Kimberly Hirsh

📚💬 “Be open to the possibility that you are bigger, more magical, more powerful than you dare imagine, that you are here to do something that is necessary and consequential and that only you can do.” Bakara Wintner in WTF Is Tarot? And How Do I Do It?, on XX JUDGMENT

Hey librarians! Where do you get information to help you do your job?

Make a note: 2023 is the year of unsubscribing.

🔖 Read How Wednesday Addams Birthed a Generation of Cynics by Emily Alford (Longreads).

This is my favorite Wednesday think piece so far.

Ricci’s Wednesday was devious, quietly furious, and most importantly, content to be so.

Hey Internet. What’s fun with a kid in Amsterdam? Besides De Poezenboot, obviously. 🐈‍⬛

Hello. LIS scholars, scholars of #LIS for those of you on hashtaggy places: are you familiar with LIS research that points to PEOPLE as the dominant/preferred resource of information? Can you point me to it? I’ll hunt some down myself but thought I’d ask.

🔖 Read All in Good Fun: How Fanfiction Reignited My Passion for Writing by Briana Lawrence, linked in this week’s The Rec Center

The first time I started working on a fic in the past couple of years, I did it in a spiral notebook.

It seems extra cruel that while my mom can’t actually carry herself around on her legs, she can feel lots of pain in them.

Loved my first day hike, hiked in spite of the sense of impending bursitis. Two days later, bursitis is still here plus some other joint pain and I’m trying to figure out how to deal without just taking to bed for the day.

🎮 Started playing The Secret of Monkey Island on the Steam Deck. Correcting a gap in my point & click bona fides. So far Yakko & Wakko Warner as the Fettuccini Brothers is my favorite part.

Me: gets Steam Deck for Christmas

Me: proceeds to add tons of 90s PC adventure games to my Steam wishlist

Finished reading: The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie 📚

Poirot’s first case. A bit of homage to Doyle at the start, then on to the modes that come to define Christie’s work: a rogue’s gallery & a drawing room reveal.

Dense fog advisory today until 10 AM. Big woodland goth vibes.

Q: the longest time you’ve ever gone without showering?

A: Don’t know but far too long, more than a week. I’m generally bad about it & new parenthood made it even worse.

Q: who was your crush in middle school lmao

A: Had a different one each year. Not naming names but one of them performed surgery on my mom a few years ago.

Q: Was there ever a series of books you were skeptical about, but ended up liking very much?

A: I can’t think of any right now but this is a great question & I’m going to keep thinking about it.

Third anonymous question: If you could choose any career would it be what you’re doing right now or something else?

My answer: This is such a hard question. I would be a professional musical theater performer and fiction writer if I could but I do love my work.

Fourth anonymous question: Favorite place you’ve ever visited?

My answer: The Library of Congress

Next anonymous message: You are the best!

My reply: Thanks! Backatcha!

Next anonymous question: Favourite fandom/ship for fanfic?

My answer: Oh my goodness this is way harder than the career question.

My AO3 bookmarks say New Girl, Nick/Jess. Dragon Age: Inquisition, Dorian/Iron Bull is a close second. But mostly I love good gen friendfic. By which I mean fic about friends hanging out, not fic I write about my friends.

Next anon q: Do you remember your Bronzer days with joy? Or with time (and events) does it feel like just an old phase you went through?

Answer: So much joy. Some of the most fun ever. I will never stop being a Bronzer and I will never stop loving other Bronzers.

Anon message: You’re still one of the first people I think of fondly when I’m reminiscing. 🪵🫀

Reply: Aww thank you! That’s super sweet.

Q: What are your plans this weekend?

A: Nothing big - maybe going to the Farmer’s Market & then prepping bc on 1/16 I leave for Amsterdam - W got a Fulbright and M & I will travel Europe with him as he studies international copyright!

Q: What’s one thing that typical town libraries should change to increase community participation?

A: Find ways to reach people who aren’t already coming in the building. What else is going on locally? Can you have a library presence at those events? Can you partner with other organizations?

Begin As You Mean to Go On, courtesy of Leigh Bardugo:

1. Read for pleasure: Read The Mysterious Affair at Styles on my Kobo.
2. Make things (courtesy of Kim Werker): Set up my new Bullet Journal.
3. Take walks: Did a first day hike at Eno River State Park.