spice formatted flavorings for A More Sophisticated Palate. Yes!!!

I gotta get out more, ya know?

When budget insufficiences call for desperate measures

2011-06-07T21:16:00.006+10:00

"Surveillance cameras may be in use." Pictured is one of many notices on the [Sydney] CityRail network. Needless to say the may should be emphasised - because there really wasn't any.

It's a bit of a give-away when other signs around CityRail buildings say "24 hour surveillance in operation".

So, is CityRail, and by association the government, trying to "intimidate" the public? I figure a "reasonable person" (which I am reliably informed is terminology from our fine legal system) would consider this nothing more than an attempt to encourage appropriate behaviour.

Others may disagree. But here's the "rub"; such a sign in a library would be trying to achieve the same goal - particularly when said library may well not have a sufficient budget to actually install CCTV.

Interestingly, such equipment - which is now available at such a low price there really isn't any reason for even the smallest library to install same - has been proven to reduce theft, graffiti, bullying and many other socially unacceptable behaviour.

"Intimidating"? Only to those with evil intentions. Desperate indeed.

"Content-free" Information

2011-05-20T20:18:00.004+10:00

Time for a laugh? Try the Uncyclopedia wiki, which describes itself as "content-free". A bit like The Onion meets Encyclopedia Britannica meets Mad magazine. But with all the digital search functionality that young folk in particular demand. Just my personal opinion, but I'd be introducing this to Information Literacy classes and those government instrumentalities (not local, as far as I know) looking to close school libraries.

There's no information as to copyright arrangements for images, so apologies in advance if anyone gets upset about this particular image - it will be removed immediately if it violates some law of which I am not aware, or any Intellectual Property claim if such is in existence.

http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Polar_bear

Collection Culling: No need for panic. Yet.

2011-05-15T11:12:00.008+10:00

This is a warning that intelligent, well educated and cynical (sorry, realistic) folk such as librarians will not need. Not all media reports are accurate. One example relates to the report that the University of Sydney's Fisher Library "disposing" of more than half a million books. (See also Media Reports such as http://tinyurl.com/5t4h6va )

The Fisher Library Librarian was on Sydney radio this morning (2UE?). The books are going into closed stack. They have about 60 retrievals a day from there. Students will still be able to borrow the books, but they won't be taking up the space needed for the one lineal kilometre of shelving needed for new acquisitions each year.

Those items being "disposed" are duplicate copies; unsuitable and unused donations; older editions that have been replaced by current editions; and journals where these is a digital copy available. There is *** no need to panic***.

Incidentally, the reports of protesters who intend to borrow en masse leave the library staff absolutely thrilled with the free publicity. I'd venture to suggest that records would show those registered as "protesters" haven't actually borrowed anything since their enrollment.

Personally, I have fond memories of the library, particularly of the vending machine "eatery" beneath the main building, immediately adjacent to the Edgeworth David (geosciences) building, where I spent 4 years of my life. (E.D., not the eatery).

[Pictured here outside the Great Hall with my "baby" sister, who is now one of two barristers in the family.]

As to the loss of 30 staff members ... that wasn't actually mentioned by The Fisher Librarian.

Wisecrack Generator

2011-05-11T09:47:00.001+10:00

http://www.usanetwork.com/series/inplainsight/games/wisecrack/

Well worth a visit!!!

More Google Fun: Chuck Norris

2011-05-02T10:14:00.003+10:00

"Google won't search for Chuck Norris because it knows you don't find Chuck Norris, he finds you"

Philosophy from Fiction: Opinions

2011-04-30T21:15:00.005+10:00

Now on my third re-reading of this worthy and highly underrated tome:

All opinions are not equal. Some are a very great deal more robust, sophisticated, and well-supported in logic and argument than others.

The Salmon of Doubt: Hitchhiking the Galaxy One Last Time. Douglas Adams. ISBN 0-330-41843-2, p. 98

My next quest will be to try to locate a copy of The Experts Speak (Christopher Cerf and Victor Navasky) as recommended by the sadly missed Douglas.

Professional Development: A missed opportunity

2011-04-26T21:27:00.005+10:00

"School" goes back tomorrow, but only for staff in NSW government schools; the kids go back the next day. This is to allow teachers and other school staff to be professionally developed in a "student-free" environment.

At my place of employment they are having a whole day lecture for the local learning community (the high school plus the surrounding primary schools) on Brain Based Learning. Colour me surprised! Just shows how little I know - I thought *all* learning occurred in the brain.

So anyway, in the hope that I would not be professionally disadvantaged in comparison with my classroom colleagues, I did a little research and reading from the 'net. I found the following recent article particularly enlightening:

Brain-(not) Based Education: Dangers of Misunderstanding and Misapplication of Neuroscience Research : " ... Oversimplification or inappropriate interpretation of complex neuroscience research is widespread among curricula claiming that brain-based approaches are effective for improved learning and retention ..."

Wordle Fun

2011-04-23T19:24:00.005+10:00

Click on image for enlargement.

http://www.wordle.net/

Inspiring Websites

2011-04-23T18:29:00.003+10:00

Check out http://www.limeandtonic.com/sydney/en/index.php for excellence in website design. If I was giving out prizes, this one would be a "first place" for innovation, use of coding, originality, etc etc etc. Purists shouldn't pay too much attention to the content (I didn't, but then I was looking for something else) - just the website design.

Imagine that level of digital excellence and creativity transferred to a library/book/author website. Or maybe just the capacity to purchase the necessary software and the intestinal fortitude to run with something so far removed from the "industry standard".

(Actually, JK Rowlings' site fulfils the above criteria - and look how brilliant that site is. By golly, don't you wonder how many books she might have sold if it were not for that website? Yeah, OK ... stretching it a little bit there.)

Not so smart - Google Maps

2011-04-18T19:54:00.005+10:00

It's brilliant in so many ways; not to mention plug-ins like Google Earth. But it does seem to be a little flawed. If you ask for driving directions from Sydney Australia to New York, NY, you'll get the usual highly detailed street directions .... try it for yourself.

You'll get told that it is a 56 day drive, but instruction 123 on my test was "kayak across the Pacific" (from Tokyo to Hawaii) . I want to know why I would have to kayak, when there's perfectly good luxury liners offering passage. Is it something to do with carbon footprints, or an economy option?

Film adaptation of Challenged Book

2011-04-15T22:19:00.002+10:00

Here in Australia, there was much concern in certain areas about "We need to talk about Kevin"; the film adaptation has been shortlisted for the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, according to the Orange folk's Facebook page.

Just remember, you read it here second, or maybe third :-0

Fair Game and a script-writing opportunity

2011-04-13T09:32:00.010+10:00

Watched the movie Fair Game last night; what made it really really scary is the fact that it was based on a true story. Seems like there will always be a huge price to pay for being honest in a 'democracy' - but at least the perjurers and the protocol-fiends were brought to book ... eventually.

Which is sort of interesting from the perspective of a Teacher Librarian of my acquaintance, who sought advice on their employer's expectation in the case where a manager's instruction was contrary to the Code of Conduct. Having taken the query to the organisation's CEO, and been passed back down the line to the very same person that "caused" the enquiry [the causal agent], most bizarrely the matter became a disciplinary one - for the person seeking clarification.

Gained through Freedom of Information procedures is the hand-written notation (pictured) to "deal with" the Teacher Librarian; significantly not one of addressing the conflict between an instruction and the Code of Conduct.

This extract, and indeed the whole document, are available under FOI procedures (now called GIPA in NSW), so this isn't a "wikileak" style disclosure. Just to be clear on this. I have removed or obscured all names other than my own.

"Ring [causal agent ] re Credaro - discuss issue of dealing with her" refers to the query re conflicting instructions. "Deal with complaint as complaint" refers to the causal agent's complaint regarding the query.

Perhaps more interesting is the fact that although a thirty dollar application fee is mandated for GIPA/FOI queries, the government department now wants another five hundred ($500) to provide copies of other related documents, based on the vast volume of paperwork involved. Which is what that unit was set up to do in the first place. Figuring that one out is beyond me. Referred to the Ombudsman, who has in turn referred it to the Office of the Information Commissioner. Is it starting to sound a little "big brother"ish?

Sure, the vilification of a Teacher Librarian doesn't rate up there with the deliberate exposure of a covert CIA operative, but this continuing saga does present an opportunity for an aspiring script writer.

Book Budget Defence Resource

2011-04-13T09:14:00.003+10:00

Something to show the bean-counters and the techno-twits who consider that your book budget money is better spent on gizmos and do-dads ... and then wonder why literacy rates and attention spans are plummeting. Or perhaps in those places where the technology budget doesn't quite extend as far as The Library ...

Disaster Recovery Plans

2011-04-03T20:36:00.002+10:00

Are you that special "one in three hundred"?

2011-04-03T09:05:00.006+10:00

Never thought much about it before, but so many of my exceptionally talented colleagues are goal-orientated, intolerant of policies and practices that are illogical and counter-productive, have an exceptional eye for detail, are highly intelligent, often viewed by workmates as "a bit odd" (and sometimes downright weird), achieve "the impossible"; creative, original thinkers ... is there a common factor?

Just something to think about. You know how to find more information.

TV Serialization of Tim Winton's Cloudstreet

2011-04-01T22:18:00.003+11:00

Watch for the world premier, starting 22nd May 2011 ... view the trailer: http://showtime.com.au/cloudstreet/

The only other news is that today I found out - via the minutes of a meeting - that my substantive position is to be filled by a casual teacher "for the foreseeable future". That's a new one on me - I thought I was on sick leave, not dead. I appreciate the "heads-up" guys. Nice one.

A brand new era?

2011-03-27T19:15:00.003+11:00

See and See also: http://warriorlibrarian.com/LIBRARY/advocacy.html

The state elections are over, a new government will sit at Macquarie Street, complete with documented promises of what will be and won't be happening during their administration. The state's media are full of news from the last 24 hours, and promises unwrapped overnight like the Christmases of our childhoods. But there's particularly pertinent correspondence dated 23rd October 2007.

I wonder if our new premier is still reading his Facebook Blog?

Disharmony on Harmony Day

2011-03-26T09:38:00.008+11:00

March 21 was Harmony Day. The display (pictured here, in an unfinished state) was well underway, "show bag" fillers were ready for packing (bookmark, HDay balloon, candies and more), The Library Competition was going to be Pin the Leader (eg Nelson Mandela, Churchill, Gandhi, Lincoln ... and more) onto the map of the world.

So what happened? As always, the back story is a long but interesting one - and starts with "Other Duties as Directed".

To cut to the chase, I had a half-day sick leave weeks ago, related to the School Imperative for "all teachers" to take sport. As an aside "all teachers" have a limit on the number of students they supervise, and the number of hours "on duty" - which strangely apparently doesn't apply to Teacher Librarians.

I know I'm going to take another "hit" for that disclosure, so please remember that I'm speaking on behalf of myself only, and not as a spokes librarian for my employer. Nor am I the voice of my profession. There are apparently (again) others who do not find any incongruity, anomaly nor injustice in this situation. Or maybe just too intimidated to speak out about it?

Anyways, I went back to work the next day after that half-day (actually 3 hours) sick leave, and the day after that. The third day following, "news" arrived via three different contacts - two phone calls plus a letter via regular mail. Not to go back to work until after a Return to Work plan had been devised, and a meeting held. That's The Way We Do It. The Process. The Protocol.

When nothing much happened after a week, apart from a lot of paper shuffling, I ventured in on Harmony Day ... there was still time to set up the show bags; the competition was a write-off. Well, it would seem that I was wrong. What a surprise. Not. Sent home with harsh words, as The Plan hadn't been done, and The Meeting hadn't been scheduled. Yet another week on, and still nothing.

Harmony Day? Pffft.

Well, I'm off to cast my vote in the State Election. Hopefully the Incumbent Party will be able to have a close look at these particular Protocols and Procedures. As for Justice, probably best to check closed stacks or more likely archives ...

"I'll fight you for the library"

2011-03-26T00:52:00.002+11:00

This says it all ....

Alone and friendless?

2011-03-25T21:40:00.003+11:00

I didn't have anything to do with this, except stumbling across it .... the NSW Department of Education [sic] has a FaceBook page! Well gee and golly, who doesn't these days? The remarkable thing about it is the fact that not a single person has 'liked' it.

I don't know how many 'entities' have FB pages at the moment, but I've never seen one with a "zero" in the Like Counter. But just remember, I had nothing to do with this, nor others like this Telegraph one ...

Book of Lost Things

2011-03-19T09:38:00.005+11:00

It's now old news, but still congrats to Australian Author Shaun Tan for the Academy Award for his animated film of his book The Lost Thing. A search for suitable clips produced only very short trailers, so here instead is:

Note for Jay and mates: No, I didn't get paid anything by Shaun Tan, the Academy Awards, The Motion Film industry, You Tube, The Internet, or anyone associated with any of the preceding. Or indeed anyone else.

Looming Elections

2011-03-18T14:28:00.005+11:00

Knowing that the minions of my employer are now regular readers of this blog, it behoves me to point out that I am not responsible for the following video - I merely draw attention to it in the interests of information dissemination.

Whilst the media and anyone on the planet will tell you, incumbent government looks set for defeat, and the likely election winners - not that there's any choice - are if nothing else introducing a little humour into the campaign.

This is good for the average Joe and Jane Citizen (or Bruce and Sheila, to put it into the Aussie Context); if we have to sit through a campaign with a forgone conclusion, let's at least enjoy it. After all, it's all done with tax-payer money that could have been much more wisely spent on say hospitals, transport infrastructure, school libraries ...

In the interests of "fairness", international or interstate blog readers, or those who may have just emerged from decade in a coma, may wish to view the video of the actual premier making an actual apology. It's current available at You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXUy9qr9nXs although it may be removed after the elections on 26th March 2011.

Disclaimer: No, I didn't get paid for anything, or by anybody, for any reason, related to this video.

Monty Python Bookshop Sketch

2011-03-16T20:05:00.001+11:00

Librarian Recruitment: Not an exciting campaign

2011-03-15T19:00:00.005+11:00

Note: The company advertising (above) is not endorsed by this website or its creator.

Printer Error? (Language Warning)

2011-03-15T09:02:00.001+11:00

Found this while on "hold" ... too good not to share!

Many a true word ....

2011-03-14T22:35:00.004+11:00

The top sign has been around for at least 20 years; the lower one is priceless (Captured Caption says MthruF.com. Photo accessed from Failblog.org; holder of IP rights unknown.)

Just for Laughs: Musical Bookshelf

2011-03-13T11:01:00.002+11:00

Musical Book Shelf Arrangement @ Yahoo! Video

Would you read this book? "The Apothecary"

2011-03-13T09:44:00.012+11:00

This is the first part of an original "e-manuscript" for which all intellectual property rights are reserved by the author (me). Hope you enjoy these first 500 words - and hopefully not only because they're free.

-------------------------------------------

THE APOTHECARY

The Apothecary and the cat sat in the bath in companionable silence. Each lost in their own thoughts, or possibly in mute reflection. It was impossible to tell the difference.

The bath, a large old-fashioned clawed-foot type, sat in the centre of a sparse room notable only for the black and white floor tiling and stark white walls. Those privileged few who had seen this room could visualise this scene in a motivational poster with captions referring to attributes such as austerity or minimalism, or perhaps emptiness. If only it were not for the existence of the two occupants of the bath.

Many thought the Apothecary to be elderly, given the wispy nature of his long grey hair and the extraordinary length of his dirty grey beard; the later he kept in a straggly plait whilst the former was too sparse for such formality.

Little can be said of the cat, being a standard ginger tabby, other than the fact that its coat was waterlogged and its whiskers drooping. And, of course, the fact that it was sitting in a tub of water by its own choice.

The Apothecary was an enigma. His neighbours knew little about him. There was rarely any noise from his small, narrow terrace in a row of similarly non-descript houses. As far as those with whom he shared a driveway knew, he kept regular working hours and appeared to walk to whatever occupied his days. He kept no car, and had never been known to have gone away for any more than a single day.

Had anyone asked, none of the other residents would be able to recall any visitors. Salesmen and charity collectors did not call at the Apothecary’s house. The low iron-railed front gate was kept locked. And yet all would agree he was pleasant enough in his responses to casual greetings by others. The Apothecary did not initiate conversations.

In truth, the people in his street felt better acquainted with the cat. It spent its days sitting on the window sill of the only window that fronted the street, until the Apothecary came home in the afternoons and pulled down the blind. The cat was mainly motionless throughout the day, apart from the constant twitching of its tail. Not even the occasional bird that perched briefly in the pocket-sized and cemented front yard could produce any response from the cat.

A group of young hooligans once theorised that the cat was mechanical, and threw a rock at the window. The cat flattened its ears and bared its teeth, but if it hissed those beyond the glass could not hear it. There was, however, no doubt in their minds that the cat was glaring at them with such malevolence that they were convinced they should spend their energies elsewhere.

Had the cat cared, it would not have been uncomfortable with being referred to by its species. The Apothecary, had he known, would perhaps have been puzzled by the title given to him by the strangers that lived around him. He knew little more about chemistry than his cat. It was history that bound the two together.

To be continued ....

Whew! For a moment there ...

2011-03-07T21:49:00.003+11:00

My email in-box is once again flooded an outpouring (or maybe inpouring?) of information of highly variable interest - at least to me. I'm sure the senders, spammers excluded, were enthusiastic in their desire to share various bits with those on their mailing list.

One message in particular caught my eye; the venerable and conservative State Library of New South Wales was notified of a March. Had the current trend to library militancy struck? Nah. "March at the Library" is a listing of the events for this month.

Ah well, back to the Silk Purse Project.

"Author, Author"

2011-03-06T10:30:00.004+11:00

Apropos of nothing in particular, today's quote of the day comes from Jerome K. Jerome, whom I first read as a teenager - due only to the fact that I was told that I "wouldn't understand it". Which, incidentally, was correct. I've since re-read Three Men in a Boat twice, and I'm happy to say I do now actually "get" it.

JKJ (which you notice is incredibly close to JKR, but without the same magnitude of fiscal reward) is credited with saying "Idleness, like kisses, to be sweet must be stolen."

I'm not sure that I completely agree with this, as I find I often have to not only schedule my idleness but also make arrangements for an appropriate venue - otherwise it just doesn't happen. Any other attempted dormancy is almost instantly detected by the Fun Police and immediately terminated. To be honest, I'm not certain that the amount of work involved qualifies the "down time" as idleness in the purest sense.

Maybe I'm missing JKJ's message? "Stolen", as in taken from someone else? Would that mean I need to find someone else being idle, then give them my work so I can partake of their dormancy? Gee, I don't' think that's going to work either. Sigh.

Fine Dining and Information Accuracy

2011-03-06T10:00:00.005+11:00

A personal recommendation for those dining in Blacktown Australia - officially the nation's largest city, population wise; you could do a lot worse than Hi-lights Revolving Restaurant.

Although only five stories high, you'll get views you couldn't hope to obtain in the finest eateries in New York, Paris, London, Fargo, etc.

Taking around an hour for one complete revolution, during an average mealtime you'll be treated to sites such as the roof of the Blacktown Council Chambers where you can marvel at the vast array of telecommunications equipment; the Westpoint shopping mall rooftop car park where with luck get to watch a real-life Grand Theft Auto in progress; the vista of Blacktown railway station, which was recently awarded the Highest Crime Location on the metropolitan CityRail network; plus distant views to a large number of arterial roadways.

We partook of a fine repast last night, for reasons that would take too long to explain here. (I do try to keep posting to less than 5,000 words.) I chose the rib-eye steak, which although was cooked to perfection, was accompanied by the world's smallest sides; 2IC had the barramundi (fish and chips); and little Miss Sophistication elected the Hamburger and Fries option. Dessert was satisfactorily lacking in nutritional merit.

While the live pianist was a nice touch, my small imbibing of beverages (of the type prohibited at most work sites) did not stop me from detecting the flaw in the musician's repertoire; in celebrating with some other diners at the venue, he played "Happy birthday to me" rather than "Happy birthday to you". It's that sort of sloppy attention to detail that could destroy an otherwise excellent dining experience.

Look who is advertising themselves ...

2011-03-05T13:31:00.006+11:00

I had to read it twice. Yes, it's real. No, I have not included a link.

Note that "this advert is not endorsed by this blog". It was found on the sidebar of a Facebook Page.

The good thing (for me at least) that as I have not yet lost the capacity for surprise, clearly I have not yet become jaded by the "offerings" of the Internet - as well as those other Professional Places Of Which We Will Not Speak. At least, not here, and not now ....

Published Article # 1 for 2011

2011-03-03T18:51:00.005+11:00

Sydney broadsheet Sydney Morning Herald yesterday published my latest offering, in the infamous Column 8 section. I'm so glad that I'm not the only one amused by my musings ... otherwise there may be those who have "mental health concerns" about me. No, wait! That complaint has already been made ...

The Warrior Library in Real Life

2011-03-01T19:53:00.007+11:00

Unless you live in or near the town of Warrior, AL (Zip 35180, population 13,225 according to Zip-Codes, or 3000-odd according to a number of other sources ), you may never have heard of it - nor the Warrior Public Library.

Obviously the staff there are, by default, Warrior Librarians. You can "check out" the library website (http://warrior.lib.al.us/) , but don't forget to bring it back on time.

A little library joke there. OK, it wasn't a very good one. Mea Culpa, yet again.

Folklore and Library Administration

2011-02-28T20:21:00.006+11:00

I recently purchased a pair of Peruvian Worry Doll earrings at a local fete, and was interested to hear the folkloric background of these enchantingly cheerfully colored figures.

Apparently, legend has it that one could tell all one's troubles to these dolls, then place them under one's pillow - from whence they would vanish, taking one's problems away with them.

Needless to say, they don't quite work for the vast majority - particularly adult users who's mothers aren't prepared to get up in the middle of the night to remove them.

This struck me as particularly pertinent ... how many of our profession have poured out our deepest most professional concerns to personnel Up The Management Line (or Food Chain, depending on your organization) - only to never hear from the manager ever again. Not to mention the troubles not actually going away either.

Just a thought.

Struggling with GMDs ...

2011-02-21T20:54:00.003+11:00

In the never-ending quest for consistency, a whole stack of assorted GMD's got a thorough smacking today; CO (COmputer equipment) and SO (SOftware) got the old Global Change treatment and became ELs (Electronic resources). The two genuine SO (SOund) resources had a manual change back to the correct designation. "L" (Library equipment) joined the EQ (EQuipment) GMDs, and nary a grumble was heard.

Which I guess is one of the positive attributes of working with MARC record fields, as opposed to actual PE (PEople). Notably though, PE isn't a recognised SCIS-compliant GMD, although they are still pretty important.

Still unresolved is what to do about another all-sorts arrangements for what may be loosely referred to as "movies"; the MO (MOtion picture) variety which might be on a VI (video) tape, or as an EL (electronic resource) - although not a computer program. They ("movies") may also fall into the classification of FI (FIlm) if the content is mounted on a nitrate-style medium, as opposed to a "flicks" if on SL (SLides) flashed (FL if FLash-cards) at a high enough speed.

OK. That's it. I'm going to LE (LEave it alone) for a while, before my toenails start curling backwards.

Tomorrow I'll have another go at sorting it all out. Why, do I hear you ask? Because the web cats linked to the library software management program generate icons for our users so they can see what media they are not going to be allowed to access. Makes sense? No, I thought not. Glad to hear it's not just me on this one.

Information Currency in Real Life

2011-02-19T09:43:00.016+11:00

The most excellent book "Clean it fast, clean it right" (Brendenberg ISBN 174121162x) was one of my more fortuitous purchases for The Home Library - a mere seven bucks for remaindered stock following the release of a new edition.

How much updating can a 1998 copyright-dated book on cleaning need in 2011? Well, gee and heck, nothing significant changed for removing vomit or grease stains. Grease is grease, right? And vomit ... well, let's take it as read. It's still fairly early in the morning here, at least for a Saturday.

Anyways, I wanted information on a homeopathic-style polish for copper, as in the metal. Yep, it was right there on page 131. "One tablespoon of salt, one tablespoon of flour, one tablespoon of white vinegar". Simple?

Would that be mined rock salt or evaporated sea salt? Iodised? Crushed, powered or crystal?

Can wholemeal flour be used, or does it have to be the refined pasty stuff; celiacs would be unlikely to possess such a product. Would it be OK to substitute cornflour? Or an oat derivative?

"White" vinegar? Oxidized alcohol. In Our Global Village, wouldn't a rice vinegar introduce a modicum of gracious culinary delight? Fruit vinegars, wine, balsamic, so many to choose from, and yet we are limited to plain old ordinary "white" vinegar.

Then there's the additional pressure of making socially responsible decisions. Even the briefest consideration of the countries of origin of the above-mentioned ingredients exposes the possibilities of their respective histories of human rights abuses; unsustainable environmentally unsound practices; domestic fiscal policies particularly in relation to the monetary support of school libraries, and similar issues of international concern.

As always, the devil is in the detail. So I bought a bottle of the commercial product "Brasso", for less than the cost of the book. Admittedly, the can of metal cleaner doesn't give anywhere near the same level of aesthetic satisfaction sitting on a book shelf ...

Catch me if you can ...

2011-02-18T19:24:00.023+11:00

(Hint: One of these is NOT me)

Valentine's Day: Display and Competition

2011-02-14T20:16:00.005+11:00

Amazing what you can do with a ten dollar budget, a "free" hour (OK, laugh here - I did) and a box of bits left over from previous years.

The competition this year involved getting teachers to nominate their favorite "romance" story, film, poem, song, TV show, etc - then printing the teachers' name and their favs all mixed up so the kids could "guess" which teacher nominated what.

Fun for all, particularly the small child who walked away with a big box of chocolates at the end.

Prophets and real life

2011-02-13T10:43:00.003+11:00

I'll admit it; sometimes I have a look at my horoscope. They're sometimes good for a laugh. Often they're so generic they have to come true. But today's (Sydney) major broadsheet instructs me to: " ... Keep track by documenting everything important in writing, and [keep] a detailed list of everything ...". Is that spooky, or what?

Video of the Day: Reading a book

2011-02-13T10:02:00.002+11:00

Many thanks to loyal supporter Bridget for the heads-up on this one!

The Universal Patron?

2011-02-13T09:38:00.005+11:00

Way back when, there was a song "The Universal Soldier". It's so far back that even recalling the first line -without resorting to some form of Internet Research (ie Googling) - is just about impossible for the average Person In The Library, let alone the Man in the Street.

But thanks to the wonders of modern technology, together with the brilliance of a human mind, "they" have come up with a composite graphic for The Face of any city, location, and - by extension - presumably mindset.

It may (or may not) be a simple progression then to produce a composite face for a library's most valued clients; and one for known library vandals, returns defaulters, computer regulation violators, and other categories of miscreants.

What we could actually do with such a graphic leads to so many possibilities, it makes one's ears bleed just from thinking about it. But that could be just me ...

The Western canon goes East

2011-02-08T20:12:00.007+11:00

ANZUS is still alive and kicking (if that's not too violent an image) ; and it seems as if all treaty participants are still participating in the move from the West to the East ... the western canon appears to have moved into modern warfare. (And yes, the pun is intentional. This time.)

It's been many years since I bought my last saddle and accompanying tack, but still wanting to keep up with latest trends I came across this intriguing fact. Australian saddlers are making "equipment" for our American Cousins. For use in you-know-where.

It's probably best to go to the website for more information, coz I don't want to get into any more trouble than I'm usually in. Still, it's not like this is any state secret or anything. It comes up on a Google search for Australian saddles. Heck, the manufacturers even have a "civilian model".

Library Display: Holiday Activities

2011-02-06T16:07:00.006+11:00

"Not an overwhelming effort, but considering a zero budget and a 10 minute Window of Opportunity for book selection, construction, printing, and pinning, not too shabby a result." This self-assessment was brought to you by End of Year Inertia, the Number 4, and the letter V.

Film as Text: A commercial opportunity?

2011-02-06T14:54:00.006+11:00

OK, not quite I, Robot, but needing a much lower budget. All roles via honorary cameo appearances by real librarians, filmed in actual libraries - so no prop costs; unscripted in a faux documentary style. Michael Moore, eat your heart out!

This blog entry brought to you by a cool weather change - after a week at, near, or over 100 degrees.

English as she is wrote

2011-01-22T22:53:00.003+11:00

Fantastic news: "NSW 15 year olds rank amongst the best in the world in literacy, according to the latest (2006) OECD's Program for International Student Assessment (PISA). Only Finland significantly did better than NSW ..."

"Only Finland significantly did better ..."???

Surely that should be "Significantly, only Finland did better ..."; or possibly "Only Finland did significantly better ..."?

If you listen very carefully, you can hear the literarti letting out a global sigh. Irony, thy name be formal reporting on literacy levels.

The full report (2010-2011) was available online at the time of this entry. Enjoy.