Beginning of the end

It is so weird to that think the week ahead is my last week at the Batesville Library. And that in just over two weeks, I'll officially be living in California. Craziness! It is an odd space in life, being at the end of one chapter of your life and knowing it. By that I mean, it's not a sudden change...sometimes life changes the chapter without you knowing it's coming, for better or worse.


But to look to the week ahead and know this is the end of the line for my days as the Head Librarian here in Batesvegas..in some ways it seems like I haven't been here long and in other ways, it seems even longer than the 2 ½ years it has been. I have learned a lot, some good lessons, some tough ones, but one thing I know for sure: not being the boss is the way to go for moi.  My staff has joked all along when problems crop up 'that's why they pay you the big bucks.' I'll be happy to take 'regular size bucks' and not be the person with whom problems come to visit. 


With this new job in Cali, the thing I look forward to more than 'not being the boss' is, what I've done with a percentage of my time in Bates, will be what I do all the time! And it has been my favorite part of my job here. I've thoroughly enjoyed researching, planning, and actually doing the programs for the teens (and 'tweens') so for that to be My Job...shut the front door!


There is an element of 'Adult Services' in my job description but I've been told that will amount to helping make posters, flyers, calendars, etc., and helping the branch head plan the adult programs, though she'll actually do the programs when the time comes.


I'll also be plugged in with the schools in the vicinity, which should be interesting because I haven't done 'teen librarian visiting the school' before and I've heard great things about this from other YA librarians. (Young Adult, that is)


And...there is a large home school population in the area that they want me to work with and get them more involved with the library. Generally, home school groups have the reputation of being public library lovers, so this shouldn't be too tough.


And...they have a good existing group of teen volunteers that I can work with and get them in on programming and outreach and to be the ones who help me get a teen board up and running.


All in all...I predict good things for Jen-Jen and the new liberry.