The Port Hardy skyline Since starting this blog in 2004, I’ve experienced three Big Life Changes. The first, of course, was emigrating to Canada. The second was becoming a librarian. More than a career change, this was a huge shift in lifestyle and identity. The third Big Life Change was
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wmtc: in which i inadvertently discover a downside to working at home
I’ve always loved working at home. I loved it when I first started writing fiction and working as a freelance proofreader in 1985, and I loved it even more when I started writing for magazines in the mid-90s. As much as I find great satisfaction in my new career as
Continue readingwmtc: my first island off the island: a brief stop in sointula
This week I drove down to Port McNeill — about 30 minutes away, and the home of one of my libraries — and took the ferry to Malcolm Island, to visit another of my libraries, in the town of Sointula. I traveled with a co-worker who does programming and support
Continue readingwmtc: week two of training and counting days to go home
It was wonderful to have Allan and Diego with me this weekend. The weather was “cold” — cold for the island, between -2 and +3 C — and wet, and I wasn’t prepared for that, so we didn’t do a lot. We went to Ideal Cafe twice, a famous local
Continue readingwmtc: the vancouver island report: two more days of training and on to campbell river
I’ve completed another two days of training and orientation. It’s been pretty awesome. In the past three days, I’ve had a tour of the Nanaimo Harbourfront branch, which is something of a showpiece and central library, and a tour of the Nanaimo North branch, which is new and beautiful. I’ve
Continue readingwmtc: in which i say goodbye to cupe 1989 and mississauga library
Many friends and co-workers have said they’ll check this blog for updates on our drive west, our new town, my new work. Welcome and a disclaimer: when I travel, wmtc becomes a travel journal, full of details that I want to remember but are probably super boring to anyone else.
Continue readingwmtc: in which i achieve a career milestone
I am a Senior Librarian! It’s a position I have aspired to for quite a while. Although I love my current job as a youth librarian, I’ve been ready to move on for a while. I had several near-misses, but couldn’t get over the top. Just as my colleagues and
Continue readingwmtc: holden caulfield, ponyboy curtis, and my teen book club
“Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” Recognize it? For me it’s one of the most memorable final sentences ever written. I just finished re-reading The Catcher in the Rye, possibly for the first time since reading it (twice) in high school. I remembered it
Continue readingwmtc: in which my annual noncelebration of christmas causes my jewish cultural roots to reappear, a tiny bit
Two years ago, wmtc’s annual “i hate christmas” post declared: “i hate christmas is slightly less hateful this year“. Working in the library, as opposed to an office environment, I found getting through the holiday season much less trying. No more co-workers – at their computers, able to talk while
Continue readingwmtc: what i do, what i miss, and what are they thinking: answers to the question, "what do you do?"
When we moved to Canada (nine years plus a few days ago), I wondered what, if anything, I would miss about the US. Who would have guessed it would be watching “Baseball Tonight”? Yup, the only thing I miss about living in that crazy country is watching a baseball-highlights show
Continue readingwmtc: whither wmtc
I feel so disconnected from this blog, and from writing in general. I hate it. I love having this blog. I love that when I do want to write, and have the energy to do so, and have something to say, I have a place to do it. But writing occupies
Continue readingwmtc: march break for teens at our library
I’ve just finished my first March Break (the Canadian equivalent of Spring Break in the US) in my new position as a youth librarian. It was exhilarating and a lot of work, but not nearly as exhausting as I imagined. March Break was great for many reasons. One, I have
Continue readingwmtc: i am really a librarian: in which i attend my first ola, and get paid for it, too
For the next three days, I’ll be attending the Ontario Library Association’s annual Superconference, always referred to simply as “OLA”. As the name implies, this is a gigantic conference covering issues related to all three types of libraries – public, academic, and special. You can see a program here. In
Continue readingwmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: #12
I’m enjoying my new position so much! Things are going really well so far. I’m preparing for teen book club, researching display ideas, and planning some (I hope) interesting programs. I’ll write about those as they happen. So far I’m feeling well, too. I’m still adjusting to full-time work, but
Continue readingwmtc: i am a youth librarian. this is a good thing.
I am so excited about my new position! As I mentioned, I am now a librarian in the Mississauga Central Library’s “Readers’ Den” department. It is a full-time position, and lasts until July of this year. Right now it feels like my ideal job; I only wish it were permanent. My
Continue readingwmtc: in which my library career takes another step forward
I am very pleased to announce that I’ve landed my first full-time librarian gig! It’s a temporary position, for six months, in the “Readers’ Den” Department of the Mississauga Central Library. Readers’ Den takes in all the fiction, magazines, and movies, and very importantly, the Youth department, both teen fiction
Continue readingwmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: #11
Customer: “Hi, can I print from a USB here? My printer at home isn’t working.” Me: [I explain how our printing works: you buy a card, it costs such and such, etc.] Customer: “I just want to print from my USB.” Me: [I explain how our printing works: you buy
Continue readingwmtc: dirty wars: an important movie, marred by nationalism
Last night we watched “Dirty Wars,” investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill’s documentary film exposing the United States’ covert, lethal, extra-governmental operations around the globe. It’s an important film. Depending on your level of knowledge of the US, it may be eye-opening, or it may be shocking. If you have not yet
Continue readingwmtc: how to pursue something you don’t really want
Since the day I decided to go to graduate school and change my career(s), my mind has reeled with questions about the future. When will I be able to quit my horrible law-firm job? When will I get a professional position at the library? When I get it, will I
Continue readingwmtc: simon says, grumpy bird, and an evil witch: summer reading club begins
Summer is the busiest time of year in the Central Children’s Library. Actually, we are wildly busy any time school is out; the summer is just the most sustained period of busy-ness. Many of my colleagues have been preparing for summer programming since the end of March Break. All through
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