Shooting the messenger

One of the programs I attended at ALA was a joint panel sponsored by ACRL and AASL on K-20 information literacy. The first speaker, David Loertscher, has been speaking on the topic of "information commons" for quite some time now, and I've heard his spiel at three different conference. I've also heard (and edited an…

Do you know who I am?

When I attend events within the YALSA, AASL, HVLA and ISS realm, people know me. Sometimes I feel as though I don't need a name tag... or as though I'm Norm. As Wendy said, I'm with my people. It's a good feeling. But then I sit in my ALA Nominating Committee meetings and, well, I…

Things I hate about conferences

I've been going over the ALA schedules, and reading many "how to survive conference" posts (The Free Range Librarian's is excellent). Most of these are easy to follow, but this one Attend a program hosted by an entity outside your usual “space.” If you are an academic librarian, see a PLA program, and so on.…

If it’s broke…

There's a discussion going on over at the AASL elist about participating in AASL and possible reasons why members don't. The utter cliquishness and lack of "hey, you're new, let me help you fit in" of the division hasn't been mentioned, of course, but the fact that AASL still requires members to actually attend conferences…

My ALA

As I look through the various blog posts, Twitter comments and the Official ALA Conference Catalog, I'm torn between anger that there are too many conflicts and worry that I'm not doing enough. Still, I think this schedule will give me enough time for everything... FRIDAY 1 - 5 ISS School Tour 5:30 - 6:30…

Readers Advisory

What should I read next? (or “what should my son/daughter read next?”) is a question every librarian hears... and often. When the women's book group at Hackley read The Help, I found myself recommending Wench and Queen of Palmyra as good follow-ups. When I know a reader liked The Hunger Games/Catching Fire I know that…

Inching closer to the end

It feels as though I've been neglecting this blog, but that's only because so much has been happening at work!  First (and looming large) is the upcoming move to the rebuilt Goodhue - we're in inventory mode, as well as packing up the non-book stuff in preparation for the Big Day.  Of course there'll be…