Betty Birney's Blog

What would writers do without librarians? Or without libraries. I visit my own Studio City branch once or twice a week. As a part of the vast Los Angeles Public Library system, I can go online, order any book in the system and pick it up near my house within a few days. Brilliant – especially since many of the books I want are out of print.

Naturally, I spend a lot of time in libraries and with librarians. This has been especially true in the last month and a half.

First, I had the great honor of going to Yakima, WA to the Washington Library Media Association conference to receive their Sasquatch Award for The World According to Humphrey. There I was greeted and entertained by a very enthusiastic group of librarians. Margaret Martin, Children’s Librarian at the Mercer Island (WA) Library presented the award, entertained me, and made sure all the details were taken care of. Didi Kearsley, Librarian at Lakeridge Elementary School on Mercer Island was an unofficial hostess and a great help as well. Here I am with the award, and a furry friend

And here’s the fun-loving Sasquatch Committee (that’s Margaret Martin in the light-colored dress, holding the book).

Judy Schachner (author/illustrator of the joyfully rollicking Skippyjon Jones books among others) was the ebullient speaker at the luncheon and we ended up flying to Seattle together on a very odd flight from Yakima … we managed to yak the whole way!

read!

Finally, this past weekend, I spoke at the CSLA (California School Library Association) conference in Ontario, CA. The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs is on the California Young Reader Medal list (yay!) and it was great to hear so many librarians’ enthusiastic response to that book.

I spoke on Friday, then returned on Sunday for an author/librarian brunch where I met even more interesting and lively librarians, and visited with writer friends, such as Mark London Williams (Danger Boy series), Hope Anita Smith (The Way a Door Closes ), Lisze Bechtold (Buster & Phoebe), Alexis O’Neill (pictured below with The Recess Queen – we both look a little blurry bu tI think I look better blurry), and I got to make some new acquaintances such as Kate Hovey (Ancient Voices), Caroline Arnold (Taj Mahal) and Barbara Bietz (Like a Maccabee). Barbara Bietz and I had each other’s lunch tickets and thus, ate each other’s lunches. I only wish my pal Barbara Bottner (of Wallace’s Lists fame) had been there so we would have had three BBs signing in a row! (Children’s writers love alliteration, even in their names. Think Lois Lowry!)

with Alexis O’Neill

And I also got to schmooze with Susan Dubin, L.A. librarian extraordinaire, who happens to be a relative! My dear stepdaughter, Rebecca (mother of Remy), is married to Suzie’s nephew, Gary (father of Remy), and we’re all one big happy family.