It's been nine years since the ALA Annual Conference was held in Washington. I looked back in my records: of the 33 Annuals I've attended since 1984 four have been in Washington. (I've also been to Washington for three ALA Midwinter Meetings, several legislative days, and
WHCLIS -- and three AAUW national conventions.)
Pat and I arrived on Wednesday, June 19. We had time to see the
Phillips Collection that afternoon. (Two Chicagoans raised on the Art Institute found the Renoir right away.)
The
Freedom to Read Foundation met all day Thursday. I've been the liaison to FTRF from
United for Libraries for five years or so. It's a great assignment.
After the
Legacy Society lunch on Friday Pat and I went to the
National Portrait Gallery . We enjoyed several of the galleries -- and then everything changed.
We were hustling along the mezzanine level of one wing. Pat tripped over an electrical cord (it was taped down; she just stepped wrong), twisted and fell. Hard. The museum personnel and security guards were great. The DCFD paramedics were great. The ambulance took us to George Washington University Hospital. We were in the ER for five hours -- x-ray determined broken hip, MRI determined no concussion -- finally a room was available for her.
I went to see her to take her suitcase and before I left. (Annoyingly, the flowers that I ordered on behalf of the Retired Members Round Table were never delivered.) Pat was in the hospital until Tuesday when she was released to a rehab facility in DC. It will be two or three weeks until they deem it safe for her to fly (or be driven) home to Chicago. Her brother is her next of kin and he and his family will arrange for that stage. DC-area library friends have visited and will provide on-site assistance.
Meanwhile, the conference continued! In addition to committee meetings I went to five book-and-author sessions. Here I am with Karine Jean-Pierre whose memoir will be published this fall. (I told her that my husband is one of her biggest fans. She signed a copy of the book to him "with love and respect." He was thrilled. :))
The Freedom to Read Foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala reception on Saturday evening.
I used the fREADom banner I made last month in my ad in the program book.
Americans and the Holocaust is the new exhibit at the
National Holocaust Museum . I got an invitation to an after-hours special showing. (They're offering grants to libraries for a touring version.)
Americans were well aware of the Nazi persecution but the Federal executive and legislative branches severely limited the number of Jews allowed to emigrate.
I saw two long-time friends.
I've known Lorene since 1972 -- library school at Mizzou. She's been director of the Beatrice, NE, public library for 42 years. Not retired yet!
In 1981 my husband hired Bob to be government documents librarian at Pittsburg State University. Bob was appointed dean of the library in 1985. He retired about eight years ago and stayed in Pittsburg though he travels extensively.
Here's a shot of the exhibit floor.
I shipped five boxes of book and swag.
They were in the front hall when I got home.
Next post: quilts and post-conference adventures!
The ALA Biblioquilters have been making quilts since 2001 to benefit the Hoy Scholarship Fund.
Pat and I arrived on Wednesday, June 19. We had time to see the Phillips Collection that afternoon. (Two Chicagoans raised on the Art Institute found the Renoir right away.)
After the Legacy Society lunch on Friday Pat and I went to the National Portrait Gallery . We enjoyed several of the galleries -- and then everything changed.
Meanwhile, the conference continued! In addition to committee meetings I went to five book-and-author sessions. Here I am with Karine Jean-Pierre whose memoir will be published this fall. (I told her that my husband is one of her biggest fans. She signed a copy of the book to him "with love and respect." He was thrilled. :))
The Freedom to Read Foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala reception on Saturday evening.
I used the fREADom banner I made last month in my ad in the program book.
Americans and the Holocaust is the new exhibit at the National Holocaust Museum . I got an invitation to an after-hours special showing. (They're offering grants to libraries for a touring version.) Americans were well aware of the Nazi persecution but the Federal executive and legislative branches severely limited the number of Jews allowed to emigrate. 
I've known Lorene since 1972 -- library school at Mizzou. She's been director of the Beatrice, NE, public library for 42 years. Not retired yet!
The AAUW summer luncheon was Tuesday. There's a silent auction and a 50/50 cash raffle, too. I donated several canvas tote bags (library conference souvenirs), some miscellaneous treasures and book, and two quilts. The proceeds raised $959 for our STEM scholarships given to graduating senior girls. (Adding this week's revenue to the money on hand mean that we have three scholarships funded for 2020!) 
I was one of six guild members who participated in a monthly round robin. At this week's meeting we got our projects back.
Here's mine. Wow! I'm delighted.
Here's this month's wonky house for the guild BOM. This is the layout. The design will include sashing. There will be one more tall block and one more square block.
I went to the north unit of Illinois Beach State Park on Saturday afternoon. My quest: flags (wild iris). They differ from hybrid iris in that they grow at water's edge. They come in purple/blue and yellow. I got a distance photo (see the upper right in the collage). I also found other wildflowers -- a hybrid iris at the shoreline (how'd that get there?!), phlox, lupine, coreopsis, fringed puccoon, shooting star -- and a mushroom.
Usually when I drive to and from a meeting in central Illinois I am in a hurry and I don't stop. On Sunday afternoon I pulled off at Dwight ("the first stoplight from Chicago" on old U.S. 66) to see the Oughton Windmill.
A few miles north of Dwight I pulled off again. I've seen the sign -- and the building -- for Countryside Village for years. It's 2/3 gifts (made-in-China, mostly) and candles, jams/jellies, etc., and 1/3 quilting with a great selection. Two one-yard pieces from the 50%-off section and more daisies.
