Sub Zero Temps

No place is warm these days. I sit at the Reference Desk wrapped in blankets and scarves, typing with my gloves on. My staff are freezing at their desks and you can see your breath when you work behind the Circulation Desk. Somehow the geothermal system that has served so well until now is struggling to keep up these days. Sixteen below with the wind chill doesn't help.

Last year it never stayed this cold over a three day period, so the system never got a proper testing. The facilities guys are hopping to coax every ounce from the system, turning on valves, resetting inner zones, shaking their heads as they stare at the stone cold baseboard heating units still pristine white in their newness.

I crank up the foyer heaters in the hopes of somehow overcoming the continual opening of the handicapped doors. Everyone uses them these days because they are too cold to take their hands out of their pockets. Those doors swing wide every few minutes, remaining open just long enough to swoosh frozen air all the way to the Reference Desk, showering me with more fuel to make my teeth chatter. I sure wish they had figured out a way to offset those doors to prevent a straight shot to the outside.

We threaten to take pictures of everyone wrapped in winter longjohns while working at their stations and send them to the president. The weather forecaster tells us that its warmer in Alaska than in Arkansas. I believe him, but it doesn't make me want to move to Alaska or Arkansas. I heat a cup of water and snuggle it under my blanket at the desk. A sip or two helps, but the heat in my lap brings my core temperature up to tolerable. Tomorrow I will bring my hot water bottle and my heat in the microwave rice filled sock.

A colleague shows me the inch of ice on the inside of his windowsill. I'd throw another log on the fire if they weren't fake. I rotate in and out of the cafe and reading room, toasting my buns by the cheery yellow flames - at least they don't die away. Here's hoping the cold snap moves on soon. Or they figure out how to tweak the system more productively!