90 years of the Delaware Library Association!

At the MLA/DLA Annual Conference kicked off, we had the great opportunity to have two Upward Bound, Summer Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy work study students as part of the pre session workshop- Farming Seeds of Information – Student / Librarian Projects in the Field.

In retrospect, it was quite amazing to see how these two students worked in between their AP tests to be able to plan and implement a workshop session that strived to connect how youth can be advocates for librarianship ands environmentalism across many pages.

Having the good fortune to be able to have attendees break into groups and focus on some problems set before them, and have them provide their input, both presenters and attendees walked away with ideas neither had thought of. That is the point, generations of knowledge, diversity of organizations can come together and empower the resources of librarianship, community involvement, environmentalism, volunteerism, and an awareness of how combining forces with diverse partners results in a better community for all.

What we came to understand was also is how little many realize school libraries, when present, have the power to empower and create advocates of youth when it comes to librarianship, environmentalism, literacy, and a movement for change.

Students Melisa and Brianna had never been in a situation to present at a conference and they had so much to share of how they have made an impact – and they were already juniors in High School. I realized how much, and how many students have a chance to make a HUGE dent in the unknown experiences school libraries can have when given a voice through the individual they affect, the students.

Without a doubt the planners of the MLA/DLA Conference planners were able to facilitate a powerful and welcoming venue for individuals to find potential for moving forward amid a world of adversity that has come to the doorstep of literacy and librarians everywhere. Anita Crawford, Josh Stone Scott Businsky, Catherine Wimberly, Anne Hiller Clark, Jaclyn Hale, JUST TO NAME A FEW, made the conference start, look – easy. The months of meetings, planning, and adjustments, most people from the outside would have no idea. I thought this and the connection to how much people are unaware of what happens in school libraries and what it takes for so many to have that Aha moment when they see how youth take the lead.

What really caught me off guard was the Keynote speaker, Hilton Carter. Did you you he had an amazing podcast series? Did you know he was as close to a plant whisperer as you can imagine? Did you know Hilton Carter had five published books? Our student presenters Brianna and Melisa had a pretty vast knowledge of propagation and plants and yet, did you expect such a deep dive conversation about what plants to best propagate, start with, work with and realize ways they impact us as individuals AND on top of all that, on top of all THAT – think about how environmentalism and librarianship work together? When I saw how much Melisa and Brianna connected to a key note speaker at an annual library conference, I knew how diverse and wide ranging librarianship is if given a chance by ALL people. Hilton Carter was an amazing start to the MLA/DLA Conference and jumpstarted so many ideas we attempted to take on in our pre session.

What you do not know is so much more powerful than what you do know – and how often do we not realize this? At some point in Mr. Carter’s session, the question was asked of what plant resources are found in Delaware and there was a long pause. I will provide a small teaser of what is unknown, but what you should discover in Delaware – plant/environmentally related:

AMAZING State Parks – From Brandywine to Cape Henlopen

Amazing non-state hiking areas in DE- https://www.alltrails.com/us/delaware/seaford

East Coast Garden Center – Specializes in Natives to Delaware – Millsboro

Edward H. McCabe Nature preserve – Milton DE area.

Hiking Trails near Seaford, DE.

Highland Orchard Farms – Wilmington, DE

Lewes Gardens– Lewes DE

Mill Pond Garden – Lewes, DE

Mt. Cuba Center – Hockessin, DE

Nemours Gardens – Wilmington, DE

Rose Valley Greenhouse – Dover DE

University of Delaware Botanical Gardens – Newark, DE

Willey Farms Garden Center – Townsend, DE

Winterthur Gardens – Winterthur, DE

and this is not revealing some of the most serene pockets of beauty that many would never discover on a quick tour of DE, another opportunity for youth to find ways to make these discoveries.

This was the FIRST day, of an amazing day (May 8th), of the DLA/MLA Conference.

We urge you to follow DASL incoming President Christina Personti, DASL Past President Debbie Supplee, as they were recruited to take over AASL’s Instagram for a day and see more magic happening as the paths of environment and librarianship continue to cross paths. And unlike Robert Frost’s poem, you will not have to choose paths, but are able to take it all in. Informing others of what school librarians and school libraries do for a community, as mini-exampled through two young presenters, is just the beginning.