Being resourceful means using all your resources...

So I get interlibrary loans for my patrons so they can do their research on a regular basis, especially at grant- and research paper-writing times. Generally I meet with success, maybe having a couple of articles retired in a year. One of them this time was mine. I'm doing a book review for a journal in my field and they suggested a chapter from a book, but when I put the request through DOCLINE, no one could reconcile the citation with the physical book, even though I can find the beginning of the said chapter in Google Books (but can't read the rest of the book).

Well, it'll probably come in too late for this one, but since I have become the book review queen (I have three already published, one submitted, and another in the works), I thought it was worthwhile to find the book. For free. Turns out I have credit at PaperBackSwap.com because I just sent someone my copy of Fatal Vision. It also turns out that the elusive book is in their system, so I requested it, and in a few days it'll hopefully be winging its way to me.

By the way, the book is Lester Snow King's Why Not Say it Clearly, a guide to concise and clear scientific writing, from 1978 (that's the citation I was given and the edition from which a library sent me the table of contents without mention of the book review, as well as the edition I found in Google Books). There's also one from 1991.

Never tell a librarian she can't get a book. :)

Today I was updating my résumé, since one book review was just published, two sections of a book will be out this month (although I have mixed feelings about that one; I had horrible writer's block and didn't do my best, but I haven't seen the final product), and a new award jury appointment to put on it. I'm not that accomplished, and it's not like I've done original research or anything like that, but considering I'm a part-time librarian, I've become fairly impressive on paper, anyway. :) I have fourteen items published (if you consider selecting and rating the annual Doody's picks for orthopaedics) and hopefully two more soon. Not bad for someone who still hasn't ever been able to go to a major professional conference and works in a tiny non-academic library. One of these days I need to fork over the money for membership in the Academy of Health Information Professionals. I've had the points for years; it's the money that's an issue. [At $195, it's less than accreditation for many professions, and that's once per five years, BUT I work part-time as a librarian and would not reap any increase in salary, etc., from applying.]

I guess that makes me certifiable :)

Several weeks ago I applied for state certification as a librarian. I do not need certification for my current job in a medical library, but it is a requirement for public libraries, and just to apply at Lexington Public Library requires the certificate. Since I periodically attempt to get a full-time job at the public library, it seemed a good move, especially as it is only $5 and for anyone with an MLS that's pretty much all you need to prove to get the initial certificate. As for renewal, that requires continuing education, and mine isn't public library focussed, of course, but rather tends to be medical library specific, so I don't know how best to proceed on that one for now. But the initial certificate is good for five years, so I have some time to find out if I need public library continuing education credits, etc. I got the certificate today from the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives, duly signed by the head of the Board (my former teacher, Dennis Carrigan, the one who blew up on the phone when he got my answering machine with 'Happy Happy, Joy Joy' on it but then we hit it off quite well once we met in person) and the Secretary of State. Only problem? The spelling of my name is wrong. Sometimes it's difficult to have a relatively common name with a not-so-common spelling. Mine's Elisabeth, not Elizabeth (Eilir is my middle name). This despite the fact I threw in my name change paperwork when I applied since my degree was granted under my former name (even though my name had been changed with the university before I graduated). Oh, well, I'm rather used to the mistake. As long as no one calls me Liz....

I do finally have a decent portfolio to seek accreditation with the Medical Library Association's Academy of Health Information Professionals, having authored a book chapter and article, done selections for Doody's, and acquired a lot of continuing education credits, but it also requires $175, so I can't do it just yet. I wish they took into consideration income on that like they do on dues. I'd like to have 'MSLS, AHIP' after my name on my business cards, and most MLA members seek Academy status as they get further into their careers, to the point where it's almost expected. I put it off for awhile, unsure of how long I wanted to pursue medical librarianship, but I figure I've been one for over eleven years now, so I might as well get on the bandwagon. Besides, I've done the work needed to attain it, I might as well go ahead with my application. You watch, about the time I am granted AHIP membership, I'll change jobs out of the medical field.

A rare day off

Well, okay, I am going over to a friend's house later to help with the weekly cleaning normally done before the game, and then there's notes, but we're not playing and so I have a few hours to pick up my own place (my couch is buried under junk mail and books), maybe get a nap (I was up late last night), and do some computer stuff.

I went ahead and got some bread this morning to go with my peanut butter, which will hopefully hold out until Thursday. I have that and potatoes, although very little butter, so I may take those to work where I can get butter in the cafeteria.

I also checked on my prescription for glucose test strips and it's out of refills. I have all my other prescriptions that haven't been taken in from Dr Nesbitt and there isn't one for them, so I'll call Monday and see it they can call one in.

I was running some numbers last night for what would happen if I actually got a job like the one at Lexington Public Library that I applied to. I would wind up with about $700 a month (allowing for rent, gas, food, phone, electricity, Internet, and student loans) that wouldn't be committed, I think. Say I take out $100 for other stuff. That would leave $600. I could put half of that in savings and another half towards my debts. That would be $10,000 in savings over three years, which I consider healthy. (They recommend 6 months' worth of savings for expenses in case of job loss or other calamity. For me that would be about $7,000.) I could pay off my debts (except for the student loans, which may take my entire life!) in two years and hopefully rehabilitate my credit (I owe about $5000 in debt, which isn't bad really, considering what some people carry. But I haven't been able to pay it on my salary yet, although I have paid off a dental bill and am almost finished with an old phone debt.)

I hope I get this job. If I do, there's going to be one ecstatic post on this blog. Or, if not, I hope I can find a similar one.

I also checked into getting certification for working in public libraries. It would basically mean sending in a copy of my diploma (and probably the court order for my name change, since my diploma is unfortunately under my old name and one of those debts is to the school, so I can't get it changed until I pay it, I think. In any case I don't have the $50 to change both my BA and MSLS documents. The fee for the certification is only $5. It's required for all public librarians in Kentucky. It also means getting 100 contact hours of continuing education credit over five years. I think that's doable.

I also figured up my points to get my AHIP certification and I have enough plus extra, but it's $175 for five years, payable up front, so it may be awhile before I can do it. Also there's really no point if I move into the public library track. I wish they had a tier, much like the membership, for a reduced rate for those who make less than a certain amount a year (I think the MLA's cut off is $30,000, which I am well over.)

Also, one of my customers mentioned the economic stimulus rebate and I said I didn't think I'd get mine because I owed taxes and they'd apply it. He said his sister did, too, and she got hers. So I wonder if I will get one after all. That would be great. I'm not due to get mine until sometime in June (it's done by the last two digits of your social security number, and mine is pretty high). So I'm hopeful for that.

Well, I guess I should get off here. Thanks for reading. I know my life isn't very exciting. :)

I think I finally got some rest

this week. I even got in a nap this afternoon. I have to be at work to check in the truck delivery in a little less than an hour, but since I had three hours to myself I took a nap, made supper, and picked up the house a little. I've also caught up on the news and my RSS subscriptions. I'm going to try to finish up my classwork either before I go in or later tonight, so I can get credit. Technically the class is over but we have until the 18th to submit our progress. I was looking at all the credit I've received last fall and this spring plus my writings and jury work for one of the MLA awards. Basically I have enough points to apply for the Academy of Health Information Professionals (AHIP). Although not a requirement for my job, it would help if I went to another medical library position, more than likely, and it's expected if you've been in the field for awhile. I put it off for some time not knowing if I wanted to continue this track of librarianship, but I've been a medical librarian for eleven years now, so I should probably go ahead and apply. The only stumbling block is that it's $175 and I don't have that in my professional dues budget, so I'll have to come up with it on my own, which isn't going to happen very quickly, especially as I owe taxes so I seriously doubt I'll get any of my tax rebate. But maybe towards the end of the year....

Yum

Philly cheese steak veggie burgers, nummy.

Today I got to sleep a half an hour in than usual because I had a consortium meeting. The directions weren't that clear for getting to the room, and I'd forgotten they'd moved the education centre, so I wound up walking through all of the hospital's pedways, through five buildings. I happy to say that the token I'd gotten last time still worked for getting out of the parking lot, even though no one thought it would. The topic was electronic journal licences, not my favourite, but something I don't know a lot about. The presenter started us off with a video.

That set the tone for the whole thing. That and one of our past presidents dressing up in chaps, vest, and cowboy hat. Plus there were neat gadgets given out--a highlighter that erases and a measuring tape with a level, pen, and notepad attached (I had to have help later discovering what the hell the pen was--it looked like some rolling bar, but then discoverd the sticky pad on my own). Lunch was nice--with salad, fruit, chips, and veggie wraps for the vegetarians (the carnivores had barbeque and baked beans).

After that I trudged back through the pedways, at least not lost this time, used the token mentioned earlier and headed for a store meeting, my only work this week. That lasted a couple of hours. I took a co-worker home, then it was off to do notes, and I just got in after putting in a couple of hours' work. It took an hour to decipher one page of notes. They are abysmal at times. I can't believe I ever got huffy and said they were good notes. Alas, I did. And now I'm paying for it.

Today's weather was wonderful. It's supposed to rain the rest of the week. I'm working Thursday for four hours, Friday for three, and then Saturday for eight, so a lighter schedule than normal. I was afraid I'd go right into a 27-hour workweek (on top of the normal 20 hours at the hospital). Our longest-lived employee (who's been there for 30 years) goes on vacation soon, so I'll probably work more then. Soon the store down the street will be knocked down and rebuilt to remodel (the one that was robbed the other night), so our business should skyrocket. And then the first week of July my boss is going on vacation for a week so some of the night people will move to days and I'll probably be working more; I may not be able to get off July 4th this year. At least I have warning, though.

What else can I tell you? I told you about the book that came out yesterday. I'm also serving as a Doody's selector in Orthopaedics for their Core Titles product and I'm the chair of a national awards jury through the MLA this coming year. I'm hoping at the end of the year to be able to apply for AHIP status (Academy of Health Information Professionals). I put it off for a long time thinking I wouldn't be a medical librarian very long but it's been ten years after all. :)

I'm also planning on applying to (yes, another public library) the local library where they have a reference position open in their Kentucky room. My history, archives, and preservation background would be a plus. Hopefully it will work out better than the last time.

Well, that's all for now. I think I'll relax a bit before I get a friend from work. He's been sick, so I doubt he'll work late tonight. Have a good night.