Another Conference goes down in history

I returned home last night at 6 pm after 11 hours of driving, somewhat tired but at the same time rather exhilierated with all the new information I have picked up to -hopefully- improve my job performance, ah hem, I mean to improve the services and effectiveness of our library at CBCTS. (that was a long sentence, sorry!) There was a time change that I didn't remember about, when driving up. So I got up at 5:00 yesturday morning, my time. I was surprised I could, given the late nights all week and knowing how I'm not a morning person. But I suppose that when you don't have anyone else to help you and getting going is all up to you, it must motivate to some extent.

I listened to "The Purpose Driven Life" on tape coming and going. So that was some further edification and encouragement. (It also help pass the time.) I do recommend you read it. I know it has been very popular. Sometimes when something is extremely popular like that one has been, I have too much expectations out of it. So I decided not to expect anything out of it. Guess that's a better approach, cause then when you do get something that helps, it's a bonus not to mention a blessing.

My trip over took 10.5 hours on Monday from KC. That doesn't include the 1.5 hours the night before from my home to kc. So if you put that altogether it would be 12 hours. But on the way to the conference, I stopped at an airport and picked up SP, former president, and JJ (pronounced JY). :-) So that was a slight delay but it was right on my way, and gave us a chance to get acquainted as well. It made the latter part of the trip more enjoyable. And besides, SP got to be my navigator the last part of the trip that was a little more complicated. I had driven the same interstate from KC to their airport - so that was easy! From there, there were some turns and different routes to watch for. We had a good visit.

It was wonderful to see old friends, make new friends and put faces with names you see all year on the listserv. I got to see CG's new engagement ring!! (woo-hoo!) But more importantly (?) I got to attend several workshops of interest. I learned a new game (Apples to Apples), and had Ice Cream at the Ice Cream social, but didn't get to go to Ivanhoe's for IC, (an ACL tradition).

The campus of IWU is GORGEOUS! It's a nice large campus, all rather new to still-in-the-making new buildings; it has fountains and sculptures. The inside hallway of the student center makes you think you're in the mall!

Already I can't wait for next year. It will be at CU in GR. I'll probably drive, since I drove up there last year, but it does take a day and a half - or a very long day. I made a friend with someone who does genealogy and from the same city I work in and found out that she was going to FW Friday. I could kick myself for not remembering I would be so close. I have "always" wanted to go there. So guess what! I'll do it next year! We may even go together. Boy that will be fun!

Well, later I may list some things I learned about along with some links. But all my information is at work and not at home. So I can't do it now. The workshops I attended were on:

Collection Development, (how to use approval plans),

Information Literacy (2),

Archetecture (interesting but not so helpful for me),

Helping church libraries.

I did talk to a couple of vendors about approval plans. One vendor sets up a profile and sends you books (if I remember right), another sets up a list on the web that you choose from, according to a profile. That one seems most feasible. Then they don't have the cost of sending books to you and you sending them back if you don't want them.

Net Library is also something new for me. But I think we are going to sign up for one. The cost would come out to about an average of $2 a book for over 250 books. The savings would be huge! I just need to look over the list when I get back to work to see if they are really something we could use. This will be something different for us. But as small as we are, if we can swing the price it would be saving money in the long run.

Well, time to get back to my catching up at home. My dogs were sure glad to see me, maybe more than the people! :-) We had some play time last night and snuggle time; today we all went on a walk! They're happy now. And, so am I!