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Confessions of a Teen Librarian: Holiday Edition with Christie G

December 20, 2012 by Karen Jensen, MLS   4 comments

There’s been a lot of talk lately in the blogsphere (or maybe I just have been seeing the wrong blogs) about the perceptions and expectations about librarians.  To my mind, there have always been expectations that go with certain aspects of the profession, but that those that work with youth tend to get pigeonholed more than most.

It’s like we’re all to be cut from the same dough, that teen (and youth) librarians and specialists have to like certain things (*cough* Twilight *cough*), to be uber happy and joyful and sugary sweet.  Like this.  And when you’re more like this, it’s BAD.  

Hmmm.  I don’t think so.  You can’t bend your personality into something that it’s not meant to be- it’s not healthy mentally or physically, and it’s definitely not something to model to the youth that we work with on a daily basis.  We all have to put on a public face when dealing with things, but not everyone has an outlet to share them. Whether it’s a journal, blog, vlog, screaming at the wall, a best friend, a significant other, a pet- sometimes you just have to let it out.  And it seems like the holidays mean we have to hide most of all.  So….

I’ll tell you my holiday secrets if you tell me yours in the comments….

Christmas music  
I hate it.  I really do.  Which is really bad as I was in a number of bands in college.  The only song I like is Carol of the Bells, and my favorite version is actually on this little known CD.  And everything else could be lost and I’d be happy.  Especially since I’ve been hearing Christmas music in stores since before Halloween.  However, that will not happen, and it definitely won’t happen in the workplace, so I can at least make my car a Christmas song free zone.  

Holiday scheduling
It stresses me out to no end, and I’m always worried that a. someone’s going to be upset that they’re working a certain day, or b. someone’s going to call in and we’re going to be overly short (as opposed to normally short).  My part time employees do not get paid holidays, so we have to juggle their schedules around so that they can make up hours around holiday plans and second jobs, yet make sure that they don’t lose hours at this job.  And days off for full time employees have to be taken by a certain date.  I’ve been lucky the past few years that my staff have not all wanted the same days, but I have had to re-arrange my own travel plans in years past to accommodate others.  Trust me, and put yourself in your manager’s shoes when you’re looking at the schedule; if you have a good one, they’re doing their best to make everyone’s requests possible.

 
Presents
This time of year seems to be always a dance of what to say and how to say it.  I know that I’ve got kids who are Angels on donation trees, and registered for the city gift giving charities.  I know I have others who are getting tons of presents this year (they’ve already asked for help for when their WiiU is connected).  And I cringe for the days after Christmas when they come to the library and compare who got what, because there will be some who got nothing- and in all my years, I’ve never figured out how to take the sting out of that realization.  And it’s not like I can give them presents, because if I do for one, I have to do for all…  And then we have patrons who would love nothing better than to give us food, or gift certificates, or other things to show how much they appreciate how much we do in the community; it’s a delicate dance to turn things down that don’t fit within the regulations without offending because we are part of their family.

“The Reason For The Season”

Yes, I know that Christmas has Christ in it.  Yes, I am aware that Christianity celebrates the birth of Christ on Christmas, hence the name.  Yes, I know the purported origin of red and white candy canes (and I think the story creepy, BTW).  HOWEVER, I will wish you HAPPY HOLIDAYS not because I am a heathen or blasphemous (yes, I have been called that in the past for doing so) but because I do not know the religion of the person to whom I speak.  You could be Wiccan, Jewish, Buddist, Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, Vulcan, Jedi, or anything, because we as Americans welcome all.  Part of the reason for the country, y’all.  So, if you don’t like my HAPPY HOLIDAYS, don’t wish it back.  But karma’s a bitch.


Holiday Movies
I am very particular about the movies that I like.  My criteria may seem silly, but they’re my preferences, not yours, so that’s OK.  I don’t like It’s a Wonderful Life, The Polar Express, Scrooged, or The Santa Clause and it’s sequels.  I like Charlie Brown, and the original black and white Miracle on 34th Street.  For the rest, give me the funny or twisted ones.  National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Elf, Fred Clause, Four Christmases, Die Hard, The Ref, and Gremlins.  I need the relief from the sugar.

So what are your holiday confessions?  What breaks the cookie cutter on you?  Share in the comments below!

Filed under: Confessions of a Teen Librarian, holidays

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About Karen Jensen, MLS

Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).

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Comments

  1. Thanks for including Die Hard amongst your Christmas movies. When I say Die Hard as a holiday movie, people usually say Die Hard???? I also like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and (I admit it) Home Alone 1 & 2 for the slapstick humor. I enjoyed this post.

  2. I love National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Just love it. And I hate, loathe and detest wrapping presents. It defitely brings out the Bah Humbug in me. I can not stand The 12 Days of Christmas song, even though it was the inspriation for the 12 Blogs of Christmas, but I love Mary Did You Know? and Breath of Heaven.

  3. I usually don't care for Christmas music either (except, like you, Carol of the Bells) HOWEVER, I have found a Pandora Indie Christmas station, with bands like Weezer, The Civil Wars and Barenaked Ladies.I tolerate that pretty well…while it's still Christmas music, it just has a different sound to it and a better variety. (Plus no Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole…not that there's anything wrong with that…just not my cup of tea.)

    ALSO…Die Hard=Best. Christmas movie. ever.

  4. I don't care for very much Christmas music either (except, like you, Carol of the Bells–there's just something about it) I have found however a Pandora station that plays all Indie Rock Christmas music, with bands like Weezer, The Civil Wars and Barenaked Ladies. I tolerate that station pretty well (plus there's no Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole…not that there's anything wrong with that…just not my cup of tea.)

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