And a very fangirl moment for me, because I adore this snazzy blue bookmobile.
(Got to hear some *very* Orcadian Scots spoken, too!)
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Booky McBookface!
Today was (yet another) pinnacle of my time at Orkney Library & Archive... I got to go out and join the mobile library on its rounds for a whole morning. I've been fascinated by mobile libraries ever since I moved here to Scotland and started hearing so much about them, and it was just fantastic to get to go along and see it all in action – checking books in and out, chatting with the folks who came in to switch out one massive, heavy bag of library books for another. It's a really amazing service that makes sure people all over the islands get access to the library, not just those in the main towns.
And a very fangirl moment for me, because I adore this snazzy blue bookmobile.
(Got to hear some *very* Orcadian Scots spoken, too!)
And a very fangirl moment for me, because I adore this snazzy blue bookmobile.
(Got to hear some *very* Orcadian Scots spoken, too!)
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Tea.
The true spirit of Britishness is...a bag of 1,100 teabags.
(With a normal-sized mug next to it for scale.)
(With a normal-sized mug next to it for scale.)
Monday, April 9, 2018
Orkney! (It Makes an Impression)
My first week at the library was unbelievably fun. Everybody's been so generous about taking time to sit down with me and chat about what they do and answer all my questions. (Well, I guess the boss scheduled them in for that, so it was literally their job to talk to me...but still, they've all been so friendly and fun and welcoming.)
I've learned about both the library's physical sites, the mobile library, the Home Library Service (for homebound people), the Family Boxes (sent out to people on the really far islands that the mobile library can't get to), all the fantastic book groups/author visits/writing groups/other events they do here, and I learned how to use the stocktaking software, so that I can actually do something helpful instead of just following around being excited about what other people do.
I also got an unofficial crash-course in using the catalogue to check books in and out, because I was doing my inventory work at the front desk, and felt bad when people came up wanting to check books out and I had to point them to someone else because I didn't know how to do it. So I learned – at least the basics – and it was very satisfying to be able to help people myself.
There's so much still to come; I've yet to meet the children's librarian, or the guy who does the amazing social media, or really get to know the Archives upstairs, and I'm going to help out with (more than one) author event, and pay a visit to the mobile library in action...
Yes, I'm a little obsessed with Booky McBookface, Orkney's gorgeous mobile library. It's a really amazing service they provide from this one unassuming vehicle. Here's my dear Booky McBookface:
And on a personal bookworm level, okay, yes, I do realize I'm just being silly at this point...in my first two days at the library, I checked out probably more books than I can read in my whole month here. Plus a bunch of audiobooks (not pictured). It's the danger of reshelving and doing inventory, you see all these things you want...
(The top two are Orkney authors, the next is the book I need to read ahead of a book club I'll be helping out with, then an Icelandic author I spotted on the shelves and someone said was good, then another Orkney author, then just a few books generally on my recommended/want-to-read list.)
I seized the weekend, knowing how little time I have here and how very many parts of Orkney I want to see... I went to Maeshowe (5,000-year-old Neolithic tomb...amazing) then wandered around the Stenness Stones and Ring of Brodgar and the whole area between two lochs that's a major archeological site still in the process of being excavated. It was a stunningly beautiful day, sandwiched fortuitously between lots of days of rain (and occasional snow). In one of the lochs, just as I was leaving to catch the bus back, I saw seals. How is this place even real.
The Barnhouse Settlement, remains of a Neolithic village:
I've learned about both the library's physical sites, the mobile library, the Home Library Service (for homebound people), the Family Boxes (sent out to people on the really far islands that the mobile library can't get to), all the fantastic book groups/author visits/writing groups/other events they do here, and I learned how to use the stocktaking software, so that I can actually do something helpful instead of just following around being excited about what other people do.
I also got an unofficial crash-course in using the catalogue to check books in and out, because I was doing my inventory work at the front desk, and felt bad when people came up wanting to check books out and I had to point them to someone else because I didn't know how to do it. So I learned – at least the basics – and it was very satisfying to be able to help people myself.
There's so much still to come; I've yet to meet the children's librarian, or the guy who does the amazing social media, or really get to know the Archives upstairs, and I'm going to help out with (more than one) author event, and pay a visit to the mobile library in action...
Yes, I'm a little obsessed with Booky McBookface, Orkney's gorgeous mobile library. It's a really amazing service they provide from this one unassuming vehicle. Here's my dear Booky McBookface:
And on a personal bookworm level, okay, yes, I do realize I'm just being silly at this point...in my first two days at the library, I checked out probably more books than I can read in my whole month here. Plus a bunch of audiobooks (not pictured). It's the danger of reshelving and doing inventory, you see all these things you want...
(The top two are Orkney authors, the next is the book I need to read ahead of a book club I'll be helping out with, then an Icelandic author I spotted on the shelves and someone said was good, then another Orkney author, then just a few books generally on my recommended/want-to-read list.)
I seized the weekend, knowing how little time I have here and how very many parts of Orkney I want to see... I went to Maeshowe (5,000-year-old Neolithic tomb...amazing) then wandered around the Stenness Stones and Ring of Brodgar and the whole area between two lochs that's a major archeological site still in the process of being excavated. It was a stunningly beautiful day, sandwiched fortuitously between lots of days of rain (and occasional snow). In one of the lochs, just as I was leaving to catch the bus back, I saw seals. How is this place even real.
The Barnhouse Settlement, remains of a Neolithic village:
One small bit of the Ring of Brodgar:
Oh, you know, just some more standing stones. (Stones of Stenness.)
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Famous in Orkney
I've mentioned here before, at some point, how Orkney Library is known for their excellent, quirky, funny Twitter feed – it's followed by nearly 40,000 people around the world. (Yes, that means Orkney Library's followers are equivalent to about twice the population of Orkney as a whole.)
Today, I'm Orkney Twitter famous! https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary/status/981477860841050112
Today, I'm Orkney Twitter famous! https://twitter.com/OrkneyLibrary/status/981477860841050112
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Orkney
(I like to read books set in the place I'm in, and also as a writer I have an interest in local folk tales...)
Also, how gorgeous is this place?
Sunday, April 1, 2018
The Great Northern Scotland Adventure Begins
I'm on a train! (Well, I will be shortly – I'm waiting in the station.)
Today I travel all the way up to the very northern tip Scotland, then continue tomorrow by sea: to reach the Orkney Islands, where I'll be doing my professional fieldwork placement the whole month of April. A fascinating, beautiful place and an excellent public library. I am very, very lucky.
I'm already pondering plans to visit Shetland as well (another group of islands even further north from mainland Scotland), thinking that maybe I could go up there for a couple days after my placement finishes (that is, if I manage to free up a bit of time by also completing all my coursework ahead of schedule, ha ha right) and then complete the loop by returning by ferry, allll the way back down from Shetland to Aberdeen, a 12-hour trip by sea. Up by train and back down by ship. That certainly appeals to my romantic wanderlust...
Watch this space. Orkney ahoy!
Today I travel all the way up to the very northern tip Scotland, then continue tomorrow by sea: to reach the Orkney Islands, where I'll be doing my professional fieldwork placement the whole month of April. A fascinating, beautiful place and an excellent public library. I am very, very lucky.
I'm already pondering plans to visit Shetland as well (another group of islands even further north from mainland Scotland), thinking that maybe I could go up there for a couple days after my placement finishes (that is, if I manage to free up a bit of time by also completing all my coursework ahead of schedule, ha ha right) and then complete the loop by returning by ferry, allll the way back down from Shetland to Aberdeen, a 12-hour trip by sea. Up by train and back down by ship. That certainly appeals to my romantic wanderlust...
Watch this space. Orkney ahoy!
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Edin-bra
So, I would like to correct a mistaken title on this blog from seven years ago – Edinburgh isn't pronounced "Edin-burra"; it's even shorter than that, more like "Edin-bra." Oh, Scottish pronunciation. You are never what you seem.
It was quite fun to reread that post from my first (and only previous) time in Edinburgh seven years ago. I remember saying "any city that builds its greatest, most ornate monument to a novelist is okay my book" (the monument to Sir Walter Scott – it's enormous) and many of my impressions remain the same: practically everything in Edinburgh looks like a castle (enough to charm even the most jaded Europe-hopper) and it's a really enjoyable place, full of culture and interesting goings-on. A favorite city of mine, I would say.
Anyway, here are photos from this time around. Click on this link to go to the album:
PICTURES FROM EDINBURGH!
Once again, it's in Google Photos, whose interface I don't love. If you can't see the photo captions (which are the most fun part!) click on the little "i" symbol at the upper right of any picture, and they should show up.
It was quite fun to reread that post from my first (and only previous) time in Edinburgh seven years ago. I remember saying "any city that builds its greatest, most ornate monument to a novelist is okay my book" (the monument to Sir Walter Scott – it's enormous) and many of my impressions remain the same: practically everything in Edinburgh looks like a castle (enough to charm even the most jaded Europe-hopper) and it's a really enjoyable place, full of culture and interesting goings-on. A favorite city of mine, I would say.
Anyway, here are photos from this time around. Click on this link to go to the album:
PICTURES FROM EDINBURGH!
Once again, it's in Google Photos, whose interface I don't love. If you can't see the photo captions (which are the most fun part!) click on the little "i" symbol at the upper right of any picture, and they should show up.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Luke, Ah'm Yer Da
More Scots language goodness! We had a guest speaker today – none other than the head of the National Library of Scotland. Yup, there are some perks to studying in a small country (and having a professor who knows everyone). National Librarian John Scally was engaging and hilarious – great fun to listen to, with lots of wisdom to share.
The bit I want to share with you, though, is an image that popped up rather unobtrusively on one of the slides in his presentation, but was so delightful that it sent me immediately googling to find out the story behind it:
Yes, Scottish librarians have an excellent sense of humor (and are apparently Star Wars fans). This was a poster for an exhibition the National Library did in 2012, though sadly it appears to be out of stock. (Understandably sold out, because it's awesome!)
The bit I want to share with you, though, is an image that popped up rather unobtrusively on one of the slides in his presentation, but was so delightful that it sent me immediately googling to find out the story behind it:
Yes, Scottish librarians have an excellent sense of humor (and are apparently Star Wars fans). This was a poster for an exhibition the National Library did in 2012, though sadly it appears to be out of stock. (Understandably sold out, because it's awesome!)
Post-Snowpocalypse
And I arrived back in Aberdeen on Sunday to find the supermarket emptied out – they couldn't get deliveries through to stock the store!
Here's an apologetic note on a lettuce display:
And the place where all the milk should be – on these 100% empty shelves:
Here's an apologetic note on a lettuce display:
And the place where all the milk should be – on these 100% empty shelves:
Friday, March 2, 2018
Edinburgh EDGE
This conference – the EDGE Conference hosted by Edinburgh City Libraries, to be specific – has been unforgettable.
For the past two days, I’ve been hearing speakers from around the world (Scotland, England, New Zealand, Netherlands, Canada, US, Belgium…) talk about ways libraries can help people combat the inequalities of poverty and the social exclusion of homelessness. It's inspiring, thought-provoking and I'm so, so grateful to have been offered a student spot to come here. Another one of those opportunities I can't believe there weren't dozens (or hundreds?) of people fighting me for!
I also got to meet so many inspiring professionals in this, my newly chosen field. I met the woman who's going to be my supervisor when I do my professional fieldwork placement in Orkney. I chatted a bunch with the head of Scotland's national librarians' organization (CILIPS, the equivalent of the ALA in the US). Had a fascinating conversation with the head of library services in the Western Isles (Outer Hebrides). Got all kinds of great ideas from conversations with a professor of library science from the Netherlands.
My mind is swimming with it and surely has a lot still to process, but I can't believe how many wonderful things I've gotten to see and do in just two days.
And, at dinner last night – since this is, after all, Edinburgh – the tables were themed for various Harry Potter characters. Truly, what's not to love?
For the past two days, I’ve been hearing speakers from around the world (Scotland, England, New Zealand, Netherlands, Canada, US, Belgium…) talk about ways libraries can help people combat the inequalities of poverty and the social exclusion of homelessness. It's inspiring, thought-provoking and I'm so, so grateful to have been offered a student spot to come here. Another one of those opportunities I can't believe there weren't dozens (or hundreds?) of people fighting me for!
I also got to meet so many inspiring professionals in this, my newly chosen field. I met the woman who's going to be my supervisor when I do my professional fieldwork placement in Orkney. I chatted a bunch with the head of Scotland's national librarians' organization (CILIPS, the equivalent of the ALA in the US). Had a fascinating conversation with the head of library services in the Western Isles (Outer Hebrides). Got all kinds of great ideas from conversations with a professor of library science from the Netherlands.
My mind is swimming with it and surely has a lot still to process, but I can't believe how many wonderful things I've gotten to see and do in just two days.
And, at dinner last night – since this is, after all, Edinburgh – the tables were themed for various Harry Potter characters. Truly, what's not to love?
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