Libraries for Leslie

Yesterday, Leslie Creekmore, A Children's Librarian from Fort Smith, AR died from complications of the flu.   I did not know Leslie personally, but she will be missed by those who knew her and by the library community. Her loss has hit me hard.

Leslie  was originally hospitalized in January where she was quickly put into ICU and placed on a ventilator.  While hospitalized last month she gave birth at 20 weeks, but the baby did not survive.  Being pregnant myself, the news stories have been hard to watch and I cant stop the tears as I write this blog.  Now Leslie has passed from this world to join her child, leaving her husband behind as a survivor.

Several news outlets have reported on this story and it has reached national coverage because she was told NOT get get a flu shot during her first trimester.  This vaccine probably would have saved her life and the life of her child.

If you havent seen this tragic story I encourage you to do so.  Here is the local Fort Smith coverage.

There has been two campaigns started to help this family: A gofundme account and a t-shirt campaign entitled "Get Your Damn Flu Shot."  There has also be a facebook page created.

Libraries are about family and I think most of us in the library profession feel that way about each other. Step up and support Leslie's family and please get your flu shot!

New Name Badges at the Library

My staff and I all got new name badges today!  They look so much better than our old ones!

Our old badges were a basic gray name tag from Demco that were boring and ugly and weren't even big enough to include our library name.

Our new badges are from Mighty Badge and are wonderful.  I like that we can now create badges in our office and not have to wait weeks to get badges in for new staff.  It was tricky learning how to print the inserts without smearing the text, but practice makes perfect, right?  We could have gone with a more custom layout, but that cost more money and these will work just fine for us!

BBW and Ethics

Banned Books Week has always been my favorite "librarian" celebration.  I admit, its partly because I like to push the envelope and make people uncomfortable.  But isnt being uncomfortable a good thing? Being comfortable is boring (intellectually comfortable that is).

Today I was at a meeting in which I was talking about the importance of Banned Books Week as a springboard to educate others about the value of open access and the ability to balance ourselves with multiple opinions.  It was disheartening to hear many people in the room respond in favor of censorship.

These people felt that I should be acting as a parent to my young patrons and keeping them away from topics that were "inappropriate."  Of course the book in question had the word "mommies" in the title.  It was so sad to hear others who work in libraries (although these particular respondents did not have an MLS) say that children's books with same sex parents were "not appropriate."

I whole-heartedly believe that it is my job to PROVIDE these materials.  In fact, its more than my job, its that thing that keeps me awake at night.  I cant stand the thought of censorship, but to hear it applied to libraries makes my stomach turn and my heart ache.

In trying to find a good educational response to this conversation, I found myself re-reading the ALA Code of Ethics, the Library Bill of Rights, and the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

If you haven't taken time to read these documents, please do.  They offer many words of wisdom and they depict a clear vision of why I have dedicated my life to librarianship.

Thanks Quayside Books!

I was excited to learn that my library, the Malvern-Hot Spring County Library, in Malvern, AR was the winner of a prize from the 2013 American Library Association Annual Conference.  We won 10 free books of our choice from the Quayside Books catalog.

Eight of our 10 books arrived today, so I thought I would share.

Thanks, Quayside!

Favorite moment of ALA 2013

So for those who don't know me and maybe some of you that do know me, The Giver by Lois Lowry is my favorite book.  It has been my favorite book since I was 9 or 10 years old and I still reread it every year.  As an avid fan, I read all four books in the series and I must say that I liked all of them except book two.  In fact, if I had to rank the books in order of my most favorite, I would place them in this order: 1, 4, 3, 2.

These books are the ones I most frequently recommend (to both children and adults) to my patrons and to my friends.

Why do I love this book so much?  The Giver is a great coming of age, dystopian novel that that makes on rethink society and re-evaluate our lives.  Every time I re-read this novel I learn something about myself and reading often causes me to think beyond the scope of my personal reality.

At the Annual American Library Association Conference this year in Chicago, IL I got to MEET Lois Lowry.  When I found out that she was going to be at the event I was beside myself with excitement.

So behold....A picture of me with Lois Lowry!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Traveling to ALA Annual? Here is a tipping Guide from Emily Post

My husband always tells me I don't know how to tip, but he tips us into the poorhouse.  Here is Emily Post's guide to tipping.  While Librarian's don't tend to have lots of money to spare, it is expected that we treat our host city well!

For this and additional information about etiquette.  Please see the Emily Post website.

General Tipping Guidelines

When and Where and How Much

RESTAURANTS:
Wait service (sit down)		15-20%, pre-tax
Wait service (buffet)		10%, pre-tax
Host or Maitre d'		No obligation for greeting you and showing you to your table. $10-$20 for going above and beyond to find you a table on a busy night or on occasion, if you are a regular patron
Take Out		No obligation 10% for extra service (curb delivery) or a large, complicated order
Home Delivery		10-15% of the bill, $2-5 for pizza delivery depending on the size of the order and difficulty of delivery
Bartender		$1-2 per drink or 15-20% of the tab
Tipping jars		No obligation Tip occasionally if your server or barista provides a little something extra or if you are a regular customer.
Restroom Attendant		$0.50-$3, depending on the level of service
Valet		$2-$5 Tip when the car is returned to you.
TRAVEL:
Skycap		$2 first bag, $1 per additional bag
Doorman		A smile and a "thanks" when he  opens the door $1-$4 for carrying luggage $1-$2 for hailing cab (add an extra $1 if it's raining) $1-$4 beyond the call of duty
Bellhop		$2 first bag, $1 per additional bag $2-3 for each additional service, such as room delivery
Housekeeper		$2-$5 per day, left daily with a note marked "Housekeeping - Thank you"
Concierge		No obligation for answering questions $5-10 for tickets or restaurant reservations $15 for hard-to-get tickets or reservations, or 10-20% of the ticket price
Taxi driver		15-20% of the fare, but minimally $1 $2 for the first bag, $1 for the second
SALON/SPA:
Hair Salon		15-20%, ask to be split among those who served you
Manicurist		15-20%
Facial, waxing, massage		15-20%

Ashley Parker-Graves - My ALA 2013 Schedule

So, I have done my best to plan out my ALA 2013 schedule and there are so many programs and events, it is hard to choose!  I have done my best to accurately depict my schedule at Annual, but as with everything library related, its important to be flexible!  Hope to see you there!  Catch me via Twitter @ashleykparker and be sure to check out the session I am co-presenting with as part of a panel "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Finding Your First Librarian Job."