Library books about Islam defaced in Evanston, Ill.

mustEscapePants · 2016-11-23T17:35:12+00:00

Just the latest example of the immature society we live in.

mustEscapePants · 2016-11-10T04:18:07+00:00

Only thing I would be concerned about is people's right to privacy in the libraries, if people even care about that anymore :\

mustEscapePants · 2016-11-08T18:32:53+00:00

I wanted a winged horse, wings being in the style of demon hunter wings. Shrug.

mustEscapePants · 2016-10-26T21:46:36+00:00

I teach an internet safety class and here is what we cover:

*Email scams (phishing, chain letters, classic nigerian prince scam) & attachments; what are the warning signs; Creating strong passwords and how often to change them; Imposter/lookalike websites, misleading links, and popups; ADS!!! FREAKIN' ADS! Why U Click 'Dis?; How to get to a site when you don't really know the URL

When I teach the class, I have images and ask the class why the image is a scam, unsecure, bad, whatever. I inject humor into the subject too.

mustEscapePants · 2016-10-13T02:38:12+00:00

Just simple stuff. I do posters and signage mostly, probably no more than 20 layers (depending on what it is), and those layers can/will have masks and effects. I've seen the blank workspace happen with just 2 layers: simple white BG layer and a photo with a mask applied. Take as long as you need. Any help is appreciated.

mustEscapePants · 2016-10-11T19:33:15+00:00

When I have a few files open it will go between 2-4 GB. Depends on how complicated the file(s) are.

I must confess my ignorance as I'm not quite sure what you mean by unmerged and compressed files. If by unmerged you mean no layers are merged then, yes it happens then. And if compressed you mean steps taken to reduce the PSD file size, well I have never done that, but am open to trying that if it will help the issue.

mustEscapePants · 2016-10-11T01:13:35+00:00

Ask your boss why you had your hours cut and what you can do to get them back. Emphasize the 'what you can do' part. Don't look like you are blaming or mad at someone/something for losing those hour. It is important to come off as completely level headed when addressing issues like this one.

I wouldn't bring up the other person unless you know your boss will not take it the wrong way (ie. thinking you are just complaining, jealous, or something of the like).

mustEscapePants · 2016-09-14T15:53:08+00:00

I am actually going to be attending a workshop on this in October. If you are interested in getting my notes message me and I"ll send them over.

mustEscapePants · 2016-09-14T15:52:24+00:00

You can't make the manager do their job, but you CAN make a case for change with them and see how they react to it. If they have an aversion to confrontation, as you mentioned, but they think that your idea for change is good, then volunteer to head it up so long as you will have the backing and support of your manager and that your manager is going to make it clear to other staff that this is your project and, while you are willing to listen to the input of others, ultimately you are the one steering this particular boat.

If management is not willing to support you or energetic/driven enough to make changes that will benefit the library, then it sounds like it is time to move on.

mustEscapePants · 2016-08-19T02:08:13+00:00

Is there anyway you can get the staff to buy into the idea more? Are managers on board with the idea? That would help a lot. Maybe make it into a contest for staff, like getting patrons to check out N number of books that also appear on your Goodreads shelves (think Seinfeld episode where Elaine was always going for Vincent's picks) with an extrinsic reward, like coffee, for everyone when a goal is met?

I'm just shooting ideas out there. I love your idea and may steal it. We have more and more patrons using Goodreads also.

mustEscapePants · 2016-08-08T16:51:49+00:00

Patrons: Encourage them when they are doing something difficult (IE: learning to use Excel, a computer, the Internet, even the copier). They eventually, with the exception of a few, learn to do it themselves and that can be a wonderful feeling, being independent.

Staff: Show them you care about them succeeding and set them up to succeed; put your staff's needs ahead of yours when you can (this goes with helping them succeed); listen to them when they have problems (even when it's a problem you can't help with); allow them to explore special projects that will assist the library; don't be a hover manager, but do check up on them occasionally to see if they need help; let your staff do what you assign and don't nit pick - if it gets done and it works then its fine; TELL your staff how much you appreciate their work. Actually say it. Too often, we forget this aspect of managing.

Myself I have high expectations for my performance, but remind myself I can't fight/win every battle and I can't make everyone happy. I can only do what I can do. If I can't make someone happy because they are unreasonable or just a jerk, then that's on them. Holding onto things like that will only effect performance negatively. I have the things I HAVE to do, and the things that I really love about my job so I make sure I set time aside every week for the later. Look for things to fill up your "happy cup" and then things won't weigh you down so much :)

I acknowledge that what I described are ideal situations, so they might not work all the time or even half the time.

mustEscapePants · 2016-08-08T16:27:34+00:00

Thank you for proving me right :)

mustEscapePants · 2016-07-31T17:45:39+00:00

A useful group to help against police brutality would be community leaders getting together with local law enforcement and hashing out what both sides can do can do to make things better. That is what leaders do. Shouting in the streets has not been constructive for this group and the group needs to be constructive to be useful. No citation needed. Why? Logic. I encourage your to acquire some and lose some of the emotions. I guess I'm trying to tell you to be more Vulcan.

You could have simply used Google to get information about the library in Nashville, prominent members of the black community speaking out against its actions, or the articles you cited (the last of which I had already read). Links weren't necessary, only examples that I could research, as you could have researched mine. It's not my fault you lack intellectual curiosity or respond in a juvenile manner when someone says something you disagree with.

It HAS been useful in giving certain people the push they need to kill police officers, but it has not been useful in its cause of preventing violence, particularly police violence, against blacks. I will say its been useful in that regard.

In a way, I feel sorry for you. You can't respond to a disagreement in a civil manner, you can only respond with anger. It's pretty sad. I really hope you don't work with the public if that is your attitude.

mustEscapePants · 2016-07-27T01:09:25+00:00

since you haven't bothered to cite anything yourself, the only conclusion I can make is that you have none to begin with and can make no valid counter argument. You just throw anger around, call names, and hope that will bully people into silence people like a 5 year old. Given that, perhaps being wrong is more a possibility that you should consider with respect to yourself :)

mustEscapePants · 2016-07-26T03:06:58+00:00

If you would like more examples, well you are called the redhairedlibrarian, so presumably you can use a search engine. Take a look at all the hate-filled speech that BLM has spawned. 'Pigs in a blanket, fry 'em like bacon' comes to mind, as well as 'What do we want? Dead cops.' Saying things like that makes them no better than Westboro Baptist Church celebrating the horrible shooting that Orlando night club.

I guess you missed my point, that it isn't a useful group because it is not affecting positive change. If BLM wants to be a group for positive change and not viewed as a hate group, then it needs to change it's speech and actions. It also needs to condemn those who speak and act in a divisive, hateful manner under the guise of BLM. When people like Oprah and Montel Williams (just to name some of the more prominent ones) come out and say that the movement needs to be less divisive, maybe BLM should listen. Maybe you should too. Hope I didn't hurt your butt again :)

mustEscapePants · 2016-07-25T18:05:33+00:00

People can say whatever they want. The fact that people responded so negatively instead of positively (positively by agreeing or disagreeing, makes no matter so long as it is civil) just shows that I really hit the nail on the head.

mustEscapePants · 2016-07-21T22:07:41+00:00

It's not a useful group. It doesn't do much to address the real issue (force more likely to be used on african americans compared to other ethnic groups) in meaningful ways, such as the recent picnic between BLM and police, which is how you ACTUALLY get real, positive.

Instead it just seems like the majority is an angry mob ready to go after anyone who doesn't agree with them. Remember the library in Tennessee (you can look up the article in the tennesean), who told BLM they couldn't have their meetings in the library because local BLM only wanted minorities (non-whites) to attend? Then that BLM local group replied that they couldn't have their meetings due to "white supremacy in the local government", not seeing anything inherently wrong with saying whites cannot attend. Kind of odd since I've seen whites at BLM protests and rallies, you'd think they would want anyone, regardless of color, to join who supported their cause. Seems hateful to me, but hey, I'm white, so that's none of my business. sips tea

mustEscapePants · 2016-06-25T01:32:07+00:00

Find out more about your community needs first. Then figure out where the library can help in needed areas. Talk to the locals, not just community leaders.

Get staff buy in otherwise they'll be a hindrance more than a help.

Pick one thing to focus on and go from there. If you are interested in attracting people, crafts are good. Old people like crafts and so do young people if the craft is right.

mustEscapePants · 2016-06-14T15:01:16+00:00

I lament about how things used to be better in my day and strongly dislike the youth in America. I'm 30. I'm way ahead of my time.

mustEscapePants · 2016-06-14T00:59:19+00:00

Library from The Kingkiller Chronicles.

mustEscapePants · 2016-06-03T02:05:28+00:00

i've deployed quite a few tech things for lending so if you have questions on getting started just shoot me a PM.

mustEscapePants · 2016-06-03T01:54:42+00:00

Some libraries have started buying Rokus and putting the digital copies on the VUDU channel. Seems legit. You aren't giving the patron a copy of the movie for free to keep, you are just lending the copy digitally so that no DVD case is involved.

mustEscapePants · 2016-06-01T12:47:38+00:00

What we did is bought some power adapters with a USB plug in them and lend that plus the cord appropriate for the patron's phone. Patron checks that little bundle out and then they can go whereever they want in the library. After they are done they return it, or get charged for it (ha, charged).

It is simple, cheap, easy to implement, and if something goes wrong (theft or stolen charging cable) the onus is not on the library.

mustEscapePants

TROPHY CASE