And remember to speak loud enough and clear enough so that people can hear you. Don’t mumble or speak too softly. This goes for lunch and other informal professional situations as well. If I can’t hear what someone is saying I get tired of saying “what?” and eventually stop talking to them. Don’t be mousey! Speak up!

I guess it is sort of useful to know how you done it good, but what I’m really looking for is how I can do it good myself.

I don’t mean to single you out, because everyone uses this phrase to describe the concept, but the sarcastic contempt that drips from “how my library does it good” really sets my teeth on edge. Doing it well, whatever “it” may be, is a goal we ought all to aspire to, and I know of no better way to acheive that than through informal, practical conversations with my colleagues. The reason I agreed to chair my group is because I find it by far the most useful thing I do at ALA meetings. I would enjoy it less if the participants began to worry that their comments were insufficiently profound.