Learning About Digital Preservation & Owning My Hearing Loss

Train the Trainer Class - July 2013 - Photo by Library of Congress
I am in the second row, wearing purple.

This summer I had a fantastic work opportunity to learn about digital preservation from the Library of Congress through their outreach and education program. The Library of Congress is committed to getting Americans to think about digital preservation and start taking steps in that direction. To achieve their goal, the Library of Congress is presenting Train the Trainer workshops throughout the country. The trainers who attend the training are charged with presenting the information to their local communities to spread the word on the importance of digital preservation.

For a brief introduction to digital preservation, please view the video below.
Note: Captions not available :(



During our training, I connected with a librarian who works near me. The two of us plan to present our training together. We want to present a workshop called "Getting Started with Digital Preservation". Neither of us have done digital preservation before, so we are going to discuss the concepts we learned and then share how we have gotten started implementing them at our libraries. We will probably offer our workshop sometime in the fall. Then, we will also participate with a more in-depth regional workshop series to take place next spring.

When I went to this training last month, I was planning on not saying anything to anyone about my hearing loss. I would just manage as best I could. Ha! I didn't even last a day at that. This is what happened. The first morning of our class, I arrived twenty minutes early to get the best possible seat for hearing the speaker. I found one at the front of the room with a great view of the projector screen and located well away from the projector itself. I knew from past experience that projectors can make plenty of distracting background noise. I thought I had it made.

But later that day, the trainers had us count off by numbers 1-6. I ended up being a number six. This meant I had to move to the very back of the room and be part of group six. So much for my effort of arriving early to get the best seat. Then, we had some group work time where all the groups were talking among each other at the same time. Oh, the hubbub! I was relying completely on lipreading at that point. Then, we broke up to receive more instruction from a Library of Congress trainer. But, of course, now I was at the back of the room. I had to do something. I told my group, "Sorry, I have to move up to the front to hear" and pulled my chair up to sit at a front table. That group looked a little surprised to have me join them, but I simply explained, "I need to sit here to hear." The trainer didn't even seem to notice.

I was so glad later that I took the initiative to make that move. I met someone at the front table who was compassionate about my hearing loss and one of the training organizers told me later she just assumed I had moved to be able to see better. LOL, I had never even considered that possibility.

Through this training opportunity, I learned about digital preservation AND the importance of owning up to my hearing loss. It was a little embarrassing in the moment to move my seat, but not a big deal in the long run.

Jobs and Stress

Do you find your job stressful?

Mine has gotten less stressful since my job description was changed to accommodate my hearing loss. Previously, a small part of my duties included answering patron requests at an information desk. The questions asked could be on any subject under the sun and were usually voiced by people I had never spoken with previously. To manage, I relied on lipreading (not an exact science, as you know) in addition to my hearing aids and supplemental assistive listening devices. Still, I struggled, needing to write things down and ask for repeats.

Some of the problem was the acoustics of the room. The location of the information desk at my library is in an open area. Sounds from nearby HVAC equipment and library photocopiers and printers get amplified by my hearing aids interfering with my speech comprehension. There was also the problem of human behavior. Patrons would speak to my back from three feet or more away and I would have no idea they were there waiting for me to respond. When they approached me from the front, and I would step away from the desk to accompany them to a computer workstation, they would walk ahead of me and continue the conversation unknowing that I was not hearing what they said. One of my greatest fears was that a patron was going to make a complaint against me. Because of all this, I found my desk shifts very stressful and would be so tense I often got a headache afterwards. The mental strain always wiped me out for the rest of the day.

When a new library director came on staff temporarily, she asked me directly about my job. When I told her honestly what my experience at the information desk was like, she sought out an accommodation on my behalf. This process included my writing an official accommodation request letter to her to have my job description rewritten so that these duties could be performed by text rather than voice communication. With the letter I submitted a statement from my audiologist. It took some time, but human resources eventually signed off on her approval of my accommodation, my job description was changed, and the information placed in my employee file. Now, I contribute to the library's operations, behind the scenes, by working on the website and digital archives and answering questions sent to the library through email. This is a much better fit for me.

What do you think are the least stressful jobs?

I love a good list, especially, a top ten list, don't you? Some of the fun comes from debating the choices selected. CNBC recently posted a list of the 10 Least Stressful Jobs. Would you believe that librarian came in at #9? The median salary they post for the career is one I've never reached despite years in the field. The other part I found laughable was the comment "Books don't talk back or criticize the job you're doing." Interestingly, audiologist was picked for #6. Do you think  librarians and audiologists have low-stress jobs? How do they compare with yours?

Serving Deaf Patrons in the Library

I want to let everyone know that the American Libraries Association is offering a 2 part workshop on Serving Deaf Patrons in the Library.

The topics include:

• an overview of the different ways deaf people communicate
• understanding and meeting your library's legal obligation to serve the deaf
• strategies for communicating with a deaf or hard of hearing person in the library
• tips for finding, hiring, and working with interpreters

Kathy MacMillan, a writer, ASL interpreter, librarian, and storyteller will present the workshop online February 22 and February 29, 2012. See this webpage for times and registration information. 

I'm thrilled that my profession is offering a service oriented workshop aimed at raising deaf awareness among library workers and improving communication with the deaf community.

Christmas Reading

Public Library Christmas Tree 

To keep my spirits bright, I've been reading library books with a winter or Christmas theme. Here's what I've read so far: Aunt Dimity Snowbound by Nancy Atherton, Wreck the Halls by Sarah Graves, and Christmas Wishes by Debbie Macomber. I'm in the middle of A Crossworder's Gift by Nero Blanc. I still have yet to read Decked With Folly by Kate Kingsbury and Murder for Christ's Mass by Maureen Ash. All of these authors are new to me.

I was lucky to find so many seasonally appropriate books at my local library. It's a nice way to finish out my year of reading. Have you enjoyed following my reading list? Should I do it again for 2012?

Closeup of Ornament on Library ChristmasTree

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Holiday Gift Giving Idea

I saw this display at a public library. I thought it was such a lovely idea that I took a photo with my cellphone so I could share it with all of you. This library has taken books in like new condition, tied them together with a festive bow, and placed them for sale.

It would be a simple idea to copy. Most libraries have donated books for sale. You could bundle together books by one author or even group books in the same genre, like romance or mystery. Stop by a craft store for a ribbon bow and you are good to go with a thoughtful gift that will also benefit your local library.

Banned Books Week, September 24-October 1

This year for the first time a Virtual Read Out is being sponsored by the ALA and other organizations that want to draw attention to the continued existence of banned books in our society. Short videos of people reading aloud a passage from a banned book of their choice are being hosted on YouTube. To find out more, click here. To create your own video for the event, click here.

Personally, I know that books have had a major influence on my thinking and broadened my experience of the world. I am proud to be part of a profession that dedicates itself to making information and entertainment accessible beyond what one could personally afford or discover on one's own.

I cherish the freedom to make my own choices. I don't want ANYONE telling me what I can or cannot read. Do you?

 

Support for the Needs of Mainstreamed Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students

This is a guest post by school librarian Nadene Eisner. Reprinted with her permission, this article was originally posted on Deaf Politics.

It takes a village: teachers and librarians can help students achieve academic success

In 2009, twenty schools for the deaf were targeted for closings or budget cuts. Throughout 2011 the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) has fought to protect schools for the deaf from closing. The NAD’s position statement on schools for the deaf recognizes their value both educationally and culturally but when we look at enrollment numbers more deaf and hard of hearing students continue to attend their local public schools, private schools, or public schools with deaf and hard of hearing programs than schools for the deaf.

While the NAD is fighting for schools for the deaf to remain open, who is looking out for the educational welfare of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) students in public schools? We know the current learning situation is not working successfully for all DHH students. Research continues to show the average DHH student graduates high school with a fourth grade reading level. To combat this decades-old struggle to improve literacy and learning, research out of RIT supported recognizing and teaching to the unique learning styles of DHH students. With appropriate support, DHH students made academic gains relative to their learning level. Recommendations from this research included educating DHH students in an environment with teachers experienced in working with DHH students and supporting independent learning by providing opportunities for students to demonstrate knowledge of what they read and learned. Being encouraged to think independently helped students transfer knowledge from one area to another.

Who is responsible for teaching these independent thinking skills? Many articles about educating DHH students point to classroom teachers as the responsible parties in educating students. Those of us who subscribe to the theory of teachers as guides recognize “it takes a village” to educate our students. In a true collaborative team schools might look to the music, art, and physical education teachers to provide lessons that tie in to classroom learning. The special education staff supports specific learning needs while the school librarian ideally works with everyone to ensure students have the literacy and information skills to help them become life-long thinkers and learners.

School librarians can play a tremendous role in improving learning in students who are DHH. Teachers are under a lot of pressure in the classroom to help students pass tests due to the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. Within the library, school librarians may have the freedom to do original teaching that can only improve the critical thinking skills students need to pass these standardized tests.

As with all teachers, school librarians need to be alert to the individual learning differences in their students, especially those who are DHH. This can be challenging when a school librarian teaches over 600 students each week, but by recognizing specific learning differences in students, lessons can be tailored to meet many needs at once.

What are the learning styles that define DHH learners? While many of us may learn best with a combination of learning styles, DHH learners may rely more on learning visually. Visual learners learn best with pictures, written instructions, sign language, and visual demonstrations. By contrast, auditory learners process information more effectively by listening, and kinesthetic learners do best in environments that encourage movement and tactile activities.

It’s important to understand that our brains are often expecting us to learn in a certain way regardless of how we are taught in the classroom. For example: as a deaf person I’m a visual learner; however, I became deaf at the age of three in the years before computers and captioned television. My brain was probably wired to learn by hearing but I could no longer comprehend everything I struggled to hear with hearing aids. When I looked for visual supports—pictures to demonstrate routines, written instructions, gestures, sign language, anything to fill this immense gap I was experiencing—here was nothing because I was educated in environments that didn’t differentiate for different learning styles. This didn’t change the fact that I was still an auditory learner who was now forced to learn visually without visual supports. The result for me was learning became tedious and boring.

Some DHH students in mainstreamed and self-contained classrooms today are having challenges similar to when I was a student. They may be in mainstreamed classrooms without efficient visual support. They may have teachers who don’t understand completely their very unique culture and learning needs. Students are moving from music, to art, to physical education, to the library to be taught by teachers who may be unfamiliar with their specific needs.

DHH students are not the only visual learners. We are seeing more and more visual learners in hearing students, which is terrific news for our DHH students who are educated in mainstreamed programs. Some point to technology as one reason for more visual learners. From an early age, children are surrounded by visual stimulation through television, computers, video games, and texting. As a result students also have become accustomed to receiving short bursts of information rather than long lectures.

Regardless of the reason, we are more aware of learning differences now than in the past, and we are better equipped to teach to these unique learning styles. Teachers and school librarians need to collaborate with each other to meet these unique learning needs. Students in kindergarten through high school need our guidance as they learn and we need to support students by recognizing their unique needs as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.

As a teacher-librarian I’ve looked to my own needs as an auditory/visual learner to create and present lessons that incorporate visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning while also encouraging the use of technology as it relates to specific learning goals. I was thrilled to see how successful these strategies were with my hearing students and because they incorporate so much visual learning they can be adapted in a DHH classroom, or a classroom with DHH mainstreamed students.

Evidence from RIT shows that many DHH students are not where they should be academically, not because they are unable to learn but because we are not teaching to their learning styles. The more we can differentiate to encourage our students to read and communicate the better they can strive for academic success.

To further meet the needs of DHH students and provide support they may not be receiving in the classroom, I have created a tutoring service, Signs of Success Tutoring, to work not only with DHH students but also with parents, teachers, and late-deafened adults to implement strategies tailored to the needs of DHH learners as illustrated in this article. My tutoring service includes support beyond homework help that encourages students to communicate with me through my website and engage in discussions. I provide links to websites that support student learning and instruct students in how to navigate the Internet. I collaborate with teachers virtually and face-to-face to create engaging curriculum-based lessons and exercises for DHH students.

While the NAD continues to focus on keeping schools for the deaf open my tutoring service provides educational support for DHH students at home who are learning in public schools and hearing colleges. With enough teachers and parents looking out for our students we can challenge the “fourth grade reading level” research and push our students to succeed.

Works cited:
Eisner, Nadene (2011). http://www.signsofsuccesstutoring.com

Gallaudet Research Institute (2011). Annual survey of deaf and hard of hearing children and youth, 2007-08 Regional and National Summary. Gallaudet Research Institute / Gallaudet University

Marschark, M., Spencer, P., Adams, J., & Sapere, P. (2011). Teaching to the strengths and needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. European Journal of Special Needs Education, 26(1), 17-23. doi:10.1080/08856257.2011.543542

ABOUT NADENE EISNER
Nadene Eisner earned her MS from Drexel University and her School Library Media Specialist certificate from the Universtiy of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She's worked in several libraries throughout the years, most recently serving as the school library director and teacher in a hearing elementary school. She is completing her Certificate of Advanced Studies at UIUC. She lives in Illinois with her four children—and lots of books.<

The Smartest Card in Your Wallet

September is Library Card Sign Up Month in the United States because the American Library Association wants to remind all parents that a library card is the most important school supply of all.

Owning a library card provides students with the resources they need to compete academically. Most public libraries (nearly 90%) provide students free access to databases of news articles, encyclopedias and test preparation materials, as well as homework help and resources. In addition, public libraries are the number one access point for free Internet access, an important resource for families without access at home when 96% of school districts require students to use the Internet to complete their homework.

But library cards aren't just for kids. Adults can enjoy the benefits of library membership as well. The ALA has published a list of 52 ways to use your library card. I won't reprint them all here, but I thought several were worth noting to show the breadth of services available at today's libraries.

#17 Book a meeting room for your club or organization.
#25 Learn about the history of your hometown.

#30 See a new art exhibit.

#41 Trace your family tree.

#47 Take a class on how to use your new digital device.

You can download the entire list here.

How do you use your library card?

Librarian Guilty Pleasures

Yesterday I had a day off work and the chance to indulge myself. Since the weather was too rainy for yard work and I had absolutely no motivation for cleaning the house, I spent the day relaxing.

When I wasn't napping, I was reading a book from my public library called This Book is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can "Save Us All" by Marilyn Johnson. Why is that a guilty pleasure? Well, you may never have thought about it this way, but librarians are the ones who select the books for the library, and occasionally they choose a book they'd like to read. Gasp! Shocking, isn't it? This book's theme is about the author's experience in writing a book about librarians. Now come on, who is going to pick that one off the shelf, except a librarian? Especially when it features a female librarian in a super hero cape on the cover.



###I'm interrupting the blog post at this point to say I didn't order the book. You picked up on that, right? In case you don't remember or you didn't know, I don't work for a public library. Just checking that we're all clear on that. Now back to the blog post.###

I enjoyed reading the book especially the chapter on blogging librarians. Naturally I looked for a mention of my own blog, but sadly, it wasn't there. Perhaps if the author had extended the chapter for a few more pages... Anyways, she included a few great quotes I savored about librarian bloggers:

"Unedited and unmonitored, blogs represented a kind of free expression that librarians traditionally supported and celebrated, but had rarely taken the opportunity to practice."

"...librarians, as it happens, were cauldrons of previously unexpressed passions."

In another chapter the author, Marilyn Johnson, mentions a classic film about librarians facing the threat of being replaced by computers. I was intrigued. Enough that I stopped reading and went online to check its availability. Where do you think I found it? At a local library, of course. So last night my husband and I enjoyed watching Desk Set, a 1957 film starring Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.



I highly recommend the film to anyone, librarian or not. So why is watching that film a guilty pleasure? In the film the female librarians are smarter than the computer and the men too. Desk Set shows librarians answering reference questions received through the telephone. Real research questions as opposed to the kind I usually field. The worst one being a request to help someone put her jewelry on the other day. Really?!!! Desk Set is how I pictured a professional librarian's job when I was a naive library school student. Watching it for 103 minutes was a highly satisfying vicarious experience for me. Ahhhh....Like mint chocolate chip ice cream for my librarian soul.

Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge

Today I drove past a public library sign which flashed the following message:

Resolution #1
Get a library card.
Resolution #2
Use it.

That reminded me of an online reading challenge for 2011 I want to share with all of you. I learned about it on another librarian's blog, Book Scorpion's Lair. Called the Support Your Local Library Challenge, it's being hosted by The Book Junkie's Bookshelf. Got all that? Well, never mind. Now onto the rules:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Bloggers: Create a post for the challenge and link your challenge post at The Book Junkie's Bookshelf. Non-Bloggers: Keep track of your books on a list at home. Feel free to leave me a comment here on your progress anytime during the year. At the end of the year, I will write a wrap-up post where you can share your list of books read.
   
2. There are four levels to this challenge:
   
   The Mini – Check out and read 30 library books.
   
   "Fun" Size – Check out and read 40 library books.
   
   Jumbo Size – Check out and read 50 library books.
   
   Mega Size – Check out and read 51+ library books.
   
   Aim high. As long as you read 30 by the end of 2011, you are a winner!
   
3. Any book counts (including books at all reading levels, audio books, ebooks, and any books you may have read before that you are reading again now). The book just has to be checked out from your local public library. Book purchases at a library do not count.
   
4. You don't need to create a reading list in advance. Select books as you wish throughout the year. Even if you do list them now, you can change the list later if you want.
   
5. Crossovers from other current reading challenges count towards this one.
   
6. The challenge began January 1, 2011 and continues through December 31, 2011.
   

This is my first time to participate in an online reading challenge. I'll be updating this post throughout the year with my progress. Will you join me?


My List

1. Aspire by Kevin Hall

2. Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends by Carol Buckley

3. Adversity Quotient: Turning Obstacles into Opportunities by Paul G. Stoltz

4. The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino

5. The Power of Half by Kevin and Hannah Salwen

6. The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

7. 13 is the New 18 and Other Things My Children Taught Me While I Was Having a Nervous Breakdown Being Their Mother by Beth J. Harpaz

8. The Book of Awesome: Snow Days, Bakery Air, Finding Money in Your Pocket, and Other Simple Brilliant Things by Neil Pasricha

9. No Limits by Harry C. Cordellos and Janet Wells

10. Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language by Nora Ellen Groce

11. The Shack by William P. Young

12. People of the Eye: Stories from the Deaf World by Rachel McKee

13. People of the Eye: Deaf Ethnicity and Ancestry by Harlan Lane

14. Deaf Again by Mark Drolsbaugh

15. Anything But Silent by Mark Drolsbaugh

16. Everything Matters by Ron Currie, Jr.

17. The Late American Novel: Writers on the Future of Books edited by Jeff Martin and C. Max Magee

18. An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks

19. Seeing Voices by Oliver Sacks

20. His Other Wife by Deborah Bedford

21. The Aloha Quilt by Jennifer Chiaverini

22. Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Other Repetitive Strain Injuries by Sharon J. Butler

23. Apple Turnover Murder by Joanne Fluke

24. Wormwood by Susan Wittig Albert

25. I Still Dream About You by Fannie Flagg

26. Scones and Bones by Laura Childs

27. Now You See Her by Joy Fielding

28. This Book is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybrarians Can "Save Us All" by Marilyn Johnson

29. Dog On It by Spencer Quinn

30. Holly Blues by Susan Wittig Albert

31. The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

32. One Second After by William R. Forstchen

33. The Winter of Our Disconnect: How Three Totally Wired Teenagers (and a Mother Who Slept with Her iPhone) Pulled the Plug on Their Technology and Lived to Tell the Tale by Susan Maushart

34. The Baby Planner by Josie Brown

35. The Grid by Philip Kerr

36. P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern

37. The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared by Alice Ozma

38. The Squeaky Wheel: Complaining the Right Way to Get Results, Improve Your Relationships, and Enhance Self-Esteem by Guy Winch

39. Breaking Up With God: a Love Story by Sarah Sentilles

40. Between a Rock and a Hot Place: Why Fifty is Not the New Thirty by Tracey Jackson

41. The Sorcerers and Their Apprentices: How the Digital Magicians of the MIT Media Lab Are Creating the Innovative Technologies That Will Transform Our Lives by Frank Moss

42. Crazy U: One Dad's Crash Course in Getting His Kid into College by Andrew Ferguson

43. Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him by Luis Carlos Montalvan

44. Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You by Betsy Myers

45. Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

46. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Update - 12/30/11

It's December 30th and frankly I've gotten tired of updating this list. I made it past the 50+ mark and have awarded myself a large chocolate bar. Yum! I don't think anyone joined me on this reading quest, so I won't continue on with it next year. Although I will continue to support my public library and write reviews on books relevant to deaf/hard of hearing experience or good books in general.

Two Other Librarians You May Want to Know

Did you know there are other librarian bloggers out there besides moi? Yes, it's true. I'd like to introduce you to two of them whose blogs I particularly enjoy and think you may like too.

The first one is Jim the Librarian. He says that name might just as well be on his birth certificate it fits him so well. He's a librarian at Gallaudet University in Washington DC. He writes on various library topics and does a great job explaining concepts like how librarians support intellectual freedom and why library databases are harder to use than Google. I like how he tells it straight to the students that they will need to do *gasp* actual research in order to produce their best work. He also notes the important perk of free coffee for late night studying at the library.

Best of all are Jim the Librarian's book reviews. He creates video entries using American Sign Language to discuss each story's plot and why he likes that novel. For those of us who are not fluent in ASL, he includes English captions. Watching his videos on full screen mode is helping me improve my ASL receptive skills as the captions are much smaller in this view. But even if you are unfamiliar with ASL, you will not want to miss out on Jim's humor and insight into the books he recommends. I'm adding several of them to my personal reading list. Jim has an impressive vocabulary and entertaining communication style. Could it be an occupational hazard from being surrounded by books all the time?

I've included one of my favorite Jim the Librarian vlog reviews here for your viewing pleasure. It's almost nine minutes long and has one brief technical error near the beginning I want you to simply overlook. My thanks go out to Bill Graham, who told me about Jim the Librarian.



Another library blog I read regularly for fun is called Miss Information. Her most recent post is titled "The library is open. Please go away." Need I say more?

If you really want to know what the library staff is thinking when patrons come into the library on the day after Christmas, when they have creative excuses for why library overdue fines don't apply to them, and when the computers don't work the way they should, you can read Miss Information to learn the truth. But are you sure you want to know? I'm just cautioning you that Miss Information has a snarky sense of humor about the absurdities that comprise the library world. If you've ever put in time behind a public service desk or even walked into a public library once and paid attention to your fellow patrons, you will recognize she's got the inside scoop. She's an anonymous blogger so remember to treat your librarian nicely. You never know, it could be her!

Do you know any other librarian bloggers I should read for fun? If so, be sure and let me know.

Librarians Do Gaga

I was catching up on email today and noticed two different librarian friends had sent this to me. I finally took the time to watch it. I am not all that familiar with Lady Gaga and her music so probably some of it was lost on me. Hope you get a kick out of it.

This video is captioned. Unfortunately I have had trouble embedding it on my blog. If you are unable to access the captions here, try viewing it on YouTube here.

Wearing a Hard of Hearing Badge

I won this badge from Liz for a contest she sponsored on her forum (no longer an active site). It reads "Hard of hearing. Please speak clearly." So far I've worn it twice at work during my reference desk shifts. It's fairly small and discreet. The only people who commented on it were two of my male coworkers.

Even though, I had my hearing aids reprogrammed, I am still having trouble hearing people at the reference desk. Sigh. I'm hoping that by wearing this badge, I will feel more confident about asking patrons to speak louder. I also hope that I can just point to it if I have a patron who persists in speaking softly or misinterprets my need for a repeat. I hate being thought of as stupid. The ideal badge would read something like "Absolutely brilliant person here who just happens to have bad hearing. Willing to help you but needs to understand what you are saying first." Heh, what do you think?

Until that one becomes available, if you would like to order a badge like the one Liz gave me, I found it online at Hearing Concern Link. There is also an American store online at Zazzle.

I'll Be the Eyes, You Be the Ears

One silver lining to my hearing loss is that I have become more sensitive to challenges that people with other disabilities have. For example, one of my work friends has mobility issues. She often complains to me about objects she finds carelessly set in her way. Things that can be easily walked around but are an obstacle to someone on a scooter. I don't think anyone intentionally leaves a library cart or other impediment out with the idea of blocking her access but the result is the same. Listening to her vent her frustration has raised my awareness of how I can make life a little easier by moving things aside near the doorway and always keeping a clear path to my cubicle.

Last week I assisted a patron in a wheelchair. She was unable to see the computer screen that another librarian was using to answer her question, so I brought around printouts for her to see. When she was ready to go to the stacks for books, I accompanied her. She commented how annoying it is that step stools are left out in every aisle blocking her access to the shelves. I had never considered that problem before and urged her to express this concern on our library's suggestion form even going so far as bringing over a blank form for her. I don't know if she filled it out or not, so I may need to follow up on this myself. I just hate the idea of someone feeling shut out from browsing our library collection.

Another time I helped a woman at the photocopier who admitted to me she has visual difficulties. "That's okay", I responded, "I don't hear so well. I'll be the eyes and you be the ears."

But even though I've become more aware of how challenging ordinary situations can be, I still have much to learn. This was demonstrated to me one day, when a student asked to be shown where our machine is that magnifies written material. She had been to the library to use it once before but due to her visual difficulties needed me to guide her to where it was located. I was happy to assist with her request. When we got there, I asked if there was anything else I could do for her and she explained that she needed to reschedule an appointment with a campus writing tutor. I suggested we use the telephone at the reference desk. We went back there, I dialed the number for her, and gave her the phone. When she was finished, I asked if there was anything else I could do. She said yes, that she needed to be shown the way back to the magnifier machine. Duh! I felt so bad that I had just assumed she could get back there on her own. It gave me a flash of understanding as to how hearing people can seemingly forget my communication needs.

Being Realistic or Selling Myself Short?

A friend pointed me in the direction of a job in my town that pays significantly more than what I make now at my job in another town. When I first looked at the job notice, I dismissed it outright because the position would require more interaction with the public than I have in my current situation. Then I looked the ad over a second time and realized that on paper I have all the qualifications they require. I got to thinking...Perhaps the acoustics in that library would be better than where I work now. Hmmm....was the only thing holding me back [gulp] me?

I decided to send in my application after all. When I was writing up my resume and cover letter, I realized that I had accomplished quite a bit at work recently and that cheered me up enormously. I'll have to wait and see what response I receive.

How has your hearing loss impacted your employment prospects? Do you think it would be better to stay in a job that requires less interpersonal communication or would it better to go for the better paying job close to home and then ask for accomodations if needed. Each option has its pros and cons. Let me know your thoughts.

Update #1
Here's a selection from one of the comments I received so far that I found particularly inspiring: Don't ever let your hearing stop you doing something you really want to or need to do. - Mog

Update #2
I didn't get the job. I never heard from the library but I did hear from a coworker that someone else got it and when I checked the online job posting had been removed. Oh well. To be honest, I have mixed feelings of disappointment and relief. All the same, I really appreciate all the supportive comments I received when I questioned myself as to whether or not I should have applied for it.

"Naked" at the Information Desk

The snow that has been hitting other parts of the U.S. arrived here yesterday. We're expecting accumulations up to 13" before this storm front passes by.

This morning I got up early to go outside and shovel my driveway. It was quiet as all of my neighbors were still sleeping. Rusty kept me company as I shoveled for the next 45 minutes. When I was finished he had accumulated about an inch of snow on his fur! I gave him a good brushing with my mittens before taking him indoors with me.

Then it was rush, rush, rush to get me ready for work and my son ready for school. I knew it would take us extra time driving this morning and I needed to get to work by 8:00 a.m. as I was on the opening shift at the information desk. Once we were underway, I was relieved. Until I realized I had forgotten my hearing aids, that is.

Oops. Well, there was no going back today. We simply didn't have time so I would just have to muddle through somehow. And I did. I didn't mention my lack of hearing aids to anyone at work. I did give alot of people a squinty "Huh!" look throughout the day.

There wasn't much activity at the library early this morning due to the weather and the fact that classes haven't started up again so that was a lucky break for me. One time I didn't hear a soft spoken female patron and she had to repeat, rephrase etc. until I deciphered that she needed to borrow a pen. Charades, anyone?

Several of my patron interactions today involved making change which is pretty easy to figure out when you see someone approaching with money in their hand. There were also the usual mechanical malfunctions which people had no problem raising their voice to tell me about, heh. Calmly, I unplugged the balky machine in question and plugged it back in. That is when the problem wasn't the machine operator, heh.

Throughout the day, I noticed that once people speaking to me moved beyond a certain distance from me, I could no longer hear them. I gestured to draw them in closer. When I got home from work, I fell asleep for an hour and a half I was so tired. Now I really appreciate just how much my hearing aids help me.

Have you ever forgotten your hearing aids?

The Making of ....a Slight Mistake.

Linda, my very good friend from library school, shared this amusing story with me recently.

She was sitting at the reference desk when a teenager approached her and asked if the library had a book in its collection. She asked him what the title was and thought he responded with "The Making of the Lion King". She hadn't heard of the book before and the thought passed through her mind that it was rather strange that a young man was interested in a Disney children's film...but professional that she is, she went ahead and consulted the library catalog. She didn't find a listing for it.

She asked the young man again and repeated back what she had heard as the title. Apparently he was too polite to correct her. Fortunately for him at that moment her coworker came to take the next shift at the desk. He restated his request to her. Before leaving, Linda told her colleague she had been unable to find "The Making of the Lion King". Suppressing a giggle, her coworker told her the title he was looking for was "The Making of a Latin King." Oops.

Thanks, Linda for reminding me that sometimes even those with excellent hearing make mistakes and allowing me to share your story on my blog.

[For those unfamiliar with the Latin Kings, they are a gang in the United States. Just a bit different than an animated feature film.]

Oops, did I hear that?

My problem isn't saying the wrong thing. It's hearing the wrong thing and then repeating it back because I think it's funny. I've gotta learn to save these gems for an appreciative audience like those of you reading these words. At least I hope you think they're funny.

So, here's my latest lulu...

Yesterday I was working at the reference desk when a coworker who was going to be working the next shift complained to me about having off desk work she'd rather do instead. What she actually said was "I'd rather pull ERIC microfiche." But what I heard was "I'd rather pull hair off my feet." I gave her quite a look and then asked her to repeat herself. When I said, "Oh, you've got to hear what I thought you said," and then proceeded to tell her, it was her turn to give me the look.

Hey, it's not so bad working at the reference desk. I wouldn't pull my hair out over it anyways. That had me chuckling inside all afternoon.

Li-berry I Scream Anyone?

Vanilla Ice Cream Cone 8-6-09 3
Originally uploaded by stevendepolo

Have you heard the news? Library fans who like ice cream are petitioning Ben & Jerry's to create a new library themed ice cream flavor. Andy Woodworth, a New Jersey librarian, is behind the movement. He says, "libraries are awesome, Ben & Jerry's ice-cream is tasty, therefore a library-themed Ben & Jerry's ice-cream would be tasty awesome". He's created a Facebook page to garner support for the idea. Four thousand members have joined already.

Here are my favorites from their creative flavors suggested so far:

• Dewey Ooey-Gooey [vanilla with butterscotch swirls]
  

• Dusty Stacks [layered ice cream with a dusting of cocoa]
  

• Rocky Read [vanilla with chocolate chunks and chocolate covered nuts and raisins]

I have to admit that I would favor Li-berry I Scream over Sh-sh-sh-Sherbet just for the name alone. I am the 'speak up' kind of librarian after all.

You can see the complete list of flavors here. Which ones do you like? Do you have an idea of your own? You can submit ideas directly to Ben & Jerry's at this link.

P.S. Thank you to the reader who sent me a news story on this!

I'm blaming this one on a 70s song!

I almost had a heart attack at work the other day. This is what happened. I went down to the cashier's office to get change for the reference desk. My friend was working behind the counter. She made the change and put it in an envelope for me. Then she said "I'm going to take it" and she walked away. My heart stopped for a moment... until she went over to a scotch tape dispenser and sealed the envelope for me.

Consonants trip me, up but sometimes my mind plays tricks on me too. I wonder if the Steve Miller Band's song "Take the Money and Run" played some part in this. Hmmm... How many times do you suppose that song's been played on the radio since 1976? If your brain has to fill in the blanks, which is more likely "tape" or "take"?

Anyways, I hope you enjoy this video enactment of the song's storyline I found on YouTube. [Note: There is no dialogue other than the song lyrics which I've added below the video.]



Song Lyrics for Take the Money and Run

This here's a story about Billy Joe and Bobbie Sue
Two young lovers with nothin' better to do
Than sit around the house, get high, and watch the tube
And here is what happened when they decided to cut loose

They headed down to, ooh, old El Paso
That's where they ran into a great big hassle
Billy Joe shot a man while robbing his castle
Bobbie Sue took the money and run

Go on take the money and run
(Repeated three more times)

Billy Mack is a detective down in Texas
You know he knows just exactly what the facts is
He ain't gonna let those two escape justice
He makes his livin' off of the people's taxes

Bobbie Sue, whoa, whoa, she slipped away
Billy Joe caught up to her the very next day
They got the money, hey
You know they got away
They headed down south and they're still running today
Singin' go on take the money and run

Go on take the money and run
(Repeated six more times.)

source for this song's lyrics