I am preparing for a "vacation" break that is turning not to be one of enjoyment. My Mother is very ill and in the hospital....I am scared and yet at the same time, know that the Lord will prevail no matter the outcome. I don't like that feeling of disconnection,and not knowing, its quite unnerving (3:25pm).

(4:33pm) I just got off the phone with my Mom-mee, as usual, my fears are put to rest, at least for a little while. She is still waiting to hear about test results and the next steps that needs to happen (Big Whew!). My mother is awesome and my hero for many different reasons and on so many different levels. Her humor and wit is a great comfort to me in times of stress and uncertainty. I will be with her on Saturday afternoon and I look forward to her "in my face" reassurances.

On a more "librarian-esque" tip, today was a good class I had this afternoon with ND-Libraries ... "The Autobiographical Incident". We laughed, we shared, we reflected, and of course, we wrote some stuff down. I encouraged the students to take this assignment seriously and as an important process of work in general. There are aspects of work we may not like, and that their motivation should be to know that they completed the assignment. On a sidebar, I suggested that maybe they shouldn't get paid if they don't complete it.

Of course the students were in shock by my response, but I think it begs the question: Is their a penalty of sorts if they don't complete the assignments?

One of the students ask (while in class), "what is my motivation to write my biography? I suggested that self satisfaction knowing that they followed directions. Clearly, our students this summer fit the profile of a "Millennial". Onward and upward...... To my students who represent the Summer of '07:

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny."

Additional Reflective Thoughts for the Day.......

"Family faces are .....mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future". --Gail Lumet Buckley, Writer

A mother's love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, it never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking”--Helen Rice

"The mother-child relationship is paradoxical and, in a sense, tragic. It requires the most intense love on the mother's side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother, and to become fully independent.”--Erich Fromm

"I blame my mother for nothing, but forgive her for everything"-Mary J. Blige

"Some are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together.”--Pearl S. Buck

"Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people”--Eleanor Roosevelt

"The young man knows the rules but the old man knows the exceptions”--Oilver Wendell Holmes

Since most of my colleagues I usually work with are at ALA, its given me a chance to engage with their Mentees. I decided that based on my interactions, I am going to tweek the autobiography class a bit.

I have been fortunate to participate in an online discussion re: What is Library 2.0? So far, the definitions that have resulted from the participants are:

Library 2.0: Taking library service and library content to the user where they are at. Making the focus of library service: user-centered, gradual improvements that are ongoing with the mentality that some library services, resources or tools may cease to exist. Make your library at least as attractive as the most attractive retail store.

According to Jack Maness: Library 2.0 is the application of interactive, collaborative, and multi-media web-based technologies to web-based library services and collections.

Words of Inspiration

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy"

--Martin Luther King, JR. 1929-1968: Civil Rights Activist and Nobel Laureate

"I found, while thinking about the far-reaching world of the creative black women, that often the truest answer to a question that really matters can be found very close"--Alice Walker, Writer

"Imagine what a harmonious world it could be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing"-Quincy Jones, Musician and Business Executive

"A race like an individual, lifts itself up by lifting others up"
-Booker T. Washington, 1856-1915: Educator

This is my "Mobile Librarian" logo created by one of my talented and creative colleagues, Elaine Savely. I really appreciated how she took a frame of an idea and created this logo. Kudos, praises, and gratitude to you always........


Most of my librarian-colleagues here at ND are off to the annual ALA Conference in Washington DC. I would have went if I weren't in process of moving and bringing my work as a Librarian in Residence to a close. My writing continues as well as meeting with my Mentee, Sardius at least once a week. We enjoyed a break of eating ice cream and I sharing with her the attributes that contributed to my decision to become a librarian. Librarianship is very multi-dimensional and given her abilities, skills, and interests it could be a rewarding career for her as well. She mentioned that her father who is also her Pastor will be celebrating his pastoral anniversary next week so her congregation is busy with last minute preparations. She is feeling good about the work she is doing here and I think, just maybe, there is a "librarian spirit" within her.

Words of Wisdom for today.......

"Our liberation begins when the truth of our own experiences is admitted to ourselves"--Alice Walker, Writer/Poet/Womanist

"The greatest gift is not being afraid to question"--Ruby Dee, Actor

"Deal with yourself as an individual worthy of respect and make everyone else deal with you the same way" --Nikki Giovanni, Poet/Professor

"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it"
--Lena Horne, Entertainer

"When life knocks you down, try to fall on your back because if you can look up, you can get up" --Les Brown, Motivational Speaker

My thirty days with Pat L. have been a wonderful time for me to focus on my current/future work responsibilities, and to gather a cadre of literature on leadership;especially in the areas of:

• Modeling 21st century librarianship behavior
• Encouraging the Heart by creating a spirit of community with people I work with within University Libraries, as well as with colleagues at ND, and building a repertoire with community leaders in the Michiana community
• Giving Pat L. socks to remind her of our promise to adopt working principles from our "Commitment Memo" from the May Institute ('07).

3 Things I have learned about leadership:

Being a leader means being a follower...... Good leaders envoke their followers to step in/out of leadership responsibilities. "The leadership is there. If you go out and work with your people, then the leadership will emerge" -Bob Moses, Civil rights activist

Being a leader means doing the difficult........ Good leaders do the difficult things. As Joyce Meyer stated once: "God sets you free when he puts the things you fear all around you--God wants you to confront the things you fear or are angry about the most....God keeps putting the people, the situations, the behaviors that we hate in our midst for this very reason. Our freedom to lead comes from confronting these things........"

Good leaders urge people to "keep on keeping on".......Good leaders urge their followers to become the person they are ordained to become....

"I judge no one, knowing that judging others causes major energy leaks in my life. Judging others is not in my job description. When I judge others, I am automatically "out of bounds and out of tune.......especially with myself. God will deal with other's lives.....I am a transparent leader.....I know my strength is in my openess and honesty with others"---from Jesus:CEO, Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership (1992) by Laurie Beth Jones.

I had lunch with my Mentee, Miss. Sardius Giden. What a delightful and engaging young lady who is truly on her way towards greatness. Sardius is grounded, focused, and ready to "make her mark in the world. We had lunch today at University Club here at ND. I gave her a "gift bag of goodies" that only a true "Girly-Girl" can appreciate. She warmly received my gift and I look forward to touching base with her throughout the program this summer.

The students are writing honest and thought-provoking Blog entries and I look forward to reading them. I also sent an e-mail to all of the Mentors to encourage that they make comments on their student's Blogs as well.

I look forward to the opportunities to encourage and engage our IMLS students this Summer. On that note, here are some humbling & profound words of wisdom:

"The inspiration of the race is the race"-Edward Wilmot Blyden, 1832-1912-Scholar & Diplomat

"I eschew racial pride because of my conception of what should properly be the object of pride for an individual; something that he or she has accomplished"-Randall Kennedy, Law Professor

"Our future expectations must be turned into present realities"-James Cone, Theologian

"None of us are responsible for our birth. Our responsibility is the use we make of life" -Joshua Henry Jones, 1886-1934, Novelist & Newspaperman

So its the end of the day and I was reflecting back to the days when I truly had no cares in the world other than "hanging out with friends" and loving LL Cool J. The summer months really bring me into this state of mind. I found a video with LL and Jennifer Lopez in a song that mixes "old school hip-hop" beats into it. WOW! yeah, thats right...It's still with me..I still got a lil' swag goin on......!

Congratulations to my "compadrea", Elizabeth Rodriguez of Purdue Libraries http://www.lib.purdue.edu/diversity/fellows/rodriquez/index.htm! She has been awarded one of six Spectrum Scholar Doctoral Scholarships at the University of Pittsburgh for 2007. Elizabeth is an awesome person and librarian who is definitely going to make her mark in the librarian profession. I am so deeply and profoundly proud to know her and consider her one of my good friends in library land! You go Girrl!

Words of Wisdom for today:

"Failure to make possibilities is the most dangerous and common mistake one can make"--Mae Jemison, Astronaut

Some quotes that reflect how love is so important in the work we do, what our beliefs, our political agendas, our morality, our values, and how we lay claim to its existence in our lives.



LOVE
"I leave you love. Love builds. It is positive and helpful. It is more beneficial than hate. Injuries quickly forgotten quickly pass away. Personally and racially, our enemies must be forgiven. Our aim must be to create a world of fellowship and justice where no man's skin color or religion is held against him. "Love thy neighbor" is precept which could transform the world if it were universally practiced"--Mary McLeod Bethune, Educator: 1875-1955

"Love is a rock against the wind"--Etheridge Knight, Poet

"Love means exposing yourself to the pains of being hurt....deeply hurt by someone you trust"--Renita Weems, Seminary Professor

"Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is growing up"-James Baldwin, Writer and Activist, 1924-1987

What a great way to begin the week. The Blogging class I taught last Thursday have produced amazing results. These are links to four awesome colleagues from our 2007 IMLS Project:

Kendra Crew http://mylifehasnowbegun.blogspot.com

Sardius Giden (My Mentee) http://kickinitwitchrist.blogspot.comKorey

Korey Jackson http://truelifeofkoreyjackson.blogspot.com

Mara E. Martinez http://trackstargirl.blogspot.com

Ibukun T. Olubano http://ibeokonthebanjo.blogspot.com

Joel Viramonstesjr http://laxisawayoflife.blogspot.com/

Andrea Washington http://dancinginthedarkness88.blogspot.com

Words of Wisdom:

On Vision: "I had to practically hypnotize myself into thinking I was going to be a success"
-John Singleton

On Unity: "I am because we are; and since we are, therefore I am"-John Mbuti

On Collective Work & Responsibility: "No matter what accomplishment you make, somebody helps you"--Althea Gibson

On Fufillment: "I don't think there's anything in the world I can do...In my creative source, whatever that is, I don't see why I can't sculpt. Why shouldn't I? Human beings sculpt. I'm a human being"---Maya Angelou

I finished my Blog class today with the 2007 group of students. It was an interesting session. I made sure that I stressed the importance of Blogging three times per week starting today. I had one student concerned about the availability of internet access. This opportunity is for them to work, learn, grow, and make discoveries about the library profession that they may not be aware of. Our new group created some interesting blogs for beginners. Hopefully, this experience will lead to bigger and better things.

What did I learn about myself this afternoon?
That I have no room for excuses not to complete this assignment as part of their work responsibilities. The "mommie voice" almost stepped in. Luckily, I was able to instantly "pull-back" and come back to my "librarian extraordinaire" self. This is such an awesome time to consider librarianship as a career option...I believe we have some potential Library Science candidates.


Words of Wisdom to pass on to our IMLS students:

"We can't rely on anyone but ourselves to define our existence, to shape the image of ourselves."--Spike Lee, Filmaker

"Nothing can dim the light which shines from within."--Maya Angelou, Novelist & Poet

"You can't base your life on other people's expectations."--Stevie Wonder, Singer

"Stand on your two feet, amd fight like hell for your place in the world."--Amy J. Garvey, Nationalist Leader

Greetings to the University of Notre Dame's IMLS Students!

In about 20 minutes or so, I will be instructing our Summer 2007 how to go about creating a Blog as part of their work assignments. You are going to enjoy this very much! See ya'll in a few......

Leslie

What an incredible week......
My vacation time was truly needed and appreciated. I came back to work rested and re-energized. I had gifts in my mailbox: Free books from the National Library of Education, an awesome Lavender notepad with purple writing pens, and a "cutey-patootie" coffee mug from the "Library Friar" that says "Good Friends are near to your heart". My colleagues are awesome. Tim just brought me my new business cards, AWESOME!

May Institute-Commitment Memo Update
Pat loves her socks so far. I have to say she is doing an excellent job with what she is committed to and so am I. I got teased about my "collaboration mantra" commitment but thats alright.
Another reflection on Leadership from "Jesus CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership" By Laurie Beth Jones (1992):

Jesus: He Held Them Accountable:

"Accountibility is a key factor in management because it is the cornerstone of empowerment and personal growth. If no one is accountable for a project, no one gets to grow through the experience of it. ...Holding people accountable allows them the opportunity to sign their name on a portrait of success, no matter how small that portrait might be. It gives them their next growth challenge in a defined and measurable form. To treat them as equals is to hold them accountable."

Reflection questions for leaders:
1. Do you constantly rescue others, or do you hold them accountable?
2. "How do you do both?

A Volunteer Opportunity
Pat Marvel, (574) 234-7795, St. Margaret's House, 117 N. Lafayette Blvd.
South Bend, Indiana 46601
http://www.stmargaretshouse.org/how_you_can_help.html
This is an AWESOME charitable organization that serves women and children.

Ah, vacation, where are-est thou?
Today, I have managed to down-size my "To-Do" list to three items still not yet complete. I am taking an extended weekend break to not do anything library related except read my book that I got written by Sue Monk Kidd. Hooray for me.

New Position start date, 24 days and counting........
It has been a flurry of activity for me as it relates to pending work as the Reference/First Year Experience/Education Librarian. I am getting excited by the day. My future work has possible perks! YooWHO!.......:

Going to Hawaii for an AWESOME conference anyone?
http://www.sc.edu/fye/events/international/
Felicia and I both agreed that this would be an awesome experience being that both of our positions require First Year Experience Students and Outreach. The presentations being offered would justify our attendance.

University of Illinois: Undergraduate Library and the Division of Housing. Check out this creative collaboration between the Undergraduate Library and theDivision of Housing at the University of Illinois:http://tuxedo.housing.uiuc.edu/video/UGL/07UndergradLibrary.wmv

Excitement from I.R.I.S. (aka Reference Services):
The Reference area of Hesburgh is looking more modern these last couple of days....we have a new reference desk, and the cutest furniture that was delivered this week. "Library as AWESOME Collaborative work space" is looking up. I am concerned about it looking too cluttered, but changes/deletions/arrangements of the space is still happening. So any final opinions of the "newness of it all" is still pending from me. I actually would love to have the new green like chairs/loungers in my house (Smile).

May Institute redux...
Pat L. & I have partnered for 30 days to examine how we are going to incorporate May Institute tools into our everyday work. With that, I have agreed to "SOCK" her as a reminder to incorporate learned principles. She loved the socks I brought her this morning. Thanks also for the sound reflective tools of knowledge you gave me this morning Pat. I carried it with me in my work today.

REFLECTION FOR TODAY'S LEADERS:
The Phantom of the Opera is a classic example of how not to motivate others. Wanting love, the Phantom subverts his true talents, dons a mask, and lives in the underground, trying to motivate people through tricks, loud organ music, smoke, and other negative special effects. The end result is that people fear him and hunt him down. Only when the mask is ripped off does he receive an honest, sincere kiss from the lovely Christine. Do you operate like the Phantom, using half masks, closed doors, and whispers in smoke-filled rooms?
A Fact about the Human Condition:
People can handle the truth. In fact, they probably sense it already. When you are totally open with them, true collegiality and learning has begun. Jesus did not hide his tears or his fears. He was transparent before his people.
What are the obstacles that keep you from being a transparent leader?
Source: Jesus, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership (1994). Hyperion Books, New York; ISBN#0-7868-8241-7. This was a gift from my former boss, Sue Yowell at Christmas- 2000 during my transformational experiences at the University of Detroit Mercy.

May 23, 2007

My long-term goal is to become a library dean and director of a university and or college library. But for right now, I want to focus my career aspirations on providing quality reference services to First Year undergraduate students, becoming a subject librarian of Education, getting published and presenting at conferences.

The last couple of weeks I've been focusing on what a "21st Century Academic Librarian" is in relation to my work at Notre Dame and the academic library community as a whole. I have opportunities to work on projects with academic colleagues across the country,the state of Indiana, as well as my work here @ ND. In other words, Collaborative projects are where I get my energy/enthusiasm from for the work I do. Which brings me to a deep regret I am currently "marinating on" this morning. I made the mistake of discussing my concerns about colleagues with other colleagues and unfortunately its taken on a life of its own. Basically, I broke my own rule......as Florida Evans from the 70's television comedy once said, "D**m, D**m, D**m.......AnyWHO, onward and upward.......

I got a lovely card from the librarians at Purdue University. Thanks ladies...it was my absolute pleasure to be your "Hostess" that afternoon. At our deparment meeting yesterday morning, I passed the card around of your appreciation and made sure that Nigel got the card as well. I look forward to seeing most of you again at our luncheon in July for our Diversity students who will be working this summer with us....Hugs.....

A wonderful quote from a book that I reference when I speak to mentoring groups: "Social Intelligence" by Karl Albrecht(2006):
"
Authenticity is about the desire and ability to let yourself be real, not phony or contrived.....It's how you connect with other people......It's a reliance on or a belief in yourself, so you can take real authorship and ownership of your space or place."

May 14, 2007

Last week at work ended on a positive note. I was treated to lunch by one of my favorite people within University Libraries and I joined Cheri Smith and Julianne C. Turner, Associate Professor of Psychology at Starbucks here on campus. To date, I have met two Education faculty of which I can provide library service to them and their students.

I also had the distinct opportunity to meet Michael Lorenzen, Head of Reference Services at Central Michigan University. He is also the author of a website I first learned about in library school and today utilize in my work as an instruction librarian: http://www.librarianinstruction.com It is always a great opportunity to put one's work with a face. He was visiting our campus as part of a group here to interview Fr. Hesburgh.

May 1, 2007

I am officially working on overdrive; I got to get my final edits done for the book I am working on. I am bringing closure to my "Mobile Librarian" project by Monday May 6th, I have two articles to finish for consideration of publication, my work office looks like a "war-zone", I may have missed a serious deadline of a project I am working on, I've been invited to consider another speaking engagement, and, and, and, the list goes on and on and on......

All of these things to do before my new position begins on 01 July 2007! It's all good...(as my daughter tells me every so often). Somewhere in the midst of this, there is quiet contemplation. I am at peace knowing that I will get it all done, and still come out on top of my "game". I joined a couple of listservs recently and man, do I have a lot more messages to respond to. The discussions are insightful and I am finding that they are giving me ideas as to what I can incorporate in the Fall as the new "First Year Experience" Librarian.

I found the following articles/blogs helpful in compiling my Bibliography for one of the articles I am working on:

Easily Distracted: Culture, Politics, Academia and Other Shiny Objects (Blog)

"A Thing I've Learned about Teaching"
http://weblogs.swarthmore.edu/burke/?p=63

Change is not always as good as a rest: How college faculty deal with changes in higher education
By Alan Clements
Times Higher Education Supplement 0049-3929
July 5, 2002, 545, p20 (1).

New Tech for the Virtual Classroom by Matthew Scnittman
BizEd., Vol. 6 (1), (2007), pg.56.

April 30, 2007

Another person who brought fond memories of my childhood in the 70's-early 80's was a character played by Mr. Lawson Deming called, "Sir Graves Ghastly". Mr. Deming died on Friday, April 27, 2007 at the age of 94 years. My Saturday afternoons, once my weekly chores were done, were filled with memories of watching this delightful and sometimes scary (depending on what movie he was showing that afternoon) movies (Bella Lugosi as Dracula Boris Karloff as Frankenstein); these were the standard movies he showed; Sir Graves started to introduce those horror movies with Christopher Lee and Vincent Price...thats when it got really scary.....There is a website dedicated to this beloved Count and what he brought to countless youth in Metro Detroit while I was growing up. Now those were the scariest movies to watch!
Sir Graves Ghastly: http://www.SirGravesGhastly.com. He was on Detroit television for 15 years..there are an amazing number of fans out there! WOW!....

April 24, 2007

Over the weekend, one of my favorite writers passed away due to a car accident. While an undergraduate student, I was introduced to the writing world of Mr. David Halberstam. I took a history class for credit about the 1950's of which set the tone for the civil rights movement. The book we used as a textbook was written by Mr. Halberstam entitled "The Fifties" (ISBN# 0517156075). A review from Amazon.com mentions: "This book is a very valuable work, but be cognizant of the fact that it does not fit these events into an overall American history context - there is very little mention of events prior to 1945, and even less of events after 1960. It is a solid primer on the years 1950-1959, and will pique the readers' interest, thus paving the way to read more specialized studies in the future." This is a great loss to the literary/journalism world of writing. One of my favorite hometown journalists wrote a very engaging tribute about Mr. Halberstam who was a friend of his.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070424/COL01/704240416/1010/NEWS08&template=printart

April 22, 2007

Friday's visit with my Librarian Friends from Purdue and Davenport Universities went extremely well. Our lunch at Legends went off really well; the food was "top-knotch". I was deeply, deeply touched by librarian colleagues who took time out of their busy schedules to come by room 222a and share their insights, experiences, humor, and solid advice regarding the academic librarian profession. It was an awesome day. I learned alot about my colleagues here as well.....It was a good time had by all and maybe we can host such a gathering at another time here at Notre Dame. See, I knew there was a reason I wanted to work here beyond my residency!

April 15, 2007

Since the announcement of my new job at Notre Dame, there has been a flurry of congratulations from current and former colleagues in library land. Its a wonderful feeling of accomplishment and finally getting to a point in my life to which I can exhale fully. I am looking forward to seeing my library friends this coming Friday at Notre Dame. We had such a wonderful time in Seattle in late January and it will be good to touch base again. I am getting really excited!

I am working my "Mobile Librarian" project until the end of the semester..Its been picking up pretty fairly...I am going to put a report together for consideration of publication in the very near future. I am also working on the book I am editing; its moving along at a good pace right now. I still need to catch up on some e-mails I've gotten in the last couple of weeks.

Oh well...onward and upward........

Leslie