Day 6: 06/23/10 Research Librarian at work

I opened the library all by my lonesome this morning as Betty was showing some relatives the sights.

Steady trickle of users all day. The department head of Environmental Education came in and introduced his Teacher-Ranger-Teacher, her name is Jen and teaches here at the GC Village School. Two law enforcement Rangers came in to register vehicles for the bypass gate at the entrances. One was in training from the Canyon de Chelly, and the other, a beautiful (blonde) woman, helped me put my flat hat together, as the straps and bands had me completely befuddled. There were at least four different sun-browned couples in their 20s and 30s that came in to use the computers, some from Europe, some from the US. I was momentarily jealous of their intent planning until I reminded myself that I had no desire to see the inside of an automobile for a very long time, that I in fact had arrived at my destination…unless I may soon venture to Navajo Nation, Flagstaff or Sedona.

A gentleman from the UK spent most of the afternoon in the library trying to figure out car rentals, as in what was the cheapest. I convinced him that he needed to visit Portland during the course of his travels as he was ultimately bound as far north as Vancouver, B.C. I advised he take in the Rose Garden, Saturday Market on the Park Blocks, Powell’s, and either Alberta, Mississippi, or Hawthorne on the east side. He said he was into music so I told him about Storm Large, Dante’s and all the hip indie venues.

I made headway on my storytime lesson plan, fact checking and utilizing the stellar collection of resources we have on local and regional history, flora and fauna, wildlife, ecology, and modern First Nations perspectives. I helped two NPS folks with searches, one on native plants and their uses, the other on the history of the Hermit Trail.

Avoided the crowds today. From the trailer to the greenway (elk infested bike trail) to headquarters and back again. Fell asleep reading Desert Solitaire.