05.07.08
Delving into Dewey
We (the Dewey Editorial Policy Committee) spent the day delving into Dewey tables and schedules. We discussed and approved nearly all of the dozens of proposed changes presented by the editors. And that was just day one. Tomorrow is another day of discussing and approving or tabling changes to even more Dewey numbers– and it promises to be a more challenging agenda than it was today.
The changes we approved today are far too many to summarize here. While some of them will take place with the next quarterly update of WebDewey, others are bigger changes that need time to be introduced to the library community, because they will affect all libraries using the Dewey Decimal Classification.
Dinner tonight was a great chance to get to know fellow committee members, both old and new (there are 4 new members at this meeting). I enjoy learning about different cultures by talking with the international committee members, as well as learning about different parts of my country from my American counterparts. We sometimes find out we are more alike than we are different and soon develop special bonds within the committee. The EPC is a really great group of people, no matter who serves on the committee. We’re all there because we want to make a difference.
01.24.08
Goodbye piles
Yesterday was a good day. I was tired of the piles of books and papers on my desk, so I decided to act on them, even the challenging stuff (okay– all of it was challenging!). I was chugging along and making great progress (which lifted my spirits and encouraged me to keep going) when my husband surprised me with an invitation to lunch. Not one to pass up a free lunch, I couldn’t refuse, even though I knew it would break my momentum. But he’s a fast eater and was motivated to get back to his job, so I was back working on my piles within an hour. The best part? I was beginning to see white space on my desk! Do you realize how calming white space is? Piles of stuff are inexplicably stressful, even if they don’t contain challenging problems.
Unfortunately, I was derailed a second time. I had an afternoon committee meeting to attend and the meeting dragged on for 1 1/2 hours. It killed my momentum and I lost steam when I needed it most. I salvaged the last hour of my day by tackling the easier piles and cleaning out my in-box– no small feat itself! Then I re-wrote my to-do list for the next day, which I thought was Friday, so I was in a bit of a panic. I couldn’t help feel as though I would have accomplished even more if I had not attended that meeting.
In all, I was still fired up knowing I dealt with stuff that was either on my mind or on my desk and got it done. I’m continually working on the “pick it up once” method of dealing with papers and problem books, but packrats have a hard time not stroking their treasured piles. It comes with the territory!
