The PLA Blog | Official Blog of the Public Library Association
Y’all come back now, ya hear?
During the conference, most attendees stayed near the Convention Center and French Quarter areas. Luckily those areas are on higher ground and weren’t severly damaged by the hurricane. Unfortunately not all of New Orleans fared the same way. Monday afternoon I went with two of my friends, Jennifer and Donna, to see what devastation Katrina had created on the [...]
Lyrics to Literacy
I attended the ALSC-sponsored program “Lyrics to Literacy” on Monday, June 26. This program caught my eye by the description: “Through song, story, rhythm and chant, learn techniques to develop early literacy skills. Participants will learn how to enhance self-esteem, strengthen reading readiness, language development and promote brain growth.” Doesn’t that sound fun?
I wasn’t able [...]
Drug Foods, Fast Foods and Feasts: the Social Science of Eating
So this session was not absolutely about library services, but it was really treat for me and there was quite a bit to be learned.
The first speaker, Wendy Woloson, Curator of Printed Books at the Library Company of Philadelphia, told us the history of sugar in America (an abridged version of her book Refined Tastes: [...]
Outside the Magic Circle: Library Services & Underserved Users
After recuperating for a week and getting back in the swing of things, here are some of my notes from a session I attended.
(I apologize, I came in late to this session and was unable to get the speakers’ names)
The title came from a statement made by journalist Cynthia Tucker quoted in the Conference program: [...]
a Louisiana library visit
I’m sitting in the San Antonio airport, waiting for the second of my three flights home. I have all kinds of exciting conference sessions to blog about, but in the meantime, I wanted to point to a few of these pictures of hurricane and flood damage in Louisiana libraries.
On Friday, Heidi Dolamore and I [...]
Doin’ “it” by the book
Of course we librarians are fighting our stereotype down here in New Orleans. They’re selling a T-Shirt on Bourbon Street that says “Librarians do it by the book,” and the nature of the street suggests what “it” is. At a bar last night, I overheard a young man ask a young woman if she was [...]
Bienvenue to New Orleans!
Hey y’all!
I’m Anne Robert, a children’s librarian who works with the Jacksonville (FL) Library. I am a native Louisianaian; I lived in Baton Rouge (about 90 miles north of N’awlins) for 22 years. It’s great to be back in New Orleans – except for the humidity (one thing I don’t miss!).
I arrived here yesterday and [...]
Podcast: McGuire family sells lemonade to help libraries
This afternoon, as I was walking through the conference center with Kathleen Hughes, I saw out of the corner of my eye a flutter of yellow balloons. Outside near the shuttle buses, a the McGuire family, Bob, Meg, Miles (the 8-year old Marketing Mastermind for the stand), and Callan (a.k.a Cal, the 7-year old [...]
Volunteers needed!
If you going to New Orleans for the 2006 ALA Annual Conference, please sign up to help staff the PLA membership information booth. The membership booth is part of the joint division booths outside of the exhibits hall. Volunteers will be available to answer questions about PLA programs and membership benefits, and encourage conference-goers to [...]
Libraries Build Communities…in New Orleans
From the press release::
CHICAGO – Librarians and library staff attending the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in New Orleans, June 22-28, will show how “Libraries Build Communities” through daylong community service efforts to help rebuild New Orleans.
As part of ALA’s ongoing efforts to help the libraries and communities in the Gulf Coast, conference attendees [...]
