Happy Anniversary, Baby, Got You On My Mind...

It's the 32nd anniversary of mine and Sid's wedding today - 8/8/81 has been on my mind throughout the day. When I called him before lunch, he answered the phone, "Happy Anniversary!" Sweet man. I bought him a little surprise at the gift shop today. I think he will like his presents. He said he has a little surprise for me, too. I asked for my own cordless drill by Bosch to take to the library...I hope he took my request seriously. If not, I'm sure I will love what he gives me.

It seems the information overload hit me this morning...I was really dragging for a while, but I'm over it now and ready for tomorrow.

Each group was assigned a teaching topic from Pillars of Management: 1) Plan, 2) Organize, 3) Direct, 4) Control. We were to research and present the topic along with leadership tools and tips. My table group is comprised of Brad, Amanda S, Crystal, Jill, and Gail. We have bonded over these last two days with amazing rapidity, like voyagers on a mighty sea.

Our group created a presentation on the topic: Direct. Of course, we overworked the preparation and sailed on a separate voyage on the topic of Motivation/Empowerment...but I digress. One point that really struck me was the vital importance of communicating the vision and goals during each of the four phases we discussed today. I would compare it to charting the course through the waters on the voyage.

One point I learned about another group's topic was Empathetic Listening vs. Active Listening. Who knew that Heather would be covering the topic in more detail later in the day?

The entire PLMI class of 24 is a wonderful group of professionals, helpful, skillful, giving and dedicated. We may weather some storms over these next years, but we are definitely on this voyage together with some talented supporters -- Heather, Laura and the entire P & D team. I feel such great comfort knowing I have a future with this group.

Well, Pam and Amanda are ready to check out (get it?) the buffet. I better wrap it up and go.

Thank You, Heather, for Today

Day 3 PLMI has been a fantastic day. What surprised me about today is the immediate camaraderie with our new tablemates. We had an opportunity to work with different people -- one of my favorite things to do. Better yet, Dr. Kathy Self, delivered a tremendous section on Servant Leadership. She introduced an analogy using the "dregs" of a wine bottle (the leftover sediment at the bottom) compared to the "first cup" of the wine bottle (the wine at its best the way the winemaker intended it to be). Leaders working at their best are "giving from first cup." Leaders who are struggling are "giving from the dregs." Our teams need us to be giving from first cup.

Kathy led us through an exercise that touched and inspired me. We partnered with another classmate and each shared a story from our work that had an impact on us. My partner shared a story that moved me almost to tears. I felt goosebumps and my eyes "watered." I was truly touched and honored to have him share this personal story. The exercise ended with each of us feeling affirmed about our choice to be library directors. An inspiring morning. I'm grateful to be here in this program.

I'm cutting this short so I can spend some time reading my classmates' blogs.

Personal Brand DNA

I am...your knowledgeable librarian who inspires the Perry County community to seek, learn and grow.

To improve the professional image of our library, I am in the process of having the interior repainted and the bathrooms renovated with new toilets and linoleum. The carpets were cleaned last month and the flooring was stripped and buffed. So shiny and bright! I vow to remove the "government building gray" coloring and replace it with color -- aqua and shades of blue.

After today's session, I plan to fix the real issue on the front of the library that has bothered me since I started working here in October 2012. The "i" in Library is missing from the name of our library: Perry County Public L brary. I will find a way to have a new "i" created and installed. As Scarlet O'Hara said, "As God is my witness, I will never go "i"-less again!" Thank you, Scarlet, for the motivation.

I have other plans to be strategic about choosing community activities in which to engage so I can enhance my professional image in Perry County and gain knowledge about the community. I am new to the area and new to the library profession...I have much to learn.

Fay and the Boiled Raccoon

One of my classmates spent some time chatting with me yesterday. "Fay" has no scars anywhere on her body and, amazingly, still has her original tonsils. I took her word for these two facts without personally verifying. She seems honest. As a child, Fay wanted to be a nurse, but she changed her aspirations and became a Library Director. If Fay had to change her name...say through the witness protection program...she would become Elizabeth Dalton. I think she would make a marvelous Liz, don't you?

A recent bright spot occurred when Fay went to bid on the contents of a storage building (a la "Storage Wars" on television). She struck up a conversation with the owner of the storage facility about flowers and greenhouses. She was delighted when he gave her 4 pots of maroon New Guinea Impatiens at no charge. What a pleasant surprise. In celebration, Fay had her favorite lunch meat,  ham on white bread with mayo and swiss cheese.

Briefly, we discussed what three items Fay would grab on the way out of her house if it was on fire: 1) box of photos, 2) insurance papers, 3) to be determined - Fay couldn't think of a third item on the spot.

If Fay was on a deserted island and happened to find a recently deceased raccoon who died of natural causes she devised a recipe for cooking the raccoon. Step 1: skin the raccoon. Step 2: boil the raccoon with onions, celery and carrots. YUM!

I encourage the rest of the PLMI class to take the time to get to know Fay...she is fascinating.

Dewey, Don and Lynette Share

PLMI Day 1 at Fall Creek Falls State Park started with a yummy breakfast...it wasn't Jimmy Dean Sausage, but it was tasty. Having eagerly anticipated this experience, I was not disappointed. With 10 months of library experience under my belt, I KNEW I needed some education. I've been desperately trying to learn all the 'library lingo' so I could blend in with this group of seasoned librarians. What a relief when Heather told us that we should begin to remove the library jargon from our vocabularies! Check that one off the "To Do" list right now. I'm anticipating using some of her slides with the staff and board, especially the one about the library being a Public Commons for our patrons...um...customers. It's okay and expected for customers to come to the library simply because it is a safe place or because they have no where else to go.

For the past 10 months, I've felt that I have been masquerading as a "librarian." Me? Librarian? With 30 years experience as a Human Resources/Training and Development professional, who am I to introduce myself as a librarian? Heather and Don made it clear that not only am I a librarian, I am THE LIBRARY to the community. The masquerade is officially over.

Don spent some time on the notion he called "Use of Words" that helped clarify so many things for this novice librarian. Customers not patrons; story time not story hour; no charge not free; the chair not chairperson. Thank you, Don.

It was an honor to have Lynette Sloan, Director of Regional Libraries, spend the afternoon with us. She is a bigwig with oodles of knowledge and experience. I wish she had stayed to have dinner with us. More to come...