Last week was the first of the semester. We noticed this very much. There were incredible amounts of requests. At the same time the system we use for processing call slips decided to break down. The printer also. When I finally managed to get the right call slips printed, several of them lacked both title and author. Those details are quite important when you search for books. I'm glad I have strong nerves. Getting the call slips printed and sorted is my most important task at the library. If that fails, the consequences are quite serious. Most books did get out to the pick-up shelves but a few hours later than normal. We missed the noon deadline most days but that's understandable.
The weekend was spent at home. The weather wasn't that good, it snowed and rained. I had things to do in the kitchen. Both some cooking and moving items from there to the attic.
Monday, January 28, 2019
Monday, January 21, 2019
Archive open house
This Saturday some archives had open houses with lectures, book sales and information booths. I drove to Malmö City Archive to attend a lecture on old photographs. The archive was very crowded, it's incredible how this particular place attracts visitors. There were so many people that I didn't get a seat for the lecture. I had to stand outside the room and look at the presentation through a window.
While I was in that area anyway, I did a tour of the thrift stores. Again, I bought books for the library. This shopping has meant that I have been able to fill gaps at the Royal Library in Stockholm also. After the visit to central Malmö I went for lunch at Ikea and in their food store I got a jar of cloudberry jam. It's very tasty.
Over the weekend I removed all the Christmas ornaments and did some cleaning. In preparing for that big renovating project mentioned earlier, I started to get the kitchen items into storage in the attic. At the same time I tried to weed a little. It's amazing how much stuff you gather in cupboards and drawers.
While I was in that area anyway, I did a tour of the thrift stores. Again, I bought books for the library. This shopping has meant that I have been able to fill gaps at the Royal Library in Stockholm also. After the visit to central Malmö I went for lunch at Ikea and in their food store I got a jar of cloudberry jam. It's very tasty.
Over the weekend I removed all the Christmas ornaments and did some cleaning. In preparing for that big renovating project mentioned earlier, I started to get the kitchen items into storage in the attic. At the same time I tried to weed a little. It's amazing how much stuff you gather in cupboards and drawers.
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Start of new year
The beginning of the work year was pretty much like expected. I have had time to do a few minor projects and the number of requests have been rather low. It picked up this Monday and of course that's also when the system for handling these requests decided to break down. After some TLC from the technician it started again. He couldn't explain why it went down. We have the two extra workers another two weeks so I try to make the most of it now. Last week I attended a course in advanced Excel for librarians. I use Excel some in my job for statistics and collection lists. The teacher was a 22-year old guy and I have rarely had such a good teacher. We were all amazed. It was a very useful course and we all discovered new aspects to the system.
Sunday a week and a half ago my father came to visit again. We had lunch at a local restaurant and then watched sports on TV. We also discussed a large renovating project in my apartment.
This Saturday I went on an extensive fleamarket round in Malmö. It was daring of me because I can't really find my way in that city. It's large with lots of traffic. It turned out to be no problems at all driving there. Not even finding parking spaces proved difficult. I visited five second hand stores to buy books for the library. Also went shopping at a mall and had lunch at a burger place.
The weather is rather rainy and windy. There were some traffic problems this Monday morning, when it snowed, but apart from that it's not really a typically Swedish winter yet.
Sunday a week and a half ago my father came to visit again. We had lunch at a local restaurant and then watched sports on TV. We also discussed a large renovating project in my apartment.
This Saturday I went on an extensive fleamarket round in Malmö. It was daring of me because I can't really find my way in that city. It's large with lots of traffic. It turned out to be no problems at all driving there. Not even finding parking spaces proved difficult. I visited five second hand stores to buy books for the library. Also went shopping at a mall and had lunch at a burger place.
The weather is rather rainy and windy. There were some traffic problems this Monday morning, when it snowed, but apart from that it's not really a typically Swedish winter yet.
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
Christmas and New Year's
It was a very nice Christmas holiday. I travelled by train and bus to Borås already on Dec 20. The shopping started the next day. My mother had spotted a newly opened outlet store selling my size of clothes. I ended up getting a few items there; a cardigan, a pair of jeans and a top. I also went to several of the thrift stores and vacuumed the shelves for books to my library. I'm looking for fact books from a specific publisher that never sent the depository copies to us. Over the weekend we decorated the (real) tree at my sister's place and had some glögg. On the Sunday I got a present early: we went to see the movie Bohemian Rhapsody. A very good choice, it was definitely worth seeing.
Monday the 24th was the celebration at my sister's house. We followed the usual routines with Disney clips on TV, tomten/Santa, presents, lots of great food and a board game (at which I excelled, of course). My presents included a bracelet, a wire stand my mother had made, a Christmas ornament my niece had made and a gift certificate for a spa treatment.
Thursday after Christmas I travelled by car with my mother and her boyfriend and my niece to the summerhouse in Skåne. It was pretty cold there but we got the heaters going rather quickly. On the Saturday my father and his girlfriend came to visit and helped us weed some dead branches and trees in the back yard. That same day the rest of the family from Borås also joined us. Sunday we went to the new shopping mall in Kristianstad, where several of us bought shoes on sale. We had Asian buffet for lunch and then we drove out to a hiking area. It was about 7 degrees and somewhat sunny. It was a nice excursion.
New Year's Eve was this Monday. We prepared a three course meal. My sister made toast with goat cheese for starters, my mother made a chicken dish for the main meal and I made chocolate mousse with strawberries for dessert. Very tasty, all of it. At midnight we stood on the sandy beach watching the fireworks both to the north and south of us. We can see most of Skåne's east coast from there. Since I had to work today I returned home yesterday.
Monday the 24th was the celebration at my sister's house. We followed the usual routines with Disney clips on TV, tomten/Santa, presents, lots of great food and a board game (at which I excelled, of course). My presents included a bracelet, a wire stand my mother had made, a Christmas ornament my niece had made and a gift certificate for a spa treatment.
Thursday after Christmas I travelled by car with my mother and her boyfriend and my niece to the summerhouse in Skåne. It was pretty cold there but we got the heaters going rather quickly. On the Saturday my father and his girlfriend came to visit and helped us weed some dead branches and trees in the back yard. That same day the rest of the family from Borås also joined us. Sunday we went to the new shopping mall in Kristianstad, where several of us bought shoes on sale. We had Asian buffet for lunch and then we drove out to a hiking area. It was about 7 degrees and somewhat sunny. It was a nice excursion.
New Year's Eve was this Monday. We prepared a three course meal. My sister made toast with goat cheese for starters, my mother made a chicken dish for the main meal and I made chocolate mousse with strawberries for dessert. Very tasty, all of it. At midnight we stood on the sandy beach watching the fireworks both to the north and south of us. We can see most of Skåne's east coast from there. Since I had to work today I returned home yesterday.
Monday, December 17, 2018
Christmas party
Last Wednesday I held one more lecture on biographical works but this time for a different crowd. The board members of the Skåne Historical Society were visiting. They were enthusiastic, to say the least. Even though this is their subject area they had never heard of most of the books I showed.
Friday at the morning fika I was asked by one of the cataloguers where I will spend Christmas. After talking for a while about Borås (where the library science college is) we realized that we attended the library education at the same time - in the same class! She has been my colleague here for two years and we didn't recognize one another. The library education was a long time ago now, more than 20 years. I can't believe how fast time flies.
Friday evening there was a fabulous Christmas party at work. It was arranged by the cataloguers. The theme was kid's party. We had to be creative and make a pasta picture and there was also a quiz. The alternative Lucia songs with unexpected lyrics performed by the cataloguers were incredible. A very tasty buffet was served but it was not in Christmas style. Chocolate cake for dessert. We also got our presents from work, it's a gift certificate so we get to chose the present from a website.
The weekend was not that hectic, at least not compared to previous ones. Saturday I went shopping and ran some errands but mostly for other people. I found a few more books for the library. Sunday there was biathlon to watch on TV (the Swedes did very well) and my kitchen needed sanitary arrangements.
I just sent out the annual Christmas letter by e-mail. If anyone feels neglected, let me know. Since I'm going to Borås for the holiday it might take a while before I can write here next time. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Friday at the morning fika I was asked by one of the cataloguers where I will spend Christmas. After talking for a while about Borås (where the library science college is) we realized that we attended the library education at the same time - in the same class! She has been my colleague here for two years and we didn't recognize one another. The library education was a long time ago now, more than 20 years. I can't believe how fast time flies.
Friday evening there was a fabulous Christmas party at work. It was arranged by the cataloguers. The theme was kid's party. We had to be creative and make a pasta picture and there was also a quiz. The alternative Lucia songs with unexpected lyrics performed by the cataloguers were incredible. A very tasty buffet was served but it was not in Christmas style. Chocolate cake for dessert. We also got our presents from work, it's a gift certificate so we get to chose the present from a website.
The weekend was not that hectic, at least not compared to previous ones. Saturday I went shopping and ran some errands but mostly for other people. I found a few more books for the library. Sunday there was biathlon to watch on TV (the Swedes did very well) and my kitchen needed sanitary arrangements.
I just sent out the annual Christmas letter by e-mail. If anyone feels neglected, let me know. Since I'm going to Borås for the holiday it might take a while before I can write here next time. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Lots of great food
Last week I gave one more lecture on biographical works. My engagement in the education team meant that I have started to write a manuscript for an online film. It will be an instructional film on how to manage the database and handle check outs of books, returns and renewals. The work is going slowly, this is new territory for me.
Wednesday afternoon I attended a lecture at the Archive center. The University archivist had published a book containing stories about some of the students and professors he had encountered in the archive material. He showed some of this material and talked about these odd characters. It was a very entertaining lecture.
Friday there was After Work at a restaurant. Two colleagues got new jobs elsewhere and were seen off. It was a noisy but fun event, also the hamburger was worth the money.
During the weekend I decorated the apartment in the spirit of the season. There is now an overloaded tree in the living room and Christmas ornaments everywhere. It sparkles and glimmers. Sunday my father and his girlfriend came to pick me up. We went to Ikea in Helsingborg. I had told them about the marvelous Christmas buffet and after tasting it they totally agreed. Great food. We also went through the store and got some small things.
Monday I took leave and went by train and ferry to Helsingör (Elsinore) in Denmark. It's a nice town with several charity shops and one outlet store with plus sizes. I got three tops, all on sale. For lunch I had a typically Danish dish; fish and chips with remoulade sauce. I couldn't resist buying some Danish cheese also, the kind that smells a lot. It was a very nice visit to Denmark, despite the high winds and rain.
Wednesday afternoon I attended a lecture at the Archive center. The University archivist had published a book containing stories about some of the students and professors he had encountered in the archive material. He showed some of this material and talked about these odd characters. It was a very entertaining lecture.
Friday there was After Work at a restaurant. Two colleagues got new jobs elsewhere and were seen off. It was a noisy but fun event, also the hamburger was worth the money.
During the weekend I decorated the apartment in the spirit of the season. There is now an overloaded tree in the living room and Christmas ornaments everywhere. It sparkles and glimmers. Sunday my father and his girlfriend came to pick me up. We went to Ikea in Helsingborg. I had told them about the marvelous Christmas buffet and after tasting it they totally agreed. Great food. We also went through the store and got some small things.
Monday I took leave and went by train and ferry to Helsingör (Elsinore) in Denmark. It's a nice town with several charity shops and one outlet store with plus sizes. I got three tops, all on sale. For lunch I had a typically Danish dish; fish and chips with remoulade sauce. I couldn't resist buying some Danish cheese also, the kind that smells a lot. It was a very nice visit to Denmark, despite the high winds and rain.
Monday, December 3, 2018
Christmas music
There was a cold spell a week ago, when I had to scrape the ice off the windshield a few days in a row. It is now a lot warmer, about ten degrees and very wet. The month of December is dark here and many people decorate for the up-coming holiday early. My star is up in the window and I have spent some evenings making decorations with beads and wire.
Last week one of my collegues returned part-time from maternity leave. She needed training in the new database since she hadn't seen any of it. Thursday I held one of those lectures on biographical works I usually give when there are enough new employees who are interested. I handed out a long list of titles and brought some of the books to show.
The weekend was very busy. Saturday morning I brought some discarded things (both from me and my friend Eva) to a charity shop in Lund. Of course, I couldn't resist also to shop there. Only some small things. At 1 PM I met my father at the History museum. This weekend was the re-opening after repairs and entrance was free. There was a new display with finds of gold and silver items from an old grave field close to where my father lives. We spent hours in the museum and actually covered all the displays; curiosities, flint material, animal skeletons, barbaricum, classical statues, cathedral interiors, coin collection and treasures. All of it very interesting. After a late lunch with my father we parted ways and I continued on to a church in southern Lund. There was a small concert with the choir and a piano player. The theme was songs of the season. One of my colleagues is in the choir. Nice event, but sadly rather few attendants. I heard later that they had forgotten to include the event in their online calendar.
Sunday was very rainy but I decided on yet another thrift store round in the countryside. This time to a large place I had bever been to before. Incredible amount of Christmas ornaments for sale there. Didn't get any of that, but instead bought four books for the library. In the evening there was a concert in the local church. I walked across town to attend. It was the Police force band and choir giving their annual Christmas concert. Very nice event. The church was filled to the last seat.
Last week one of my collegues returned part-time from maternity leave. She needed training in the new database since she hadn't seen any of it. Thursday I held one of those lectures on biographical works I usually give when there are enough new employees who are interested. I handed out a long list of titles and brought some of the books to show.
The weekend was very busy. Saturday morning I brought some discarded things (both from me and my friend Eva) to a charity shop in Lund. Of course, I couldn't resist also to shop there. Only some small things. At 1 PM I met my father at the History museum. This weekend was the re-opening after repairs and entrance was free. There was a new display with finds of gold and silver items from an old grave field close to where my father lives. We spent hours in the museum and actually covered all the displays; curiosities, flint material, animal skeletons, barbaricum, classical statues, cathedral interiors, coin collection and treasures. All of it very interesting. After a late lunch with my father we parted ways and I continued on to a church in southern Lund. There was a small concert with the choir and a piano player. The theme was songs of the season. One of my colleagues is in the choir. Nice event, but sadly rather few attendants. I heard later that they had forgotten to include the event in their online calendar.
Sunday was very rainy but I decided on yet another thrift store round in the countryside. This time to a large place I had bever been to before. Incredible amount of Christmas ornaments for sale there. Didn't get any of that, but instead bought four books for the library. In the evening there was a concert in the local church. I walked across town to attend. It was the Police force band and choir giving their annual Christmas concert. Very nice event. The church was filled to the last seat.
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