The Library Cast

When most people think of a library, chances are they think of librarians working there.  While that's very true, librarians aren't the only ones.  Like actors who can't make a movie without all those working behind the scenes, librarians can't run a library without all those working in various positions.  Today I'd like to talk about some of the other members of the library cast who may not be as well-known as librarians.

The circulation desk is where everyone goes to check out and return library items.  Depending on the size of the library, it's possible that the person checking out books to you isn't a librarian but rather a paraprofessional known as a circulation clerk or library technician.  This person keeps things moving along, checking items out and in.  The circulation clerk will also be the one to contact you if you have an item on hold or an item that's overdue.

Shelvers or pages are important jobs in the library, but they rarely get the credit they deserve.  Many are part-time employees, and some are even high school students or unpaid volunteers.  These people are responsible for getting items back on the shelves for you to peruse and check out.  They push around carts filled with items, bending low and reaching high to get things back where they belong and keep shelves looking orderly.  Many librarians, including yours truly, began their library careers as shelvers.

Nowadays, information technology (a.k.a. computers) is a big thing, and libraries are fortunate to have an IT expert on staff.  Although librarians are skilled in helping patrons use technology, including e-mail, the Internet, and electronic databases, they need help in maintaining and repairing computers when needed.  That's where an IT expert comes in.

Of course, the library is normally a welcoming and clean place to spend time reading a book, studying, or playing a game of checkers.  If the library is tidy and the bathrooms are stocked with toilet paper, that's because of the cleaning crew ensuring patrons are comfortable and have what they need.  They make the library a place where you want to spend your time.

These are just some of the many members of the library cast who help the library function successfully.  Take a moment the next time you visit your library to realize that beside librarians, there are other people at work who contribute to making your library experience a good one.

With gratitude to the all the library employees from the perch.

The Play's the Thing

For those of you who may not know, before I became your friendly, neighborhood perch librarian, I was a college instructor teaching theatre courses, such as Introduction to Theatre and American Theatre.  I was also involved in college theatre productions, working in various capacities from props and costumes to dramaturgy.

You might be surprised, then, to hear that I was a little nervous when I was asked to help with the library's drama club this summer.  Although I was no stranger to the theatre, working with a group of actors who had not reached their tweens was a new and unfamiliar experience for me.  I was unfazed by Shakespeare, Molière, and Aeschylus, but doing Hansel and Gretel with nine kids ranging in age from 3 to 7 petrified me.

For 8 weeks, there was a lot of trial and error with acting warm-ups and drama games.  We learned to be flexible, however, letting the kids develop their own version of the classic story.  The play was turned into Hanna and Gretel when a boy declined the role of Hansel and a girl wanted to play it.  There was a Deer, a Dog, a Unicorn, and even a Super Dinosaur that came to Hanna and Gretel's aid.  In a twist of fate, the Witch wanted Hanna and Gretel as guests for dinner, not as dinner.  It may sound cliché, but it really was rewarding to see how the kids progressed.

What I started with trepidation and the potential for failure turned into a successful and positive experience.  Despite their young ages, the kids came through, proving that they could follow directions and do more than what was expected of them.  I learned not only what theatrical exercises worked with very young actors, but also how to be comfortable and actually enjoy doing theatre with kids.  The kids must have enjoyed it as well since half of them asked if the library was going to do the drama club during the school year.

I suppose the lesson to be learned here is to be open to things outside of your comfort zone, because you can learn and have fun with something new.

Theatrically yours from the perch.

The Moon--50 Years Later

We got a big day in history coming up.  This Saturday, June 20, marks the 50th anniversary of when a human being set foot on the moon for the first time.  Neil Armstrong became the first person to step on the moon followed by Buzz Aldrin.

Many people today can't imagine a world that doesn't include space travel, the International Space Station, and satellites doing everything from sending pictures to Google Maps to beaming your television broadcasts.  The moon was far and mysterious, something that impacted ocean tides and supposedly caused lunacy (note how the words lunacy, lunatic, and lunar all have the prefix luna, which means "moon").  Astronomers studied it and writers fantasized about it throughout the centuries.

For those of us who want to celebrate the golden anniversary of Apollo 11, there are a number of books and movies about the moon landing and the space program:

• Apollo 11 (DVD)  Original color footage of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon and the moon landing are put together.
• Apollo 13 (DVD)  The "successful failure" of the Apollo 13 mission in which three astronauts didn't land on the moon as planned but came safely back home.
• Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys by Michael Collins  An Apollo 11 astronaut shares his experiences from his first flight to the moon landing.
• The Dish (DVD)  The little known but true story of how scientists used one of the world's largest radio telescope dishes in Australia to transmit a live video feed of the first moon landing to the world.
• Eight Days Gone by Linda McReynolds  A book educating children (and adults) on the Apollo 11 mission and the history of NASA's mission to the moon.
• First Man (DVD)  Focuses on the professional and personal challenges of astronaut Neil Armstrong.
• Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly  Tells the story of four African-American female mathematicians who contributed to some of the greatest moments of NASA's space program.
• Mission to the Moon by Alan Dyer  A children's book addressing the Apollo 11 moon landing as well as other moon missions that followed.
• Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11 by Brian Floca  Presents the story of the Apollo 11 mission from Earth all the way to the moon.

Take one (or several) small steps to the library, but one giant leap into the history of space exploration.  Come in and check out a book or DVD that will put your head in the clouds.

With out of this world wishes from the perch.

The Benefits of (Summer) Reading

The Summer Reading Program is going full steam at our library as well as at other libraries across the country.  Kids, teens, and adults are taking part by reading books for pleasure, logging in their hours spent reading, and collecting prizes for logs completed.

It's great that program participants are given tangible rewards for their time spent reading, but there are more rewards that go beyond travel mugs and splat balls.  Allow me to elaborate on the benefits of reading at any age:

• Improves reading skills.  The more you do something, the better you get. Reading is something to practice just like any other activity.
• Improves writing skills.  A good writer is also a good reader.  Books demonstrate how language is used.
• Increases the desire to read.  When you eat a potato chip, you know you can't eat just one.  The same goes for books.
• Improves self-esteem.  Reading builds vocabulary and knowledge.  It's a good feeling when you're able to express yourself well and talk about things you know.
• Improves memory.  When you read a book, one event in a story often leads to the next. Reading exercises your mind and helps you remember earlier things.
• Improves concentration.  You just have to know what happens next in the story, don't you?  Reading will help you focus and concentrate better.
• Reduces stress.  Need to relax?  Reading allows you to forget your troubles and focus on something else for a while.
• Promotes curiosity and learning.  Reading exposes you to different things that will make you want to learn and understand more.
• Improves empathy.  Connecting with fictional characters helps us connect with real people in our lives.
• Provides entertainment.  Books and the stories they tell are fun!  They take us to different places when we have nowhere to go.
• Creates a lifelong interest in reading.  When you start reading and make it an enjoyable activity, it becomes a good habit.

I'm sure there are more benefits of reading than the ones I've listed.  What do you consider to be the greatest reward from reading?  Share it with us!

Ever bookishly yours from the perch.

Time for Dad (and Others)

Alright, I know I'm a little late for Father's Day this year.  I'm sure you're disappointed that I didn't write a post about the latest tie trends, or even better yet, what your dad can do with all those novelty ties gifted to him over the years.

I don't know about your father, but mine along with my father-in-law have everything, so it's difficult to buy gifts for them.  They don't need anything and they don't want anything, but how could I not get them something for Father's Day?  So, I racked my brain and came up with...munchies!  I don't know which guy doesn't like munchies (my husband is a notorious munchie muncher; munchies in the house don't stand a chance), and in the end, dad and dad-in-law got different varieties of nuts from Trader Joe's.

There was another thing, however, that I and my husband gave to our dads this past Father's Day--time.  As my father doesn't live nearby, we called and spoke with him on speaker, making sure he knew he was remembered and loved.  We listened to what he wanted to tell us.  Since my father-in-law lives within driving distance, we took him out for lunch and had a pleasant afternoon with him.

Munchies and (maybe) ties are all very well, but it's quality time spent with dad and others dear to us that make the best gifts.  Giving of yourself makes all the difference in the world.  Years from now, your father may not remember what you gave him on a particular Father's Day, but he's sure to remember the great time he spent with you on his special day.

Sending out love and good vibes to you from the perch.

Here's to Your (Summer) Health

Summer is a great time of year.  It's a time to be outdoors hiking, swimming, bike riding, camping, playing games, and being active.  It's also a time to be cautious and mindful of your health, something I was reminded of recently when my husband needed to be rushed to the ER.

Here are some important tips to follow in keeping safe and healthy during the hot summer months:

• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.  When it's really hot outside, be sure to drink plenty of water, even when you don't feel too thirsty.  Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are no laughing matter.
• Use sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat.  Sunburns and skin cancer are nothing to joke about.  Slop on that sunscreen and slap on that hat to protect yourself from harmful UV rays.
  
• Use insect repellent.  Mosquito bites are itchy and uncomfortable, and stings from bees or wasps can be dangerous.  Spray on the repellent and keep away from buzzing airborne things.
  
• Check for ticks.  There is currently no cure for lyme disease, which is serious and causes a whole array of health issues.  When going outdoors in tick-inhabited areas, tuck long pants into socks and do a body check for the pests as soon as you get home, pulling out any ticks from skin and seeking medical care.
• Food safety.  Everyone loves a summer barbecue or picnic, but no one wants to get food poisoning.  Don't keep salads and sandwiches with mayonnaise out too long, and be sure to cook meats thoroughly.
• Swim safety.  Even if you're an experienced swimmer, it's always a good idea to have a swim buddy, and it helps to swim where lifeguards are present.

So, get outside and enjoy the weather!  Have plenty of fun this summer, but don't let safety take a vacation with you.

With warm summer wishes from the perch.

Thank You to Our Military Members and Their Families

Memorial Day is just around the corner, our unofficial start to the summer.  It's the day we have barbecues, play games, go to the lake, and have fun times with our loved ones.  Being a library on a U.S. Air Force base that serves you, our patrons who are in the military and your families as well as veterans, we realize that Memorial Day means so much more.

We don't have to tell you that Memorial Day is about sacrifice because you know all about it.  Many of you are stationed away from your home and friends.  You are in a part of the country or a part of the world that is unfamiliar.  You are learning to adapt, doing the best you can to make that place your home away from home.

We don't have to tell you that some of you sacrifice everyday home life.  Some of you are deployed and are temporarily separated from your spouses and children.  During the time you are away, you are missing holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, first steps, school concerts, and a number of other milestones that can never be repeated.  You are doing the best you can to stay in touch through phone calls, e-mails, and Skype, to feel that you're together even when you're not.

We don't have to tell you that some of you have sacrificed your physical and mental health.  Some of you have gone to war zones in other parts of the world and returned without a limb or with a traumatic brain injury.  Some of you have returned from those war zones physically fine, but mentally you have returned as a different person, unable to forget the things that no one should have to witness or experience.

We don't have to tell you that some of you have made the ultimate sacrifice.  Some of you have not come home.  Some of you have a spouse, a child, a sibling, a parent, a friend who you will never see again.  There is an emptiness that will never be filled, a pain that will never go away.

What we do have to tell you is that we are grateful for the sacrifices you make to keep us and your country safe.  We are grateful that you protect our freedom so we can enjoy our way of life.  It's because of you and the sacrifices you and your families make that we can have those barbecues, play those games, go to the lake, and have those fun times with our loved ones.  We honor you, we thank you, and we appreciate all that you do.

Respectfully and humbly yours from the perch.