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SAN JUAN ISLAND LIBRARY |
Related pagesSan Juan Island Library Web site Previous columnsCreating Digital Access in a Digital World |
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Librarian Pilgrimage
Each year, in a city somewhere in the United States there is a gathering a very organised gathering. Librarians from across the country and indeed the world gather by the thousands to descend upon the poor city and take over hotels, restaurants, convention centres all for the purpose of developing the role of the library in communities, schools, universities, government offices, businesses and the hearts and minds of all. This year Anaheim California is the host city for the American Library Association's annual conference and I hope they're ready for us. As of this week, I am one of nearly twelve thousand librarians, library staff, trustees and other library folk who are registered to attend. Many more will register on-site. I've been to these meetings in Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta and New Orleans and I always come back invigorated in my love of librarianship and loaded with new ideas. There are workshops in the latest trends in providing the best library service possible workshops in the skills for being a great librarian brag sessions where librarians can show off exciting and innovative programs they've implemented in their libraries the biggest authors you can imagine, hanging out, talking about their books, signing copies big name guest speakers and books, books, books, as far as the eye can see. The exhibit floor at the convention centre is bigger than anything we have here on the island and most of what's on display is book after book after book. Sure there's library furniture, new innovations in bookdrop bins, computer software and other things, but mostly it's books. Truly, heaven on earth. As for the guest speakers, in the past I've heard speeches from Laura Bush, Anderson Cooper and Madeleine Albright to name a few. This conference I'll have a chance to hear Ron Reagan, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dean Koontz, Khaled Hosseini, Sally Ride and many more. I won't be able to get to all of them but those I do get to are always memorable. I'll be leaving right after today's summer reading event over at the elementary school and I'll be back just before next week's summer reading event stop by next week if you'd like to hear what I saw, heard and picked up at the conference. I'd love to share!
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