Before I headed off for the beach, I wanted to get down my thoughts about ALA. I have always enjoyed ALA, but in recent years as I have become more active in committee work, there is less time for programs and the exhibits. This year was no exception, and perhaps worse than ever.
As chair-elect of LAMA’s Building and Equipment Section (BES), I had to attend the LAMA Board meeting, which meets twice—from 8:00 – 12:00 on Saturday and the same time on Tuesday. Since our section’s all committee meeting is Monday from 8:00-12:00, you can see my time was severely limited. For me, it is worth it. BES routinely puts on one or two pre-conferences and five or six programs. In Anaheim next June, the section will provide a pre-conference tour of libraries in Santa Monica and Cerritos—both of them green and award winning facilities. Programs will include offerings on Security & Preservation of Rare Materials; Redesigning and Repurposing Existing Library Space, “PeopleSpaces in Libraries:”Top Building Trends, Sustainable Libraries, ALA-IIDA Library Interior Design Awards; Planning a Capital Project; Ergonomics, and Building Blocks for Planning Functional Library Space—I only hope that I get to sit in on a couple of them.
I attended one terrible program, entitled “Transforming your Library though Technology,” which was offered by ALA but unfortunately was very mundane and basic and offered little food for thought. I did, however, attend the LAMA Presidential Program which featured Frances Hesselbein. Ms Hesselbein, the former CEO of the Girl Scouts of America, is the recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Governors of the Leader to Leader Institute. A petite mature woman with a very quiet voice, she held her audience spell bound and challenged all of us to care and trust one another and especially to work for America’s young people and children—our future.
For me, the other worthwhile program was the 23rd presentation of AIA/ALA Library Building Awards, which is sponsored by the American Library Association and the American Institute of Architects, and administered by BES. Some of this year’s winners included new library buildings or renovations at Santa Monica College, Lafayette College, Seattle’s Ballard Library and Neighborhood Service Center, and La Grande Bibliotheque in Montreal, Canada. I enjoy seeing the winning libraries and it is exiting hearing the architects and librarians talk about bringing their ideas to fruition. After my term as Chair of the Section, I have volunteered to serve on the committee making these awards, so I am looking forward to that time. I would urge you to put this awards program on your ALA to do list, alternating years with the ALSA-IIDA Library Interior Design Awards which will be presented next year in Anaheim.
I was also able to spend some time with R2’s Rick Lugg, along with Hester Campbell, talking about their return visit to Joyner on July 10. They had their first draft of their report, which we discussed in part; their final draft will be delivered to us next week. They, however, have asked us not to distribute the report to the Library until after their presentation. Through experience, they have found that this works best.
Along with Blythe, I also met with Maureen Sullivan who will be leading the Library on a visioning retreat this coming July 31. I felt that Maureen and I immediately clicked—she and I are the same Myers-Briggs type indicator—ENFP. The best way I have of explaining that is that there are no trees in my forest. Well, that is just an aside; Maureen has extensive experience leading libraries though change, and I think all of will get a lot out of the sessions.
I did not get much time to go through the exhibits--my favorite thing is to look at the children's books--and to buy books for my hoped for "grandchildren." Joyner Library had a booth--staffed mostly by our TRC colleagues and other participants in our Eastern North Carolina Digital Program. They certainly are good ambassadors for Joyner and ECU. Thanks guys!
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