| I had the opportunity to attend the IMLS sponsored 250 Convening: Telling America’s Story June 21-23. The first day, they took us to visit the historic Taft Museum of Art and the Cincinnati Museum Center. We saw works of art that were hundreds of years old and held maps created in the 1700s. On Days 2 and 3, we had the option to have our library story recorded. I was recorded on day 2. We also heard from speakers about how important it is for libraries to not only record local stories, but also tell the local story.
Because this conference was targeting small and rural libraries, the most impactful part was meeting librarians from other parts of the Midwest who are facing the same struggles and challenges I am facing–tiny budgets, high needs in the community, and solo or soloish librarianship. I met six other librarians from Minnesota who I have never met before and who I plan to keep in touch with, as well as librarians from PA, IA, IN, OH, and WI. It was so nice to spend time with other people who are as passionate about their libraries as I am about mine and who get it. |
