Truly Nice Gentleman is Your Super Librarian!

You remember our glass jar cart I mentioned recently?  To collect United Way donations in our "Name the MPL Super Librarian" contest?

Where Was MY Donation Jar, BizMeister?  Just Asking (Again)

Truly Nice Gentleman (TNG, for short) has been named MPL Super Librarian, thanks to generous charitable contributions from library patrons and staff (who were voting against themselves, I think).  All proceeds go to United Way of Central Indiana, so many great causes will receive a much-needed financial boost.

Truly Nice Gentleman (TNG)

Our YouTube Channel viewers may be familiar with TNG's legendary status as a member of the MPL Circulation Team.  He is featured in several library videos.

MPL Program (Promo) Trailer #10

OverDrive Digital Books at MPL

Librarians Do Taio Cruz

by Broadway Gal

MPL 100th Anniversary Promo Trailer

by Scowl-Face

TNG is my Library's personification of customer service.  Nobody at MPL goes further to assist patrons.  His is the standard we all should emulate. Well, when I say we, I mean, of course, my minions.  As a feline, I set my own standards.  That's just how it is--and should be.

Now TNG must spend a day (or more?) wearing a super librarian costume while working.  Minions, make with the digital camera!  We don't want to miss recording this for posterity.

Any super-hero costume suggestions?  Savvy, you have a real flair for this.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Wouldn't it be cool if we could create a video as wonderful as McCracken County Public Library's "Super Librarian" promo trailer?  It's worth visiting Paducah, Kentucky just to meet her (and her super colleagues).

P.P.S.  The New Jersey State Library has a great promo trailer for "Super Librarians."

For the Second Year Running

For the second year running, Truly Nice Gentleman has been named by our patrons as our Super Librarian.  Voting was based upon donations to the United Way of Central Indiana, and T.N.G.'s vote jar received the most money again.

Click Image to Bigify

 

It seems clear to moi that, for the past two years, my not having a donation jar prevented the public from making the obvious best choice as Super Librarian.  But it would have been an unfair contest!  Given my massive cuteness, I naturally would have won, and that would have discouraged all my minions, who would then have become depressed.  That could've resulted in slacking-off work.  We Boss Kitties can't allow that!  So, for the good of the Library, somebody else had to win this prize.

Concatulations, Truly Nice Gentleman!  Now get back to work!  Resting on your laurels, we don't need.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  This promo trailer for "Super Librarian" (2007), by the New Jersey State Library and the New Jersey Library Association, shows how all librarians are truly super-heroes.

 

 

Survey Says!

Truly Nice Gentleman, a colleague who works at Mooresville Public Library, is asking people-patrons to complete and return the 2011 Computers & Lab Survey, which is available at the MPL Circulation Desk.  After completing the survey, you should stuff it in the box that's sitting on some of the young adult bookshelves, next to the heads (yes, the actual heads) of William Shakespeare and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who apparently wrote some plays or poetry or some such human interest stuff.

Here is what the front of the survey looks like:

Why fill this thingy out?  Well, duh!  It will help your library select new computers and techno-gizmos.  What's not to like?  Better gadgets, better service.  Pretty simple.  I hope they install some feline-friendly computers.  I really like the mouse thingy, but it doesn't run fast or very far.  It has a really long tail, however, and its belly shines red like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (well, Rudolph's nose shines red, not his belly, but you catch my drift).

If you have any questions, just chat with Truly Nice Gentleman (TNG for short) at the MPL Circulation Desk, who looks like this:

TNG even starred in a few of our library videos, but that was before my time.  Take a peek!

So what's my blog title mean?  Remember that TV show, Family Feud?  All those humans trying to guess what the audience survey said so they can win prizes.  The master of ceremonies during the 1970s version of the program was Richard Dawson, an actor best known for his role as Corporal Peter Newkirk on the TV sitcom Hogan's Heroes (1965-1971).  I'm getting all this from books in our library, by the way.  (Okay, well, my personal assistant, Scowl-Face, is looking it up.  I'm too busy to handle minor details!)  He used to turn to the big board behind him and shout, "Survey says!" just before the human contestants began jumping up and down like prairie dogs popping out of their holes.  Here is what Dawson looked like:

Nice suit (eye-roll).

So fill out the 2011 Computers & Lab Survey already and stuff the box by the poetry heads.  You'll be glad you did.

Paw-ticularly yours,

Cauli Le Chat
MPL Roving Reporter
Game Show News Beat

P.S.  How do cats get to be contestants on Family Feud?  I've now got eight brothers and sisters, as well as three slobberdogs, plus some human caregivers.  We can jump up and down real good!

More YAZ "Canvassing"

Our teen patrons continued using our Young Adult Zone (YAZ) windows as their artistic canvases to decorate the Library for Halloween.  Crafty Gal, who hasn't been a teen for awhile but has had heaps of experience as a teen librarian at a nearby library, joined the fun.  As always, click the images to bigify.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

 Crafty Gal Signs Her Artwork

 

 Snoopy Looks Extra Spooky

With That Flashback From My Camera

Linus Seems Plenty Excited, But

Sally Appears Nonplussed

 Teen Artists At Work

 Dueling Canvases

(Make With the Deliverance Theme, Minions)

Jack Skellington--Coming Along Nicely

 Finished Jack

L to R:  Wicked Witch of the West &
Some Kinda Frankenstein Monster (?)

Who the Devil is That?  (Pun Intended)

 

 Who Have We Here?

 Your Basic Jack-O'-Lantern, I'd Venture

 Frankenstein Monster's Head on a Platter,

But Who's the Gal?

 Tombstones For Programma Mama & Truly Nice Gentleman

  Tombstones For Technigal & Casey at the Bat

I'm really enjoying this festive artwork.  The YAZ should be decorated for every major holiday!  Just saying, Programma Mama.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

 

You CAN Get What You Want . . . and Need

"You can't always get what you want," sang the Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger et al., "But, if you try sometimes, well, you just might find you get what you need." My Library wants to change those lyrics (metaphorically, of course; we would never presume to debase Rolling Stone lyrics) so that our Library patrons ALWAYS get what they want (and need).

My Library is conducting an adult programs survey, in which you, our loyal and well-respected grown-up patrons-about-town, may tell us exactly what programs you want us to offer.  Sadly, we do not have an online option available to complete the survey, but you may pick-up a copy at the MPL Circulation Desk.  Truly Nice Gentleman has provided me with an advance copy, which looks like this:

Click on the Images to Enlarge

(Not My Fault If They Don't)

 

Don't miss this opportunity to tell us what to do.  We want to offer programs you grown-ups will enjoy and derive plenty of benefits from the experience.  (Children's and Young Adult programs are handled by Broadway Gal, Wild Thang, and Cataloger Queen, whom I probably gave another nickname in an earlier blog but I've forgotten what it was now.  So sue me.)

Stop by the Library next time you're in my neighborhood to fill-out the survey form.  If you're really ambitious and don't mind covering the printing costs, you could print out the images above, complete the forms, and return them to us upon your next visit.  It's your call.

Telling My Colleagues What to Do Since Time Immemorial,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Public Opinions News Beat

P.S.  The Rolling Stones included "You Can't Always Get What You Want" on their album Let It Bleed (1969).

Old Settlers Festival is Hot, Hot, Hot!

As air temperatures hit 95-plus degrees (Fahrenheit) (that's 35-plus degrees Celsius) yesterday, and the heat index was about 110 degrees (again, Fahrenheit; 43.33 degrees Celsius), I was ever so grateful to have minions representing moi at the annual Old Settlers Picnic, Fair, Festival, and Overall BigBash at Pioneer Park in Mooresville, Indiana.  In a word, it was just too hot.  (Okay, that's three words.)

But minions are no duty-shirkers, and so they soldiered on, in the best possible fashion.  Well, Truly Nice Gentleman and the Lady With the Red Hair did.  Scowl-Face, not so much.

We have some photos from our (count 'em!) TWO Library booths at this year's BigBash.

Same Stuff We Gave Away at Zydeco's Fundraiser Last Week

My Library's "I Geek" Posters

(From the Geek the Library Campaign)

Actual Prize From Library's Contest

"Win an Authentic Old Settlers Buggy Basket"

(Complete With Automotive Goodies)

(Conservatively a $150 Value)

For the second consecutive year, Baskets From Junior's Farm donated the basket, which was hand-woven by none other than the Lady With the Red Hair herself.  That's quite a prize, I should think.  But Programma Mama sweetened the deal with the cool auto stuff.  It's all free, and all you have to do is visit my Library's booth at this year's Old Settlers BigBash and sign-up.  Easy and fun to do.  Can't beat that combination!

Day one of Old Settlers saw 433 visitors to My Library's booths.  That must be some kind of record turnout!  Considering that today's heat could melt lead, it says a great deal about Old Settler attendees' endurance.

Just two more days to go!  Stop by our booths, get a free bag of Library doodads, and sign-up for a chance to win a free buggy basket.  It's too hot to do anything else.

We Come From Tough Stock,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Old Settlers News Beat

P.S.  Although Old Settlers is not the county fair in Morgan County, Indiana, we thought it appropriate to close with "County Fair," by Bruce Springsteen, from the CD The Essential Bruce Springsteen (2003).

I Can See Clearly Now, Pretty Much

On our new outdoor LED sign, the protective white screen cover has been removed, so you may now see our messages more clearly.  Here's a sampling.

Click Photos to Bigify

That's Truly Nice Gentleman

Hoopla is a pretty cool free service

 One of our popular adult programs

Do you remember Max Headroom?  Our T. Rex does

The repaired letter E has been added to "Mooresville" on the sign, too, so now everything's spelled as it should be.

Now all you have to do is watch our outdoor sign to keep up with what's happening at the Library.  You could also visit our website or social media.  Why not do it all?  We have many ways to keep you informed.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Here's a clip from the July 17, 1986 episode of Late Night With David Letterman, in which Dave interviewed Max Headroom.

Old Settlers Winds Up, Down, and All Around

Today was the last for the 2011 Old Settlers Festival.  Our Tuesday (8/9/11) visitor count to the Library's two booths was 216.  That brings our grand total of booth visitors to (drum roll please . . .) 852.

Many thanks to Truly Nice Gentleman, OfficeMeister, Programma Mama, and the Lady With the Red Hair for their tremendous efforts distributing information, goodie bags, and general good will.  Special thanks to all of the Old Settlers attendees who dropped by our tables and who entered our buggy basket giveaway contest.  We're glad you included the Library in your rounds through the community organizations tents.

I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted, and I was only there as "flat Cauli."  Could be a reason there somewhere.

Too Pooped to Blog,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Old Settlers News Beat

P.S.  Speaking of being tired, there's "I'm Only Sleeping," by the Beatles, from the album Revolver (1966), digitally remastered in 2009.

P.P.S.  Time for bed.  There's "Good Night," by the Beatles, from the "White Album" (The Beatles, 1968).

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

At the intersection of State Roads 67 and 144 in Mooresville, Indiana, there are several electronic billboards vying for attention.

Sorry, But These Are FAKE Phone Numbers

(We had to insert bogus phone numbers in place of the actual numbers that appeared on the sign, because the Library, as a public entity, cannot advertise on behalf of private businesses. Now, if they were to give a generous donation to the Library, then we could publicize that. Hint, hint.)

Boss Lady said to moi just yesterday (well, she was speaking to Scowl-Face, but I was lounging under the table and overheard everything) that we need to expand the Library's marketing punch.  Truly Nice Gentleman sits on the MPL marketing committee, if I eavesdropped correctly, so he may wish to see my idea for a sure-fire marketing bonanza.

Click to Bigify

That, my friends, demonstrates what Sparkle the Designer Cat calls the Power of the Paw.  (Sparkle is a world-famous blogger and book author, so you'd better pay close attention when Sparkle coins a phrase.)  Paw power translates into more customers; in my Library's case, that means more patrons checking out materials, attending programs, and utilizing resources, thanks to moi.  You're welcome.

I bet our door count would soar if we ran this billboard.  Folks would flock to the Library in droves (or drive to the Library in flocks) once they caught a glimpse of moi filling the skyline.  It would probably blow our advertising budget through 2018, but the results would be so totally worthwhile.

Expecting a Little Something Extra in My Next Paycheck,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Library Marketing News Beat





P.S.  The only possible musical closer for today's posting is "Signs" (1971), by the Five Man Electrical Band, a Canadian group that is called a "one-hit wonder," although FMEB released several LPs.  The song was originally released in 1970 on the album Good-Byes and Butterflies, which was re-released in 1971 with different cover art.  "Signs" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.

Our Super Librarian (and His Alter Ego)

The BizMeister brought our Super Librarian's costume to the Library today, and so we thought we should have him wear it before an adoring public.  Make with the super-hero change, Truly Nice Gentleman (T.N.G.)! There must be a phone booth around here somewhere.

For Anybody Who Doesn't Get That Joke

Our Super Librarian

(by Patrons' Donations)

T.N.G. is Super Librarian

(Click Images to Bigify)

That's His Name Tag, All Right

Now, wait just a minute.  His head looks peculiar.  I don't remember him having that white strip across the crown of his noggin.

WHOA, NOW!

There's Some Kinda Scam Happening!

That's T.N.G. standing at the Circulation Desk (to the left) while his alter ego, Super Librarian, stands to the right.  Is this like Clark Kent and Superman appearing at the same time to convince Lois Lane that they're not the same person?  Neat trick, actually.

There's only one way to determine which is which (or vice versa).  Queen Settler, make with the bunny ears!

T.N.G. Won't Stand For That, I'll Wager

A-HA!  He Fell For My Little Trap!

So Super Librarian and T.N.G. are really two different people, I guess.  OR . . .  That Super Librarian is actually a ROBOT while T.N.G. remains in his mild-mannered alter ego.  It worked for Clark (Superman) Kent and his robot doubles.  Or . . .

Clark Kent Robot & Superman

Maybe T.N.G. is the robot and Super Librarian is the real deal.  It's kinda hard to tell (just kidding!).

Well, it's a SUPER costume, for sure, BizMeister.  Great job!  I'd like one, please and thanks.

Your Roving Reporter On The Go,

Cauli Le Chat

P.S.  Scowl-Face grew up watching George Reeves portray Superman on television (Adventures of Superman, 1952-1958).  Well, reruns, anyway. Here are the opening credits to the TV series from sometime in the 1950s.