My first conference session was @ my hotel so I was able to hang out @ Disneyland hotel & Downtown Disney for the morning. Had breakfast with Goofy...took lots of pictures, sent postcards, then went to Partnering with your talking book library...very good session...got new ideas. Going to check ALA Conference wiki for handouts since I didn't receive all of them. I need to review ASCPL's Adaptive technology resources & see what CPL's LBPH has available for our patrons. I think it would be good to have a kit (maybe Rubbermaid container) of branch resources that a patron can use in the building...such as Large print &/or braille keyboard, track ball, joystick, special mouse devices , flyers for LBPH resources. Staff could store until needed by a patron. A sign could advertise the services. I think next month I'll focus my section of bookletters on adaptive technology resources. Want to check out Illinois talking book library's website. They had some interesting Library 2.0 Programming. Saw a new digital talking book...very cool! I went to the survey session because I'd like to survey LEDS patrons to see what formats they would like more of in the future.
Had a quick bite @ Jazz Kitchen Express (Louisiana cousine).
Now off to the convention center to hear Dean Koontz speak.
Dean Koontz was a very interesting. He spoke of his life, childhood, and his writing. He grew up poor with an acholic father who was diagnosed as a socioppath...says it is why he can write about sociopaths. Mr. Koontz seemed to be vey down to earth. His Trixie books raise money for a guide dog training society. He doesn't want to be labeled as a horror writer because he likes to write various genres. He says this helps him keep from getting bored.
Went to the PLA awards ceremony...they know how to get people in the audience...have Jamie Lee Curtis speak after the awards! She was terrifically entertaining & humble. She wasn't the best student growing up and was humbled to be speaking to librarians and educators. It was amazing to be in the audience...she was very inspiring. She works hard...actor, children's author, closet organizer (we have something in common!). she puts great importance on family.
Went to Californian Adventure in the evening...great fun! Went on the Soaring over California ride that Jennifer & Jessica recommeded (the ladies from Pepperdine who gave me the ticket). Saw the Disney Electric Parade and fireworks, too!
Pictures will have to wait till I get back...some buttons don't work on the file upload page through my phone. Oh well...you'll have to come back to see the picture of me and Goofy (if I'm brave enough to post it!)!! :-)
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Day 3- Even Bad Days are Good Here!
Well, I really can't have a bad day in California...started with a migraine & had to skip some things to recover...gave me time to blog though.
Sally Ride & Tam O'Shannasey's (spelling?) session was good. They spoke on encouraging children, especially middle school age and girls to be interested in science & math. The focus of their new book, Mission Planet Earth is the Earth and protecting/saving the environment. Very good ideas...science fairs for girls, changing the perception of scientists...wild haired nerdy men, and
giving girls a chance to be something different than what's expected.
Then I had my hiccups for the day...tried to go to a Mobile Library program like a good LEDS librarian...but I missread my program cheet sheet and it was a ticecketed/cost event...which I didn't have a ticket for! Which would be fine but that meant I had to take 2 shuttles I didn't need to! :-( Oh well, it gave me time to drink my Chai...went to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co (which my shuttle neighbor told me about!) to cheer myself up, but it made me miss Ann & Dawn (we ate there in Chicago)! I had 'boat trash' again and a Sweet Alabama smoothie...yum!
Late for my next session...better late than never I guess!
Constructing & Using Effective Surveys- one of the speakers recommended The Tell It! Manual. She spoke of a student run survey...they classified young adults as 25-39...geesh!
more later...pictures soon
Went to more exhibits...not my favorite thing to do...not a schmoozer. Hope everyone appreciates what I'm doing to get stuff for them! :-)
Tried to get tickets to Hollywood @ night tour, but no luck. Thought I might get a spot...2 ladies & I waited over a 1/2 hour then the bus left w/o even telling us anything...like sorry but were full...the lady had talked to us before and told us there might be spots available...an example of extremely bad customer service! @ least I met the 2 nice ladies from a consortium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and we had a good laugh over the event...we were shocked that they didn't even have the courtesy to tell us what was going on (silver lining) :-) Guess someone is going to have to travel back to LA with me so I can see Hollywood...
Met up with Theresa & Kym @ the Midwest Tape reception...ran in to a bunch of Ohioans...some new faces and some I already knew. Small world! Met a lady from Multanoma Library in Portland, Oregon. Embarrassed myself a little but I won't go into the details...
Thought I'd go swimming but the pool I found was closed...saw another from my window, but changed my mind...headache back so think I'll turn in early, maybe then I'll feel better tomorrow.
Luck seemed to be bad today, but I'm still in California...no worries!
Sally Ride & Tam O'Shannasey's (spelling?) session was good. They spoke on encouraging children, especially middle school age and girls to be interested in science & math. The focus of their new book, Mission Planet Earth is the Earth and protecting/saving the environment. Very good ideas...science fairs for girls, changing the perception of scientists...wild haired nerdy men, and
giving girls a chance to be something different than what's expected.
Then I had my hiccups for the day...tried to go to a Mobile Library program like a good LEDS librarian...but I missread my program cheet sheet and it was a ticecketed/cost event...which I didn't have a ticket for! Which would be fine but that meant I had to take 2 shuttles I didn't need to! :-( Oh well, it gave me time to drink my Chai...went to Bubba Gump Shrimp Co (which my shuttle neighbor told me about!) to cheer myself up, but it made me miss Ann & Dawn (we ate there in Chicago)! I had 'boat trash' again and a Sweet Alabama smoothie...yum!
Late for my next session...better late than never I guess!
Constructing & Using Effective Surveys- one of the speakers recommended The Tell It! Manual. She spoke of a student run survey...they classified young adults as 25-39...geesh!
more later...pictures soon
Went to more exhibits...not my favorite thing to do...not a schmoozer. Hope everyone appreciates what I'm doing to get stuff for them! :-)
Tried to get tickets to Hollywood @ night tour, but no luck. Thought I might get a spot...2 ladies & I waited over a 1/2 hour then the bus left w/o even telling us anything...like sorry but were full...the lady had talked to us before and told us there might be spots available...an example of extremely bad customer service! @ least I met the 2 nice ladies from a consortium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and we had a good laugh over the event...we were shocked that they didn't even have the courtesy to tell us what was going on (silver lining) :-) Guess someone is going to have to travel back to LA with me so I can see Hollywood...
Met up with Theresa & Kym @ the Midwest Tape reception...ran in to a bunch of Ohioans...some new faces and some I already knew. Small world! Met a lady from Multanoma Library in Portland, Oregon. Embarrassed myself a little but I won't go into the details...
Thought I'd go swimming but the pool I found was closed...saw another from my window, but changed my mind...headache back so think I'll turn in early, maybe then I'll feel better tomorrow.
Luck seemed to be bad today, but I'm still in California...no worries!
Day 2- Happiest place on earth!
The ads are not lying ...Disneyland is truly the happiest place on earth! I don't even mind the migraine I have from too much fun! :-)
Well, let me tell you about my day. It started bright and early with a quick breakfast outside the hotel café. You'd think kind of ordinary, however fairytale birds were flying around...you know like from Cinderella (but real birds!)! Don't know how they did it, but it was very cool!
Next I went to the Anaheim Convention Center for the conference. Stephen Cannell was the speaker. Excellent!!! He has written 15 books, 40 television shows, acted, owned a production company...all of this while having dislexia. Very inspirational speaker! He credits help from his family, friends, & coworkers for his success. Not the typical Hollywood attitude...his wife of 40 years , also his 8th grade sweetheart, keeps him grounded. I was truly amazed by Mr. Cannell. He spoke of his childhood with learning difficulties, his inpirational moments when he wrote his first successful piece...a MLK poem that earned him a B- & his sister an A and when his favorite professor from Oregon University told him that he should never stop writing and that his talent was from God, how it took 6 years of writing everyday to get an agent...I could go on with his stories, but instead I'll mention some of the shows he has created Greatest American Hero, A Team, Rockford Files, 21 Jump Street, and more.
Needed some caffiene so I stopped @ Starbucks for a Chai...no one else seems to have it! You know I was desparate when I stood in a gigantic line (it must have been 50 people!)...the silver lining was I ran into Pam again and had a quick chat...well that and the Chai and blueberry scone was yummy!
In between conference sessions I try to fit in some exibits...kind of overwhelming there are so many!
I tried to attend Large Print for Lifelong Learners but the speaker didn't show...very disappointing after such a great start to the day with Mr. Cannell. I tried my second choice on Branding but by the time I got there it was standing room only and I was outside the room...decided to go back to the exhibits.
Also I was able to meet up with Dawn's friend Courtney from Tennessee for lunch and then met her friend Laura from Arizona. Very interesting talking with them...both are academic librarians. Also they recruited me for the Library Society of the World.
Was a little late for my next session...very busy place...Gale provided free shuttles for us, but still very busy...I think there are like 15,000 librarians invading Anaheim/Disneyland. Digital storytelling was good...not quite what I was expecting...was hoping for more Outreach and less Special Collections...still interesting and informational.
I tried to jam too much into the day...needed to skip a speaker and crash @ the hotel for a little bit. Needed to have energy for Disneyland tonight!!! My first time ever @ a Disney park! Hard to believe @ 31!
On my way to the Proquest Scholarship Bash I happened across the reception...stopped by for drinks and appetizers. Spoke to an academic library director from New Mexico. He has been in administration for 25 years and soon will be a director in Durango, Colorado. We discussed my future career and his advice was very insightful.
On to Disneyland!!! So I chose Disneyland instead of California park as my Disney advisor, Stacey suggested. :-) As I headed to the park I stopped to ask if I was going the right way...a moment later one of the volunteers ran after me and said that Disneyland is not as fun by yourself and she invited me to join them after their shift ended in a little bit...I took them up on the offer! And the Disney magic begins...these ladies from Pepperdine Law Library began their random acts of kindness for the evening...first inviting me to join them, next they gave their extra ticket to another librarian who hadn't purchased her ticket yet & was having trouble getting a Proquest one, then later giving me their other extra ticket so I could go back a 2nd time and try the California park. Amazing and generous ladies! Their Disney knowledge gave me a magical Disney experience (still missed you Stacey!). We rode the Pirates of the Carribean, Haunted Mansion, the Matterhorn, Teacups, and Peter Pan. I window shopped and tried a chullula (spelling?)...delicious! So tired I thought my feet were going to fall off! Didn't quite make it to midnight, but now I plan on going back on Monday night!
Well, let me tell you about my day. It started bright and early with a quick breakfast outside the hotel café. You'd think kind of ordinary, however fairytale birds were flying around...you know like from Cinderella (but real birds!)! Don't know how they did it, but it was very cool!
Next I went to the Anaheim Convention Center for the conference. Stephen Cannell was the speaker. Excellent!!! He has written 15 books, 40 television shows, acted, owned a production company...all of this while having dislexia. Very inspirational speaker! He credits help from his family, friends, & coworkers for his success. Not the typical Hollywood attitude...his wife of 40 years , also his 8th grade sweetheart, keeps him grounded. I was truly amazed by Mr. Cannell. He spoke of his childhood with learning difficulties, his inpirational moments when he wrote his first successful piece...a MLK poem that earned him a B- & his sister an A and when his favorite professor from Oregon University told him that he should never stop writing and that his talent was from God, how it took 6 years of writing everyday to get an agent...I could go on with his stories, but instead I'll mention some of the shows he has created Greatest American Hero, A Team, Rockford Files, 21 Jump Street, and more.
Needed some caffiene so I stopped @ Starbucks for a Chai...no one else seems to have it! You know I was desparate when I stood in a gigantic line (it must have been 50 people!)...the silver lining was I ran into Pam again and had a quick chat...well that and the Chai and blueberry scone was yummy!
In between conference sessions I try to fit in some exibits...kind of overwhelming there are so many!
I tried to attend Large Print for Lifelong Learners but the speaker didn't show...very disappointing after such a great start to the day with Mr. Cannell. I tried my second choice on Branding but by the time I got there it was standing room only and I was outside the room...decided to go back to the exhibits.
Also I was able to meet up with Dawn's friend Courtney from Tennessee for lunch and then met her friend Laura from Arizona. Very interesting talking with them...both are academic librarians. Also they recruited me for the Library Society of the World.
Was a little late for my next session...very busy place...Gale provided free shuttles for us, but still very busy...I think there are like 15,000 librarians invading Anaheim/Disneyland. Digital storytelling was good...not quite what I was expecting...was hoping for more Outreach and less Special Collections...still interesting and informational.
I tried to jam too much into the day...needed to skip a speaker and crash @ the hotel for a little bit. Needed to have energy for Disneyland tonight!!! My first time ever @ a Disney park! Hard to believe @ 31!
On my way to the Proquest Scholarship Bash I happened across the reception...stopped by for drinks and appetizers. Spoke to an academic library director from New Mexico. He has been in administration for 25 years and soon will be a director in Durango, Colorado. We discussed my future career and his advice was very insightful.
On to Disneyland!!! So I chose Disneyland instead of California park as my Disney advisor, Stacey suggested. :-) As I headed to the park I stopped to ask if I was going the right way...a moment later one of the volunteers ran after me and said that Disneyland is not as fun by yourself and she invited me to join them after their shift ended in a little bit...I took them up on the offer! And the Disney magic begins...these ladies from Pepperdine Law Library began their random acts of kindness for the evening...first inviting me to join them, next they gave their extra ticket to another librarian who hadn't purchased her ticket yet & was having trouble getting a Proquest one, then later giving me their other extra ticket so I could go back a 2nd time and try the California park. Amazing and generous ladies! Their Disney knowledge gave me a magical Disney experience (still missed you Stacey!). We rode the Pirates of the Carribean, Haunted Mansion, the Matterhorn, Teacups, and Peter Pan. I window shopped and tried a chullula (spelling?)...delicious! So tired I thought my feet were going to fall off! Didn't quite make it to midnight, but now I plan on going back on Monday night!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Day 1- California Dreaming
Sooo excited to be going to California!!! Never been to ALA or Disneyland! Let the fun begin...
Airport smells...surprisingly good...coffee & baked goods.
Kym & Theresa (from MCDL) are on my flight. What a nice coincidence!
Going to take off soon...
Arrived @ Disneyland! I can't stop looking @ everything...so much to see!
I didn't think I'd see anyone I knew and then I ran into Pam (ASCPL) @ my hotel...what luck!
Kym & Theresa invited me to lunch and later to the Harper Collins reception. While @ the event we met Da Chen, author of Sword. He wished us good fortune & longevity in Chinese charcter. Very fun souvenir! We also had an interesting discussion about China and people's limited access to books.
Airport smells...surprisingly good...coffee & baked goods.
Kym & Theresa (from MCDL) are on my flight. What a nice coincidence!
Going to take off soon...
Arrived @ Disneyland! I can't stop looking @ everything...so much to see!
I didn't think I'd see anyone I knew and then I ran into Pam (ASCPL) @ my hotel...what luck!
Kym & Theresa invited me to lunch and later to the Harper Collins reception. While @ the event we met Da Chen, author of Sword. He wished us good fortune & longevity in Chinese charcter. Very fun souvenir! We also had an interesting discussion about China and people's limited access to books.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Chicken Soup for the College Soul
Well, obviously I am way behind on reading my collection of books...I received this one years ago. It is another great Chicken Soup collection of stories. Adults, young adults, and teens will enjoy these stories. You can reminisce about your college experiences and live vicariously through the stories of college adventures that you might not have undertaken. Either way the book is worth reading. As with all Chicken Soup books have Kleenex handy!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Home Again
by Kristin Hannah
An intriguing novel about how life and the decisions you make when you are young can affect your whole life. The story of Angel, always the rebel, his brother Francis, always the saint, and Madelaine, the love of both the brothers lives. Teenage pregnancy, heart transplants, single parenthood, and the price of being famous are just a few of the topics of this page turner. Make sure to have kleenex handy!
An intriguing novel about how life and the decisions you make when you are young can affect your whole life. The story of Angel, always the rebel, his brother Francis, always the saint, and Madelaine, the love of both the brothers lives. Teenage pregnancy, heart transplants, single parenthood, and the price of being famous are just a few of the topics of this page turner. Make sure to have kleenex handy!
Top 7 Reasons I Love Akron
7 Walking downtown on a beautiful sunny day.
6 My birthplace!
5 Wonderful memories (such as watching fireworks behind St. Thomas then singing Christmas carols at Aunt Dorothy's house while walking home to Grandma & Grandpa's house...I've always been a little strange!).
4 The terrific artistic planters here and there throughout downtown.
3 The smell of Wonder baking bread.
2 All of the cool places to eat (you knew I had to mention food). Luigi's, Waffa's, and Crave just to name a few.
1 The library!!!
6 My birthplace!
5 Wonderful memories (such as watching fireworks behind St. Thomas then singing Christmas carols at Aunt Dorothy's house while walking home to Grandma & Grandpa's house...I've always been a little strange!).
4 The terrific artistic planters here and there throughout downtown.
3 The smell of Wonder baking bread.
2 All of the cool places to eat (you knew I had to mention food). Luigi's, Waffa's, and Crave just to name a few.
1 The library!!!
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