Much Needed Laughter: Unshelved

Today we're highlighting a very special library webcomic: Unshelved.

For those of you who already know about it, you're lucky!

For those of you who haven't yet been introduced, this article is for you.

Unshelved is set in a library, following library staff as they go about their daily lives. It is created by Gene Ambaum and Bill Barnes, who truly understand librarianship. (Gene, which is his pen name, actually works/worked in a library, and it shows!)

As we all know, there is a lot of humor to be had when working with the public and figuring out whatever our library mission is in this day and age of change. I follow them on Facebook and had their comics set to be first in my newsfeed so I was sure to have my daily laugh.

Unfortunately, after fifteen years in the business, it was decided that this year will be their last year creating new Unshelved comics. They are in the process of making their 12th and final collection, called Overdue. If you would like to buy a copy, make sure to jump on over to their Kickstarter campaign and do so before Friday, November 4th. They have long since met their goal, but they will not be printing many extra copies. They are also offering lots of other goodies like the signed editions or the complete Unshelved ebook collection.

The good news is that their archive of comics will still be available online, even if you miss the Kickstarter campaign. Their Facebook page will still be active, showing classic comics from 15 years of humor. I highly recommend checking them out!

And don't forget to stop by their store, where you can buy cool stuff like a USB drive in the shape of a card catalog drawer or t-shirts.

Unshelved, you will be missed. No one has understood libraries like you. Thank you, Ambaum and Barnes, for over a decade of laughs!

Ready to Go! Book Display: Classics Reimagined

Welcome to our series, "Ready to Go!" Book Display. Once a month we'll highlight the latest or greatest for every age group (Adults, Teens, and Children) that you can promote within your library or order for your collection. This month we are focusing on classic books that have been reimagined.

Adult

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith (Mar 2009)

A mysterious plague has fallen about the quiet English village of Meryton - and the dead are returning to life! Feisty heroine Elizabeth Bennett is determined to wipe out the zombie menace, but she's soon distracted by the arrival of the haughty and arrogant Mr. Darcy.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire (1995)

Set in an Oz where morose Wizard battles suicidal thoughts, the story of the green-skinned Elphaba, otherwise known as the Wicked Witch of the West, profiles her as an animal rights activist striving to avenge her dear sister's death.

Longbourn by Jo Baker (Oct 2013)

A reimagining of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" from the perspectives of its below-stairs servants captures the drama of the Bennett household from the viewpoint of Sarah, an orphaned housemaid.

Sense & Sensibility by Joanna Trollope (Oct 2013)

The Austen Project pairs six bestselling contemporary authors with Jane Austen's six complete works: Sense & Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Persuasion and Mansfield Park. Taking these well-loved stories as their base, each author will write their own unique take on Jane Austen's novels.



Teen

Manga Classics: Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (Aug 2016)

When Elinor Dashwood's father dies, her family's finances are crippled. After the Dashwoods move to a cottage in Devonshire, Elinor's sister Marianne is torn between the handsome John Willoughby and the older Colonel Brandon. Meanwhile, Elinor's romantic hopes with Edward Ferrars are hindered due to his prior engagement. Both Elinor and Marianne strive for love while the circumstances in their lives constantly change. Other titles in this series includes: Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, The Scarlet Letter, Pride & Prejudice, Les Miserables, and Emma.

Splintered by A.G. Howard (Jan 2013)

A descendant of the inspiration for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, sixteen-year-old Alyssa Gardner fears she is mentally ill like her mother until she finds that Wonderland is real and, if she passes a series of tests to fix Alice's mistakes, she may save her family from their curse.

Beowulf adapted and illustrated by Gareth Hinds (Mar 2007)

A graphic retelling of a Scandinavian warrior named Beowulf who, after defeating great evils, meets his match in the death-dragon of the deep. Hinds has written other retellings including: The Odyssey, King Lear, The Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.

Great by Sara Benincasa (Apr 2014)

In this contemporary retelling of The Great Gatsby, seventeen-year-old Naomi Rye becomes entangled in the drama of a Hamptons social circle and a tragedy that shakes the summer community.

The Wrath & The Dawn by Renee Ahdieh (May 2015)

In this reimagining of The Arabian Nights, Shahrzad plans to avenge the death of her dearest friend by volunteering to marry the murderous boy-king of Khorasan but discovers not all is as it seems within the palace.

Messenger: The Legend of Joan of Arc by Tony Lee (Sept 2015)

A graphic novel retelling of the story of Joan of Arc, who inspired and led French armies to fight for freedom against the British, only to be captured and executed when she was nineteen years old.

The Fall by Bethany Griffin (Oct 2014)

A retelling of Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Fall of the House of Usher' in which Madeline and her twin brother, Roderick, suffer from the Usher family illness but she hears the House talking to her, filling her dreams, controlling her actions, and ensuring she never leaves the property.

Kids

BabyLit Primers: Little Women by Jennifer Adams and Alison Oliver (Sept 2016)

These board books introduce the youngest readers to classic literature.

Other titles in this series includes: Pride & Prejudice, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Jungle Book, Moby Dick, Alice in Wonderland, Sense & Sensibility, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Frankenstein, Jane Eyre, Les Miserables, Sherlock Holmes in the Hound of Baskervilles, Don Quixote, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Odyssey, Emma, The Secret Garden, Romeo & Juliet, Wuthering Heights, Jabberwocky, Anna Karenina, A Christmas Carol, Treasure Island, and Dracula.

Sherlock Holmes: The Hound of the Baskervilles by Richard Unglik (May 2016)

Reimagine one of Sherlock Holmes' most popular mysteries using the beloved Playmobil characters and figurines.

Macbeth #killingit by William Shakespeare and Courtney Carbone (Jan 2016)

William Shakespeare's tragedy told in the style of texts, tweets, and status posts. Other books in the OMG Shakespeare series include: A Midsummer Night #nofilter, srsly Hamlet, and YOLO Juliet. There's another series called OMG Classics that currently includes Scrooge #worstgiftever and Darcy Swipes Left.

Argos: The Story of Odysseus as Told by His Loyal Dog by Ralph Hardy (May 2016)

Retells the epic tale of Odysseus, the ancient Greek hero who encounters witches and other obstacles on his journey home after fighting in the Trojan War, told from the point of view of the steadfast companion who never gives up home of his master's safe return.

Please Share, Aphrodite! by Joan Holub and Leslie Patricelli (Sept 2015)

An illustrated, easy-to-read board book retelling of the Greek myth of The Judgment of Paris, in which Aphrodite, awarded a candy apple, hurts the feelings of Hera and Athena with her gloating. Other books in the Mini Myths series include: Play Nice, Hercules!, Be Patient, Pandora!, Don't Get Lost, Odysseys!, Brush Your Hair, Medusa!, Good Job, Athena!, Be Careful, Icarus! and Make a Wish, Midas!



Library Halloween: Costumes for the Last-Minute Librarian

Halloween, how do we love thee? Of course, when you're programming, weeding, ordering, organizing, doing statistics, and everything else in our daily lives, holidays can sneak up on you. In the interest of making this holiday fun without adding any extra stress, we present a variety of inexpensive, book-themed costume choices for the Last Minute Librarian, some of which cost no money at all!

Zombie Librarian

It's our very own Kat!

Zombie Librarian (or, a zombie version of whatever random costume you have) - you need some face paint, fake blood, and talcum powder. Wear your already-ripped-and-stained librarian clothes, add some dirt and/or fake blood, and put talcum powder in your hair. There's a quick makeup tutorial here, which Kat wrote while working at the Lawrence Library in Pepperell, MA. (Note: Be careful wearing this one in the kids' room! It can be a little scary for little guys.)

Cat in the Hat

  

via thedomesticdiva

Cat in the Hat - you need a black sweatsuit, a floppy hat, and a long piece of felt that you can tie into a bow tie. Add white or blue gloves and a little facepaint for a black nose and whiskers, and you're all set! 

Where's Waldo?

via Buzzfeed

Where's Waldo - Waldo is easy as pie! You'll need a red and white striped shirt and hat, blue jeans, and glasses. Adding his accessories (binoculars, a cane, a camera, etc.) can be fun, and you might already have them! Waldo's girlfriend Wenda is similar - instead of jeans, you'll want a jean skirt and red and white striped stockings.

Junie B. Jones

This one is from a school's Read Across America day!

Junie B. Jones - Much like Fancy Nancy, all you have to do here is wear a lot of loud patterns and colors at once, and tie a big, floppy bow on your head. Glasses are helpful but not mandatory. Sassy attitude is mandatory.

Fancy Nancy

It's Kat, again.

Fancy Nancy - This one is super easy. Put all your fancy clothes on at once! Bonus points for feather boas, fancy sunglasses, and any thing with lace, sparkles, or rhinestones.

Ms. Frizzle

via Twigsofthebranches

Ms. Frizzle - Everyone's favorite teacher. This one is especially fun because you can pick any topic there is, and Ms. Frizzle has probably taught about it. Cut out some felt shapes and stick them to an existing dress (and shoes), and put some in your hair. Special kudos for adding Liz the lizard.

If You Give A Mouse a Cookie

via ECYD

If You Give a Mouse A Cookie - overalls, a gray shirt, and a big, paper cookie! Mouse ears (which appear homemade here, and look fabulous) and a pink mouse nose with black whiskers complete the look.

I Spy

via tpcraft

I Spy - What a fun idea! Stick some stuff to the front of your shirt, and a list of what's there to the back! I love that the boy in the photos also has a book and a magnifying glass.

Olaf

via eastcoastmommy

Olaf - Because everyone has been Elsa by now.

The Paper Bag Princess

via scissorsandthread

The Paper Bag Princess - You could make the dress out of a large paper lawn bag, or a roll of brown butcher paper. The crown would be the same, but painted gold. (Pro tip: If wearing this to work, you'll want to wear something underneath it.)

Lady MacBeth

via xovain.com

Lady MacBeth - for the adult librarians out there! Put on a long nightgown, mess up your hair, carry a candle, and have (fake) blood on your hands, face, and nightgown. (If you're feeling adventurous, you could have a dagger, too.) If anyone bothers you, you're allowed to tell them, "Out! Out!"

Superman/Clark Kent

via http://cultmontreal.com - this was a ComicCon cosplay

Superman/Clark Kent - for the gentlemen out there. Wear your usual button-down white shirt, but have a Superman t-shirt underneath. You can either show it to people when they ask where your costume is, or keep it partially unbuttoned with your tie thrown over your shoulder to show that you're transitioning between the two. (Glasses a must for Clark Kent.)

Of course, we'd love to see what other ideas you come up with! Please let us know (and show us pictures!) in the comments here, on our Facebook page or on Twitter.

Get Out of Email Hell: 4 Week Challenge

What is email hell?

• It is when you spend a lot of your time writing emails.
• It is when you can't find an attachment that someone sent.
• It is missing important information or forgetting to respond to emails.
• It is opening your email and being overwhelmed by how many are sitting in your inbox.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

If you want to make changes and start reclaiming your inbox, join us in the 5minlib Get Out of Email Hell: 4 Week Challenge. It officially starts on Monday, October 17th. We break out the latest techniques for you to easily manage it all.

Because let's be honest. Our digital space is just as important as our physical space. Being organized and having a solid process can only increase your productivity and decrease your stress. Who doesn't want that? Join us on the 17th!

4 Week Challenge: Get Out of Email Hell

Day 1: Monday (Archive Folder)

Create a folder called "Archives" and move everything from your inbox to it. EVERYTHING. Congratulations, you're now at Inbox Zero! Have no worries, we will help you clear our your Archives folder, but it is much easier integrating your new process (which you'll learn over these 4 weeks) with an empty inbox.

Day 2: Tuesday (Follow-Up Folder)

Create a folder called "Follow-Up". This is the place your emails will go that you cannot quickly respond to, but eventually need to. Comb through your "Archives" folder and your current inbox, and move all appropriate emails over. Schedule on your calendar a day and time you'll carve out to respond to these emails.

Day 3: Wednesday (Block Time for Email)

Turn off email notifications. You don't need to know the instant an email appears in your inbox. Decide on when you will check your email during the day (right when you come in? Lunch? Thirty minutes before you leave for the day?) and plan at least 30 minutes to go through it. (Plan to check it twice a day if once is too little.) Tell your staff to call or visit you if they need a quick response. Too many emails unintentionally left unanswered because we open them when we don't have the time to answer, then we forget to respond. Be conscious of your time and do email on your own terms. Minimize those distractions for greater productivity in general!

Day 4: Thursday (Unsubscribe)

Search your email for the word "unsubscribe". All newsletters and email lists will appear. Unsubscribe from any newsletter that you never make time to read (or perhaps never even intended to sign-up for in the first place). From this point forward, if you get junk email that you do not care for in your inbox, immediately unsubscribe from it.

Day 5: Friday (Clean-Up Inbox)

Apply the above rules to your current inbox. Make sure when you leave today, your inbox is close to zero. Remember:

• Don't keep an email in your inbox if it requires a task -- move it to the correct folder, and add the task to your To Do List.
• If you need more time to respond, move it to the "Follow-Up" folder and make sure you schedule in your calendar a reminder to respond.
• Unsubscribe from newsletters you don't want.

Day 6: Monday (Create Important Folders)

Go to your "Follow-Up" folder and carve out some time to clear it out. If conversations are completed, delete or move them to a special folder, any folder that makes sense to you (like "Director", "One Book, One Community" or "School Collaborations", etc.). Try to go generic first and then break it down to smaller folders if you find it is getting too big. Having too many folders can make things get complicated. For example, you don't need a folder for every staff member you work with -- you can have a generic "Staff" folder and then separate folders for those you email often ("Director", "Website Team", etc.).

Day 7: Tuesday (To-Do List Tool)

Decide on a To-Do List tool. I use Trello, but there are many apps you can use (Here's a great list) or even a paper calendar. From now on, when an email comes in that you need to do something for, move it out of inbox (delete or archive it into the appropriate folder) and mark it on your To-Do List. Make a note in your list where you saved the email for future reference.

Day 8: Thursday (Read Later Folder/Folders)

Go to your Archives folder and sort it by sender. Pay attention to the emails from organizations. After Day 4's purge, all that should be left are your favorite organizations (Maybe new book news, or Goodreads updates, or publisher emails). Make a filter/rule for them and have them skip the inbox, going directly into a "Read Later" folder. Then schedule in your calendar a weekly day/time when you will read that folder, especially if it is for professional development. (Alternately, you could roll all of these newsletters into one email using the program Unroll.Me if you use something like Gmail. It doesn't work for every email, though, like Outlook.)

Day 9: Thursday (Schedule Follow-Ups)

Are you keeping emails in your inbox because you are waiting for a response? Move them to the right folder and then set a day/time in your calendar to follow up. (Or, if you are using Gmail, you can download Boomerang, which will email you a reminder if no one responds within a set amount of time. You can also schedule emails to go out at a later date/time, which could come in handy.)

Day 10: Friday (Clean-Up Inbox)

Apply the above rules to your current inbox. Make sure when you leave today, your inbox is close to zero. Remember:

• Don't keep an email in your inbox if it requires a task -- move it to the correct folder, and add the task to your calendar/To Do List.
• If you need more time to respond, move it to the "Follow-Up" folder and make sure you schedule in your calendar a reminder to respond.
• Unsubscribe from newsletters you don't want.
• Create filters/rules to move unessential email to a "Read Later" folder.

Day 11: Monday (Digest Mode)

Make sure all of your Electronic Discussion Lists are set to digest mode, not individual emails. You'll get one email at the end of the day that groups together all correspondence. (If you are not on any electronic discussion lists, definitely check out ALA's Lists to get started!) Note: I used to have these redirected to a folder, but ended up never checking it. Now, I leave them in my inbox with a mental deadline -- they are deleted/archived by Friday, whether I read them or not.

Day 12: Tuesday (Create Rules to Immediately Filter the Unimportant)

Create a filter/rule to direct unimportant email (like order confirmations and deliveries from places like Amazon) directly into folders, skipping your inbox all together. You don't need to divert brainpower to those emails and you can easily access those folders on the rare occasion that there is a problem (i.e., can't find something that should have shipped). TIP: If you have to forward these emails to your administrative person, see if they can be added to the account directly, so they can get the email notification when you do.

Day 13: Wednesday (Make Templates)

Look through your sent email to see if there are any questions that you receive frequently. Select one of them and write a generic response template. (Perhaps you get a lot of questions about volunteering at the library or someone is interested in learning more about one of your monthly programs, etc.) Save this response so the next time you receive an email, you can quickly pop this in and hit send. (I actually save this in my drafts but you don't have to.) From this point forward, whenever you get a common question, make sure you save your response.

Day 14: Thursday (Touch It Once Principle)

Adopt the "Touch It Once" Principle. Since you have now scheduled when you will focus on email, you can focus on using your time efficiently when you're in your email. This philosophy means that when you open an email, you finish all tasks needed to then file/delete that email. No emails hanging overhead, no forgotten responses. And, best of all, you'll be saving all of that time you would have used rereading or avoiding the email.

Day 15: Friday (Clean-Up Inbox)

Apply the above rules to your current inbox. Make sure when you leave today, your inbox is close to zero. Remember:

• Don't keep an email in your inbox if it requires a task -- move it to the correct folder, and add the task to your calendar/To Do List.
• If you need more time to respond, move it to the "Follow-Up" folder and make sure you schedule in your calendar a reminder to respond.
• Unsubscribe from newsletters you don't want.
• Create filters/rules to move unessential email to a "Read Later" folder.

Day 16: Monday (Invoices and Bills)

Make a plan for dealing with invoices and bills. Email may not be the best place to store them, especially if you have to process them later. You can use IFTTT to automatically send them to Dropbox or Evernote, which is much easier to find documents than email. If you need to follow-up, move them into your follow-up folder or To Do List.

Day 17: Tuesday (Email has Limitations)

Understand email's limitations. It isn't great for sensitive subjects, conflict resolution, or any topic that requires a lot of back and forth. Use email instead to plan a meeting (face to face if possible, or just over the phone). No matter how nicely worded an email is, miscommunication is bound to happen. You can avoid many problems just by talking it through, watching for verbal, facial, and body cues, and saving yourself many emails in the process.

Day 18: Wednesday (Be Direct)

Make your emails short and to the point. Start off with your main point and then support it afterwards. Try also to think ahead and avoid future emails. If you are looking for a meeting day/time, give your schedule for next week (don't make them play email tag to find the best time). Use bullets to clearly make your points, and follow-up with a phone call if it is important. Most importantly, make sure your signature ALWAYS provides your phone number and address.

Day 19: Thursday (Find More Efficient Tools)

Are there ways you are using email that could be done more efficiently elsewhere? Perhaps it is better to create a Google Form for common questions, so you can get all the information you need without having to email back and forth multiple times. Or perhaps you are trying to setup a meeting with a group of people and can use using something like Doodle to make it easier and involve less emails.

Day 20: Friday (Share Challenge with Someone)

Congratulations!

You have completed our 30 Day Email Challenge. Reflect on the past tasks and see what worked well for you, what didn't. Make changes as you see fit and schedule a time each week or month for you to "clean out" your inbox so that you can remain on top of it!

Today's task is a call to action. If you participated in our email challenge, please let us know in the comments below, or tell us on Facebook/Twitter. If you found it useful, pass this challenge along to someone else and/or tweet about it on Twitter with the hashtag #5minlibEmailChallenge. 

Let's save each other from Email Hell.