CT Library Association Newsletter

John J. Audubon’s extraordinary elephant folio, Birds of America, isprominently displayed in the Ostrom and Alice Talcott Enders Audubonmeeting room of the Watkinson Library. A printer’s copy from theGurdon Russell Natural History Collection, it is simply amazing, one ofmany rare and wonderful books held in the collections of the WatkinsonLibrary, at Trinity College in Hartford.

Founded in 1858 as a “library of reference,” Watkinson is today an out-standing specialized research facility. Jeffrey H. Kaimowitz, curator of theEnders Ornithology Collection since 1994, and head librarian since 2001,maintains a long tradition of scholarship and service.

“I am not a bird watcher,” he says, “The curatorship of the OrnithologyCollection became mine by default.” But his eyes sparkle as he says this,and his enthusiasm for his job is unmistakable, even if he does not sportbinoculars!

His knowledgeable colleagues, Peter J. Knapp and Sally Dickinson,are also special collections librarians. Mr. Knapp serves as the collegearchivist, and is responsible for general and administrative records, andfor records relating to students, faculty, staff and alumni. He has pre-pared a current exhibit that features Trinity’s Long Walk Buildings, draw-ing on images of and documents about the college’s impressive archi-tecture, and is the author of Trinity College in the Twentieth Century, AHistory (2000).

Mrs. Dickinson, who came to special collections with a backgroundin architecture, is responsible for cataloging rare and recent acquisitions.She has a special interest in conservation and oversees collections pro-cessing and conservation activities carried out by student assistants. Sheis curating an exhibition on 20th century American poetry for the springof 2009.

From its inception, the Watkinson reference collection complement-ed other Hartford area organizations. Originally, it was located adjacentto and associated with the Wadsworth Atheneum and the nearby facili-ties of the Connecticut Historical Society, and with the Hartford YoungMen’s Institute, which became the basis of the Hartford Public Library.The combined holdings of these organizations represented a rich con-centration of the city’s cultural and intellectual heritage.

Typically for its time, the original young men’s library began as a pri-vate club for the exclusive edification of its subscribers. Members only!But just as the Atheneum offered its art for public view, use of theWatkinson collection was never intended for scholars only, but was bylegal stipulation made available to the general public as a non-circulat-ing reference collection. Its funding, however, was not from publicsources. Founder David Watkinson’s vision was supported by a generousendowment of $1,000,000, by far his most significant bequest.Watkinson’s “library of reference accessible ... to all citizens and other res-idents and visitors to the state of Connecticut” has survived to this day.

Over time, the library outgrew its space, the physical plant deteriorat-ed and the initial endowment dwindled. But legal technicalities werenegotiated, and renewed viability was achieved by a new alliance: In1952 the Watkinson moved to the Trinity College campus and became adistinguished partner of the college library community. Unlike Trinity

College Library, however, the Watkinsonhas its own Board of Trustees, although ulti-mately it is answerable to the Trustees ofTrinity College. Remaining true to thevision of its founder, it serves not only aca-demic scholars, but the public as well. In1979, the Watkinson was moved to its pres-ent location in the new library addition.

Today, the Raether Library andInformation Technology Center embracesin one handsome, expanded and renovat-ed facility, the many aspects of a moderninformation resource. It is 80% wired forhigh-speed access to the Internet. Thereare meeting rooms, an atrium and court-yard, a café, lounges, multiple study areas,language and music labs, computer labs,and more. The Trinity College Library holds1,000,000 printed volumes, of which200,000 are in the Watkinson Library.

In the fall of 2007, the Watkinson facili-ties underwent major renovation--amakeover worthy of applause. The TaussigReception Area and the John M. K. DavidReading Room are welcoming and func-tional and include a display area for specialexhibits, named after the Watkinson’s firstlibrarian, James Hammond Trumbull. Co

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A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E C O N N E C T I C U T L I B R A R Y A S S O C I A T I O N

The Watkinson Library at Trinity College AND ITS BRILLIANT ORNITHOLOGY COLLECTION

JANUARY 2009

continued on page 9

by Karen Stevens

The extinct Hawaiian Ula-ai-hawane in Scott B. Wilson’s TheBirds of the Hawaiian Islands. London: R. H. Porter, 1899

It’s January—a time for resolutions,at least at the beginning of the month.I’ve never been very successful with reso-lutions on a personal level. Like Lent, itsounds laudable at the outset, but a fewweeks into it and I’m wondering, “Whosegreat idea was this, anyway?”

But setting resolutions for an institu-tion, where many people can make thema reality, is another story. Resolution byteam has potential, and it doesn’t have tocost a thing in this time of tight budgets.Here are some suggestions…

Resolution #1 Say everything in apositive manner. Try “We’re open until 9tonight” rather than “We close at 9.” Or, inanswer to that ubiquitous question,“Where am I on the list for American Wife,”say “We have five copies and you’re num-ber two; it won’t be long,” instead of“You’re number ten; hang in there.”

Do a sign survey, especially notethose that have the words “don’t” or “no”or “prohibited.” Reword them in positiveterms, e.g., “Cell phone conversations arewelcome in lobby areas,” instead of “Nocell phones.”

For every question you’re asked,whether by a staff member or a patron,

say “Yes,” and then figure outhow. This may sound reckless,but there’s usually a way. Whensomeone asks a specific ques-tion, remember that they arenot asking you, personally;they’re asking you, the librarystaff member. There’s no need tosay, “I don’t know.” Instead, say,“I’ll find out for you.”

Resolution #2 Envision whatit’s like on the other side of thedesk. Take a few minutes to seeyour service desk from thepatron’s perspective as he

approaches you. The pay-off can behuge. For a more professional look, ditchthe outer coat and bag before appearingbehind the desk; first impressions areeverything. Be ready to serve. Don’t chatabout last night’s party within earshot ofthe customer; her tax dollar is paying foryour time. Don’t talk with your colleagueabout the patron you’ve just served. Hemay come back with another questionjust as you’re doing that.

Set up a game of “patron pursuit” andkeep an eye on those places and services

where patrons are likely to need assis-tance: coming in with an armload ofbooks, making a copy, signing onto theInternet, printing a file. Be patient. Yourpatron will appreciate it if you anticipatehis need for help rather than waiting tobe asked.

Resolution #3 Remember, you arethe library, no matter where you are. It’sa privilege, not a burden, to work in alibrary and to be recognized as a valuedmember of your community. So acceptthose overdue fines while at Stop & Shop.Answer that question about an upcom-ing program while waiting at the drycleaners. If you’re in the bookstore, don’thesitate to make a book recommenda-tion if someone asks--and tell her whyyou’re qualified to do it. If you get a com-plaint or a suggestion at the ball field,hand out your business card and tell theperson how to contact you. Co-opt theU.S. Army’s motto: “Be all you can be.”

Resolution #4 Give up the 20th cen-tury and plunge into the 21st. Pretendthere are no reference books; try a day ofusing only electronic resources. Do the23 things on the Charlotte-Mecklenbergwebsite. Have a 12-year-old shadow you,or better yet, shadow a 12-year-old.Watch how she communicates with herfriends, does her homework, or enjoysher leisure time. You’ll be applying yourwisdom and experience to her tech-niques. Stop waiting for the perfect cellphone. Everything will always be in betatesting thanks to Google. Be a browsingcustomer in an Apple Store.

Resolution #5 Find something posi-tive about everyone you work with. Apositive attitude goes a long way in cre-ating greater productivity, more prideand better work. A gruff exterior is oftena defense mechanism; don’t be fooled byit. Seek out someone you’ve never saidanything positive to and find somethingnice to say. You’ll both get a lift out of it.See a potential long-term Friend of theLibrary in everyone.

And the ultimate positive is, ofcourse—smile! I’ve read it takes fewerfacial muscles to smile than to frown. Ifyou accomplish all of these, you’ll benominated for Librarian of the Year. Ipromise!

CLA Executive BoardMeeting of December 11, 2008New Britain Public Library

President The CT Heart Associationand the CT Department of PublicHealth have proposed a partnership withCLA to promote their health programsthrough public libraries. TheMembership Committee has been askedto recommend a policy regarding the saleof the membership list for review by theboard. Kathy Leeds

Treasurer Interest only funds will betransferred from the investment accountto help cover current expenses. Alison Wang

Past President Nominations for 2009CLA awards are being solicited.Information is on the CLA website. Carl Antonucci

Legislative Committee Members of theLegislative Committee will meet withthe CLA lobbyist and the state librarianto discuss the legislative agenda and aproposal to link library directors to theirlocal legislators. Following a discussionabout whether the proposed agendashould be modified, it was decided thatthe proposal should not be scaled back.Jay Johnston

Friends The Friends’ annual meetingwill take place June 13 at the GuilfordPublic Library with local author JamesBenn as keynote speaker. Carl Nawrocki

State Library Middletown’s RussellLibrary and the Deep River PublicLibrary are the winners of the 2009Excellence in Public Library ServiceAwards. The CSL Board has approved16 public library construction grants.The State Library Statistical Profile forFY2008 will be posted on WebJunction.Due to growing interest in library usage,the state data coordinator will conduct asurvey to compile current statistics forJuly–December 2008 and post them onWebJunction in January. CSL will host aseries of webinars on Libraries in ToughEconomic Times. Sharon Brettschneider

ACLB The annual ACLB LeadershipConference is scheduled for October 16at Water’s Edge in Westbrook. Stan Siegel

Vers

o 1

Connecticut Libraries

This Year, I Resolve to . . .

JANUARY 20092

Maxine Bleiweis is director

of the Westport Public Library.

HIGHby Maxine Bleiweis

This will be a difficult year as librariesstruggle to provide more services tomore people, with less local funding. Wemust work harder than usual to informstate representatives about the criticalrole that state funding plays in realizingexponential savings at the communitylevel for our collaborative and efficientlibrary initiatives. CLA will be conveyingthis message to both legislators andmunicipal administrators.

Our Legislative Agenda brochure (seethe edited version below) will soon beavailable for you to use in your lobbyingefforts; look for it in the mail. Particularthanks for the agenda go to CarlAntonucci and Jay Johnston, co-chairs ofthe Legislative Committee.

Last year, Connecticut residents visitedtheir local libraries 20 million times andborrowed over 30 million books andother media. Libraries are a safety net forsociety in tough economic times; morepeople are using us now, among them:

• Families that cannot afford to buybooks, DVDs, and CDs and now bor-row ours

• People who use our job search,resume writing, and interview skillsresources to look for work

• Unemployed people who now useus as their office

• People seeking to learn new skills forfuture jobs

Tough economic times put pressure onmunicipal budgets. State support forlibraries is needed more than ever.Modest state funding for these estab-lished programs saves cities and townsmany times the state investment.

Connecticut Library Consortium—InfoAnytime Connecticut libraries saveover $5 million annually (about $30,000for the average public library) on the pur-chase of library materials through theConnecticut Library Consortium. Theonline InfoAnytime service providesanswers for residents around the clock.Additional funds are needed for home-work and test preparation help for stu-dents--an investment in Connecticut’sfuture.

Goals 1) Maintain current funding forthe Connecticut Library Consortium at$350,000. 2) Maintain current funding forInfoAnytime at $150,000. 3) Add

$150,000 for online live homework andtest preparation help.

iCONN Connecticut's “re-search engine,”provides free access to quality onlineresources for Connecticut residents. Thisheavily used service saved local librariesover $35 million last year.

Goal Restore support for iCONN to $2million in FY10 to maintain service at itscurrent level

Connecticard allows any state residentto borrow from any public library inConnecticut. Last year, a record 4.6 mil-lion items were borrowed through thisprogram. Municipalities are reimbursedfor only one-quarter of the actual cost ofproviding this service.

Goal Increase funding from $1.2 mil-lion to $2.4 million for Connecticard to con-tinue the legislative commitment to reachfull reimbursement to municipalities.

Public Library Construction Grants Thisprogram helps towns and cities expandand renovate public libraries, often mak-ing essential projects feasible. Grantsleverage public and private investmentand provide “shovel-ready” initiativesthat bolster local infrastruc-ture.

Goals 1) Increase fundingfor grants from $8.5 million to$10 million in FY10. 2)Establish an emergency grantfund for unanticipatedreplacement and repair ofcritical building elements.

Statewide Library SystemFunding Libraries face risingcosts for automated systemsused to manage circulationactivity and online catalogs.Many libraries need toreplace obsolete systems.Two major developments make imple-mentation of a statewide system sharedby all libraries feasible: 1) TheConnecticut Education Network con-nects all libraries in the state and wouldsupport a centralized automation sys-tem. 2) The open source movementmakes it feasible to develop customizedsystems that meet the needs of librariesof all types.

Goal Provide a one time $2.5 millioncapital expenditure to investigate andimplement a statewide integrated librarysystem for use by all libraries in the state.

Pres

ident


CLA’s Legislative Agendaby Kathy Leeds

JANUARY 20093

Kathy Leeds is executive director

of the Wilton Library.

LIGHTSMembership The committee has createda Membership Recruitment andRetention Plan with a goal of achieving1,000 members by the annual confer-ence. Currently, there are 710 membersand 282 non-renewed members. Stan Siegel

Region 6 The 13 libraries eligible forCommunity Foundation of SoutheasternCT grants met with Chris Bradley todiscuss ideas for structuring their pro-posals to meet foundation guidelines.(The Op-Ed piece regarding the grant,originally published in The Day, is onpage 5 of this issue of ConnecticutLibraries.) Theresa Conley

CLASS One hundred and six supportstaff attended the CLASS annual confer-ence in November. Sandy Brooks

Publicity Entries for publicity awardsare due no later than January 15. Betty Ann Reiter

Tech Services The section’s fall programmade a $700 profit. Dana Tonkonow

Reference & Adult An increasing num-ber of library patrons are requestingassistance with e-Government sites; thecommittee is considering an e-Government program at the 2009 con-ference, as well as a program for reachingolder adults. Dana Lucisano

CT Center for the Book The center had60 affiliate members last year; this year,affiliate membership is 50, and eight arenew. Kat Lyons

NELA The annual NELA conferencewill be held in Hartford, October 18-20,2009. Mary Etter

Career Recruitment & MentoringInformation and application forms forCLA’s scholarship awards have beenposted on the CLA website. Submissiondeadline is February 1. Debbie Herman

New Business Debbie Herman andJaime Hammond offered to serve asinterim administrators for the CLAFacebook page pending a report on itspurpose and goals.

Connecticut Libraries JANUARY 20094

In library school, I was assigned ashort paper on Roget's Thesaurus anddiscovered something I had never real-ized. The Thesaurus is much more thana compendium of synonyms. It is a wayof organizing the world. I came toappreciate that the man who devel-oped the Thesaurus had created hisown sophisticated classification system.He was a master organizer who wouldunderstand DDC or LC as well as anylibrary cataloger. In fact, Roget resignedfrom his prestigious position asSecretary of Manchester's PorticoLibrary in 1807 because he was dis-tressed that its paid librarian failed toproduce a well-organized catalog ofholdings!

The young Peter Mark Roget weencounter in Joshua Kendall's biogra-phy sounds like television detectiveAdrian Monk. The TV character suffersfrom obsessive-compulsive disorder. Inthe process of surveying crime scenesor interviewing witnesses, Monk spendspainful amounts of time re-arrangingmisaligned furniture, straighteningitems on shelves, or pouring coffeefrom one pot into another until theamounts in each are exactly equal.

Roget's obsessions and compulsionsappear to have been his conscious wayof dealing with the uncertainties of life.For Roget, these included the earlydeath of his father, a difficult and needymother, and a strain of depression thatran in his family. Starting in childhood,Roget compiled lists in order to under-stand and control his environment. Hislists distracted him from the messinessof complex human relations and loneli-ness. Those first lists, made by a shyeight-year-old, reflect Roget’s intelli-gence and curiosity about science andwords. Although Roget would continueworking on lists throughout his life, hewould not publish his Thesaurus until

he was over seventy years old.Roget led a career as a

doctor and scientist. His scien-tific talent lay less in discoverythan in understanding the dis-coveries of others, putting dis-coveries into perspective, andorganizing them into rationalsystems. His contribution tothe development of the slide

rule is an example. Roget neverbuilt a slide rule and was notthe first to see how a mechani-cal device could be used for

calculations. However, he presented apaper to the Royal Society on how aslide rule, similar to one then beingused for calculating chemical propor-tions, could be developed into a gener-alized tool with many mathematicalapplications. It would be ten yearsbefore slide rules came into use andover a century before electronic calcula-tors replaced them.

Roget had no tolerance for sloppywork or disorganization. As a youngman, he had the opportunity to assistwell-known scientist and thinkerJeremy Bentham. Their brief collabora-tion on a “frigidarium” for the icy stor-age of foods ended when Rogetobserved Bentham's haphazardresearch and got a look at the sorrystate of his scientific apparatus.

Roget's fastidiousness served himwell during his service at ManchesterRoyal Infirmary. Highly industrialized,early 19th century Manchester exposedits residents to filth, polluted air, andwaste of every variety. Dr. John Ferriar,Roget's supervisor, saw that environ-ment as the root of many illnesses inthe city. Ferriar headed Manchester'sBoard of Health and found a ready allyin Roget. They improved conditions inManchester and contributed to the newfield of public health.

Late in his career, Roget was criti-cized as a popularizer, not a true scien-tist. He was accused of plagiarizing hisbest known scientific book, TheBridgewater Thesis. Legacy tarnished,the old doctor must have felt that hiscontributions to intellectual life wereover.

A magazine article in 1849 stimulat-ed Roget to return to work on a wordlist that he had started in 1805. The arti-cle praised the work of Hestor LynchPiozzi, who, in the late 1790's, publishedBritish Synonymy. Though popular, herwork was more chatty than scholarly,

and critics had saw the need for a more-academic approach to synonyms. ForRoget, that meant not just compilingsynonyms. It meant organizing thewords and concepts that comprise theEnglish language.

Roget studied previous scholarshipon language, especially works by JohnHorne Tooke and John Wilkins. He wasaware of the first book of synonyms, a1718 French language publication byGabriel Girard, and its unsatisfactory1766 English translation by John Trusler.However, unlike his predecessors, Rogetwould not prescribe proper usage.Instead, he would let readers choosethe best word to express an idea fromthe widest possible selection of liketerms.

Roget would expand and improvehis original 1805 manuscript, hisCollection of English SynonymsClassified and Arranged. It had helpedhim with his own writings, now hewould develop it into a Thesaurus, a lin-guistic “treasury” for other writers.Idealistically, he believed his bookwould become a tool for eliminatingthe “specious language” that sowedseeds of “prejudice and error.”

Book

sThe Man Who Made Lists:

Love, Death, Madness, and the Creation Of Roget’s Thesaurus

BY JOSHUA KENDALL (G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, 2008)reviewed by Vince Juliano

Vince Juliano is assistant director of

Middletown’s Russell Library.Read more of his reviews at

www.ctlibraryasssociation.org

In September 2008, the CommunityFoundation of SoutheasternConnecticut announced a $1.5 million“Library Innovation and StabilizationInitiative” for the 13 libraries in the 11-town region.1 Each library will haveaccess to $100,000 for local projects andprograms, and the remaining $200,000will serve as an endowment to whichlibraries may apply for future support.This most unexpected but very welcomeoccurrence came about because thefoundation recognized that “Publiclibraries are the great equalizer. Theyserve everyone from infancy throughold age, and all economic levels, fromthe poorest among us to the most fortu-nate.”

In difficult economic times, however,libraries are often among the first insti-tutions to suffer budget cuts and to bedenied grant funds with the explanationthat they divert funds from other agen-cies serving the homeless, children, andfamilies. The argument, made by librari-ans and library advocates, that publiclibraries are not in competition withsocial service agencies, but instead arepartners with them in addressing soci-ety’s most pressing problems, oftengoes unheard.

The foundation’s unprecedenteddecision to celebrate its 25th anniver-sary by supporting the libraries of south-eastern Connecticut represents a funda-mental change in thinking aboutlibraries, a change that could have a rip-ple effect throughout the state, and onethat other funding agencies, legislatorsand community leaders would do wellto follow.

Just as preventive medicine is morecost effective than treating illnesses thatcould have been avoided, it is more costeffective to address social needs beforethey metastasize into social problems.

Public libraries offer enriching, con-structive activities for children and teensas alternatives to risky behaviors thatcan lead to gang involvement, drug useand teen pregnancy. They offer freeInternet access and job search centersthat can make the difference betweenwelfare and work for low-income earn-ers and the unemployed. They offer

potentially life-saving information tothose with serious illnesses who asklibrarians to help them navigate a sea ofprinted and online information to findcurrent and authoritative informationabout physicians, hospitals, treatmentsand clinical trials. Libraries offer respiteto families that can no longer afford a$50 night at the movies by providing anevening of free recreation at the library,or by loaning a film for a movie night athome.

Better known and no less importantare library literacy programs that rein-force the importance of reading andgive children the foundation they needto succeed in school and in life, and therole that libraries play in giving citizensthe information they need to makeresponsible decisions as members of ademocratic society.

Despite the vital services thatlibraries offer, Connecticut municipali-ties allocated, on average, less than 1.5%of their budgets, just over $40 per capi-ta, for libraries in FY2006/07.2 And inFY2008/09, the state of Connecticut hasallocated less than $.45 per capita forGrants to Public Libraries and reimburse-ment to libraries for Connecticard.3

We have to do better. Many publiclibraries struggle just to keep the heatand lights on and their buildings ade-quately staffed. Many small libraries can-not afford to pay essential staff a livingwage, limiting their hiring options tothose who have supplemental incomefrom other sources. Imagine whatlibraries could do if they had the moneyto expand hours, hire more staff, pur-chase more materials, and offer moreprograms. Imagine what they could do ifmunicipal budgets averaged $80 percapita and the state anted up $.90 percapita!

Connecticut’s current economic crisisis sobering. With the state projecting a$302 million budget deficit in FY 2009and even greater deficits in the future,and with cities and towns announcingemployee layoffs, it’s apparent that thestate and its municipalities will be in noposition to substantially increase fund-ing for libraries any time soon.

However, those affected by this crisiswill be flocking to their local libraries. Intimes of economic stress, library use

increases as people depend on the pub-lic library for job search help, access tothe Internet, and the newspapers, maga-zines, books, and movies that they canno longer afford. This will further strainlibrary resources that are alreadystretched too thin.

The Community Foundation ofSoutheastern Connecticut’s $1.5 millionlibrary initiative represents a huge leapforward in its thinking about librariesand the role they play in society. Comingas it does during our nation’s worst eco-nomic crisis since the Great Depression,their initiative underscores the founda-tion’s confidence that libraries will pro-vide the most bang for its charitablebucks. It has imagined what libraries cando with more funding and has turnedthat reverie into reality.

The foundation has begun the con-versation that library funding must be apriority in our communities. It’s time forthe rest of us to continue the conversa-tion so that when we have comethrough the current economic crisis, ourstate, our towns and our cities will hearand heed this message.

Theresa Conley, Hali Keeler, AmyKennedy and Margaret Victoria are thedirectors of the Lyme Public Library, BillMemorial Library in Groton, WheelerLibrary in North Stonington, andStonington Free Library, respectively.

1. The Community foundation of SoutheasternConnecticut works with the towns of Lyme,East Lyme, Old Lyme, Stonington, NorthStonington, Waterford, Ledyard, Montvilleand Groton, and the City of New London

2. Connecticut Public Libraries: A StatisticalProfile 2006/2007. Published by the CT StateLibrary

3. FY2009: Grants to Public Libraries $347,109,Connecticard Payments $1,226,028. CT popu-lation 3,504,809 (U.S. Census 2006)


A Big Boost for Southeastern CT Libraries

JANUARY 20095

by Theresa Conley, Hali Keeler, Amy Kennedy and Margaret Victoria

FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $1.5 MILLION INITIATIVE


I love workshops. You update your job skills, enrich youreducational background, and network. If that’s not enough,there are bagels, the salad and the cookies. (Dear Middletown:Where do you get those cookies?) You get a day off fromrequests like “Find me photographs of live dinosaurs.”

Workshops have that “First Day of School” aura: I have work-shop ensembles that fall somewhere between my work clothesand my jammies. The presenters offer carryalls, unique pens orpencils, sometimes even coffee mugs. (Did I mention the cook-ies?) I love writing in a fresh notebook.

Saddle shoes and mimeographed handouts (for a quickbuzz) would complete the experience.

Then I return to work. I cling to that excitement. I hope toproduce great results. Easy if the workshop is on, say, Gamingfor Teens or Find Stuff on e-Bay. (Usually. We won’t discuss myissues with Excel.) If the workshop involves role-playing, we aretalking about a horse of a different color. In fact, we are talkinga different animal.

Years ago, I took part in the Effective Reference PerformanceWorkshop. We learned the techniques and presented twoworkshops ourselves. You ERP survivors will remember the drill:open-ended questions, mirroring language, and “Does thatcompletely answer your question?” It was intensive, exhaustingand exhilarating. Everyone else, see me and I will attempt arecreation without flip charts.

I left feeling I could scale Mount Everest, conquer the worldor, at the very least, completely answer (without snickering) a

question about photographs of live dinosaurs. Theproblem is that the workshop is scripted and the realworld is not.

Learning ERP was so easy. We divided into teams.Person A played the librarian. Person B played thepatron. We had scripts.

A: Hi, how can I help you today?B: I would like to know about the Civil War.

A: What would you like to know about the Civil War?B: Everything.

A: That covers a lot! Can you tell me more?B: My teacher says I have to write a paper about some

aspect of the Civil War.

A: Can you tell me what aspect you are interested in?B: Well, she showed us some pictures by that photographer,Matthew Brady. He took pictures in the hospitals. I think I wouldlike to know about medicine.

A: Could you be more specific?B: I would like to know about Civil War battlefield hospitals.

A: Let me make sure I understand. You would like informationabout battlefield hospitals during the Civil War.B: Yes.

A then pretended to hand off some books and finished upwith “Does that completely answer your question?

Of course, B always said “Yes.” It was in her script. I returnedto the reference department starry-eyed and so excited.Completely forgot about workshop v. real world.

Me: Hi, how can I help you today?Patron: (Lips move but no sound comes out.)

Me (perky): The fans make so much noise! Could you say thatagain?Patron: Civil War.

Me (still perky): I’m so sorry. Could you say that one more time?Patron: Civil War.

Me (still perky, but not so much): You want information on theCivil War. Can you tell me more?Patron: It’s a 20-page paper about the Civil War.

Me (less perky now): What do you need to know about the CivilWar? Patron: I need someone to type it for me.

Me (much less perky): We don’t do that here. What informationdo you need? Patron (huge sigh accompanied by hair twirling): Everything.

Me (unperky): “Everything” is a pretty big area. Can you give memore information?Patron: I need a book, a magazine, a newspaper article, someInternet and a ‘cyclopedia.

Me (so unperky now I may be frowning): Well, that’s the thing,there are many sources, and you need to choose an aspect ofthe—Patron: A what? What’s that? Aspect? What’s that?

I did not get to ask if I completely answered her question. Notthen and not 20 minutes later when we finally arrived at theencyclopedia shelf and she took volume C. I felt unfulfilled, sadand a little empty and will never know if I met her informationneed.

I still believe in workshops, especially when they involvetechnology, computers and books. But I won’t do any morepatron role-playing until someone assures me that patrons willuse a specially written script as well.

Vers

o 2 Reality Check

Michele Jacobsonis YA librarian at the Bridgeport Public Library.

by Michele JacobsonDOES THAT COMPLETELY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?

Book Voyagers, theConnecticut HumanitiesCouncil’s (CHC) discussionprogram for families, chil-dren, and teens, encouragesparticipants to exploreimportant life themesthrough quality literatureunder the guidance of askilled discussion leader. Asprogram director, SusanMuro coordinates hundredsof sessions each year inlibraries across the state.

Although she was a reluc-tant reader until her teenageyears, Muro followed in thefootsteps of two older sisters when shewas 14 by becoming a page at HamdenPublic Library. There, she enjoyed theenvironment and felt cared for by staffwho were able to channel her youthfulenthusiasm. Muro pursued librarianshipand earned her MLS in 1982 fromSouthern Connecticut State University.

“What appeals to me about librarian-ship,” she says, “is the flexibility and differ-ences among jobs; there are so many dif-ferent kinds of librarians.”

Muro continued in Hamden as chil-dren’s librarian, branch manager, andhead of technical services; in 1989 shebecame the executive director of theSouthern Connecticut Library Council.Muro recalls her time at SCLC fondly, “Icollaborated with a wonderful group ofpublic, school, academic, and speciallibrarians who generously gave a lot oftheir time and talent to create strongprograms.”

After some time off raising and enjoy-ing her son (now a teenaged musician),Muro began coordinating book discus-sions for the CHC; ten years later, theposition has evolved into the one she hastoday.

Muro describes her work life as cycli-cal because Book Voyagers is offered sea-sonally. In September, she inviteslibraries to join for the spring, summer,and fall, and then raises funds and makesplans for the anticipated demand. Sheand her team (Rachel, Christine, and Joe)coordinated 300 sessions last year,

and they anticipatearound 360 this year.

To participate,libraries need onlyselect from Muro’scatalog of offerings.“Themes range frommulticultural folk-tales and mother-daughter series tofantasy and beyond,”she says. “Our newestoffering, Keep ItGreen, deals withe n v i r o n m e n t a lissues.” Librarieschoose dates andtimes for their pro-grams, recruit partici-

pants, and host sessions. A huge plus isthat CHC covers the majority of programcosts; the participating library’s contribu-tion is modest.

Muro ships copies of the selectedbooks to the libraries. (She sits, literally,on 28,000 copies of books stored in thenew CHC headquarters on Broad Streetin Middletown.) She also provides discus-sion guides, publicity flyers, posters,bookmarks, and promotional materials,and matches up libraries with experi-enced discussion leaders.

Discussion leaders are the specialfolks who can spark a group’s imagina-tion and help participants dig deeplyinto the day’s theme by inviting text-to-text and text-to-life connections. BookVoyager leaders model book-sharingtechniques and encourage families andkids to make reading a part of theireveryday lives.

Like other exceptional professionalshighlighted in this space, Muro is thatrare person who lives her passion: “pro-moting reading to families and children.”Muro finds it rewarding to put “the rightbook into a child’s hands and see thataha! moment when they realize thatmaybe, just maybe, ‘I might like to read.’ Ittakes encouragement, creativity, andpatience, but it is all worthwhile when achild says, ‘I fell asleep thinking aboutwhat the character will do next,’ or thatthey liked the book and want another.”

Muro feels proud of CHC’s dedicationto “offering high-quality, cost effective

programming” and, “As a librarian, Iappreciate the fact that Book Voyagers isspecifically designed to take the plan-ning burden off the shoulders of librarystaff by prepackaging discussion series.”

The third largest state humanitiescouncil in the country, CHC celebrated its35th anniversary this year. Its work isorganized around history and literature.Muro’s program is one of a array thatincludes Literature for a Lifetime, a bookdiscussion series for adults, and FamilyRead, which engages parents in reading,storytelling, and shows them how to takethese ‘lessons learned’ back to their fami-lies. CHC also awards over $1 million ingrants each year to the state’s heritagemuseums. Muro is excited about a newproject, the Encyclopedia of ConnecticutHistory (ECHO), which she describes as“groundbreaking.” She invites the librarycommunity to explore all that CHC has tooffer at www.ctculture.org.

Muro loves Connecticut’s rich historyand also attends the theater “everychance I get”; her most recent foray wasto see Rodgers andHammerstein’s Carousel atLong Wharf. She has a dognamed Roxy, a part-Shepardrescue, and she’s a fan of theevolving music of JamesTaylor. Recently, she com-pleted training as a facilitatorat Community Mediation,Inc. in New Haven, and sheplans to take additionalclasses.

“I hope that the future forliterature- and humanities-based programs is bright,”says Muro. “The economicsituation will certainly pose great chal-lenges. However, I take it as a positivesign that President Elect Obamaaddressed the ALA in June 2005 and saidthat, ‘Reading is the gateway skill thatmakes all other learning possible.’”

Muro feels “confident that CHC’s ‘read-ing for meaning’ focus will expandthroughout Connecticut in libraries,schools, and communities and inspireintellectual curiosity for families, chil-dren, and teens.”

CTPe

ople


Susan MuroPROGRAM DIRECTOR, BOOK VOYAGERS, CT HUMANITIES COUNCILby Douglas Lord

JANUARY 20097

Douglas Lordis LSTA program assistant for the

Connecticut State Library.

“Book Voyagers,” Susan Muro says, “isspecifically designed to take the planningburden off the shoulders of library staff byprepackaging discussion series.”


Vers

o 3I am not a vain man. It’s hard to be vain when you have aperfectly spherical head, knock-knees, splayed feet, and Britishteeth.

Recently, however, my colleagues have noticed a new jaun-tiness about my person, a spring in the metaphorical step, anod towards the highfalutin’ fashion. That it is a nod towardsthe highfalutin’ fashion of effete Victorian thespians and mod-ern permatanned television celebrities of advanced years neednot necessarily occupy us right now.

Instead, let us retrace our steps a little and, in this season ofcheer and goodwill, identify precisely whom the quivering fin-ger of blame and recrimination can be pointed at for bringingabout this change. True to a recent, almost breathtaking run ofform, the quivering finger finds itself once more directed at myeldest daughter. In an effort to protect the not-so-innocent,let’s call her “Goneril.”

Like a cat returning to the convivial abode with a nice deadbird for her mistress, Goneril has been coming home from pre-school with all manner of unwelcome gifts. Pink eye. Flu.Common colds. Chicken pox. Head lice. Overnight rashes.Runny noses. Ear infections. Wind. Constipation. Diarrhea. I’mlooking forward with confident anticipation to the advent ofbubonic plague, trench foot and leprosy.

Goneril’s latest souvenir from the front line of Toddlerhoodhas been the kind of sore throat that moves in, pulls on the slip-pers, puts its feet up, and settles down with a contented sigh forthe nice long winter months ahead. It’s a sore throat with a very

unpleasant attitude: the kind that could take leadrole as hit man in a Quentin Tarantino movie. Thinktomcat armed with sand-blaster scraping downthe larynx, claws fully extended, and you get theidea.

So when my beloved wife approached me withthe perfect cure, I didn’t hesitate. Unfortunately,the cure turned out to be a strip of tastefully pat-terned silk designed to be loosely knotted aroundthe neck and tucked beneath a gentleman’s jacket,keeping the throat warm whilst lending the wear-

er an undeniable jauntiness.The perfect cure turned out to be a cravat. Initial reactions were severe. An old college

roommate laughed so hard and long he requiredmedical assistance (particularly after I walloped him

with a hefty medical encyclopedia.) A colleague, noting theinexpert knotting of my cravat, wondered aloud whether thedecision to hang myself had been taken as a direct result of sar-torial ignominy.

But the thing was, not only did it affect a cure, I also ratherliked my new adornment. I felt not unlike one of those dashingcavaliers who are always popping up in ladies’ romantic fictionor the sort of purple poetry that invariably rhymes and alwaysends happily. I felt certain that, had the new James Bond chap-pie, Daniel Craig, dropped in to my library, he’d have left deter-mined to emulate the debonair young man with the strangelyfestooned, unusually globular head who’d helped him with hisreference question.

And I started to feel and act differently. I was no longer sim-ply giving good reference. I was giving good, suave, sophisti-cated reference. I was giving reference with a cocked eyebrowand a knowing smile.

Too long have reference librarians been diffident about ourrole and occupation. Many of us have a worrying tendency tosit timorously behind our desks, awash with doubt and self-effacement, pathetically grateful for any small scraps of recog-nition with which our services are met. As a profession we do atruly horrific job of selling ourselves because we lack the essen-tial chutzpah to win the sort of fame and glory we undoubted-ly deserve.

If it takes a man in a cravat to change all of that, then so beit! I’m hereby throwing down a New Year’s challenge that weremember just how wonderful librarians are, discard ourdowdy attire, and embrace the splendid. I’m not necessarilyadvocating that you rush out and buy yourself a nice raspberryberet in the January sales, but I would like us to work on puttingourselves about a bit.

And while we’re at it, let’s embrace some new client-basedapproaches to reference that move away from the reactivemodel of the reference desk to an emphasis on instruction, out-reach, and the development of in-depth, long-term researchrelationships with our user groups. Let’s try some roving refer-ence, instant messaging and e-mail reference.

Above all, don’t forget lashings of vigorous advocacy. As theeconomy goes belly-up, we should be fluttering our pretty eye-lashes at every funding body we can corner. Librarians haveplenty to shout about and, as soon as the cravat has completedits work, I’ll be joining in with a throaty roar.

Stop Whispering, Start Shouting by Julian Aiken

Julian Aiken is head of access services

at Wallingford Public Library.

Stephen L. Carter will be afeatured author at the CLAAnnual Conference. Carteris the William NelsonCromwell Professor of Lawat Yale University, where hehas taught since 1982. Heis the author of severalbest-selling novels, includ-ing The Emperor of Ocean

Park and New England White,as well as seven acclaimednonfiction books, including TheCulture of Disbelief: HowAmerican Law and PoliticsTrivialize Religious Devotion andCivility and Manner, Morals, andthe Etiquette of Democracy. Heand his family live in Cheshire.


Assistance is provided at the service counter, where visitorsare required to register and identify their research interest. Forsecurity reasons, personal items such as a book bags, briefcas-es and coats are not permitted in the reading room but must bestored in nearby lockers.

The research area is equipped with generous tables andcomfortable seating. Foam book cradles are in evidence and“How to Handle Rare Books” sheets are distributed on thetables, along with “Rules for Use.” Pencils only for notes. DrKaimowitz does not require gloves for handling rare materials,but cautions care and commonsense. The computer providescatalog access, and offers databases that supplement the refer-ence books and scholarly journals. Ornithology journals andother reference materials are on hand for use in the room.Offices, meeting rooms, and work areas encircle the publicarea.

In notes accompanying a slide presentation entitled, “ThirtyYears at the Watkinson Library,” Dr. Kaimowitz observes,“Because of the Watkinson’s holdings of fragile and rare materi-als and its amalgamation with Trinity’s special collections, theWatkinson has become a rare book and manuscript library, andit operates in the manner of other such libraries with closedstacks and tighter security. Nevertheless, because of its notablestrengths in a variety of areas, it is not merely a collection of oldbooks and manuscripts, but is a true research library whereinvestigations can be carried out in depth.”

Renowned educator HenryBarnard, who supervised the foundingof the library, chose James HammondTrumbull as the first librarian of theWatkinson Library. From 1863 until hisretirement in 1891, Trumbull’s scholar-ship was reflected in the enduringrange and quality of the collection.When Trumbull died in 1897, SamuelClemens wrote of him, “He was proba-bly the richest man in America in thematter of knowledge ... It seems agreat pity that this vast property isnow lost to the world – that it could

not have been left to some college.”Today Trinity College is surely counting its blessings!

Trumbull was a noted bibliographer of Americana and theeditor of the sale catalogs of the Brinley Collection ofAmericana. His knowledge of American Indian languages wasoutstanding, and he wrote the only dictionary of the first Bibleprinted in the Western Hemisphere, the Eliot Indian Bible,which was written in the Massachusett dialect of Algonquian.The Watkinson owns a 1685 copy published by Samuel Green.

Excellence is a magnet for excellence, and over time theWatkinson Library has amassed an embarrassment of riches. Itssuperb primary resources and supporting secondary refer-ences comprise a diverse array of important holdings.American 19th century social and cultural history has becomethe library’s single strongest subject area.

Other significant collecting areas, to mention just a few,include the history of the book and book illustration (there are200 15th century books (incunabula) and more than a 1,00016th century books); major private press editions; children’s lit-erature, ABC books, and school textbooks; American music;

early photographic glass plates; first editions of 19th and 20thcentury British and American literature; botany; voyages andtravel; British history, “especially the 18th through the early20th century, including local history and genealogy”; slaveryand abolition; natural history, and the list goes on and on withundiminished luster.

But among all the offerings, theOrnithology Collection, donated with a gener-ous endowment by Ostrom and Alice TalcottEnders and regarded as one of the finest in thecountry, has emerged as the jewel in thecrown. The endowment has fostered its signifi-cant development and growth since its arrivalat Trinity. And the extraordinary quality ofacquisitions is a tribute to the artistic sensitivi-ty and scholarly expertise of Ostrom Enders, hislibrarians, and Dr. Kaimowitz.

There are over 7,000 volumes in the collec-tion; the ornithological illustrations alone are afeast for the eye. Both historic and currentbooks are collected, current subscriptions toimportant ornithological journals are main-tained and invaluable backruns of rare journalsare among the holdings. Databases are avail-able to support current research.

Prior to earning his MLS from Columbia University in 1976,Dr. Kaimowitz had earned a PhD in the Classics, and JohnsHopkins University Press has just published his translation ofThe Odes of Horace. Dr. Kaimowitz’s stewardship has been boldand progressive; he and James Hammond Trumbull wouldhave enjoyed each other’s company. What Trumbull launchedwith such finesse, Dr. Jeffrey Kaimowitz has continued with cul-tivated discernment.

Karen Stevens has worked in several Connecticut libraries and hasserved as a trustee on her local library board. She lectures onaspects of vanishing Americana, and has a special interest in thelocal histories, legends, and tales associated with Connecticutlibraries. She lives in Scotland and can be reached [email protected]. All images courtesy of the Watkinson Library,Trinity College, Hartford, CT.

TRINITY COLLEGE’S WATKINSON LIBRARY continued from page 1

James Hammond Trumbull wasthe first librarian of the

Watkinson Library.

Jeffrey H. Kaimowitz is head librarian of the Watkinson Library.

Detail: Woodblock print from “Winter” in Imao Keinen’s Keinen kachō gafu. Kyōto: Nishimura Sōzaemon, Meiji 24-25 [1891-1892]


Vers

o 4S o, it finally ended. No, not the election, the 2008 baseballseason that saw both the New York Yankees and the Boston RedSox sitting home and watching the World Series on television,just like me.

The Red Sox season’s fatal blow was delivered on the firstnight of the New England Library Association’s annual confer-ence, “Taking Charge of Change,” in Manchester, NewHampshire. At a budget hotel near the airport, I watched withdeclining intensity as the heralded bats fell silent. TheBeantowners not only went gentle into that good night, theydid so with tiny cat-like feet, leaving but a small trace of theirformer glory behind them.

As usual, the playoffs preceding the Series provided morethrills than the final big event, and there was no better actionthan the Sox and Rays in game six. And, as usual, the umpiringwas a mixed bag, ranging from acceptable to “Kill the bum!”

As I awoke from slumber the following morning, it seemedappropriate to once again focus my attention on matters oflibrarianship and not diamondology. That is, until I saw thisheadline in the USA Today that had been deposited neatly out-

side my door: “Being a Good Boss Is Like Being aGood Umpire.” My interest was piqued and Iperused the text while downing my complimenta-ry hot brown water and maximum cholesterolsugary thing.

The article was about major league umpireRandy Marsh, just my age and a veteran of fiveWorld Series. Perhaps the most surprising thingabout the story, to me, was the pairing of thewords umpire and boss. Umpiring had alwaysstruck me as an individualistic “herding cats” sort

of job, not unlike being a faculty member. But, inthis case, an umpire was perceived as being theboss of the rules and, occasionally, the team leaderof the other umpires. Hence, the most important

person on the field--after Manny Ramirez, of course.Based on his experience, Marsh had the following advice for

other bosses: • Close calls are not as difficult as unexpected calls. • Preparation is the backbone of quick decisions. • When it's not covered by the rules, use fair play and comon

sense. • Go with your gut.• When you can, ask your crew. • Be consistent and approachable.• Stay professional when others get angry. • Some errors are correctable; live with those that are not.

These struck me as a pretty good set of guidelines for workenvironments, even those without home plates.

My library is one component of a big system that is under-going, concurrently, both strategic planning and reorganiza-tion. As part of these processes, teams of staff from various lev-els of the institution are laboring to determine not only whowill be working where and in what capacity, but also how theorganization makes decisions, communicates internally, andevaluates and rewards its staff.

I always find it interesting to learn how other professionsview leadership. While Marsh didn’t claim to be speaking foranyone but himself, it is likely that by virtue of his lengthytenure and obvious success, he is a good representative of hisoccupation. And in some regards, baseball, with a need tomake its public want to come back again and again, its on-fieldand off-field strategizing, and its team work, has a number ofparallels to how we approach our own field of dreams.

If we were a baseball team, I suppose one major goal of ourstrategic plan would be to win the World Series. At the sametime, a critical goal of reorganization might be to determinewho will be in the dugout, at the plate, in the field, and on themound as the season unfolds.

As a library, our never ending “World Series” is keeping ourclientele happy, and our operational goals are centered onmaking sure we field the best team and play the best servicegame we can.

As we contemplate a brand new year, it seems to me thatmany of Randy Marsh’s guidelines are worth adopting, espe-cially the ones about fair play, using common sense, asking forinput, being consistent, and staying professional.

Baseball sage Yogi Berra is reported to have said: “Baseball isninety percent mental and the other half is physical.” Thatsounds a lot like librarianship, including our humanistic graspof basic math, doesn’t it?

The Umpire Strikes Back by William Uricchio

William Uricchio is director of the

Trecker Library on UConn’sGreater Hartford campus. Roxanne Coady is coming to

CLA’s Annual Conference. You’veheard her on the Faith Middletonshow, now meet the woman wholeft a high-pressure job inManhattan and in 1989 estab-lished RJ Julia Booksellers inMadison, arguably Connecticut’s

best-known independent book-store. Coady is the co-editor ofThe Book That Changed My Life, acollection of essays by 71 promi-nent authors, who write aboutthe transformative power ofreading.


www.ctlibraryassociation.org

President Kathy Leeds VP/President-Elect Randi Ashton-PrittingPast President Carl Antonucci Secretary/Treasurer Alison WangRegion 1 Representative Tracy RalstonRegion 2 Representative Hal BrightRegion 3 Representative Siobhan GroganRegion 4 Representative Cynde Bloom LaheyRegion 5 Representative Maribeth BreenRegion 6 Representative Theresa ConleyALA Chapter Councilor Jay JohnstonNELA Representative Mary Etter


is published 11 times each year.Subscriptions: $45 in North America; $50 elsewhere. ISSN 0010-616X

Editorial Team

Carol Abatelli, Julian Aiken, Maxine Bleiweis,Sharon Clapp, Steve Cauffman, Bruce Johnston, Vince Juliano, David Kapp,Kirsten Kilbourn, Kathy Leeds, Douglas Lord,Pam Najarian, Tom Newman (Chair), Kate Sheehan, William Uricchio

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Send articles, news items, opinions and photographs relating to the Connecticutlibrary community to: David Kapp, [email protected] Llynwood DriveBolton, CT 06043

CLA Scholarships Available

Connecticut residents enrolled in MLS orLTA degree programs may apply for CLAscholarships. Two $1,500 MLS scholarshipsand up to two LTA $700 scholarships willbe awarded. Scholarship winners alsoreceive free CLA membership and compli-mentary registration at the CLA AnnualConference. Applications must be submit-ted by February 1. 2009.

See www.ctlibraryassociation.org/scholarship.htm for details and forms.

For more information, contact Debbie Herman: [email protected] or 860-832-2084.

Nominations for the Following CLA Awards Are Due by Friday, March 6.

For complete details and nomination forms, see ctlibraryassociation.org/awards.htm.

• Outstanding Librarian For career accomplishments of a librarian who has an outstand-ing record of service to his or her library and the library profession

• Special Achievement For implementing a significant project or innovative program

• News Media Award For a journalist or news organization providing exemplary coverageof libraries

• Intellectual Freedom For an individual demonstrating courage in the defense of intel-lectual freedom, or a project raising awareness of intellectual freedom issues, or a publi-cation on the topic

• Adeline Mix Award For a full or part-time student in a graduate or undergraduate pro-gram of library studies

• Support Staff of the Year For an outstanding support staff member

• Supporter of Support Staff of the Year For an administrator promoting the role oflibrary support staff

• Faith Hektoen Award For individual career achievement or an outstanding program orproject in the field of children's services

PO Box 75, Middletown, CT 06457www.ctlibraryassociation.org

Connecticut LibrariesJanuary 2009 -- Volume 51, Number 1

Feature: CL’s VERSO ColumnistsMaxine Bleiweis resolves to think positive in 2009,page 2; Michele Jacobson refuses to attendanother role-playing workshop—unless the“patron” has to follow the script, page 6; JulianAiken thinks a wardrobe change can make a dif-ference in our image, page 8; and WilliamUricchio says library managers can learn from afamous baseball umpire.

Also…Karen Stevens reports on Trinity College’sWatkinson Library, page 1.

Kathy Leeds urges everyone to promote CLA’sLegislative Agenda, page 3.

Read about the man who created one of ourfavorite reference tools—Peter Mark Roget, page 4.

Southeastern CT libraries get a $1.5 million boost,page 5.

Douglas Lord interviews Susan Muro, page 7.

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDHartford, CT

Permit No. 3344

Being a member of CLA has enabled me topursue a leadership role in my profession, bothin the state and nationally. CLA has inspired meto become a leader by sponsoring myparticipation in the ALA Emerging LeadersProgram. I’ll put my leadership skills to use forCLA as a co-chair of the 2010 AnnualConference.

Jaime HammondReference/Serials LibrarianTraurig LRC LibraryNaugatuck Valley Community College

Join Me @ CLA

MEMBERSHIP INFOwww.ctlibraryassociation.org/member.htm

Robert Pinsky, former United States Poet Laureate (1997), will be akeynote speaker at the conference on Wednesday, April 29, at 4:45 p.m.Pinsky is the author of six books of poetry, four books of criticism, and two

books of translation. His honors include a Pulitzer Prize nomi-nation, a National Book Critics Circle award finalist, anAmerican Academy of Arts and Letters award, PoetryMagazine's Oscar Blumenthal prize, the William CarlosWilliams award, and a Guggenheim Foundation fellowship. Heis poetry editor of the weekly Internet magazine Slate andteaches at Boston University.

Mystery writer Diane Mott Davidson is the author of 14 best sellingnovels featuring the irresistible Goldy Schulz, a character with which manywomen can identify. A battered wife of a socially prominent physician,

Goldy’s escapades resulting from her catering service, and herinvolvement with murder, are the frosting on the cake. If all ofthis wasn't enough, the menus and recipes from Goldy's cater-ing service are included. Goldy's next adventure, Fatally Flaky,will be published in April 2009.

The CLA Conference IsYOUR CHANCE TO MEET…

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