Collaboration Through Technology

As I prepare for my first American Library Association committee meeting at the midwinter conference next week, I reviewed Maureen Sullivan's "Leadership Principles and Practices" handout that I received during my Emerging Leader experience.

In my last post, I set up a vision for 2010 that utilizes more technology in my professional life. Therefore, it is important that Sullivan's handouts reminded me of the underlying purpose of using such technology; Technology aids collaboration.

The connection and collaboration of individuals around the world through the internet is indeed "... a synergistic process through which the outcomes are greater than the sum of the individual efforts."

I am excited to meet my fellow committee members next Sunday and am interested to experience their unique collaboration techniques and tools.

"Never Hurry and Never Worry!"

While I was not selected to attend the Bill Morris Seminar in 2010, a former professor reminded me that "... there will be other opportunities, and you have had a lot of wonderful, special experiences lately ..."

When I read this reaction, I thought, "That is true."

At the end of today, I feel that this confirmation is even stronger ...

(Thank you.)

November Is New

This is a busy first week for a new month ...

This week's activities:

1. I have started my part-time position.

2. I have filled out paperwork to see if I am eligible for partial unemployment.

3. I have programs every day, up to 4 in one day!

4. I have started outreach programs from the Austintown branch.

5. The individuals selected to attend the Bill Morris Seminar will be contacted.

6. I will give a presentation on storytelling techniques and focus on kinds of stories for the preschool audience.

7. I need to think about the trips I want to take in 2010 and request the appropriate days off.


Thoughts on these activities:

1. Part-time for a short term may be a gift, but it is intimidating for the long term.

2. Check. (double entendre?)

3. Now that the week has started, I feel fine with this load. I am prepared. A fellow children's librarian's wisdom echoes in my head and reminds me that the librarian herself needs to have fun ...

4. Outreach went well today. I am becoming a better communicator but still have room to grow.

5. *fingers crossed*

6. Preparing for Friday's presentation is also preparing me for my potential presentation in March concerning learning (science) through storytelling. Not only have I found other resources that are passionate about this same idea, it has also given me the opportunity to re-discover the art of storytelling and set higher goals for myself.

[Hooray for an early birthday gift from mother ... membership in the National Storytelling Network!]

7. Now that I am on an ALSC Committee, I will need to attend Mid-Winter and Annual. I won't know if I will be able to do the OCTELA presentation until January ... On a personal note, I need to visit my relatives in Finland with my mother while she can still connect me to them.

LNOSCY

Last Tuesday, I received an email responding to my ALSC Committee Volunteer application form.

I was surprised to see that I had been invited to serve immediately as a member of the Liaisons with National Organizations Serving Children and Youth (LNOSCY) committee for a two-year term.

I am excited and feel strongly about the functions and goals of this committee! I see it as a great opportunity to learn about and market to other child-friendly organizations as well as network with a broader selection of peers and gain leadership skills. This commitment also fulfills my "final" Emerging Leader charge to serve on a "real" committee.

In light of our budget concerns at the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County and my switch from full to part-time, I was initially concerned about my ability to accept this invitation.

Fortunately, I work in a system that values professional development and supports it as they are able.

I have accepted the invitation!

Keeping Busy

Overall, I can report good news (both professional and personal) from the last three weeks.

Here it is in chronological order:

Working with my EMIE Bulletin contact, I have an approved topic to write about and submit -- probably for the first issue of 2010.

While developing ideas for the OCTELA presentation proposal, I contacted a former Kent State University professor and discovered that I may have the opportunity to post my early learning science content standard alignment project on the ILILE website.

I submitted an application for the opportunity to be part of the Association for Library Services to Children's (ALSC) Bill Morris Seminar.

I emailed another contact I made at ALA's Mid-Winter Conference and submitted a committee volunteer form for ALSC.

I still have a job in the library serving children, but it will be changed to a part-time position at another location. This gives me the opportunity to work with different co-workers, to experience programming in a different community, and to fully welcome my new niece when she arrives in December!