[Note: You can Poster Yourself at the ALA Website (something I discovered by looking at Joyce's Libguides). ] I have to admit that there are some people in the world who make me tired and a little depressed. Joyce Valenza is the main one.She is pretty amazing, just scroll down her library's website and you can see all of her awards. Her website is chock full of interesting things, and it seems like every new Web 2.0 tool that comes along is just another old notch on her gun belt.
How does she do it? I don't think she sleeps. At all! Ever.
It's the only explanation. Of course, she could have a towering intellect and an amazingly organized mind. I did hear her speak at an Association of Indepedent School Librarians conference several years ago, and she is pretty brainy and organized as well as super nice. It was overwhelming, the sheer number of things she does and knows about. Dutifully, we all took copious notes. Then as we all were leaving her very energetic and amazing talk (it truly was spectacular, don't get me wrong! Funny, insightful and informative.), it hit us. We aren't Joyce Valenza. It's as if we all became a pack of Eeyores. Our heads dropped, our voices became whispers and our pace slowed to a crawl. One of looked at the others and said in a moan, "We can't do a quarter of what she does!" The rest of us just patted her on the back and moved along in silence.
So I was actually feeling a little good about myself when I started playing around with Libguides. Springfield didn't have any libguides. She hadn't found that playground. But it was only a matter of time. She's like Mad Eye Moody. She sees everything! You can't keep any neat technological advance from her.
This morning, one of our IT coordinators stopped in to tell me all about Joyce Valenza's AMAZING LIBGUIDES on WEB 2.0 TOOLS.
Thanks. I think I will kill myself now. But I went and I looked at them, because she is the guru of all things and I do respect her. I, even in my most small and humble way, try to replicate a teen-nitzy portion of the things she does.
Imagine my surprize when I saw two other names on the libguide! Two other people created the libguide! Two other people! Not Joyce!
You know what this means? It means that she might sleep after all!
It means that there might be hope for all of us!
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5 comments:
I am sad to read the name of your blog, that was the idea that I had for a blog to write about the perfect book and the perfect recipe. I thought I was original no one else would pair those two up! Of course I haven't done it yet, just thought about it, waiting for the ever elusive more time in my day. Clever idea! I will just have to do a different spin
CD, thank you for your very kind (I think!) words. I am flattered but so sad to hear that I have anything to do with you feeling depressed. OMG, it is so opposite my goal. This new information world is so exciting and a bit intimidating and a lot like laundry. You are never done. Stuff keeps getting thrown into the hamper. I know, the pace is accelerating, but you need to accept/embrace that you will never be on top of it. And whatever you can do as thoughtful scout and information/communication leader for your learning community will make a difference. I look forward to learning from you!
Oh, yes! They were very kind (though tongue firmly in cheek, I hope that was clear (I hoped the Mad Eye Moody reference was suitably humorous 8-)). You have been someone I have looked up to and followed for a long time. In fact we discussed your manifesto at one of our dept. meetings. But it was so long and challenging! We picked out the things we do, and picked out the things we wanted to try, and then picked out the future things. (There were still A LOT of things left!)
You rock, my dear.
Your blog post was so refreshing to read and I'm sorry it took me this long to stumble upon it. I "stumbled" upon it as I googled Joyce Valenza to find out what new things she has shared with the world. Mid-way through my first Joyce Valenza presentation, I felt the same way you did. I decided to heed her admonition right then and there. That admonition was to take one, two, possibly three ideas away from her workshop that I could apply. I attend her workshops every time I can because I've been able add those ideas together to come up with a bag of tools and tricks that works for me and my students.colleagues and administrators. I do feel a little humbled each time, but know that I am better for it.
Thanks so much! She really blows you away. She's just so darn amazing. It's a hard standard to live up to. 8-) Plus, I really love a good nap.
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