After Church, on the last Sunday before my son left for college, he suggested we eat at a certain restaurant. The last time we had dined there, I had not been pleased. But this was a special occasion, so that's where we went.
We stood in line behind several customers for a short time before our turn. We had both decided on the same meal-the very same one that I had not been pleased with on our previous visit. I told the cashier about my previous dissatisfaction- a grilled cheese sandwich barely toasted with cold cheese. She wrote "extra hot" on the order form and handed us our cups and buzzer. We helped ourselves to our drinks and found a comfortable spot to enjoy our meal. The restaurant was relatively quiet and our conversation was effortless- no need to strain over crashes and bangs from the kitchen, too loud music, or boisterous customers. The buzzer buzzed and my son retrieved our meals. The soup was hot and tasty. The sandwich was grilled to perfection with the cheese hot and melted throughout. We enjoyed our meal and each other. The restaurant had redeemed itself.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Scavenger Hunt
1. Two periodicals geared for children-
From TEL homepage click "all Tel Databases:
Gale databases
Scroll down to Kids Infobits
Click History & Social Studies
Click Money, Business, Economy
Click Money
Click Magazines tab
Select article
Cobblestone National Geographic Kids
2. How many Treaties
I found many articles about Treaties in TEL, but I didn't want to scan through them looking for the number of Treaties. So I Googled it. Scrolled down to www.state.gov/documents. Found "Treaties in Force as of January 1, 2012.: This is a 489 page on line listing of Treaties in force. There were usually several treaties listed per page. My guess is there are about 1500 Treaties in force.
3. Two Turkish Women Authors
Click on Literary Resource Center
Click Literary index
Custom Search
Nationality
Scroll through drop down box to Turkish
Srolled through names until I found some that sounded female.
Anna Balakian Jeanne Tsatos
4. Literary Resource Center
Enter keyword "Northanger Abbey."
Click topic and work overview.
Scroll to Chapter 14
Catherine, Eleanor and Henry enjoy hiking around Beechen Cliff
5. Literary Resource Center
Basic Search
Reviews and news
Entered "Apocalypse Now: Teens Turn to Dystopian Novels."
One hit. Clicked to read article
There are many reasons teens like dystopian novels. They like to be scared of things that are not real. It helps them to cope with real problems. It is fun to imagine themselves as a hero, using their brains and courage to survive. Teens feel empowered reading dystopian novels. They have a deeper appreciation for their lives and the people they love.
6. TEL
All TEL databases
Click on Health and Wellness Resource Center
Click "Drugs and Herbal Remedies"
Enter Lotensin in searche box
Submit
Chest pain Extreme Weakness Swelling of face, mouth, hands and feet
************************************************************
1. John Quincy Adams DOB
TEL-Student Resources in Context
Choose Biography
Click John Adams
July 11, 1767
2. TEL
Student Resources in Context
Click Maps
Click New York
View MORE
Scroll down to Topography
The Catskill Mountains extend across the southern half of the State from the Hudson River Valley to the basin of Lake Erie.
3. Couldn't find this on TEL readily
Google NBA 1968
NBA 1968-1969 Regular Season and Playoffs
Summary
Honors and Awards
NBA Season MVP Year by Year
67-68 Wilt Chamberlain 68-69 Wes Unseld
4. TEL
All Tell Databases
World Book
Search Box-enter Belgium
France Netherlands Germany
5. 2 Synonyms for Slovenly-- Disheveled, unkempt
Merriam Webster Collegiate Thesaurus
6. 2 antonyms for cordial -- Taciturn, aloof
Merriam Webster Collegiate Thesaurus
7. Osmosis- the tendency of a fluid, usually water, to pass through a semi-permeable membrane into a solution where the solvent concentration is higher, thus equalizing the concentration of material on either side of the membrane.
Random House Dictionary of the English Language
8. An interrogative sentence asks whether something is or is not a fact.
English Grammar Simplified by James Fernald
9. Look up Pizza in the yellow pages. Or google pizza-Rogersville, TN . Choose from all selections the one you prefer.
10. The DK Geography of the World The Essential Family Guide to Geography and Culture
Arctic Atlantic Indian Pacific
From TEL homepage click "all Tel Databases:
Gale databases
Scroll down to Kids Infobits
Click History & Social Studies
Click Money, Business, Economy
Click Money
Click Magazines tab
Select article
Cobblestone National Geographic Kids
2. How many Treaties
I found many articles about Treaties in TEL, but I didn't want to scan through them looking for the number of Treaties. So I Googled it. Scrolled down to www.state.gov/documents. Found "Treaties in Force as of January 1, 2012.: This is a 489 page on line listing of Treaties in force. There were usually several treaties listed per page. My guess is there are about 1500 Treaties in force.
3. Two Turkish Women Authors
Click on Literary Resource Center
Click Literary index
Custom Search
Nationality
Scroll through drop down box to Turkish
Srolled through names until I found some that sounded female.
Anna Balakian Jeanne Tsatos
4. Literary Resource Center
Enter keyword "Northanger Abbey."
Click topic and work overview.
Scroll to Chapter 14
Catherine, Eleanor and Henry enjoy hiking around Beechen Cliff
5. Literary Resource Center
Basic Search
Reviews and news
Entered "Apocalypse Now: Teens Turn to Dystopian Novels."
One hit. Clicked to read article
There are many reasons teens like dystopian novels. They like to be scared of things that are not real. It helps them to cope with real problems. It is fun to imagine themselves as a hero, using their brains and courage to survive. Teens feel empowered reading dystopian novels. They have a deeper appreciation for their lives and the people they love.
6. TEL
All TEL databases
Click on Health and Wellness Resource Center
Click "Drugs and Herbal Remedies"
Enter Lotensin in searche box
Submit
Chest pain Extreme Weakness Swelling of face, mouth, hands and feet
************************************************************
1. John Quincy Adams DOB
TEL-Student Resources in Context
Choose Biography
Click John Adams
July 11, 1767
2. TEL
Student Resources in Context
Click Maps
Click New York
View MORE
Scroll down to Topography
The Catskill Mountains extend across the southern half of the State from the Hudson River Valley to the basin of Lake Erie.
3. Couldn't find this on TEL readily
Google NBA 1968
NBA 1968-1969 Regular Season and Playoffs
Summary
Honors and Awards
NBA Season MVP Year by Year
67-68 Wilt Chamberlain 68-69 Wes Unseld
4. TEL
All Tell Databases
World Book
Search Box-enter Belgium
France Netherlands Germany
5. 2 Synonyms for Slovenly-- Disheveled, unkempt
Merriam Webster Collegiate Thesaurus
6. 2 antonyms for cordial -- Taciturn, aloof
Merriam Webster Collegiate Thesaurus
7. Osmosis- the tendency of a fluid, usually water, to pass through a semi-permeable membrane into a solution where the solvent concentration is higher, thus equalizing the concentration of material on either side of the membrane.
Random House Dictionary of the English Language
8. An interrogative sentence asks whether something is or is not a fact.
English Grammar Simplified by James Fernald
9. Look up Pizza in the yellow pages. Or google pizza-Rogersville, TN . Choose from all selections the one you prefer.
10. The DK Geography of the World The Essential Family Guide to Geography and Culture
Arctic Atlantic Indian Pacific
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Into the Fire
It was only a short journey from bucolic Fall Creek Falls State Park into the fire of the reality of library leadership. I had only a few emails, but each one presented me with a problem to be solved--and solved quickly. A phone call reassured me that I had made a good decision for the libraries but also that I had made several people angry with my decisiveness. I stand by my decision and will use both the active and empathetic listening techniques that were presented to us at PLMI to try to win over those disappointed folks.
With a long list of real problems to solve, reports to prepare, bills to pay and a number of petty annoyances, I turned to Dr. Self's meditation techniques to keep me going. What a respite it was to linger in that still space between breaths! A phone call from one of the Mayors affirmed that I am perceived to be a leader in the community. He invited me to attend a special presentation by Governor Haslam at a park that I, my son, and a number of other volunteers had helped create. Another email invited me to attend a ceremony at which Governor Haslam will invest our new judge and a chancellor. So tomorrow, I will have two opportunities to dress professionally, act professionally and present my personal brand and the library systems' brand to some distinguished members of our community. I am happy for the opportunity.
Tonight, after meeting with the person who will prepare our financial statements for the auditor, I attended a meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. First on the agenda was a vote to confirm an appointment to the Library Board of Trustees. I had forgotten that was to be voted on and took a few deep breaths while I mentally rehearsed answers to any questions the they might ask me. Fortunately, they voted unanimously in favor of the appointment, no questions asked.
Tomorrow I will have a meeting with our new Branch Manager to show her the ropes of making a new staff schedule that will take into account the talents and skills of the staff, the budget and the need for succession planning. We will also go over policy and our mission statement and any nuts and bolts questions she may have. I will assure her that I will stand behind her and have confidence in her ability to lead and manage
a dynamic library and dedicated staff.
I have already pulled out a lot of the tricks I learned at PLMI and am sure there will be many opportunities to use them all and make up some of my own. I am glad to have the opportunity to be a part of the Public Library Management Institute. I am sure it will make our libraries better places for all members of our community.
With a long list of real problems to solve, reports to prepare, bills to pay and a number of petty annoyances, I turned to Dr. Self's meditation techniques to keep me going. What a respite it was to linger in that still space between breaths! A phone call from one of the Mayors affirmed that I am perceived to be a leader in the community. He invited me to attend a special presentation by Governor Haslam at a park that I, my son, and a number of other volunteers had helped create. Another email invited me to attend a ceremony at which Governor Haslam will invest our new judge and a chancellor. So tomorrow, I will have two opportunities to dress professionally, act professionally and present my personal brand and the library systems' brand to some distinguished members of our community. I am happy for the opportunity.
Tonight, after meeting with the person who will prepare our financial statements for the auditor, I attended a meeting of the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. First on the agenda was a vote to confirm an appointment to the Library Board of Trustees. I had forgotten that was to be voted on and took a few deep breaths while I mentally rehearsed answers to any questions the they might ask me. Fortunately, they voted unanimously in favor of the appointment, no questions asked.
Tomorrow I will have a meeting with our new Branch Manager to show her the ropes of making a new staff schedule that will take into account the talents and skills of the staff, the budget and the need for succession planning. We will also go over policy and our mission statement and any nuts and bolts questions she may have. I will assure her that I will stand behind her and have confidence in her ability to lead and manage
a dynamic library and dedicated staff.
I have already pulled out a lot of the tricks I learned at PLMI and am sure there will be many opportunities to use them all and make up some of my own. I am glad to have the opportunity to be a part of the Public Library Management Institute. I am sure it will make our libraries better places for all members of our community.
Friday, August 9, 2013
Management Planning
Our team's assignment was Management Planning. We designated aposition for each team member. I chose to present the program because I am somewhat uncomfortable about speaking before groups. We also had a Captain, Researcher,Timekeeper and Recorder.
We were very conscious of the time constraints and the seemingly endless amount of research available on the topic. We honed in on answering the three questions: What is the definition, what tools are needed and how do the tools fit into the overall picture.
I leatrned more about the process from this exercise. I was constantly aware of the pressure from the time constraints, the personalities of the team members and how their actions contributed to the completetion of the project, and how to effectively present our findings.
What surprised me most was how much I really enjoyed presenting to the group. I felt at ease and was able to ad lib.
All in all, I feel this was a very valuable exercise.
We were very conscious of the time constraints and the seemingly endless amount of research available on the topic. We honed in on answering the three questions: What is the definition, what tools are needed and how do the tools fit into the overall picture.
I leatrned more about the process from this exercise. I was constantly aware of the pressure from the time constraints, the personalities of the team members and how their actions contributed to the completetion of the project, and how to effectively present our findings.
What surprised me most was how much I really enjoyed presenting to the group. I felt at ease and was able to ad lib.
All in all, I feel this was a very valuable exercise.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Day 3 Dr. Self's Presentation on Servant Leadership
What surprised me about this experience? I had expected a didactic lecture on on what Servant Leadership is and how to do it. I was pleasantly surprised by this gentle, softspoken but animated woman who seems to possess a wellspring of joy.
I was touched very gently by this experience. As she spoke, I became more relaxed and affirmed in my usual approach to life. It has been overruled by the demands of my position and I had been feeling quite stressed. That certainly showed in four of the five words a wrote down before the meditation. The breathing brought me to a place of quiet and a pleasant memory rose to consciousness.
My partner and I related our memories to each other. Hers was painful, but she had dealt with it in a very positive way by focusing clearly on what was most dear to her and letting the negative fade away.
I had gained strength from my memory and that affirmed I am on the right track with my work.
When we wrote the second five words, each of us chose five positive terms. Our first list of five had one word in common-gratifying. In spite of being stressed, lonely, and overwhelmed, We both felt our work was gratifying.
I am inspired by the simplicity of this little exercise and the power it has to improve our outlook on life. I will use it often.
Dr. Self's presence was peace flowing like a river.
I was touched very gently by this experience. As she spoke, I became more relaxed and affirmed in my usual approach to life. It has been overruled by the demands of my position and I had been feeling quite stressed. That certainly showed in four of the five words a wrote down before the meditation. The breathing brought me to a place of quiet and a pleasant memory rose to consciousness.
My partner and I related our memories to each other. Hers was painful, but she had dealt with it in a very positive way by focusing clearly on what was most dear to her and letting the negative fade away.
I had gained strength from my memory and that affirmed I am on the right track with my work.
When we wrote the second five words, each of us chose five positive terms. Our first list of five had one word in common-gratifying. In spite of being stressed, lonely, and overwhelmed, We both felt our work was gratifying.
I am inspired by the simplicity of this little exercise and the power it has to improve our outlook on life. I will use it often.
Dr. Self's presence was peace flowing like a river.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
A Transplanted Professional
The library world gained an amazing new professional when David assumed the reins of the Seymour Branch of the Sevier County Library. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in finance from the University of Tennessee, David spent 20 years in the banking industry. Although banking is the most heavily regulated business there is, David really enjoyed his time there. He had the opportunity to work with customers, arranging loans to help them make their dreams come true. Obtaining a loan requires an unending stream of paperwork and documentation, so David certainly has the skills for all the statistical reporting, grant writing, accounting and other components of the business of operating a library. Taking care of customers at the library will be a breeze for him.
David has been the Branch Manager for three years. Collection development is what he enjoys most about his position. Talking with patrons about what they would like to read and what topics they need more information about is a real pleasure to him.The biggest challenge he faces is how to maintain services and a good collection when the library is only 3,500 square feet.
The father of a 19 yeatr old son and a 16 year old daughter, David also has three dogs. His English Bull Dog is the best in the world. His Siberian Husky is the most difficult. He also has a Jack Russell/Pointer mix.
A native of Sevier County, David has played an active role in community affairs. He is a member of the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. With the Rotary Club, David worked on a project to test local wells for water quality. He also assisted in raising funds for a program in the Phillipines to feed malnourished children and for a project to dig wells in Haiti and Mexico.
A true Vol fan, David enjoyes watching football games. He prefers watching at home rather than going to the stadium. He also enjoyes Nascart racing, golf and snow skiing. A music lover, he can find something he likes in every genre, but listens most to alternative rock.
An early, positive influence on his life was a good friend who lived at the Smoky Mountains Children's Home. His friend was always happy and had a real positive energy about him. Both boys were smart and athletic and enjoyed a healthy competition to run the fastest or make the best grades.
David says this competetion made both of them better.
I am sure David will use the lessons from his education, banking experience, parenting, community involvement and early friendship to make the Seymour Branch Library a thriving community hotspot
David has been the Branch Manager for three years. Collection development is what he enjoys most about his position. Talking with patrons about what they would like to read and what topics they need more information about is a real pleasure to him.The biggest challenge he faces is how to maintain services and a good collection when the library is only 3,500 square feet.
The father of a 19 yeatr old son and a 16 year old daughter, David also has three dogs. His English Bull Dog is the best in the world. His Siberian Husky is the most difficult. He also has a Jack Russell/Pointer mix.
A native of Sevier County, David has played an active role in community affairs. He is a member of the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. With the Rotary Club, David worked on a project to test local wells for water quality. He also assisted in raising funds for a program in the Phillipines to feed malnourished children and for a project to dig wells in Haiti and Mexico.
A true Vol fan, David enjoyes watching football games. He prefers watching at home rather than going to the stadium. He also enjoyes Nascart racing, golf and snow skiing. A music lover, he can find something he likes in every genre, but listens most to alternative rock.
An early, positive influence on his life was a good friend who lived at the Smoky Mountains Children's Home. His friend was always happy and had a real positive energy about him. Both boys were smart and athletic and enjoyed a healthy competition to run the fastest or make the best grades.
David says this competetion made both of them better.
I am sure David will use the lessons from his education, banking experience, parenting, community involvement and early friendship to make the Seymour Branch Library a thriving community hotspot
I AM......
I am a knowedgeable and resourceful person who knows how to make the best of every situation and help others do the same.
To improve the professional image of our library, I will ask our Friends group to have the sign on our lawn repaired and repainted.
A more long term project will be a complete makeover of our web site. It has a nice look now, but is not dynamic enough and we do not have the flexibility we want for the image we want to present.
Personal changes I may make are: continuing the never ending search for a nice looking pair of shoes that actually fit, look professional, accomodate my othotics, and don't leave me in pain at the end of a long and busy day.
Try to get more sleep so I can keep up the pace at work.
Go to select community groups and review books that would be helpful to them in fulfilling their mission statements. The first group that comes to mind is a new community effort to provide help to our multitude of drug abusers.
I will resist the urge to bite off more than I can chew.
To improve the professional image of our library, I will ask our Friends group to have the sign on our lawn repaired and repainted.
A more long term project will be a complete makeover of our web site. It has a nice look now, but is not dynamic enough and we do not have the flexibility we want for the image we want to present.
Personal changes I may make are: continuing the never ending search for a nice looking pair of shoes that actually fit, look professional, accomodate my othotics, and don't leave me in pain at the end of a long and busy day.
Try to get more sleep so I can keep up the pace at work.
Go to select community groups and review books that would be helpful to them in fulfilling their mission statements. The first group that comes to mind is a new community effort to provide help to our multitude of drug abusers.
I will resist the urge to bite off more than I can chew.
Monday, August 5, 2013
After a long but very pleasant day , followed by a relaxing swim, I was enjoying a deep sleep, aware of how good it was. Suddenly a jagged flash of light penetrated my bliss. Then another and another. They continued their attack until I opened my eyes and discovered their source. A little bubble on the telphone receiver was sending the unwelcome signal. I picked up the receiver but only heard a dial tone. I searched through my dreams. Had I heard thunder? Was this a weather warning? I listened a moment and then reluctantly switched on the lamp, knowing the light would disrupt my sleep cycle even further. I checked the time-3:29. I dragged myself from the bed and found Inn Guest brochure, found my glasses and scanned through the information . Finally, I learned the piercing light meant I had a message. My mind raced through all the possible catastrophes that would cause someone to try to reach me at such a terrible hour. I followed the directions for retrieving messages. One had been left on Friday. I arrived Sunday. It was not my catastrophe. I turned off the light and crawled back in bed. Just as I relaxed, the light started blinking again. I got up and covered the phone with the brochure and turned to sleep on my side facing away from the phone. I never really got back to sleep. I tossed and turned until daylight, uhncomfortable and fearing I would oversleep once I finally fell asleep again.
The day was full of interesting presentations and getting acquainted with new folks. I learned a lot about how other libraries operate and the difficulties some face with funding issues. I gained a fuller understanding of the relationship between the libraries, local governments, the Regional Library System and the Tennessee State Library and Archives. It was all good.
I looked forward all day to relieving my chronically stiff neck and shoulder with a relaxing swim before dinner. But blogging was dictated for before dinner. I don't know if I will have the energy for a swim after the evening activities.
I picked up written instructions from the Registration desk for resolving the phone problem and look forward to a refreshing sleep tonight. Maybe then I will be able to take full advantage of all the PLMI has to offer.
The day was full of interesting presentations and getting acquainted with new folks. I learned a lot about how other libraries operate and the difficulties some face with funding issues. I gained a fuller understanding of the relationship between the libraries, local governments, the Regional Library System and the Tennessee State Library and Archives. It was all good.
I looked forward all day to relieving my chronically stiff neck and shoulder with a relaxing swim before dinner. But blogging was dictated for before dinner. I don't know if I will have the energy for a swim after the evening activities.
I picked up written instructions from the Registration desk for resolving the phone problem and look forward to a refreshing sleep tonight. Maybe then I will be able to take full advantage of all the PLMI has to offer.
Friday, August 2, 2013
Who would have though that so many blog domains have been taken. I started with a name I liked. It was not available. Changed it to another language. Not available.Tried another language. Not available. Went to a huge dictionary and chose an interesting & unusual word. Not available. Back to the dictionary for another obscure word. Not available. I made several more attempts with the same results. So I picked a book at random and flipped through the pages until i found an interesting word. Voila! Available. What a relief!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)