April Bliss, CLRC Professional Development Award Recipient, Talks about the New York Library Association Annual Conference

Thursday, November 7th

The Keynote with Amanda Jones was eye opening. Amanda was the winner of the 2021 School Librarian of the Year, from School Library Journal. Her struggle after speaking out at her local public library board meeting changed her life.

I purchased her book and have ordered an audiobook for our Libby collection.

ESLN Luncheon: Building Power and Community During Crisis Times: The Work of Library Freedom Project: Speaker Alison Macrina

Program highlight: Filing Your Cup: Self-Care Practices in Librarianship with Sam Helmick. Sam was great! Just what we needed post election.

Also attended: NYLA Breakfast, Transforming Libraries for Users Changing Needs, and Empowered Libraries Tackle Climate Change Together!

Friday, November 8th

YSS Empire State Luncheon: Speaker Chris Raschka

Chris shared a casual talk introducing himself as a child through his adult years. He was influenced by attending a Waldorf School and Maria Montessori. Two of my favorite educational philosophers. Both had a focus on constructivist learning.

Program highlights: Turning the Page: ADHD and Employee Policies with Courtney Tsahalis. This was a nice reminder. I have tucked away some ways to better work with staff. Lead as one would teach. Just because we are adults does not mean we don’t have different learning styles.

Malcolm Hill Lecture – Navigating America’s Polarized Political Climate with Dr. Luke Perry, Utica University Professor. I have been quoting Dr. Perry since I attended his talk. I admire his desire to meet his students where they are. Looking down on someone because they are misinformed or were raised with different beliefs is easy to do. He shared the various reasons Americans are not hearing the democratic message. The decline of local news and the enormous impact of Fox News.

Also attended: Trustee Handbook for Directors was a welcome twist for library directors, Cultivating Future Leaders: Succession Plan Secrets and spent time talking to the library’s architect in the trade show in the morning.

Saturday, November 9th

Intellectual Freedom Breakfast: School and Library Censorship: Taking Stock of the Last Four Years: Speaker: Dr. Jonathan Friedman

Passive Programs to Actively Engage Patrons. I walked away with many new ideas and takeaways. I also realized I could count the plants and starters from the Propagation Station I started at our library.

Also attended: Marketing So Patrons Feel Like Heroes.

Central Library Resources Council – Thank you for the professional development grant! I enjoyed my annual library eutopia, great discussions and learning with colleagues!