Rebecca King, Spectrum Scholar and GSLIS master's student, sent us this dispatch from her trip to the 2012 ALA Conference in Anaheim, California.
Outgoing ALA President Molly Raphael was more than happy to announce at Opening Session that the Spectrum Presidential Initiative successfully raised more than $1 million to further enhance the recruitment and training efforts of underrepresented ethnic LIS graduate students.
(Pictured left to right) Matthew Rantanen, Dir. of Technology, Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association, Tribal Digital Village, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Native Public Media; Native Nations Broadband Taskforce Member at the Federal Communications Commission; and Vice President of Technology at the Southern California Tribal Technologies, LLC; myself; Richard Chabran, Adjunct Prof. School of Information Resources & Library Science, University of Arizona, Policy Advisor, California Broadband Policy Network, Member of ALA Digital Content and Libraries Working Group.
Both gentlemen spoke to the Spectrum Scholars about their endeavors to bring broadband to underserved communities. Their passion and level of commitment to this cause was truly unparallel, as well as their eagerness to share with us their success stories and challenges.
As a Youth & Teen Librarian, meeting Mo Willems was one of the many high points of my ALA conference experience. Bestselling and award-winning children's author, his picture books are seldom on the library shelf (they are always checked out!). I asked him to please keep writing books for kids, and he graciously agreed to do so.
There is a phenomenon known as "free books" at the ALA conference. Exhibitors and publishers give away advance reader copies, as well as posters, pens, notepads, candy...This collection of books will be shared with patrons at Lansing Public Library, in Lansing, Illinois.
The ALA Conference attracts all kinds! The Berenstain Bears were so excited to pose with Spectrum Scholars Margita Lidaka, Linda Nguyen, myself and Judith Guzman-Montes.
First time author William Kamkwamba spoke of his journey to build a windmill in his native Malawi, Africa, in order to produce electricity to provide running water to his drought ravaged homeland. He spoke with audience members of his love for his hometown library, which provided him with old science textbooks. William patiently autographed hundreds of his new picture book "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" for eager librarians.
The Spectrum Institute keeps the scholars busy throughout the day with various speakers and presentations and most meals are shared together at the Institute. However, there is plenty of time allotted for the scholars to relax, mingle and get to know each other. Ebony Magnus, myself, Barbara Alvarez, Ashley Payan, Nicole Husbands and Sharell Walker visited a local restaurant to continue networking!
(Left to right) Barbara Alvarez, Marika Jeffery, myself, Dr. Turock, Robina Button, Daniel Lee. University of Illinois GSLIS students and Spectrum Scholars share a lunch with past president and recent ALA Honorary Lifetime Member Dr. Betty Turock. Dr. Turock was the initial driving force behind the Spectrum Program and has contributed a great deal to the ALA over the years.
Outgoing ALA President Molly Raphael was generous with both her time and comments at the Association Options Fair. Spectrum Scholars, roommates and now friends Mayu Ishida, University of British Columbia, and I enjoyed a few private minutes of conversation with Molly and visited with representatives from many of the ALA groups.
JR Martinez was an inspirational speaker at the closing ceremony at the ALA conference. He shared his very personal experience of his devastating military accident that changed his life forever, leading to his new career as a motivational speaker and performer on All My Children and Dancing with the Stars. He autographed photos which promoted his upcoming book Full of Heart.
(Left to right) ALSC President Carolyn Brody, myself, ALSC Vice President Star LaTronica. Every luncheon and presentation was an opportunity to meet a library professional, all associated with ALA, and many holding officer titles. Incoming officers President Carolyn Brody and Vice President Star LaTronica shared a great deal of information about the Association for Library Service to Children with Rebecca King, a Youth & Teen Services Librarian.
More widely known for his singing and dancing on Glee, Chris Colfer debuted his first children's book The Land of Stories, The Wishing Well, to an attentive audience of ALA conference attendees. It is a story he has been writing since the age of 10 and compares holding the hard cover edition to holding a first born child, "but with less fluid." A soft cover edition of his book, not yet in stores, was waiting on every seat in the auditorium.
The last day of the Institute was bittersweet as many of the Scholars gathered for a group photo before lunch. Airport shuttles would be arriving soon and everyone would be flying to all corners of the country.
There are few locations that can accommodate the large membership of ALA, Chicago is definitely one of them. Save the date: June 27-July 2, 2013.