Learning, learning, learning

Do you remember the old "school of hard knocks"? That's the location of jobs, family and experience that teaches us skills. In my world of professionals -- librarians, administrators, historians, and professionals -- there are even more opportunities to learn: workshops, conventions, meetings. There is an amazing the overlap of technique and experience.
For instance, at a recent class on listening skills the instructor talked about how mothers learn early to get on their knees and listen intently to the explanations of their 2 or 3 year old child who is struggling with language skills. Moms are successful listeners. How then do we carry those skills into business meetings and customer service? We do, you know.
At a recent class via internet there were a group of librarians talking about the future of libraries as part of the community. Just like the old rural schools, libraries have become an essential part of communities for sharing cultural events, information, and reading and research resources. Many Hispanic communities maintain their libraries to maintain their identity as well as to adapt to their new world. I think CCPL has long recognized the role of the library as the center of community information. Reference librarians keep information and contacts about social services right at their desks to answer questions. There are frequent telephone calls to the library to ask about locations of meetings and events. And the meeting rooms are continually busy; so busy that people often come here first to find out that their meeting is somewhere else; so busy that people often come here to meet and congregate at the study tables or quiet corners. This is exciting for all of us, because it means we are a natural source of space and information for our communities.
Lifelong learning is more than a catch phrase. At the library we continuously combine what we have learned in the school of hard knocks and in the professional training that is available to us. It creates exciting, changing opportunities for all of us, and I hope it helps all of you with better service and possibilities for learning too.