Volunteers Running the Asylum: Santa Cruz Staffing Solution

Santa Cruz, CA's ten branches got a bit of a shake up this week when it was announced the new fiscally responsible way to run a library is without librarians.  A new plan, to be voted on April 4, would have the ten branches of the library system stay open with increased hours but dependent on volunteers to staff.  Reference help and other "library" related activities would be remanded to online and telephone help.  In a quote to Library Journal, director Teresa Landers had this to say:

"The public's going to have to choose," Landers told LJ. "They can't have it all. What we 
heard is, 'we want the doors open.' That's what we're giving them."


Snap!  Take that, public!  I am not sure how she meant that to come out, but that's all the context you get.  I see this as the seen from Network:  Her standing on the Circ Desk, pounding her leg with a copy of the Statistical Abstract, yelling, "I'm mad as hell and... where the hell is everybody?"  Then three "volunteers" come along and haul her away of the computer lab before the Facebook zombies wake up and demand a Starbucks in the lobby.


Also, just a note:  "Santa Cruz" sounds like somewhere Kris Kringle goes to pick up chicks.  Just sayin.

5 Ways to Prevent Cabin Fever

Old Man Slushie has come again, dumping the white stuff and blowing the invisible stuff across the land.  As the cold sets in deep, people begin to nest in the library.  With the added crowd and inability to escape, both you and the staff can descend into the madness that is cabin fever. 

Welcome to the library!

Here are a couple of ways keep your head in this wintery hell:

 #1  Entertain the Children

The youngest of the library can also breathe the most live into the library.  Because school is out, either because of the holidays or because of snow, children become captive audiences for whatever play, skit or puppet show you can think of.

They are very receptive.

#B Create Something Special

 The limits of the human mind cannot be contained within the walls of the library.  As your work load dwindles, express yourself on paper, casting your mind into warmer climates of warmy wonder.  Just let yourself go, feel what is in your heart.

My masterpiece.  All in a row.  Good times.

#Yellow:  Clean Up a Little

As the number of people increase, so does the amount of trash.  Take the time to tidy up all the little messes that have cropped up around the library.  Those hard to scrub coffee, tea and blood stains will give you hours of work.

OOOO!  A project!

#Door:  Do Some Shelving to Motivate the Staff!

After showing the staff your writing and cleaning prowess, show them you mean business!  Shelve with a fever, chasing their lazy butts down one by miserable one.  Yeah, you will find them all, the bartender and the pink giraffe said so.  They are all bad, bad whiny staffy staffertons.  

IT'S SHELVING TIME!

 # Redrum:  Take a Nap

They all laughed at you and did not think you would do it, but you showed them.  It is all yours now, the library is safe from their kind, their dirty kind of non-shelving shelfy-doodles.  They will not worry anyone anymore.  In fact, those patrons are dirty, too.  Dirty in your clean library.  Just a walk outside to find them all and maybe a nap at break time.

Yeah, a nap with my eyes closed in a blanket of snowy snow.

# End of the End:  Have a Party!

The library is cool and clean and you have kept your sanity.  Whew!  That nap did you wonders!  Plus, now everyone is ready for a dapper party!  The bartender is there, and so are all the old members of the Friends!  Wow, they look so young!  

Even the dead ones...

photos from The Shining, copyright 1980, Warner Bros.