slow down and enjoy the fruit June 16, 2008
Posted by Jenica Rogers in Musings, SUNYLA08, conferences, work life.add a comment
So much of my energy and time were wrapped up in preparing to host SUNYLA on our campus that I don’t quite know what to do with myself this morning. Today’s one of my Work At Home days, and so I’ve been sitting here, managing my calendar, doing a bit of online catch-up, and checking my email while eating a lovely ripe nectarine with my daily Grape Nuts. I’m sitting next to an open window that has a cat sitting in it. I have a pile of folders to my right, and a to-do list to my left, and I have all the time in the day to tackle both.
The leisure of it feels wrong after the frenetic pace of the last few weeks. But I think that, somehow, some way, I’ll adjust.
Joe Janes via Internet2 June 12, 2008
Posted by Jenica Rogers in Libraries, SUNYLA08, Technology, conferences.add a comment
When Marianne and I saw Joe Janes give his keynote at Internet Librarian, we looked at each other and said, “Do you think we could get him to come talk to SUNY?” We both felt like his message and his approach would be well-received and important for our colleagues to hear. So we asked. And he, it turned out, could not come — graduation is this weekend, and he needs to be there. But what he was willing to do, thanks to Marianne’s brilliant idea, was a presentation via Internet2. This is exactly why we have Internet2, and, as it turned out, it was awesome. He even took questions, with a camera so he could see who was talking to him.
For a change, I just sat and listened, not blogging, just observing. It was a nice change of pace, and Joe’s talk and message were on point and interesting. Joe talked eloquently and with a hefty dose of humor about the future of the information environment, the role of libraries in that environment, and what we should, can, and must do as we move forward. It was great. Thanks, Joe, both for talking to us and for rolling with our unusual circumstances. Technology for the win!
Barbecue! June 12, 2008
Posted by Jenica Rogers in Libraries, SUNYLA08, conferences.add a comment
Last night’s opening barbecue was fantastic — the North Country weather put on a gorgeous show, the North Country bugs did not, PACES gave us a classic barbecue dinner, and Piquant played lovely music for us. Hooray for a nice night, followed by an even better gaming night, which my camera was unable to capture due to a dead battery. Wii Sports, DDR, pool, air hockey, Jenga… it was a blast. Plus, there was ice cream. MMMMMM, beer and ice cream….
Begin the SUNYLA! June 11, 2008
Posted by Jenica Rogers in Libraries, SUNYLA08, conferences.add a comment
Oh, yeah. It’s here.
Conferences, if you’re involved in planning, are always painful and fantastic. SUNYLA 2008 has begun.
Today’s painful: Organizational growing pains at the registration desk, and the E-board meeting, which is always sort of long and rambly, despite our best efforts. (I’m sitting in it right now. I admit it. I’m only listening with half an ear.)
Today’s fantastic: hiking Stone Valley with some other librarians after a huge thunderstorm blew through yesterday. We had to take a different path than I had planned, due to some dramatically downed power lines, but the other side of the river, though downed as well, was more accessible, and because it has the dam access on it, had been cleared by the power company. It was gorgeous, moving very fast, and definitely an adventure as we climbed over some fallen trees, looped around others, and watched the water just cruise on past us on a gorgeous summer day. And we even talked a bit about librarianship. It was totally professional networking. TOTALLY. Thanks to Gerry, Barbara, and Joanne for going along for the adventure!
Jenica Rogers
