What do librarians do when they get together?

What do librarians do when they get together?  I'm going to back up a bit and tell you all that librarians like to join groups and the groups meet once a year, twice a year etc.  Librarian groups promote libraries in their region.  Members share their experiences and promote education in the our field.  We will honor a colleague and, a formal meeting always has a guest speaker.  Besides informal discussions and networking, we will learn something before we say our goodbyes.

Sounds pretty dry, right?  Not so!  Librarians are a very friendly group and the conversations will be wide ranging.

Moving on.....






On Friday I attended the Hudson
Mohawk Library Association
Spring Dinner at Moscatiello's
in Troy, New York.






When I walked into the banquet room, the event was in full swing.  Fellow librarians were standing in small groups, catching up on things professional, and personal.

Tonight, HMLA is honoring Sister Rose Hobbs, Director of the Maria College Library with the Distinguished Service Award.  She is retiring and we all want to thank her for her hard work in the library field.

HMLA President, Dave Cole,

presents the award to

 Sister Rose.

Sister thanks the group &
encourages us to continue
the work of promoting
the good works of libraries.









While we dine, conversations continue to swirl about summer reading programs for children; changes in staffing in libraries...  William K. Sanford Library in Colonie is getting a new Director.  Technical issues are discussed in depth.

HMLA Vice President

Ann-Marie Heldorfer,

Sister Rose & President

Dave Cole.

Sister Rose with colleagues

from Maria College.

Catherine Crohan from Siena
College gives a talk on the
History of Women Detectives
in Fiction.

Librarians from all over the

Capital District listen to

Catherine's presentation.

As an avid mystery reader, I was interested to learn that female detectives were introduced to mystery novels in the late 1800s.  Works by Catherine Louisa Pirkis, Emmuska Orczy and Anna Katharine Green are available electronically.  I have to read Josephine Tey.  She was a groundbreaking author in this genre.  Agatha Christie's works were highlighted.  

Catherine provided us with a list of authors and recommended titles to read.  I look forward to reading "new" mystery authors and rereading Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers and Rex Stout.  

The Hudson Mohawk Library Association Dinner came to an end and we said our goodbyes.  

It was great to attend my first HMLA meeting since my retirement in 2012.  I look forward 

to attending others when I am in the area.