Book of the Month: Bear Dancer the story of a Ute girl By: Thelma Hatch Wyss

This is author writes mostly for young adults and has won two ALA award for others books. This book is meant for young readers, between 8-12 years old, which makes it a quick read. I enjoyed the book so much that I can't believe how fast it went. I nearly missed my stop because I was so engaged with the book. She did a beautiful job writing about, Cutshutchous, or Elk Tooth Dress, Chief Ouray's sister. To hear her love of the mountains, those mountains, you can feel the connection. She takes you back to the time in Elk Girl's life when she was 15 and follows her through the course of a few years. Elk Girl was kidnapped and taken away from her people by the Chyenne and then traded to the Arapahos. After three years of slavery she was rescued by farmers near present day Ft. Collins Colorado. Even though this is a work of fiction the author chose to intermingle those events that have been documented with her own thoughts of how Elk Girl's life may have been during those three years of captivity. This is a wonderful introduction to the Ute people and is perfect for young readers to become interested in learning about the tribes living in Colorado. I think that this book would be a good way to encourage an interest in the American Indian history of the Colorado west.

The Bear Dance, the book's namesake, is a traditional dance of the Ute people. Every spring the dance was an important celebration, all tribes of the Ute would come together to dance and feast. This was a way for the Ute to meet and find mates. During a portion of the celebration the singles participate in a ceremony where they are chosen for partners.

Quote describing the Bear Dance being told by Elk Tooth Dress's mother:

"before you were born, and before I was born, a Ute hunter came upon a great brown bear sleeping in his cave in the late springtime. The hunter knew this was too late for a bear to be sleeping, and if the bear did not wake soon, he might starve. So the man woke the bear. As a reward, the bear took the hunter to a place in the woods where all the bears were dancing to celebrate the end of winter. The bear told the man never to hunt bears. The bear said if the man would teach the Ute people the dance just as he had seen it, they would always be successful hunters. And it has always been so, this story you should always remember, Elk Girl."

The book was filled with very interesting stories and I was very glad to have selected this book. I was sorry it went so fast.

Mornings blech

This week is insane. I have been filling in for another person in my department. I feel rushed trying to get out of this place at the end of the day. Failure to catch the shuttle on time is punishable by suffering long hours in horrendous traffic.

I. Do not. Like. The early shift.

Seems like the demand for my time also increases. Every time I come in early I am swamped with so much other time consuming stuff:

Where does this go?
The copier jammed can you fix it?
The copier needs toner, how do you replace it?
How do you find a patron record?
Where's the tape?
Can you tell me the name of that database thingy that you use to find articles?

With all that stuff and more I never get done what I feel I need to do. My word. I realized that there is a file on my desk that I have been "working" on for 2 years. Obviously it's not that important. I have a task list that has been barely touched. And really do I use it? I guess not, because that 2 year old folder is still lurking in background. Do patrons know when you come earlier, or alter your schedule? I think ours do. It seems like these people know my habits, waiting to come on down to the library to resolve some wacky issue.

I'm taking another coffee break. Perhaps I'll find some Calgon too.....because that would be great right now.....to disappear.

Porn in the library

Wow was I surprised to read the morning email. It appears that during the night there have been some interesting goings ons in our library.

Email excerpt: On past late night study session occasions I've seen the janitorial staff looking at questionable things on the internet........computers in.....have been extensively used to look at pornography. Loading the web browser and typing in "www." followed by just about every letter of the alphabet (or even without the "www.") brings up an auto-completed list of websites that have been previously viewed on this computer. I discovered this by starting to type in the name of a computer application and I errantly hit return early and it brought up a porn site. I need to use these computers to do my research and do not appreciate this additional disgusting distraction.

This student had been studying late at night for exams, but because of the pornning janitorial staff this student no longer felt comfortable coming to the library. I have discovered by snooping around that the overnight janitorial staff have been doing this (as well as sleeping, playing pool and generally not working) for years, or as long as there has been access to computers in our building. We have reported the problem and are eager to have it resolved. Yet I doubt that anything will change. Sigh. I am impressed that finally someone said anything. There has been too many people just ignoring this problem (and the others) and treating it as an "I need to mind my own business" thing. And if it's a matter of the janitorial staff not having enough to do then send 'em over, because man, do I have some stuff for them to do. No wonder our building never looks like it has been cleaned. There is no shame here I suppose. Come on, people keep your hobbies at home.

Loopy old woman

Why do I work in a library?

Some one at a party asked me this and I wasn't sure how to answer this question. It was said in a tone that led me to believe this person was trying to be a tad condescending, you know that kinda happens here on the east coast. Like your profession is some sort of social hierarchical categoriztion. So I said something similar to this:

I became a librarian because otherwise I will spend my days watching TV, knitting or doing needlepoint, and gaining huge quantities of weight from the incredible Pepperidge Farm Cookie intake that will inevitably follow along with enough Jerry Springer reruns to turn my mind to mush. God, how telling is that? I would be on my way to becoming an old woman. That is so sad. Thereafter I would need a colorful Kaftan or Muu Muu with some puff-painted kittens peeking through some gaudy appliqued poinsettias, a pair of dirty Isotoner-knock-off slippers and some ratty "nude"-colored trouser socks whose elastic has worn out so they bunch around my ankles. With all that in place, people will be able to envision the varicose veins and I won't have to waste time drawing them in to make the old lady picture complete. I'd be practicing shaking my fist and yelling 'You kids stay off my lawn!!' all the while talking to the cats and thinking of ways to cram more plastic pink flamingos in my front yard.

Pompous jerks deserve a sassy reply. This person is a political aide or something. I shoulda asked for a cup of coffee and report on the level of regulation the federal government has over wetlands.