Spectrum Leadership Institute and ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition

This past year, I was honored to be one of the 2024-2025 American Library Association (ALA) Spectrum Scholars! The ALA Spectrum Program provides scholarships to diverse and distinguished students pursuing their graduate degrees in library and information science. As part of the scholarship, I received assistance to attend the Spectrum Leadership Institute (SLI) at the ALA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Cindy Hohl

The SLI was a 3-day institute, where we attended sessions such as Things I Didn’t Learn in Library School; Cover Letters, CVs, and Interviewing; and Professional Development. We heard from various Spectrum Alumni, such as Cindy Hohl, 2024-2025 ALA President. Sam Helmick, the 2025-2026 ALA President, spoke with us as well. I learned a lot at the SLI, and it was wonderful to meet other Spectrum Scholars and alumni!

Receiving my SLI Completion Certificate
Photo courtesy of ALA

In addition to the SLI sessions, there were numerous sessions to attend at ALA Annual, including talks and poster sessions related to public, school, and academic librarianship. 

ALA Annual

The Library Marketplace had many exhibitors, demos, author signings, and talks. There was so much going on, it was impossible to attend everything! Some of the sessions I went to included the Stonewall Book Awards, and talks with featured speakers, including George Takei, Grace Lin, and Geena Davis. In addition to the conference, I enjoyed exploring Philadelphia! Overall, I had a wonderful experience attending the SLI and ALA Annual, and I hope to contribute back to the Spectrum community and attend ALA Annual again in the future.

George Takei

Happy Lunar New Year!

Happy Lunar New Year! Lunar New Year celebrates the beginning of spring and the beginning of the new year in many countries. It is celebrated in China, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, North Korea, South Korea, and more. Some common Lunar New Year celebrations include parties, firecrackers, parades, and feasts. Red decorations and wearing red are common during Lunar New Year, because red symbolizes joy and good fortune.

The Asian Zodiac includes 12 signs that repeat every 12 years, with each year representing a different animal with different personality traits. This year is the year of the dragon.

Last week, we celebrated the Lunar New Year at the Dedham Public Library!

Our celebration included a variety of crafts and activities, such as making Korean New Year drums, paper lanterns, and zodiac sign cards.

Korean New Year Drum Craft

Zodiac sign and paper lantern crafts

Then we read the book The Tray of Togetherness by Flo Leung, and participants made their very own trays of togetherness!

Reading The Tray of Togetherness by Flo Leung

 

We hope you all had a great day, and have a wonderful year!

Resources and more information on Lunar New Year:

• https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/lunar-new-year/ 
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chinese-New-Year
• https://time.com/6248736/lunar-new-year-celebrations/ 
• https://www.rd.com/article/what-is-my-chinese-zodiac-sign/
• https://www.vietnamonline.com/culture/vietnamese-zodiac.html
• https://www.statista.com/chart/29164/chinese-new-year-public-holiday/

Inspiring Reads

I am very excited to be working at the Wellesley, Dedham, and Westwood Public Libraries! Lately I have been reading inspirational books, and I have found them to be so hopeful, thought-provoking, and motivational that I wanted to share some with you.

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World
by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, with Douglas Abrams 

How do you find joy in life with the difficulties we face everyday and all of the suffering in the world? Spiritual leaders Archbishop Tutu and the Dalai Lama meet for a week in Dharamsala, India, to discuss how they live joyful lives through their different practices, and how you can do it yourself. 

Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life
by Thich Nhat Hanh

Vietnamese Buddhist Zen Master and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh shares his stories and wisdom, to teach us how to increase our awareness and find peace in every moment even during stressful times.

The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times
by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams

It is not easy to feel hopeful with the global climate crisis that is affecting humans, animals, and the environment. Through Jane Goodall's experiences and conversations with Douglas Abrams, discover more about hope, Jane's four reasons for hope, and Jane's thoughts on how we can live in harmony with nature.

The Gift of Anger: And Other Lessons from My Grandfather Mahatma Gandhi
by Arun Gandhi

Arun Gandhi recounts living with his renown grandfather, Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi for two years, when he was just twelve years old. Each chapter provides a different lesson on how to live peacefully and create positive change in the world.

Happy Reading!