New Start

Ah, the start of a new year.  New classes, new excitement at work, and of course, new books to be read.  I'll be honest, I'm rather glad classes have started again.  There's something really fun about new classes, getting all new assignments, learning new things....But, give me about five more weeks and I'll be ready for summer again.

I have a lot of good things planned for this year.  But, the big one for right now (since there's too much snow outside to really have any fun) is going to be reading.  Lots of reading.  I have a whole list of books stacked up to dive into, including several manga series that I've already started (One Piece, Death Note, Phoenix, and Black Jack, just to name a few).  For this first blog post of the new year, though, I'm going to touch upon something very near and dear to my heart: the library.

I have read a couple books so far this year (If you don't believe me, just check my Goodreads account!), two of which have focused on that funny little place called Customer Service.  I Work at a Public Library (Gina Sheridan) and Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops (Jen Campbell) provided me with many a much needed laugh.  As a library staff member myself (I'm not sure if I actually mentioned this here--I keep writing up posts and deleting them before they're published--but I was promoted in July to an Adult Services Associate Librarian, yay!  That means I work even more with the public, and my stories have gotten stranger and stranger.  The stories in these books alternately surprised me, horrified me, or left me shaking my head with a knowing chuckle: these are things I knew all to well.  If you've ever wanted to work in customer service, or if you already do, then you should definitely check out these books!  They will probably scare you away from getting into a customer service position, but if they don't, you'll see just how much fun is to be had while working!

Classes have started today, so I'm getting acquainted with all the fun stuff I'll be learning this semester.  First is Public Libraries, with Library Services for Adults starting in a few weeks.  I'll be sure to keep you posted on anything interesting I read or learn, and I'm hoping to be a more active blogger this semester than I have been in the past.  Until next time, Happy New Year!

Reading Challenge 2013

Happy New Year, guys!

Just a quick update....last year, my reading goal was to complete 50 books.  I managed to get through 51.  This year, I want to top that, so I plan on tackling 52 books in the next 12 months.  I'd love for you guys to read along with me, so I'm going to make a genuine effort to actually post the things I'm reading and include reviews and such for all of you to follow.  I'll also be posting reviews on Goodreads, and will be including the Goodreads Reading Challenge widget on the sidebar, just like I did last year.  Hopefully this one will be better about updating things (the last one seems to have frozen around 17 books).

I'm also hoping to try and put a bit more of a dent into my LXG Reading Challenge, too!

If you have any books you'd really like to suggest, please let me know :)  If not, I'd be happy to suggest some to you guys, too!

Any fun New Years resolutions or goals?

Looking forward to hearing from y'all :)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year, everyone!  I can't believe another year has already come and gone.  Still, there's something wonderful and exciting about a new year, full of possibilities.  Every year, I write down my new year's resolutions in my journal, and read over the resolutions of the year before, in order to see if I've met them, or if I need to renew them again for the next year.  I usually give myself about five; one two or three are usually met by the end of the year.  While 50% isn't perfect, it's not too bad either.

This year, among other things, I hope to read 100 books.  I've tried this for several years, and I never quite meet the goal.  Still, I'm not quite ready to give up on it yet.  Once Goodreads updates their website for the new year, I'll be able to post the yearly reading challenge widget on my blog's sidebar for 2012.  So far, my last book of 2011 is still my first book of 2012.  It's a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories that I bought at Borders a few years back, and never had the chance to read.  It feels real nostalgic to read it, especially since Borders recently closed.  I have so many memories from that bookstore; it's real tragic.

Maybe I should go for 50 books?  I don't know.  I'll decide when Goodreads updates everything.

Also, the results of my survey came in.  While I was disappointed to only receive three votes, I did get enough of a response to avoid a tie.  Weekly Chesteron received a fat ZERO votes (which could have been because people just haven't heard of Chesterton, or else because there was no alliteration in the title--which I was VERY concerned about--haha).  Weekly Wodehouse received one vote, and the other two went to our winner: Wilde Wednesdays.  So, starting on January 4th, we'll have our first installment of Wilde Wednesdays!  And for those of you who follow Cinema Sweetheart, the first post of 2012 will come that Thursday, January 5th.

I have a real good feeling about 2012.  I'm working, have an amazing internship in the works, and there is so much that I want to do.  I want to learn to crochet, knit on double pointed needles, and read a ton of books (especially Chesterton).  What do you all have planned for the New Year?  What opportunities do you foresee for yourself?  In February, Ramblings of a Devoted Bookworm turns two years old.  I can't believe how fast this time has gone by!  Speaking of which, I promise to make my blog more of a priority in the next year, with interesting posts, not just random drivel or pointless posts.  I want to really connect with everyone once again.

Have an AMAZING year, don't party too hard, and stay safe!  Love you all!

~Emmy

2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!