Big snowstorm today, but we thought it not big enough to close early.

At 3:45 I was taking a 15-minute powernap in my office when Librarian J phoned me. "You ARE aware that we're closing in ten minutes because of the snow?"

Uh, no, I wasn't. Thanks.

I imagined myself waking up in 15 minutes, coming out to the ref desk and finding the lights out and everyone gone ...

An Admin Guy approaches, holding a copy of A companion to wolves, by Sarah Monette and Elizabeth Bear.

Admin Guy: Someone complained about this book.
Me: Huh! I read her blog.
AG: (flipping through the pages too quickly to actually read them) I don't see anything wrong with it ... (Shrugs)

Never mind, I obviously decided to do it. Now the daily reference stuff will be Twittered on the side.

This gives me the main blog space to write what I want, if I can think of anything to write.

Though Twittering the ref desk is a novelty for now, I'm sure it will wear off, though it's easier than how I used to do it. I don't have to cut and paste from a notepad, and I've now lost (I believe) most of the linking capabilities, which is a load off my mind.

I stopped daily reports five years ago because of burnout. I don't intend for that to happen again. We'll see.

General Question

I'm thinking of continuing this using Twitter in some way.

Or is someone already doing it?

Thoughts?

An Actual HARD Reference Question

Name the battleships used for heavy bombardment in the Battle of Saipan. Not the first batch of ships. He wants the eight pre-Pearl Harbor monsters they brought in the next day, commanded by Admiral Oldendorf.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? No, it was a tough question, and I loved working on it.

But it took forever because of the other questions: printer advice, how to open a file on a dead floppy, tax forms, Pelzer books ...

In the Morning

Pen.
Paper and pencil.
Go ahead. Use the computer.
She tries to scrounge up the money to print out a Project runway application.
Yet another person asks permission to use the self-service computers ...
Loading Flash.
Dreamers of the day, by Mary Doria Russell, The blue star, by Tony Earley and The rain before it falls, by Jonathan Coe.
Of mice and men on DVD.
A loud family comes in, each of them demanding library cards so they can fill out online tax forms. I give them a little help, and now they can't even press Enter without calling me over with needy looks.
Shh!
Be a real estate millionaire, by Dean Graziosi.
She needs copier help ... no she doesn't.
William F. Buckley books.
Friday after next.
Income tax forms are out in the lobby, sir.
Out in the lobby, sir.
Fax.
Zig Ziglar and Og Mandino
Shut up!
Push the Request button, sir. That one there.