Saturday, May 31, 2014

Getting ready for the big trip!

This blog will report on the adventures I have as I spend the summer following the Lewis and Clark Trail, carrying out research in public libraries across the country.

Public libraries are such an important part of the fabric of a community, and of our country as a whole. Every day, public libraries are providing exciting services, providing information, sharing materials – a vast array of fantastic things!! And I want their work to be much more widely known that it is now.

This summer I’ll be visiting public libraries and interviewing librarians to learn about the work they are doing, their history, and their plans for the future. It will be fantastic! Stay tuned to learn more about the great work being done by librarians everywhere!!

As this is a summer road trip, along a historic trail, I will also be sharing the historical sites I pass, tourist stops and information, and exciting/interesting places I visit. I will keep track of all of them here. To preserve the spirit of the original Corps of Discovery, I’ll be camping in many places; I’ll share those adventures as well. Last summer while camping I saw grizzly bears, Dahl sheep, elk, moose, and all sorts of other creatures big and small. I also stuffed myself on huckleberries and blackberries and blueberries picked along the way - yum! While I may not see grizzlies this summer, I am sure to see all kinds of exciting animals and plants just as the Lewis and Clark group did. 

Their journey was one of exploration, with a focus on recording information and bringing it back to share with everyone else. This goal is much more easily accomplished now, with all the social media tools available to us. Follow me here, and on Twitter  (https://twitter.com/TrailLibraries) to share in the adventure!

I also have the advantage of paved roads, a working GPS (named Jane, and she talks to me - calling out directions and missed turns), a cell phone, and a jeep; so my trip will not be as arduous as theirs – and will involve visiting many libraries, which they did not have the opportunity to do. Visiting public libraries is a great idea for anyone on a summer vacation - as well as everyone who stays home! Public libraries offer many exciting and useful services and programs for their communities; visit yours today!!

For now, I am working to get everything organized and ready to depart for Stage One of the trip. Any big trip involves a lot of planning and preparation and packing, so I am putting my librarians skills in organizing to work! Several months of preparation are about to culminate in this trip and I can hardly wait to get started!!!




The Library Corps of Discovery prepares to depart!

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