“Public Libraries Are Such Important, Lovely Places!” Yes But Do You GO There. Do You STUDY There.

20th Year of Harry Potter

Nineteen years ago in the US (September 1st, 1998) Harry Potter was released. Hearing of it’s success in the UK, my mother ran out and got it for us to read together. While It would not become more common in my community for another few years, it quickly became very important to me. My mother read it to me at night the first time around, miss-pronouncing Hermione until my dad who grew up for a time in England corrected her, and then I read it many times over to where the book started to fall apart. 

The Harry Potter series is a big deal for many reasons, and has shaped our world and helped us connect with more than just the theme parks, midnight book releases, Emma Watson, movies and expansions such as Quidditch Throughout the Ages. The story of Harry Potter has shown the ridiculousness of racism, the promotion of helping those less fortunate, of doing what is morally right and reminding us that what we see is not always accurate as with depression or social differences. The Harry Potter world created by J.K. Rowling (who I also first assumed was a male) was the first apocalyptic universe where everyone was fighting to survive, but also win the world for good; and make the world better. Hermione Granger might not have been the main protagonist as with following series that all became about the sole female heroine, but she was the first to be brave regardless of her fears, rely on her smarts, and always be there for her friends. In studies the Harry Potter series have been noted as a large influence on combating race and social-class status as the absurdity of separation on these qualities were shown in the books with werewolves, elves and with half-bloods and muggles. While not the sole supporter or eye-opener, it is a reason why younger generations believe it is their responsibility to make sure everyone is treated with equality and respect. 

September 1st is widely known in the Harry Potter Universe as the day that those who were fortunate enough to receive their Hogwarts letters would get on the Hogwarts Express and get to begin their official journey into the wizarding world, and while intended enough, it is when those in the US were able to join as well with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In this story, we were Harry, we were learning everything as he did--something that would continue for the rest of the series (very eloquently referenced with each new book I might add) that entranced us. But more than with the wizarding world, we were like Harry in learning about the problems arising and feeling that we had to stop it, how it was our duty to stop it, part of what has spread outside the pages to common activism and empathy in our day to day lives. Again we were Harry Potter, we were young, new to this world and with our humbled experience prior, we wonder if this world we were growing into was as magical and perfect as we were led to believe. This is what this Harry Potter journey taught us and continues to remind us, that not everything perfect or fair but that we can all, individually make a difference 

Grown Up Girls

In the past few years, Disney has started to rise up as an avenue for equal representation for the gay community, diversity and female empowerment. While behind the times, being the powerhouse that it is, these changes are important to note as Disney is not only a powerhouse in it’s own right, but also an international platform that hits kids at a young age. 

Teen Beach Movie (2013) came out first, and in a lot of ways was a remake of Grease with the addition and explanation of feminism at different levels and circumstances. During the story, Mack (McKenzie) tries to make the point that other girls shouldn’t change for the boys in their world. Similarly, in her real world, she’s trying to figure out how to do what she wants to do when it goes against what another woman wants her to do, even if part of it is because of a boy. 

The smaller but still impactful part of the movie is her boyfriend who likes her as a person and gives a small push of how boys can be feminists. 

Invisible Sister (2015) stars Rowan Blanchard, a young warrior in the feminism and equality world. Along with her character in Girl Meets World, Cleo shows the longterm effects of -- but this story takes it a step further. While both sisters fight for visibility, this film digs deeper with getting to woman standing with each other and how different people can have similar struggles while similar people can have different struggles. Similar to Brady in Teen Beach Movie, in Invisible Sister Cleo learns not to judge a book by it’s cover and to dig a little deeper with her sister’s boyfriend who while not the brightest, is someone who is worthy of any warrior as he would love and marry her sister even if he could never see her again. 

So while you’re late, thank you for joining the table Disney--even thou you’re currently only at the beginners level. 

Dobby, the Great House Elf

In the beginning, the middle, and I’m sure to his end, had his final moments not been so serious and painful, Dobby could easily be considered very annoying. He wouldn’t listen and didn’t fully think things thru, making things a lot harder and sometimes more dangerous for Harry. But while I would consider him an adult, just with all the pitfalls of hanging out with a toddler, Dobby was fantastic and a great role model for those who are trying to accept themselves.

While at first Dobby loves Harry for being the boy who lived, his admiration for Harry grows more overtime for the simplicity of Harry treating him as an equal, something that Dobby didn’t experience in his life before and wouldn’t experience much in his lifetime at all. Overtime Dobby begins to love and appreciate himself more, becoming someone who stands up to bullies and is always there for his friends but he shows how rough of a battle it is. While he has always wanted his freedom, he wasn’t able to take the 10 galleons a week and weekends off provided by Dumbledore for wages thinking it to be too much, and wasn’t able to easily tell Harry about Umbridge considering she was his temporary master. While we can easily see Dobby’s friendship, loyalty, and equality with Harry Potter, it is the struggle to change and be yourself that is a lesson less shown or seen that we can grasp with Dobby as while Hermione and Luna were always confident with their intelligence and didn’t care for others, Dobby knew who he was and was proud but still struggled, something that is much more common, especially for young kids and teenagers.

Dobby knew what he was worth, was kind and giving, and did what was right—even against his friends. He struggled with his place in the world but knew to really only care about the opinions of those who matter

Best Pranks

1. Season Six, Episode Twenty-Four: The Cover-Up

When Pam and Jim learn Morse Code to not only speak about Dwight infront of him, but with the stapler and pens also can make up crazy stories and conspiracies that Dwight’s brain is “forced” to listen to.

2. Season Three, Episode Seventeen: Cocktails

When Karen spends the evening at the Corporate party apologizing to Jim for ALL the coworkers she dated before him

3. Season Six, Episode Twenty-Four: The Cover-Up

When Darryl pranks himself trying to get Andy back for blaming the warehouse for a late shipment he forgot to process, he ends up getting involved in the fire-printer expose with Andy.

4. Season Three, Episode Seven: Branch Closing

When Jim uses set of Dwight’s stationery that he uses

“From time to time, I send Dwight Faxes. From himself. From the future

PS—Also mentioned in Season Nine, Episode Twenty-Two: AARM when he references that as part of their no nonsense streak that if anyone is expecting a fax they shouldn’t yell out “Michael J Fax, from Fax to the Future!”

5. Season Nine, Episode Three: Andy’s Ancestry

Asian Jim

6. Season Seven, Episode Twelve: Classy Christmas Part 2

Jim coming out into the parking lot with Pam after the ‘Classy Christmas Party’ with Pam and it’s covered in snowmen and he doesn’t know which one has Dwight or anyone else to attack him with snowballs. It’s awful, but it’s brilliant

7. Season Six, Episode Seven: The Lover

The Mallard

How Jim discovers the Mallard (possibly purposefully by Dwight)

How Jim blasts Opera and talks with Andy to mess with Dwight

How Jim gives the Mallard to Kelly

How Jim talks to Dwight directly through the Mallard to ‘catch’ Dwight (also probably purposefully done by Dwight)

But in the end, the Mallard was a decoy

8. Season Three, Episode One: Gay Witch Hunt

When Jim sends Dwight “Gaydar” machine (metal detector) and it lights up when Dwight scans Oscar because of his belt. But Dwight is also wearing a belt so “Gaydar” tells him he’s gay too.

9. Season Seven, Episode Eight: Viewing Party

When Michael runs around the office pretending to be too busy to even speak to Erin, let alone attend her party.

10. Season Seven, Episode Eighteen: Todd Packer

After Dwight blows off Jim’s idea of cramming Todd Packer’s desk so he can only open it two inches and Dwight makes fun of it, Dwight gets very frustrated when Jim, unknowingly at the time, does it to him.

Bonus: The Best Prank we didn’t see:

Dwight knocking himself in the head with his phone, after Jim slowly fills his headset with more and more nickels. 

Technology: Transcend and Transform

Technology has become a necessity in most of our society, even those with limited disposable income or countries with lower economies have updated how they function to include smart phones, computers and apps as part of daily or at least common function. 

I love libraries has been working on a local libraries ebook (Libraries Transform) where patrons can instantly (if connected to a local library) use their app to download the selected book to read and have the ability to discuss the books with other app users. Along with being a more universal book club that some communities might not have or certain age groups have easy access to, this allows individuals to have larger conversations and may allow for opinions more diverse than you would get to experience in a normal book club. And of course, this allows those who might not have a well equipped or have personal easy access to their library and issues with returning books on time or other barriers to be connected to reading and the reading community. 

For the release of this app, the Libraries Transform picked Kassandra Montag’s After the Flood; available Oct 7th - 21st through the Libby app and once you’re connected to your local library

How can I learn this power?

Our Shared Universe: Human Experience

What is truly beautiful and most show by JK Rowlings’ Harry Potter series, but also by many other books (Sakura and the 1,000 paper cranes and the new book-to-movie adaption To all the boys I’ve loved before, is that while our cultures are different, part of us are all the same. WE ARE ALL HUMAN. While some believe in the human being split and others believe in the red string; most of us all have similarities with those very different from ourselves and even if we cannot meet these people face to face, we meet them in the stories that reflect ours, but are just slightly different.  

At the entrance to the Peace Park people filed through the memorial building in silence. On the walls were photographs of the dead and dying in a ruined city. The atom bomb—the Thunderbolt—had turned Hiroshima into a desert. Sadako didn’t want to look at the frightening pictures. She held tight to Chizuko’s hand and walked quickly through the building. -- Sakura and the 1,000 paper cranes 

Is this not how the US currently deals with September 11th, there is respect, there is honor, there is fear and confusion. 

Creed Bratton

Creed’s Best Moment: Season Three, Episode Thirteen: The Return

When he answers Oscar’s question to Jim about where Dwight is with “You didn’t hear? Decapitated. A whole big thing. We had a funeral for a bird”  

Considering Jim was in Stanford and Oscar is just returning from his corporate apology vacation; they both think Creed is being nuts. When really, he just confused Dwight with Ed Truck.

Creed’s Worst Moment: Season Five, Episode Two: Weight Loss Part Two

Whatever he gave to Kelly that wasn’t a tapeworm.

Creed’s Best Line: Season Eight, Episode Three: The Lotto

When they have the different interviews of what everyone would do if they won the lotto

“I already won the lottery. I was born in the U.S. of A., baby. And as backup, I have a swiss passport.

Creed’s Most Memorable Moment: Season Four, Episode Four: Money

“You don’t go by Monopoly, man. That game is nuts. Nobody just picks up “get out of jail” of free cards. Those things cost thousands.”

Gutted, Gentrified and Gone

Libraries are great community spaces that should be free so local residents can learn, explore and expand their minds and creativity. But libraries like our schools, are generally paid for by the income of the local residents, therefore, poorer communities get less funding and therefore poorer quality libraries. Similar to the recent “Aunt Becky” college situation, this goes against the ideals behind libraries and in the US, our equality, and how knowledge, perseverance, education and will is supposed to allow us all to flourish.

A prime example of the differences in communities is nestled within San Francisco. Known for massive hills and hipsters, San Francisco’s Pacific Heights Presidio Branch Library is just six miles away from the Bayview Linda Brooks-Burton Branch Library in Bayview-Hunters Point. There is nothing wrong with the Bayview Library; its open frequently, it’s clean and the local neighborhood seems to enjoy it but with comparison you can see a difference to the Presidio Branch Library. First, the Bayview Library is in an semi-industrial area and has classes geared to computer classes for Adults & Seniors including sales meetings and tax classes. The Presidio library is surrounded by open grass where you can comfortably read outside, has information available about it’s environmental LEED Green Report Card, highlights inter-library loan, foreign language staff and diverse classes of baby and toddler interaction, writing classes and Tai Chi. The Presidio Branch Library has the resources and access residents need to want to visit the library and develop new interests. This is not surprising as Pacific Heights is noted as a rich and thriving community (1) and Bayview has been graded one of the worst based on income and education opportunities (2) and has a history of gentrification and marginalization (3). Libraries don’t have to be pretty and I can understand how they’re not always the most updated but we cannot forget that “a rising tide lifts all boats” and that we are all equal.

(1)   https://www.businessinsider.com/photos-pacific-heights-san-francisco-billionaires-row-2014-3

(2)   https://www.roadsnacks.net/worst-neighborhoods-in-san-francisco-ca/

(3)   https://www.mccalman.co/portfolio/i-am-bayview/

Parking Wars

Today is the 10th Anniversary of Parking Wars. A dramatic reality-TV show the focused on the daily interactions those with parking enforcement that dealt with ticketing, booting, towing and releasing you car from impoundment. While in some aspects it filled my screen with shenanigans to laugh at similar to others who watched The Jersey Shore: the woman who repeatedly hid her sticker but then got angry and called the officers incompetent when she got ticketed, the stalker who said “so” about parking in front of a fire hydrant, and the many didn’t see an issue with parking in the fire lane of a mall parking lot ( a factor in how a cashier got hit by a car near me because neither could see the other); it was also somewhat educational and gave the opportunity for viewers to understand why things were, when not in the heat of the moment: why you get towed for no insurance, that you can’t leave and come back to a timed spot and why and others. I enjoyed this show, and continue to this day as it reminds me and hopefully others that there are consequences to their actions and that people in various service industries really are trying to serve the public as a whole, so maybe not just you.