Toronto Star Tour, GTA Bloggers, Secret Swing
Saturday was very busy and I have a lot to do before waking at 6 am for the class I’m teaching, so I’m going to be a little brief now.
The Toronto Star tour was really great. One of the things standing out in my mind is how much the library staff seems to come out of the library, so to speak, to positively contribute to the news organization. They suggest story ideas, participate in editorial meetings, and create content for the publications regularly. Many news libraries/librarians do that, but it’s just inspirational to learn how another organization does that. After a presentation about the Toronto Star, the library, its staff, and their role in the news organization, we toured the news room, library, and building. The newspaper is one of the few in North America with a working test kitchen where news staff prepare meals as a way of writing about food for the newspaper.
After the tour, I wandered around Toronto a bit, then relaxed in the room for a while. I went to the News Division Suite–sadly, I think that might be my only visit there this year–where I reconnected with some colleagues.
I have some new leads on why database vendors aren’t interested in getting content from unviersity/college faculty and staff news publications that I think are quite interesting and potentially useful.
The gathering with the Greater Toronto Area Bloggers at The Bishop and Belcher was great. A news librarian decided to come along just because the Accordion Guy would be there. Of course, he played for us. It was great to hang with him in his native environment for a change.
Some of the bloggers took me to the secret swing on my way back to the hotel. Unfortunately, someone was sleeping beneath it, so we weren’t able to swing on it. I hope to have some spare time tomorrow to visit it and swing in earnest.
I just realized I forgot to pack my peppermint leg and foot lotion. Keeping my legs and feet happy is pretty important at these conferences. I estimate that I walked at least 8 miles today.
