The Reading Post

Ah. . .the business of libraries. Committees, meetings, sessions, proposals, resolutions.  Crowds, people, colleagues and friends, dear friends.

And the busyness of librarians at a working conference. Racing to meetings. Serving on this and that committee. "How did you like that session? I have a proposal for all to consider. Whereas. . . Be it Resolved."

And the midst of all this life and the living of our days, Death visits. Most will never know, but some  will be forever changed by this event. The business is not so important, and we pause in our busyness.

Rest easy, friend. You are loved, and you will be missed. And we are all better for having known you, or known of you. We pause a moment, and reflect and remember, and the business of the world will continue. We are changed, inextricably, and forever.

And because of that, we will move on. The business and the busyness will continue.

Who knew there was so much music to be heard at Texas Library Association conference?

We began the day with kazoos and drums. I'm bringing enough kazoos back for our own little VPL kazoo band.

We listened to poetry, guitars, trumpets, drums and string bass at another program, and the exhibit hall was filled with all different types of musical offerings, from videos, to storytellers and singers, to background music.

It was enough to make a musician smile, and we did.  Early and often.

It is another early morning. Our first general session at TLA Conference presents authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson.

Both began their writing lives as adult authors, but have morphed into wildly popular juvenile authors.

Barry, as one would expect from reading his humor column for years is very, very funny.

Pearson, as would might NOT expect from reading his adult books is very, very funny.

Their tag-team presentation kept us laughing and inspired us as well. They are both members of an all-author band named "The Rock Bottom Remainders," so they bring an appreciation of music and the arts to their presentations.

When asked about their characters, Barry said that Molly, their principal protagonist in the Peter Pan novels was inspired by both their daughters, and is a kick-butt heroine.

In addition to raising money for Literacy through the Rock Bottom Remainders, they write to encourage everyone, especially kids, to read for pleasure.

May their tribe increase.