AL Focus visited ALTAFF Spokesperson Paula Poundstone July 9 before a taping of National Public Radio's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me! attended by 500 librarians. The conversation covered Poundstone's role as ALTAFF (Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations) spokesperson, her kids' reading habits, The Three Stooges, the dreaded acronym game, and the horrors of math.
Music
Valkeries! Ride!
A photo essay from the Bookcart Drill Team World Championships, held at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, set to "Ride of the Valkyries," the winning team's music.
Movies
AL Focus caught up with Dan Kraus, the founder of AL Focus, current editor with Booklist magazine, and author of the forthcoming novel The Monster Variations, after his reading on the Live @ Your Library Stage at the ALA Annual Conference. Dan discusses his new book as well as the experience of being on the other side of the AL Focus cameras.
Television
Before her PLA President's Program speech at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference, journalist Cokie Roberts spoke with AL Focus about the new revised and expanded edition of her book We Are Our Mother's Daughters, as well as the state of libraries and the future of journalism.
Books
Sylvia Ivie, presenter of the first Coretta Scott King Book Awards, spoke to AL Focus at the 40th anniversary celebration about what the Awards have developed into and why they're still necessary.
Heroes
Wanda Urbanska and Christie Hefner
After her speech at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference, Simple Living host Wanda Urbanska spoke with American Libraries editor Leonard Kniffel about her work with libraries and how librarians can advocate for green choices to administrators charged with monitoring the bottom line.
Before her Opening General Session speech at the 2009 ALA Annual Conference, American Libraries spoke with former Playboy Enterprises CEO Christie Hefner about her message to librarians, her memories of Judith Krug and the important First Amendment battles they fought, and what helped her to succeed in what some would call a man's job.
Members of the American Library Association (ALA) are change-agents within their communities. From public to academic to school to research and special libraries, ALA members have an immediate, dynamic impact on the quality of life in a community; on successful student learning outcomes; on the sustainability of critical engagements with the past and the extending access to tools for charting a new future; and on the usefulness of work/life in every field of human endeavor. And this profile would like to show them off.
ALA Connect replaces the existing Online Communities service that ALA currently offers as a virtual, collaborative, workspace online. We hope this will become a centralized space where official ALA groups can work together online. In addition, any member can create new communities (unofficial ALA groups) without any staff assistance, so the site will combine association work with communities of interest in one place.
Who I'd like to meet: Libraries, librarians, library workers, students, library supporters, and library lovers.
You can chat with Tina, ALA's Member Specialist for Membership Development, using Meebo:
If she's not in, leave a message!
PLEASE keep in mind that following our internal policies I cannot approve any comments containing urls.
American Library Association's Friend Space (Top 12)
I long to see the distant seas And set foot on distant shores And watch the sun caress the waves With amber skies aglow And watch the stars Come out at night Like fire flies in June And string a blanket Far and wide And wrap around the moon
1. I should give myself the same care and attention as I give others.
2. I am not an endless ‘resource’ for others, I must stock up on ‘reserves’ and not get too drained.
3. I have needs to which may be different from my family’s, my friends or my colleagues.
4. I do not have to say ‘yes’ to all requests – or feel guilty if I say ‘no’.
5, The ‘perfect’ parent, partner, child or career person does not exist – the ‘good-enough’ one does!
6. I have the right to be treated with respect as a worthwhile, intelligent and competent person.
7. I do not have to have everyone’s approval all the time to know that I am trying my hardest.
8. Time for unwinding is time very well spent.
9. Making mistakes is not a disaster – I can learn from these and it allows others to as well.
10. I must be fair to myself and remember, at all times especially in the face of criticism, anxiety and difficulties, THAT I AM DOING THE BEST THAT I CAN!!
Hiya, As some of you already know this is National Month of Disability in the States. Jan and numerous friends have forged such a tight bond that I think of you as an army, lol. I almost can't keep up. ;) Here's another peek into her personal diary...
Everyone wonders why the disabled, handicapped are happy. I can tell you honestly. It’s a devastating battle that your body must strive to live with. But, getting away from the prison of immobility requires a lot of love for yourself. And when we are out and about we smile because we can still have a somewhat normal life. Winning the battle using all of the love for yourself. A place in your soul that no one knows exists. And finding that place in mine gave me incredible strength to conquer my disease for my right to be normal. From learning that pride isn’t similar to vanity.
The emotions of victory and triumph were far more stronger than the way strangers looked at me. Most with pity, but I didn’t mind. Because I was too busy looking around at everything that I could put my eyes on. In case my day of loss would steal my freedom. I loved and cherished each day with many special memories. I got to see the world more closely. Smiling and taking not one day for granted.
Because the most valuable wealth that anyone can own in this life is the ability to know how strong your love for yourself can truly be. And that is the reason, the secret and the whole meaning of the smile.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
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DEAR PRECIOUS ONES, DUE TO RECENT QUESTIONS AUTHOR JAN DECIDED TO ALLOW THIS VERY PRIVATE EXCERPT!!
“Rock Star”
You sold the rest of your life Then cut yourself with a knife Signed a contract in blood And shed tears of misery beyond a flood
Looking through the glass At a world of distorted brass Working hard on the job End up feeling like a slob
On-stage you shine through your tears As you swallow a few beers Everyone wanting to be you If the crowds only knew ....................... Your smiles are forced beyond emotion While you cry enough to create an ocean Every friend becomes your worst enemy And strangers grab you screaming; “me please, me!”
Deep down your soul is quickly dying The record execs complain that you’re not trying Struggling with only last year’s strength Pushing yourself beyond the world’s length
Every time you play near my place I see you forcing smiles through your empty face With fans fainting and crying for just one look And yes, I know how much that took
How many times I wanted to make them stop But I don’t because they put you on top So I just hold you till I feel your pain subside Then I let you go and try to hide Because I don’t want you to see That I share your pain deep within me
No breath upon my lips to speak the words in vain Shallow spirits fly in the darkness of the rain Stand up and rise for the stars who shine their grace Lonely paths lead the weary to see His golden face .................................................. Tremulous trials are rewarded with a gift To cleanse thy heart with a peaceful lift Forgiveness is the most difficult task Because the dear Lord will not give you a mask Peace and serenity can replace human pride That unite your heart and soul in the painful ride On a warrior’s trail I raised and carried this tearful halter And as I walk into the valley of the shadow of death, I will not falter
Thanks for being a friend of the Jesse Bernstein tribute page!
Comments on Jesse and his works are welcomed.
"The test of the integrity of a poem, or any work of art, may be, simply: does it lead, in the end, to freedom, or does it merely expand the arena of confinement? A voice from the outside, truly, is what we need to hear. Even a single word. Even something that is not a word, but suggests such a word."
Thanks for adding my author page! The discount on my new humor book Nowhere Near Manhood ends Monday, 8/31! Check out book info on my author page, then visit www.NowhereNearManhood.com and enter coupon code README when ordering.
