I’m curious in what ways librarians relax and why. Sometimes I think it is important to talk about who we are and what we do when we’re not librarians, gamers, fighting/educating about DOPA, promoting literacy, TABs, going to meetings, etc. Yeah, right. I’m not one to speak. My coworkers might get emails at midnight. They might get them at 6am and ask me, what in the world? I grew up with a father who was his job first (a policeman) and father secondary-maybe that’s where I get some of my work ethic from (not always admirable).
When Michael Stephens presented last week at my library, he asked the audience if they are able to play at work. How many are able to? Maybe I’m looking for answers. I don’t think I can ever stop loving what I do and feel my work is finished.
Tomorrow is my birthday. I’m volunteering 11 hours at a local literary festival. Nikki Giovanni, Omar Tyree and over eighty other authors will be there. Teen volunteers and other colleagues will be helping me to promote the library. Part of me feels where else do I want to be? The other part-I found an outdoor labyrinth to walk in the town that I live. The first one I ever walked was in was San Francisco. That’s where I’ll be after the festival. I know I’ll be smiling.
Posted by Kelly Czarnecki
Last weekend I forced myself to take a long way and see a movie. It was the first time this summer.
I think if we were working really hard and hated what we did it would be really awful. But, I think if one likes what they do for work, like the literary festival, work then is also a form of entertainment and fun. Of course that doesn’t hold true when the fun work never stops but for some forms of “over-time” it’s OK I would say.
I’m curious what others have to say/think.
I have to force myself to “turn off the librarian.” My job is more vocation than career, and my interests dovetail so much with my profession it is very very hard to separate work and play.
I wrote in the morning this weekend, but I went out both afternoons with hubby – Sunday we went for a long motorcycle ride (100 miles!) and we had a really good time. I needed the break. And the fresh air. My faint sunburn made me realize how PALE I am from always being inside at the computer.
I just finished a course with some 60 other librarians-to-be and so many made a point to tell us that they hated their jobs. I, and a few others who already work in libraries, made a point to tell everyone how much we loved our jobs. And I do enjoy my job.
I also enjoy my life. I like to teach my kids to bicycle, walk to get ice-cream, watch anime with my wife and (hold on)… build tiny model railroads. I think that working as and learning to be a Young Adult librarian at this point (with two small children) is extremely helpful to me as a dad and a professional. I don’t want separate work and play completely because so much of each bleeds into the other.