I got most of the day on Wednesday to explore and it was a lot of fun.
I also stayed in a dorm room for the first time! This was my view from the stark room.
I explored Portland and came across a few things that made me happy. This one made me the happiest. A card catalog! I think I pissed the periodical librarian off though because I was gushing over it.
But then the conference started and I attended a beer fest with fellow librarians. I met a lot of cool, fun, adventurous people. Librarians are cool. Like bow ties only they have much better conversations.
I spent every session completely immersed in my note taking. I kept getting ideas and ideas and ideas.
I was so excited! I had a list of things I wanted to implement at the library. Then - I sat down and thought about everything that I wanted to do. These are really involved processes with lots of work and collaboration involved. We're talking months of hard work for each thing.
Except the roving librarian queen sash/denim jack idea. To wear when roving the library so people know I can be questioned at any time. Like this one I found on Pintrest (aka the most well used website by librarians?)
Except I would wear a shirt underneath because I'm not THAT kind of librarian. And it would say, "Ask me stuff!" or "What do you want to know?"
That project won't take months but the others will. Lesson plans, videos, user surveys, student created exhibits. All of it was just buzzing around my head. Can I do it? That was the big question and one that still stands out. I really want to. But it's hard to keep motivated. I have so much on my plate (small projects) at the library and it's already hard to keep up with them now.
I guess I need to really look hard at my days -- am I wasting it on reddit or am I trying to make the library a better place for our students to be and to access resources?
Perhaps I should make that vest first and then wear it when I feel down and overrun I can just put it on at my desk and feel super badass.
