Lavender sky

[altivo]

Just watching the library start to clear out prior to closing time. Looking out the glass wall to the north, over the park and adjacent corn field, and the sky is lavender. Honest. Not even sunset yet, but must be some trick of the light and the density of cloud cover. Or I'm gone loopy and seeing things, which is always possible I guess.

Managed to get data imported into MySQL but the results are not yet satisfactory. Because Microsoft SQL Server exports the dates and booleans in a form not understood by MySQL, it looks as if I'll have to do some editing on the exported file first. Otherwise, it's looking hopeful. This time I can normalize the data and eliminate some redundant junk and unused fields too, since it's no longer being used by any code other than what I'm writing myself.

I really hate doing original cataloging for videos, but there's no one else to do it. It's worse when the video is a "gift" from someone we aren't supposed to offend and it's a homemade production to push a smarmy religious message. I so want to put subject headings on like "garbage films" and "timewaster videos."

Scheduled the first full week of May off, yay!

And in other news, folks going to FCN, have fun and stay safe.

Comments

[silver-kiden.livejournal.com]

now, you see, personally, i'd just throw it away. preferably in front of them. i've done it, too, with those religious booklet things. somebody will hand me one at work, i'll glance at it, and drop it right in the trash.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

We actually tried in this case, though in a more subtle manner. The donors are personal friends of the director, and she sort of "lost" the thing in her office for 18 months. But they kept asking her when it would be available for people to borrow. Finally they asked her to give it back if we weren't going to put it in the library collection. That was too embarrassing for her.

So she dug it out and told me to add it. Of course no one is going to actually borrow and watch it, so there's no particular harm in this other than my irritation and wasted time. Cataloging video must be done by watching at least the beginning and the end. This one is only 30 minutes long, but that's about 29 minutes too much.

[silver-kiden.livejournal.com]

to make sure that it's all there? also, your director is a pansey. that, or i'm just a total asshole. :p

[altivo.livejournal.com]

She's not willing to brush off personal friends or people who give money to the library, but she's definitely not a pansy. She was a high school teacher before she became a librarian. That is not a job for pansies or pussycats.

She is, however, a politician or a diplomat. I have no patience with this stuff, and she will pick her way through it to avoid causing damage in some unexpected place.

[silver-kiden.livejournal.com]

what about instituting a new policy, that says no homemade videos. something about copyright infringement.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

This is more like a self-published book. It's obviously amateurish, but they're trying to look professional. Wouldn't work.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

No, you watch the video in order to capture all the titles and credits for the catalog record. The box is not considered an ideal source because it often omits things or gives more credit to the distributor than to the producer.

[goldenstallion.livejournal.com]

Dear Rider.

Well, Steed won't see you at FCN but he will be there with Bear tomorrow and in suit part of the time. Going biker with leather jacket, gloves and belt and the Arabian bridle again. Made a few changes and improvements and will suit up in the teal van in the parking lot and walk to/from. Bear is going as my body guard. ;) Expandranon won't be there Friday cuz he works, darn it I really don't want to drive all the way twice, particularly since Monday I have a VA appointment in Ann Arbor, which is 4/5 of the way there.

Still looking for the con badge Rabbi Tom made of Biker Steed (it is right HERE I have seen it recently but you know how that goes - if it was a poisonous snake I would probably be in trouble).

Impers

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I know. My badges are all mixed up in the pile of papers on my desk. Needs to be cleaned up soon. I will hang them all together on a hook then in case I ever get to use them again.

Be careful driving and have fun. *hugs*

[loriana.livejournal.com]

*hugs softly*

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*hugs and murrs*

[saythename.livejournal.com]

That reminds me of the huge "glass wall" they
have at the Audobon library...but as for lavender...
@.@. I can't think of any sailor sayings for that.

And you HAVE to catalog homemade videos? God
bless you sir, I'd be laughed out on me arse if
I tried that here. Then again its a state funded
libbary. Do a good job though, make the donors happy.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

I have occasionally had to catalog homemade videos, yes, for political reasons. When I worked for Columbia College, we cataloged all the stuff produced as "senior projects" by the students in film production, and believe me, a lot of that wasn't much better than home videos.

this particular item though is more like "self published." It does a flimsy attempt at looking like a professionally produced item, with printed labels and all that. However, it was made in 2001 and we are the first library in the US to actually catalog the thing. It's a video equivalent of one of those bible tracts that people pass out. You know, the ones made like little comic books in which some character gets a bad scare and ends up repenting his "wicked" ways? Or else sometimes he doesn't repent and gets run over by a bus and goes to hell? Supposed to scare you into running to the church to confess or accept Jesus or whatever. It's pretty pathetic stuff.

[soanos.livejournal.com]

Yay for a week off! \o/ *snugs* Have a fun time. :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Heh, first I have to survive another week at work. But thanks.

[soanos.livejournal.com]

*starts building a survival kit for our favourite clydesdale librarian*

I am sure you'll make it. :)

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Tis always the trouble with gift horses ;)