Jennifer Abel

NCSLMA President

2023-2024

President’s Corner December 2023

Happy December! What a year it has been. I hope that everyone has a restful winter break and the start to the new year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for allowing me the immense pleasure of being the President of NCSLMA for this past year. This has been the most rewarding experience of my life. I have enjoyed working with all the NC Librarians and am excited to still be a part of this amazing organization as Past President. I graciously turn the reign of President over to Kristy Sartain who I know will do such an amazing job and I am excited to see what she has in store for NCSLMA. I thank each and every one you for this opportunity and the work you continue to do as an NC Librarian. 

I will be heading to Chicago on Dec 8-10 to be part of an advocacy panel with ALA! Leaders from all over the country will be in attendance and I am excited to learn from other librarians. I can’t wait to bring back what I learn and share it with the NCSLMA Board and our membership. 

We are always looking for new folks to join our organization. 

Open Volunteer Positions: 

Have you wanted to volunteer with NCSLMA, but didn’t know where to start? We’re making it easy because we would love to have your talents supporting our organization! Check out the new Open Volunteer Positions on our website for information about current open positions. This list does change as positions become available, so make sure to check it often. If you see something that sounds like it would be a great fit, please consider volunteering. Not only will it help NCSLMA, you will also be able to show leadership at the state level on the DPI School Librarian Evaluation Tool.

Upcoming events: 

The Page Turners Book club will meet December 16th @ 9:30 am to discuss “The Dictionary of Lost Words” by: Pip Williams 

November AM Brew Crew -  December 2, 9:00 am
November PM Brew Crew - December 22, 8:00 pm

As I write this article the night before it is due, I wonder why I do this to myself. Why do I wait until the last minute? I don’t know. Don’t tell anyone, but I still haven’t written my HBOB questions and they’re due in the morning. Work is so busy and then I get home and just wilt. I have no internal motivation. I am paralyzed by anything with a deadline. Did this conference break me? I wasn’t like this before. Was it COVID? Am I not recovered from the mental stress of being in a small house for months on end with three other people? It’s hard for me to even read. I usually read 80-100 books a year and since COVID, I am lucky to read 50. I mean, they’re long books. I really should go by pages instead of number of books, but whatever.

Anyway, all this trauma dumping is to remind myself and anyone else struggling, that it’s okay to struggle. I’ve been seeing a therapist for two years now. I don’t know that it’s helping long term, but that’s on me, not her. She gives me really great homework and I just don’t do it. Right now, I’m supposed to be writing all the things that are stressing me out and write the anticipated end date of that stress. That way I can see in writing what I’m worried about and see that they will end eventually. The only thing I did towards that is to buy a new notebook (or two) for that assignment. Maybe this weekend I can knock it out. Probably not, though. Because that assignment also stresses me out. 

So I’ll listen to another audiobook or doom scroll on TikTok and thank goodness that I have friends who like me anyway. Librarians are awesome!

Sorcerer Sponsor

Wizard Sponsor

Advancement
Director: Faith Huff

Advocacy
Director: Lucy Wilcox

Awards, Grants, Scholarships
Director: Leslie Pope

AASL Delegates

Laura Aldridge & Sarah Justice

Book Programs
Director: Stacy Hersey

Membership
Director: Brene Duggins

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Director: Vacant

Regional Directors:
Lead: Lori Munroe

Social Media
Director: Alicia Luke

Website
Director: Vacant

Visit our NEW Store

Continuing Ed Opportunities
Brought to you by the State Library of North Carolina