It's been crazy in Library Land!

Here are a couple of overdue (ha) pics taken during Carrie Ryan's visit.  She was fabulous!  A smash!  Carrie is a great public speaker (could it be that she's a former lawyer?) (although from what I hear, they're not always that articulate, so mayhaps not). 

Just look at that smile!

Carrie answered questions from our students and teachers.  Apparently, MN students ask more zombie-apocalypse questions than at other schools.  Go figure.

Congratulations to the winners of our:

Short story contest: Jasmine Pham
Poetry: Brittney Forster

They each won an autographed copy of the third book in Ryan's trilogy, The Dark and Hollow Places  as well as two free movie tickets.
Immediately after Carrie Ryan's visit, Mrs. Bligh and I headed out to TLA, the Texas Library Assc's annual conference. 

Yes, that's right.  Every year the librarians across TX get together to geek out over the newest in technology and books and to dream about a future in which there is complete intellectual freedom.  But more on that later.

Mao's Long March

My new fascination is Chairman Mao.  I'm so glad Mr. Chenowith and Mrs. Giblin asked Mrs. Bligh and I to work with them on a Long March project. 

I can't tell you what we have cooked up - but it's going to be great!

To prepare for this unit, I read Jean Fritz's China's Long March.  It sums up the Long March in an easy-to-understand format.  Why were they "marching"?  Why were the Communist forced out of their land?  Who led the way?  What did they eat?  (boiled grass)  Drink? (when no water, were reduced to drinking horse urine - it is sanitary, after all).

Fascinating, fascinating stuff.