Amazon discontinued the ability to create images using their SiteStripe feature and in their infinite wisdom broke all previously created images on 12/31/23. Many blogs used this feature, including this one. Expect my archives to be a hot mess of broken book cover images until I can slowly comb through 20 years of archives to make corrections.

Friday, December 23, 2011

2012 TBR Challenge, Historical Romance Wiki, and Library Poultry

Now that the 2011 TBR Challenge has come to a close, why not consider signing up for 2012?  I'm hosting again next year, and I can tell you - not only is it a lot of fun, but it's also a great way to force your hand into digging some long-ignored book out of the mountainous hordes that can accumulate.  Why not take a gander at the information page to see the schedule, really broad monthly themes, and who has signed up already?  

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Every time I think I'm settling in fairly well at The New Modified Holy Crap I Have A Ton To Do Job, my optimism usually comes back to haunt me.  One of the things I've been neglecting lately is my Upcoming Historical Romances wiki.  However, I did get a little sprucing up done yesterday, and I have a healthy list of titles I hope to add soon (Today?  Maybe?  Hopefully?)

I'll admit that I debated for a while to deep-six this wiki.  To keep it manageable I don't include inspirational, digital-first, digital-only, self-published, or vanity press-published titles.  Which kind of made me wonder "Does anyone find this list remotely useful when my scope is only The Big Six, Harlequin, Sourcebooks and Kensington?"  That's the librarian part of my brain talking.  At the end of the day, I'm going to keep trying to keep it up.  Honestly, I like cover art.  I also like seeing what's in the pipeline.  I still don't have the time or inclination to broaden my scope for this wiki, but maybe it will one day spur someone else on to undertake those areas of publishing I'm currently "neglecting" because I'm only one person.

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If you've been reading this blog for a long time (why?!), you may recall that back in The Dark Ages I used to occasionally post wacky library stories.  Just some of the odd-ball I Can't Believe That Just Happened stuff that can crop up when you do this type of work.  Then I moved to an administration building where nothing wacky ever seemed to happen.  Hence, no more stories.  Well, until now.  Sort of.  My blog has got to be one of the worst kept secrets among some of my colleagues, so I need to pick my stories carefully.  This is one I've been sitting on until I got a picture opportunity, so here it is.

We have poultry.  Yes, Library Poultry.

The library where I was transferred sits right next to a park.  This park is apparently a fertile dumping ground for various animals that people no longer want to take care of.  Hence, we've now got poultry.  A couple of roosters with faulty internal clocks that like to crow all day long, and even some hens.

Apparently this Rogue Band Of Bibliophile Birds has been here for a while, and I don't see them leaving anytime soon.  For one thing, I don't see coyotes coming this far into the interior (without help from a major disaster of some sort) and the animal folks are surprisingly hesitant to pick up any strays that they have to actually, you know, catch themselves.  Unless someone is really hungry and wants one for their soup pot?  The library has poultry.

(I wonder if we could sell their eggs as a fundraiser?  I mean, have you seen how much free-range organic eggs cost?  Yikes.)

I'm half-tempted to name them, but I don't actually know how many of them are out there.  There are at least two roosters, but I was clueless about the hens until this morning.  Maybe if I ever get a final head count we can have a Name The Library Poultry Contest?

7 comments:

azteclady said...

Name the library poultry contest? Only you, Wendy--no wonder I love you so!

Have a safe and merry, and see you on the other side.

JamiSings said...

Hey, if there can be Hollywood Freeway Chickens why not library chickens?

We have a momma duck who keeps coming back to our branch every spring to lay and hatch her eggs.

joykenn said...

Well when you never get snow and ice chickens don't really need cover. All they need is a source of water, some green stuff, and various bugs to eat. The dropped sandwich, abandoned donut and other human food supplements are also helpful. You've probably heard about the feral chickens in Key West, Florida and their various lovers and haters. Unfortunately if you have hens you will have chicks. A few chickens can grow into a flock if there is enough food so just don't let folks start feeding them.

Wendy said...

AL: Thank you! I did have a safe and merry holiday :)

Jami: We have a ton of ducks as well. And there are chickens, wandering around, hanging out with them :)

Joy: The park has a lot of ducks as well, and people feed them - so yeah, I think the chickens aren't hurting for food. The question is - are the hens getting enough food to lay eggs and give us babies. Guess we'll know soon enough!

JamiSings said...

Your branch is like right on park property though. Mesa Verde isn't. There's Tewinkle which is quite a ways away, plus two golf courses, but both are big walks over busy streets. So I don't know why momma duck always comes to us.

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to let you know that I check your Upcoming Historical Romance wiki frequently. I really appreciate the work you do!

Wendy said...

Jami: My guess is Mama Duck feels "safe" there. It's actually a good spot for her - given that you guys are in a more residential neighborhood. Quieter and she's less likely to get hassled with there (uh, I think?).

Anon: I start to feel guilty when I neglect it for a while. In a perfect world, it should be seriously updated AT LEAST once a month. In fact...I need to start a June page.....