Now Phone Threats

I let the faculty know I would not be returning next year – of course, I will not even be back next semester but whatever. The tenured faculty are in a feakin’ tizzy because I will not take the time to cooperate with their evaluation process for my reappointment that I told them I did not want. It is an interesting response from them – to insist on taking time that they insist they don’t have to tell me they don’t want me to return after I told them I did not wish to return. Childish and unprofessional – but totally in-character.

Blondie passed me as I entered the Library Classroom to teach and saw that as a perfect opportunity to communicate with me. How did she choose to do this? She immediately went to her office and left me a voicemail message. In this message she told me “You better cooperate or you will be sorry!” Way to communicate Blondie! Message received…. She obviously has an exaggerated belief in her own power over others – maybe that comes with tenure?

More threats…

Boobie sent me an email ordering me to fill in the schedule in the manner demanded by Miserly by noon that day or I would be insubordinate and there “would be consequences.” When I asked her what she was talking about – what was meant by insubordinate and what consequences, she threatened to “set my schedule.” When I asked her repeatedly what she meant, she refused to answer me.

Another example of excellent management skills!

I Gotta Get Out of this Place…

Doc has accepted a position at another library – so I will surely be leaving shortly after or maybe before – depends on when the need to leave outweighs the desire to continue to try to do this job. With all of the negative energy here – I don’t imagine I will be staying long.

Also, Boobie is “in charge” and that has resulted in a new and interesting way to run Library. The staff is livid with her at the helm – never has there been a person so determined to distinguish herself from others she sees as lesser in some manner – great characteristic for management.

Are we to be Helpful?

I think so. There has been an email battle with Blondie and this is how it started. The Reference computers would not print articles that they should print. I sent an email pointing out the problem to the other Reference librarians and let them know that they could print for students from the Reference Desk machine. Blondie took this as a directive from me and she took major offense.

We are not to tell each other how to handle our teaching… Some of us choose to be more pedagogical…and not do things for the students…

Chill out there crazy women! I wasn’t telling you what to do and I don’t care what you do at the Reference Desk. You don’t want to be helpful, fine with me!

How dare you say I’m not helpful! Why would you say such an awful thing to a colleague?

I don’t know, maybe because you chose to take the opportunity to attack me over a non-issue and are known to all who visit Library as the rudest, most unhelpful, meanest Reference Librarian?

Define “Reference Service”

Some librarians have Reference Desk responsibilities and others do not. There doesn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason to this. It’s probably just how their job descriptions were written at the time they were hired. Theoretically, it would have something to do with expertise and work load but I don’t see that correlation here!

Now, what are you expected to do at the Reference Desk? I was taught in library school that you assist whoever comes your way – help them to find the information that they need. Since working in an environment where we struggle to be identified as “faculty,” I would certainly add that we are to teach those who come for assistance to effectively search for information themselves.

What I have heard we are NOT here to do:

• Just find information for others
• Assist with computer problems not related to the Library website
• Assist with printer problems or printing issues
• Provide staplers or tape (or tissues)
• Lend pens (just itty-bitty pencils)
• Provide storage devices for temporary use
• Stop people from eating in Library
• Ask people to lower their voices
• Ask people to take their cell phone calls outside

So don’t even ask!

Conflict NR 1

NR stands for “not resolved.” It means that an issue exists that needs to be resolved but no one wants to work through the discussion or do some research or vote or anything. Library has no system or process for making informed decisions. Conflicts arise, those with strong opinions may or may not express them (depending on what they have to lose) and then nothing is done. Conflict NR 1 is:

Should all reference computers have Microsoft tools on them?

Yes, these tools are integral to the research process.

OR

No, then we will be asked questions about them and that’s not our job!

Teaching Library-Web

Much of the resources Library offers are Internet accessible which means that when we teach, we need to demonstrate using our Candy Land web site. And it is really hard!

I want to show the students and their professors how easy it is for them to find what they need on our site. I want to show them that the text labels are obvious and that we anticipate what the students will be looking for – everything is super easy and time saving and thoughtful. BUT IT IS NOT!!!!

I’ll have to settle for handing out a paper resource to lead them through their information searching process.

Buy Buy Books

As this is my first library position, I have never been responsible for collection development. I now have to purchase for six university departments. I am a bit concerned about this, but no one else seems to be. Again, as with the teaching, no guidelines or advice… I guess I will have to devise a method that I am comfortable with to carry out my responsibilities. Others seem to heavily rely on Choice cards but they do not adequately address the sciences.

Academic Excellence Place

Boobie is apparently the head of an Academic Excellence Place on campus – a position for which she gets paid extra. I think that she simply organizes talks that should educate faculty members in some area of interest to them.

I just had my first experience with this place. Gumby was giving a talk on a new tool purchased by Library. I was looking forward to learning something about the tool. I had spent a small bit of time looking at it myself but wanted a more in-depth and comprehensive presentation. Well, no such luck. I was actually embarrassed that I knew more than Gumby appeared to about the tool. Why would you not prepare for such a presentation? It makes Library look bad and with so few faculty members present what are the chances anyone will take the time next time?

Wherefore art thou Mentor?

Yes, I have been assigned a mentor but she is persona non-visible. She did stop in my office once since I have been here and tell me I should join the county library association. Not so sure about that advice? Other than that, I see Sleepy only at library meetings – otherwise it is behind closed doors for her. I am not sure why. Maybe:

• She doesn’t like her fellow faculty members.
• She is very introverted.
• She just likes to keep a low profile – no one knows what you are doing, no questions about what you are doing…