ANNUAL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS Cognotes 2014ALA ANNUAL CONFERENCE Highlights Issue Jane McGonigal Connects the Dots: Session Concludes Successful From Game to the Brain Annual Conference with B.J. Novak By Brad Martin uthor, ac- LAC Group tor and Astand-up ane McGonigal opened the comedian B.J. ALA Annual Conference Novak traced Jin Las Vegas June 27, tell- his journey ing the audience how 10 posi- from a boyhood tive emotions experienced in obsessed with the brains of gamers not only libraries to mean great hope for solving his emergence real world problems in the as an author future, but also for harnessing whose recent power today. children’s “pic- B.J. Novak speaks at the Closing McGonigal, author of ture” book ap- General Session. Reality is Broken: Why Games pears on library Make Us Better and How shelves, at the July 1 Closing Novak said that his first They Can Change the World, Session. ambition – before he want- played her first computer Novak, who is probably ed to be an actor or a writer game in 1986 at a school Opening General Session presenter Jane McGonigal describes best known for his role as or a player for the Boston library in Morristown, N.J. how alternate reality games affect the brain. Ryan on the sitcom “The Red Sox – was to become a She drew a sharp contrast Office,” charmed the crowd librarian. between the degree to which “positive emotions,” which up” during interactive game from the start, when he an- “I was enthralled by the the global workforce and she demonstrated in a se- playing, but do not during nounced that he was excited library in my elementary gamers are engaged in their ries of photographs of wide- passive exposure. Games to speak before thousands of school, where anything respective activities – point- ranging facial expressions of teach players that it is pos- librarians in Las Vegas. » see page 14 ing out that 81 gamers in action. sible to learn how to solve percent of the These 10 posi- sometimes difficult challenges global work- “The opposite of tive emotions are and the positive reinforce- force do not feel play isn’t work. joy, relief, love, ment they receive makes for engaged with It’s depression.” surprise, pride, an “upward cascade” of im- their work and curiosity, excite- provement, she said. what they are ment, awe and “Games make us more doing, and this costs com- wonder, contentment, and resilient,” said McGonigal, panies about $3.1 trillion a creativity. Creativity is the explaining how “super-em- year (Gallup 2013). Gamers, most positive of these emo- powered, hopeful individuals” numbering about one billion tions, McGonigal said, add- are more likely to be able to worldwide, are much more ing, “these are the faces you collaborate – unlike in much engaged in their activities want to see in your library.” of the working world, where and experience a whole range She pointed out how spe- of feelings McGonigal called cific areas of the brain “light » see page 6 Video Highlights of the ALA President Barbara K. Stripling interviews award-winning 2014 Annual Conference & Exhibition actor, producer, and country musician Jeff Bridges and best- selling youth author and two-time Newbery Medal winner Lois Lowry during the ALA President’s Program. Lowry and Bridges Talk Creativity, Collaboration, Community » see page 2 By Brad Martin and Bridges, who plays the LAC Group title character, conversed with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07X0peeFYOc each other as they responded uthor Lois Lowry and to ALA President Barbara K. actor Jeff Bridges Stripling’s questions. The au- Ashared their personal dience was treated to a “sizzle memories, creative processes, reel” of the film, which also and responsibilities as artists stars Meryl Streep. at the ALA President’s Pro- The subject of memory, gram on June 29. central to the themes of The Lowry, whose book The Giver, was explored, and Giver has been made into a film to be released in August, » see page 9 Page 2 • Cognotes 2014 Annual Conference Highlights Philippe Petit Finds A Message from 2014-15 Creative Uses for ALA President Courtney Young Everyday Objects hope you came away from this energetic Annual Conference in Las Vegas as I did, warmed not just by the temperature, but also by new ideas, connections, Iand friends. The number of quality events, sessions, programs, exhibit hall activities, and networking opportunities seemed greater than ever; what an array of ideas to implement and tools to support the transformations we’re working on and to help us address our challenges. Thank you for your lively participation, hard work, creativity, and commit- ment. I’m especially energized by the many conversations around key issues for libraries and librarians, from e-content, advocacy, privacy, and the latest in information technology, to picture books, graphic novels, makerspaces, and more. In the words of one of last year’s attendees, it’s “a feast at the smorgas- 2014-15 ALA President bord of library knowledge.” Courtney Young Being inaugurated as the 2014-15 ALA president at the brunch event on Tuesday was of course a personal conference highlight for me. I’m excited about the year ahead, especially about working with everyone on my selected priority areas. One of those is to help make ALA more welcoming to new and current members – we’ll focus in particular on Philippe Petit discusses his book how we can use social media more powerfully and consistently to accomplish that and other goals. Creativity: The Perfect Crime during his Auditorium Speaker Series I’m also eager to help develop and articulate plans around the three strategic directions that ALA will be focusing presentation June 30. on in the coming years: advocacy; information policy; and professional development. These three areas are key to By Talea Anderson the future of libraries, and there will be ongoing conversations and discussions about how to integrate them most Central Washington University productively into our work and initiatives. n June 30, Philippe Petit, Under the advocacy umbrella, we’ll continue to build on the momentum of last year’s “Declaration for the Right to high-wire artist and subject of Libraries.” Thousands of people across the country have already signed, affirming their right to have vibrant school, Othe Academy Award-winning public, academic, and special libraries in their communities. Based on the enormous popularity of this initiative, I documentary “Man on Wire,” spoke know that we are just beginning to see its impact. about his latest book, Creativity: The Perfect Crime. Petit designed the book Please join us in 2015 to continue the work, learning, conversations, and fun at Midwinter Meeting in Chicago to break conventions even as it ex- plores the concept of creativity. “I love (where I guarantee we won’t be craving air conditioning), and then at Annual Conference in San Francisco – and book the idea of breaking rules,” Petit said. early to be sure you get the discounted rates. Keep an eye out for announcements of exciting speakers, authors, and Petit called on his artistic back- thought leaders who’ll be joining us. For Midwinter, keep track of the key “News You Can Use” updates from ALA ground to create his book. He designed offices, divisions, and related external organizations, as they’re added to the program. In addition to the hundreds of the pages, which when laid flat, mea- discussions and sessions on top-of-mind topics, the pre-Midwinter Institutes, and all the networking you can handle, sure in accordance with the golden the exhibit hall will be as active as ever, with more than 425 exhibitors showing off the latest technologies, titles, ratio, the most aesthetically pleas- and more. ing of proportions. He also included sketches and digressions colored blue I look forward to seeing you at either or both events, and in the meantime, let’s keep our conversations going at to highlight the difference from the #alaac14 and #teamALA (and include me via @librarycourtney), so we can increase the impact of our work as we central narrative. Petit noted that share ideas and insights. creativity often emerges from digres- sions, and he illustrated his point by —See information about 2015 bundled registration opportunities on page 9. intertwining magic tricks into his talk. Petit explained that creativity also comes through seeing ordinary objects in extraordinary ways. Audi- Lois Lowry: The Gift of the Giver (see story page 1) ence members received plastic forks when they entered the auditorium, and Petit asked them to suggest new ways of using the utensil. Petit then presented some of the 37 uses he had conceptualized, including: tongue de- pressor, sundial, burglar alarm, bottle opener, and catapult. For Petit, creativity also comes by trying new things. “Surprise yourself,” he said, suggesting that audience http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_OWwVwUJfs members try walking barefoot on familiar surfaces, listening to new mu- sic, or visiting an unfamiliar shop. He noted that, by doing something a little uncomfortable, people often develop new and innovative ways of thinking. Petit concluded by encouraging his audience to create through play. “We take ourselves way too seriously,” he said. He noted that some of his best ideas have come by defying norms and ignoring expectations. As a self- described autodidact, he encouraged the audience to find their own ways of expressing themselves creatively. Free Driver’s Ed Program for your library Application Deadline: 12:00 PM EST on August 15, 2014 If accepted, all development and hosting costs will be absorbed by the program sponsor, Driving-Tests.org. The service will be free for as long as the library continues to participate in the program.