Back in the Saddle

In case you’ve been wondering where I was, I spent the past week in Minneapolis at the Public Library Association Conference. I was accompanied by Ms. Lynne Ingersoll, Head of Reference and Technical Services, and Ms. Deb Beasley, Children’s Librarian. We had the opportunity to reunite with Ms. Patty Wanninger, former director of Blue Island Public Library, who was a spritely and welcome addition to the contingent from Illinois. Much was discussed over walleye cakes and beer, and Ms. Wanninger coined the phrase “edge-urb” to describe the City of Blue Island.

You really haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen the enthusiasm, the sheer philanthropic goodness, the single-mindedness of purpose of thousands of librarians together, like an organism with many heads and many elegant hairdos, sashaying around in their sensible shoes, gathering information, ideas, and free books to bring back to their beloved home libraries.

I scored a few really nice new books for the collection, including an intriguing Encyclopedia of Gangs from Greenwood Press, mystery novels galore from Sisters in Crime, and several Harlequin romance novels in Spanish. All the free books we couldn’t use for our collection were donated to a women’s shelter in Minneapolis, so that I wouldn’t have to lug them home on the plane.

The comedian Paula Poundstone gave a hilarious performance the last day in which she laughed at and with the enormous crowd of librarians, many of whom could be characterized as "gentle" and "eccentric". One of her zingers was (and I paraphrase) "Down in the children's department, they really care if you read the book... they'll even read it to you! But up in the Adult's section they just point, disinterested as can be." That made us all laugh with recognition, and promise ourselves we'd do better.

In case you were wondering, I attended workshops on such themes as:

Grants for Libraries,
What Does It Take to Be Good at Reference in the Age of Google,
Weeders Attract More Readers,
and Handling Upset Patrons.

Yes, those are the kinds of things librarians think about. Yes, we really do care.

One of the best moments, the moment that really showed me the compassionate, patient heart of the profession, happened on the plane. I was freaking out as I always do about the bumpy landing into Midway Airport. The kind librarian sitting next to me soothed me all the way to the ground, dealing with me gently and resourcefully as I shrieked and hid in my hands and shook.

I know for some people, finding a book on a computer catalog, or using a database or a computer, doing geneological research, or even finding time to finish a book is hard and anxiety-producing--- even as scary as the plane's landing was for me. I only hope to you I can be as helpful to you, my patrons, as that anonymous librarian in the seat next to me. All... the... way... to... the... ground.