Ideas for I am a Librarian

I have been approached with the idea of making I am a Librarian into a daybook/planner. Since it diverts from my original concept, I want to see what others think. Please comment and let me know what you think.

Thanks so much!

-Cynthia

Librarians Pave the Way to Rebuild New Orleans...and I was there.

This weekend the American Library Association is holding their annual conference in New Orleans. It was amazing to me how the locals are in general just happy to see so many people coming through. Those who I have spoken with have talked about how dead the city was, since Katrina, before we came. One of the best things that I encountered was watching Pedro make a cigar. When he finished he looked up at me with such an intense pride in his work. The people here continue to work hard and I hope that this effort by the American Library Association, its members, and business associates shows how important it is for other conferences to follow the belief that New Orleans can be alive again.

See the New York times article from June 23: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/24/us/24convention.html?_r=1&oref=slogin. (Please note a login may be necessary, but it's free.)

It is easy when you are so far away from the place of a disaster to disassociate from it or even condemn it. I have felt pretty good being here. It has been a fun time thus far. I am not fearful and I have not seen evidence of intense mold anywhere, but I have seen too many blue tarps on rooftops, spraypaint on beautiful houses, stray cats, and roaches (outside, not in my hotel, but which you will find in many cities anyway).

I have also seen thriving flowers, plants and trees. I have tasted wonderful food, including many variations of crawfish, and experienced the kindness of the locals. We all know that the Katrina disaster situation was not handled well and I'm not here to play the blame game, I just think that we could be applying more of that energy to getting things fixed and making sure that if another hurricane comes to town that we are ready to handle it.

Many librarians have worked and will be working to make this happen. There were two days that the American Library Association allocated for volunteer opportunities for librarians. I have heard that there were over 900 people who signed up to help. That is just truly amazing and I am so proud to be a part of this profession.

For my pictures of New Orleans please check my Flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/iamalibrarian

ALA Annual

I'm headed to New Orleans for ALA on Friday. I will be attending many of the OCLC sessions for PALINET and I'll be at the Scholarship Bash for the concert. I'll also be around the exhibit halls on Monday and Tuesday. I'm looking forward to seeing some old friends & colleagues and meeting new people. If you see me, please stop and say hello.

Now introducing IMaLibrarian.com

Need a quick answer?

Send an instant message to a Librarian. Go to www.IMaLibrarian.com to see if your library is offering this service.

If you are a librarian and your library has not be listed, please send me an e-mail.

For more information view the press release at: http://www.iamalibrarian.com/PressReleaseforIMaLibrarian.html

A Day in the Life

I have written a chapter on my job at PALINET for a forthcoming book and the editors are looking for a few more librarians. Please see the below message:

If you are (or can recommend) a (1) consultant or a (2) librarian at an international K-12 school who would be interested in writing a brief book chapter describing your job -- in a very short time period -- please contact us to discuss the idea (see http://www.liscareer.com/dil_contents.htm for more information).

Thanks so much!

SLA

I will be at SLA on Sunday and Monday. Please stop by the PALINET booth #1525 in the Info-Expo Hall at the Balitmore Convention Center to say Hello! I will be there on Sunday from 4-6pm and Monday 10am-2pm.

A Fortune for a Librarian

Last night I went to "The Bean" a coffee shop on South Street that gives fortune cookies with coffee when you stay there for your coffee.

This is a fortune that I got...








It seems very appropriate for me and I am sure that it rings true for many other librarians as well.