ALA Chicago 2009 - Day 1 Wed July 8th

One of my professional commitments is to the Spectrum Scholar Interest Group.

"The Spectrum Scholar Interest Group coordinates many of the activities that keep Spectrum Scholars involved in the American Library Association and the profession.

The Spectrum Scholar Interest Group (SSIG) reports to the Spectrum Advisory Committee (SAC), a subcommittee of the Committee on Diversity (COD).

The group is comprised of at least one representative from each class of Spectrum Scholars elected for a two-year term". -- All the above is stated on the SSIG wiki. How ALA loves acronyms.

What the above all means - is that when you get an ALA Spectrum Scholarship (an ALA ethnic librarian scholarship) to pay for library school, down the road, they will ask you to come help and contribute.

Today was the opening day of the Spectrum Institute - it is a 3 day leadership institute where they receive mentoring and guidance from big names in ALA to get
encouraged to participate in associations and know the need for minority librarians in the field.

I love meeting the knew scholars, they are enthusiastic and are usually in library school and can not believe their luck at being sent to the conference. We had a meet and greet ice breaker with them where they were handed a Bingo card with about 50 squares. One had to go around the room and ask other if they had done any of the items on the card - then they would initial it...the goal was to make conversation and find 50 people who had done unusual things like: met a president; parachuted; liked sushi... i became known as the girl who could fill in the square of touching her tongue to the tip of her nose - a hard square to get signed off.

It was amazing to me that there were 100 scholarship recipients this year. Back in my institute year there were 40 people (2003). Things are looking up for diversity.

At the opening Ceremony there was an impressive lineup:

*Donna Dziedzic: President, Illinois Library Association.
*Jim Rettig: 2008-2009 ALA/APA President and University Librarian.
*Camila Alire: 2009-2010 ALA/APA President
*Keith Michael Fiels: Executive Director, American Library Association
*Miguel A. Figueroa: Director Office for Diversity and Spectrum, ALA

Donna gave some advice to the new soon-to-be librarians about realizing that any place you go - even in you are a nun in a convent, there is going to be politics. To watch carefully for it and be careful.

Camila, Jim and Keith told the scholars not to be shy about introducing themselves to others even on the Gale shuttle buses - that opportunities happen in the oddest ways from meeting just one person.

Camila gave great advice is saying - take opportunities to be involved - however, everything you do will build a positive or negative reputation for you. So when you sign up for a position, make sure that you do what you say you will do. She also said to enjoy yourself, there can be a lot of joy in this profession. Work hard and Play hard.

I left so inspired and felt they all helped me more that I helped them...it was good to see my Spectrum Alum colleagues and catch up with them as we do once a year.

Tomorrow I am up and off to an eight hour pre-conference workshop - bliss to me... They will discuss the cataloging of the new Audio visual materials and changes in cataloging...I'm sure you'll want every eight hour detail.

It's great to be here, i feel very fortunate in that - and will try to impart any other things that I may find helpful.

Ida