My Summer Vacation

What are JKM Librarians Christine Wenderoth and Barry Hopkins doing on their summer vacations?

Christine Wenderoth

Hmmm … the “to do” list I maintain for my work here at JKM never lacks for items. I’ve got 7 things on the “do this week” list and 11 things on the “do sooner rather than later” list and 5 things on the “on-going” list besides the stuff I carry in my head (I DO carry some stuff in my head). But besides that…this summer three little trips are shaping up: the first to Ottawa for ATLA to be followed by vague meanderings across Canada and adjacent parts of the U.S. (probably truncated by the price of gas). Then a week in NYC to mooch off friends, visit with a couple of daughters and, well, do New York. And finally (don’t get too excited now) a trip to southern Illinois to dump off my son at a friend’s and help another daughter get her new-old house ready for occupancy.

Barry Hopkins

Hmmm … well the first thing I’m going to do this summer is clean off my desk. Last count I have 5 projects currently sitting on my desk, with two or three more waiting in the hallway (uh oh, here comes Chris, better make that four projects …). LSTC and McCormick archives are never very far from my thought, and summertime seems to be when people have the time to do genealogical work (e.g., Great-great-grandfather Samuel F. Moore attended McCormick and graduated in 1892. Would you send me a copy of his transcript, class notes, term papers, and application for matriculation, along with his graduation photograph? And I’m not making up that question!). Right up there with archives is ruminating about library services during academic year 2007-2008, what worked, what didn’t, and what we can do towards improving services in 2008-2009. And the work of weeding the collection is ever ongoing. Lest one should think that I’m all work and no play, I’m participating in GRABAAWR (GReat Annual Bicycling Adventure Along the Wisconsin River) and Bicycle Illinois this summer. Right now I’m working on my tan in preparation ….