Meet The Unquiet Library

Last weekend, searching twitter for any Peter Sis mentions, I came upon The Unquiet Librarian. Several posts ensued. I linked to Buffy (said librarian) on twitter. I sent her a tweet (how strange to be using this language, but there it is) when Peter Sis joined (here! you can link, too) twitter (thanks to the magnificent Eric Case). 

Today, I found myself stopping by one of Buffy's blogs again (it has become habit forming). And, after one week, I can tell you this: I'm not really sure Buffy sleeps a lot. This woman gets an incredible amount of stuff done. (And there are so many who benefit from her work!) 

Buffy Hamilton and Ruth Fleet are on to the most amazing thing: they've created The Unquite Library (which, today, has an incredibly moving tribute by author Laurie Halse Anderson). It's on the web. (It's sort of all over the web.) And I am amazed and delighted and thoroughly pleased to bring them to you (and will probably do so again and again). 

The reason I started this blog was that I was convinced that children and young adults would be finding their books on the web....their art on the web...and an awful lot of answers (and, obviously, questions) on the web. And I had high hopes that we could band together and make sure that this will be done in the way that is best for the children. 

There will always be real books (the kind we all love, made with paper and ink all those good things), but there will be...there begins to be...so much more: the future is wide open... 

Just as the delivery of news is undergoing revolutionary change, so must (and is) publishing. It's just the beginning. How wonderful that the Unquiet Library is helping to lead the way!

Thanks, Unquiet Library. Onward!

It's all very exciting, really, isn't it?

 

"Sis’s speech was definitely the buzz of the conference—everyone I talked to raved about how moving and powerful he was."

This morning, Buffy Hamilton posted more about the 40th Children's Literature Conference at UGA:

"I had the privilege of hearing Peter Sis speak—-I have been a fan for many years, but I discovered on Friday that not only is he an incredibly talented author and illustrator, but he is also an amazing storyteller. 

We all sat enthralled as he shared stories about his childhood behind the Iron Curtain in Czechoslovakia, his early experiences in the United States, and his journey of becoming a children’s illustrator and author. 

I only wish that I could have heard more of his stories—I easily could have listened to him all afternoon! If you are interested in his work and art, check out my favorite pages at theunquietlibrary/petersis; if you are in Georgia, there are several great (and recent!!!) full text articles about and by Mr. Sis in the Academic Search Complete database from EBSCOhost via GALILEO...

What I find most inspiring about his work is the common theme of celebrating those who dare to dream and to engender change. In his speech (which really felt more like the most wonderful informal conversation of storytelling!), he repeated his admiration of those who bring about change just as he did in this 2003 article he wrote for School Library Journal:

'As an author and artist, I want my work to celebrate innovative thinkers. And I want to show that the discovery process is not easy. Let’s face it, very few individuals have changed the way we view our world. That’s why visionaries like Columbus, Newton, and Einstein continue to inspire me.'

I think the idea of having the courage to believe in your dreams and ideals in the face of difficult circumstances resonated with many of us in the audience... 

Hearing Sis’s own story of overcoming adversity and overwhelming odds personally renewed my spirit and commitment to my vision of school libraries and librarianship. 

For me, being a school librarian is not just a job—it is a way of a life, a calling, an art, a mission. I think that is where the power of story lies—we can often find or even discover ourselves in the stories of others to help us find our way."

To read the entire post, click here. 

Well worth your time.

Go, Unquiet Librarian! 

Love your style.