Put it on your calendar now because you won't want to miss it! September 30th - October 2, 2015 for the Joint Conference of MLA and KLA. BOOM
Showing posts with label KLA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KLA. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
MLA/KLA Planning
Again, I find myself surrounded by people with great ideas. Today was the second meeting of the 2015 steering committee, and to celebrate, we toured the facility. I have to say that we will have one of the best views in Kansas City for this conference! Looking out over the Kauffman Center will be amazing. There are colored lights that change in sequence too, making our events even snappier! After the tour, we talked about our reactions and more ideas. Like I said after our first meeting, it was hard enough for me to keep up with everyone. I'm honored to be a cat wrangler for this team. That's the term they used to describe Kelly and me. We'll see how the cats behave themselves as we move forward, heh.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Conference Season, Part 3 or “You’re From Missouri?!”
I pulled into Topeka. First thing I noticed?
Well, this was going to be an adventure; I could already tell. That first day was a blur: hashtag confusion, neglecting to live-tweet a session, my first Thai food (DELICIOUS IN MY FACE), and getting to watch the Cardinals at the Blind Tiger brewery before I nearly fell asleep. It was a long day, apparently. Day 1 over. Crash.
I woke in the morning, as one does, and caught the keynote address by Jeff Kober, Customer Service guru of Disney. Yeah, he talked about customer service; there was a lot to say. However, the most impactful part of his address was how the library changed his life. When he was in school, he went to the library and gravitated toward a National Geographic issue that had a 26-page report on Walt Disney/Disneyworld. He would go and read it, and put it back. He’d come back the next day and do the same. One day, after probably memorizing the entire article, he approached the librarian. He said that he really REALLY liked the magazine and asked if he could have it. The librarian obviously said yes. How did that change his life? Well, just then he pulled out that exact issue on stage. With tears in his eyes, he explained that librarians change lives in ways that we don’t even know. At the beginning of the second day of my third conference, I realized that my library journey had come full circle. Damn. Also, 3 keynotes in as many conferences bringing my average up to .600.
The next activity that got me excited? A session on comics followed by Battledecks, KLA style. On the flatter side of the border, Battledecks was done as a breakout session. Guess who was a contestant? That’s right…
She didn’t win 1st, but she did win a giant flamingo subsequently named Floyd which might actually be (no, it IS) better. The next stop was lunch. Jo Budler, library rock star and Kansas State Librarian gave a great address on the state of Kansas libraries while we devoured lasagna. My lunch buddies included twins, Floyd the Flamingo (and Erin of course), a free book, a South Dakotan, and MORE library swag. Throughout the entire day, I kept hearing “you’re from Missouri?” like it was an extreme curiosity that I was there. I guess it was; I was the only Missouri librarian there. They didn’t seem to mind, though. They commented on the Juvenile Series/Sequels database which MCPL has, and I thanked them and commented on… how flat Kansas is? In my defense, Kansans commented on that fact, too. It IS a fact.
I went to the SLIM reception that night. I won’t elaborate on that here. Maybe I’ll wait until February.
After that, we toured the State Capital, including the State Library. Wow. The restorations/renovations to the entire building were amazing. So many things kept being more awesome than the previous awesome things!
When we got back to the hotel, I had a couple of drinks, spent the night talking about different things with a new friend, then crashed. Day 2, over.
Day 3 – learned some crazy ideas to try for NaNoWriMo, then listened to Jack Gantos talk about his pets’ incredible deaths. An alligator, a car, digging their own grave? Dang… He still uses small journals to write his books and has written about 30 books while in a library. I’m telling you, Jack Gantos is a riot and a magnificent storyteller.
I don’t want to think about how many emails I have when I get back to work...
You can ask me...what does the fox say at conference? #klc2013
— Erin Downey Howerton (@hybridlib) October 9, 2013
Well, this was going to be an adventure; I could already tell. That first day was a blur: hashtag confusion, neglecting to live-tweet a session, my first Thai food (DELICIOUS IN MY FACE), and getting to watch the Cardinals at the Blind Tiger brewery before I nearly fell asleep. It was a long day, apparently. Day 1 over. Crash.
I woke in the morning, as one does, and caught the keynote address by Jeff Kober, Customer Service guru of Disney. Yeah, he talked about customer service; there was a lot to say. However, the most impactful part of his address was how the library changed his life. When he was in school, he went to the library and gravitated toward a National Geographic issue that had a 26-page report on Walt Disney/Disneyworld. He would go and read it, and put it back. He’d come back the next day and do the same. One day, after probably memorizing the entire article, he approached the librarian. He said that he really REALLY liked the magazine and asked if he could have it. The librarian obviously said yes. How did that change his life? Well, just then he pulled out that exact issue on stage. With tears in his eyes, he explained that librarians change lives in ways that we don’t even know. At the beginning of the second day of my third conference, I realized that my library journey had come full circle. Damn. Also, 3 keynotes in as many conferences bringing my average up to .600.
The next activity that got me excited? A session on comics followed by Battledecks, KLA style. On the flatter side of the border, Battledecks was done as a breakout session. Guess who was a contestant? That’s right…
Time for @hybridlib to go for #battledecks! #klc2013
— Dan (@kasmsod) October 10, 2013
She didn’t win 1st, but she did win a giant flamingo subsequently named Floyd which might actually be (no, it IS) better. The next stop was lunch. Jo Budler, library rock star and Kansas State Librarian gave a great address on the state of Kansas libraries while we devoured lasagna. My lunch buddies included twins, Floyd the Flamingo (and Erin of course), a free book, a South Dakotan, and MORE library swag. Throughout the entire day, I kept hearing “you’re from Missouri?” like it was an extreme curiosity that I was there. I guess it was; I was the only Missouri librarian there. They didn’t seem to mind, though. They commented on the Juvenile Series/Sequels database which MCPL has, and I thanked them and commented on… how flat Kansas is? In my defense, Kansans commented on that fact, too. It IS a fact.
I went to the SLIM reception that night. I won’t elaborate on that here. Maybe I’ll wait until February.
After that, we toured the State Capital, including the State Library. Wow. The restorations/renovations to the entire building were amazing. So many things kept being more awesome than the previous awesome things!Day 3 – learned some crazy ideas to try for NaNoWriMo, then listened to Jack Gantos talk about his pets’ incredible deaths. An alligator, a car, digging their own grave? Dang… He still uses small journals to write his books and has written about 30 books while in a library. I’m telling you, Jack Gantos is a riot and a magnificent storyteller.
Seeing Jack Gantos at KLA! Great outfit BTW. pic.twitter.com/kRbF4qW8LEApparently, I sat next to Lawrence Public Library, too. That’s my watch and phone. Oh, and Corduroy?
— Lawrence Public Lib (@lawrencelibrary) October 11, 2013
Corduroy: "Everything sends him into a decline" #truth #klc2013Some other things happened, but they were mostly KLA business things, so I headed to Lawrence and started reading Locke & Key at the library. I’m such a library fangirl.
— Dan (@kasmsod) October 11, 2013
I don’t want to think about how many emails I have when I get back to work...
Friday, October 4, 2013
Conference Season, Part 1 or "Hey, I'm a Fangirl"
I haven't posted anything for almost 6 months. It's not that I don't care; I just haven't had time. Somehow, I can tweet multiple times a day but can't put together enough cohesive thoughts to form a full blog. I have time and cohesiveness now. Prepare.
It's the most wonderful time of the year: Conference Season. I love working in libraries, but this is my time of year. At conferences, you can learn new things. You can meet new people. You can see new places. For me, this is the time of year where I get inspired. In fact, projects that I have started at MCPL can be attributed, at least in part, to the wealth of ideas that were shared at previous conferences.
This year was different. Yes, I went for the ideas and networking, but I was also supposed to start getting a feel for how the conference happens. Since I'm coordinating (along with the fabulous Kelly from Kansas) the 2015 joint conference of KLA & MLA, I had to start getting things together. So, my first stop was MLA.
Tuesday: I was invited to the annual Board dinner before the conference. I arrived and saw many people whom I recognized, and even helped a colleague crash the invite-only dinner! In my/his defense, there was food that was going to go to waste, and we can't have that. Well, he crashed and Barbara Stripling, ALA President, ended up sitting next to him. After the dinner, we moved over to the students' reception WITH DESSERT. While there, Barbara and I talked for what must have been an hour! If you haven't met her or read anything about her, you should. She's an awesome, AWESOME lady and I am proud that she is at the head of such a wonderful organization. I think I'm a fangirl.
Wednesday: HUMP DAYYYYYYYY!
Wednesday was fairly uneventful (as uneventful as it could have been). I went to a nice presentation on Outreach to the Blind, and was sure to catch the Keynote address BY BARBARA STRIPLING. This was my 3rd MLA Conference, but only my first Keynote. Barbara spoke about her/ALA's initiative, "Declaring Our Right to Libraries." It's pretty powerful stuff. Libraries change lives, enrich communities, and are a necessity in the world. Read more about it here. That night I participated in Battledecks, a PowerPoint Karaoke of sorts involving random slides and contestants trying to bring them together in a cohesive theme. I didn't place, but I got to enjoy a lot of Cardinals gifs and dance on a stage, which is ALWAYS a good night.
Oh, and St. Louis Public Library's newly renovated Central Branch is AMAZING. Like Gerald Brooks said, "It's amazing what $55 million can do."
Thursday: Thursday is when everything happened. I presented for the first time, along with Jennifer on Making the Transition from Trainee to Trainer. Then, after learning about integrating science into preschool events and librarian trading cards, we headed up to the room and changed into our Cardinals' attire for the annual business meeting. Life Pro Tip: Don't yawn while sitting near the front of the meeting AND within direct line of sight of the President; they'll call you out on it.
After that, it was time to eat. We shot up to the 12th floor to eat at Kobe, and we were easily the loudest people there. Hibachi takes time, and we didn't make it back quite soon enough for me to see all of the awards given out. However, I was coerced to sit at a table (instead of in back) for the awards. I just wanted to sneak in, watch, and sneak out. Well, as I'm getting up to leave, Candice wants me to come with her to check on everyone. Next thing I know, I'm being introduced to State Senators in my Cardinals shirt, shorts, and boat shoes. I was told later that they won't remember the way anyone was dressed. FALSE; they will definitely remember the DUDE that came in to a formal dinner with a t-shirt and shorts on.
Then there were random people coming up to meet me.
Then there was the dance party, and photo booth.
Then there was the hotel bar and a night spent with Gentleman Jack.
Then the cops came to break up the loud librarians at 1:30 in the morning.
Then there were the free drink glasses.
Then I died temporarily until 8:30 this morning when I ate breakfast by myself. It was nice to have a little bit of down time. I felt like I was constantly talking with people (I probably was).
Friday: After that breakfast, I stopped in on the final "Web/Tech Tools that Make You Look Cool" by the magnificent Cindy Dudenhoffer, and then proceeded to catch the end of the Performers' Showcase.
It's the most wonderful time of the year: Conference Season. I love working in libraries, but this is my time of year. At conferences, you can learn new things. You can meet new people. You can see new places. For me, this is the time of year where I get inspired. In fact, projects that I have started at MCPL can be attributed, at least in part, to the wealth of ideas that were shared at previous conferences.
This year was different. Yes, I went for the ideas and networking, but I was also supposed to start getting a feel for how the conference happens. Since I'm coordinating (along with the fabulous Kelly from Kansas) the 2015 joint conference of KLA & MLA, I had to start getting things together. So, my first stop was MLA.
Tuesday: I was invited to the annual Board dinner before the conference. I arrived and saw many people whom I recognized, and even helped a colleague crash the invite-only dinner! In my/his defense, there was food that was going to go to waste, and we can't have that. Well, he crashed and Barbara Stripling, ALA President, ended up sitting next to him. After the dinner, we moved over to the students' reception WITH DESSERT. While there, Barbara and I talked for what must have been an hour! If you haven't met her or read anything about her, you should. She's an awesome, AWESOME lady and I am proud that she is at the head of such a wonderful organization. I think I'm a fangirl.
Uh... I just met and talked with the president of ALA, Barbara Stripling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— Dan (@kasmsod) October 2, 2013
#molib2013 Dessert Social for ALA President Barbara Stripling and LIS students pic.twitter.com/Ty7ssPxwFUAlso, I kept trying to look beautiful for the photographer, but I must have let down my guard for that pic. However, there lies the PROOF.
— cnpryor01 (@cnpryor01) October 2, 2013
Wednesday: HUMP DAYYYYYYYY!
Wednesday was fairly uneventful (as uneventful as it could have been). I went to a nice presentation on Outreach to the Blind, and was sure to catch the Keynote address BY BARBARA STRIPLING. This was my 3rd MLA Conference, but only my first Keynote. Barbara spoke about her/ALA's initiative, "Declaring Our Right to Libraries." It's pretty powerful stuff. Libraries change lives, enrich communities, and are a necessity in the world. Read more about it here. That night I participated in Battledecks, a PowerPoint Karaoke of sorts involving random slides and contestants trying to bring them together in a cohesive theme. I didn't place, but I got to enjoy a lot of Cardinals gifs and dance on a stage, which is ALWAYS a good night.
Oh, and St. Louis Public Library's newly renovated Central Branch is AMAZING. Like Gerald Brooks said, "It's amazing what $55 million can do."
Thursday: Thursday is when everything happened. I presented for the first time, along with Jennifer on Making the Transition from Trainee to Trainer. Then, after learning about integrating science into preschool events and librarian trading cards, we headed up to the room and changed into our Cardinals' attire for the annual business meeting. Life Pro Tip: Don't yawn while sitting near the front of the meeting AND within direct line of sight of the President; they'll call you out on it.
After that, it was time to eat. We shot up to the 12th floor to eat at Kobe, and we were easily the loudest people there. Hibachi takes time, and we didn't make it back quite soon enough for me to see all of the awards given out. However, I was coerced to sit at a table (instead of in back) for the awards. I just wanted to sneak in, watch, and sneak out. Well, as I'm getting up to leave, Candice wants me to come with her to check on everyone. Next thing I know, I'm being introduced to State Senators in my Cardinals shirt, shorts, and boat shoes. I was told later that they won't remember the way anyone was dressed. FALSE; they will definitely remember the DUDE that came in to a formal dinner with a t-shirt and shorts on.
Then there were random people coming up to meet me.
Then there was the dance party, and photo booth.
Then there was the hotel bar and a night spent with Gentleman Jack.
Then the cops came to break up the loud librarians at 1:30 in the morning.
Then there were the free drink glasses.
Then I died temporarily until 8:30 this morning when I ate breakfast by myself. It was nice to have a little bit of down time. I felt like I was constantly talking with people (I probably was).
Friday: After that breakfast, I stopped in on the final "Web/Tech Tools that Make You Look Cool" by the magnificent Cindy Dudenhoffer, and then proceeded to catch the end of the Performers' Showcase.
Can I live at conference forever? #molib20132015 is going to be amazing, guys. Stay tuned. For me, it's on to Hot Springs, Arkansas for a second helping of our presentation.
— Dan (@kasmsod) October 4, 2013
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