Sometimes people say things to me like, “You don’t look like a librarian…” I like to ask them, “What does a librarian look like, anyway?”
Yes, yes, I am Librarian. My official title is Library Director. I love my job, my work, my career… my calling? Eventually I might update and post my resume, though I’m not currently seeking employment. I love where I’m at, and can’t imagine being anywhere else.
I contributed a chapter, called Damage Noted: Journal of a Public Librarian, to Revolting Librarians Redux: Radical Librarians Speak Out (McFarland & Company, 2003), edited by KR Roberto & Jessamyn West.
I was once asked “How did you get into this stuff?” so I wrote an essay on my personal entry into the profession.
And what’s up with that Bastard Librarian from Hell business anyway?
One afternoon, many many years ago, I was on IRC, chatting with a friend, when I was interrupted by work. When I returned to the terminal, we had the following exchange:
Log file opened: 6/9/99 5:23:48 PM
katester: i just told a kid that his overdue fine was a million dollars, and he said “a million dollars? that’s NUTS!”
uwan: hahahahahhaa
* uwan just laughed out loud
* uwan is still laughing
uwan: BLFH – bastard librarian from hell
I was amused to be called a BLFH, and even slightly honored to be compared to a BOFH, the Bastard Operator from Hell. Granted, I’m not sure library patrons are nearly as frightening as some of the lusers mentioned in the BOFH pages, but sometimes I do have to wonder. And no, I’m not a bastard, nor am I from hell, though I’m sure some folks may disagree.
