Tying Up Loose Ends

Last week the college sponsored a clean up day, complete with all the supplies and boxes and rags and organizers you might need. In the afternoon they sent judges around to scope out the buildings and make awards for the most organized, the cleanest, the messiest etc. Though I came in to work on the evening shift hours, I did my best to straighten up my office. Despite the fact that I haven't quite been in it for a whole year yet, the stacks of paperwork awaiting my attention had gotten a bit out of control. I still knew where things were, but I desperately needed to file and sort and tuck things out of sight.

In a few short hours, I had done just that. Then I realized I had yet to actually clean! So I dutifully rounded up cloths and wipes and scrubbed down the surfaces, cleared off the bulletin boards, neatened up the books on the book shelf and spiffed the place up. Just as I was putting on the finishing touches, I saw the judges. They appeared to be a bit lost, so I went to see if I could help them find the various offices and areas to look at. I was especially proud of the organization of the Circulation Desk area. I asked them if they might be willing to step behind the desk and take a look. They politely glanced at our hard work of organization, nodded, then headed out the door.

Wait! Where are you going? You haven't even been back to Collection Services or upstairs to the Administration Office. But it was too late. They were gone just like that! I stayed in the library while staff went to the awards and ice cream shindig. Turns out they had already eliminated our building because we are new and they felt it wouldn't be fair to compare us with someone in an old building with years of accumulation to deal with.

Ah, but is that not the point? We had to de-clutter in a big way just to move into the new building. I think the staff deserve gold medals for all that. But we do have a great building, and I guess that is reward enough. Still, its too bad I didn't know that before I went to so much trouble. Then again, it makes tying up the loose ends before leaving for a month of study much easier. [grin]