Some of you may remember that part of my current job is to automate our library. For the last 100 years, this has been a card-based system. Just before I was hired, Endeavor was contracted to custom build us a database. In order for the database to work, however, we needed to get our cards from their card format into electronic format. For this, we contracted Marcive in San Antonio. I babysat the project for the last year or so. Beginning on Monday of last week, I began working with what is very close to becoming the finished product. We accepted the Test Load under the condition that a few minor changes would be made. With that done, we now have the Production Load. The next step, which is what I’ve been completely immersed in for the last two days, is the patron file. I’m having to sift through a very messy Excel file containing names, addresses and ID numbers of all students, staff and faculty. Once I get that cleaned up, I’ll forward it on to Endeavor to load in. Then, the database will be ours.

This is a very exciting time for me. I know you’re probably saying, “Whoopeeeeeeeeee!” (It’s ’cause you’re as excited as I am, huh?) By the end of this week, we can begin cleaning up the bibliographic records a bit and we can even begin circulating books using the new system. It brings a tear to me eye. Well, almost.

In the meantime, I’m still enjoying The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. He’s throwing in a few twists here and there. The love interest is turning out to be mildly homophobic. At first, I was put off by this but now she’s becoming more and more complex and so I’m wondering if Chabon’s building up to something interesting with it. Hmmmm….

Oh, and I take back what I said about my blog database not working. On account of an Applescript question Davezilla asked me a few days ago, I returned to my scripts to see if there was some alternate route I could take. Gloriously, I found one. So, I got it to work. Kinda. A few other things failed in the transition, so I need to rewrite those. I should have the stupid thing finished by 2002.

… and since you absolutely adore my recently discovered flair for non sequiturs: “And these children that you spit on as they try to change their world are immune to your consultations … they’re quite aware of what they’re going through … ch-ch-ch-changes.” — Changes by David Bowie. (We saw The Breakfast Club on TBS a few days ago. It always reminds me of this song because that passage is quoted at the very beginning.)