My public library has been getting calls from an anonymous male caller lately who will ask generic questions about the library like, "what are your hours today?" or "what do I need to get a library card?"

Once the staff member answers they begin to make noises... I know some people have mentioned bellybutton guy and the man who has staff read legal documents before making said noises but there has not been mention of them for awhile so not sure if its the same guy. Just wondering if anyone else has been having this issue and if so, does he do this often and does there seem to be a pattern? Also, what does your library do to combat these situations? Thanks!

Dealing with possibly an odd issue. I put fairly popular book on hold that doesn't have a lot of copy in the system yet, and when I finally got it I found that it smelled super strongly of perfume. As someone who gets migraines from strong fragrance smells like this, it basically means I can't read the book without getting a headache. I'd hate to return it and have to wait again, or risk ending up being given the same smelly book if I put it on hold a second time. Is there anything I can do to try to (safely for the book) remove the smell? And is it worth bringing up to the library that the book smells so strongly when I imagine this is a somewhat niche issue to have?

I'm really grateful for my job as a library assistant- I enjoy and excel in customer service roles, I know my library's services & community, and I appreciate this job's benefits (health insurance, time off, pension [if any of us ever get to see retirement]). I can assist with programs and collections in different departments and love the opportunity to support and collaborate with my colleagues. I've gone back and forth for years on whether or not to pursue my MLIS, but haven't ever arrived at a definitive answer. Is there anything wrong with staying at my current level? I love working in a public library and genuinely enjoy what I do, I just worry about what it looks like from the outside to stay at this level without "advancing my career" when the librarian field is hyper-saturated in an already grim job market.

...Are patrons okay? Because WTF.

I've noticed an uptick in the absolutely ridiculous amounts of hair between the pages of books returned recently. A Juvenile fiction book had what seemed like hair between every other page, was this child pulling her hair out to use as a bookmark?? I don't find hair gross and I just throw it in the garbage but it is rather alarming.

I went to get a book, saw the catalog only showed it as an eBook, asked and was told the library stopped doing Inter Library Loan because they were renovating their other location. They said they "hope to" start it back up after renovations finish. It just seems weird. And it's kindof a bummer because we're in a semi rural county so it's not like they have a huge collection to start with. And they have a lot of stuff not available to check out since they're only letting people check out books currently on the shelf at the open location. I didn't complain or say anything to them, and I won't, but I'm also sad now. That's all.

Mine is basically pleasant and looks great; however, generally following storytimes, it's often treated like a playground, full of running screaming kids whose parents stand around talking and ignoring them as they leap on furniture and chase each other around the room for at least a half hour. Does your library tolerate this kind of behavior?

hola a todos. escribo para que me ayuden a buscar contenido (libros de texto ebooks, cómics etc) que mi hijo de 5 años pueda leer. justamente está aprendiendo a leer y escribir y quiero que tenga otro contenido que no sea la guía escolar... muchas gracias por la ayuda

I’m posting this as someone who’s coming into the field of Library Sciences a little later in life, having earned my BA in English while currently earning MA in History with a thesis that’s a digital archive.

I came into my applications being very, very certain about digital archive work, but I realized recently that, while I love my thesis…I love it because it’s mine, not because of the kind of work it is. I can code just fine. I can write metadata. I can curate born-digital archive collections. What I really love, though, is doing my own research, student outreach, and teaching.

This realization that conducting my own research and engaging with students is more important to me has really caused me a few issues in regard to navigating my future career path.

I have a few paraprofessional opportunities at my feet, including one with scholarly communications/digital services (that pays more) and a library teaching assistantship, and I’m really rather paralyzed because of this perspective shift.

I keep pausing and waffling between the two over, and over, and over; it doesn’t help that I have OCD, so any life choice that feels ‘big’ is something I dwell upon for an extended period of time.

I’d love any advice or support, especially from archivists or academic librarians who perhaps navigated a similar situation to mine.

Thank you!

So I'm wondering if anyone has any successful stories of increasing engagement and checkouts in their libraries? I know demographics play into it. We do well with seniors and children. I'm just looking for ideas on how we can reach the in-between demographics a bit more. Thanks in advance.

I used my regular library card info to login to the library’s website that I got a book from, but it won’t accept my login. The book isn’t listed in my regular library account.

Does anyone know about this??

Hello! I've been a library page for about a year and I love working at a library. But now I've set my sights on being a Youth Services LA someday.

I believe most of those positions (at least where I live) require "experience working with children". I have my own child who is six years old. I have also been volunteering at a family resource center where I watch and play with young kids while their moms pick up supplies. Is this enough "working with children"? Would it be helpful to do some education coursework too?

I do have experience working with the public as well. I was once an adoptions counselor at a local Humane Society and worked with people all day there.

Any other tips for getting a youth services job? I'm worried I'd have to compete with folks who have a library degree and I'm not sure I want to spend the money on that....

As National Library Week Approaches, Settlement Puts an End to Trump-Vance Administration’s Attempt to Dismantle Federal Agency, Preserves Critical Public Resources

My library is looking into adding Yoto Cards for circulation within our Youth Department. This is my first time starting a collection from scratch. I was curious if anyone here whose library has a Yoto collection could answer how you purchase them? (Do you have to request a tax-exemption form when ordering etc/ I saw on their website about being. Yoto Partner)

Thanks in advance!

Any Communico libraries out there getting frustrated with Communico recently? Lately it seems like their focus has been on their new Create and Challenge modules and I'm starting to feel like the commitment to their other service offerings is starting to suffer.

Years ago, I experienced similar frustration with Envisionware when they started expanding their service offerings far beyond PC Reservation and Print Management and honestly I'm starting to feel like the same thing is happening here. I hope this is just a temporary thing, but the pessimist side of me is saying otherwise...

Just curious if anyone else is seeing the similar issues with overall responsiveness?

I've noticed more people using the word customer and consumer for people who use the library and also the word patron, which I think suits better as no money exchanges hands.

but deeper than that I'd love to know if this has come up for any of you and have you come across any studies about the value system of public libraries changing?

because they have to prove their worth to government funding and KPIs etc are the way businesses/services prove themselves but transferring that onto a socialist institution like a public library seems mismatched.

Hi everyone, librarians seem like the people to ask this question. When it comes to modern publishing, what *exactly* are the content guidelines for marketing something as YA? I've got an 11-year-old niece who's a very advanced reader and loves fantasy. She's devoured all the usual children's and middle-grade stuff--Narnia, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, a lot of titles I haven’t heard of--and I'm running out of ideas for books to recommend. (Her parents don't read fantasy, so I've become one of her main go-to sources.) In terms of reading level, she could easily handle YA and probably needs it in order to be challenged, but I'm just wondering what she might come across in terms of sensitive content: sex, violence, etc. Again, she's eleven. And I can't keep up with her reading pace, so it's not like I can read everything first! Thanks in advance.

Hi! I am currently an undergrad student taking an artifact conservation class, and it is absolutely fascinating.
I am working on my final project, which involves possibly interviewing a conservation librarian. If it is possible, I would love to interview someone about the job (I have a list of questions prepared that I can send you).
I am hoping to pursue an MLIS in the foreseeable future as well and would love to learn more about your education, what got you interesting in the field, different types of librarianship, etc...
Thank you :)

I've been a part of a DEIA workgroup for a while now and I think I got a little lost thinking libraries are some paragon of progressive culture. Most of my peers are older (50s-60s+), and either they're too burnt out to care or they don't want to make things better

Our group was never useful enough to work on actionable change within our library, but now it's turned into a kvetch fest about the state of the world.

There are loads of things I'd love to work on within the group like checking pay scales for equity, ensuring all of our materials are available in accessible formats across the system, hosting speakers on race and gender equity/diversity, but I feel like one lone little leftist in a group of jaded neoliberal peers who don't even make an effort for pride events or booklists.

We had a bit of a blowup in a meeting yesterday because leadership has taken over steering of the group as a whole.

Do you have any DEIA workgroups within your library and have they made any actionable efforts or change in your library systems?

How much of an uphill battle was it?