Governance, Process

One of the things I get to do at ALA Conferences is to chat (at least briefly) with ALA's Parliamentarian. Eli Mina became the official, paid parliamentarian for ALA a number of years ago.

Among the important changes in the culture of governance at ALA which is a direct result of his actions is the level of civility, and spirit of cooperation on Council. (I still monitor the list, and usually attend at least one session of ALA Council each meeting.)

Among the key concepts he has taught me is one that applies to a lot of life: Suffering is optional.

An equally important concept is that the goal of Parliamentary Procedure is to allow business to be accomplished while protecting the rights of the minority. This latter is highlighted in one of the articles he has posted on his web site. He talks about it as "community engagement" while I think that there are bigger implications for decision-making at all levels.
     http://www.elimina.com/insights/shared-oct12.html

In another part of my life, I am serving on a nominating committee. That is always an interesting process, and the person running this one is doing a spectacular job. He is doing what Eli suggests in his article about nominations and elections.

      http://www.elimina.com/insights/rule-sep13.html

In my list of saved links, I have one more word of wisdom from him, and I really don't need to say much more than quote the title and give you the link: "Pause before pushing send"
     http://www.elimina.com/insights/shared-Oct07.htm

Reading to children, the importance of

Some time ago, a friend posted this story on Facebook. It just speaks so much to me about two things. First is about some of the ways that we as parents act in trying to ensure the success of our children. The other is the subject near and dear to my heart -- the importance of reading, out loud, to children. I think I am just going to leave this here:

Once one of the parents at my school noticed that V had good reading skills, and grabbed my arm in a quiet panic, wanting to know what my secret was. "I....read her books?"

She was so disappointed, hoping I'd let her in on the strategy, the technique that would let her rack up points too in the parenting game I was winning without even wanting to play. Something quick and linear and effective, for people who don't have time to read bedtime stories.

(She and her husband both have incredibly intense, travel-heavy jobs that leave them with insane schedules. I like them both a lot, though I rarely get to see them. But no, I don't have the magic bullet, that isn't snuggling up with your kids and reading bedtime stories.)

ALA Annual 2017

Monday 6/19 revision - more items added! There is still tweaking to be done. But right now, this matches the version of the calendar in the ALA Scheduler, and lives both on Google Calendar and in my personal Outlook calendar.

Here is my tentative schedule for ALA Annual. Note that it is still tentative!

I will be arriving in Chicago on Thursday, and get some wandering around time! (Yay!) I have nwt figured out how to make "Agenda" the default view. (Again ... Yay!) Clicking on any event will show details. And do note the time zone note on the bottom. Here, I am seeing things in the Central Time zone, not sure how true that is for others, but this time, the I don't change time zones!
I am posting on Friday (6/16) and have noticed that there is a lot missing. So by Monday or Tuesday, there will be more. I promise!

Books Read - 2016

Better late than never, here is the list of things I read in 2016:

Part of Our Lives: A people's history of the American public library by Wayne A. Wiegand autographed

The Real Liddy James: A Novel by Anne-Marie Casey ARC

Don't Think Twice: Adventure and Healing at 100 Miles per Hour by Barbara Schoichet ARC

Library Consortia: Models for Collaboration by Valerie Horton and Greg Pronevitz Professional

Crucible Experience as an Influence of Positive Leadership in Public Libraries by Susan A. Henricks [A Dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy]

Thelonious Rising by Judith Richards autographed

The Cordoba Connection by C. Terry Cline, Jr. Signed copy

Untethered: A Novel by Julie Lawson Timmer ARC

Valiant Ambition: George Washington, Benedict Arnold, and the Fate of the American Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick ARC

I am a Town: A Collection of Stories by Shari Smith

The Girl Before: A Novel by Rena Olsen ARC

The Strangled Vine: A Novel by M.J. Carter

The Arrangement: A Novel by Ashley Warlick ARC

The Last Days of Magic: A Novel by Mark Tompkins ARC

The After Party: A Novel by Anton DiSclafani ARC

Shackleton's Way: Leadership Lessons from the Great Antarctic Explorer by Margot Morrell and Stephanie Capparell signed by Capparell

What is not yours is not yours by Helen Oyeyemi ARC

The Secret Chord: A Novel by Geraldine Brooks ARC

ALA Midwinter 2017

Here is my tentative schedule for ALA Midwinter. Note that it is still tentative!

I'm driving to Atlanta and will be driving on Wednesday the 18th, and again on the 24th. (I have not figured out how to make "Agenda" the default view.") Clicking on any event will show details. And do note the time zone note on the bottom. Here, I am seeing things in the Central Time zone, not sure how true that is for others.