Blogging ALA: Prep!

I'm always amazed at the necessary last-minute flurry of activity. It's only exacerbated this year, since in addition to my daily work, my last-minute GODORT stuff, my TLA stuff, and personal things like packing and dropping off yet another vehicle for repairs... I'm also trying to finish writing up a summary of my work this year for my performance review, while simultaneously preparing to re-apply for my current position (which has been re-posted as a permanent position, since I've been a visiting librarian for the past 2+ years).

Whew.

If you want to reach me in Anaheim, I'm at the Residence Inn Anaheim Maingate, which is something like 1.4 miles from the Convention Center, and I'll have my cellphone with me. I'll try to do the typical email check, but that gets harder and harder each conference, as I get busier and busier.

Let me know if you'd like to do lunch, or something, though! If you don't already have my cell, email me at work (the gmail account linked here will probably languish while I'm gone).

Have fun, kiddos!

Truth-O-Meter

PolitiFact.com has a remarkable tool for finding the story behind candidate's comments, particularly attacks on their rivals, called the Truth-O-Meter. A lovely bonus is that they even fact-check candidates' videos!

I have to give props to my student assistant (aka CRS Report Ninja Assistant), Claire, for finding this on the always-informative FreeGovInfo. She's putting together a presidential elections-themed display for our floor, and we're trying to showcase documents, informational websites, and common questions about elections (a FAQ that will include an "ask us more!" spot with our department's reference contact information).

I can't wait to see what she comes up with, based on her awesome sketch and the bang-up job she did on a CRS-report-themed display and a World War posters display.

CFP: Reclaiming the Comic Book Canon

This panel sounds awesome... I'm considering sending in a proposal to this. Thought I'd send it out for other possibly-interested parties, as well.

CFP: Reclaiming the Comic Book Canon (NEMLA, due 9/15)
Location: Massachusetts, United States

American Sessions at
40th Anniversary Convention, Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA)
Feb. 26-March 1, 2009
Hyatt Regency - Boston, Massachusetts

No longer exclusively the realm of fanatic collectors, outcast misfits, or sneering speculators, the comic book is now entering art galleries, multiplexes, and book clubs. But when they become the lucrative, marketed, popularized property of all, what gets lost? Moreover, what of the authority? This panel looks to compare the late 20th century rise of the graphic novel and comic book series, particularly the new discourses being employed by the widening audience/market for the form in the present context. How have standards changed? What machinery has been put in place concerning the analysis of the comic book, and how does that now reflect back on its creation?

Submit a 500-word proposal and brief vita to panel chair A. David Lewis by 9/15/08.

Include:
Name and Affiliation
Email address
Postal address
Telephone number
A/V requirements (if any; $10 handling fee)

A. David Lewis
Boston University
Department of Religion
145 Bay State Road
Boston, MA 02215
Email: adl@bu.edu
Visit the website at http://www.nemla.org

Prepping for ALA...

I've had some correspondence regarding this blog lately, and I fully intend to respond before Thursday, but at the moment am trying to keep afloat and put out fires.... something that sounds metaphorically impossible, but I assure you, it's not.

I've been working on my ALA schedule for the past couple of hours, always a complex and confounding process--and, as usual, the most interesting sessions seem to be scheduled for the same times. Ah, well--compromise is a skill, I suppose.

Also a, shout-out to my fellow blogger and GODORT-er, Rebecca Blakely of McNeese Library, who is moderating a session on gender and race messages in Disney films, which I would dearly love to attend... were I not in a GODORT Publications Committee meeting at that time. (See my dilemmas?)

I will be arriving in Anaheim a day early, Thursday morning. I plan to take a mini-vacation to see friends, get to the Santa Monica pier, and soak up some of my native state's atmosphere. If you'll be in the area and have some free time Thursday/Friday for some adventure-seeking, let me know and maybe we can hang out for awhile.

Anyone else dreading the mail lines at the Exhibits Hall? With the added checked-baggage airline fees, I'll bet many more of us will be in that line this time around. I guess if nothing else, the line will be a good place to start all that ARC reading...

Wordle

(aka: Tag Cloud goodness.)

Michael Stephens was blogging about Wordle, and being that my email inbox was empty (for about 1.2 seconds), I thought I'd give it a try. My Flickr librarian pals tried random words or their resume, but I just went the boring, easy route of using my del.icio.us account.

And I have to say, it's a pretty accurate depiction of the topics that most occupy my thoughts.

Except maybe that "shoes" don't appear on here as often as you'd expect...

Shamelessly Promoting New Library Merchanise

Get your own Cyber Cafe pen with the Albino Squirrel logo, now at the UNT Willis Library!

And can I just say, I am totally excited that they have a comfy rubbery grip in a lovely shade of UNT mean green? Okay then, consider it said.

My Boss, Depository Library Council Member

Now that it's official and the press release is out, let me finally burst out with the news I've been waiting to say: my boss, the incomparable Suzanne Sears, is on DLC this year! Yay!!

Of course, this means I'll be a bit busier for the next three years as well, helping to take on more departmental responsibilities when she's away. But it's exciting and huge news and I'll be interested to be so close to a council member.

(And yes, this would fall under the "docs nerd" category of posts to this blog.)