My early experiences don’t translate well to today’s libraries but some of the early lessons included:
Teamsters drive trucks, they don’t unload them. One week into my first job after library school, the Director and I got to unload the 18-wheeler delivering new shelving to the small town [pop. 10,000] library I worked at because there was no one else do to it. We then got to put it together.
Cows are no help in changing tires… the first spring [1973] I made the rounds to country schools promoting the summer reading program I had a flat tire on a country [read: unpaved] road. While the cows in the adjoining field came over to watch, they were no help in changing the tire. Fortunately, the owner’s manual of my VW bug (1967, a classic year) had excellent directions and my library training had directed me to research my options so I was able to make it to the school in time for the assembly.
One of the things they don’t teach is how to move furniture. Children’s people really need to insist that everything has wheels… we will be moving it forever.
When you are buying a car, take along a template of the puppet stage or any other largish library equipment you may end up hauling. I drive a Camry because my puppet stage won’t fit in a Corolla.
Keep a small tool box…screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, nails, etc. in your desk. Over the years they will prove very useful [and make you popular with others in the library who want to hang a picture or make a quick fix].
A quality luggage cart [with big wheels] is invaluable when toting books etc. for displays, book talks, etc. Saves your back and your steps. Take your own rolling desk chair to exhibits & displays. You can roll in boxes of materials on it. Raise it high so standing up is easier and if you are a person of size, you can trust it to hold you… some rental chairs are very flimsy.
Give out stickers to the kids you talk to at an exhibit. Save the backing paper and you can get a rough idea of the numbers. Plus, if the children have stickers, you have already talked to their adult.
Your children’s areas need lots of electrical outlets and they also should be safety outlets. Report worn out ones and insist they get repaired. It’s a safety issue.
Anitra Steele
Children’s Services Manager
Mid-Continent Public Library
Independence, MO
marf
Haha! I had the exACT same problem with the Camry to Corolla ratio with our puppet theatre! Had to organize a new theatre.