Hungry for ice cream? Head to Jackson.

While visiting for a weekend in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, it occurred to me that Kristin and I could stop into Jackson for some delicious ice cream. Back in the day I went to a place called Jackson Dairy. It was just far away from my home in Battle Creek that a quick trip could be made on select summer evenings with family or friends. After searching a bit online I saw that its name had changed to The Parlour. Same location, new name--but it looks like the place has been bought up and is now run by a mini-chain. With directions in hand, Kristin and I hit the road and headed east. It helped knowing that ice cream will be had halfway into the journey.

The Parlour is a big place. It doesn't look particularly inviting or appealing from the outside. Park your car and step inside and you feel like you're walking into an old diner. Lots of seating with a white and red colored decor. Take a few moments as you head to your seat or on your way out to look at the pictures on the wall. They help put time in perspective.

It's great fun watching folks go through the cycle of the visit. First they rush to an open seat and then they gaze excitedly at the many options on the menu. All sorts of tasty options pairing ice cream with any number of sweet tasting companions. Then a little bit of waiting before the requested item is brought out and placed in front of the hungry patron. After scooping their way through their order, their pace slows and their hunger is forgotten. Completing the task becomes a challenge.

If it's your first time here, you're probably going to be shocked at the size of your order. They make the servings big. Take a look around before you place your order to make sure you know what you're in for. We found that it was totally sufficient to get the junior version of the menu options. I'm pictured here with a junior version of a banana split.

The Parlour is sort of like a big version of Ray's in Royal Oak. But, honestly, Ray's has them beat for the iced treats. The ice cream at The Parlour isn't not bad ice cream by any means, but the ice cream isn't the draw--it's not especially unique. Go to The Parlour for the experience and the atmosphere. It's a good time.

So you want a library job in Michigan?

Are you nearing graduation with a library degree? Do you want to stay in Michigan? Such questions were being discussed on my alma mater's listerv and I thought I'd share my response (slightly modified for the blog).

1. If you're looking for a job in the state of Michigan, recognize that the economy has changed considerably within the last few years. It's in a much different spot today than just last year. This changing economy impacts the system on many levels. Graduates are having a tough time finding available positions and are becoming more desperate for work. Many libraries have suffered significant funding cuts and are working with less. Regional library cooperatives are closing their doors and reducing staff numbers.

2. You may not get a full time position immediately after graduation. Funding shortages have forced libraries to get creative in job openings. They may, for example, offer two part-time positions with reduced benefits rather than a full-time position with full benefits. You may need to work another part-time job to supplement your career dreams until something full-time surfaces.

3. Look outside of your concentration area for work. I concentrated on public library work while in the program. After graduation I worked for a library software company in their support department. I now work in the field of philanthropy as a solo librarian. Be flexible in your expectations--especially for your first position after graduation.

4. Don't ask your graduate program to tell you'll get a job. You get the skills and knowledge from the program--it's your responsibility to put that to use and find an opening. Use them as a resource to strengthen yourself as a potential candidate. Your graduate program would LOVE for all of you to find employment right after graduation--but they can make no guarantee that it's going to happen.

5. What have you done to set yourself apart from other candidates? Why should a prospective employer be interested in you when you're mixed in with 30 other candidates? Join one or several student organizations--take on a leadership position in a group. Join one or several professional associations and read what they send you. Start writing a library-focused blog (like Betsy Stoll's 'Second Life: Binary Footprints' blog). Jump into online environments (MySpace, Facebook, Second Life, blogging, YouTube) and get a feel for how they can be used--it could be helpful to at least be familiar with them.

The thoughts shared above are certainly relevant outside of the library community as well. Generally tough times in Michigan.

Dewey's not dead

The New York Times reported that an Arizona library had done away with the classic and functional Dewey Decimal System in favor of broad subject browsing groups (as seen at most retail bookstores). How would this new approach work? Instead of going to 917.74 for a travel guide on Michigan, you would go to a large subject collection of travel items and browse for the desired item. That sounds fun and easy but it really doesn't play out in a favorable way. I know I've been consistently frustrated when seeking a particular title in a bookstore--they're not super tight on organization or controlled presentation.

The library that implemented this change is led by Harry Courtright. Mr. Courtright said annual surveys indicated most library users came into the building without a specific title in mind. They just wanted to browse. What about the library users who have a specific title they're after? Wouldn't it be nice for them to be able to find what they're seeking without browsing rows of undesired titles? This isn't the best solution--there's a better way.

Willard Library's new branch has implemented a fine hybrid of old school library ways and contemporary use preferences. When you walk into the Helen Warner Branch, you feel like you're sort of in a bookstore--but not entirely. They've divided the library collection into broad subject groups (travel, cooking, etc.) and then organized books within each subject group by Dewey Decimal classification. It is an ideal combination of organization methods since a user can casually browse a subject area or find a specific title quickly using the Dewey Decimal System. The library system's director, Rick Hulsey, has set a great example by presenting a traditional library classification system in a way that is relevant to today's user.

The article states "Mr. Courtright says most people don't know what the numbers mean anyway." Why should that signal the Dewey Decimal System be deemed irrelevant? Such a revelation about the using public should lead to education about libraries, how they're organized, and what they offer. This education can be directed at all age levels from elementary students to seniors. Could a "crash course in library use" be offered to new library card holders or interested members of the community? Empower library users to get the most out of their library visits and they libraries they fund.

Libraries aren't bookstores. Libraries will be on shaky ground if they attempt to become completely like bookstores. The library community can embrace certain aspects (mainly atmosphere) of bookstores but they can't lose their identity in pursuit of the competition. Instead, libraries need to breath new life into their buildings and into the profession. They need to capitalize on what sets them apart from bookstores by highlighting the many unique and valuable services they provide.

I hope that the demise of the Dewey Decimal System is limited to Mr. Courtright's library. Dewey isn't a perfect system of classification. It has its shortcomings. But it's served library users for generations and is vital in today's quest to connect library users to desired content.

Cosi breaks even

Last weekend we made our way to the Birmingham Farmers' Market. What a delight to buy produce grown locally. Over time I hope to recognize the growers and sellers and perhaps develop relationships! Coffee and breakfast items were available so one could make a morning of it. Live music and running little kids made the scene festive and alive. In the future I must remember our reusable grocery bags and my coffee mug so less waste will be generated by my purchases.

After a while at the market and a bit of wandering we visited the Cosi in Birmingham for a quick lunch. It was my first time dining at Cosi. Kristin and I both ordered sandwiches. Tasty sandwiches, freshly prepared on thin, salted bread. I was quite pleased that carrots were available as a side in place of the standard potato chips. Healthy options can help folks make healthier food decisions! Thank you, Cosi!

For the negative--the place was a mess. When we first arrived it was fairly busy. By the end of our meal the dining room had cleared out and we saw it was wrecked! Paper waste on the floor, chairs situated haphazardly, empty plates and dirty silverware on several tables, YUCK! We inquired about comment cards and were directed to their website. After sharing our feedback with the woman behind the counter we were told something about tight staffing and having a rush. I understand, really.

Update (7/17/07)

Here's the response from Cosi.

Thank you for your Talk To Us email about your recent visit to Cosi in Birmingham, I am sorry to hear that you did not have a good experience. I can assure you that the dirty dining room you experienced is not how we strive to run our business and we know that our success will only be achieved through meticulously clean restaurants. I will follow up with the restaurant team in Birmingham about your experience to reinforce our standards with the managers and partners.

Please accept my apologies and if you care to forward me an address I can send coupons to enjoy your next meal at this or any of our Cosi locations on us. I hope that you will return soon and I look forward to continuing to serve you.

Thank you for your time and concern - guests such as you who give us honest feedback help us continue to improve Cosi operations.

Sincerely,

[name not published]

District Manager
Team Michigan

Thanks, Cosi! We'll be back!

Don't ask Sprint too many questions

On Saturday the Wall Street Journal shared some surprising news about Sprint. Sprint sent letters to about 1,000 paying customers to let them know they would need to find a new cell phone service provider by the end of the month. The customers receiving this letters were being dumped because of excessive calls to customer service. I guess having a customer call about 25 times a month bothers Sprint. Fielding the the flood of calls from these customers was making it hard for Sprint to earn money on their accounts since they had to put so much forth in customer service hours. Boo-hoo for Sprint. It's a good thing they're not charging customers for the early termination fee.

What can you learn from this? If you want to terminate your contract with Sprint prematurely, call their customer support line daily (at least) and ask really complex questions.

Read the Wall Street Journal article here.

Ginormous IS a word

I've dropped the word "ginormous" into conversations previously. I always kicked myself for using such a word around intelligent company. I feared the word would be perceived as juvenile or something (yup, it is). But now it's a word--at least according to Merriam-Webster. I still think I shouldn't use it too often. Read the story here.

Open the box: Pandora Radio

I've found a most excellent way to listen to music while online. It's called Pandora Radio and it's totally rad. Pandora Radio builds a listening stream based on your tune preferences. Go here. Create an account. Then get started by inputting an artist or group you dig. Pandora will usually play one song by this performer before selecting other artists or groups who have qualities similar to the performer you first selected. It will typically toss in other songs by the performer you originally entered as the mix goes through its catalog. You can give Pandora's selections a thumbs up and it will remember you liked it. Make a point to give a thumbs up to songs you enjoy so that you keep the stream going in the right direction. Or you can give it a thumbs down and it will move to the next selection.

I've created several stations that represent different music interests. My stations include Tom Waits, Ruth Brown, The Black Keys, Kevin Coyne, The Mountain Goats, and The White Stripes. For artists that have a distinctive style, Pandora Radio works really well. I'm usually pleased with an entire listening session for The Black Keys. For an artist like Tom Waits the selections are not always right on. Mr. Waits has many unique styles so it's tough for the system to come up with appropriate recommendations.

Use this tool to explore artists and groups you may not have considered previously. It opens your radar to a whole realm of untapped possibilities. It's more targeted than just streaming a radio station. Once you login it remembers your preferences. If you're away from your personal computer you can still access this for music (perfect for playing while at work).

Click on the selection currently playing in Pandora and you can get connected to more information on the artist and album. View the attributes assigned to the selection, see similar works by other performers, and if you're really into it--click the link to purchase it via Amazon or iTunes.

Click here to give it a try. You'll have to create an account but it's a painless process. Give it a go!