SOLC 2014 Day Twenty-five: Ebb and flow

Depending on when you walk into the library, you would think we're either crazy-busy, or have the quietest job in the world.

For fifteen minutes last Friday morning, this is what was happening concurrently in our facility:  

A husband and wife geology team were presenting to four kindergarten classes.  Eighty children were sitting criss-cross-applesauce on the carpeted floor while the geologists talked about rocks.

On the opposite side of the library in the Book Nook, over twenty fourth-graders were being positioned for their Newspaper Club yearbook photo.

And in the middle, two third grade classes were on their absolute best behavior while they checked out books.

It was wildly wonderful.  Everyone's tasks got done, thanks to the guidance of awesome teachers and the students' etiquette.

That morning was more of an exception than the norm.  Not that we don't get our share of traffic.  On average,for at least six out of eight hours a day, we have a class or program in the library--sometimes two classes at a time.  And those two "extra" hours are punctuated with individuals and groups "dribbling" in for materials.

I enjoy every minute of it.  And I don't feel guilty in those odd fifteen-minute spaces when it's just me and my assistant, as we're catching up on emails and book requests and talking out library plans and ideas.  Because I know we'll be busy again soon enough; we're just catching our breath for the next wave.