Marian The Librarian Speaks

[Betsy Hull]

The Grand Dame of Michigan libraries, Marian the Librarian, contacted me recently about the Fyan Library Conference and had these comments about the event.

“I’ve been attending this conference for the last twenty years and because I’m a Leap Year baby I’ve only aged 5 years in the last twenty, but I digress. In looking over the conference offerings I am pleased to see that Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen is our first speaker. His paintings are great and he’s not too bad either.

MichiganVine.com creators Lorri Hathaway and Sharon Kegerreis are a pair. I’d like them to do a wine-tasting party at the Lake Neverwuz Library. I’ll plan it someday when the police chief is out of town.

The Michigan Evergreen project looks good. Our library is not far from Frankenmuth where it’s Christmas everyday so I think I’ll check out this program. May get some ideas for decorating at the holidays and maybe not.

Joe Heywood and I go back a long way. He spoke at the Alpena County Library back in the days of the Thunder Bay Literary Conference. I wonder if he remembers me… I’m usually unforgettable or is that Nate King Cole??

Distance Learning is also one of the topics. I used to listen at the window of the school in Lake Neverwuz after being expelled. Is that distance learning? Go to this session and find out.

What Genealogists Want is the title of one of the sessions. My experience is they want my total attention, which being someone with ADD is a difficult bill to fill.

Ask the Attorney: I’ve got a lot of questions here. Does a board member have to be alive to serve on the library board? Can staff sell the list of library cardholders to the Friends as a money maker? Is it safer to have lead in the children’s books or mercury in the fish tank? Is it better to have a cat named Dewey in the library than a dog named LIBofCong?

I noticed that we have a session on Green Libraries. At Lake Neverwuz we have taken this to heart. The building has been painted green, a lovely shade of lime and it really stands out in the ten-foot snow banks. Inside we have done much. Recycled carpeting from the local Burger King was installed in the reference area, our pages all wear sneakers with tire retread soles, and we have gone to the local putt-putt golf place and recycled those little half pencils. I don’t believe the manager is aware of our recycling program.

The Plinkit session at first confused me. I thought it was a game on the Price is Right but Betsy told me it was a session on a new software to help libraries maintain a professional Web presence. I’m going to this one! Lord knows I need a “professional” presence.

Marketing Your Library. A great topic for me. For years I thought marketing your library meant setting up a booth at the farmer’s market and trying to get rid of those lead-filled children’s books. To my surprise it meant selling the library and its services to the public. I can’t wait to hear what Deb Biggs Thomas and Jean Raber have to say. I will have my note pad handy.

The conference is always a fun time in addition to everything I learn there. On Thursday there is a prize giveaway. On Friday a trick-out-your-book truck contest. And then of course there is the Awards dinner, which is on Thursday evening. Get those nominations in as quickly as possible. Who knows someone may want to nominate me for an award. What for you say? Well, how about the most dedicated librarian in the state? The librarian with the library that has the longest name? Lake Neverwuz Village, City, Township, County, District Public Library. Or just because I’m cute!!!!

On Friday don’t miss Teaching Computers to Beginners. Holly Hibner and Mary Kelly will teach you how to prevent your patrons from using Wite-Out on the screen, how to make a mouse behave and where the power button is located. See you at the conference, I’ll be wearing a yellow ribbon round my waist and high-heeled sneakers.”