Wanna Be a Librarian?

Here are my thoughts on hiring, librarianship, and the independent school world: Wanna Be a Librarian?

A day in the life of a solo librarian: a photo essay

Check out what I do all day from my most recent AISL post: A Day in the Life of a Solo Librarian .

So old, yet so timely

In 1899, John Cotton Dana wrote A Library Primer, where he advocated for natural light and low shelves, with which I totally agree. Surprisingly, he also argued against arm-chairs. (They are heavy to move and encourage loafers.) In regards to the characteristics of an ideal librarian, he said: 

The librarian should have culture, scholarship, and executive ability. He should keep always in advance of his community and constantly educate it to make greater demands upon him. He should be a leader and a teacher, earnest, enthusiastic, and intelligent. He should be able to win the confidence of children, and wise to lead them by easy steps from good books to the best. He has the greatest opportunity of any teacher in the community. He should be the teacher of teachers. He should make the library a school for the young, a college for adults, and the constant center of such educational activity as will make wholesome and inspiring themes the burden of the common thought. He should be enough of a bookworm to have a decided taste and fondness for books, and at the same time not enough to be such a recluse as loses sight of the point of view of those who know little of books."

I love that there is no reference to specifics of the time, just attributes and dispositions. And reading, just enough but not too much. Inspirational.

So you want to make a flowchart?

Here's a link to my most recent AISL post, on the process of making a flowchart about library donation policies. http://aislnews.org/?p=1922

College Napping Room

I just slept by my books in the overnight library (Shoutout to the Hut!) or occasionally by pulling together two cushy chairs and making a little nest. Coats make great pillows and blankets...

Children today are so privileged... :) :) 

Summary: Wake Forest library has created a nap room with recliners and no studying or technology allowed.

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/12/04/wake-forest-u-creates-room-napping-campus-library

"She kind of moved to the West Coast..."

Stephen Kurutz has seen into my soul, kind of. This is particularly pertinent to generalist librarians, since each day brings hundreds of reference questions. There is no way to prepare, and with teenagers you don't want to be caught off guard. A basic knowledge of a subject gives you a gateway and an opening for further discussion. However, there's a benefit to vagueness and it allows you to start a search at the beginning, assuming no knowledge of a subject. Frequency illusion or not, I'm noticing this in my speech pattern every day and working to limit it to times of metaphor, not times when I am hedging my certainty on a subject.
 

The "Kind of, Sort Of" Era

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/opinion/sunday/the-kind-of-sort-of-era.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar&_r=0

I’VE sort of noticed something about the way we speak, and I wonder if you’ve sort of noticed it, too. Let me kind of explain. It’s about sort of, and its twin, kind of, and how these adverbial downtoners, as the British grammarian Sir Randolph Quirk calls them, have totally, completely, 100 percent taken over casual speech.

Kinda, sorta.

I’m not referring to their use to describe a class of something, such as a sort of mammal, but rather as hedge words, to lessen a statement’s force or meaning. For instance, here’s the University of Cambridge ecologist Peter Walsh speaking recently about Ebola: “What’s nasty about it is it sort of melts your blood vessels.”

And here’s Edward J. Snowden describing his background to Brian Williams of NBC: “I was trained as a spy in sort of the traditional sense of the word.”

And here’s the comedian Amy Poehler explaining how she and Tina Fey divvy up laugh lines: “It kind of figures itself out. We just have to kind of be democratic about it.”

It’s possible I’m experiencing what linguists call the frequency illusion — my brain is primed to recognize the phrases, so I’m hearing them all the time. Or maybe I’ve stumbled into another linguistic pitfall, the recency illusion, thinking that a word or phrase is recent when it has actually existed for a long time. In 1995, William Safire noted in The New York Times Magazine the widespread use of kinda-sorta in the courtroom of the O. J. Simpson trial. And as far back as 1909, the language stickler Ambrose Bierce complained that “Kind of followed by an adjective, as ‘kind of good,’ is almost too gross for censure.”

It may be too gross for censure, but “kind of” and “sort of” have shown staying power over the decades. If you put “sort of” into Google’s Ngram viewer, a database of millions of digitized books, you find steady usage levels through the 1980s and ’90s, and a small uptick starting in 2000. And that’s only written language, not informal speech. For anecdotal proof, listen to NPR for a few hours (though not conservative talk radio, where certainty is more the rule of law).

Gabriel Doyle, who has a Ph.D. in linguistics and writes the blog Motivated Grammar, told me that “sort of”’ is a “de-precision device.” As Dr. Doyle put it: “The speaker is saying, ‘Don’t think of this as being overly accurate.’ ”

In other words, people throw “sort of” into their speech because they’re unsure. Our language is reflecting modern life.

We sort of have stable jobs until our company outsources or downsizes. We can sort of count on Social Security in retirement. We’re sort of done fighting a war in Iraq. It’s my nonscientific theory that “sort of” is, in part, a linguistic manifestation of the indefiniteness we feel, a noncommittal expression for a time of rapid technological change and instability across our social structures.

During our phone conversation, Dr. Doyle peppered his sentences with a lot of “sort ofs,” as in: “My approach on these things is sort of, what are the sort of factors that encourage people to use this?” He was conscious of doing so, and said his “sort of” rate increased when presenting new ideas or speaking to large crowds — say, at a conference.

Continue reading the main story Continue reading the main story

Continue reading the main story

“You don’t want to be overly confident in these high-stakes arenas,” he said.

In this sense, “sort of” addresses another modern concern, because not a week goes by that someone isn’t publicly embarrassed or shamed over ill-considered words they tweeted or were caught saying on video. Daily conversation has become a high-stakes arena, for celebrities as well as normal citizens.

The awareness that offhand utterances can live forever online and have serious consequences has made for overly cautious speech. So we hear the “Meet the Press” host Chuck Todd say to a reporter that he “sort of laughed” after reading an article on Benghazi in a conservative newspaper. Or Joe Neumaier, a writer for The New York Daily News, who as a film critic is paid to offer sharp opinions about Hollywood, assert about Robin Williams that “you sort of don’t think of him as a sort of character actor.”

Using “sort of” to reduce the risk of making an error or causing offense is a tactic an editor friend calls “strategic softening.” (Note to Alec Baldwin: insert “sort of” in your next tirade and you won’t have to make a public apology.)

As much as it can create rhetorical wiggle room and be a tool for nuanced thinking about a complex world, the “fuzzy kinda-sorta,” as Mr. Safire called it back in 1995, can also make for wishy-washy and obsequious speech that lacks clarity, confidence and authority. Especially when used frequently and to qualify banal utterances and basic facts.

The other day I was listening to NPR and heard Nicolas Retsinas, a Harvard Business School professor, mention that his daughter had “kind of moved back to the East Coast” from Alaska.

I doubt Mr. Retsinas was aware of saying “kind of.” It’s become a verbal tic, a filler phrase. I’ve deployed both “sort of” and “kind of” myself, many times. In this very newspaper, I once described the view from a Detroit rooftop as possessing “a sort of grandeur.” Strunk and White would not approve.

Sometimes I think of epic declarative statements, and wonder how they might be rendered in today’s hedge-speak. “It was sort of the best of times, it was sort of the worst of times.” “I came, I saw, I kind of conquered.” “I sort of have a dream.”

Sound kind of weak? Definitely.

Steven Kurutz is a reporter for the Home section of The New York Times.

Libraries in the Digital Age

Oh, Pew Research Center. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 

More than any other organization, here's how I started to enjoy perusing through statistical research. There is a lot about how people use information and technology, and it's always presented in a timely, practical way. 

Their most recent survey examines people's perceptions of public libraries from research completed over the last three years. The vitality and viability of libraries is a frequent topic in the library world. Libraries are changing as people can access more and more materials from their homes through their own internet connections. Librarians are buying preselected sets of materials electronically and many are spending less time on tasks like book maintenance and check out. 

You should browse through their slideshow, but here's my takeaway 10 list of items I learned at Public Library Engagement. (Careful readers will note and lament the typo that made it to the final draft.)

-76% of Americans read a book in the last year. The median was five total.

-Half of all Americans own an ereader or a tablet that can host ebooks.

-32% of Americans have read an ebook on their cell phone.

-72% of Americans describe themselves as living in a "library household."

-This one is my favorite about how people use ebooks.

-80% believe that it's important to for libraries to have "librarians to help people find information." (Personally, I must say YAY! Information overload may save our jobs.)

-Among library users, only 16% rent cds while 46% use research databases.

-85% would like libraries to work more with schools. (We're in good hands with Manatee County and have set up several programs to work with our students.)

-This is pretty entertaining too if you look at the categories. 

-Among people who deem libraries important, 51% think that an important quality of the library is a safe, quiet space. 

If you were reading a few weeks ago, LA was also talking about the need for quiet spaces. This goes against a lot of the literature in the school library community, where people are talking about needing tech-enabled collaborative study spaces. This is of personal interest to me because my space is open, so it can only be either loud or quiet. Differentiated spaces and increase online library presence are the wave of the future! 

Dewey Decimal Manga

Wow, literature is cute! Hiroshima library designs anime mascots for decimal classifications

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/09/27/wow-literature-is-cute-hiroshima-library-designs-anime-mascots-for-decimal-classifications/

Nowadays, whenever we want to access to the vast wealth of knowledge humanity has amassed, all we have to do check Google, Wikipedia, or the RocketNews24 search box. But long ago, you had to go to a place called a library.
With an Internet search engine you can just type in what you’re looking for, but simply scrawling, say, “history of feudal Japan” on the wall of the library will not only fail to provide you with the information you seek, it’ll probably get you thrown out of the building. Instead, you’ve got to utilize a system of numbers used to organize written works. While the U.S. has the Dewey Decimal and Library of Congress Classifications, Japan has its own framework, called the Nippon Decimal Classification.
For modern youths, though, having to look up books by a numeric code feels extremely cumbersome and inefficient. So how do you get young readers excited about using the Nippon Decimal Classification? By anthropomorphizing it as a team of cute anime characters. , of course!

Located just a few stops south from Hiroshima Station, the Hatsukaichi Municipal Library has created 10 mascots, one for each starting digit of the Nippon Decimal Classification.

▼ 0, General Classification, has an appropriately nondescript appearance.

▼ 1, Philosophy, has a pensive look and classical fashion sense.

▼ 2, History, is all packed and ready to head out to appease her curiosity about geography, which is also included in her classification.

▼ The modern and sophisticated 3, Social Sciences

▼ You’ll have to forgive the wild hairstyle of 4, Natural Sciences.

▼ 5, Technology and Engineering, also covers such delicate and detailed work as sewing and cooking, which explains the perfect braid in its mascot’s hair.

▼ Agriculture is included in 6, Industry and Commerce, so naturally its character is carrying an armload of tasty produce.

▼ This regal and fashionable lass serves as the poster girl for 7, Arts.

▼ This shy cat lover could probably use a couple of books from class 8, Language.

▼ And finally, 9, Literature, looks enthusiastic and right at home in the library.

The Hatsukaichi Library has even created a mini manga in which some of the characters make appearances.

▼ 9 shows a couple of students the ropes.

You can also spot the characters on placards around the facility, plus on bookmarks the library is handing out.

▼ If you can’t make it to Hiroshima, you can print them out here and make your own.

We suppose you could make the criticism that it’s counterproductive using pictures to tempt people to come to the library. The more people who come through the door, though, the more people who have a chance to stumble across a book they wouldn’t have known about otherwise, and with a set of 10 faces so cute, it’s hard not to be cheering for them.

Library Featured in the Gauntlet

Thanks to the Saint Stephen's newspaper, The Gauntlet, for featuring information about the new, improved OverDrive service! The MISBO collection is indeed enormous and added several thousand books to the collection on August 1st. If you don't know your Patron ID, email me and I can get it to you immediately.

http://www.ssesgauntlet.org/features/2014/09/26/introducing-overdrive-free-ebook-rental-service-comes-to-media-center/

LA Times - iPads vs. Libraries

I've spent a lot of time considering the digital divide and the roles that schools play in leveling it.  When people ask me if libraries are going away, I don't have an easy answer. I'd like to say no, but they are dependent on continued funding and support. I'm lucky to work at a school that supports both traditional research and innovation. The library is used individually or by classes virtually every period of the school day, and students are waiting when I arrive in the morning. One could argue that some of that work doesn't need to take place in a library now that students have iPads, and they'd be correct. Yet students seem to like working in a space that is devoted to knowledge and discovery. Learning is hard work and it takes effort. I don't see that changing even though facts are more easily retrievable. 

The framing of iPads or libraries as a civil rights issue surprised me. Both libraries and technology require continual support; it's not enough to "purchase" one and be done with the investment. So there is the obvious cost-benefit question, but how much should we consider student preferences about what makes them excited to learn?
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-constantino-lausd-ipads-or-libraries-20140915-story.html

Speed Selection Games for MS Reading

Heard about speed dating? Not with 7th graders...hence "speed selection." This is the 7th graders first introduction to the library that they'll be using for the next six years, so why not make it memorable. On library blogs and listservs, around February and Valentine's Day you start seeing suggestions for speed dating library activities. The premise is that students have access to a preselected number of books. They have a few minutes to choose, then a few minutes to read. You run through several rounds, until everyone has found a selection they'd like to take home for the next few weeks. It's kind of a competition, but not really, and different enough than coming to a silent library so it draws the attention of the boys.

There was a fair amount of forethought that went into this, not the least just moving tables and obtaining enough green tablecloths. I decided on several general categories, based largely on what has interested Middle Schoolers in past years. There were so many ideas, but my final signs are: sports/adventure, worlds gone wrong, realistic fiction (both heartbreaking and hilarious), nonfiction vs. graphic novels, read around the world and into the past, and down the rabbit hole-magic, fantasy, and other worlds. There's also one "blind date" table: Don't Choose a Book by its Cover. This was a chance to showcase books with ugly or uninteresting covers. All of these books were covered with black paper. There is a drawing or map or poem or other short description on each. I was honest with the kids and told them that this was for fun; I didn't want it to be all about grabbing those books and just opening them to the title page right away.

There are about a hundred books at the ready, enough that there are options for the students, but not enough to inspire the dreaded look of overwhelmedness that has surfaced in years past when they are let loose in the entire fiction section. (Which was always a nerve-wracking moment for me anyway, since there are books there that are much more appropriate to 17 years olds than to 13 year olds.) It worked to have three minutes of selection the first time around, followed by four minutes of reading. All subsequent selection times were reduced to two minutes. I noticed that this was enough time for students to wander between tables and smile at their friends and page through books, but it wasn't enough time for them to get entirely off task. Some did wait until the 10 second warning, and then they grabbed the closest book at hand. Also, it started to look a bit like a game of musical chairs as kids rushed to the circle ringing the books. I was prepared for this, and there were double the chairs needed. This hasn't become a contact sport. :)

Lessons learned: 
Dystopias are still reigning in popularity. Next up, football!
Make this a lesson on print books. I wanted to get all of the students logged into Overdrive on the same day (what can I say?, I'm excited about the service) but this ended up being much more efficient focusing solely on print. Next month's activity can be entirely electronic instead. 
Students will still ask for books that they want if they don't see them. Ironically, this provided more time for readers' advisory than simply letting students loose in the stacks. 
My high schoolers are begging me to talk to their English teachers because it's something they didn't get to do in Middle School. I haven't yet had a high school English teacher bring a class in to get books for completely recreational reading. I welcome that opportunity. 


 

Quiet!

Two interesting articles people have shared with me recently about noise and sound. Actually, the "shushing librarians" article was shared with me by several people. Should I be concerned?

Each introduces ideas about cultural norms and expectations. The first focuses mainly on travel, while the second examines libraries specifically.

http://travel.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/travel/finding-peace-during-noisy-trips.html?smid=pl-share

http://www.salon.com/2013/01/31/bring_back_shushing_librarians/

There is this statement in the New York Times: "As the clientele has become more diverse, there are some passengers who think the bus should be like a library and others who think it should be the party before the beach party."

Thought for the day --- Would that be a a metaphor with metonymy? :) 

Coldplay hides lyrics in libraries

Coldplay announce lyric sheet treasure hunt for Ghost Stories album

The words to all nine of Ghost Stories' songs have been concealed in haunted tales at libraries around the world  http://gu.com/p/3zndd

Chris Martin of Coldplay performs at Austin's SXSW festival. Photograph: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Coldplay have announced an international scavenger hunt for handwritten lyrics from their new album. The words to all nine of Ghost Stories' songs have been concealed in haunted tales at libraries around the world, beginning with a library in Mexico City.
"¡Ándale! ¡Ándale!"Coldplay tweeted yesterday, sending their Mexican fans on a race to the English literature section of the city's Vasconcelos library. There, in a translated copy of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, a lucky scavenger found Chris Martin's lyrics for Ghost Stories' lead single, Magic.
The rest of the eight sets of lyrics are in unnamed cities "across the planet", from national capitals to a a town of less than 100,000 people. One of the envelopes also includes a "golden ticket" – with a flight to see Coldplay perform at London's Royal Albert Hall on 1 July. Hopefully it's not just hidden in Birmingham.
Martin discussed Ghost Stories on BBC Radio 1 on Monday night, admitting to Zane Lowe that this sixth album was heavily influenced by his split with Gwyneth Paltrow. "I think everyone in their life goes through challenges, whether it's love or money, kids, or illness," he said. "You have to really not run away from that stuff."
Martin also revealed that he blames himself for the dissolution of their marriage. "About two years ago I was a mess, really, because I [couldn't] enjoy the things that we [were] good at and I [couldn't] enjoy the great things around me because I [was so] burdened by this," he said. "[I thought] I've got to not blame anyone else and make some changes."
Martin and Paltrow, who share a nine-year-old daughter and an eight-year-old son, initially described their separation s a "conscious uncoupling". "It's not a question of you either really love someone or you really hate someone," Martin said. "Especially with the modern world's complications - like travelling and all the stuff that comes to life, and illness and addiction and all that sort of thing."

AISL Dallas Highlights

I just returned from an amazing conference, and I promise (well, kind of, since I tend to have many blog ideas and only few blog posts) more in the future. The Association for Independent School Librarians is geared towards people just like me, and each year the conference is held in a different city. Schools work together to plan and host. You get to hear fabulous speakers, network with librarians, meet authors, and tour schools. Next year, the conference will be held in the Tampa Bay area, and we've already been working since last spring to make it an event well worth attending. 

Here's a quick 10 list of some of the highlights from Dallas this year.

 Texans love to display their "Texasness." Many cute library displays were seen. 

What do do with weeded books? Ask your art students. This is well done and poignant. 

Why do I sometimes feel my library is tiny? Libraries like this one, which extends back about a third as far past this picture. Fun fact: This is Luke and Owen Wilson's alma mater. 

Texas Christian University (Go Horned Frogs!) has these technology-enabled "frog ponds" for small group projects. They are sound-buffered, not sound-proof. 

At one elementary school, each student had a poem tied to his or her waist. April 24 is "Poem in your Pocket" day, part of National Poetry Month. This girl was thrilled to share hers.

 I loved Lyle, Lyle Crocodile as a child! The same school has a budget for yearly author visits. The list was impressive, and I'd love to bring more authors to Saint Stephen's.

Any thoughts? I think I want these for the library. Not only the chair with a media desk but also the end table with plugs next to it. 

This school just (as in two days previously) finished its library/makerspace combo. It was huge, with loads of print books and also fish, snakes, spiders, and turtles. Plus, there was an amazing corner that encourages kids to create with technology, not just consume it.

Here are a few of the stations. There were several 3d printers, a video production lab, a whiteboard brainstorming station, and many more computers.

 

 This is a section of the makerspace with zen rock pillows, a video game system that uses movement technology, and sound-buffering panels that are multicolored and can be switched from orange to gray.

Libraries are still vibrant, and librarians are still working hard to improve learning across the curriculum. Great job, Team Dallas!

Why is Florida always in the news for the wrong reasons?

Video of Hawks Attacking Library Patrons

PORT ORANGE, Fla. —

“She had a pretty good-sized wound on the back of her head,” said Volusia County spokesperson Dave Byron.

County officials placed numerous signs outside the library warning people about the aggressive birds.

Residents in Port Orange said red-shouldered hawks have become a big nuisance at the city’s library.
Workers at the library told Channel 9’s Julie Salomone they’re stocking up on umbrellas for guests to use as protection against the hawks.
County officials said a nearby nest has made the hawks more protective.
“Luckily I ducked right before it got to me, and it flew over my head and onto the top of the building,” said library guest Don Cornejo.
The family of hawks lives in a tree next to the building and there are at least two babies in the nest.

The adult birds fly to the ground and attack people as they approach the library, according to library workers and guests.
The county is urging visitors to always use umbrellas as they walk to and from the library after several reports of the birds getting too close and injuring people.
The county shared a picture with Salomone, showing where one woman was scratched on the head by the birds.
Florida Fish and Wildlife officials said the hawks are protected and in some cases officials will come out and remove the nests, but not in this case.
The red-shouldered hawk is one of the most common hawks in the state.
County officials said the birds should be less aggressive in about three weeks, once the baby hawks are out of the nest.
From the Daytona Beach News Journal 

The Power of a Good Question AISL Post

 The Power of a Good Question is my monthly AISL post. It ponders a more qualitative approach to library statistics, i.e. what we can learn about the library based on the variety of questions we're asked.

Students Want Silent Libraries?

This is from a recent Chicago Tribune reporter. I'm guessing that my students would agree. I know that they would prefer to be able to eat in the library. I'm relatively sure that they would like to have silent study spaces separate from the main library area. 

By Karen Ann Cullotta, Tribune reporter

February 4, 2014

Comfy chairs to curl up with a book or tablet, silent study spaces and a place to munch on a quick snack are high on a student-generated wish list being considered by officials at New Trier Township High School 203 as they plan for the future of the district's two libraries.
The feedback was garnered through a recent survey that asked 275 students to share their needs and suggest future changes that would enhance their current library experience at both the Winnetka and Northfield campuses, said Judy Macnab, library department chair at New Trier.
"We've learned from our students that they think their high school's library is a safe and respectful environment for learning," Macnab said. "There is more information available to students today and more of a need for librarians who can help them navigate through the morass out there."
Macnab said that the library's reliance on digital resources and technology has soared since 2008, when officials spent the majority of their budget on printed materials.
Last year, officials allocated 65 percent of the library's budget to purchase digital materials and just 29 percent for printed items.
Macnab said despite the burgeoning use of technology by students visiting the library to do research during class and independently — and the fact that by next year, every student at New Trier will be assigned an iPad — many of the comments students recently shared with librarians suggest that the venue is also cherished as a safe haven where they can relax with friends or work quietly on their own.
"It was impressive to see the extent to which students feel that the library is a comfortable and productive place to learn," Macnab said. "Knowing the stress and pressures often associated with high school, it was encouraging to see that students describe the library as relaxing, peaceful and fun in addition to being a resourceful study location."
For example, student comments on the recent survey included "I like that we are trusted to sit in the stacks, especially during the busy lunch periods," and "I mainly like it because it is a quiet 'sanctuary' place where I know I can be by myself."
While Macnab said it might come as a surprise that teens are clamoring for quiet, one student said, "I like the silent study room, but sometimes, there isn't enough space."
"Our quiet study room is filled to the brim almost every period of the day," Macnab said. "Some students prefer to sit on the floor, but for the most part, the students sit in chairs at tables because they like the closeness and camaraderie of being around other students."
New Trier Township High School District 203 board member Malcolm "Mac" Harris said he was impressed with the warm rapport between students and librarians — a far cry from the days of the stern librarian whispering "hush!"
"One of the things that makes me proudest is the collaboration between the librarians, the teachers and their students," Harris said. "I'm particularly impressed with the fact that so many students view the library as a comfortable, safe place to go, whether it is with a class, for a research project or just to hang out."
Macnab said she frequently hears from students lamenting that they are prohibited from eating in the library, which currently has a no food or drink policy.
"There's nothing students would like more than having their iced tea and snack while they're in the library studying, but unfortunately, they're not so good at picking up their own trash," said Macnab. "If we could find a way for them to pick up, I'm sure they'd love to have a latte in a library cafe, but until then, they're still limited to water bottles with lids."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/winnetka_northfield_glencoe/ct-new-trier-library-tl-0206-20140204,0,7289423.story

Darn those late fines

This is just going to be a monthly redirect because...why not. 

Here are my thoughts on overdues and late fines in the independent school library world. Those who know me, I promise this is motivated by more than my inability to return library books on time and the fact that I could probably pay my mortgage in fines accrued over the years. (In fact...let's all pause while I open another tab...darn it. Because 2 books from Baltimore ended up back in Florida after the winter break and still haven't been returned, I have a $6.25 fee from five states away.) 
But, personal feelings aside: "When is it due?"...and other library vocabulary

Comments appreciated in either space.

Friday 6th period

It's Friday afternoon. I've had the same pile of books on my desk for processing for the past two days. I'm coordinating details for a public library field trip Tuesday. I'm doing dishes from a faculty potluck. While I could be overwhelmed with my current schedule, how awesome is it to return after lunch and see this in my space. Readers. Chess players. Teacher consultations. One napper. Life is good. 

Helpful Librarian. Unhelpful Librarian

I've heard it said that one bad interaction counteracts 10 positive ones. Makes sense to me. When people get what they want, especially if it's easy, their memories are short on the details. When they are frustrated or angry, that impression lingers.

I was trying to find the original citation for a quotation for a student yesterday.

If you're interested in playing along at home, here's the information I had.

Speaker was Mike Tyson. "Everyone (or everybody) has a plan until they get punched in the face."

After a few searches and a trip to both of my quote dictionaries (yes they exist, and yes they're as awesome as they sound), I decided to try the Ask a Librarian Chat service.

You have been connected to Bryan W - Pasco County Library System.
Bryan W - Pasco County Library System: Hi Christina, I would check the footnotes in the bibliography in the back of the book. This will usually state where or when the quote was said originally.
Christina: It's not in a book. It's on business and sports sites. Can't find the original.
Bryan W - Pasco County Library System: I would try checking the site to see if it is stated anywhere on that site. I would also recommend navigating the Internet a little bit to see where it is mentioned. Youtube may even have interviews that state when and where certain quotes were said.
Christina: Yes, I have done all of that.
Christina: It seems to be an aphorism at this point.
Christina: I have also limited by date to only get earlier references, but there is no original.
Christina: I have also tried quote and phrase dictionaries.
Bryan W - Pasco County Library System: Well in that case I see what you mean. This may have been a quote that could have been said at anytime or place. There have also been various books written on Mike Tyson that may have that quote in them. However if this is a question based strictly on websites I do not know if that will help. Google Scholar may also work for you, it has a lot of information on various topics.
Bryan W - Pasco County Library System: Can I help you with anything else today?
Christina: I would still like to find the origin of the quote. There is nothing on google scholar either.
Bryan W - Pasco County Library System: I will try checking a little bit more hold on
Bryan W - Pasco County Library System: It seems like this could have been said anywhere at any time almost like it was never documented.
Christina: okay. Thank you.
Bryan W - Pasco County Library System: Your welcome. Hope this helped a little.
Bryan W - Pasco County Library System: Thank you for using Ask a Librarian, and we hope you come again.
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You have been connected to Rhonda T - NWFSC.
Rhonda T - NWFSC: Hello, welcome to Ask a Librarian. I am Rhonda T - NWFSC and I will be assisting you today. Please wait a moment while I consider your question...
Rhonda T - NWFSC: This is the information I found and I will send you the URL
Rhonda T - NWFSC: "Everyone has a plan/strategy until they’ve been hit/punched (in the face/mouth)” is a boxing adage meaning that brutal reality can change even the best of prepared plans. A similar saying exists about military planning—“No plan survives contact with the enemy.” The boxing/military saying has also been used in business, government and other fields. “Everyone has a plan until they’ve been hit” has been credited by Wikipedia to the boxer Joe Louis (1914-1981), but it’s not clear if he ever said it.

Brooklyn-born boxer Mike Tyson is most frequently credited with the saying. In October 1987, HBO’s Barry Tompkins quoted Mike Tyson as saying, “They all have a plan...until they get hit.”
The librarian is sending you to http://www.barrypopik.com/index.php/new_york_city/entry/everyone_has_a_plan_until_theyve_been_hit_boxing_adage/.
Christina: Thank you!
Rhonda T - NWFSC: It looks like the quote is from the 1930-40s and was by Joe Louis.
Christina: Wow. Very interesting. It seemed like sloppy journalism that no one mentioned where the quotation originated.
Rhonda T - NWFSC: They get changed - that is the power and craziness of the Internet. One sec. I may have more.
The librarian is sending you to http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/joelouis.htm.
Rhonda T - NWFSC: trying to find the first mention of it
Rhonda T - NWFSC: sorry -
The librarian is sending you to http://www.tysontalk.com/quotes/quotes-by-mike-tyson.
Rhonda T - NWFSC: This is a place it was attributed to Tyson, but there are no references to back it up.
Christina: That makes sense. This is more than I needed. Thank you so much!
Rhonda T - NWFSC: Welcome!
Rhonda T - NWFSC: Thank you for using Ask a Librarian, and we hope you come again.
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I fully admit that I use external help for difficult queries. Note the difference in the two interactions. The student got what he needed, and we both learned a lot more than expected about the real history of this quotation.