Welcome to "Someday We'll Laugh About This" Week. We've all used the expression, but sponsors say, "Why wait?" This week is a great way to start the new year - laughing at the humorous human condition. It usually takes less than seven days for people to violate 90 percent of their New Year's resolutions, so this week tickles the yoke and joke of perfectionism while encouraging people to strive for excellence at the same time! Let's remember and practice the art of laughing at ourselves!

If you think salaries are low today, then celebrate the anniversary of the Five-Dollar-A-Day Minimum Wage established 85 years ago today by Henry Ford. To obtain this minimum wage, an employee had to be "of good personal habits." Whether an individual fit these criteria was determined by a new office created by Ford Motor Company - the Sociological Department.

Wednesday marks the anniversary of the day in 1912 when New Mexico became the 47th state in the United States. Wednesday is also National Smith Day. The most common surname in the English-speaking world is "Smith," with an estimated 2,382,500 Smiths in the United States alone. This day honors the 1580 birthday of Captain John Smith, leader of the English colonists who settled in Jamestown in 1607, making him one of the first American Smiths.

Friday is National Joygerm Day, a day when joygerm junkies invade and pervade the earth with merriment and mirth, joy and cheer, kindness and courtesy, silliness and sacredness, and happiness and humor. Suggested activities include smile check-up clinics, chuckling, chortling, grinning, and winning over gruff and grumpy grouches to the Joygerm Generation!

Finally, January 11 is National Clean-Off-Your-Desk Day, a day for every desk worker to see the top of the desk and prepare for the new year's paperwork. It is also National Thank God It's Monday! Day. Besides holidays being celebrated on Mondays, people everywhere start new jobs, have birthdays, celebrate promotions, and begin vacations on Mondays!

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

Wednesday's 10:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. "Polar Bear" storytimes feature crafts including a polar bear ice scene with glitter, polar bear bookmark, and polar bear finger puppet. Saturday morning's 10:00 "Panda Bears" storytime features panda crafts, including a paper bag puppet and panda mask.

BOOK TALK

Librarian Mary Beth Wright provides this week's book information. What happens after you've written that superior resume and terrific cover letter and the company calls YOU for an interview? Try checking out Martin Yates' book, "Knock 'Em Dead 1998," with great answers for over 200 tough interview questions. You might also be interested in "Power Interviews: Job-Winning Tactics," by Neil Yeager, or Richard M. Beatty's, "The Five Minute Interview."

Audio-cassettes and videos are available on interviewing techniques. Joyce Lain Kennedy's audio-cassette, "The Job Search Kit for Dummies," contains a section on interviewing. For video, try "The Complete Guide for Successful Interviewing."

On the flip side, the Roswell Public Library has books for recruiting the best employee for your company. One is John Kador's, "The Management Book of Questions," which contains 751 powerful, penetrating questions that get you beyond the pat answers to the person behind the resume.

If you need help to upgrade your interviewing skills or to hire the best qualified applicants, come check out these and other materials at your library!

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: "Learn to laugh at yourself; everybody else is." (unknown)

JUDY ARMSTRONG, 624-7276

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