Texas Library Association Conference 2009

I spent the last three days in the company of men and women who strive daily to make information and literature available to the widest audience possible. Librarians seek to expand their patrons' horizons and supply materials and resources for them in all their endeavors. The Texas Library Association has been supporting these efforts since 1902.

The TLA exhibit hall was full of companies offering online information resources, foreign language instruction packages, library management software and library furnishings. Publishers display new fiction and nonfiction titles while authors sign books and maintain cheerful smiles for fans who queue for their few moments of face time. Apparel vendors supply garments and jewelry that promote reading and librarians in sparkling rhinstones, applique or embroidery.

Gifted storytellers, musicians, authors, illustrators discuss their work in presentations that were thoughtfully prepared and shared.

I've been attending TLA for well over a decade now (good gad!) and the opportunity to visit with other librarians and connect with old friends and acquaintances is utterly refreshing and revitalizing.

Unlike a grade level teacher, school librarians are often "lone rangers" on their campus. They must constantly add new content and new lessons to their programs. Some projects repeat from year to year but there are always new stories to share and new technologies to add their students' information skills.

I know budgets are tight and schedules are full but I find the benefits of attending this conference are worth sacrifices. It contributes to my growth as a professional and to my sense of belonging to a community that is truly committed to a noble purpose.

Author/Illustrator: Don Tate

The Texas Library Association Disaster Relief Fund helps Texas libraries that have suffered damage from disasters such as Hurricane Rita and Ike.

Each year, as a fund raiser for the Fund, a piece of original art by a generous, kind, wonderful children's book illustrator is raffled. Here is this year's fantastic piece, a study of Duke Ellington by Don Tate. I buy tickets for this effort every year.

Don blogs at Devas T. Rants and Raves!
Don Tate's website

Texas Bluebonnet Award

And the winner is...



One Potato, Two Potato
by Cynthia DeFelice; illustrated by Andrea U'Ren

I love, love, love reading this book aloud. Cynthia DeFelice is an incomparable story teller!!

Mr. and Mrs. O'Grady are poor. Then Mr. O'Grady finds a magic pot that duplicates whatever lands in it. Once the premise is established the kids immediately "tumble" to the predicament when Mrs. O'Grady falls into the pot by accident.

Andrea U'Ren's comic illustrations perfectly complement this folktale. The image of Mrs. O'Grady's legs sticking out of the pot is the "money" page. I just let the kids savor the picture then wait for the "oh NOs" to start through the audience.

I can't believe I get paid to have fun like that!!

TLA 2008

With my trusty Scholastic backpack on my back and my pink swoosh shoes on my feet, I have been walking the halls of the Dallas Convention Center this week at the annual Texas Library Association Conference.

This backpack suits me better than any other I've used. It seems to hold the maximum number of books possible before my clavicle cracks under the strain.

Lots of great stuff in the booths. I've already put one load in the car but these are the "can't wait to read" titles I picked up today! The Skulduggery Pleasant sequel, a new Elise (Shakespeare's Secret) Broach, another glorious K. Y. Craft cover for Juliet Marillier, the new Joan (how entling no. 3 loves her) Bauer, the 3rd book in the Warrior Heir series by Cinda Williams Chima, Brent Hartinger's Geography Club and Katie Grant's new series starter: Blue Flame. Now, which one do I read at dinner tonight?

My conference started with a lovely bloggers tea at the Adolphus Hotel that was hosted and organized by Anastasia Suen I skidded in right off the freeway as everything began so I sat down at the first empty chair I saw.

Dear Diary,
Today I sat at the tea table with, storyteller and Bluebonnet author Tim Tingle (Crossing Bok Chitto) and Betsy and Ted Lewin. The Lewins shared their new book, Horse Song with us. Happy!