Laboyraryan. Storyteller. Demigod.

The New York Public Library released its Children's Books 2010, an annual list consisting of 100 titles that are notable within a year [obviously, it's 2010 this time]. 

Among the list are two creations of a friend, George O' Connor. Ever since I saw his blog, I never got tired of reading his articles and I always anticipate for new entries and new books that he would soon illustrate. [My own blog is also inspired by this Greek-themed stories.] Here are the two books he illustrated that got into the list:

Another notable title is Sharon Draper's Out of my Mind.

I remember my friend Bee and I were just talking about this book and she promised me that she'll borrow this book for me as a present this Yuletide Season. Here's the synopsis of the book:

Click here for the complete list of NYPL's Children's Books 2010: 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, in PDF. Enjoy! ☺

It may all sound trivial, absurd and at the same time, mundane, but upon reading the whole book, I think I got the message that it wanted to convey: That Librarians, although they do not possess super powers, are extra cool because they tend to know almost everything [well, at least, their collection] and know the appropriate users of these knowledge. And that's Miss Prue, your cool school librarian.

The only drawback, I think, is how the book depicted Miss Prue. In spite the know-it-all attitude as evidently seen in this line:

Sadly, Miss Prue still remained as an old-fashioned librarian. She's still an old maiden [I assume] wearing glasses covered in a bunch of overcoats. I guess it would have been more cool if she was wearing a more modern attire like a corporate-looking attire or she could have been depicted as a hot chick or a hot dude [which I would have preferred more].

"Hey Sir! Why are you so cool?" -- that's what most of my days are made up of. Students would first ask you trivial questions, then the quizzical and then this -- and I would answer with just a SMILE :)

Recently, I have been meeting friends of friends and colleagues, and everytime they ask me what I am up to, I would say that I am a LIBRARIAN and you wouldn't [even I cannot] imagine the looks of surprise in their faces. Of course I would affirm that I am one by saying that "Yes, I am a librarian." and then they would usually say, "No way! You are so cool!" Which would of course make me think and ask,
Not surprisingly, they would instantly enumerate the typical characteristics of a librarian: grumpy-old-maiden-with-a-bun-for-a-hair-and-eyeglasses-as-thick-as-the-iceberg-that-made-the-Titanic-sink, et al. And then, I would imagine myself looking like one and would realize that NO WAY! [Ha Ha!]

So, last Thursday night when I was having my evening routine before bed, I noticed the label of my shampoo, which goes like "... makes your hair dandruff-free and leaves it cool". And I now realized [aside from being a demigod] what makes a librarian cool : MENTHOL

Make sure you are updated. Be it in the field of librarianship, news and current affairs, entertainment, or fashion, make sure you have something to say. We are information professionals, remember? Try reading newspapers, magazines, or journals. Just don't be stagnant and idle.

Enjoy what you are doing. You can never go wrong when you know what you are doing, especially when you are having fun.

Never ever doubt your profession. Of course, there will come a time that you will feel down and helpless because inevitably, people will look down your profession. What you should do is stand up straight and show them what a librarian can do. It is us, in the end, who will uphold our profession.

Teach people around you about the importance of your profession. Some may have a twisted view of librarians because of their past experiences, while some may have skewed perceptions of our profession because of what they see on social media. It is therefore our goal to enlighten them of our role.

Have an open mind. People would usually approach and ask you even of the most trivial, non-sense, absurd questions to even some of the profound, high-fallooting, even offensive questions, the key is to be open-minded. Be open to different ideas. Be receptive to changes. Be appreciative of different personalities. Get out of the four corners of the library.

Optimism is a key to success. Think happy thoughts. Dump nega/ bad vibes. Always see the brighter side of life. Never get down easily because of critics and negative comments. Always hold your head up high.

I just want to round it up with a last letter [I know I know! It wouldn't be MENTHOL anymore]. Just this one! :D

And the most recent: