Director Gubbin's Take On ALA

Director Barbara Gubbin shared some of her experiences at ALA, June 24-28, "There were a lot of staff members at ALA and in addition to those who registered for the full conference, staff, including Jamie Self (Foundation) and Chris Boivin (CR&M), had exhibit passes over the weekend.  Roxanne Henkel, the President of the Willowbranch Friends was also there!  I did not hear Lynn Jacobson's presentation but Richard Mott's was very well received.  I have asked him to make it to the Board.-- it reported on our recent 'lapsed user survey.' What made the occasion extra special was that Richard’s father and brother came from Jacksonville to be in the audience.  I don’t remember Richard’s exact words but they were along the lines of his father being a preacher, and so he, Richard, had listened to his dad speak thousands of times, so now the tables had turned and his father was there to hear him!

"A program I attended sponsored by the ALSC (Association of Library Services to Children) was called 'Libraries: The Space to Be' and had a great mix of presenters, especially as we were in Orlando, home of Disney World.  First we heard from Marty Sklar, Walt Disney’s first Imagineer and instrumental in the design of many of the theme parks.  Mr. Sklar is now in his 80’s and had some great memories and ideas to share on designing spaces for children. Then we moved on to current design ideas for children’s spaces in libraries hearing from someone representing the Center for Childhood Creativity in the Bay Area, the Richland Library in South Carolina and the architect of a new branch library in Chicago’s China Town."