Roaming Gnome

For a couple of months I have been engaging in Technology-Specific Roving Reference. That is, I have been wandering around our computer stations offering help to stranded computer motorists and assisting with the reservation and printing systems. I have also had the occasion to conduct OPAC training and pre-screen reference questions to make introductory hand-offs to the Reference Desk. Our public computer area is, not far, just a shushh away from the desk. So I have been doing this for a little bit. Some patrons seem to find it a little creepy that I cover ground like a screensaver but most have found me helpful. I bought a button/badge-making kit so that I can make buttons that will put the patrons at ease while I'm roaming. As a department, we have begun roving reference in the stacks with the goal of 1 hour each per week. As I rove looking for people to help, I tighten the bookends and reshelve the widows and orphans. I'm defining widows and orphans as books left on the ends of shelves outside of the bookends, either on the same shelf where they belong or an adjacent shelf. Here's what I don't understand about people...They pull out a book, look at it, decide they don't want it and then-leaving a GIGANTIC GAP WHERE THE BOOK WAS- put the book back on the other side of the book end (thus creating an orphan). Furthermore, what possesses them to stick the book on a different shelf (widow-maker). Even if you don't understand our highly technical system called alphabetical order, you just made a gap, how do you think that happened?!

Count Your Blessings

Sally wrote in her blog about feeling very fortunate and those of you who have spent any time in my blog know I feel fortunate quite often. I commented on Sally's post that what she wrote reminded me of the song, Count Your Blessings, from the movie White Christmas. I think of that song from my Ray Conniff Christmas album. I wanted to post a video of the song onto my comment in Sally's blog, but I could not, so here it is...