Sandra Says

The American Libraries blog, AL Inside Scoop, ran a post about the activities and services the Houston Public Library provided immediately after Hurricane Ike hit Houston.

Sandra Fernandez, manager of public relations for Houston Public Library, contacted me this morning to give us an update on what the library has done to aid in recovery from Hurricane Ike, which made landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast shortly after midnight September 13. After talking last week with Chicago Public Library Commissioner Mary Dempsey and development guru Pat Martin, and after hearing both of them agree that these tough financial times are exactly the right time for us to be trumpeting the value of public libraries, it was gratifying to hear about what a central role HPL is playing in the recovery.

[snip]

Fernandez noted in her e-mail that in the wake of the devastation of Hurricane Ike, “HPL stepped up to help respond to the post-Ike needs of fellow citizens and city employees. Library staff acted quickly to reopen its Central Library and to shift the focus from the provision of normal library services to concentrate on how to best use the library’s resources play an active role to help with the city’s recovery efforts.”

[snip]

It’s always nice to have your organization recognized for the good work it does. It’s also nice to get good quotes while you’re at it.

In the last two years I’ve moved three times. That’s three addresses in a little over 24 months. And, somehow, amongst all of that, I let my voter registration lapse.

I didn’t realize that I wasn’t registered until this weekend when, prompted by the looming deadline, I checked online. Lo and behold, I found out that I had only today to get myself registered or I wasn’t voting in this election.

I went, in person, to the offices at 1001 Preston and registered in person today. And I wasn’t the only one.

I’m glad I found out in time. I’m glad I was able to go and register, so I can go and vote. I’m glad I’m going to get a chance to voice my opinion.

If you are registered, please remember to vote. It’s important.

As much as I love living online (social media has made it possible to fake a life by connecting virtually without ever needing to connect offline) I often find myself craving face-to-face communication. What’s my world come to when I have to schedule lunch or coffee with a friend six weeks in advance?

I’m trying to be better about pushing myself out of my office doors for more than media interactions, going to after-work events and weekend activities with my friends. Yes, it’s something I have to work at. I’ve allowed myself to get comfortable with my couch potato existence and am reconnecting with the social butterfly I once was.

As I find myself going to Ladies Who Lunch, networking events, happy hours, and cultural activities, I realize that my creativity is flowing easily. Amazing how one feeds into the other. Balance is, I guess, more than just a buzzword.