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Tag Archives: Firefly
“Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.”
Today and yesterday, I met with the people who supervise classified staff at Lincoln City Libraries. They came from all of our locations, including the Bookmobile. There’s something about these mixed-up groups that creates good energy.
Among our discussion points: motivation. I asked group members to review the Gallup Q12 information available via our very own library books and the Internet, or to learn about “Drive” by Daniel H. Pink via reading the book, or taking a look at his website and other information.
I find both of these sources optimistic. From time to time, I’ve heard library people bemoan our lack of money to use for motivational rewards–and I’ve probably bemoaned that, too. What I found positive in the information in both of these sources is that money isn’t that much of a motivator, when it comes right down to it.
But having a purpose IS motivating, it’s intrinsically rewarding. That’s apparent both from what we’ve learned from Gallup, and what Pink describes. Especially in tight budget times, connecting strongly to our purpose is key. The library is a place where staff hold some pretty disparate points of view about the best ways to serve our community. But where there’s usually fundamental agreement is that the Library Is a Good Thing. We’re united about serving our customers well, and being part of an institution that springs from one of the very best ideas–the importance of educated citizens in a democracy.
“As my whimsy takes me.”
I’ve been thinking lately about how we all make reading choices. In the library, we realize that a LOT of our circulation comes from the items that we have out on display. Those book jackets that are displayed face-out provide all kinds of enticement and advertisement. Several people have mentioned to me that they seldom get beyond the displays and into the stacks (librarian lingo for shelves).
Earlier this month, though, I found myself in the fiction area, deep into those shelves because I had a yen to re-read an old favorite author, Dorothy L. Sayers. I took home “Strong Poison,” which is when Lord Peter Wimsey falls for his true love, the wrongly accused Harriet Vane, and “Murder Must Advertise,” which I remembered enjoying some time ago. These are classics of the mystery genre. Lord Peter is an amateur detective, a high-class Lord with stellar upbringing, kind heart, and impeccable manners. His experience of the world leaves him never completely surprised.
These stories were written in the 1930’s, and that era combined with their British setting creates some excellent escapist reading.
Dorothy L. Sayers wrote so well. Many selections deserve to be read aloud just to savor her rich vocabulary and sense of the droll. As I’ve confessed before, I seldom try to work out a mystery as I read, but I had a strong sense of her weaving a web of clues and red herrings.
I noticed that the copies of these books that I checked out were added to the Lincoln City Libraries collection in 1968. I find myself wondering who else has read these copies, wondering what was happening in our world at that time, and pondering the timelessness of this excellent writing.
As the saying goes, “So many books, so little time!” For many of us, those displays at the front of the library are all we need, and may be all we have time for. However, my happy reacquaintance with Lord Peter reminds me to remind you to consider what gems may be awaiting you just a little farther into the library.
“Bellwether”
Just before the holidays, I enjoyed reading the novel, “Bellwether” by Connie Willis. This was published in 1996; I came across a recommendation for it in Library Journal’s “Dusty Books” blog dated December 8. In the blog, it was described as ” adorable, smart, Gen X chick lit.”
In 1998, Connie Willis also wrote, “To Say Nothing of the Dog,” which was so highly recommended to me by a friend that she gave me a copy of it…and it didn’t work for me. I just couldn’t get into the time travel element, even though it had some cleverly hilarious scenes.
“Bellwether” takes place in a ’90s think tank where Sandra Foster studies fads. Aspects of the story are like a time travel…going back to when fancy coffee was just taking off. Of course, Sandra has her antennae out for anything that may be an incipient fad. She begins collaborating with another researcher, using sheep. And in the process, they learn the importance of a bellwether. Of course, Sandy and her fellow researcher fall in love, and even win a big though mysterious prize.
This isn’t a science fiction book, though that’s what Connie Willis typically writes. It is a workplace story, complete with crazy corporate campaign and crazy-making colleagues.
I read this book through to the end, and at certain points, I wasn’t sure why. I told my husband several times that I was waiting for the real story to start. Even so, I found Sandra intriguing, and will recommend this book to those who like sassy heroines and clever writing.
And the winners will be….
As a former children’s librarian, I begin to feel excitement building this time of year because we’re counting down to the announcements of the big awards in children’s books, scheduled for Monday, January 18. Among the awards are the Newbery Medal, the Caldecott Medal, and Award Winning Materials for Youth.
The Association of Library Services to Children will provide a live feed of the event, for those up and awake at 6:45 a.m., Central Time.
Library staff will monitor these announcements. We check immediately to see if we own the winning titles, and then to ensure that we have enough copies for customer demand.
Let the countdown begin!
Ideas for What to Read Next….
Where do we get great ideas for what to read next?
Lincoln City Libraries recently unveiled an update to some of our website information–take a look at “Books Movies & More!” You’ll be guided to a variety of lists and other information. I refer to this feature often for great ideas, and I love how the lists connect directly to our library catalog…keep in mind, too, that our libraries offer free holds, so place a hold if you need a copy sent from one library to another for you to check out.
I’ve also recently been perusing Library Journal’s “Dusty Books” feature, part of its “Shelf Renewal” feature. One of the strengths of the public library is our collection of older books. While it’s true that we depend on new and popular titles for much of our circulation, many of our customers love finding something a little older, a little less known, and yet very rewarding.
Due to a “Dusty Books” recommendation, I just read “Learning to Fly” by April Henry, a novel about a young woman who takes on another’s identity. It gets going when Free Meeker picks up a hitchhiker, Lydia, and then drives into a dust storm on the Interstate that results in a multi-car, multi-death pileup. In the immediate aftermath of the accident, Free tries to help a badly injured young man by finding a Nike athletic bag that he’s fixated on retrieving. He dies, and Free realized that this bag contains nearly $750,000.00. Lydia dies, and Free decides to become Lydia, using the found money to support a new life. This is her opportunity to ditch her upbringing by two hippie counterculturalists and become something she’s craved–becoming a conforming member of society. What she doesn’t know is that Lydia’s psychopath husband will come after her, and so will the drug kingpin seeking all of that money.
Henry sets up great suspense. I wanted to keep reading, although, to my mind, she’s a little obvious in leaving clues and tying up loose ends. This book read quickly, which matched my reading mood, but it lacked the depth I believe it needed to sustain the character development.
I’d recommend this to people who enjoy mysteries and suspense, who would enjoy the Oregon and Portland setting, and who would be interested in Free learning about her true identity by trying to shake off her upbringing.