WLA 2009: Lynda Barry "Writing the Unthinkable"

[How exciting to even be in the same room as Lynda Barry! I've got celebrity awe...]

Writing the Unthinkable
Lynda Barry, multi-talented artist

• Recent book "What It Is" won WLA award
• Born in Wisconsin, again living in Wisconsin
• nervous
• sweat will Roschach you into a past life
• first breakup figured might as well get my wisdom teeth out - it already hurts
• singing to tune of Coalminers daughter - daughter of meat cutter and janitor from Phillipines
• German Shepherd look "she doesn't look Filipino" - quarter Norwegian, and that'll suck the color right out of you
• All she ever wanted to do was move back to the Midwest
• Lives in "Greater Footville"
• Yahtzee - 2009 - award from Wisconsin libraries and now speaking to them - coma inducing excitement

Libraries

• emily dickinson poems can be sung to many tunes - gershwin - loneliness as a good thing - library can sustain that kind of loneliness, good kind, of wanting something
• Smelling books is all the antidepressant I need
• Librarians good at people watching - always look busy like not paying attention, but you know who's in library - which kids are trouble - handing kid a book or laying on a table

Images

• Went to Evergreen State College 1974 - how I got into college is cuz they needed hippies really bad, and not enough in area - all had to do was glue lentils into shape of a peace sign to get full scholarship
• "Images" class - marilyn frasca[sp?] - asked a q: what is an image?
• Anything we call the arts is a container for what she called an image
• Remember your first phone number? - we all remember it - how about 3 numbers ago? - different areas of brain
• image is spontaneous, not trying - it just comes up, and it feels alive - emotions attached
• biological function - kids with blankie - always something in their hands - like librarian with pen or pencil - kid in airport all he had left was the leg of his incredible hunk doll - first artwork - personality into it - is it alive? no, but don't say it's dead - something in between
• book somebody gave you - they say they thought about you the whole time - favorite part? main character and conflict, then resolution... - finally read it - tickling feeling 20 pages in "this could be a good book" - like falling in love - don't mess this up, man! - can't put it down - that world - slow down when reading the last 40 pages - you lay in bed and hold that book - you want to kiss it - the object is forever changed
• image is specific - I wanted to know how to get an imaginary friend - realized I could lie - i had an imaginary imaginary friend - I had a friend with a real imaginary friend - name Sprinkles - only talk through moving fan - you can't make that up - friend tried to keep a journal every day - he found it from high school - started reading, all feelings, no details - he was so upset it was lik original footage of battle of waterloo shot by monkey - just bananas, bananas, bananas
• image is satisfying even if it doesn't make total sense - The Rascals - groovin on a sunday afternoon - that would be ecstasy - you and me and leslie groovin - really you and me endlessly groovin - not as good, can't picture it

Writing & creativity

• reliable structure - thought you needed a symbol of death to fit story arc - didn't realize that it already existed - don't have a ribcage because it was drawn by doctors
• if I start drawing, kids will always talk to me - i tell them I'm a cartoonist, they say draw a chicken, and they say you are! in Footville they say you hold on to that dream - when they ask what kind of books I write, i say horror cuz that's the look on their face
• scribble game with kids - ooh ooh I have a story and you can draw it! - chicken attack by jack - chicken eaten by man, went to portolet, out came chicken, make chicken boss of construction site
• first book wrote in 10 days in really big handwriting - next one took 10 years - i already knew what story was ging to be, knew story arc, and wrote on a computer
• "if i was doing this, how would i do it?" - if I was a kid, how would i do it? first make the book with construction paper and staples
• babysat kid who dictated story to me word by word, wouldn't give me the next word until i'd written it down
• everybody smoked while doing everything - mom smoked while watching bambi at movie theater - cake decorator perfect writing in frosting - i thought after painting book i could do this - finished story in 9 months
• when people say i wish i could draw, wish i could dance... - we give up so early - radio: if you want to be a ballerina, have to begin by age 3 - you hear at age 9 and give up - art - we give it to professionals - can only sing happy birthday, only movement left is exercise and you need an outfit so people know what you're doing - drawing = doodling while on hold - i ask people who say they can't draw, sculpture = peeling label off beer bottle while someone tells you their crazy dream from last night - if you want someone to care, say "that you were in" "at the end"
• brain looks in deep concentration like kid in deep play - not "fun" - it's some other thing - not playing with truck, but truck is playing with you
• all around world, people know if you have a kid who wasn't ever allowed to play will become a psychokiller - we know first hand - you can't play, but let's watch a kid playing really well with legos (picture, video, live) - does that help? no - same with adults
• adults don't think they can make something for no reason, just for experience
• brother would fold paper and draw line, draw 2 stick men with grenades and stare at it in cereal trance - ingredients have never looked so beautiful - after, he'd draw the war in red crayon, and yell out the words "incoming! save yourself!" - the paper didn't mean anything, he didn't keep it
• element of anxiety in play
• moms are on cell phones while with kids - playing with food, not sure he knew he was playing until mom said "what are you doing?" - we have internal voice
• if I was in a bar having a beer - which you can say in wisconsin to anyone! - no one would come up to you and say why are you doing that? you could be cleaning.

Helping people to write

• story of your life - often sounds like an obituary - i was born in xxxx, my mom was xxx, my dad was xxx, i went to xxx college, and then she died.
• picture car from childhood - are you inside or outside? - which seat? - which part facing? - day or night? - season? - how old are you? - directly in front of you? - to right? - to left? - behind you? - feet? - above head?
• you can do that with any noun - haircuts, teeth, dogs, other peoples' mothers - gerunds - squatting
• local historical society in Footville area - people who want to write their lives but don't knjow how - first person present tense for 8 minutes like happening right now - coming from image - always contain history
• walk down street and smell something remind you to aunt and uncle's house - flooding - one moment you're there and then not - happens thousands times each day - just need to freeze in that and ask above questions
• mental health - does life feel like it's something worth living?
• you as librarians are the guardians of the images - platform of meaningful life, and not being bored
• state of mind when listening to a joke - neighbors introduced themselves: Donovan and Joni Mitchell - really - joni loves jokes a little naughty like a lot of wisconsin women - oh come here i've got one for you -dog snored so bad she could never get sleep - vet didnt kow what to do - heard something if you tie a ribbon around dog's balls, will stop snoring - dog named chainsaw - did it and he quit snoring - husband out with boys and goes to bed - starts snoring - does same - quits snoring - good night's sleep - husband goes to take a pee - i can't remember what we did last night, but by god we took first and second place
• to get that joke you had to hold your mind open, not trying to figure out joke - joke is image, image, image, image goes to that - wireless communication - now you're going to go out and tell it - doesn't belong to anyone, belongs to everyone

"What It Is"

• Reading from "What It Is" - thank you for the award - done without a computer -
• what is an image - the formless thing that gives things form* "something can only become an illusion..." when you experience disillusionment
• "there are certain children who are told they are too sensitive..."
• sculpture the thinker - doesn't he look like he's never going to get another idea ever? - i have the piece of paper i'm working on, and the one next to it to keep my hand working - most important thing someone could have told me growing up
• doris mitchell school teacher in hillsborough wisconsin - her nephew donovan mitchell - she had kept all students papers in basement of farmhouse - sedimentary layers - i take her wherever i go because she didn't get to travel

Importance of books and the arts

• phantom limb pain - ramachandran - was ruining guy's life - dr. r had idea - built box with mirror so he could see mirror image of other arm - made fist then opened and relaxed - his pain went away - that's what images are
• book that saved life relieved phantom limb pain - nothing other than image can open up certain things
• notion that arts are an option, expendable - where do you put it in bookstore? - let's just take it out of schools - we ignore it at our peril because they're about as hard to come by as opposable thumbs
• party trick - wisconsin people are good at it - they have one trick - guy who can dance with beer on head - how'd you learn that
• I can sing without moving my lips - puffs out cheeks and sings inside - you are my sunshine

Questions

• Q: writing on a computer? A: at a certain point does work, but after the fact - took first draft and copy it - i do that with my students - i let it expand if it wanted to - copied again on manual typewriter - no delete button - i knew the story by then - next copied on computer - rule that i couldn't think about swtory unless had brush/pen in hand - our brains and hands shape have a lot to do with each other - difference in brain - writing is drawing - spatial relationships - lines are different - when are using brush, supposed to be exhaling - something about hands, and using fingers, not having delete button - computers are email source, distracting, deals you make with your computer
• Q: your images are flooding experience for me - i need to go out and buy your book for 14 year old daughter on verge of voice of reason taking over - you and public school teachers are the last possible person who can keep people from becoming just observers - reading is participating. A: if past 11/12, probably will keep. if you met a 4 year old who was terrified to draw a line with a crayon, you'd worry - but not 40 year old? - kids go to a page to find something - adults think they have to make something - remember using your hand as template for drawing a turkey?

Parting words

• Arts are not an elective, we ignore it at our peril
• Award and invitation meant so much to me - I've never given a talk at 8:45 in the morning before

Newsweek issues "best books" lists

Newsweek issued it's "Top 100 Books: The Meta-List" on June 29, as well as a list of "What To Read Now." How many have you read? How many does your library own? Just as interesting as the lists are the comments, and suggestions for titles that didn't make the list, but should have.

Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla Award announced

The Children's Book Award Committee has selected the 2008 Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla award winner, "Rabbit’s Gift: A Fable from China." Written by George Shannon and illustrated by Laura Dronzek, the book emphasizes the importance of friendship, community, and sharing. The warm, beautiful illustrations are a perfect complement to the story. Both the author and illustrator of this year’s book have significant Wisconsin ties. George Shannon lived in Eau Claire for many years, and Laura Dronzek lives in Madison.

The committee also named seven titles as exemplary of Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Literature:

"The Silenced" by James DeVita
"The Perfect Nest" by Catherine Friend
"The OK Book" illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
"Babies Can’t Eat Kimchee!" Written and illustrated by Susan L. Roth
"Terrible Storm" illustrated by S.D. Schindler
"Circle the Truth" by Pat Schmatz
"Keeping Corner" by Kashmira Sheth


The Elizabeth Burr/Worzalla award is given annually for excellence in children’s literature to a book by a book creator with Wisconsin ties. The award is named for Elizabeth Burr, who made outstanding and important contributions to library services for young people during her 27 years of service in Wisconsin, and Worzalla Publishing Company, which funds the award through a grant to the WLA Foundation.

WAPL - "One Book, One Community" Programs: the Do's and Don'ts

A panel discussion on several examples of community reads programs, which are growing in popularity.

Meg Shriver Appleton PL on organizing

• There were some key choices for the Fox Cities Community Read
• this was the 3rd year of community read in Appleton, and the 2d as a multi-library effort
• the most effective thing was partnering w/other libraries, bookstores & community groups
• selected a title in partnership with other libraries and organizations
  
• brought in the author to speak as the culminating
• have used the community read to focus on an issue
• APL buys hundreds of copies, using foundation funds
  

• Do:
• form partnerships
  
• Multiple libraries(Appleton, Neenah, Menasha, Kimberly-Little Chute, Kaukauna, UW-Fox) - allows choice of venues, cross-over by patrons - provides greater pool of funds from libraries
  
• Bookstores are good synergy for PR & sales, and can sometimes provide more economical access to author tours
• Businesses offer other partnership possibilities, such as catering for author reception, bus promotion
• select a title using wide representation to get community investment - last year the library partnered with newspaper, schools and bookstores to have a community vote on title -- this requires a lot of staff involvement to provide coordination, but it was popular and will likely do again
• take opportunity to discuss common issues --
  
• in 2008 Alice Hoffman was part of a larger book festival, creating lots of excitement, more partnerships and coss marketing opportunities
  
• in 2007 Nickel & Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich was foundation of Project Promise in partnership with community nonprofits and the media
  
• in 2005 Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson became foundation of community discussion about teen sexual assault, including a partnership with lots of schools, churches, community groups
  
• select book that allows for an author visit: it creates a pinnacle of the process, gives people the chance to discuss with the author
• use the ALA publication on planning a community read
• Don't
• Hesitate to do this!

Michael Kenney, Appleton PL, on marketing

• we're already starting process for next year
• marketing alone doesn't do it, the community read needs the expertise of librarians
• once author is selected, need to get word out, use available opportunities
• in planning process for 2007,
• brainstormed 30 titles from a broad-based selection group
• the group culled these down to five
• the local newspaper got enthusiastic pushing a vote
• vote nearly selected British author, wound up with Barbara Ehrenreich, who was initially too expensive
• the library made a proposal to Community Health Action Team of ThedaCare for funding -- they underwrote a large piece of the cost, but asked us to include other Fox Cities libraries
• having larger base, larger team created more marketing opportunities
• the community read grew into Project Promise, ongoing coalition effort to deal with poverty issues
• important to establish good working relationship with local press [examples presented of press coverage in local media]
• giant replica of book covers, t-shirts with cover for staff, are godd devices
  

• marketing
• need to identify goals for libraries, potential audience
• increases library exposure and profile, with corollary benefits

Ellen Connor, Manawa PL, small library program

• most ever spent was $900
• only pick Wisconsin authors -- available & affordable
• 1st book was Population 485
• in a small community, don't need big committee, not a lot of issues and politics, whole library staff can read the title -- and should
  
• Michael Perry's photo motivated people to read -- women liked his looks, men liked that he wore flannel
  
• bought copies of book for all firefighters & EMT
• timetable for the read: unveil book in December, give people until March to read, then author appears
• this is hard, hard work: you need to talk to every patron and try to persuade them to read the book -- can be exhausting, but is effective
• the staff first agrees on the book, because every staff person needs to read and promote
• nonfiction is more marketable to men, who often hesitate to read fiction
• library system support & graphic arts are key to holding down cost of PR materials
• buys 10-15 copies, minimal processing
  
• talk it up everywhere -- meetings, service clubs, posters in grocery stores
• get high school English teachers to give kids extra credit for reading the book
• pick your date carefully in a small town: one basketball game can put you out of business
• fortunate to have benefactor who underwrites programs, asks bank to pay for ads

Jessica MacPhail, Racine PL, another large library model

• hardest thing is to choose the book
• for the first book, met with literacy council, Hispanic council; book had to be in paperback, large print, audiobook, and in Spanish
• for first book, had radio interview rather than author appearance
• for second book, did baseball book to coincide with Miller Park opening --had contest to find errors in Shoeless Joe
• for third book, Fist Stick Knife Gun -- community supported ideas for nonviolent conflict resolution, encourage kids to express concerns
• for fourth book, tried for theme, got Holocaust survivor Motherland
• fifth book, Nickel & Dimed, support from business & social service agencies
• Seed Folks - partnership with gardeners
• in each case, there are natural coalitions to build around the title -- communities of interest
• structure of choosing books is loose, depending on who shows up, only current criteria are
• must be in paperback
• must be "discussionable"
• they buy 25 copies
• have experimented used BookCrossing for distribution of some copies
  

WAPL - Luncheon: The Writer's Real Life, or Be Your Own Boss! Work at Home and Pray for Universal Coverage

Jay Rath is a Madison area journalist, playwright, and author. He is a third generation writer. Rhonda Puntney (WAPL) chair gave a personal introduction. Jay started by noting that tomorrow's lunch speaker is an athletic coach who would most likely talk about teamwork. He presented the opposing view, since writers work alone.

He quoted Edna Ferber who said: "I hate writing, I adore having written. ..." Much of his work is free-lance which requires knowing about a lot of different areas. He therefore visits the Madison Public Library about every other day.

He joked about rewriting Dickens' Tale of Two Cites for the 21st Century and used "smiley" icons for punctuations of the opening sentence. He then cited some of the stereotypes of writers with references to pop culture portrayals.

It is really hard to capture the essence of a humor talk. Jay was a great speaker, a series of laughs. Great stories. He read sections of both articles and his books.

It was a humorous talk about writing, libraries, and the challenges of the 21st century.

WAPL 2007: Google Scholar & Google Books

Google Scholar & Google Books: Bringing a World of Information to Your Community
a presentation by Pamela O’Donnell, Academic Librarian at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Google Image:

• you can search by image size and image type as well as by keyword
  

Google Video / YouTube

• it's what our patrons are watching
• it's how they're accessing information

Google News

• it's constantly updated
• an RSS feed is available

Google Maps

• mashups take existing data and show it in a new context
• using Google Maps with literature - look at the places mentioned in the book Kite Runner; a way to make a book more relevant to students
• search for the pyramids in Egypt & view the satellite view to see the Sphynx's nose
• use the technology to engage with your audience / patrons
  

On Google, the link to More shows you choices based on your IP address; for example, when on the UW Madison campus it offers patents, scholar
Click on the "More Google" to see the full range of services offered by Google

Google Documents

• used for committee work
• committee members can edit documents jointly

Search operators:

• minus sign: to eliminate searches that don't deal with your topic, like "virus - computer - web"
• plus sign: to make sure the term will show up in the results, like "spider +internet"
• tilde: looks for synonyms, like "~auto to find car, truck, vehicle, automobile
• asterisk: wild card, like "Wisconsin is the * capitol of the world"
• use "link:" to find what other web pages are linking to another, like "link:http://www.wla.lib.wi.us/wapl/"
• use "info:"to see the metadata about a web site; useful to check out info about a web site to see if there's bias or an agenda
• quotation marks: to search for phrases
• use Domain Search to eliminate .coms from your search
• more advanced search operators are available at http://www.google.com/intl/en/help/refinesearch.html
  

Google Patents

• full text search from scanned documents
• you can search within a patent
• abstract, drawings and text are all available
  
• OCR scanning can be flaky, so re-try your search if it doesn't bring anything up the first time
• once you have the patent number, go to www.pat2pdf.org to get a PDF of the patent
• U.S. patents only
  

Google Book Search

• starting with English language, and now branching out
• search full view books
• many of the books are in the public domain
• great for student history projects
• some table of contents hyperlinked to pages within the document
• you can search within the book for a term
• you can also find the physical copy of the book in a library, using their link to Open WorldCat

Range of access in Google Books:

• full view
• limited view - limited preview is about 80% of the items in Google Book; mostly for books published after 1923 because of copyright laws
• snippet view - your search phrase in context
• no preview - just gives citation information

Google Scholar http://www.google.com/patents

• click the link for "recent articles" to use the dropdown menu to limit your search by date of publication
• use Advance Scholar search http://scholar.google.com/advanced_scholar_search?hl=en&lr= to refine your search

UPDATE: Pamela's PowerPoint slides & handouts (in both MS Word & PDF) are now available at the WAPL Post-Conference Resources page.