Horace Greeley and Major Adams - we need both
Thursday, October 8, 2009 at 05:25AM At our Minnesota Educational Media Organization (MEMO) conference last week, we were treated to two outstanding - but very different - keynote presentations.
On Friday, Dr. Scott (Dangerously Irrelevant) McLeod challenged us by asking:
Do I understand the global economic climate?
Do I support 21st Century Skills?
and right down to...
What does it mean to be a book?
What does it mean to be a library?
and...
Why am I here?
Do I truly "get it?"
Most of us felt pushed and maybe a little defensive. Even scared.
Scott played the role of big picture visionary - a modern day Horace "Go West, Young Man" Greeley. And did it well.
On Saturday, practicing school library media specialists Amy Oberts and Anita Beaman from central Illinois presented a more focused vision and some concrete means of reaching it. In an extremely entertaining fashion, A&A demonstrated how literature can be promoted and the reading experience expanded through the use of Web2.0 tools. They answered, in a way, Scott's question 'What is a book?" And we did it by "shakin' our bacon."
Amy and Anita played the role of the wagon master (Major Seth Adams of Wagon Train in my mispent youth). Their destination was more specific and a realization of getting there was demonstrated.
Folks, we need both the Greeleys and the Adams to inspire us, to scare us, to direct us, and to give us heart by showing us that change is possible and good.
I am happy to say that I can highly, highly recommend both Scott and the Amy/Anita team as wonderful keynote conference speakers.
Ward Bond in Wagon Train. Come on, you watched it.
Reader Comments (3)
Thanks, Doug, for the kind words. I also often do the more hands-on, concrete, can-this-help-me-tomorrow style of presentation / workshop that Amy and Anita did, but for administrators, not libarians / media specialists. You all are out of my league (on multiple fronts)!
Plus, apparently now I need to learn how to get folks 'shakin' their bacon!'
My dad will be so proud to hear me compared to Major Seth Adams! Thanks, so much for your kind words, Doug, and for inviting us to your wonderful conference. We had a terrific time.
Way to go Anita! :)