Dementia doesn't know age, race, or any other of our differences. It doesn't care if it's your Mom, your best friend, or your spouse. And though most cases happen to those those 65 and older, there are about 5% of cases that can occur earlier. Do you know someone with dementia? There are many … Continue reading Alzheimer’s & Dementia
Today marks 150 days since I returned from the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) Congress in Columbus, Ohio. I keep replaying my drive home and the evening of my arrival in my mind. My life has not been the same since, as my personal life has changed drastically. I spend time with my amazing … Continue reading Time to Reflect
It's the new year and I've been thinking about how we transform, how we evolve. My son has enjoyed playing Pokémon since he was 5. I especially like it since this game is the reason he enjoys reading. Evolution, as explained by the Pokémon database, "is a key part of the Pokémon games. Evolving Pokémon makes … Continue reading Transform in 2017
I recently met Jaz, a young man who will be starting college in January. I offered to help him with his student loan paperwork and a resume. When we met, I realized he didn't need my help. But he was gracious enough to listen to me and we wound up talking about his future. This … Continue reading Sharing Gifts
Speed networking is a fairly new concept that developed after the trending 'speed dating' of the late 1990's. The idea behind speed dating is to spend a few minutes with someone to see if you click. If you do, you share information for a future date. What is speed networking? It's an opportunity to connect with people in your … Continue reading Speed Networking: Making Professional Contacts
Networking is important - no matter what career choice you have made. I cannot stress this enough to those I mentor. What is networking? Engaging in conversation for the purpose of developing professional contacts and exchanging information. Most information I have read encourages newbies to network (new to a field, fresh out of school, new to … Continue reading Networking & Careers
This morning I was drinking a cup of hot tea and thinking about Fran. Fran was my mentor, my role model, and my friend when I was a young adult. She was the Polish cook at the church rectory in Berwyn where I grew up. I loved her like a grandmother and miss her since she passed … Continue reading We are all people
Libraries are... When you hear the word library, what images come to mind? Books. Movies. Music. Magazines. Computers. Children storytime. A Learning Center. Fun family programs, like Comicopolis @ the White Oak Library. A cool place to read a newspaper in the summer. A warm place to attend a craft class in the winter. In the beginning of each year, … Continue reading Libraries as Community Centers
Do you have the customer service blues? Or, work with someone who does? Do you dread unlocking the doors in the morning for customers? Do you breathe a sigh of relief when a customer walks away without encountering a problem? Do you find yourself hoping the next customer doesn't ask questions? Are you judging people … Continue reading Got the customer service blues?
When I was a children librarian, a series of books came out called "Choose Your Own Adventure" by R.A. Montgomery. The purpose of the books is to allow reluctant readers the freedom to choose their adventure. I believe he created more than readers, he gave kids the knowledge that they have freedom to make choices. … Continue reading Changes, choices, check lists
When did you know what you wanted to do with your life? Are you searching for your purpose? If you are one of the lucky people who know what your calling in life is, pursue it. Some people are searching for a dream job, while others are looking for a bigger purpose in life. Those … Continue reading Living Your Dream
Lifelong learning is a phrase I often hear in my profession. It's a basic belief that you can take advantage of opportunities, formally and informally, and to learn at any age. Lifelong learning is both for professional and personal fulfillment, to improve yourself, your knowledge, and your skills. Libraries offer the perfect venue for these … Continue reading Lifelong Learning
Whenever I think of an elevator speech, I think of the elevator at my library. The library is two floors - main floor and lower level. When I take the elevator, I ask patrons to press "5th floor". People usually respond by hesitating, laughing, or they look confused. The best response was from a man … Continue reading The Elevator Speech
Teamwork is commonly defined as the combined action of a group of people, especially when effective and efficient. Most people cringe when they hear the word, teamwork. Why? Because they have been part of a bad team experience. In a perfect world everyone would be used to working together for a common purpose. A true … Continue reading Teamwork
Marketing is a vast world. For the purpose of this article, marketing is how we communicate what we do and build that message with others. There are many different types of marketing and ways of reaching our customers: in-person marketing, email marketing, paper marketing, social media and website marketing, etc. One of the many ways we … Continue reading Partnerships: A Marketing Opportunity
Each interview process is different - depending on the industry, depending on the employer. You prepared a cover letter, a resume, and possibly more to get to the interview part of the application process. If you haven't already done so, it's time to investigate the company. Learn as much as you can and prepare to … Continue reading You landed an interview. Now what?
If you have read any of my posts, you know I believe in librarians. Above all, we are here to provide a service to the people in our communities. We assist in finding resources for educational or entertainment purposes and are committed to bringing technology and new research to our patrons. We respect privacy, freedom … Continue reading Mental Health & Library Patrons
Thinking about 2015 and looking forward to 2016. After completing my masters degree in December 2014, I decided to make 2015 a year to figure out how I could utilize my experiences to help others. I started by offering to help more people - resume assistance and volunteering. I also wanted to start writing again. … Continue reading Be Beautiful
Whether you are a writer, a painter, or a librarian - there is nothing like that spark of inspiration. If you are privileged enough to attend conferences in your field, the part that is most fun is when an idea strikes you and you think "Oh! Yes! I can...." One of the best parts of … Continue reading When inspiration strikes
Lately I have been speaking to a lot of senior citizen groups. I was reluctant to state my obvious message - but I said it anyway. If a library appears on your property tax bill, like it does in my town, you are paying for library services and materials. So I ask, if you are … Continue reading Own your library card
