Spent the first day listening.
A fellow passenger getting off the train in Philly said she didn’t remember what the Newbery and Caldecott Medals are but got excitement in her voice when I explained them.
A librarian from Ohio shared how deeply concerned she is about censorship of books allowed into the hands -and minds- of folks who are incarcerated and how she is going to research this issue deeply.
An author at a booth in the Exhibit Hall described seeing tears in the eyes of a librarian who had stopped for a moment to read a poem in this author’s book and with eyes brimming had discovered loving poetry for the very first time.
So privileged to watch a man sit down to a steak dinner last night among a roomful of librarians who had read his story and heard him talk about all the years he lived in a refugee camp. Those were years when he ate one meal a day – in the morning. No steak dinners then. He ate maize. He never gave up. Now he helps those who are still there….waiting and hoping.
Hoping to have the privilege of listening again today.