Kentucky Virtual Library Go(es) Beyond Google

The Kentucky Virtual Library's most excellent poster session! Yes (inquiring minds that want to know) that is Enid Wohlstein, Kentucky Virtual Library Director, trying to hide from our intrepid reporter/photog. I swore to her that she was out of the frame. . .

The KSMA Exploratorium was a Big Hit!

At this year's KLA/KSMA 2007 Conference the KSMA Exploratorium was standing room only. Attendees were given lots of fresh and exciting new ideas for programming for their school libraries!

The Hobbit Visits the KSMA Exploratorium

Johan Koren, Coordinator of the Library Media program at Murray State University, presented an exhibit for the KSMA Exploratorium. Being an old hippie I was drawn to Johan’s 70th anniversary display of The Hobbit. J. R. R. Tolkien's, The Hobbit, was one of many “must reads” for the flower power generation. I think, judging by Johan’s extra-extra wide Birkenstocks and wooly stockings that Johan must be one too… hippie that is!

Faith Steele & Loreine Roy

Faith Steele received the first ever Kentucky Library Association Scholarship for Minority Students. Currently Faith is enrolled in the University of Kentucky’s School of Library and Information Science where she is pursuing a Master of Science in Library Science. She also was the recipient of the 4th Annual KLA African American Librarians & Library Employees Round Table (AALLERT) Minority Scholarship. This Scholarship provided Faith with a stipend to attend the Fall KLA/KSMA Conference and KLA membership for one year.

Madonna???

Is that Madonna? No it is Sara Brown the Government Documents/Public Services Librarian at the Mansbach Memorial Library at Ashland Community & Technical College, silly! No I think it is Madonna! What would Madonna being doing at a library conference in, of all places, Loo uh vul, Kentucky? I don't know, but I swear that is the "Material Girl" herself! You are so silly!

Michael Gorman at 2007 KLA/KSMA Conference

(2007 KLA/KSMA Joint Conference) ALA Past President, Michel Gorman’s presentation, advocating for the Library of Today and Tomorrow” was very well received! His articulate blend of anecdote, analysis and insight left the audience with a wealth of inspiration to advocate for their own libraries. Thanks Michael!

More Talented Librarians!

Late breaking news flash... At the Howl at the Moon Talent Show Susan Henthorn on Alto Horn and Margaret Foote on piano performed "Till There Was You" written by Meredith Willson, sung by the character 'Marian the Librarian' in the The Music Man; and "(Somewhere) Over the Rainbow" music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, arranged by Goff Richards, much to everyone's delight!

Reality Data

Ron Crouch
Originally uploaded by kentuckylibrary.

If you missed Ron Crouch's presentation, then you missed out on a wonderfully funny and informative session. Dr. Crouch has presented for KLA conferences and groups several times, but this is the first time I've been able to catch his presentation.

Ron is the Director of the Kentucky State Data Center and he has all the numbers. Ron reminded us that the population data and other statistics are showing how our perceptions and reality are different. The most memorable piece of data came from Ron's study of Kentucky data (which will be available from the Kentucky State Data Center) and showed that Kentucky has the highest increase in percentage of residents who have completed high school. More information like this is available from the Kentucky State Data Center and the United States Census.

Ron also distributed copies of an article he wrote for Museum News, May/June 2004. The title of the article is "Rules for a New demographic Ballgame." Essentially the article shares how the population has changed and how we should prepare for the changes that will need to be made to accommodate this new society. Overall, I found it to be a very interesting read.

If you have the opportunity to hear Ron Crouch in the future, I hope you will take it.

A School Media Evangelist

It's not just evangelicals who have the power of conversion! I've just come from Dr. Ross Todd's presentation "School Libraries Work!" and I want to change the world--my world, at least! He was "naughty" and he was chastising, but he set a fire alight under the assembled school librarians he was talking to.

The main import of his message was--don't complain about the principals, don't work inside the box, don't see yourself and your library as the center of the universe. We are not about teaching our kids to find information--we are about teaching our kids to create new knowledge and deep understanding. Make your school library "a cesspool of intellectual discussion!"