ASSOCIATES (vol. 8 no. 2, November 2001) - associates.ucr.edu

by

Carrie Phillips
Computer Technician/Reference & ILL Assistant
Musselman Library
Bluffton College
Bluffton, Ohio
phillipsc@bluffton.edu

On a Friday morning not long ago, I discovered a small American flag at home and decided that I would bring it in to my office and add it to the collection of items on my desk that keep me going... keep me motivated to get my work done each day. This collection of items represents, among other things, who I am, who my friends are, what I do, what I believe in, and how I entertain myself. As I poked the stick "flagpole" of my little vinyl USA flag into a mound of poster putty on the hutch of my desk, I surveyed the other items it had joined on my desk and nearby wall:

• A photo of my husband and me taken in college
  
• A photo of my best friend and me in Traverse City, MI
  
• A paperweight and medallion from my alma mater and current employer
  
• A yellow beanbag fellow with a computer-shaped head, googly eyes, and "Web" written on his chest
  
• A Y2K bug Christmas ornament
  
• A jar of potpourri
  
• A "mysterious air fern" from a mail order catalog (I have a brown thumb)
  
• A picture of me drawn by one of my husband's 2nd grade students
  
• An eBook vendor's advertisement with matching 3D glasses
  
• A papier-mache Angel
  
• A picture of Webmistress Ming from Dilbert (I'm the "webmistress" here!)
  
• A pair of purple plastic framed mirrored sunglass goggles with blinking LEDs
  (for when I really need a laugh)

I'm a member of LIBSUP-L, an email discussion list I'm sure many ASSOCIATES readers are also members of, and that Friday I decided to ask the list members what "stuff" they have on their desks to keep them excited and motivated throughout the day (and night, for some) in their offices. After receiving an overwhelming response to my post, and after consulting with the editors of ASSOCIATES, I decided to compile a list of all of the items to share with all of you. So, here goes nothing!

• Altoids boxes
• action figures
• various types of drinking vessel
• squishy wrist rests
• calendars of various themes, monthly or page-a-day
• glass snow globes
• resin statue of a jolly, fat, laughing Buddha
• rubber brains
• pictures of children, grandchildren, spouses, friends, family, pets, etc.
• mouse pads with special value
• cartoons
• cartoon character figures and memorabilia
• postcards of art we like or places we've been
• lamps
• rocks
• framed art
• unframed art
• wreaths
• artwork and sculpture from children
• bumper stickers
• Academic certification
• snacks
• candy
• chocolate (a separate food category for many of us!)
• books
• quotations, poems, and other thoughts
• dolls
• dream catchers
• paperweights
• the view from a window
• fresh flowers
• dried flowers
• African violets
• Pothos plants
• Bromeliad plants
• Peace lilies
• Goldfish plants
• Hawaiian umbrella plants
• ferns
• Aloe plants
• JAMA cover art
• special screen savers and desktop wallpaper
• Cow items
• dust
• gifts from students/coworkers/friends/family
• stuffed animals
• beanie babies
• magnets
• Sports team memorabilia
• inspirational sayings, jokes, and song lyrics
• posters
• cat items
• dog items
• survival kits
• badge buttons
• photos of interesting writers
• Clocks
• watercolor art
• seasonal decorations
• Collectible figurines
• plaques
• radios
• VW Beetle memorabilia
• Nature photos and calendars
• Library posters/promotional material
• OCLC printouts from items we've written
• Craft items made by us or for us
• dust jackets from books
• Photos from places we've been (or would rather be, or would like to go)
• toys
• Masks of famous personalities (Martha Stewart, etc.)
• gifts from boyfriends, girlfriends, and best friends
• voodoo dolls
• transportation tickets/cards (sentimental or functional)
• Librarian paraphernalia (sentimental, functional, or whimsical)
• rubber animals in teapot-shaped cages
• CDs and tapes
• freebie CDs for decoration
• water fountains
• wind-up toys
• reference books
• slinky
• collections of Pluto items
• buttons/badges
• candy dispensers
• wind chimes
• cheat sheets for our duties
• happy meal toys
• pots and vases
• notepads
• seasonal decorations
• Disney figures
• valentines
• sand gardens
• "negativity reversal systems
• beanie babies
• personal book collections
• stress balls (someone has a stress pig)
• bubbles
• candles (to smell or look at but not burn, of course!)
• PEZ dispensers
• taxidermy paperweights
• lotion
• items to pacify children when they visit
• Chinese dragon
• service awards
• souvenirs
• wedding favor
• Mardi Gras beads
• tissues
• white boards
• bumper stickers
• birthday/Christmas/other cards
• fans (manual and electric)
• comic strips
• newspaper clippings of us or of people we know
• pencils
• Skeletons (hopefully not our own!)
• American flags
• Bookmarks
• trolls
• historical memorabilia from our libraries
• shrines to favorite musical performers
  

Many folks mentioned how their backs were facing the door or doorway to their offices and cubicles. We've all now been enlightened to the "Feng Shui mirror" -- a rear-view mirror for your desk. No more sneak attacks from coworkers trying to play with your Rubics cube or yo-yo!

Other responders have added furniture to their offices for the specific purpose of holding and displaying their knickknacks.

Another creative list member fashioned the "information superhighway" out of barcode sheet border. Around it she has placed moons, stars, cacti, headers from collectible stamp sheets, and city skylines from discarded book jackets. Yet another described a famous (or infamous?) "wall" of, well, "attractive" pictures that is on display in a staff workroom. Several folks mentioned how they hoped the fire marshal would never come to their offices for an inspection!

So, what is in YOUR office that motivates you? Make your workspace a fun place to be!

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