It's all over but the shouting--PLA

I've been to some outstanding programs here at PLA--Minneapolis.

The two perspectives on changing/dropping Dewey were fascinating--real food for thought.

"Dangerous Ideas--What if?" is one that we should continue to ask ourselves all the time--challenging the assumptions and traditions that we have or carry on in libraries.

I also vow (hope?) to be nicer in the way I think about patrons--what can I let them do, instead of how they make me mad.

I want to read nothing but memoirs and books with librarian characters for the next six months!

I'm off to hear Paula Poundstone (will there be shouting? I don't know). Then a walk to the Minneapolis sculpture garden, and the Macy's flower show. I meet the airport shuttle at 5.

Tomorrow will be full of hugging my boys, laundry, and quilting. My feet also need a good soak and rest.

PLA All the Way!

There are gale-force winds and gray skies, and $10 fees for 2-minute cab rides. But I just heard Meg Cabot speak, so everything is rosy! She is an amazing, funny speaker. She talks just like in her books. She said this was her first time delivering her "librarian" speech, and it's a winner. I got Leona's two books signed for her, and my own copy of Jinx. She was very inspiring. She reinvigorated my dream of someday writing a book, even though I do no writing of my own yet. I have ideas percolating!

I sat with a wonderful librarian from western Wisconsin and her 7th-grade daughter. She does a Feast of Books for teens--short appetizers, then an entree, then desserts, that seems to go well. Her library is 3000 square feet (Malcolm Library is currently 4,000) with just 2000 items. We have around 35,000. I'm grateful for my district and my materials budget!

Rachel and I are in a lovely Doubletree Inn suite--incredibly comfortable beds with 5 pillows each! Dinner last night at a pub called The Local with comfort food well-done (pot roast and cheesecake) was perfect before an evening of napping, reading and TV. Classes start tomorrow, after a morning tour of the Twin Cities. I've never been to Minnesota before, so I wanted to see something besides our hotel and the convention center, and the windy streets in between.

I hope Patrick made it to school on time today. I hope his bicycle tires weren't flat, since I have our tire pump at work to blow up our dolly tires. Guess I'd better buy one for the library when I get back!