If you were searching online for images of what to wear to a library interview, what words would you type into the search engine?

Answer in the comments. Let's see how different minds think about the same question!

I like to learn new things. If I could afford it, I would always be in some class or earning a new certification. Since I can't afford that right now, I take advantage of free classes whenever I find one that interests me. Classes are good for me because they provide more structure than when I try to schedule learning time on my own. I will stick with a class more than I will stick with a self-imposed schedule. I would like to have enough discipline to teach myself methodically and stay with it, but right now, I'm not there.

Learning new things frequently serves at least two purposes. One, I am happier. Two, I have a better idea of what my students are going through.

Oh, sure. I was a student at one time, but memories fade. Right now, I'm working on Code Year and learning JavaScript. I had forgotten how hard it can be to learn something for which one does not have a natural affinity. Coding reminds me of math. It feels easy when I'm in class, I do well on homework and tests, but as soon as I take the test and move on, I forget it all.

And then there is the disparity between time and energy. When I have time to complete class work, I have no energy. When I have the energy, I have no time. I can't imagine how much more difficult this must be for those who have a family, a job, and school to take their time and energy.

Most days, I get home from work, eat, and say to myself, "You should work on Code Year."

Then my mind screams, "I don't wanna!"

All kinds of other ideas insist that they are more important. Check my RSS feed for new blog posts. Check my email. Trim my finger nails. Watch NCIS. Read my book. Write a cover letter. Bake cookies. Take a walk. Stare at the wall. My head is so foggy, anything but class work sounds appealing.

I've found the only way into more energy is to begin working. Most of the time, after a few exercises, my head clears and I enjoy what I'm learning. Other days, I get more and more tired and then I stop and catch up another day.

In the end, everything gets done and I'm glad I decided to take the class. Still, when working with students, it helps to have a fresh memory of how hard learning can be, even when the person enjoys the class and wants to be there.

This recent post on Ask a Manager reminded me again of how difficult it is for a group of people to all be comfortable at the same temperature. Public buildings, including libraries, seem to be specifically designed to be either too hot or too cold. Sometimes I wonder if one cannot win the design bid without demonstrated proof that one can design a building specifically calculated to produce uncomfortable temperatures, but never a consistent, properly humidified average room temperature.

Musings aside, I have some experience in staying warm and want to share them. The most important thing I learned about personal temperature control is to experiment. What works perfectly for someone else might not work for you and what the "experts" insist is a bad idea may work perfectly. Educate yourself on the basics of how air insulation works, how the body regulates temperature, and the warming or cooling properties of various fabrics and then experiment.

I'm one of those people who's fingers and toes are almost always cold to the touch and who feel most alive and energetic in mildly humid weather that produces a thin sheen of sweat when one stays outside for more than five minutes. Over the years, I've experimented with staying warm in school and work buildings. Usually, not looking weird took priority over staying warm, so I didn't wear a winter coat and hat while everyone else was in t-shirts. I chose to shiver instead.

Now I am older and being comfortable is more important that what people think. Or perhaps more accurately, I have more control over my clothing choices and I have come to believe that one can be comfortably warm and [at least mostly] dressed like one's peers at the same time.

I first began to learn how to stay warm when I served in the Montana Conservation Corps. For the majority of May – October 2007, we camped in the mountains. If I remember correctly, one month my electric bill was $9 because I was gone so much. Anyway, being a person inclined to chilliness coupled with living in the woods at high altitudes equaled me being cold even more frequently than usual. When you are in the woods, there is no going inside to warm up. Even sitting next to a fire (assuming there isn't a fire ban) doesn't provide sufficient warmth. My front roasts and my back freezes and as soon as I move, my insides are cold again. Crawling into a sleeping bag did not warm me. More than ever, being cold in the woods for days at a time proved to me that no matter how many layers of clothing I put on or how warm the clothes, if I could not provide heat from inside of me, then the outside of me would stay cold. The good news was, if I could keep my outside warm, them my inside was slower to get cold. The bad news was, simply putting on a coat did not get me warm.

Through much experimentation, here are some things, in no particular order, that I have learned about staying warm. One note, I'm writing from a woman's perspective. Options for men may be different.

Eat. Even if I don't feel hungry in the "my stomach is growling" sense, eating at least a few bites every 90 minutes or so improves the ability of my insides to stay warm, thus helping my outsides to be warm. In sedentary jobs, I might drink hot tea with sugar instead of eating as often. The main thing is to find which foods or drinks help you to stay warm and consume them (in moderation with considerations for good health, of course). And when that coworker walks by and starts lecturing you about how eating fruit is so much healthier than eating crackers? Politely tell him that you are doing what is necessary to keep your body healthy and then don't let him bother you.

Fabric content matters. I am colder wearing three knit cotton/poly shirts (e.g. t-shirts), a cotton/poly hoodie, and winter coat than I am wearing a knit silk shirt (e.g. Terramar Sport Silks), a wool sweater, and a winter coat.

Layers matter. Simply wearing thin silk long johns on top and bottom under my clothes can move me from having muscles clenched so tightly I can barely control my movements to chilly, but not unbearably cold. Adding an extra tank (not cotton) over that base layer helps me stay even warmer.

Fit matters. Some people think large, roomy clothing is cozy, but for staying warm, more fitted clothing is ideal. Yes, you want to have freedom of movement and room to layer, but clothes meant for layering (e.g. blazers) are designed with that room in them. There is no need to buy a larger size unless you will be layering something unusually bulky under them. From my experience, a close fitting shirt and a more fitted winter coat are warmer than a close fitting shirt and a too-large coat. The same goes for any other layers. Larger does not usually equal warmer.

Socks material matters. After two hours in typical cotton socks, my feet feel clammy. If the rest of me is cold, this only makes me feel colder. There are affordable options for wool blend socks that are as thin as regular socks. Yes, wool socks are pricier than cotton, but they last longer and to me, are worlds more comfortable. When I wear wool socks, I can go all day without feeling clammy feet and when I take off my socks at night, they do not feel wet and limp the way cotton socks do after a day's wearing.

Sometimes the best thing to do is take off clothes. Finished giggling like a middle-schooler? Ready for me to explain? Good. 

When you are shivering, the last thing you want to do is get even more cold, but sometimes it is the best thing to do to create warmth. 

One time in Maine I was typically cold, so I sat down to build a fire, thinking to warm my feet. At first, I kept my socks on, but worried about scorching them finally took them off. Almost immediately my feet felt warmer. I have since experimented and realized that when my feet are cold, sometimes all they need are a breather and then they and I am warm when properly dressed again. In other situations, all it took was to change whatever clothes were closest to my skin. While layers matter, sometimes you have to take off clothes for a little while in order to be finally warmer.

Cover your head. Whether you use a hat, a pillow, a blanket, or a scarf, covering your head is one of the fastest ways to get warm. It is also likely one of the most work appropriate, after clothing considerations. (If anyone can take off their shoes while staffing the front desk, please let me know where you work.) 

I know, I know. So many people think they look strange in hats. But remember, 1) it takes time to get used to seeing yourself wearing something new and 2) not all hats are created equal. 

If you are wearing one-size-fits-all hats, then sure, they probably don't fit you correctly which would lead to them looking strange. Also, placement is important. A fedora worn an inch above the eyebrows will look different from one worn on the back of the head. Moreover, a hat will look different with your hair up than it will with your hair down. A bucket hat may be unflattering, but a beanie will be just the ticket. Experiment!

If you work someplace where appearances are less important, wrap a wool shawl around your head and shoulders. It keeps your head covered and warms your neck. Both pluses for staying warm.

Unlike a coat, a head covering will allow your arms to be unencumbered for working.

Wear a scarf. Scarves for indoor wear are all over the fashion blogosphere, so you shouldn't feel out of place trying this one. Can't stand a big, bulky thing around your neck? Try a narrow scarf out of thin material. Again, you may have to get used to seeing yourself wearing a scarf. I know that if I am wearing a bulky scarf, I need to make sure to knot it low so that it forms a long "v" shape on my chest. If I wrap it around my neck or tie it close to my chin, I look overwhelmed. Thin scarves, however, I can tie close to my neck. Experiment.

Use a personal heating device. Some of the comments on the original post talk about heated mittens and slippers that plug into USB ports. I find that a hot water bottle works beautifully. A heating pad is another alternative. I most often feel inside cold along my spine, so I put the heating device against the small of my back. I have also used the AC adaptor on my computer cord to warm my feet or back (the adapter is halfway up the cord, not near the plug). If you are uncertain where to put the heating device for optimum warmth, along the spine, under the arm near the armpits, or next to the groin are the places that warm me the fastest. Cradling a Nalgene bottle filled with boiling water (not the safest method for creating a hot water bottle) in the hip to body juncture was about the only way I could get warm while camping in the Montana mountains.

More important than doing what someone else does to stay warm is to experiment and discover what does or doesn't work for your body. Stand by what you learn; don't be intimidated by others' comments. Do you freeze when you wear close-toed shoes but are most comfortable when wearing sandals and a ski hat? Don't let anyone laugh you into being cold. Do wool socks give you blisters? Then wear cotton and try changing them two or three times during the day.

Of course, you need to be aware of what is appropriate for your work environment. You need to be able to do your job and project the image required by your position, but try to think creatively. Find out if what you think are rules really are rules. If your manager tells you that you can't wear ski hats, find out if it is the hat or the style of hat that is the problem. Maybe she will let you wear a beret instead. She doesn't think sandals are appropriate? What about peep-toe dress shoes? Of course, don't be contentious, but also don't consign yourself to being uncomfortable without first seeing if there is an acceptable solution.

Above all, educate yourself and experiment. Find what works for your body in various situations. Be open to change. Believe that there is a way to stay warm, that it's only a matter of finding it.

I had no energy for the past 10 days. It didn't help that Monday was a holiday, so I didn't go to the academic library which is one of the best days of my week. All I had energy for was reading and watching Oh My Lady on Hulu.

Do you ever wonder if people need winter breaks similar to how the earth rejuvenates itself by resting over the winter? I'm talking about real breaks where you do only what is necessary to keep your life functioning properly, but otherwise, you laze about and refresh your mind, body, and soul.

The post I planned for today is taking longer than anticipated to prepare. This morning, I woke up with this post writing itself in my head, but now all the words are gone and only the idea remains. Let's see if my conscious mind is as skilled as my sleeping mind.

Because tone is difficult to convey through writing and we live in a culture that is unaccustomed to assuming positive intent (Thanks, Sally, for that perfect phrase), let me say first of all that this post is in no way intended to be trollish or snarky or negatively critical of anyone or anyone's opinion. If I ask a question here, it is an honest question. I have theories and my own thoughts, but I can't know what someone is thinking unless they tell me. And so, in order to hopefully better understand others, I am asking.

Not in face-to-face life, but in cyberland, I pick up the feeling that some people who work in libraries are saying, "The library is changing. Our profession is changing. It's not what it used to be. What are we going to do?" Often, these proclamations come with the connotation that this change is undesirable, or at the very least, inconvenient and unexpected.

I don't understand. I started visiting the public library when I was six and grew up thinking of the library as a one-stop shop for information and entertainment needs. The library even had some other useful things like a telephone when mine broke or a copy machine or tax forms or programs to keep me from being bored. Even better, they had people to help you figure out how to access or use all these resources.

As an adult with an MLIS and some experience working in libraries, I still think of the library in this way, but I tend to phrase it as "helping people find, access, and evaluate information and providing technological access that they might not have at home" or some other convenient phrase. However I state it, the purpose of the library doesn't seem to have changed.

The methods might change. The speed at which new things need to be learned may have changed. The budgetary support might have changed. Maybe these things are what people are referring to, but their comments make it sound as if they think the entire profession is fundamentally changing.

Not having a great deal of professional experience, maybe I don't have the background to recognize that the core purpose of the profession is changing. But if I'm right and the reason the library exists is to provide people with informational and recreational resources, then what is the cause of the distress?

Is it that we have to learn things more quickly and be better at a greater number of tasks? Well, one of the draws of this profession for me is the need to continually learn. What is the attraction of working with information if it is not the opportunity to learn?

Is it that what people expect from the library is changing, but the budgets aren't keeping up? That is a problem, but then the cries should be, "The budget isn't in line with patron expectations," not "The profession is changing." My guess is there has always been some kind of discrepancy between the available budget and what people want.

To be fair, I don't have any concrete examples of people who say or indicate that they think librarianship is changing. As I said in the introduction, this is more a feeling I have picked up from browsing the Internet. As you can see from my blog roll, the people I read tend to embrace change or even look to create it. In face-to-face life, the librarians I know haven't vocally complained about change and I haven't picked up any resentment over the way people in general eagerly adapt technology into their lives.

So maybe I'm completely wrong and there is nothing to be confused about at all. Still, based on my knowledge of human character, I suspect there are people who want things to be like they were "in the good old days." But "the good old days" were once filled with their own problems, so I don't think all that much has changed after all. The details might have changed, but the basic challenges stay the same.

I think I'm pretty good about backing up anything important. I upload my photos to an online site at least once a month, if not once a week. Once a month, I upload them to a second site as back-up. At least once a month, I email myself anything I write, sometimes more often. Really important things get saved to an external device, too. But things I want, but don't often use, such as articles that I want to write about for a future blog post, I save to my hard drive until I'm done with them.

And then the computer power cord finally frays through and no amount of electrical tape can coax it into properly conducting electricity. I've held the cord together for at least a month, probably more, so I should have ordered a back up, but I kept hoping this cord would last and last and last until the day I can finally buy a new computer. Well, it didn't. The Monday a week before NaNoWriMo it died and I couldn't access my computer for a whole week.

Sure, I could use other computers, but I didn't have access to the articles I had saved and I certainly didn't know where to find them again. The only reason I found them in the first place was through following a link on Twitter or a blog post. Naturally, I didn't want them until I couldn't access them. And then I realized the appeal of Evernote or Diigo or similar link storage programs.

I still don't know that I'll use these tools regularly. They still feel like too much work to sign in every time I want to save something (I don't like to leave myself signed in to several programs at once; it feels cluttered). But who knows, if I start collecting more than one or two of these want-but-don't-need articles, maybe I will start to use an online collection program more often.

At any rate, instead of thinking of these tools as just one more thing to use up time, I begin to see why they were created and how they appeal.