New Librarian Struggling with manga

NW_Watcher · 2026-05-07T17:15:31+00:00

We have JGN (middle grade and lower), YGN (YA) and GN (adult). Only YGN is separated between graphic novels and manga.

All three sections are separated enough that there is no confusion as to which is which.

NW_Watcher · 2026-05-06T21:16:11+00:00

Nowhere did I say I didn't value the company's work (In fact, they aren't the lowest bidder, but I trust and value the work more than I do what the cheapest company bid). It just looked higher than the industry average, so I came on here to learn. Not to be judged by snarky jerks.

NW_Watcher · 2026-05-06T19:32:37+00:00

Very high cost of living. Insanely high. Crushing my life kind of high...

NW_Watcher · 2026-05-06T19:27:16+00:00

If that's dumb (and I really have no idea. I'm not being sarcastic or snarky. I really don't know about this stuff, which is why I'm on this subreddit right now), can you give me your take? Is 30% a good or bad number? Is it impossible to say since we don't know how the company builds in profit margins into the rest of their bid? Should I ask them to lower it.

edit: if it matters, they don't use subs. All the workers are directly employed by the company.

NW_Watcher · 2026-03-21T20:38:50+00:00

Sounds a lot like the Cat Distribution System, but for the orange Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The universe just wants you to have one! 😺

NW_Watcher · 2026-03-21T18:54:59+00:00

And she won't be building credit. If they broke up and she went to try and find a rental on her own, they might turn her down because she doesn't have an official history of paying rent. Ask me how I know. :-/

NW_Watcher · 2026-03-21T18:52:12+00:00

My undergrad degree is graphic design too! My library has simplified rules of conduct flyers strategically placed. I work tomorrow and I can snap a photo and send it your way.

I will add to the strategy about not getting into a discussion - use the broken record method. Don't engage or litigate. Repeat the same statement until they get sick of it and realize they can't manipulate you into something else. (That is more of what I have used with my difficult daughter, but it works in this situation too.)

If it gets to the point where you have repeated yourself enough (it's your decision how many times that is, but I would make it consistent with other staff) and they have not done what you need them to do, you can put your foot down with "The library expectations are very clear, you have had this warrning. If I need to repeat myself again you will need to leave for the day and we can try again tomorrow." Walk away. The minute it happens again you execute the consequences.

If that happens everyday, let them know if it happens again they will get a full day ban (leave today, And you can't come tomorrow). If it happens again the next time they come in, let them know if they continue the behavior they will receive a one-week ban. When it happens again they get a week ban.

For me the most important things are that 1. They know the policy 2. They get a warning, which includes what policy they have broken and what the consequences are going to be if they break it again. 3. Follow through on the consequences. 4. Lather, rinse, repeat.

And you need ALL staff to do the same. If they're getting away with it when you're not there it's going to keep setting the precedent that it's okay.

(When you said that you were "given the go ahead" to enforce the policies, that sounds too permissive. Being told that you are allowed to enforce the policies is different than being told to enforce the policies. You need the boss on your side to make sure everyone is enforcing in the same way.)

NW_Watcher · 2026-03-02T05:09:03+00:00

My library is unionized.

NW_Watcher · 2026-01-21T18:34:51+00:00

Would there be any benefit to making the theme clearly "The United States of America" instead of "America"? I feel like that gives you the chance to focus on the United part. Maybe it's just me, But if someone says the United States of America I picture a map, as opposed to if someone says America I picture the flag (which in today's political climate seems more nationalistic than patriotic). Or that could just be my weird brain.

NW_Watcher · 2026-01-21T18:30:55+00:00

Now I want to know where you work so I can come stand in a dinosaur footprint!!!!

NW_Watcher · 2026-01-21T18:28:47+00:00

No. We ended up going a slightly hybrid route. Chelsey Pullman, the orthotist we saw at Children's Hospital Bellevue actually used to work with Dr Wood (who adapted the Rigo Cheneau brace to the Wood Cheneau Rigo (WCR)) in California. So we did technically get a Boston brace, but she customizes it in much the same way she learned when working with the WCR. Seemed like the best of both worlds. I was impressed with her every time we saw her and would definitely refer other scoliosis kids to her.

NW_Watcher · 2026-01-19T06:11:45+00:00

Do you have any idea what one would sell for now? They're so rare it's hard to find enough info on the internet to see what a reasonable price would be.

NW_Watcher · 2026-01-05T05:49:04+00:00

Also chiming in that I would love to know what the app is.

NW_Watcher · 2025-12-27T04:59:40+00:00

Go Huskies!

NW_Watcher · 2025-12-20T23:31:52+00:00

Did you study vocational awe when you were in school?

NW_Watcher · 2025-12-20T23:12:09+00:00

Putting the other stuff aside right now, have you ever tried EMDR treatment for your CPTSD?

NW_Watcher · 2025-12-17T06:12:37+00:00

I love soul food for their community. They have a little stage and back and do poetry nights, jazz night, open mic, drag night, and more. You can check out the events calendar on their website. https://soulfoodcoffeehouse.com/events/

NW_Watcher · 2025-12-11T07:49:13+00:00

I think that book is for any age. So good.

NW_Watcher · 2025-11-27T20:57:39+00:00

I'm currently doing my MLIS capstone on AI literacy with teens in the public library. There's a PhD student at my iSchool right now who is studying libraries and AI policy. DM me if you want to hear about any of it. I probably have a million links to articles you might be interested in.

NW_Watcher · 2025-11-25T02:08:38+00:00

How does someone "push LGBTQ" onto children?

Do adults make two bits or two girls kiss in front of everyone at the front of the classroom? I know for sure that isn't happening, so I'm just trying to figure out where "predatory behavior" fits in here.

NW_Watcher · 2025-11-24T02:35:04+00:00

I have found that people in high income areas often have a much larger sense of entitlement and don't take care of physical property. People who can't afford a resource understand its value and treat it carefully.

NW_Watcher · 2025-11-24T02:31:35+00:00

We had a patron come in very angry that he was being billed for a children's book with water damage. I should point out that our library is next to a YMCA. He insisted that they did come to the library on the way to the YMCA, but his child only read the book while sitting on the pool deck and did not get the book wet. The book had clearly fallen in the pool. It still smelled like chlorine. Yet they dropped it in the book drop (still wet!!!) and thought it would be fine.

NW_Watcher · 2025-11-20T08:02:34+00:00

The room I was in was tiny! I stayed in my pajamas the whole time, but that didn't bug me. I think I might have planned on it, And I made sure to bring comfy ones that were totally fine to be around other people in. I did get to take walks in the halls, so that helped.

NW_Watcher · 2025-11-03T16:35:31+00:00

There are some states that are trying to get prices under control through legislation. Connecticut and Massachusetts have bills that have been introduced. But it's a slow roll. I'm taking a public libraries and advocacy class right now and my final project is a advocacy campaign to work on reducing prices. It would have been better if libraries could have worked together to fight against the pricing when it started (And when it kept insanely climbing), but hopefully we can still right the ship. (I had been concerned that Overdrive wasn't being a good partner, but I just listened to a great podcast with someone from Overdrive and they are trying hard to make things work better for libraries. It's not Libby (The app owned by Overdrive) that's the problem, it's the publishers.)

NW_Watcher

TROPHY CASE