The Grapes of Reflection 2016

I started 2016 with a blank slate as usual, ready to be filled, but simultaneously anticipating some big events.  I come to the conclusion of this year thinking back upon those big events, and some other wonderful things that happened.

As I enjoy doing, I reflect on this year of 2016 using the Hispanic custom of consuming 12 grapes, as a guide.

Grape #1, my MLIS graduation: It was definitely a major accomplishment to graduate with my MLIS degree on May 8, which was furthermore an opportunity for me to celebrate my vocational path, in a wonderful gathering of family and friends.

Grape #2, my practicum at Argonne: While in my final semester of studies for my MLIS, I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to complete a practicum at Argonne National Laboratory's Research Library, among some great colleagues.

Grape #3, two 25-year anniversaries:  It was awesome to mark the milestone of being alive for a quarter century on my birthday on March 16 of this year.  It was a memorable occasion, which I shared with many, and it gave me the opportunity to ponder my life and all that has filled it.  Then, a little more than a month later, on April 28, I marked 25 years since my baptism, which gave me opportunity to reflect on my life of faith.  I returned to St. Cornelius to mark that occasion.

Grape #4, my trip to Philadelphia: It was definitely a dream come true when I finally had the opportunity to travel to Philadelphia this past summer.  One of the most exhilarating moments of my life was at approximately 6 PM EDT, when I set foot inside Independence Hall, on a tour.  And it was fantastic seeing many other historical sites, as well as participating in the 2016 Special Libraries Association conference--which included helping out at the registration desk--and catching up with good two friends in Philadelphia.  It seemed at this time in my life to go on this trip as a sort of reward to myself.  It was the first time I had traveled outside the Midwest in 2 1/2 years.  It was also my first train train trip in over 2 1/2 years, and provided me my first opportunity to travel on the high-speed Northeast Corridor, on a stretch from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, at times running a speed of 125 mph, faster than I've ever traveled on land before in my life.

Grape #5, my trip to Colorado: It was great to finally have the opportunity to travel to Colorado again and visit with my family there, and it was my first time west of the Mississippi River in over 3 years.  I was delighted to join in the grand celebration of my Aunt Carmen's birthday, in the style befitting my family there, who all like to party heartily.  And it was another opportunity to travel by train, in the same summer, this time riding the Amtrak California Zephyr route, taking me back to when I traveled on it as a boy on a family vacation almost two decades ago.

Grape #6, serving as an election judge for the presidential general election on November 8: It was an extraordinary experience to engage in the work of facilitating the experience for voters, an important part of the democratic process of the Republic, ranking among the top experience that make me feel proud to be a US citizen.

Grape #7, Pope Francis's activities: It was so exciting to follow Pope Francis's trip in Mexico, connecting so strongly with my sense of being Roman Catholic.  And it was a spiritually rich and meaningful experience to ponder mercy more thoughtfully during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, with personal reflections, which I continue, as well as a tour of artwork associated with the Spiritual Works of Mercy at the Chicago Art Institute.

Grape #8, milestones: I had the chance to celebrate many special milestones throughout the course of the year, like my Great Aunt June's 90th birthday, the Bicentennial of Indiana, St. Cornelius Parish's 90th Anniversary, my cousin Jessica's graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Mom's MSN graduation, and the Centennial of the National Park Service, which motivated me to get all the way through the Ken Burns documentary The National Parks: America's Best Idea.  These celebrations all gave me opportunity to think about the meaningful place these all have in my life.

Grape #9, outreach events at the Oak Park Public Library: I had the chance to engage in a number of these outreach events, as a way to engage with the community beyond my usual work, including an after-hours event and events with the book bike that brought some memorable times.

Grape #10, my brother's wedding: It was wonderful to welcome Naomi to our family and upon her and my brother Naomi getting married during the summer.  After growing up without a sister, I was especially pleased to finally have a sister-in-law.

Grape #11, my first intercontinental conversation:  My friend Roy spent a month in Spain doing missionary work this summer.  While he was there, he and I arranged a time to chat with each other via Google Hangouts, doing so around 10-11 AM CDT on Saturday, July 16.

Grape #12, my continued involvement in Religious Education: I mention my role in RE often, as it is such a meaningful experience that touches something deep down inside of who I am, even as I'm helping forge the faith of the next generation.  I've had the privilege of teaching two wonderful groups of students, first as 7th graders in the 2015-16 RE year, and then continue with them as 8th graders in the 2016-17 year, along with some additional students, witnessing their Confirmation, back in October, and continuing to support them post-Confirmation in understanding what faith means.  And I have been present to the youth of Ascension in other ways as the parish gets a youth ministry up and running in earnest.  One very notable experience was being at the Holy Fire gathering, the first time the Archdiocese of Chicago held such a gathering for middle schoolers.  What a time it was engaging the faith of young people, and fittingly fell on the 11-year anniversary of my own Confirmation.  The 2015-16 RE year ended two days before the 25-year anniversary of my baptism, so I had plenty to think about regarding what I've done with my baptism and the gift of faith I received that day.

As I mentioned when reflecting on my birthday when I turned 25, my involvement in RE combines so many significant life experiences of mine, making it an especially extraordinary experience.  It takes me back to my middle school years that forged my identity in an especially strong way.  The year that I most strongly associate with that forging of my identity was 2005, which I count among the most important years of my life.

I notice that 2016 resembles 2005 in many respects, in that both years were defined by some extraordinary events in my life--not to mention that from March 1 through December 31, the days in the calendars of both years lined up on the same day of the week.  What's more, 2016 connected with so many aspects of 2005 that made it so memorable, especially related to my experiences at middle school, and growing in faith, and experiences I had in 2016 allowed me to engage with those aspects in a profound way.  As such, I stand at the end of this year, already counting 2016 among the most important years of my life.

I had plenty of opportunities to visit Julian during this year, one of which was a final visit with my 8th grade math teacher Mrs. Rogers before her retirement.  The connection I have with Julian remains very personal because many of my RE students attend Julian.  I've also connected with Brooks more by attending BRAVO plays there, and the students in those productions do a fabulous job in creating an enjoyable experience for me.

Engaging with a new generation is such an encouragement to me, especially in some of the more sorrowful experiences this year, like saying goodbye to Buddy, our family's dog, who got very ill.  I am glad that we had the happiness of marking the 10-year anniversary of the day we welcomed him to our family in March, right around the time of my birthday.

St. Teresa's bid farewell to Father Kevin over the summer.  I was glad to be there for that celebration, which was a chance to reconnect with the community there.  I had other opportunities to reengage with my Valparaiso connections throughout the year.

I spent time engaging with things around home, too:  I was also present for the swearing-in of Oak Park's new police chief, Anthony Ambrose.

I took advantage of free days at Chicago museums, to see the Terrcotta Warriors exhibit--kind of like China coming to me--and the IMAX film National Parks Adventure.  I also spent some time at the Art Institute, growing fond of Grant Wood's works, and reflecting on the Spiritual Works of Mercy.

I think of other enjoyable experiences out and about in the Chicagoland area, especially on bike rides.  I went on one very long one on Labor Day, all the way to Ridgeland and 104th Street.  I also found myself constantly going to Riverside, confirming it as my new favorite biking spot, along its winding, curvy streets, and fine homes.

Yes, 2016 had the major events, but plenty of other smaller, but nonetheless delightful, happenings.  And as an added bonus, there was a Leap Day to give extra time to savor it.

And so now I bid farewell to 2016, rejoicing in the amazing things that have taken place in my life, like the Psalmist says, "The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy" (Psalm 126:3 NIV).

Indeed, as we head into 2017 and beyond, 2016 will stand out specially among all the years of my life.

2016 News and Events in Review

We started this year fully aware of two major events in the big stage, which certainly drove much of the news coverage.  (Please note: I'm re-titling my annual blog post reviewing the events of the closing calendar year to address both news that made big headlines, as well as other events that didn't necessarily grab headlines in major ways.)

The 2016 Summer Olympics, and then Paralympics, were held in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, which bested out three other competitors as host cities seven years ago, one of which was Chicago.  The US female gymnasts certainly caused a stir, like they have in the past, which were among the highlights.  (This coming year of 2017 will see the selection of the 2024 city--and if it's Los Angeles, I am making a point to go there to attend the Opening Ceremony.)

Politically, Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff was impeached.

There was also a change in leadership in Britain, when voters there approved their country's exit from the European Union in a referendum during the summer.  Prime Minister David Cameron resigned, making way for Theresa May to take the office, only the 2nd women ever to do so.

Zooming in from the world stage, one of the biggest stories in the United States was the 2016 presidential campaign and elections.  A crowded field of Republican candidates narrowed down to Donald Trump as the Republican nominee, with Hilary Clinton taking the Democratic nomination over Bernie Sanders.  It was notable how a Chicago Tribune editorial indicated that the candidates running for the respective nominations showed how the electorate was making each party fight for its soul.  Another Chicago Tribune editorial highlighted the unfavorable nature of both major party candidates by endorsing Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, for president.

Donald Trump pulled off a win over Hillary Clinton in a real stunner.  I can still remember that "jaw-dropping" feeling the morning after the general election, and then chuckling at the idea that this was actually happening.  This was the culmination of a rather nasty campaign, which I felt was summarized well by a PBS news commentator remarking on one of the presidential debates, saying what he saw that evening "was not elevating".

There continued to be chaos in various cities over racially-charged police shootings of unarmed minority citizens.  It made the selection of Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates, a timely pick for the One Book, One Oak Park summer read at the Oak Park Public Library.

Chief Rick Tanskley of the Oak Park Police retired after nearly 30 years, and was succeeded by Tony Ambrose as Chief.

Notable individuals who passed away from us this year included actress Carrie Fischer, former First Lady Nancy Reagan, Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro, and Ascension Parish Deacon Joseph Walsh.

Antonin Scalia passed away in February, leaving a vacancy on the Supreme Court.  President Obama nominated Merrick Garland as a replacement, and Republicans in the Senate refused to consider him.

The Supreme Court made major rulings on abortion and immigration.  And debate reached a fever-pitch on the rights of transgender individuals after North Carolina passed a law keeping washroom and locker room facilities strictly separated by objective biological sex, which unleashed strong backlash, especially from the corporate world.

The company that produces Epipen got into controversy over the exorbitant price of the epipen.

In other business news, Trader Joe's pulled off a pretty good April Fool's joke by announcing it was going out of business--a joke that fooled me.

In the local political scene, Anan Abu-Taleb requested a change in his title from President of the Oak Park Village Board of Trustees to Oak Park Mayor, which was approved by the Board of Trustees.  He claimed that the term "mayor" better communicates what the position is about, but I feel it's unnecessary to change titles around to make more sense to outsiders--sticking with our own terminology is okay.  Mr. Abu-Taleb also proposed making the mayor position salaried.

The Oak Park Public Library acquired District 97's Multicultural Collection, which had to move out of its space at Julian Middle School to allow for my instructional space to meet the sharp increase in enrollment there.  The collection is now housed at the Dole Branch of the Oak Park Public Library, with a grand opening ceremony set for later in January.

Ernest Hemingway scholars from throughout the world came to Dominican University for a biennial conference on Papa.

The budget problems continued in the state of Illinois, with a stop-gap measure put in place at the end of June to make funds available for some services.

While Oak Park leaned decidedly for Hillary Clinton on November 8, the referendum on the OPRFHS's pools and facilities plan was a real toss-up, igniting passions on both sides.  It culminated in the measure being defeated by a 28-vote margin.

Flint, MI, had a major crisis with tainted water supplies.

The major weather and natural event stories of 2016 included Hurricane Matthew, a major winter snow storm in the Eastern United States in January, and earthquakes in Japan, Ecuador, and New Zealand.  There was one particularly bitterly cold spell in mid-January, which didn't deter my Dad and I from joining hundreds of others at the 2016 March of Life Chicago.  We had some fairly hot days later on in the summer in Chicagoland, including two very hot and humid days back-to-back toward the end of July, with powerful storms both those evenings.  One storm damaged a walkway at the Illinois Medical District CTA Blue Line station.

The National Weather Service changed the format of its public weather products so they are now in lower- and upper-case type, instead of all capital letters, evoking an earlier era of teletype.  That was an interesting kind of change to make.

Chicago's Archbishop Blase Cupich was designated a cardinal by Pope Francis at a consistory in November, along with a number of others from throughout the world, including Bangui, Central African Republic.

Among the locations Pope Francis traveled included Mexico and Sweden.

One of the most exciting sports events was the Cubs baseball team winning the World Series after a 108-year championship drought, in a real nail-biter of a series that came down to the wire and a God-send rain delay in Cleveland.

Major milestones achieved this year included Queen Elizabeth II turning 90, Pope Francis turning 80, 75 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor, the National Park Service Centennial, Indiana's Bicentennial, and St. Cornelius Parish in Chicago marking its 90th Anniversary.

A Gift with Much to Offer

It was 80 years ago on December 17, 1936, that God gave a great gift to Mario Jose Bergoglio and Regina Maria Sivori, Italian immigrants in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a gift in a son born to them, whom they named Jorge.

On March 13, 2013, God gifted the Roman Catholic Church with a leader who took the name Pope Francis.

As we celebrate his 80th birthday, I indeed think about how much of a gift Pope Francis is to the Roman Catholic Church and the world.  He offers some valuable perspectives on how to live out the Gospel message of salvation, in tangible actions that meet the real needs, just as Christ met needs while proclaiming the Kingdom of God.

He has an amazing touch in reaching out to people, like having breakfast with homeless people this morning to celebrate his birthday.  I also keep thinking back to the ABC 20/20 TV program when he held town hall meetings with audiences in three US cities before his visit to East Coast cities, and the loving touch he offered to people in difficult situations.

He certainly set the tone for his papacy right away when he came out on the balcony at St. Peter's dressed simply, and asked for the prayers of the people, just as he did throughout the remarks he offered while visiting the United States in September 2015.

In many ways, while not widely recognized in all the media hype, his people-driven philosophy connects so well with upholding church teachings on the sanctity of life and the dignity of all people.

Certainly people think of him as some kind of supercelebrity who's so amazing.  I think of him as someone who has a lot to offer, just like all Popes, and other leaders, do.  I enjoy reading his quotes on various spiritual subjects, because they are filled with rich insight and wisdom.

I look forward to hearing more of that wisdom as he grows in age and God's grace day by day.

Happy Birthday to you Pope Francis, Your Holiness.  And as you have requested, you remain in my prayers.

A Matter of Much Debating

Something momentous in the democratic process of the United States Republic happened 225 years ago, today, on December 15, 1791, when Virginia ratified 10 out of 12 proposed Constitutional amendments, thereby making them officially part of the United States Constitution.

They contain some important rights including freedom of the press, freedom of religion, the right to a trial by jury, and prohibition of unusual and cruel punishment, among others.

I feel that the Bill of Rights, in many ways, represents how spirited debate is a hallmark in the democratic process of our country, borne out of similar involved discussions about the content of the Constitution, and then its ratification process, with some states refusing to ratify unless the new Congress proposed amendments with important rights.  Yet some felt the Constitution as it was written already protected rights.  Others thought there would be no good determination for what right to include--like should the right to turn over in bed be included?  And others felt it was dangerous to list rights explicitly, because then the government could deny rights not included, which undoubtedly led to the inclusion of the 9th and 10th Amendments.

Nevertheless, the 10 amendments of the Bill of Rights became enshrined in the US Constitution, and they continue to spur debate to this day, especially given how much interpretation is involved when using them to decide current issues, like when the Supreme Court makes rulings.

Interpretation led the Supreme Court to imply a right to abortion in the right to privacy stated in the 4th Amendment in its Roe vs. Wade ruling.

Another Supreme Court ruling gave the name "Miranda" to the rights of the 5th Amendment when police didn't notify Ernesto Miranda of those right when he was accused of committing a crime.

As for the 1st Amendment rights, there have been many cases in recent years that have definitely pushed the envelope as far as what they mean, and what they can protect, sometimes even extreme examples like the Westboro Baptist Church, speech made by political action committees, and desecration of the US flag.

I was challenged to ponder these kinds of cases at the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum that was formerly at the Chicago Tribune Tower.  It was a wonderful museum that had a variety of exhibits discussing the implications of the 1st Amendment rights.  It's now housed in a mobile format that travels around to various events.

Debate over intense issues rages especially so regarding gun rights.  When I was in middle school, I recall my 8th grade social studies teacher drawing our attention to the wording of the 2nd amendment as being part of the debate.  This came to mind in a conversation I was having at dinner a few weeks ago, when, while talking with a woman from Britain, we turned to politics, which included gun rights.  I opened up my pocket copy of the US Constitution and showed her the actual wording of 2nd amendment, and explained that there's debate over whether the right to bear arms applies in general to owning guns, or is more specifically tied to having proper weaponry for a militia comprised of regular citizens.

I was once at a book discussion at Maze Library about Founding Brothers by Joseph Ellis.  The librarian leading the discussion pointed out that there's so much heated debate over Constitutional issues today, just like there was back at the start of the United States Republic.  They debated and discussed, and somehow managed to eek out a compromise, which lends the Constitution to being something that will continued to be debated.

So as we mark 225 years of the Bill of Rights, let's continue in these important discussions, as part of engaging the democratic process of our Republic to create a more free society, with justice and liberty for all.

A Hoosier-Style Bicentennial Salute

Well, the day has arrived, December 11, 2016, marking 200 years since that inestimable day in 1816 when Indiana became the 19th US State.

To celebrate, I think it would be appropriate to start knocking:

Knock, knock.

"Hoosier?"

So goes a story about the origin of Indiana's nickname, the Hoosier State (# 168).  Back in the days of the pioneers, people knocking on the doors of Indiana residents would hear, "Hoosier?" (Who's there?) from inside.

The Great Seal of the State of Indiana depicts a scene from pioneer days (#169): A woodsman using an ax, a bison, sycamore trees, and the sun lodged partly behind some hills.  The hardy woodsman also lends another theory to the origin of “Hoosier” as a term used by southerners for woodsmen or rough hill people, according to a historical article on the official Indiana website.

The origin of the name Indiana comes from land of the Indians (#170).  These aboriginal peoples include the moundbuilding Mississippians, who come around 1000 (#171).  Angel Mounds State Historic Site (#172) near Evansville preserves one such mounds site.  Later in history, Algonquin peoples (#173) inhabited present-day Indiana, including the Potawwatomi (#174), Kickapoo (#175), Miami (#176), Delaware (#177), and Shawnee (#178).  I read about these peoples in a book about Indiana by Darlene R. Stille in the "America the Beautiful" series that I checked out at the the library in anticipation of this day.  And you can read more about the origin of Indiana in this article.

Indiana’s blue and gold-colored state flag (#179) has a torch representing liberty and enlightenment (#180), with rays to show its influence reaching far.  There are 13 stars in a circle to represent the original 13 colonies.  There are another 5 in a half-circle, and a larger star above the torch’s flame to represent Indiana as the 19^th State of the United States (#181).  (You can read more about the flag in this article.)

Indiana has many other state symbols.

The state beverage, interestingly enough, is water (#182).

The state bird is the Northern Cardinal (#183), which Indiana shares with a number of other states.

The state flower is the peony (#184), one of my favorite flowers, which I always look forward to seeing bloom in late May/early June.

The state pie is sugar cream pie (#185).

The state river is the Wabash River (#186), which makes it fitting enough that the state song is "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" (#187).  (The same article on the origins of Hoosier says that the term came from rivermen who were so good at “hushing” their opponents in brawls.)  Also of note for Illinoisans, farmers from the area near the Wabash would travel north to sell their good in markets in Chicago, which is the origin of the name Wabash Street.

The point of the Wabash River’s confluence with the Ohio River in the extreme southwest corner of the state is the lowest point of elevation in Indiana, at 320 feet above sea level (#188).

The highest point of elevation is Hoosier Hill (#189), at 1,257 feet above sea level, in Franklin Township, in Wayne County, about a mile west of the border with Ohio.

The highest honor given by the state of Indiana is the Sagamore of the Wabash (#190).  Sagamore is a term that a chief would bestow on someone from whom he would seek counsel, according to the Indiana page on the State Symbols website, where you can read more about all these symbols.

Indiana also has a state poem, "Indiana" (#191), by Arthur Franklin Mapes (#192) of Kendalville, who was named the unofficially Indiana State Poet Laureate in 1977 through Indiana legislative action, House Concurrent Resolution 63.

Indiana's official state languages are English and sign language (#193).

The state tree is the tulip poplar (#194).

The state stone is Salem Limestone (#195).

Indiana even has an unofficial Indiana tartan (#196).

Reflecting on Indiana, my thoughts naturally turn to the experience of my four college years at Valparaiso University, a time when I got to know life in the northwest part of the state, which figures heavily into my 200 list.  And it’s fitting that the 200^th blog post to celebrating the bicentennial of Indiana, bringing it full circle, since my graduation from Valparaiso University inspired the launch of this blog.

I think Indiana on the whole is defined by the wide open fields (#197) that cover the state, much like my home state of Illinois.  There aren't necessarily any huge cities like New York City, Los Angeles, or Chicago, but its people (#198) have much to offer.  They're a good bunch, who work well, and make a good place for living in the “State that Works” (#199).  It has been a true pleasure developing a number of wonderful friendships with them over the past seven years (#200).  And as an Illinoisan, they certainly make for fine neighbors.

With that, I wrap up my yearlong 200 Things about Indiana List in tribute to this special occasion.  Of course, I have to acknowledge that Indiana is so amazing that all its excellent attributes, remarkable people, great places, and other claims to fame aren’t able to fit in this 200 list, and so I've definitely left out a whole bunch of other wonderful things about this fine state.  If there’s something you want to eagerly share with me, by all means, please let me know—you can use the contact form on the right side of this page to do so, or in any other way you know how. 

And with so many notables about Indiana, there’s all the more reason to continue celebrating all things Hoosier day after day with each passing year as we head forth from this occasion.

So here's to your Bicentennial, Indiana!  Godspeed for all the years ahead.

On May 19, 2013, the day of my graduation from Valparaiso University, with Kallay-Christopher Hall in the background, center of picture, the building for the Department of Geography and Meteorology

Saluting Indiana with this picture of me posing next to a statue of Orville Redenbacher in the up-and-coming downtown Valparaiso, along Lincolnway.  Thanks to Dan Ruggaber for getting this picture--one of many fine Hoosier I have gotten to know in my lifetime, especially during my time at Valparaiso University.

P.S. Check out the other blog posts which contain items in the 200 List about Indiana:
"A Starting Salute to Indiana"
"Another Friendly Silvery Salute"
"A Few Notables in Lake County, Northwest Indiana"
"Post-College: Three Years"
"A Place of Many Roads"
"Travels through Way More than Just Cornfields"
"Popcorn and Porter County"
"Hooray for Hoosiers of Note"

And I sure hope this Bicentennial occasion adds to the celebration at this evening's Advent Student Dinner at St. Teresa of Avila in Valaparaiso, along with the occasions of Gaudete Sunday and the end of the semester for ValpU students--see the first blog post in the list above.

Standing Firm in Time of Crisis

Sunday, December 7, 1941, was declared by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt as a "date which will live in infamy".

Certainly it was a day that had an enormous effect on the course of history, for the United States and the world, because the surprise attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor that day, as well as other military installations in the Pacific Ocean, drew the United States into World War II.

Looking back 75 years later, most of us see the occasion as a day of remembrance because of the loss of life and how it launched US entry into World War II against Japan, as well as Germany.  We can see with the perspective of history to recognize the lasting effects of that day went through the years of World War II, and then into the Cold War, and even the recent War on Terror.

This Pearl Harbor day of remembrance makes me think about an event of a similarly immense scale that happened in my own lifetime, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.  Even as a child, I felt the great anxiety pierce the air as the foundations of the world shook violently and we realized we were vulnerable in ways that we never could have imagined.  And it slowly dawned on us that this would be a day that would totally alter the course of history.  Yet we've gained a good deal of distance from that day--15 years now, so that September 11 is already taking on an air similar to the sense of Pearl Harbor's being an honored day of historic significance and remembrance.  But with my experience, I'll always carry with me memories seared in my mind of the distress of that day.

It makes me think about those who were alive on December 7, 1941, and witnessed the unfolding of a disaster and tragedy.  Then their lives were swept up into the war effort.  When the United States entered World War II, my Grandpa Martin, at the threshold of adulthood, went from a farm in Iowa to join the fight as a member of the US Navy--sort of the reverse of the Isaiah prophecy that speaks of turning weapons into farm tools.

Then there were those on the homefront like my Grandma Dottie and her family, who focused tirelessly on conserving their resources and contributing money to the war effort.  No matter how large or small their contribution, the people sacrificed to secure a victory by the Allied Powers.  Somehow, they pulled through it together and made it through a time of darkness, anxiety, and great uncertainty.

Perhaps the experience of what Tom Brokaw dubbed "the Greatest Generation" can teach us something about how each generation, when faced with crisis, can come stand together and face it head on, and somehow triumph.  Even in our own day, we can face the troubles before us, ultimately with confidence that one day, God will restore justice to the Earth, and all will be at peace in Him.

Libraries and Community

It's that time of year again for staff day at the Oak Park Public Library.  As we gather to enhance ourselves in the work we do, it makes me think about the important role libraries play in their communities.

That was the subject of the 2016 Annual McCusker Lecture at Dominican University back on October 6, sponsored by the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, which is undergoing a name change to the School of Information Studies--a change the university's board of trustees approved the same day as the lecture.

The speaker was Sari Feldman, currently the Executive Director of the Cuyahoga County Library System in Parma, OH.  She was also president of the American Library Association from 2015-2016.  During her presidency, she spearheaded the Libraries Transform campaign to highlight the role libraries play, which used a number of catchy slogans.  

She emphasized towards the beginning of her talk that libraries are less about what they have, and more about what they do.  Based on what I learned in my MLIS studies, I couldn't agree more:  As libraries are doing more with technology, and less with print materials, they still do the same work of connecting people to information resources--and technology was a major theme in her talk.  Indeed, libraries don't have to have just books to be useful to people.  She also mentioned that all libraries are public by the very nature of their role to serve people.  And libraries connect not only people to resources, but also people to each other, especially in light of the sharing economy, as well as entrepreneurial resources libraries provide to help people create their own products and services.  Then there are also the space resources libraries provide where people can meet.

Towards the end of her talk, Sari used the word "nostalgia" in a way that gave me pause, saying that it is the enemy of creativity.  I'm the kind of person that often turns to the past as a way of enhancing my understanding of current circumstances around me, and so I often find myself nostalgic.  But Sari suggested that nostalgia is a problem for libraries, because being too nostalgic hampers the ability of libraries to think innovatively that is critical for their survival in today's society.  And it makes sense that libraries must often think of new ways to provide their services, even as they maintain their never-changing role of serving.

Indeed, there's so much libraries do, and it's important for us librarians to let people know what we do, given the importance of the role we play in communities.  While we don't have to market ourselves like a business to make money, it's still important for us to make the people of the community aware that we are there to serve them.

As I think about the ways the Oak Park Public Library serves our community, I think about the unique initiative of the book bike, which had its first season in 2015, going all over the community to various events, bringing the library to the people.  It continued with much success this year 2016, and I was glad to be part of it on a couple of occasions.

I actually was there at the book bike's final outing of the season late in October, when I joined Jenny, one of the librarian book riders, at a block party.  These parties are a wonderful feature of the Oak Park lifestyle, and underscore the sense of community we have here.  This was the first time I had ever gone to a block party outside of my own block.  The residents there were so kind and welcoming to us, offering us hot beverages since we were spending an extended period of time outside on a rather cool day, and later welcomed us to enjoy some of their food.

Thanks to Jenny for offering to take this picture of me by the Book Bike.

It was nice chatting with the residents and getting to know them, as we showcased the library and offered activities for the children.

This brochure in a rack on the Book Bike uses a clever statement from the Libraries Transform campaign.

But that wasn't my first time at a book bike event.  Another one came at the beginning of October when I joined librarian Sarah with the book bike at Percy Julian Middle School to engage with students during lunch periods about Banned Books Week.

The time I spent at Julian was memorable, and is an experience that remains in a special place in my heart.  I enjoy every opportunity to return there and remind myself of that memorable time, and even interact with current students, who bring the experience alive for me again.

So when I heard the book bike was headed to Julian, I jumped at the chance, and arranged with Sarah to accompany her.  I was particularly eager to seize this opportunity because a number of my Religious Education students attend Julian.

Oh how enjoyable it was to be back at middle school lunchtime at Julian.  What was amazing to me is that lunch is the one unstructured period of the day for these students, when a teacher is not telling them explicitly what they're supposed to do.  Yet there were so many students who came up to the book bike to talk with us about banned books.  When they heard "Where is Waldo?" was a banned/challenged book, they reacted with great surprise.  We then encouraged them to flip through the copy of the book we had available on the bike to see if they could find out why someone challenged/banned it in a library.  And we encouraged them to think about the reasons why other books were challenged/banned.  Some students even checked out books that came on the bike.

We also gave them an activity to chalk out a quotation from a banned/challenged book on the ground in the area near the doors of the main entry and the Commons.  By the end of the last lunch period, there were so many quotes strewn about.

As I figured, I saw a number of my RE 8th grade students, some off in the distance, and some who actually came up to the Book Bike.  In the other lunch periods, I saw a number of other students who I recognize from Ascension Parish, and it was so nice to be reminded of all the connections I have.  One student, whose sister was one of my students last year, immediately came up to greet me when she stepped outside.

Being back at Julian also made me aware of how the student experience has changed.  For example, the enrollment has increased so greatly since I was at Julian that the students have to eat lunch in shifts.  One group eats first while the other goes outside to hang out, and halfway through the period, they switch.  And then there are the ubiquitous iPads--a word I learned near the start of the 7th grade school year.

It was an exciting time to be back at Julian, even despite my reservations over the idea of Banned Books Week.  But what happened there at Julian--as well as at Brooks the week before--is the heart of what I feel is the best way to address issues of intellectual freedom: having healthy conversations about it.  Clearly, the people who challenge library materials have legitimate reasons for doing so, based on how they want to foster a decent society.  While it may not be the best solution to remove an item from a library, librarians should readily facilitate conversation over the bigger issues raised by a book challenge, and help people in their efforts to create a decent society by promoting positive behavior and attitudes.  What happened at Julian was a great way to stimulate conversation and get these young people thinking about the underlying issues.  And some of the staff people who approached us commended us for coming out to raise awareness and conversation.

There is indeed a great community in Oak Park, fostered by the close connections we have with the people around us.  As an institution, the library plays an important role in the community, so it's very appropriate to have engagement as one of our three priorities at the Oak Park Public Library.  As my experiences with the book bike have shown, it's a two-way street:  As we engage with the community and promote the library, we benefit by getting to know the community better.

The library is all about bringing people together, and it's great to have opportunities like these to go out and be where people are getting together to emphasize that strong sense of community.