Comments on: The journey home

By: Meredith Farkas

Meredith Farkas — Wed, 30 May 2007 01:47:43 +0000

Oh Josalyn, believe me, I was starstruck myself! I was absolutely blown away by what you accomplished during 5 Weeks and I can’t wait to hear about what you end up doing in the future. Keep in touch!

By: Josalyn

Josalyn — Wed, 30 May 2007 01:43:57 +0000

I’m so Happy that I met you at the ENY-ACRL Conference. I was star struck!! You did an excellent job as the keynote! I do hope you achieve balance and remain postive – it’s tough. I just want you to know what a difference you made/make in so many librarians lives. Thank you so much!!

By: Janie H.

Janie H. — Sat, 26 May 2007 13:48:08 +0000

I hear you so much on the burn out. I was there 4 years ago and it was really hard to step back and say No to certain speaking engagements. I am not sure that I would have, except that the adoption process pretty much forced me to keep my calendar clear as I never knew when we would need to travel. My focus is always on my family first now, and whenever I feel work taking over my life I step back and remind myself what is essential. I hope you too can find the balance you seek while remaining active. Our profession is better for all your efforts.

By: Meredith Farkas

Meredith Farkas — Fri, 25 May 2007 22:42:32 +0000

I actually have very little experience in giving keynotes — only two.

OMG, Newfies are SO cute! I’d love to have one, but I vowed that I’d never get a dog I can’t lift. I think golden retrievers and labs are my size limit.

By: Scott Walter

Scott Walter — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:28:55 +0000

Meredith – you and I seem to have largely the same idea about keynotes, which I appreciate given your experience in giving them!

Mind you, the “King of the Conference” model has its appeal, as well

And, I have a Newfoundland dog, and I challenge anyone to find a “wetter” breed!

By: Michelle (Jane)

Michelle (Jane) — Fri, 25 May 2007 15:21:08 +0000

I liked your comment about choices. You are right. We have chosen to be this busy. That is why saying no is important. For some of us, me included, saying no is hard far many, many reasons, but I am working on it.

Meredith, you too can have your very own slobbery dog. I know where the breeder lives from whom I bought my slobbery dog. Or you could just get a pony. With a monocle. Or some such nonsense.

By: Fiona

Fiona — Fri, 25 May 2007 03:53:44 +0000

Absolutely agree on the issue of burnout, expectations, and goals. We do not spend enough time reflecting on our achievements, celebrating them.

I was recently asked to be a mentor for our state-association. I was really thrilled (but slightly daunted by the thought of more commitments!). I’m taking it as an opportunity to stop for a moment and be proud of what I’ve done to be asked. Hopefully this will also help with the feeling of always doing more and more.

Maybe a good thing to add to Library Success or elsewhere is a page on how to recognise and reward your successes – personal and your library’s. Because so often it seems that we don’t know how!

By: Roy Tennant

Roy Tennant — Fri, 25 May 2007 03:41:24 +0000

No, Meredith, you hit the nail on the head in terms of describing the purpose of a keynote. I mean, why call it a keynote otherwise? I hear you on the weariness, but in my own selfish way I’m hoping you will get some rest and return to the fray re-energized — we need you! And I mean “we” to mean all of us.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 25 May 2007 03:30:48 +0000

Much of what you’ve said here relates to why it is that I live in some ways as marginally as possible. I had a whole round of experiences during my first stint of graduate school that made me realize I needed to live more slowly. (Lest I sound as though I have it made, I should mention that I’m still working on figuring out how to do that.) Best of luck to you in figuring out how to make things work for you–and many of us will consider you a talented and worthwhile person all the same, regardless of what you do or don’t do.

By: Meredith Farkas

Meredith Farkas — Fri, 25 May 2007 03:14:00 +0000

Hi Scott. Well, my take is that a keynote speaks to the larger theme of the conference and is designed to set the tone, inspire and energize. If people come out of it feeling excited for what is going to come next and they can see a logical link between what you talked about and the subsequent sessions, you’re golden. But I’ve been to a lot of keynotes that had nothing to do with anything else going on at the conference, so I certainly could be wrong about this. Maybe it just means that you’re like the king/queen of the conference and can say whatever you want.