ASCLA Preconference – Friday, January 7, 2011
“Assembling Your Consultant Tool Kit: What You Need to Know to Become a Successful Consultant”
This was a full day of learning, discussion & even fun about how to be a consultant. The presenters were Nancy Bolt of Nancy Bolt & Associates (NB&A) and Sara Laughlin who is the Director of Monroe County Public Library in Bloomington, Indiana (and president of Sara Laughlin & Associates, Inc).
Nancy & Sara have many years of experience as consultants and it showed in their presentation. They talked about why libraries hire consultants and what type of services consultants offer. We learned about 5 challenges for consulting and learned how to deal with each. The 5 Consultant CHALLENGES are:
1 – Travel, Distractions, Balanced Life
2 – Feast or Famine (the business end of things)
3 – Hidden Motivations
4 – Client Relationships
5 – Maintaining Your Reputation
During this workshop the participants learned how to assess their consulting aptitude using a number of worksheets which built upon one another. These can help to determine strenghts & weaknesses AND more important, help someone figure out where the best area of consulting might be for them. The participants also had the opportunity to discuss & evaluate their worksheets with other participants. This gave allowed each participant to receive for an another point of view which could be even more useful in defining what type of consulting work an person wants to do.
This was a great program! If you want to be a consultant or are even considering consulting work, then you really might want to think about this workshop the next time it is offered. BRAVA to Nancy & Sara and thank you for a great day in San Diego, even IF it was spent (mostly) indoors!! 
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Friday evening, Jan 7th, I attended a dinner with about 20 other libraries hosted by Perseus/Running Press which was held at the Ocean Room (630 5th Ave, between Market & G streets). The menu choices were great (I had the linguine with shrimp, Yummy!) but the most fun was getting to talk with two authors about their forthcoming YA titles. There were ARC copies of both of their books available for all who attended the dinner.
Sherry Shahan’s new book, Purple Daze comes out is March and tells the story (in letters & poetry) about a year in the life of six high school students. The year is 1965 (“.. war, feminism, riots, love, racism, rock ‘n roll, high school and friendship”) and the stories told by these kids is powerful and very relevant to today. It would probably also be a great crossover title for adults.
Steven Arntson is a debut author and has written an adventure/fantasy novel titled The Wikkeling which has great illustrations by Daniela J. Terrazzini. In the story a young girl discovers “a mystery she was never supposed to solve” which includes an injured Wild House Cat hiding in the attic above her own bedroom. Then there is a mysterious creature called the Wikkeling which has now been awakened … Sounds like fun and the illustrations are really cool!
Both authors will be at the Perseus booth (# 1741) for a signing & ARC giveaway on Saturday afternoon, Jan 8th, between 2:00 p.m.& 4:00 p.m. Stop by and pick up a copy of their books and have them signed! Perhaps I’ll see you there as I think I’ll stop by to get another copy for the YA/Teen group at my library.
