At the ALA conference, Lent hosted a conversation starter titled Facilitating Communication, Collaboration, and Continuing Education for Library Directors. Sounds pretty fancy doesn’t it? What really happened was Lent spoke at the microphone for a minute and a half, and then had all the attendees get in a circle, go around and introduce themselves, and share topics that they’d hope to cover. He has been offering this Directors Roundtable at conferences in New England, and it was a big hit at this national offering also. His real success has been the creation of a library directors Listserv, which now has close to 400 library directors coast to coast reading and replying to one another every day.

I recently had the opportunity of filling in for him, by hosting a Directors Roundtable on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. I met with a great group of directors who work on this island (population 15,000 but that number grows to well over 100,000 during the summer vacation months). We got together to enjoy the best homemade scones I’d ever had, but really to share stories, frustrations, and ideas for success on the Island.

Lent was looking for a service that didn’t exist, so he created one. To quote him “I didn’t start this service because I think I’m a great library director, I did it because I think I’m not” and I think that’s an idea that we can all identify with sometimes. We are a community, no matter where we work and what the task at hand is. The support from the community of library directors is one that I value greatly and am thankful to have.

If this sounds like something you might be interested in, visit Librarydirectors.org today.

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A highlight of the reception was hearing from the recipients of the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries. Presented annually, the two grants are the Growth Grant and the Innovation Grant. The recipient of the 2017 Growth Grant was the Institutional Library Development team at the Colorado State Library, with Erin Boyington, Adult Institutions Senior Consultant, accepting the grant. The library partnered with the Colorado Department of Corrections to provide services to The Sterling Correctional Facility in Sterling, CO. In her thank you speech, Boyington said, “I really believe that prison libraries give their patrons a chance to learn and grow as people. And the resources that this grant provides for the Sterling Libraries is going to open new gateways for those offenders who take part as students in the LEAD program.” ¹ The LEAD (Literacy Education in Adult Detention) program is offered by Pop Culture Classroom. “The LEAD With Comics program at SCF [Sterling Correctional Facility] will use the Eisner Growth Grant funds to allow a new teacher to travel to Sterling, Colorado, and to enrich LEAD curriculum and the libraries’ collections with new graphic novels.”²

The 2017 Innovation Grant was awarded to the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Jessica Mlotkowski, Librarian, Public Services and Cataloging, submitted the grant with assistance from students and faculty. She began by thanking Dakota Yazzie who is an Indigenous Liberal Studies major at IAIA and a former library student worker. “He inspired me to go to my computer one day and google ‘libraries graphic novel grant’”, Mlotkowski said during her acceptance speech at the reception.³ The grant will be used in a few ways – for both programming and library materials. Mlotkowski wrote in an email how they plan on using the grant, and some funds will be given:

…directly to our students, allowing them an opportunity they might not be able to pursue without those funds and without a structured graphic novel program. For the program itself, the library will be holding a graphic novel contest in which students participate to create a short graphic novel (less than 10 pages in length). The library will also hold several graphic novel get-togethers and workshops throughout the process, in which students will learn techniques and approaches to graphic novel creation. I am inviting faculty at IAIA who work with graphic novels in the classroom to help offer art and narrative tips and tricks through these workshops. Students will also have a place to share what they are working on and receive feedback and inspiration from one another. Those participating will have a little more than a semester to work on their graphic novels. Then we will hold an awards ceremony to recognize and celebrate the students’ creative efforts. The three best submissions will receive booths at Indigenous Comic Con, which will offer them the opportunity to get their name, artwork, and their graphic novel out into the industry, making important connections. The other participants will receive gift cards for art supplies that they can use in their IAIA coursework.⁴

The keynote speaker for the evening was Lynda Barry, cartoonist, author, and professor. Barry took to the stage and sang an adapted Tanya Tucker song for the audience, “When I die, I may not go to heaven, because I don’t know if they let cartoonists in. If they don’t, then bury me in the library. Because the library is as close to heaven as I’ve been”.⁵ The crowd cheered at this rendition and was followed by her group activity of shouting out the names of the people and libraries that have meant the most. Her speech touched on her career and influences and connected graphic novels/comics to libraries:

And one of the things that including graphic work, comics, at the library does, is not only are you letting people read it, you’re showing them that there’s this other language. This other language that actually can change your life. And I feel like the whole reason I’m standing here right now is because I drew a picture, right? And the whole reason you are all here, your whole bodies, is because of something to do with books. ⁵

Any library is open to submit proposals for the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries opportunities. To learn more about the grants visit: http://www.ala.org/gamert/will-eisner-graphic-novel-grants-libraries

References

¹ Erin Boyington, Acceptance Speech (ALA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, June 24, 2017).

² American Library Association. (n.d.). Eisner Graphic Novel Grant for Libraries – Growth Grant. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/eisner-graphic-novel-grant-libraries-growth-grant

³ Jessica Mlotkowski, Acceptance Speech (ALA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, June 24, 2017).

⁴J. Mlotkowski, personal communication, June 30, 2017.

⁵ Lynda Barry, Key Note Speech (ALA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, June 24, 2017).

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A Chicago area native, she said that when she received her first library card she felt like she was “handed a passport to the world” and stated that she was happy to be at a gathering where people love books and love to learn. “We need libraries because they are places for communities to come together,” Clinton said.

She stressed the importance of early literacy, sharing the statistic that by age 4, low income children hear 30 million fewer words than wealthier ones. She said in order “to raise brave, curious, and empathetic citizens,” readers must be raised. She also acknowledged the multiple hats librarians wear — often acting as counselors, social workers, and even lifesavers. She referred to the librarian in Philadelphia who has saved several people from overdosing. “I thank you for believing in the work you do. You are standing up for tens of millions who need your voice.”  She further remarked that librarians are guardians of the First Amendment and of the freedom to read and speak, calling the idea of eliminating federal funding for libraries “short-sighted and deeply disturbing.”

In closing, Clinton discussed her current book project, which she said will be more personal than her previous work — it will address the experience of running for president as a woman and also how to rebound from a loss. She also noted that  It Takes A Village will be released as a full color picture book.

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At the event, Parker announced the title of the first book for Book Club Central — No One is Coming to Save Us by Stephanie Powell Watts. According to Harper Collins’ website the novel “… is an arresting and powerful novel about an extended African American family and their colliding visions of the American Dream.”

Before announcing the first pick for the club, Parker expressed her gratitude for librarians and the importance of libraries. “You are all my longtime heroes, so this is a very meaningful moment for me,” Parker said to the librarians in the crowd. As a child, Parker said her mother had a rule that no one could leave the house without something to read. Parker hopes Book Club Central will serve as a conversation starter and a conduit for a civil exchange of ideas.

Stephanie Powell Watts, Donna Seaman, and Sarah Jessica Parker discussing the novel at 2017 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.

After announcing the title of the book Booklist’s Donna Seaman sat down with the Watts and Parker for a discussion of the novel. The author signed copies of her novel outside the ballroom after the program. Visit the Book Club Central website for more information.

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Some of the qualifications for choosing Parker as the honorary chair include her:

• lifelong love of books
• advocation for libraries and literacy issues in the past
• service on the Presidential Task Force to integrate literature and drama into schools
• recent partnership with Molly Stern (senior vice president and publisher at Crown, Hogarth, Broadway, Crown Archetype, and Three Rivers Press) to launch SJP for Hogarth

The ALA press release further states, “SJP for Hogarth will “selectively publish high-quality works of fiction by both established writers and distinctive emerging voice with critical and commercial promise. In this new role, Parker will be involved in all aspects of the publication process, from their selection and acquisition to cover design and promotion with her vision providing the editorial foundation for each publication.”

For more information, please visit 2017.alaannual.org.

References

1. http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2017/02/ala-launch-book-club-central-sarah-jessica-parker  — Accessed 3/27/17.
2. Ibid.

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