Week #3

(07.-11.10.24)

Solved at least my access problem to my pictures! So here we go again :)

Mäntytie (ES)

The week started with the usual Monday: reshelving and checking in books from the last days, some class visits and check outs, then chose and printed some book covers to hang in the hallway from the library. I also put together a theme table on Finland, because Aleksis Kivi Day was coming up. Who the hell was that person you ask?

Weeeell. I mention National Symbols on my Finland page but I didn't mention Aleksis Kivi (born Alexis Stenvall, *10.10.1834) as Finland's National Writer! He wrote the first significant novel in the Finnish language: Seitsemän veljestä (Seven brothers) in 1870. A very popular adaption for kids of this story is the book "Seitsemän koiraveljestä" (Seven dog brothers) by Mauri Kunnas which I also put on display at the library. Most Finns also raise the Finnish flag on this day. When I asked about Finns and their flags it seemed they take it very seriously.

Finns have 9 official days determined by the Sisäministeriö (ministry of the interior, Innenministerium) where government institutions and offices are required to raise the Finnish flag. The University of Helsinki recommends 15 more days so in total 24. One of those days is Finnish Literature Day or Aleksis Kivi Day (Aleksis Kiven päivä or suomalaisen kirjallisuuden päivä). Apart from those days of course they raise flags on other irregular occasions like elections. Every citizen is of course free to follow suit, and that they do indeed! I saw lots of flags on Thursday.

Tuesday was as always very busy with class visits and not lagging behind with the reshelving and check ins while checking out to students like a madwoman. In between the horde rushes I put volume numbers on our Harry Potter books and started to sort out non-fiction history books.

Wednesday ... usual reshelving, checking in & out ... hanging more book cover recommendations in the hallway, sorting out books ... Oh yes, the assembly! The English School has a sports day every year and the medal ceremony was that day. Very neat with some dancing in between for the active and impatient ones and lights and smoke and all! They also had a very nice trick to silence students when it got too loud. By clapping a rhythm, letting the students repeat the pattern but the second rhythm ends with a "shhh!"... and that actually worked... Sadly not applicable in libraries xD But maybe useful for some of you out there! Oh yes and I added a design on the white board on the inside of the library door. My mentor wished for a bookworm! They really like it.

Valimotie (MS-HS)

A Thursday like every other... more reshelving to be done. We also stored some textbooks in the storage unit and covered some books. After lunch break we went on another excursion to Helsingin ranskalais-suomalainen koulukirjasto (Helsinki's French-Finnish school library). The librarian there (for 28 years already) was very cheerful and noticeably loved by the students there which made me very happy. He told me that for him it was very important to have a good relationship with the students and he also has every student as some sort of "intern for a day" experience in 6th or 7th class in the library to nurture good relations and understanding for our work. He was a very charming fellow and I commend him for his efforts. Very funny: they had french balconies in the library part of the building :D

Friday went by in a flash. Reshelving, sorting out books in the sections gardening, pets, cooking, and in the afternoon the last intern of The English School Library came for a visit and introduced me to the municipal libraries and "helmet" (Helsinki Metropolitan area library network). We also spoke about maybe going to the Helsingin kirjamessut (Helsinki book fair) together!

I'm excited! (๑>ᴗ<๑)