Stretchy Librarian

This past June, I chose a couple of different paths during my vacation from school.

The first was The 23 Things technology training generously shared by Dr. Barry Bishop, Director of Library Information Services in Spring Branch ISD and his tech staff. We had two months to complete 23 Library 2.0 things like setting up a blog, getting familiar with Nings, using Technorati, and others that I’ve heard about but never dabbled. Then we all posted our thoughts and applications to our own blogs and responded to each other. At the end, I felt like I now had an idea of what the “things” were, but want to start again so I can use the learning to think of better applications. The journey is recorded here.

The second path began with a flight to Pennsylvania to stay at the Highlights Founders farmland home with 11 other authors in cabins in the woods (above). For 8 days, we were fed gourmet food, participated in short daily workshops with children’s author Lori Ries, and wrote, wrote, wrote! There was no television, no radio, no e-mail and no cell phone service (except for the Verizon folks). After a day of technology withdrawal, I felt the freedom of Henry Thoreau and his Walden Pond.

It was an incredible experience. We didn’t want to part after forging a friendship on walks through the woods and through the protected vulnerability of sharing your writing with like-minded people. Luckily, I’d finished the first 23 Thing module which taught us to make a blog, so I was able to whip one up before I left and give everyone the address. If you are interested, you can visit the woods at Boyds Mills here. Click on the farmhouse at the top right for more information about how to go there yourself.

I started school with a better idea of technology uses and of writing. My first lessons were with intermediate students, and I worked hard to compose a photo orientation of the library that they responded to using the new clickers from the Classroom Performance System. It was gratifying to be ”the cool librarian” that introduced a new technology to the students and teachers. And it was fun!

Do find yourself beginning to develop an intertwined split as a techie person and a bookish person? The latter definitely makes us feel intelligent and comforted, the techie has high odds of making us feel stupid as we slide back down the learning curve. What’s your experience been?

I was a guest speaker at the Tennessee Association of School Librarians this past Friday and Saturday and now I’m ruined.

Ruined because this will be the conference that I measure all others against. Partly because it was held in lovely Chattanooga with enchanting fall colors I don’t see in Houston. Partly because it was the conference debut of my first children’s book, Substitute Groundhog, and it sold out.

But mostly because I was treated even better than royalty–I was treated like family. I was picked up by Deborah Neighbors at the airport. She has a neon smile and came with cold water, trail mix, and a bag of assorted bakery cookies. Nancy Dickinson, programming chair, made sure I had lunch and checked in with me often. In fact, someone was always looking out for me. A trio of librarians took me to their room for Chinese food; a librarian dragged an easy chair into a full session so I could sit;  a blacksmith made me a unique gift from a Chattanooga Railroad spike. Even the many who visited with me after my sessions and during autographing were unfailingly kind.

There was reserved seating at the front tables for meals, piles of my books at the ready, all needed equipment set up and working, handouts crisp and waiting. The visit was absolutely perfect. Yes, TASL in Tennessee has ruined me. And I’ll be forever grateful.