Highlights from Denver
I've been at ALA in Denver for the past few days, and it has been a great conference. In spite of many meetings, I was able to attend some of the presentations.
On Friday, I got to hear David Weinberger - the author of Cluetrain Manifesto and Everything is Miscellaneous. I've heard him speak twice before and as always, he was wonderful - even though his message to libraries is somewhat grim (unless we can learn how to market ourselves in the Google age). He's funny (he was a gag writer for Woody Allen) but also smart and insightful - good to hear intelligent discourse on how the internet is affecting everything we do.
On Sunday afternoon, Dr. Muhummad Yunus talked about his microcredit Grameen bank for poor women in Bangladesh. He's an economist who won the Nobel Peace prize this year for his work in bringing people out of poverty. He said that he looked at traditional banks in Bangladesh and did the opposite of what they did: they lent to men so he lent to women, they demanded collateral so he required no collateral, they imposed deadlines so he had no deadlines. The loans are repaid with interest and have been amazingly successful. The bank has added scholarships to the loan program and now has 40,000 students in colleges and universities. He was incredibly inspiring - we gave him two standing ovations.
Today I went to the Friends' authors gala tea to hear five authors speak about their work: Jane Hamilton (who wrote Book of Ruth - her latest is a comedy: Laura Rider's Masterpiece), Simon Van Boor, Sandra Dallas (who wrote one of my all-time favorite books, The Persian Pickle Club, that most of my quilting friends have also read - her latest Prayers for Sale is set in Breckinridge CO), John Shors, and Shana Abe (who writes dragon romances). They all talked a little about their books, but they also focused on how libraries have helped them in their lives. I had to fight back tears a couple times. It is a good feeling to hear some praise for my profession (esp considering I've dedicated 37 years of my life working in and for libraries - am I really that old?). Nice to get some confirmation that it is still a worthwhile cause. :)
It has been a wonderful conference, but I'll be happy to fly home tomorrow.
On Friday, I got to hear David Weinberger - the author of Cluetrain Manifesto and Everything is Miscellaneous. I've heard him speak twice before and as always, he was wonderful - even though his message to libraries is somewhat grim (unless we can learn how to market ourselves in the Google age). He's funny (he was a gag writer for Woody Allen) but also smart and insightful - good to hear intelligent discourse on how the internet is affecting everything we do.
On Sunday afternoon, Dr. Muhummad Yunus talked about his microcredit Grameen bank for poor women in Bangladesh. He's an economist who won the Nobel Peace prize this year for his work in bringing people out of poverty. He said that he looked at traditional banks in Bangladesh and did the opposite of what they did: they lent to men so he lent to women, they demanded collateral so he required no collateral, they imposed deadlines so he had no deadlines. The loans are repaid with interest and have been amazingly successful. The bank has added scholarships to the loan program and now has 40,000 students in colleges and universities. He was incredibly inspiring - we gave him two standing ovations.
Today I went to the Friends' authors gala tea to hear five authors speak about their work: Jane Hamilton (who wrote Book of Ruth - her latest is a comedy: Laura Rider's Masterpiece), Simon Van Boor, Sandra Dallas (who wrote one of my all-time favorite books, The Persian Pickle Club, that most of my quilting friends have also read - her latest Prayers for Sale is set in Breckinridge CO), John Shors, and Shana Abe (who writes dragon romances). They all talked a little about their books, but they also focused on how libraries have helped them in their lives. I had to fight back tears a couple times. It is a good feeling to hear some praise for my profession (esp considering I've dedicated 37 years of my life working in and for libraries - am I really that old?). Nice to get some confirmation that it is still a worthwhile cause. :)
It has been a wonderful conference, but I'll be happy to fly home tomorrow.
Labels: books
posted by Ruth at
6:49 PM
2 Comments:
Loved your entry; reminds me of what I miss about my profession. And makes me want to get reading!
By
Anonymous, at 11:36 PM
I visit our library regularly --- usually once a week. I decided, a couple of years ago, to try and spend at least fifteen minutes a day, reading for pleasure. I have sooooo many books on my "waiting to read" list --- library MUST stay in business!
By
Anonymous, at 9:29 AM
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