ALA Philly – pics!

Yay! My ALA-Philly pictures are available now *for a limited time*

Scroll down and check out the Flickr pics section on the right column of this blog.

Look at them here too

Criticas magazine- Multicultural Link blog

Criticas magazine has a started a new blog, Multicultural Link and I am one of the bloggers. Bruce Jensen a colleague from Texas is the other blogger.

This blog represents a fantastic way of discussing issues and ideas to better serve multicultural populations-including Latinos and the Spanish-speaking! I will be sharing news about book fairs, library initiatives, collection development resources, international work, and much more.

On daily basis I receive emails and phone calls about how to serve immigrants – how to reach out to them? What works and what doesn’t? How to know what countries are represented on X library service area? and many other inquiries. This is the perfect vehicle to ask and find answers to those questions.

Check it out and share the news with your colleagues. Send me comments and questions. I am counting with you all to make Multicultural Link work. Stay tuned!

Gorgeous, Talented and Untimely

Breaking up, stop being friends, standing friends up, avoiding people, illnesses, cutting a finger while making dinner, subway delays, car breaking down, a bottom falling down your shirt, a rip in your pants, a rip in your stockings, computer breaking down, running out of wine, luggage getting lost… Heath Ledger passing away at 28…Untimely.

Library – Out of the box and secret archives

  

View of the The Bibliothèque Nationale de France.
During the last few months I’ve seen libraries and librarians featured on the media highlighting the wonders of what they’ve done. One article described how a recent graduate librarian from New Jersey had become part of a reality show, The Ultimate Road Trip. Good for him, the high power bless his soul and all that. I am not a fan of reality TV but at least this show was about outdoor experiences and not about blabbing in front of a camera describing cat fights and whatnot.  I’d bring this librarian to talk to Queens’ teens.

Another article was about how a research librarian from Manhattan ’sat for 29 hours watching sports on television to take in a prize package worth $5000.’  Whoa! ESPN Zone Ultimate Couch Potato Competition. I am not a fan of this type of contest that does nothing to promote creativity, healthy habits or reading (to mention a few things).  But again, if someone can endure 29 hours without a bathroom brake and eating spicy chicken wings- more power to him/her. What about a read-a-thon contest? Any mega company out there willing to sponsor and offer $5,000 for such a contest? Email me right away.

A last article, a juicy one, highlighted Hell at the library, Eros in Secret, an exhibition at the The Bibliothèque Nationale de France

‘offering a peek at its secret archive of erotic art, putting on display more than 350 sexually explicit literary works, manuscripts, engravings, lithographs, photographs, film clips, even calling cards and cardboard pop-ups.’

‘The items are drawn from a permanent collection created in the 1830s when the library isolated works considered “contrary to good morals.” They were put in a locked section with its own card catalog and given the name L’Enfer — hell. Many pieces have been consigned there over the years by the police for safeguarding, perhaps, and posterity.’

This sounds too interesting to miss. The exhibition runs through March 22 –  I have a meeting in Paris at the end of February and have included this exhibition on my little to-do list. 

Thanks for the sticker. It is on the cover of my computer.

ALA Loriene Roy @ Today Show – video clip

ALA President Loriene Roy and the 2008 Newbery and Caldecott medal winners on NBC’s the ‘Today‘ show:   http://www.ala.org/cfapps/pio/media/YMA_Today_Show.html

You can link to ALA Flickr page with a behind the scenes look at the visit at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alapio/sets/72157603735993374/

ALA President @ Today Show

Just watched Loriene Roy speaking about award-winnig books for children in the Today show. Hurrah! Loriene was great. She was accompanied by two authors including Park School librarian Laura Amy Schlitz, author of “Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village” winer of the Newbery Medal.

ALA Midwinter – Philly – 1/14, 1/15

Monday, January 14 -highlights:

 

 

I started the day with an Intellectual Freedom bang at the Roud Table meeting. It was encouraging to hear how my round table is entering the Diversity area. New committee, liaison to AILA, liaison to the Diversity Council– all good.

 

 

Going back to Dr. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s speech at the ALA Presiden’s Program: here are four principles shared by him,

 

 

study your own people’s history to know what you are capable of

educate yourself to think critically

dedicate yourself to your community

sing, dance, laugh, and generally be joyful ad steadfast

 

May ALA create a poster highlighting these principles? I am sure many in our field will acquire it.

 

 

Tuesday, January 15 is my last day at midwinter. I still have the IRC meeting at 1:30pm and afterwards, I will take a train back to NYC.

 

Hope you had a good conference. If you were at home and reading midwinter-news, hope to see you next year!

ALA Midwinter – Philly – Sunday, 1/13

Sunday’s highlights:

 

 

The REFORMA Board meeting was a well attended one where we discussed exciting projects for the association. If you serve Latinos and Spanish speakers, you want to join REFORMA! New officers: an orientation will be offered to you soon. I will post news about that as I receive them.

 

 

Greenwood Advisory Board lunch took place at the Public House. These folks have exciting databases such as the Latin American Experience, the African American Experience and coming up, the American Indian Experience. Greenwood also hosts a blog about Latino issues by Ilan Stavans. Greenwood people are cool: shouts to Kevin, Vince and Brien

 

 

 

President’s Program: Dr. Kareen Abdul-Jabbar was in the house. The Harlem-born, shared four points about the importance of our own history, background, and loving our heritage. They deserve their own entry- I am posting an entry solely about that soon.

 

 

 

REFORMA National Conference III (Sept. 18-21): Look out for celebrities and fabulous authors at this event. More informatoin (soon): www.reforma.org

 

 

AILA reception was really cool and I got to talk to interesting people. From there, few of us went to meet other friends at the Elsevier reception where we exchanged more ideas and continued networking. The day was long but it was good!

 

People who rocked the day: Robin, Julia, Nannette, David, Miguel F, Miguel GF and Cecilia

 

 

 

 

 

 

ALA Midwinter – Philly- Saturday, 1/12

Saturday was an extremely busy day. Highlights:

 

 

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to talk to first-timee attendees to an ALA conf. at the New Members Round Table (NMRT) Orientation. While waiting to speak to newbies, I listened to various speakers, one said that the way one carries the conference program might attract attention to one hotness. wao! I didn’t know that. She went on to say that you can even find the love your life – yay yay

 

 

The Orientation is a fantastic concept to help newbies to navigate the conference. The NMRT is doing a great job. I look forward to talk to more newbies at the next NMRT Orientation in Anaheim.

 

 

I am speaking at the NMRT President’s Program @ ALA-Anaheim in June. The program seeks to address a critical issue for library associations and librarianship. Don’t miss it! Title: Crossing the Intergenerational Divide.

 

 

Virtual everything: Many members of divisions are thinking of increasing virtual membership, committees and perhaps conferences. While I am all for technology and online work, I still favor conferences where we have the unique opportunity of networking with colleagues on a face-to-face basis. It is my experience that many agreements (detailas) are worked out in halls, coffe breaks, gatherings, after conference drinks and dinners. That is priceless and cannot be replaced by virtual conferences which, don’t take me wrong, I love too.

 

 

IFLA Update: I will highlight a few points but for more information visit ifla.org // 2008 IFLA Conference will be in Quebec. 2009 @ Milan, Italy. 2010 @ Brisbane, AUS. Central America and the Caribbean has been selected as the next region for IFLA Conference – yes!

 

 

LJ Movers & Shakers: Two very good friends are part of the 2008 cohort. Love to Robin Kear and Mario Ascencio. I am a 2007 Mover & Shaker.

 

 

Camila Alire Campaign Kickoff was a very telling event. Camila’s event attracted so many ALA members that attendees had to move to the hall in front of the room reserved for the occasion. I counted at least 6 ALA past Presidents.

 

 

How I closed the day? Dining at Prime Rib – yummy! – at the Radisson Plaza Warwick hotel. I made a new friend, the manager of this high-end establishement was introduced to me by Mario my fellow REFORMA colleague and I seriously voted to return. Gentlemen, remember to wear a jacket when you go

 

ALA Midwinter- Philly- Friday, 1/11/08

My ALA midwinter conference started with three back-to-back meetings: ALA IRC, REFORMA Northeast Chapter, REFORMA Executive Board.

 

 

News from the meetings? Well, I am very excited about promising plans for students at an international level. I cannot tell you more (for now) but look out for exciting events at IFLA-Quebec in August!! I will post news here and on various listservs such as IFLA/New Professionals Discussion Group, ALA New Members Round Table and others.

 

 

I’ve been coordinating -along with REFORMA NE members- the 2008 Joint REFORMA NE, AILA, APALA, BCALA and CALA. Where? In New York City! All free: no registration, lunch provided and many vendors and colleagues to talk to. Venue: Instituto Cervantes. Date: Friday, May 16 from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Attend the conference and make it part of a New York weekend!

 

 

The NE chapter is also hosting a Spanish Language Materials Book Fair on March 7 from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the Newark Public Library.

 

 

REFORMA at a national level is actively working on the REFORMA National Conference III in El Paso, Texas on September 18-21, 2008. Look it up!

 

Friday was a very intense day . At the end of the day, I was fortunate enough to attend a reception for Jesus Lau – hosted by Loriene Roy, ALA President. There were many cool people with very interesting jobs there. It was fantastic to talk to many cool friends.