So. Today my Least Favorite employee came into my office (and he actually knocked! as per The Rules) and said, "Well, you seem like a nice person, so I'm going to start looking for a new job. Would you sign off on a job change?" Yes, awkward. Mostly because I can tell he has NO respect for me at all; partially because, at that announcement, I was planning a party with confetti and hats and a 4-tiered cake. (Did I mention he's my Least Favorite employee...and I've been desperate to fire him for months now?)
Then, as he was leaving for his only shift of the day (since he didn't show up for his second shift), I caught him trying to steal a book?
I might actually pray to any god above or below that he finds a new job in the next 24 hours.
I will get to the books that will take 3 weeks to process, the flak I'm getting for not having them out sooner, the Projects I have to complete (hopefully) before the end of July, new hires, my own internal goals (irrelevant at this point), budget meeting, days I HAVE to take off, losing my best employee EVAR, and...well, everything else that's going on. Slightly stressful, but hey, that's work! If only I can get rid of this guy...
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Anniversary
Eine Jahre. Un Ano. Ena chronia. Um ano. Unus annus. One year.
I have been a Prison Librarian for one full year. Today. Holy balls, where does the time go?
I mean this day (I thought it was Friday until I realized it was Wednesday), this week, these past three months, have lasted for-ev-er. But a year? Damn! And I still feel like I'm just getting my feet wet while hitting the ground running every day. Hells Bells, I've been cleaning out my office for the past two days. As in getting rid of things my predecessor had stockpiled but never used. After a year.
Product of the Past Year: I'm a damned better librarian (not that my program actually teaches anybody about serious career-ship); I have gained a life-saving, yet limiting, understanding of stats; I have taught myself to repair any book given basic glue, book tape, scotch tape, a glue gun, and shirt cardboard; attempted to consistently reign in my temper when my workers are seriously annoying (losing battle, might have to fire some people); and learned the most basic of basic cataloging. And I have a Year of Experience. Oh, and collection development. Almost a full-time job on its own.
Goals for the Next Year: Learn how to do conduct violations/fire people (to save my already precarious sanity). Get better at conduct violations/firing people. Finally get a book order approved in time to get ALL the back-ordered books before the Business Manager tells me he won't pay for them anymore (99% not my fault...I mostly dislike Central Office on this). Try to get The Newsletter, which I've been hounded and badgered and other animal-ed about, up and running and not stupid AFTER my most annoying employee leaves.
Lots of goals. And I really don't want to do the newsletter. But hey, I've survived a year! And with only one Seriously Awkward Occurrence!
I have been a Prison Librarian for one full year. Today. Holy balls, where does the time go?
I mean this day (I thought it was Friday until I realized it was Wednesday), this week, these past three months, have lasted for-ev-er. But a year? Damn! And I still feel like I'm just getting my feet wet while hitting the ground running every day. Hells Bells, I've been cleaning out my office for the past two days. As in getting rid of things my predecessor had stockpiled but never used. After a year.
Product of the Past Year: I'm a damned better librarian (not that my program actually teaches anybody about serious career-ship); I have gained a life-saving, yet limiting, understanding of stats; I have taught myself to repair any book given basic glue, book tape, scotch tape, a glue gun, and shirt cardboard; attempted to consistently reign in my temper when my workers are seriously annoying (losing battle, might have to fire some people); and learned the most basic of basic cataloging. And I have a Year of Experience. Oh, and collection development. Almost a full-time job on its own.
Goals for the Next Year: Learn how to do conduct violations/fire people (to save my already precarious sanity). Get better at conduct violations/firing people. Finally get a book order approved in time to get ALL the back-ordered books before the Business Manager tells me he won't pay for them anymore (99% not my fault...I mostly dislike Central Office on this). Try to get The Newsletter, which I've been hounded and badgered and other animal-ed about, up and running and not stupid AFTER my most annoying employee leaves.
Lots of goals. And I really don't want to do the newsletter. But hey, I've survived a year! And with only one Seriously Awkward Occurrence!
Friday, June 1, 2012
Barely Broken In
My boyfriend recently gave me shit for not posting more often. I'VE BEEN BUSY, DARN IT!.
Work, Classes, Finding Time for Myself, Lack of a Fan Base Because I Haven't Made This A Web Comic. Forgive me! Busy! Especially in the last 3 months. Good lord...
It finally occurred to me tonight, despite my subconscious leanings, that I am still just being broken in to running my own library. I can get the day-to-day and the week-to-week and the month-to-month down, but if anything bigger than that throws a wrench into the works, I am confused, frantic, and lost. For example, my Book Inventory, the process of determining which of my printed holdings I still have in my library's possession and which have been stolen, lost, etc., was due in April. I finished it in May and finalized it in June. Mostly due to the fact that I was completely unprepared for annual events in my first 12 months and then decided that I was going to weed as I performed the Inventory. Whatever. Nuts and Bolts.
I finally somewhat caught up (mostly because I stopped weeding due to forces I will explain at a much later date), and then day-to-day and week-to-week caught up with me...effectively killing two days (also due to exhaustion from a skewed sleep schedule which left me unable to focus after 9 am). AND THEN on the first day of the month, June 1st, my Boss asks me to take care of 2 projects.
2 Projects, 1 of which should be completed in a month; an Inventory; 200 books to process, which should start appearing in 5 days; Repairs (bane of my existence, but NEED to be done...with my budget); all the books to be "reviewed" (read: read) when they're delivered, ...etc.
I thought April with its 16 hour days was hell. I thought May with its 700 repaired books was hell. June will be hell.
But at least I won't be bored. *grin*
Work, Classes, Finding Time for Myself, Lack of a Fan Base Because I Haven't Made This A Web Comic. Forgive me! Busy! Especially in the last 3 months. Good lord...
It finally occurred to me tonight, despite my subconscious leanings, that I am still just being broken in to running my own library. I can get the day-to-day and the week-to-week and the month-to-month down, but if anything bigger than that throws a wrench into the works, I am confused, frantic, and lost. For example, my Book Inventory, the process of determining which of my printed holdings I still have in my library's possession and which have been stolen, lost, etc., was due in April. I finished it in May and finalized it in June. Mostly due to the fact that I was completely unprepared for annual events in my first 12 months and then decided that I was going to weed as I performed the Inventory. Whatever. Nuts and Bolts.
I finally somewhat caught up (mostly because I stopped weeding due to forces I will explain at a much later date), and then day-to-day and week-to-week caught up with me...effectively killing two days (also due to exhaustion from a skewed sleep schedule which left me unable to focus after 9 am). AND THEN on the first day of the month, June 1st, my Boss asks me to take care of 2 projects.
2 Projects, 1 of which should be completed in a month; an Inventory; 200 books to process, which should start appearing in 5 days; Repairs (bane of my existence, but NEED to be done...with my budget); all the books to be "reviewed" (read: read) when they're delivered, ...etc.
I thought April with its 16 hour days was hell. I thought May with its 700 repaired books was hell. June will be hell.
But at least I won't be bored. *grin*
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