I had somewhat of a hiatus from blogging. Mostly because I needed to focus on the IRL things that were pressing me for more of my attention.

ALA Annual 2013 in Chicago, IL

One was working and preparing for the big annual librarians’ meet up. This year, American Library Association (ALA) Annual was in Chicago, IL, a city that is new to me.

The biggest surprise during this ALA Annual (the 4th I’ve been to, ever) is my receiving the honor of winning the ACRL/LLAMA leadership moment essay contest. I totally didn’t expect it. (ACRL = Association of College & Research Libraries; LLAMA = Library Leadership & Management Association) But I am extremely grateful and full of warm fuzzies because of the nod. Thank you, ACRL and LLAMA!

Another is getting things wrapped up for some professional group responsibilities I had, then preparing for new ones that I will be assuming in the very near future. I will most definitely write about these as I go merrily along. Aren’t you excited? Of course, you are!

USETDA 2013 Conference, Claremont, CA

Just as I’ve gotten myself readjusted after my trip to Chicago, I will be heading to another conference really, really soon. USETDA 2013 is coming to SoCal! To Claremont, California at the Claremont Colleges to be exact. USETDA = United States Electronic Theses & Dissertations Association.   I am particularly proud of this conference because I, with an intrepid group of higher education and library professionals, worked very, very hard to make it happen. I had worked as a track director, who funneled and reviewed presentation proposals, and as an organizer for the networking breakfast event we have planned for one of the conference days. My attendance at USETDA 2013 is as an organizer/worker. I will be making introductions at particular presentations, providing facilitation and moderation, and doing all-around, general go’fer-ing. To think, this thing started as a proposal, written and led by Allegra Swift at Claremont Colleges and Marisa Ramirez at Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, way back in the late summer of 2011. So many fabulous professionals have done wonderful work to bring USETDA 2013 into being: Carmen Mitchell, Laura Hammons, Brena Smith, Israel Yáñez, John Hagen, Stacy Wallace, Christopher Jones, Frances Chu, and many more. It has finally come. I feel very fortunate to have been a part of the conference program planning!

Meanwhile, life, work, and love go on. My oldest child is currently studying the craft of writing and the beauty and artistry in classical Greek literature at Stanford University. She will be back home to Redlands in mid-August. My youngest is having an idyllic summer spending time with relatives and friends. I’ve had little adventures, here and there, with Peter, the dogs, and the girls. The laundry keeps piling up and shows no signs of stopping. Food, shelter, and health care continue to be top needs that require time and attention. Little, and not so little, joys and heartaches. And all the while striving and struggling against the expected and the unexpected.