some library notes

We had library orientation last night. I'm practically drooling over going in and exploring and learning. We use the Library of Congress system because, according to the librarian, they love us and don't want us to have to sort through all of the Dewey 200 section, because that's what all of our books would be. Dewey just doesn't work in a grad school situation.

I learned during the orientation the four rules of librarians:
1.) Wear sensible shoes.
2.) Eat all your vegetables.
3.) Never run with scissors.
4.) No surprises.

Also, did you know that library shelves are set to be 28 cms tall? (Well, here they are.)

And, our library is 101 years old. Very cool.

Some other stuff learned:
Cosmic Emotional Index: CEI: Cosmic Emotional Index. This is the property that says that the church copier will break on the Wednesday of Holy Week, when you need to print the bulletins for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and all the Easter services. But the copier will not, no not ever, break on Easter Monday. Even if you're using it just as much. The universe knows you need it and it is a meanybutt.
For the library, the CEI comes into play with interlibrary loan and the question "how long will it take to get here?" If you need it immediately, it will take seven days. If you have plenty of time, it will take three days.

And, finally, a note about librarians and making sure if you're going to sit and read a book on reserve, you actually do the two hour check out. Otherwise they can't find it and think it's been shelved wrong ...
"... and then we get flustered. It's not nice to fluster the librarians, so please don't fluster us!"