N.H. LIBRARIES CONFERENCE WIRED TO READ IN 2000 - A POSTSCRIPT

by Paula Chessin

Another successful joint conference of the New Hampshire Library Association and the New Hampshire Educational Media Association took place on May 16-17, 2000 at the Center of New Hampshire in Manchester with almost 600 attendees. Once again, librarians in New Hampshire have proven their ability to work hard together AND have a good time! There were workshops of common concern as well as workshops that appealed to the individual groups. We all use (and sometimes struggle with) the same technology, we all try our hardest to provide the best kind of service for our patrons/students, and we all need to keep up with our changing profession by being lifelong learners and advocates. This conference helped us with all of these issues and more.

Both luncheon speakers, Jack Gantos on Tuesday and Esme Codell on Wednesday, were gifted storytellers. They both made us laugh out loud and gave us food for thought. Stephenie Nugent was a wonderful part of our Tuesday dinner program, giving us all a chance to "meet" Celia Thaxter.

Over 20 New Hampshire authors were available throughout the conference for book signing and chatting. Such authors as Donald Hall, Erick Ingraham, Maxine Kumin, Holly Meade, Chris Demarest, Mary Lynn Ray and many more made us all Wired to Read.

Programs from the Life and Times of Tasha Tudor to Managing Stress and Conflict at Work to Integrating the Internet to Bringing Teens to the Library to Feng Shui to Library Advocacy to Storycollecting/Storyboarding were well-attended and well-received. There really was something for everyone!

The exhibitors were as generous as ever, contributing gifts to both the Great Giveaway and the Sticker Safari. And anyone who visited Kim Sowles for a massage, knows what a treat that was.

The "Wire to Read in 2000" conference is over but the learning continues.