Once upon a time… (Last Night) I was at my favorite bookstore, Women and Children First in Chicago, picking up a book I had ordered through them. Before I did that, of course, I had to wander through the entire bookstore as if I hadn’t just been there 6 days earlier. Because, obviously. I was looking … More A Librarian is Never Off Duty
Today one of my regular teens was waiting for me to open the teen space – like he usually is. And when I did he bounded in and said I’mma get a family this week and I won’t be in the shelter anymore! And after I blinked a few times I said That’s great! I’m excited … More Don’t Judge a Teen by their… Cover
[scene: library teen space] (a teen girl looks cautiously around, browsing the books and keeping to herself. Then she spots something on the wall, smiles and walks over to the teen librarian) Teen Girl: I LOVE your safe space sign! Me: Thanks!! I’m glad. Teen Girl: Can you help me find some good books … More Tales from the Teen Space: Happiest Lezbrarian Ever
Rarely do I claim that books actually change my life. Books frequently entertain me and make me think things; make me feel things. But when you read as much as I do, it takes a lot for a book to have a marked and lasting effect on me. Rarely do I say that a book … More Asking and Giving
So I have a teen, let’s call him R, who is a regular in the space. He’s a smart kid, and sensitive and adorable. Today he came to me asking why everything was so hard. Life in general, but especially dating. Because, let’s not sugar coat things, dating is hard. It really is. Especially when … More In Which I Give a Teen Some Dating Advice
Yesterday a bright, smiling, young teen (let’s call her M) came into the Teen Room for the first time. She was super excited about the space and the programs we offer, but was especially jazzed about the Gryffindor sweatshirt I was wearing, thus proving her excellent taste in life. I, of course, was quick to say that … More OUT in the Teen Space; See Also: Overthinking
In the wake of the NPR story about reference questions before the internet, I’ve had a lot of people asking more specifically what I do as a librarian and if I still get these kinds of questions. And this was right around Christmas where many of the gifts I gave where things I made (or are … More A Day in the Life of a Teen Librarian
I had to kick out my first teen last week (well, my first in this particular job). And not just for the day. From the Teen Space, pretty much forever. He’s allowed in the rest of the library and he can come in and check out books quickly and then leave, but he can’t hang … More Teens and Tough Love
I haven’t written much about my professional life since graduating Library School because it’s been pretty fucking depressing. It took me 6 months to find a very part time job as a Library Associate– a position for which I was over qualified and underpaid. But I had to take something… anything so I accepted it and … More A New Journey Begins
Hold on a second…. *puts on Ranty Pants* Okay. Sometimes I fucking hate the internet, y’all. Sometimes I feel like anything good, anything I get excited about — it’s only a matter of time before articles and comments start popping up to criticize that thing I’m excited about. I mean– I’m all for constructive criticism and … More A Rant in Defense of Reading Rainbow
Lezbrarian 