Celiac Librarians

[jparsick84]

Hey, I just wanted to see how many other Celiac librarians were out there. I'm actually a MLS student, but will be graduating on December 13, 2008. I know sometimes it can be really challenging in our field. This winter, I got sick at work (public library) because someone brought in a cake and left it on the staff "eating" table and some crumbs must have found their way onto my plate.

Right now I work in my academic library with a graduate assistantship, and this semester I'm also doing an internship in the public library. The internship is really great, as I get to experience every aspect of librarianship I want (my internship coordinator is really great). Anyway, I think I want to work with teens (not children - I'm not fond of working with children) because I love their energy and YA fiction is great. Tomorrow at my internship, I'll be playing Rock Band with the teens, so I'm excited about that!

Any one else have tips, vents, special concerns about our field of work?

[Sweetfudge]

Technically, I'm not a librarian. But I did volunteer for 2 semesters at my state hospital's library for a psychology class. I loved it! I also worked as a reading tutor for 3 years at a couple elementary schools. I love YA fiction as well. Just got a box in the mail from my mom, and it was a bunch of my old books! Fun stuff!

Anyway, just wanted to say hi! Hope you have fun playing rock band! I'm a killer lead singer

[Kaycee]

Like Sweetfudge I'm not technically a librarian. I volunteered in a community library years ago, before I went back to work. It was and as I still volunteer there once a month, it is an awesome chance to meet people.

I fell into the job I have now. I help run, probably run a primary school library. My job is to accession the books, cover them, and basically keep the place running. I love it, and I guess I mainly got the job as I was a known quantity and had been working in the school for a few years doing this and that, and gradually moved into the library. and on top of that, financially it is cheaper to employ me than a fully qualified librarian.

As for problems, concerns in the library, I can't think of many apart from people/children reading books while eating. I always enforce the no eating in the library. I can't guarantee that the children have clean hands when they use the computers. I personally have not had a problem with getting sick. But books sure do get grubby. I haven't come across any problems with the tapes or materials used for strengthening books etc.

I love the children's books, there are some wonderful writers out there and they are just wonderful to read. At least in my job, I can get away with reading!

My biggest problem, is when I put on the other hat at work and have to handle pies for the children's lunches. All I have to do is not be vigilant about washing my hands after, and I can get into trouble.

Best of luck with work in the library.

Cathy

[fedora]

I worked in the fine arts department of the library as a teenager for two years. I loved it and it was my favorite job ever.

In my heart I am a librarian. My mom is one and works in a high school library/media center. She calls herself a media specialist cause she works with books, computers, AV equipment.

I love YA books too!

[powerbraid]

Hello to my fellow Celiac Librarians! I'm a graduate student in Library Science too!

I work in an Academic Library right now, and my office is kind of the "breakroom" too......somehow I have been designated the one to "clean up" after eveyrone else (involving lots of CRUMBS!) because it's also my office. Kinda happened by default.....boy do I wash my hands thoroughly.

But, 'tis better to wipe them up than have them laying around contaminating the place!

[spunky]

I've been working in a university academic, main library for almost 20 years now. Not a librarian, just academic support staff.

I normally have to touch all the computers in the building, plus all the printers and microform equipment, to do daily checks and routine trouble-shooting, etc., and get there before janitorial personnel do and usually find wrappers, crumbs, etc. all around everywhere. I run through my trouble-shoot and scrub my hands down like a surgeon every morning.

I avoid the microwave and other kitchen counters and such because you can SEE crumbs all over... I just carry my own and eat it straight from my containers.

Fortuntately, I do have my own private office and nobody touches my own computer keyboard, phone, etc., besides me, so I'm not scrubbing the skin off my hands all day long or anything.

In the afternoons I work with repair materials... lots of glues (the main one has no gluten), some of which are questionable and one is even just flatout, plain ol' "wheat starch," again... I wash up and try not to let dust or things fly up in my face... it's nothing like working in a bakery would be, but I am extremely cautious everywhere except while working in my own office space.