Truth in Fiction: Love is the Drug by Alaya Dawn Johnson

"Everything is a drug, Coffee taught her that. Some are legal and some are illegal, some your brain makes on its own, and some your doctor dispenses in orange bottles, but it's all brain chemistry in the end." 

Marella talking to Bird p. 153

"There's nothing wrong with taking care of yourself, you know. What's the point of being brave if it destroys you?" p.169

"There can be no success without a clearly defined goal." p. 171

"There's no more painful rejection than that of the person who knows you best." p. 225

"Scientists learn about the world. It takes governments to use that knowledge for good or bad ends." p. 331

Truth in Fiction: Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero

"Living a lie is painful and doesn't do anyone any good. I had to be true to myself, because either way God would know if I was lying." 

Tia Bertha, page 282

Resolve to Rock 2015

Storytime Underground asked the Youth Services Providers across internetland to share their professional goals for 2015. I am resolved to rock in 2015, and here are my professional goals.

1. Create connections, community, and writings that have a positive impact on the world and those with whom I share this beautiful planet. I am in the unique and wonderful position of opening a brand new library branch, with a brand new building, and a brand new collection this year. My new library community deserves the absolute best, as does every community.

2. Read review journals, blogs, and professional literature. The queue of blog posts that I need to read is ridiculous; add to that the fact that I have stacks of journals at work and at home. I need to make time to read more of these publications and to do so in a timely manner. I need to keep up with my professional reading.

3. Learn Spanish AND maintain my French language skills. My new library community consists of a large number of Spanish speakers. I have to at least make an effort to learn Spanish, so that I can serve the community to the best of my abilities. While I am learning Spanish, I do not want to lose my French. I rarely use French here, but I do when I travel. And I just love the language.

4. Attend an awesome library conference. I am already scheduled to present at the Colorado Teen Literature Conference which is always awesome, but I am super excited about the possibility of attending my first NCAAL.

5. Schedule my blog posts. There have been several occasions when I thought I had published a post, but nope I look and the post is still in my Drafts. Of course by the time I think to look , I am writing a new blog post, and oftentimes the previous post is dated and/or no longer relevant for whatever reason.There is really no reason for that to happen when I know how to schedule.

Fresh Beginnings

Along with being a public librarian, I am also co-clerk of my Meeting's Library Committee. During our January meeting, committee members share stories that represent  “new beginnings” to each of us. History has shown us that we learn even more about each other with this pleasurable custom. Each year I tend to share a piece by Howard Thurman and this year was no different. Meditations of the Heart is my favorite (at this particular moment) work by Howard Thurman. "This is a New Year" and "I want to be Better " spoke to me in fresh ways and I will carry these meditations with me throughout 2015.  

Do you have any bookish traditions that you share with your library staff, family, or friends? Do you have favorite, books, passages, scriptures that are especially meaningful at certain times in your life? If so please share in the comments. Below is my favorite post-holiday reminder from Howard Thurman. Enjoy.

"The Work of Christmas" by Howard Thurman

When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:

To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry,
To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers,
To make music in the heart.