Sara at The Page Sage recently interviewed me for her Inside the Industry series about being a librarian, a writer, and a combination of the two (wribrarian?) It was technically my friends “writer” interview, so it was super fun. And also weird. I mean, who wants to hear about me?
Happy News!
Though in 2015 i’ll be birthing THE NIGHT WE SAID YES, I’m going to be birthing something a bit different a little sooner…
A baby!
That’s right, S and I are having our first child, due April 26. We’re both extremely excited and terrified. But mostly excited. Okay, mostly terrified. We’re going to be parents!
We’re counting on our child having horrible eyesight (as we’ve both worn glasses since practically birth) and quite a bit of hair (Indian/Italian heritage will do that to them). And we’re so, so excited to meet him/her. (I might have nicknamed it Voldy, short for Voldemort, because for a while it doesn’t have a nose while developing. And I thought it was hilarious. S is catching on. This should probably say something about my future parenting skills.)
I’ve gotten a bit of advice from friends about this because, honestly, AHHH! How am I going to do it? How do you become a mommy? Is there an upgrade to my mind that I have to purchase? How am I going to balance family/friends, writing, and work? But I think my friend Joe said it best:
You’ll hear a lot of advice in the coming months because people love you and they mean well, but I’ll let you in on a little secret: None of us has any idea what we’re doing. It’s kind of like when I graduated from college and got my first job and realized that grown-ups have been winging it all along. The responsible air, the surefooted swagger, everything. Each day I’d go to work hoping I could fool people into believing I wasn’t an idiot. But I am an idiot. The good news is we’re all idiots. You’ll do fine. And as far as juggling the job, the marriage, the hobbies, the hopes–I can’t explain it, but you make room. And after a while you’ll look back and wonder how you ever managed to be busy before you had a kid. So when you feel your kidneys being kicked into your throat by that tiny growing incubus, just tell yourself that you’re making room. That, and it’s a lot easier once s/he is out. Or so I’ve been told.
In all, I’m really excited about welcoming our little Voldy into the world I’m excited about being a mom. I’ll probably have my moments of failure, but I’ll keep going. Because that’s what people do. And in the end, what’s the worst I can do, right?!*
*Don’t answer that.
Nerdfighters in the Library
I’ve mentioned quite a few times previously that I have a nerdfighter club at my library, but have I mentioned that I had an article published on the subject? I have, and it’s now available online for everyone interested to read! (Previously it was only available for those who have a subscription to the journal).
Young Adult Library Services published my article “Nerdfighters in the Library; Or, DFTBA with Teens” back in their Spring 2013 issue. The article is an overview of the club’s first meeting, which was co-created by a teen patron. Our club, much like the nerdfighter online community, encourages creativity and open-mindedness. In addition, the article describes how creating a club with a teen makes it feel more authentic.
The article is now online here, on page 19.
Here’s a sample:
There was one point during bingo when John Green recited his definition of a nerd…While he spoke, I looked around and saw everyone silent and smiling, and more than likely thinking the same thing. They aren’t alone. They are in it together. There are others who might be dorky or weird or awkward like them.
And isn’t that just awesome?
Left, Right, Left, King Avenue
When S and I were planning our end of summer road trip, we took two things into consideration: 1) we wanted to go somewhere we’ve never been before, and 2) It had to be affordable (no trip to Ireland, sadly!) In that, we decided on touring the southeast, which we’ve never done before, going from Florida through Georgia to Nashville, TN; Asheville, NC; and, last, Charleston, SC. In planning the trip, we needed a place to spend the first night between Orlando and Nashville, so I picked Pine Mountain, GA.
When I was in college, my two favorite summers involved working as a camp counselor in Pine Mountain, at Callaway Gardens. I went with the circus (of which I was part of…) so during the day we took the kids swimming and playing and golfing and water skiing, and at night, we performed. We were average people by day, magical aerialists by night. To the kids, we were their teachers, their heroes.
Callaway is a large resort , and we lived just off site at a house with 16 tiny rooms (girls on one side, boys on the other). My first day I was nervous, shy, being around all of these people – some friends, some people I wished were friends due to their seniority – but by the end we were family. I’d wake up Saturday mornings and before getting ready of the day, meet my friend in the living room for video games.
S and I arrived in Pine Mountain yesterday, and, city wise, everything was the same, despite the eight year time lapse. There’s still the combination gas station/Subway/KFC at the one major intersection (it’s a small, small town). There’s still the no-name pizza place next door. There’s still the legendary BBQ places we used to go to during lunch (which I, naturally, took S to). We drove by the old house and he finally put a picture to the place i’ve told him so much about.
Callaway itself has grown, thrived. New attractions were added, but the same old charm remained the same. There’s still the man-made lake shining in the middle, the acres of woods you can hike through, and the circus tent, standing proud – all green and white striped. S thought it was beautiful.
BUt while S saw it as shiny and new, I saw the cracks underneath. I remember the time we found a diaper in the lake, the time we took the kids to play capture the flag and two got stung within the woods, and all of the blood and sweat spilled inside the tent.
It’s weird going back. Back when I lived there, I was 19 and 20; I, too, was shiny and new and excited to get away. I had my life ahead of me, and a summer full of memories to make. Sure, there were downsides (it was hot, practices ran long, I was constantly sore), but I loved every moment of it (what other college student was paid to perform?) I remember eating breakfast and having the kids run up to say hi, or introduce me to their parents as “this is Lauren, she did rolla last night, and she flipped me in the lake, and it was awesome.”
I made friends that lasted a lifetime (indeed, one was my maid of honor). I created a home in a city I’d previously never heard of before. I felt part of something.
Callaway holds a million memories for me, and it’s weird going back, but in a sense, wonderful. I love picking up and, in a way, telling it how i’ve changed, feeling the change in every step. In introducing it to S. Sure, it’s different, sure I’m different, but it’s all the same, really. I’m still the same girl, looking for summer full of memories.
This morning we’re going back to see the gardens before continuing our journey. I’m glad I shared this place wish S, and i’m happy to have visited it again. It’s like walking back in time, into a memory I know so well I can play over and over again. And even though the memories changed over the years, and perhaps dismissed the negative moments, I’m happy holding on to these thoughts, these bits of light over the lake.
This morning when I woke up I kept my eyes shut, waiting to hear the familiar sound of “ready, player two.”
Community
If you’ve been to my website recently, you might have noticed the shiny new Goodreads logo on the right (—->). This means two things:
- I finally joined Goodreads. Friend me?
- My book did, too! You can mark TNWSY as “to read” if you’d like. Or, “to not read.” Or, “that book some chick wrote.” You know, whatever suits you.
In other news, I run two monthly programs at the library, and am at the cusp of adding two more. (I also run other programs, but they’re usually one-time events, such as the My Little Pony program coming up. Let’s not be surprised that i’m dressing up as the librarian pony, Twilight Sparkle.)
My first monthly program is the book club. Mostly full of ladies my mom’s age and older, we meet once a month to loosely discuss a book. I say loosely because usually about 30 minutes are spent on the book, while 30 on personal lives, gossip, normal chatter, etc. The ladies are lovely, and while we sometimes have disagreements (was I the only one who enjoyed A Discovery of Witches?), we always meet back up happily. And the older ladies are hilarious. (We just had our one-year anniversary!)
My next monthly program is my prized possession, my nerdfighter meetup. Once a month, teens and older meet to simply hang out. We make crafts, we play board games, we chat. They usually stay from the beginning of the program until the library closes (four hours!) and in the process talk about everything, from books they like to serious moral debates (seriously!). I love this program so much because it’s given an outlet to those looking to find fellow neat people, and simply hang out. Those wanting a safe, fun, judgement free zone. My ultimate goal as a librarian was creating something like this, and i’m so glad it’s come to be. These nerdfighters are my favorites. (Sept marks the one-year anniversary of the first meet up!)
I recently received a grant to bring technology to the library for teens, so I invested in filmmaking equipment. We’ve had a few programs since, and eventually, come fall, i’ll make it a monthly lesson/activity. I’m excited about this.
Last, two nights ago, a co-worker and I hosted a Tea and Talk program, in which ladies in their 20s and up came to drink tea, eat scones, participate in Downton Abbey themed games, and create British-style fascinators. Though we weren’t sure if it would be a success, it was an absolute blast with more than 20 people showing up. All of the women asked for a follow-up, a monthly event for them to have a ladies night out.
Upon creating the next Ladies Night Out event, I realized something very cool – people just want to hang out. Young and old, they just want excuses to meet new people, try new things, and be involved. And I’m so thrilled that the library can be a place for that.
There’s the continuous debate about the importance (or, to some, the lack of importance) of libraries. They’re just holding grounds for books! We have the Internet, who needs them? The thing is, they’re so much more than that. Yes, they have books and movies and such, but they also have community. They’re an open place to simply hang out and meet new people. They put you in the middle of a group, or an organization. They’re a fun zone. They’re a safe haven.
One of the teens messaged me a while ago, and told me that since joining our meetups, she’s made real friends. And that, thanks to these meetups, she’s not as embarrassed by herself, and feels part of something.
I’m so amazed that something I created can cause that much of a reaction. And i’m so happy that libraries are around to make this girl feel that accepted.
Lauren Gibaldi 