Sunday, March 25, 2007


My Job Interview for a Permanent position @ ND:
This is an exciting time for myself and my fellow co-resident, Felicia Smith. We both had our interviews on Thursday & Friday for a librarian position at ND. It was full of thought-provoking and engaging questions from ND library colleagues as well as from the Dean of First Year Studies. I will finish the rest of my interview process tommorow. I believe my presentation and quite a few of my responses gave everyone a sense of my work ethic, style, and how I can add to the continued successes of University Libraries within the position description provided to me. The Search Committee allowed me to decide where we would meet for dinner. This went really well, because the Committee members have never experienced dining at this restaurant. I picked the Main Street Grille in Mishawaka becasue I had good memories of meeting Laura B., Margaret P., Dwight K., and Andy Boze of the Search Committee for my application of the Librarian in Residence position. It was a great introduction to the people who have been my colleagues during my residency. Stay tuned for more information.......

Indiana Black Librarian's Network - Spring Meeting:
I have been receiving e-mails from Indiana Librarians who I have had the pleasure of meeting since 2005. Charlotte P. from Indiana University-South Bend (Not a librarian but a Black Cultural Icon & elected official in South Bend) will represent South Bend at this upcoming gathering at the end of this week. I am almost done with my PPoint and key highlights of my talk to my library colleagues who will be joining me in Fort Wayne, Indiana. For many of them, I hope to put a name with a face at this event.

Reflecting on a young life that's over............
One of my sister's called me Saturday morning to inform me that the gifted and talented child of some very dear childhood and former Detroit community friends was killed in an automobile accident during her Spring Break. I knew Morgan Guice as a small child & the apple of her parent's eye;I can recall how she impacted everyone she knew. She was to graduate from Purdue University this spring, and had looked forward to a promising career in the performing arts. My sister mentioned that busloads of students from Purdue and Texas came to celebrate the life of a young lady who loved and showed the value of love with family, friends, and community. This is a devastating loss for immediate family members and for her academic community at Purdue as well as our community within the City of Detroit. If your reading this Blog, take a moment to offer prayers for her family, and especially her mother at this time. Speaking from the standpoint of a mother, its hard to fathom our children passing from this life before us. My sister mentioned that both her parents are at an extreme loss for words and understanding. The kindness of prayers is needed at this time. I found an image of Morgan and as you can see, her warmth and love for humanity spills out.....

March 7, 2007

I have not had the time literally to Blog. My schedule has been an AWESOME creation of: teaching, researching, writing, interviewing, and preparing my presentation for the Indiana Black Librarians keynote address and now my presentation for a position that really fits into what I want to do following my Librarian in Residence position at Notre Dame. This is truly an exciting and exhausting time for me, yet I feel "Blessed in the midst of it all". A colleague of mine here thinks my "Mobile Librarian" project is elementary at best, but it goes to show you how much the students, faculty and staffers outside the library and in the library think its going well. My stats prove that its a worthwhile endeavor......

I am excited about one of my new projects....creating a one credit course on Information Literacy. I am going back to my old "stomping grounds" next week. I mentioned to my former boss what I am doing, and he is going to give me some AWESOME resources to incorporate into my curriculum. I am so blessed to have people in my corner! My life is RICH with people who thrive on my successes as much as I and my family thrives on it. I am a "Millionaire" already!.....

I am also looking forward to touching base with former library colleagues and my colleagues from my former careers as Professional Fundraiser/Grant-Writer& in Student Affairs. I haven't been "home" since last July, so I am getting the opportunity to celebrate my big birthday all over again with my "Girlz". Its going to be uplifting spiritually, mentally, and physically. I miss the hugs and fellowship with these people and I look forward to it! Thank God for the Internet to communicate via Chat and or e-mail.....

My Supreme "Shout-Outs" go to: Elaine Savely (You took my concept and ran with it! You have a friend for LIFE!), Laurie McGowan (thanks for creating AWESOME bookmarks for my project!), Sandy Collins (Thankz for once again showing me how to print my Posters!), The I.R.I.S. team, especially my FEARLESS Leader, Sherri Jones ( I am in AWE of your Leadership...You go!), Hugh Page (Your support of my Projects is something I value and appreciate!), Richard Pierce, Al Tillery (You WILL be missed at the end of the semester), Beverly Love-Holt, Sara Busdiecker (Thank You for giving me Community @ Notre Dame!), and of course, University Libraries @ Notre Dame for allowing me to co-define my role as a Librarian in Residence these last two years...I am Blessed!

From Black Pearls: Daily Affirmations & Inspirations for African-Americans:

PERSEVERANCE: "I'm inspired when I walk down the street and still see people trying. A lot of them look as if they're on their last leg, but they're still getting up somehow"--Faith Ringgold

How dare we give up, break down, and roll over when so many who have it worse hang in there!...We must always look for inspiration. Reading about others' travails and how they vanquished prejudice, ill health, and every kind of disability can restore our faith in the human spirit---particularly our own!...It's up to us to recharge, so that our will to persevere is strengthened.......

Until the week of March 19th, I bid you Blessings, Peace, Wisdom, & Love.....

--Leslie