In
the depths of a cold, brutal winter full of gray skies, snow and ice, one’s thoughts turn to summer. When
the SRP theme is announced, it is a delightful break from fighting with the
heating system, shoveling snow, and teaching adults how to use computers. Every
year I think to myself, “this year will be amazing!” For context: I run a
medium size library and have four part-time staffers.
In
February (it used to be March, but the larger libraries plan earlier), we go to
a workshop to get pumped up about summer reading. We hear about elaborate,
successful programs; we are impressed with the need to innovate, inspire and
transform our patrons. We are told to rethink how we reward reading, for
providing bribery implies that reading is an unpleasant task that requires pay.
We are given lists of program ideas, lists of books, craft ideas, decoration
ideas, costume ideas and lots of really bad jokes. I take copious notes and
come back to my library, setting out my summer calendar eagerly. I order
prizes, reading records, bags, and craft supplies, all the while picturing
sunny skies, green leaves and warm breezes.
I
should know better by now. I started my library career back in 1997. But it
happens every year. First I put in a weekly program for each age group-
preschoolers, elementary and teen. Then I have a family program every Saturday. Ooh, I should add
more! I’ll create all the decorations
myself from paint and cardboard. I’ll
make special foods for each Saturday.
We should have life-sized games. I’ll go
visit the summer camp. I’ll make an online scavenger
hunt. We’ll have an essay contest. I’ll
make a piñata
for a Saturday program. I should have an
example of each craft we’re doing on display. I’ll get the Friends of the
Library to fund this, this, and this. I’ll go
to all our local businesses and ask for incentives. We’ll participate in the
County summer food program and give out lunches to children. I’ll have flyers and
newsletters and send out press releases and get onto website listings. I’ll work with the school to
have an assembly there and a library card drive.
Did I
mention I’m the director, and my
duties include more than being children’s librarian? These plans do not seem
excessive when I’m putting out ice melt or
processing books. They seem like fun! I forget that I find running events
draining and stressful, and just remember the creative play of making things. I
need to run the entire library, not just Saturday events and Tuesday craft times.
There
have been summers where I worked 6 day weeks without a break, running
story-time, craft class, and special events. I neglected my family and friends.
At the end of the program I was so burned out. I felt like my summer had been
stolen from me. I contemplated quitting my job and becoming a hermit, and
snapped at everyone. When a presenter was late for her program, I said mean
things about her to the waiting audience, and probably brought everyone’s fun level down. Were my
numbers better on summers like that? No, not really.
I
know myself, so I work to prevent this kind of over-commitment. I have a member
of my staff run story-time and do preschool visits. I have another staff person
run teen events and promote teen book reviews. I plan to do things outside of
work, and take Mondays off when I can so I’m not
working 6 days a week. I ask
the Friends of the Library to help with our kick-off and school visit. I also
write notes to myself at the end of summer, listing what went wrong, what I
should repeat and other words of advice. Some of the notes are not helpful
(like “don’t let staff quit mid-summer”) but much is very useful. In
June, just before we start the program, I cut out or pare down any grandiose scheme beyond the basics. I set
goals, to remind myself why we are doing this program. We want kids to enjoy
reading, to avoid their brains turning to mush over their school break. We want
our community to know we exist and to use our services. None of my goals say
anything about “outshining large libraries
who have big budgets and full-time staff” or “making everything by hand
better than Martha Stewart”. Sometimes looking at
other library’s events or on Pinterest
can be helpful, and other times it can make you feel inadequate.
Now
if you’ll excuse me, I have to
plan a Lego party for next Saturday. Instead of
making a cake, I’m making Lego snacks from
packaged Rice Krispies treats and M+Ms. Instead of making a piñata, life-sized legos and a
bean-bag toss, I’m putting faces on yellow
cups and putting out lots of bricks to build with. It will be fun!
As a solo librarian I feel your pain,sometimes even my kick-off is too much for me to deal with alone, and when I hear about all the stuff other libraries are doing I feel guilty that I'm not doing more but how do I do more when it's just me?
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