It's still very quiet at work. We are perhaps ten people in the building. Normally, there are 110 staff members. I'm the only one in my department here, so I take care of the interlibrary loans and incoming packages, as well as the internal desk. There really isn't much to do with this. The summerworkers did a very good job at the storage and are now in the main building again. Apart from desk duty, they also exchange old cardboard boxes in the stacks, shelve books and search for missing books.
I have engaged in the reference project recently. We are weeding the reference collection. It has never been done before and since this library is very old, some books have been there way too long. I'm currently reviewing the biographical works. It's my speciality, so I'm familiar with most of the titles. Even so, it's difficult to decide which books to keep there and which should be moved to the stacks. About 10-15% of the collection is moved, generally.
The weekend before last I was asked to go to a seaside town to the northeast, Höganäs. I'm pretty sure I have never been there before, which is remarkable. My sister, her husband and daughter had borrowed the family sailboat and made a stop in Höganäs. My mother and her boyfriend also came from the eastcoast. We had blueberry pie (mother's homemade) at some large benches at the harbor. Then we went on a short road trip north, to a castle. We walked in the park and visited a small museum. Later we found a barbecue place in the forest just by the ocean, where we grilled some sausages. Some family members jumped into the ocean but of course I had forgotten my swimsuit so I just sat and watched the others. In all, it was a very nice visit to Höganäs, and I might have to go back there because I noticed many signs for fleamarkets and outlet stores.
At the summersales I have made some bargains. I got two tops at 70% off, which I think is pretty affordable.
Thursday, July 30, 2020
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Shelving
The past two weeks the weather has been a lot more chilly and windy. It's only about 16 degrees outside. It's cold for being in July. Not nice for the people who are on vacation but I'm not complaining. The biggest problem now is to find an open restaurant where I can eat lunch. Most of them are closed. I will have to bring my own food most days, and my cooking abilities are not always that marvelous.
I have spent the past two weekends at home. There have been some things going on. I put new soil in most of the pots for my house plants, cleared some things from the attic to give to charity and went grocery shopping.
Last week I brought our new boss to the storage. I showed her around, explaining how we work and what issues we have with the electric shelving systems. I put her to work - she shelved some dissertations, while I shelved books from the old catalog. I'm saying we have been lucky with this recruitment. She definitely is not afraid of work.
This week we are only two staff members in the stacks, plus one stationed at the storage. It was decided earlier that we will not have any retrieval service at all starting this week and until August 10. It has already caused problems and people are wondering why on earth we have done something like this. It is extremely rare that our library (which is by far the biggest in the network) has no service during the summer. With the information we had in April, this was the right decision. But now when I know that we have four-five extra workers, we could have retrieved at least the books in the main library. We can't change it now, these extra workers have other projects to do.
I have spent the past two weekends at home. There have been some things going on. I put new soil in most of the pots for my house plants, cleared some things from the attic to give to charity and went grocery shopping.
Last week I brought our new boss to the storage. I showed her around, explaining how we work and what issues we have with the electric shelving systems. I put her to work - she shelved some dissertations, while I shelved books from the old catalog. I'm saying we have been lucky with this recruitment. She definitely is not afraid of work.
This week we are only two staff members in the stacks, plus one stationed at the storage. It was decided earlier that we will not have any retrieval service at all starting this week and until August 10. It has already caused problems and people are wondering why on earth we have done something like this. It is extremely rare that our library (which is by far the biggest in the network) has no service during the summer. With the information we had in April, this was the right decision. But now when I know that we have four-five extra workers, we could have retrieved at least the books in the main library. We can't change it now, these extra workers have other projects to do.
Friday, July 3, 2020
Great waves
Last week it was really hot weather, around 30 degrees over the weekend. I was at the summerhouse, like usual. It was marvelous to jump into the ocean. Great waves and relatively warm water. My mother's 70th birthday was not really celebrated. She wanted a short road trip as a present, we hope to do that later this summer. The residents of Sweden are now allowed to travel within the country, this means that there are huge amounts of holiday makers in Skåne.
This week it's cooler weather, and more rain. At work I have been able to do several trips to the storage. Our temporary workers are vacuuming the floors there. We try to get that done at least once a year. We actually do have a cleaning service but they only vacuum the corridors, not in between the shelves.
Our new boss is beginning to find her way in the building. It's a complicated house because it has been added on several times and not all elevators go to the same floors. We had a long meeting, where I tried to explain what I actually do here. She knew a fair amount of it already but needed more details. She sat next to me one morning when I printed the requests, so she got some insight in that part of the job.
Yesterday one of the residents of my birth town was laid to rest. We were not related but she was very interested in the local community and always encouraged me to do more research. Especially if it meant that the historical society would get a copy of the results. The funeral was different for several reasons. It was held outdoors in the pasture, in between the historical society museum and her residence. It was broadcast live on the funeral parlor's website. I attended by watching online. Rest in peace, Rose-Marie.
This week it's cooler weather, and more rain. At work I have been able to do several trips to the storage. Our temporary workers are vacuuming the floors there. We try to get that done at least once a year. We actually do have a cleaning service but they only vacuum the corridors, not in between the shelves.
Our new boss is beginning to find her way in the building. It's a complicated house because it has been added on several times and not all elevators go to the same floors. We had a long meeting, where I tried to explain what I actually do here. She knew a fair amount of it already but needed more details. She sat next to me one morning when I printed the requests, so she got some insight in that part of the job.
Yesterday one of the residents of my birth town was laid to rest. We were not related but she was very interested in the local community and always encouraged me to do more research. Especially if it meant that the historical society would get a copy of the results. The funeral was different for several reasons. It was held outdoors in the pasture, in between the historical society museum and her residence. It was broadcast live on the funeral parlor's website. I attended by watching online. Rest in peace, Rose-Marie.
Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Midsummer
Things have slowed down at work. There are still quite a few returns to deal with but our temporary workers have done a good job of shelving. We now have five extra people here in the stacks part-time. They also man the information desk but it's only open five hours a day. There are always projects to do, for instance replace old boxes with new ones, review collections and move books.
Recently I received a newly produced book where my name was mentioned in the preface. I had helped with references, so it was not a big job.
Last week we had a nice AW under a tree in the botanical gardens. Last Monday our new department head started. We had an online meeting with her (we have to do this even though most people are in the same building). I really haven't seen her much, she has been busy with a lot of meetings. She has a lot to learn about the house and us.
The Midsummer weekend was spent at the summerhouse. It was a quiet celebration. We had the traditional herring for lunch and (very expensive) strawberries for dessert. In the garden there is a nesting box in a tree. It was occupied by a starfinch family. Just this weekend the parents decided to kick their kids out. It was intriguing to see the four small chickens fly for the first time. We watched from the deck only a few meters away. This weekend I went for a dip in the ocean for the first time this season. I'm not saying the water was warm but it was tolerable.
The weather forecast said lots of rain, thunder and lightning but we only saw a little rain. The weather is now sunny and warm. It's the time of year I suffer the most. I really can't stand hot weather.
Recently I received a newly produced book where my name was mentioned in the preface. I had helped with references, so it was not a big job.
Last week we had a nice AW under a tree in the botanical gardens. Last Monday our new department head started. We had an online meeting with her (we have to do this even though most people are in the same building). I really haven't seen her much, she has been busy with a lot of meetings. She has a lot to learn about the house and us.
The Midsummer weekend was spent at the summerhouse. It was a quiet celebration. We had the traditional herring for lunch and (very expensive) strawberries for dessert. In the garden there is a nesting box in a tree. It was occupied by a starfinch family. Just this weekend the parents decided to kick their kids out. It was intriguing to see the four small chickens fly for the first time. We watched from the deck only a few meters away. This weekend I went for a dip in the ocean for the first time this season. I'm not saying the water was warm but it was tolerable.
The weather forecast said lots of rain, thunder and lightning but we only saw a little rain. The weather is now sunny and warm. It's the time of year I suffer the most. I really can't stand hot weather.
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Spa visit
At work there have been lots of meetings. All of them online. I get a lot of desk duty also. This is because two of my colleagues are working from home. One other has also been sick. I find myself covering for all of them. I haven't done much of my ordinary work lately so the piles on my desk are high. This Monday the library building opened up a little more so the patrons can access the reference collection and sit here and study. This time of year we get enormous amounts of returns. Normally I sort one or two carts a day, but now it's three or four. The book drop box is overflowing every morning.
This Monday the Economics library moved 72 meters of journals to our storage. They chose to hire a moving company to do the work. It turned out very well, they placed the journals on the shelves with great care.
I spent the Whitsun weekend at the summerhouse all alone. On that Saturday I hosted a tour of the Norra Strö cemetery. It was one of very few activities the historical society could arrange, since it was outdoors. Only a few people showed up but we had a good time. The visit to the summerhouse was relaxing, apart from the plant watering and lawn mowing.
This past Saturday I drove to the middle of Skåne. I picked my mother up at the train station and we went to a spa. It was very nice to soak in the hot pools (one indoor and one outdoor). There were foot baths, comfortable chairs, two saunas and rain showers. We had been given this for our birthdays (my mother turns 70 later). Dinner was really fancy; three course meal. Main dish was fish, dessert elderflower mousse. Not bad at all. We stayed overnight and the breakfast buffet was extensive. After a short walk in the neigborhood (we visited the middle point of Skåne, a metal monument at a creek) I drove my mother back to the summerhouse. I spent the afternoon there and got both lunch and dinner. Then drove home again in the evening.
This Monday the Economics library moved 72 meters of journals to our storage. They chose to hire a moving company to do the work. It turned out very well, they placed the journals on the shelves with great care.
I spent the Whitsun weekend at the summerhouse all alone. On that Saturday I hosted a tour of the Norra Strö cemetery. It was one of very few activities the historical society could arrange, since it was outdoors. Only a few people showed up but we had a good time. The visit to the summerhouse was relaxing, apart from the plant watering and lawn mowing.
This past Saturday I drove to the middle of Skåne. I picked my mother up at the train station and we went to a spa. It was very nice to soak in the hot pools (one indoor and one outdoor). There were foot baths, comfortable chairs, two saunas and rain showers. We had been given this for our birthdays (my mother turns 70 later). Dinner was really fancy; three course meal. Main dish was fish, dessert elderflower mousse. Not bad at all. We stayed overnight and the breakfast buffet was extensive. After a short walk in the neigborhood (we visited the middle point of Skåne, a metal monument at a creek) I drove my mother back to the summerhouse. I spent the afternoon there and got both lunch and dinner. Then drove home again in the evening.
Friday, May 29, 2020
Ascension weekend
The past three weeks things have been pretty much the same. I work, eat and sleep, basically. At work I have attended several online meetings. There was also one physical meeting at the Economics library but only three people attended so it was not crowded. My department also got to meet the new boss. It's a very experienced woman from a faculty library. I know her from before and think she is an excellent choice for this job. She starts mid-June.
About once a week I have been to the storage. Mostly to bring returns there and do some shelving. We still have no retrieving service from the storage. It's a problem for the students. The faculty libraries are forced to order those titles on interlibrary loan instead. It's absurd.
The previous weekend was the Ascension weekend so we had four days off. I spent it at the summerhouse. My mother, however, was in Borås. Instead my sister and her family came to visit. I hadn't seen them in a quite a while. In a moment of weakness I agreed to join the others on a 12 km hike in hilly terrain. It was an ordeal but I survived. Another day we also went on a drive in the countryside, stopping at a very old café. The walnut cake was very nice.
About once a week I have been to the storage. Mostly to bring returns there and do some shelving. We still have no retrieving service from the storage. It's a problem for the students. The faculty libraries are forced to order those titles on interlibrary loan instead. It's absurd.
The previous weekend was the Ascension weekend so we had four days off. I spent it at the summerhouse. My mother, however, was in Borås. Instead my sister and her family came to visit. I hadn't seen them in a quite a while. In a moment of weakness I agreed to join the others on a 12 km hike in hilly terrain. It was an ordeal but I survived. Another day we also went on a drive in the countryside, stopping at a very old café. The walnut cake was very nice.
Monday, May 11, 2020
Interesting research
The service level at the library is down to record breaking low standards. This really isn't good. Many students will have problems later because of this. The bosses are worried about the staff, but so far we have no problems managing even though two people are at home.
The first weekend in May was spent at the summerhouse. May 1st is a holiday here, so it was worth the trip. We didn't do much, really. We sat in the sun on the deck or on the grass, depending on the sun's movement.
I have reviewed some of my research projects. One of them I can't finish because I need archive material placed in Stockholm. It's not possible to go there now. Recently, both me and a colleague have found more details about our respective seafaring Danish ancestors. Denmark had colonies in far away places. My ancestor Helsdingen sailed a route of Copenhagen, Cape in South Africa, Madagaskar, east coast of India, and sometimes also to China. These voyages took months and were very dangerous. I have found more details about his career and the ship he sailed with, Holsteen. This research is so interesting I borrowed a 400-page book in Danish about these colonies in India.
The first weekend in May was spent at the summerhouse. May 1st is a holiday here, so it was worth the trip. We didn't do much, really. We sat in the sun on the deck or on the grass, depending on the sun's movement.
I have reviewed some of my research projects. One of them I can't finish because I need archive material placed in Stockholm. It's not possible to go there now. Recently, both me and a colleague have found more details about our respective seafaring Danish ancestors. Denmark had colonies in far away places. My ancestor Helsdingen sailed a route of Copenhagen, Cape in South Africa, Madagaskar, east coast of India, and sometimes also to China. These voyages took months and were very dangerous. I have found more details about his career and the ship he sailed with, Holsteen. This research is so interesting I borrowed a 400-page book in Danish about these colonies in India.
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