As a new member of the Texas Library Association and a fresh attendee at this year's 2010 Annual Conference in San Antonio, I'm hoping to learn a few riffs from my fellow library professionals. Like jazz musicians and other some such music cats, picking up on a riff here or there is as much a part of the learning and participation process as any formal, academic training. Having done a master's in music and also about to complete my graduate LIS degree, I am well aware of the limitations of theoretical knowledge and the importance of showing up and learning directly from my colleagues. This week I'm hoping to hear what themes, motifs, riffs, and rhythms are currently working for library professionals in a chaotic universe of information, technology, social media, and tough economic times. Although I currently work for the San Antonio Public Library, I will be looking for working themes at academic, special, and school libraries. Suffice it to say that, as attendees share their success and challenges with one another about their work, greater levels of value and experience will arise for users of libraries all over the state. The rhythm and blues of library work, like other institutions that serve our collective education, growth, and leisure, keeps rollin' and I hope to learn a few riffs to take back to my library and create a little share-enity music for everyone.
