This was a pretty wimpy lunch. I'm sure the other bloggers will give the scoop on just how wimpy. We were all annoyed, puzzled, and trying to make the most out of our investment of time.
We sat with a good group:
Alissa Rupp - Seattle Design Firm
Ann - Mineesota Childen's Museum
? - Kidspace
Liza Blair - Chatanooga, TN
? - Iowa
I'm sure the other blogs will have filled you in about no microphone, not enough handouts, and the million part questions that we were to discuss - while eating - and being filmed! I was irritated - there was no mention of filming and no photo releases. I do not wish to be filmed talking with my mouth full trying to figure out what we're talking about.
We did a great job plugging our PALs and how they are helping to educate parent's perception (and community and state of california) about the importance and relevance of play. The woman from Minnesota talked about having something she felt was similar (it isn't) - library program "storyville" exhibit in libraries. I inferred from her tone, that she was puzzled how a library came up with this idea and why we were doing it. Renee explained how our idea formed long ago and has grown into it's current state and is heading for the second floor.
I let her know that there has a been a big movement in libraries to focus on early literacy (and for years our library has received a number of grants supporting our project) and how libraries are now realizing the importance of learning through play. That young children do not pick up a book, but play, so it is only natural that libraries would offer information and service to all members of the family. And it is so important - that the state library has supported this project through all of it's phases.
We tried to answer the million part questions -
Q. Show relevance of what we're doing
A. focus on kinderarten readiness, partnerships, outreach, research studies
Q. How can we learn from each other?
A. become recognized voices in community, create standards to adhere to, regional conferences, ACM list serv, collaborate with NAEYC / Headstart, work with other museums
Good to meet others in the field and discuss. We will get a contact list out of this meeting - which opens the door for questions and partnerships.
Sounds like you did a great job of plugging the PALs. Yesterday, I was at an Infopeople Advisory Board meeting in Burbank and a new Infopeople trainer who lives in Illinois (I think - somewhere in the middle) came up to talk to me. She said she has heard all about our library and what we are doing. She specifically mentioned the remodel and how amazing she thought the after pictures were (especially the lobby). She also went on and on about the PALs. She had seen the pix and watched the video and just thought they were amazing. She does something with early childhood development. Sounds like she is putting a class together about early literacy and thinks we would be a great addition to the class. We didn't have long to talk (she cornered me in the restroom), but she seemed really nice and enthusiastic about working with us... very cool!
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