Today I Am . . . meeting with librarians

After six years on the board of the Eastern (Nebraska) Library System, it's time for me to move on and make room for someone new. It's been a terrific experience.

There's a tendency to bond with librarians who are working in libraries that are similar to the one you're in, and that's basically a good thing. I've made some wonderful friends in the military librarianship field who have mentored me and whom I've mentored - or we've just worked together or hung out together. It's very comforting to know that they really understand what I go through.

Being on the ELS board, though, has not always been comforting - and that's also a good thing.

The Eastern Library System is one of six systems in Nebraska that were "established to provide access to improved library services through the cooperation of all types of libraries and media centers . . ." This means that I've been hanging out for six years with librarians from public schools, colleges and universities, medical libraries, city libraries (big and small), specialty libraries, as well as with tech people, library trustees, specialists, generalists, and library patrons. Truly a broad cross-section of people concerned with and for libraries.

I've been so impressed by what these people are doing. They're innovative in programming, acquiring funding (selling old books on eBay!), designing new libraries (with a drive-up window) and more. There is such an atmosphere of giving - everyone is willing to share their expertise and "lessons learned." They, the Eastern Library System and the Nebraska Library Commission have made it possible for me to provide quality training to my staff at very little cost - which has paid off in quality services for Offutt Library patrons.

These people have all challenged me to think outside of military librarianship, to be part of the local community, to share what I've learned and what I know with Nebraska libraries. It's not always comforting to be with them because they don't always know what I've been going through - yet they always have thoughts to offer that spark ideas.

Hmm. Maybe that is comforting.

Currently Reading: "Peanuts: The Art of Charles Schulz" by Charles Schulz

Currently Listening to: "Romeo & Juliet" by Prokofiev