My Life as a Library Assistant

Well, a month ago, I promised an update on my new job. So, here it is.

The last week of June, I started working part-time at the public library as a library assistant. I am happy to report that after a little more than a month of gainful employment, I am really enjoying the job! I had nothing to wear since the dress code says no to denim, sandles and tennis shoes so I have had fun shopping for new clothes and shoes!

What does a library assistant do? One of my main responsibilities is to shelve returned materials - books, magazines, dvd's, audiobooks, etc. I enjoy this because it gives me a chance to see all the books I want to read someday! I do get a little nostalgic in the children's picture books though - when I put those Bill Peet, Virginia Lee Burton and Dr. Seuss books back on the shelf, I remember enjoying those great books with Andy when he was a little boy! I'm really learning my ABC's - well, I already knew them but I'm getting to use them more than I have in years. And, I'm getting intimately acquainted with the Dewey decimal system! For example, dogs are 636, cooking is 641, crafts are 745 - these are some of the hotspots in non-fiction at our library! I've found one section that I really dislike to work with - the trade paperbacks. The author's name isn't always easy to read so it takes a little time to get those books where they belong.

Another part of my job is to help out at the desk, checking out and checking in materials. There are several neat things about this part of the job. I love to see the pride on a little kid's face when he puts his choices on the counter to be checked out. After the toddler storytime, the little ones are so excited to take home a new picture book. I like the big smile that lights up the face of a teenager when they come in to pick up the new Harry Potter book that they've been patiently waiting for. I feel like I've made their day! And, I have issued a few new cards to some excited little 6-year-olds who are getting their first very-own library card. It reminds me of Andy's last birthday when the DMV gave him his learner's permit!

If you check the status of a book on the "cybrarian" and it says it is in mending, it might be on my desk. I get to put plastic covers on hardback books, glue pages back in, fix broken spines, clean scratched cd's and whatever else may need to be done to get materials back in circulation. This is one area where I don't feel very comfortable yet. Deanna is working with me to help me learn how to make those necessary repairs. She says it's not that hard so I'll get the hang of it.

There's nothing that shows you how much you don't know than starting a new job. The first couple of weeks, I thought there was no way I could ever remember all the things I needed to remember. Fortunately, each day, I feel like I learn something new and, just maybe, there's hope that I'll be able to do this! People come to the library for answers to their questions - with alot of help from George, Linda, Carol and Deanna, I'm learning how to answer those questions!

I've been fighting one germ after another this summer, a result of being in much more contact with the public than I have been in years! I started out the summer by getting bronchitus at the beach. That weakened my resistance and I thought I'd never get over that. Since then, I have battled colds and a nasty stomach virus. I try to remember to take regular trips by the Germ-X bottle while I'm working to lessen my chances for picking up another bug!

On Monday, we start back to school. Andy will be beginning his 10th grade year in our homeschool. I really do like my job but I know next week, I'm going to be smacking myself in the head asking myself what was thinking to try working part-time while homeschooling. When I applied for the job, I put it all in God's hands and asked Him to work it out the way it should be. The way my work schedule fits our homeschooling needs is just one of the ways that I see God working. Andy does better when we get on to school in the mornings and most of my work hours are afternoons and evenings. Only one day has morning hours - and he's going to do a shop class with my dad alot of those days. I've got the first 6 weeks of school all planned and up to Christmas mapped out. Andy and Joel will have to pitch in to help with some of the household chores, but I think it's going to go well - I hope!

That's life in Shari's world tonight. 'Til next time....