Minneapolis by Minivan
Hi, I’m Michael May. I’m one of the adult services librarians at Carnegie-Stout Public Library in Dubuque, Iowa, which is about five hours south of Minneapolis by minivan. My colleagues and I are driving up this afternoon.
This is my first PLA conference and I am excited. I wonder if Minneapolis resident and award-winning novelist Louise Erdrich will talk about Books and Islands in Ojibwe Country, her personal account of travels through Minnesota and Ontario.
In one eloquent passage, Erdrich describes how Ojibwe poet Al Hunter reacted when his community was suffering from terrible poverty, alcoholism, and despair: Hunter urged his community to build a library. A library full of books, Erdrich explains, contains “wealth, sobriety, and hope.”
I’m looking forward to the conference programs, exhibits, and sight seeing. Hearing from people like Louise Erdrich, however, is what I think will make PLA worthwhile.
There are 4 Comments to "Minneapolis by Minivan"
Mike,
Your words are more picturesque than the scenery!
Great blending of threads, literary and social. Have a great conference, and continue blogging!
Hi, Michael–if you get the chance, it’s well worth checking out Birchbark Books, the bookstore Louise owns with her sisters (Heid Erdrich has a few books of poetry out, and Lise Erdrich just came out with her own book).
http://www.birchbarkbooks.com/
2115 West 21st Street
Minneapolis, MN 55405
(612) 374-4023
This might be old news to you, but Louise and two of her sisters (Lise and Heid) recently spoke at the Minneapolis Public Library. You can listen to their reading by visiting http://www.friendsofmpl.org/events_listen.html
Enjoy your visit!