Lifelong Learning

Who would have thought that this gray-haired granny of advancing years would still be on campus living in a dorm (with questionable maintenance...too hot, too cold, no electricity, no hot water, lost keys) learning new things, challenging mind and body (oh, those stairs!) and stockpiling new ideas from new librarian friends to take home to benefit her local community?

It's time again for the annual trek to Aberdeen, SD for Library Institute and to immerse myself along with 29 other librarians/trustees in this year's theme: Young Adult Services.   And, dorm life isn't really so bad.  I was reassigned to last year's roomie, who now is a mighty senior  (Oh, Jane, can't you come back just one more year??) 

Oh, well, at least my bed is closer to the ground this year and I have only one flight of stairs to hike to the outside world!

Kathleen Slocum, our fearless education coordinator extraordinaire from the SD State Library, has enlisted the talents of knowledgeable and nationally connected speakers who are imparting their wisdom in practical ways that are immediately applicable to most library situations. (Wish I'd studied the section on the teenage brain long before my teens were out of the nest...would probably have avoided a few hairy arguments with my offspring!) 

Jasmine Rockwell, also a gem from the SD State Library,  is a treasure trove of information about Youth Services and Teen Spaces.  Today we made use of skype technology to connect with a New Orleans school librarian and with the author of Cinder and Scarlet, Marissa Meyer.  Jasmine has a gift for sharing book talks and inspired me to work on that project for the upcoming school year.  

The rest of the week holds the promise of teen programming, hands-on experience with animoto, info on maker spaces and more.

But the best part is that the course format provides plenty of time for sharing, which is the part I enjoy most (whether it be in the classroom, around the cafeteria tables or informally in the dorms.) As a librarian fairly isolated from others in the field, it provides feedback and input, creative springboards, and just plain support that gives you a boost and encouragement to try new things.

I just wish my brain cells could remember as much as they did when I had beautiful long brown hair and agile knees.  Ah, the joys of aging.