teachers – this is for you

I’ve been meaning to post a link to this for months.

Agnes Irwin, one of my favorite schools in the country, started the Dream Flags Project in 2003. It has blossomed and grown.

Teachers who are looking for an excellent project next year that revolves around themes of peace, poetry, art, and ways to connect with other schools – this is what you’re looking for.

But really, everyone should take a peek. It will make you smile.

Big kudos to teachers Jeff Harlan and Sandy Crow who are the godparents of this special project!

Are your toes damp?

Out here in the boonies we’ve had no flooding (she says with crossed fingers), but I’m a little concerned for my friends down in the Philly region.

Can someone from Hatboro/Horsham/Doylestown/Yardley/New Hope report in on how things are?

Downingtown? Lancaster? How about Carlisle?

I’m sending off my picture book mss back to the editor today, having researched the questions raised by the expert and reformatted the text to fit the new design. The last pass of TWISTED is due to arrive any moment, so I’ll hammer on that for a few days, then bid it a fond farewell. It is beginning to sink in that both of those books will be published next year. I better hurry up and write something new for ’08.

How to make yourself feel good today

The Dewey Donation System might be my favorite Internet concept of the year. It is a website that coordinates donations to libraries in the Gulf Coast region hard-hit by Katrina. They’ve set up wish lists on Amazon so you can order books that will be shipped directly to the libraries. Simple, fast, and elegant.

Our family just gave them American Gods, by Neil Gaiman, Parable of the Talents, by Octavia Butler, and Jimmy Zangwow’s Out-of-This-World Moon-Pie Adventure, by Toni DiTerlizzi. The first two are because I love fantasy & sci/fi (and Gaiman is in my Top 5 list), the last one because my S&S editor Kevin worked on it, and it is a fantastic book.

I challenge thee, LJ-reader. Check it out. Tell all your friends. Give if you can.

Make the world a better place!

(If you donate, let us know here – it would be cool to kep a running tally!)

Many thanks to melange428 for telling me about this. Say hi to Hannah and the AI girls for me!

More proof that librarians are angels on earth

The American Library Association’s annual conference is going on in New Orleans right now. (No, I’m not there. But I wish that I were.)

This is the first major convention to be held in New Orleans since hurricane Katrina devastated the city. I am not exactly what you call an insider, but from what I’ve heard the last few months, the leadership of ALA has been firm and committed about holding the convention there as a way to help the people of the region get back on there feet.

But that’s not all.

Librarians are volunteering their time and energy while in New Orleans to help with the reconstruction. More info.

Librarians have demanding, underpaid jobs. They provide access to information, education, and opportunities for enlightenment for all Americans. And they catch a lot of flack for it from people who do not understand the principles of the Constitution. But you know what? Most of them see that as an opportunity to educate people and encourage more discussion. Librarians make this country a great place.

Is anyone blogging from the conference besides professornana andhornbookfeed, and this guy ?

EDITED TO ADD – thanks for the feedback – here is what you told me:
Sara Ryan thisisnotanlj
Nielsen Hayden
Sarah Dessen writergrl
The YALSA blog!
Librarian.Net

In other librarian news, would somebody who has a myspace account, please send a note to this wonderful librarian and tell her I say thanks for doing a great job with her book club? Thanks.

Let’s say it all together: librarians rock!