ALA Midwinter 2007 – Friday recap
Well, it’s Friday night and I’m back at my hotel to relax before heading out to a reception/dinner. I basically spent the entire day at the Seattle Public Library for the Emerging Leaders activities. This morning I got up early and went to the convention center to pick up my badge holder, program guides, and some other paperwork that I have yet to look at carefully. I thought to myself, “The accumulation of ‘stuff’ has begun!” My bag got heavier immediately and, judging from my past experiences at library conferences, I know it will only get heavier as the days pass by!
After picking up my “stuff” at the conference center, I began walking over to the Seattle Public Library on 5th Ave. I didn’t even look at the map closely to see how to get there exactly since I figured that I would instantly recognize the unique building. After seeing it, I must say that it is one of the most amazing, striking buildings I’ve ever seen in my entire life! Although I didn’t have time to take a tour, I saw enough of the exterior and interior to come away impressed! I’m not sure how easy it is to use as a library user, though. I remember reading about how simple things like signs to restrooms were not part of the design plans, which goes to tell you something. If people can’t figure out how to get around your building and find what they want quickly and easily, it doesn’t really matter how “cool” the building looks.
Anyways, the Emerging Leaders event lasted the entire morning and afternoon, though we were briefly interrupted by a fire alarm. All of us had to evacuate the building and stand outside for about 15 minutes. It wasn’t a big deal. When we got back, the major activity for most of the day was a 2-part presentation given by Maureen Sullivan. She highlighted five leadership practices (1. challenge the process, 2. inspire shared vision, 3. enable others to act, 4. model the way, and 5. encourage the heart) and tips on how to best work on a project team. As far as leadership goes, two key points that I took away from the presentation are: 1. leaders need to question the status quo and suggest new approaches and 2. the key to leadership is buidling relationships with people based on honesty and authenticity. Overall, she presented some good, useful information, but I also think a lot of what leadership is all about is common sense (i.e., leaders lead by example and find value in others).
In addition to the presentations given, I met my project team and I can tell they’re all going to be very easy to work with. Everyone seemed laid back but extremely committed and talented as well. There are 6 of us, including myself, two librarians from Missouri, one from Skokie (IL), one from Maryland, and one from Darien (CT). For the next 6 months, we’ll be working on assessing project proposals for the PLA National Conference in 2008. I’m looking forward to it.
What else?….There was a reception afterwards for the Emerging Leaders and there were a lot of leaders from ALA there. I met Susan Hildreth, the State Librarian of California and the President of PLA, and she struck me as very kind and down-to-earth. Hopefully, I’ll get a chance to meet her again and work with her in the future.
One last thing…after the reception I took the bus back to the hotel. While we were waiting to depart, someone on the bus yelled out, “So, what’s gonna win the Caldecott?” There was silence from the others on the bus, so he joked, “Capt. Underpants?” Then someone said, “No, a picture book!” To which the first librarian replied,” Oh, okay, the Newbury then!” So then he asks, “Who’s gonna win the Academy Award?” Several people started responding and we had a little mini-discussion about Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep and the film, the Queen. For some reason, people were just more willing to offer their thoughts on movies than books. The man joked, “I thought this was ALA! I ask who’s gonna win the Caldecott and there’s silence. I ask who’s gonna win the Academy Award and there’s [mimicking conversation about movies]!” Everyone on the bus started laughing. Then, later on in the bus ride, for some strange reason a group of librarians started singing, “The wheels on the bus go ’round and ’round, ’round and ’round, ’round and ’round…” Librarians can be very goofy.