Three weeks to go...

Thursday 10th March 2016



Last day!!

It really brought it home to me today that time is running out - as I as stamping books with the day of my departure. Noooooo!

Had a busy day - the poets were on good form. I could hear them reading out their poems with gusto! Also, the computers were busy. I had a chap come in with his son - he said they were new to Silverdale. I got them signed up and the while his boy was on the computers his dad was looking at the black and white photos around the wall of the library.

They are all on loan from the Borough Museum and are of Silverdale mine and the miners working there. My dad worked there for the last twelve months that it was open. My new customer was asking me where it was - I told him that it was now under the Country Park. He asked what kind of mine it was -so I told him -coal. He told me he as interested because he was from a town in Zambia where there was a copper mine. I showed him our local history section so he could find out more.

I also had Mrs D in - she was trying to renew her American passport online. She is from California. She likes it in Silverdale so much- she says she wouldn't go back! I told her I'd been to San Francisco last year and she told me she lived there for a year or so. Then she moved upstate to Gold Country - which was really out in the middle of nowhere. I asked if she saw a lot of wildlife and she said she used to have brown bears on her porch! Don't get that in Silverdale!

I was dreading the afternoon as our new Community Librarian was coming to hold a Finding Out session for prospective volunteers. I really didn't want to sit there and hear him telling people what wonderful opportunities and roles are available. It was as upsetting as I feared. Although only four people came - I didn't like to think they'll be replacing me. I needed a drink when I got home!!

Trying Monday...

Monday 7th March 2016

It has indeed been quite a trying day today. Mainly because of the new bus pass system that has been installed over the last 2 weeks. That means that no-one has been able to apply for or renew a bus pass all this time - so many have been eagerly awaiting the day that the new system was up and running. That was meant to be today.

I only realised on Friday that with Silverdale being a future "Community Managed Community Staffed"  library they didn't want me doing bus passes through the system for customers - and then lose this service when I am redundant at the end of the month. So, my customers have to do it themselves using the public access computers. Also the new requirement is to have the proof of ID documents photographed via a webcam. They won't give me a login and password so I can do it for them - as I'd been doing over the last few years..

Lavender-Scented heart

So, I don't think that many of my customers who come in to renew their bus passes have actually even touched a computer before. This would mean instead of me doing it at my PC, quickly and easily - I have to get them signed up for internet access, give them a PIN, show them how to login, show them how to find the bus pass link from the County Council website, then how to fill in all the boxes and plug in a webcam and photograph themselves and their documents!

There just won't be time when I have the counter to staff on my own.

In total I had seven people in during the morning - including one man who'd brought his elderly auntie in. Unfortunately there was no link from the council website - just a note saying it was unavailable. I tried ringing every number I have for Newcastle library - but no-one answered the phone. I eventually got someone in Cannock, who said that they'd not had the icon yet for the website so they couldn't put it on yet.

So, I had to send them all away. I don't like it when I can't help people. :-(

Had the Coffee Tots in today as usual it was a loud and lively session. Also, Crossword Guy came in but didn't need help with his crossword! I know - I was shocked too! What he did want was the lyrics to "Just a Song at Twilight" as it had been driving him mad trying to think of the beginning. I Googled it and printed him out the lyrics and he went off happy. The song is actually called "Love's Old Sweet Song"

I have been sent a form to fill in - asking for details of all the things that future volunteers will need to know about Silverdale - like where the light switches are and how you test the fire alarms. The final question was "Any Other useful information specific to your library - you can see what I wrote.
My heart Blast from the Past picture is a lavender pomander made for me by the local vicar's wife back in October 2014. :-)

Snowy Saturday

Saturday 5th March 2016

Before I even opened up today I had a visit from another member of staff - this time from  Clayton. Very nice lady but she wasn't sure how she was meant to cover Silverdale on Saturdays as she is only working 3 hours per week and it's open 4 hours. Still, I went through everything again- opening, closing, cashing up etc. etc. I have a feeling I'll be telling somebody this stuff every day until I leave!



I had an email asking staff to display the notice here. It's telling customers that pretty soon people from the community could be accessing their data that we hold on file for them. I guess library records do have a lot of sensitive data - with names, dates of birth, addresses mobile phone numbers. I think a few customers might be worried.

It was a pretty busy morning once my visitor had gone and the library was open. Mr C was picking his horses - but aid it wasn't a good day as due to the weather there were quite a few non-runners.

Amelia - one of the local councillors popped in to see the baby mats and 2 wooden changing tables that she'd ordered for use in the library. The Parish Council had agreed to pay for them. Then she rushed off in a hurry and told me they were easy to put together! I'm not sure when I'll get chance to do that! The Coffee Tots will need them on Monday.




My Blast from the Past is a photo I took a couple of years ago. I don't now what I was trying to get - but it made me laugh to see the customer behind the shelves and the face on the book. It's just perfect! I wish I could remember who it was now!

It's all Kicking off in Silverdale!

Friday 4th March 2016

It's been quite an interesting afternoon! To start with I had to get the room and the tea and biscuits ready for the Knit and Natter Group - and sure enough they were the first through the doors when I opened at 1pm.

Then I'd had an email from the boss at Newcastle saying that she would be visiting today to show the new Site Supervisor for Newcastle around the library. She needs to know how to open and close the place - as well as find out about the various tasks in the library from testing the water to preparing  the invoices for the room hires and washing all the towels.

The automatic door at Silverdale definitely has a mind of its own and can be very troublesome when it wants to be. In fact me and Tracy used to say it was possessed. I've got kind of used to its wicked ways - it can just open and close continuously for a whole morning, for example - if it sets its mind to it. I now have a straightened-out extra large paper clip which I insert into a particular hole if it doesn't behave :-)

The whole opening, shutting and alarm-setting  the library has traumatised many people - so I have tried to make it easier by writing out the procedure step-by-step. There are quite a lot of steps it must be said, involving as it does four different sized keys and a mysterious black fob - but if you follow them to the letter you are usually fine :-0

I think the alarm might be going off a few times in the first few weeks of my absence! 

While I was waiting for my visitors and in between customers I decided to weed the Mills and Boon I really have too many of them. I can't believe books with these kind of titles are still popular in this day and age! What would Emma Watson say? :-)

I was just about to wash up after the Knitting group when my boss arrived. It had been snowing for most of the afternoon - but it wasn't sticking - thank-goodness. The new supervisor was with her - and she will be responsible for timetabling her staff to cover Silverdale until we have lots of volunteers to run it.

Just as I was taking her through everything, suddenly there was a lot of loud shouting outside! We looked through the windows and saw two cars draw up and some young chaps running around. Then a police car - sirens blaring and blue lights flashing arrived at speed and screeched to a halt right outside. The  men were all talking at the officers at the same time and they all ran off to the Co-op right next-door. Then Coral, the library cleaner arrived and said there were some very agitated youths in the Parade and one  covered in blood. Some trying to calm others down. She was scared to come round to the library so her hubby drove her round.

My visitors looked a little shocked and nervous when they left shortly afterwards. When I left a few minutes later there was an ambulance there and a man being treated in the Co-op. I saw him being led into the ambulance as I drove away. No idea what had happened.

I know that Nathan worries about me working in Silverdale and thinks 'll be lucky to get away with my life at the end of the month, but I don't think it's too bad. Most people are so lovely although I have had a few scares while working there. The main problem came from just one customer - who was verbally abusive and somewhat unstable. The 8 months he was in prison for drug dealing were the most relaxed I'd ever felt there because I never had to think - I wonder if he will come in and ruin my day today. I knew I was safe! You do feel a little exposed working in a building that anyone can use - more so since Tracy left two years ago and I spend long periods working alone.

The scariest time was just after Christmas on a very dark morning when I opened up at 8.30am. There wasn't a soul about - as the kids were all on holiday so no parents taking them to school There was a chap stood outside the library as I arrived. He moved off while I unlocked and went in - but once inside he started to peer through the windows and follow me around as I got things up and running. I went into the back office where he couldn't see me and tried to call someone at Newcastle - but it was early and no-one answered. I did resolve to not unlock at 9am if he was still there - as he would be the only person in the building beside me. I was actually very scared. After a while I peered round the door and I couldn't see him at all. So, I did unlock the doors on time - but I was very nervous until some people I knew came in.

Just for me...

I did report this later to the bosses and asked for the CCTV to be put back. It had never worked since I had been there. They did actually send someone over to measure up for a new system - but when the quotes came they said it was too expensive and they'd look for another solution. That was the last I heard of it! Luckily, I never saw the chap again!

Oh dear - this has been quite serious hasn't it? I guess every job has it's downside. Anyway - back to the good stuff! My Blast from the Past is from when Simon Armitage visited Silverdale. After our session he did an event at Keele University - which I got tickets to. He is a great performer - and he signed my copy of his book afterwards  :-) I shall treasure it always!

World Book Day

Thursday 3rd March 2016

Eeek! I'm into my last month ever of working at Silverdale Library. This has been the best and nicest job I've ever had and I love coming in every day.

Nathan took me into work - as he needed the car today. He also brought his drone with him. I bought it for him a couple of Christmases ago but it hasn't had much use. Today he used it to take some video in the library. Obviously he did this before we opened - didn't want to be flying it into any customers and giving them a buzz cut! It worked really well and took quite a bit of video from above - I've not seen it from that angle before. Once he has edited some - I'll put a link on here so you can see it.  It looks brilliant!



Cute books for boys :-)

It was a really busy day today too. So many people in that I'd never seen before - many using the computers. Sometimes I get customers from further afield - like Newcastle - because we have a free car park in Silverdale - right by the library. No steps or stairs either :-)

Had a couple of problems to sort out - one uploading a CV to Universal Job match (a doddle!) and another who wanted to print out the application to become a cricket umpire. After many goes at pressing PRINT and nothing happening I realised that we needed to download the pdf before it would actually print out. That worked and the chap was very happy. He had got to the point of asking me if he could take a hammer to the PC - but luckily that wasn't necessary in the end.



Books for tough girls :-)

It was World Book Day today - and I had some free £1 book tokens to hand out to any kids that came in. However, as the banking needed doing and my lovely boss T came for the whole afternoon - I wasn't there for the end of the day. I don't see many kids in during the week. It's difficult with us closing at 4.30pm - as there is only the last hour or so when they can get in after school. I was looking forward to seeing some of them dressed up in literary costume.

Had lots of new kids books in too - I'm not sure I approve of the cute, fluffy, helpful animal books aimed at girls and the tough, scary monster-fighting books aimed at boys. I think I'll be encouraging them to take the opposite - would do both sexes some good!

Read the instructions!

Victory!

My Blast from the Past today comes from  last July and represents every summer when I've had to try and construct the Summer Reading Challenge dump bins all by myself! Tracy was so much better at them than me! They were a challenge - but I feel quite sad that I won't be doing it again this year :-(

I do like Mondays...

Monday 29th February 2016


It's Leap Day - and according to the internet we don't get paid for working an extra day!  As Feb is coming very rapidly to an end I thought I'd take a selfie at the counter. :-)

Lots happening today too. There was another PEEPS session - parenting classes run in conjunction with the local Children's Centre. That took place in the bigger of our meeting rooms. I could hear a few choruses of Row, Row, Row the Boat halfway through the morning.

The chap from Trinity came to check our fire alarms. As Premises Manager (Oh yes - I am more than just a qualified librarian!) I have to test the alarms and emergency lighting every week. I also have to check the water temperatures throughout the building for legionella once a month. These all have to be recorded in the Health and Safety Manuals.

Fire alarm testing

The Trinity chap has been coming here every sixth months for the last few years. He has special equipment to puff smoke at the alarms to see if they go off. I had to warn the customers to expect a very loud siren - but that they didn't have to run outside  this time.

He overheard me talking about my imminent redundancy to one of my customers and he interrupted to say that he was really sorry to hear that! He looked really upset! I was quite touched!

Crossword Guy aka Mr S was in too. He had quite a list for me today. Here we go:

1. An Olympic bronze winning German cyclist with the first name Judith

2. A member of the giraffe family with brown stripy legs - 5 letters

You are feeling sleepy...

3. The first name of weightlifter McKenzie - begins with P
4. The title of a Slayer Album - Hell .....
5. Another name for Perspex - begins with L
6. A type of popular cake Red ______

Answers below!
I knew a couple and checked out the others on the internet. He went off happy. Well, I say happy - he said he was off back to the washing up. He had been hoping that the doctor would say he couldn't do any more washing up! It's a hard life :-)

My Blast from the Past is a book we had in a little while ago. It caused quite a stir as it guarantees to get your kids to sleep. I had a look at it and I wasn't sure how it would work. It was quite complicated - as you had to emphasise some words and say other quietly and slowly. It made it quite difficult to read and the story didn't really flow. I'm not sure what little ones would think of it. It has to appeal to them if it is to become a bedtime favourite!


Answers: 1. Arndt 2. Okapi 3. Precious 4. Awaits 5. Lucite 5. Velvet

Sunny Saturday

Saturday 27th February 2016

Busy Saturday

Mr and Mrs O

It was a busy, busy morning! Lots of regulars and a few new faces came in. I had a queue at the counter and the phone ringing at one point. Loved it - the time went in a flash.

Mr and Mrs O came in - usually they come in during the week. They have a caravan in Blackpool and spend half the week there - in the warmer months. Mrs O takes a lot of books out each time.

She told me today that she is going into hospital on Tuesday to get a new knee! She said that she hopes she'll be up and about again by the time my last day comes along - as she wants to come to my Tea Party.

Also, she confided that she's worried about the kind of books Mr O might bring her when he comes in on his own. I told her I'll save her some new ones - so she'll get something she likes. She's very into crime - so I know what to keep for her.

Hanging Basket Cases!

My Blast from the Past today are more photos from May 2013 when we had the staff from Biddulph Grange show us how to make our own hanging baskets. I still have the (empty) basket outside. I will have to try to remember what they taught us - so I can refill it for this summer.

You need lots of moss!

I had a phone call from one of the staff at Clayton. She was asking me when she could come over to go through the opening and closing routines of the library. It turns out that she is going to be covering Silverdale every other Thursday afternoon. Clayton is one of our libraries that is surviving with paid staff. That and Kidsgrove and of course - Newcastle, our HQ.

The other five - Silverdale, Knutton, Talke, Audley and Loggerheads were meant to be "community owned and community staffed" except that no groups came forward to take any of them over. As far as I know - no volunteers have materialised to run yet them either. This means the remaining three libraries in our district are going to have to somehow staff and manage these five as well. With a much reduced staff. No-one I have spoken to yet know how this is going to be accomplished. It's only four weeks to the day 80 staff leave the service in Staffordshire. I heard rumours today that at least six more have resigned this week - as most people have not got the hours or locations they wanted.

I really want Silverdale to survive!