James LaRue - myliblog

Thanks to the kindness of my friend Peggy Sullivan, I had the chance this evening to see Imogen Cooper, performing Piano Concerto No. 25 in C Major, K. 503. This was both my first time to see Cooper, and to visit the Harris Theater. My seat was the very last row, but right in the center. And Peggy was right: the view, and the acoustics, were fantastic. The rest of the show involved Jane Glover conducting Mozart (Ballet Music from Idomeneo, K. 367) and Haydn (Symphony No. 101 in D Major (clock). A terrific show. I just love  Baroque music, and the venue was great. Thanks, Peggy.

Today, Earth Day, I went down to Grant Park to join the estimated 40,000 people who showed up for the March for Science. And there were stars. Beaker! Many of the signs were equally clever. Some of them were pretty obviously political: Make America THINK again. Science is what makes America great. I've seen smarter cabinets at IKEA. Less invasions, more equations. Einstein was a refugee. You can't repeal and replace the laws of physics. Trump's team are like atoms - they make up everything. Don't frack with science. Twitler (Trump with Hitler mustache) Facts matter. Defiance for science. We're not resisters. We're transformers. Others were more about Earth Day: I'm with her (image of the globe). (Although come to think of it, that's political, too!) Keep the earth clean. It's not Uranus. May the forest be with you. Love yo mama (image of Earth). Still others were just funny: I don't think you understand the gravity o...

I'm just returning from the Texas Library Association, where I presented first with Marci Merola (director of ALA's Office for Library Advocacy) for our Intellectual Freedom and Advocacy Bootcamp, then with Kristin Pekoll (my assistant director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom) on intellectual freedom resources. I also had a chance to attend former ALA President Maureen Sullivan's session on Appreciative Inquiry and strategic planning. Maureen was great as always: clear, insightful, and representing some of the current best thinking about managerial leadership. Many of us have used the SWOT exercise (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats). But there's something better: SOAR. That stands for: Strengths: what works today? What is the best of what is? As Maureen said, even in difficult times, there's always something that's going right. Opportunities: Where are the possibilities not now being pursued? Aspiration: What are our hopes and dreams? ...