GENERAL NEWS: Thanksgiving update

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

This update is about being thankful.

Last night we held the dedication of the Penny Hayne Memorial Collection in our Center for Children’s Books and Literacy at the State Library. Dr. Pat Feehan and Ellen Hinrichs did a wonderful job and gave all of us a chance to remember Penny and be thankful that we knew her. The collection of books receiving the Caldecott and Newbery awards is available for review, just email Ellen at ellenh@sc.edu for times.

Mary Douglas Hayne gave a beautiful rendition of her mother’s characteristics with a series of children’s book titles. We will try to get a video up on the web soon. Dr. Feehan made a wonderful slide show about Penny and her influence in our lives. It will be available on our website and I encourage you to take the time to view it.

So tomorrow is Thanksgiving. I am so thankful to have known Penny Hayne. I can still hear her laughing in the Davis College halls. She taught me about being a real southern woman and I treasure that!

I am thankful for my work and my good fortune to serve with such great colleagues. I am thankful for our students and the influence they will wield on library and information services in the future. I am thankful for each and every friend and alumni of our school for helping us be the best.

Just one more for now – I am thankful to live in a democracy and send gratitude to the men and women that keep us safe. Well, I guess you can see where my mind has been. . .

Other news is that our accreditation visit went very well and the COA has us on their agenda at the midyear ALA meeting in Boston in January for Sunday at 9:30. Keep thinking good thoughts!

I’m meeting with Madonna this afternoon to work on the summer and fall 2010 schedule and am looking forward to working the puzzle again. Working with Madonna is so much fun! I’m not sure you all get to know what a great sense of humor she has – I love it!

Tomorrow, I’ll fly to my mom’s in Tucson and on 12/2, I’m giving a talk at the University of Arizona. I’ll be checking email if you need me before next Friday. In the meantime, here are five things to think about while you decide if want another piece of pie:

1. Can video games spur interest in real history? [MSNBC]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33883613/ns/technology_and_science-games/

2. Digital School Library Leaves Book Stacks Behind [All Things Considered]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120097876

3. Comic books are good for children's learning [Telegraph]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/6516323/Comic-books-are-good-for- childrens-learning.html

4. The Future of Reading [Library Journal]

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6703852.html

5. The power of time off [TED]

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/stefan_sagmeister_the_power_of_time_off.html

May you have many things to be thankful for. Enjoy your families and friends and be sure to hug a librarian and a teacher!

Yours,

Dr. Sam