The 2019 Children’s Book Summit Program

Book Review: Bone Talk

Bone Talk
Candy Gourlay
Anvil, 2018

Bone Talk is the story of Samkad, a young Bontoc boy at the cusp of manhood. His journey towards becoming one is a thrilling and heart breaking adventure since the setting of the novel happened at a time of conflict and change. It is 1899 and the Philippines has entered a war with the United States of America. His village in the Cordilleras is not spared of the cruelty of invaders. Though, the opportunity to learn from a friendly stranger presents itself. This coming of age story has a lot to tell, and teach, about identity, honor, subversion, obedience to customs and traditions and the gray areas in between. 

Candy Gourlay once again dazzled me with her humor, wit and storytelling. I literally laughed out loud at one point when she started a chapter with this line, ...no talk of my manhood, after a series of action filled narratives. This is Samkad speaking and there I find the typical teenager. Irrational. Emotional. Impulsive. Self centered. I remember myself at twelve years old during the height of the People Power Revolution. I worried about my grade school graduation. Never mind if tanks and soldiers were moving and marching on EDSA. I need to graduate by March!

And then, there is Luki. Irrepressible and persistent, she is Samkad's best friend. It is through her that social class and the roles of Bontoc women are presented. How she defies and disobeys them not because she is a bad girl. Luki is smart and perceptive, protective of her family and friends. She knows who she is and where she belongs. These are all evident in the dialogues she has with Samkad implying that, even girls or women, can fight for the people and the place they love.

This is why I love reading Candy Gourlay. She is capable, with great effect, to show her characters as they are: strong yet flawed, willful but yielding, good and bad. She does so in situations that test these characters. She makes use of images, symbols and metaphors. A music box and a book as gifts from Mister William. A gun and camera as tokens from Colonel Quinlan. This literary technique opens up discussions of a larger scale.

For one, these colonisers' intent and interests can be further fleshed out through a comparison of the objects they gave the Bontocs. What do music and books represent? What are guns for? How powerful are photographs? By bringing these objects in the novel and planting them at well selected spots or parts in the entire narrative, I thought about the ways we were subjugated. They differ in function but were used to colonize just the same.

Ms. Gourlay claims that Bone Talk is not history. True, but fiction can lead readers to a broader understanding of other disciplines and life lessons embedded in the material either intentionally or otherwise. In the end, I realized, that while Samkad earned his rightful place in the village, it is his father who learned a great lesson as well. This for me is the most beautiful part of the novel.

So, go and read the book. Find a copy. Buy or borrow! Do not miss out the wonderful discoveries and insights you can take away from the novel.

Rating: 5 Bookmarks
Recommended: Grade 5 and up

Call for Manuscript Submissions-National Book Development Trust Fund Grant 2018

Lifting these information from the website of the National Book Development Board:

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONSThe National Book Development Board (NBDB) is calling for applications for the National Book Development Trust Fund (NBDTF) Grant for 2018. Authors and organizations are invited to submit at least 25% of their manuscripts or research works for books. The chosen works will receive a maximum grant of P200,000.00 each.

Categories include I.  Supplementary Reading Materials written in the Mother Tongue (Grades 1 to 3); II.  Supplementary Reading Materials for Senior High School Students (Grades 11 and 12);  III.  Supplementary Reading Materials for All Grade Levels

HOW TO APPLYSubmit the following documents:

1. Applicant’s curriculum vitae (in the case of juridical entities, its SEC registration documents, as may be applicable, and the curriculum vita of the authors-applicants).

1. A sworn statement indicating that the submitted work is an original and unpublished work, and that the applicant is the copyright-holder of the work.

1. A project proposal with project objectives; proposed scope of work (i.e., table of contents); timeline; budget and resources; and other relevant information supporting the author’s capacity to undertake the project.

1. NBDB Certificate of Registration.

1. Manuscript Format: in 12-point type, Times New Roman, with 1-inch margins, and sequentially numbered on 8.5’ x 11’ bond paper; in quadruplicate copies. A digital copy shall also be submitted.

1. Manuscript Substance: at least 25% of the manuscript, written in the identified language category for Supplementary Reading Materials written in the Mother Tongue, and in English or Filipino for Supplementary Reading Materials for all other grade levels.

 APPLICATION PERIODDeadline for submission for the Supplementary Reading Material written in the Mother Tongue is on 31 July 2018 and deadline for the Supplementary Reading Materials for all other grade levels is on 30 September 2018.Interested applicants should email their applications to oed@nbdb.gov.ph with the subject: NBDTF 2018 Application (Name of author/s or organization).You may download a copy of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9521, National Book Development Trust Fund Act, here. CONTACT INFORMATIONFor inquiries, please contact:National Book Development BoardUnit 2401 Prestige TowerF. Ortigas Jr. Road, Ortigas Center,Pasig City 1605, PhilippinesTelefax: +632 570 6198 or +632 687 1804Email: helpdesk@nbdb.gov.ph

Book Review: Wrap Them Store Them Peddle Them: The Filipino Way

Wrap Them Store Them Peddle Them: The Filipino Way
Written by Marilen Nolasco-Espiritu
Photos by Johann Espiritu
ArtPostAsia, 2008

This book is in the cataloging pile that caught my eye!

What an interesting read. 

It has stories about the creative ways of preparing and packaging Filipino delicacies as well as the persistence and ingenuity of the people who make them. I had to pause from meeting my cataloging quota to read a few chapters. 

It is the book's cover that got me first: a stack of sundot kulangot. Kalamay. Rice cakes inside the bitaog shell. As a child, I would receive sticks of sundot kulangot as pasalubong from a favorite aunt who loved to travel in the provinces of the North. My lola cooked Kalamay, of course, but back then, cracking open the shell and scooping the kalamay from the inside with a small bamboo stick adds to the adventure of eating one.

Ah, and there are more kakanin and delicacies in the book that brought forth memories and stories of growing up. The chapter on Bagong Balayan reminds me of a neighbor who sold them per scoop or takal from a tapayan. My mother would make me buy 3-5 scoops of bagoong for seasoning in pinakbet. On a Sunday, after morning mass, my father would drop by an old house near Pateros church to buy trays of balut and itlog maalat. A tray of salted eggs would land in my Lola's sari-sari store where it was sold for 5-7 pesos a piece. Add 3-5 pesos and you get one tomato and one small onion.

Amazing how one book can channel me back to those memories of childhood.

Apart from the folkloric appeal of the narrative, the photos are art pieces complementing the book's concept of a vanishing culture put under a microscope. Thus the book is a precious title to add to a library's collection. In teaching and learning context, the book is a valuable source for developing units of study in Philippine studies, art, design and even business.

Rating: 4 Bookmarks

10 Most Borrowed Books of 2015

These are photos of books that our high school students borrowed the most in 2015. *Not in the photo are The Complete Persepolis (Satrapi, 2007) and Ghostopolis (TenNapel, 2010).

NCBA 2016 Best Reads: Guidelines for Nominations

Ncba 2016 guidelines from Zarah Gagatiga

The Colors and Flavors of Bacolod

We arrived in Bacolod at 3PM. Except for the air turbulence, it was an uneventful trip. Not that I am wishing for delays or disasters. The weather was good and everyone was in high spirits. After gathering our bags, we all headed down to Bacolod Pavilion Hotel, registered and took a rest before hitting the town for some sight seeing. The itinerary was The Ruins, dinner and a walk back to the hotel.

The Rizal Library librarians, Karryl Sagun and Shielski Montenegro, efficiently attended to our needs and joined us for a late afternoon trip to The Ruins.

I have read and heard good things about the The Ruins in Bacolod so, it was in my To See list. Well, indeed, it was what I expected it to be, a haunting beauty. After a series of picture taking at the The Ruins, we headed to Aida's for dinner. The chicken inasal was divine! We ate using our hands for there were no silver ware set on the table. The experience of eating chicken inasal sans fork, knife and spoon was satisfying! Fresh oysters were served on the side.

This maskara is one of the many decorations at Aida's. The Masskara Festival is celebrated every October in Bacolod. The colorful accessories, beads and blings, as well as the maskara itself, are intriguing elements I plan to use for a future storytelling gig.

This maskara has become a cultural icon of Bacolod.

In the 1980s, Negros was affected by the depletion of the sugar industry and a tragic sea accident, the sinking of the ship Don Juan, that killed nearly 700 Negrenses and Bacolodnons. As a strategy to cope and pull through tough times, the local government unit took the opportunity to use the city's monicker, City of Smiles, into an art form that depict smiling faces on masks.  Thus, the MassKara Festival was born. Since then, it has become a tourism strategy that uniquely identifies Bacolod from the rest of the Visayan islands.

Mass means multitude. Kara is Spanish for face. A multitude of smiling faces. That's Bacolod! That's the Philippines!

Who is Sambat Trust?

For the past three months, I've been involved with school library development at Tanauan, Batangas through Sambat Trust, a UK based charity that supports literacy development and education. Below is a draft write up on the organization. It's growing and accomplishing great things in small but sure steps since the past three years!

Who is Sambat Trust?

The Pied Piper of Hamelin, a folk story, teaches implicitly the importance of keeping one’s word and fulfilling a promise. With a magic flute, the Pied Piper successfully rid the town of rats for a promised reward. Sadly, the town mayor failed to do so. As a result, the Pied Piper took away from the town, its most valuable resource – its children. Indeed, the town had been freed from pestilence but it lost its joy and its future.

Keeping one’s words is as precious as valuing children.

Sambat Trust UK, a charity devoted to support literacy and education, does both. It is true to its words and believes in upholding the basic right of children to proper education and access to schooling.

Reaching Out and Giving Back

Sambat Trust UK began scholarship programs for underprivileged children in Tanauan, Batangas in 2007. It has adopted thirty-six scholars, from grade school, high school and college levels in various barangays in the area. Its founder, Mr. Anthony Mariano believes that the cycle of poverty that permeates the way of life of his kababayans (countrymen) in Tanauan can be broken through education. By providing its scholars with books, school supplies and basic tuition fees, the Sambat Trust scholars could go to school. Thus, they are given the opportunity to develop skills necessary for living a full life.




As a second generation Tanaueno, Anthony Mariano would go home to the Philippines for vacations and holidays with his parents, Eligorio and Beatrize, who were former teachers. His parents have found work and have settled in London in the 70s but the Philippines remained in their hearts. Anthony recalled one experience related by his mum. This particular story made him eager to reach out and give back. His mum related that, in one particular holiday in Tanauan, she met children as young as six and seven years old working in the streets selling mats, rags and sampaguita. A couple of years after, returning for another holiday with relatives in Tanauan, his mum observed that the situation has not changed.

Finally, visiting Tanauan in 2007, Anthony had a first hand experience of the poverty that has been slowly eating the children and the youth of Tanauan away. He had the opportunity to visit government run schools in the district, particularly, Sambat Elementary School and neighboring barangays (villages). He got to see its library, met its principals and spoke with the mayor of Tanauan for possible charity work in the area. Undaunted, he gathered the help of friends and relatives, raised funds, asked for donations and set the gears in motion. In the same year, the Sambat Trust Scholarship Programme was born along with the Sambat Trust Library Project.



To date, Sambat Trust has built five functional libraries in five schools in Tanauan namely, Sambat Elementary School, Talaga Elementary School, Santor Elementary School, Banadero Elementary School and, its current library project, Wawa Elementary School. The stages and the progress of these school libraries are being monitored and supervised on a regular basis. Photos, articles and activities about the development of these school libraries may be read and viewed at Sambat Trust’s blog: http://sambattrust.blogspot.com/

A Glimpse of Joy

Joy Villaflor is a new scholar of Sambat Trust for school year 2010-2011. She is in fifth grade at Sambat Elementary School. She lives with her parents, Benjamin and Noralyn, and her three siblings, Zeus, Eyt and Adelene in a 20 sq. meter house made of wood and cement. Everything is inside that small space – living room, kitchen, bedroom and dining room. For water, they fetch from a well that they share with a neighbor. The government rural health unit provides the family with health care much like everyone else in the community.

Benjamin has no work at all since he has been sick for a while. Noralyn is a household help earning Php 2,000.00 per month. This meager salary goes to basic needs on food, clothing and provisions for shelter. Benjamin and Noralyn could only hope for a good education for their children.

Joy, their eldest, keeps their hope alive despite limited income and resources. She goes to school every day fueled with the same dream her parents have for her.

Step by Step

Setting up school libraries and funding scholars are but two of the basic strategies that Sambat Trust has put in place to achieve its mission. The future holds so many possibilities for its beneficiaries and foster children.

In the coming years, more literacy activities are envisioned to take shape in its adopted schools. Writing contests and reading recitals; book making projects and storytelling sessions are some examples. These are activities perfect for the schools with functional libraries. Parent support is essential too. A home-learning program for parents can help a lot in establishing a learning environment for children even before they go to school. The plausibility to conduct adult education sessions that will economically empower parents of scholars is a dream as well. Tutorial sessions for scholars are being considered too. It is not enough that they go to school. A follow through on the their academic and formative development is important for a holistic approach to learning.

Sambat Trust values children. And it will keep its word.

RAP's Ruby Year Literacy Awards

More! More! More awards for reading and literacy!

DO YOU KNOW OF ANY PERSON/ INSTITUTION/PROGRAM OR PROJECT WORTHY OF AN ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR PROMOTING LITERACY AND LOVE FOR READING? HERE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE SUCH EFFORT!

Awards will be given by the Reading Association of the Philippines (RAP) in connection with its RUBY JUBILEE Celebration in November 2010

WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA?

When nominee is a PERSON, he/she should be a Filipino citizen who;
Ø Has unquestionable integrity;
Ø May be still in active service, retired or diseased;
Ø Must have created an impact on a Filipino community in terms of at least five of the following aspects of achievement:

a. research yielded;
b. number/quality of achievers trained;
c. number of learners served
d. one or more significant ideas initiated;
e. actively involved in unpublicized literacy project
f. has published professional articles on literacy and reading education;
g. has wide extension work in reading/literacy education;
h. has helped raise the qualitative standards of achievement/service.

When nominee is an INSTITUTION, it:
Ø May be nationally or internationally based but serving the Philippines/Filipinos;
Ø Must have been in active operation within the last five years;
Ø Must have had professional impact on a Filipino community based on five of the Aspects a to h under the criteria for individual nominees.

When nominee is a PROGRAM or PROJECT , it:
Ø May not be Filipino –initiated but has record serving the Philippines/Filipinos;
Ø Must have been in active operation within the last five years;
Ø Must have had professional impact on a Filipino community in terms of five of Aspects a to h for individual nominees.

WHO MAY NOMINATE FOR ANY OF THE CATEGORIES?

Ø Nominations may be submitted by:
- Any RAP member
- Any head of public/private school or office ( director, superintendent,
president , rector, dean, principal, )
-Any NGO head (president, director, coordinator)

Ø Nomination can be done in writing following this format:

NOMINATION FORM
Achievement Award: for Individual / Institution /Program/Project Category
(Underline Intended Category)

Full Name of Nominee:___________________________________
(Print in Caps)
Postal Address: ________________________________________
________________________________________
Contact Nos.: Landline: __________E-mail__________________
Fax: ______________Mobile No. ______________

For Individual Nominee, include:
Date and Place of Birth ________________________
Highest Educational Attainment:_________________
When and Where Taken _______________________
Current Occupation: ________________________
Name and Address of Employer__________________


Data about Nominator:

Name ___________________________________________
Postal Address:____________________________________
Contact Nos. Landline:_________E-mail:________________
FAX ____________ Mobile No.:____________
Date of nomination__________________________________

Signature _________________________________________

TAKE NOTE: For any type of Nomination, please attach a typed:
1. One-page description of the nature of literacy work done for the last five years of more;
2. One half –page justificaton for the nomination; and
3. A passport-size photo of the nominee (for individual nominee) / a photo of the nominated institution/program or project (Optional).

Ø Submit all nominations to:any RAP Board Member or send them by mail to

Office of the Dean
UP College of Eduication
Diliman, Quezon City

Hindi Ka Nag-Iisa

This video will definitely strengthen Noynoy Aquino's presidential bid.



“HINDI KA NAG IISA”
Composed by: Ogie Alcasid
Sung by: Regine Velasquez

Sasamahan ka namin
Kahit paligid ay madilim
Iilawan ang daan tungo sa magandang kinabukasan.
Ika’y mamuno,kami ay susunod
pagkakaisa’y ating itaguyod
ang Pilipinas ay naghihintay
handa kaming kumilos,handang umalalay.

Hindi ka nag-iisa
sa paggising ng bayan
kami ay kasama,hindi ka mag-iisa.
Isasapuso ang dangal ng ating bayan
Sa tulong at biyaya ng maykapal

Magkakapit bisig,tayo…
ituloy natin laban ni Ninoy at Cory,
Nang bawa’t mamamayan
pagmamahal natin sa bayan
‘wag na nating itago, ‘di tayo susuko

Hindi ka nag-iisa
Sa paggising ng bayan
kami ay kasama,hindi ka mag-iisa
isasa puso ang dangal ng ating bayan

Sa tulong at biyaya ng maykapal
Magkakapit bisig,tayo…
Sama-sama bawat Filipino
Mula noon,ngayon at kailan pa man
hindi ka nag iisa……

Enverga Library Blog

In my talk cum workshop on blogging at the PLAI STRLC conference last October 8, 2009, Madame Rose Villamater of the Manuel Enverga University Foundation proudly informed me of their library blog which was created using Wordpress.

I visited their new and spankingly clean blog a few weeks after. I could not help but admire the professional look of Wordpress templates. The Enverga Library Blog has all the basic information about their library. It is only a matter of time for the staff to beef up the content of the blog and offer something unique for readers of the blogosphere.

What I like most about the blog is its link to the Library Staff. Notice the big smile on everyone's face? Seems that they're a happy lot! One is never fully dressed without a smile, so they say. Now that's painting a positive image of librarians. To the staff of the Enverga Library of Lucena Quezon, I wish you success in your blogging endeavors! More happy blogging days to come your way!

Rehabilitation Process

Rico Blanco has a new song, BANGON, for all of us who went through Ondoy.

So he says --

Countless Filipinos have heroically gone out of their way to help our brothers and sisters in this time of need. This is just my humble contribution as a singer and musician. I hope, in my own little way, I can help raise additional funds for our countrymen affected by the typhoons, and perhaps give a little boost to their morale to help them get back on their feet again.

Now, the rehabilitation process begins. Bangon, Pilipinas Kong Mahal!

MakakaAHON Tayo!

AHON Foundation continues to live up to its mission of building school libraries and stocking them up with quality and age-appropriate books for grade school children. Anna Rojas, AHON Executive Director blogs about her personal experiences in One Island At A Time.

AHON is currently pooling people and resources for their new project, FABILIOH 150x150 --

This project will be a university wide effort to raise at least 150 brand new books per class of students from prep to graduate school, to be able to help at least 150 public elementary schools in our country.

if your interested to lend a hand, just click the links for contact details and other information.

Making an Impact Through Blogging

I'm still fresh from the wake of the UP FLIPP event last Monday. There are just somethings you cannot shrug off easily. In fact, my talk moved me to search for more blogs by Filipino Librarians. I found several good ones which I will link and feature in the coming days.

For today, here are two bogs by Pinoy librarians from Region 2- Cagayan Valley, my father's homeland. I still dream to touch base with librarians there.

The St. Paul University Philippines World Bank Knowledge Development Centeris a proactive and dynamic reosurce center committed to creating, sharing and applying knowledge for development.

The PLAI-CavRLC- The Cagayan Valley Region Librarians Council (CaVRLC)is a regional council of the Philippine Librarians Association, Inc. (PLAI) composed of librarians and information professionals in Region II. Membership is open to all licensed/registered librarians from Region 02, which covers the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino.

I wish these blogs wonderful blogging days! They may get their share of trolls and controversies through blogging, as all bloggers experience, but such challenges strengthen the stamina for blogging. Mabuhay ang Pinoy Blograrians!

Ani Ng Sining Grant

ANI NG SINING GRANT

For the year 2009, the Philippine International Arts Festival (PAIF) has created the theme "Ani ng Sining". It will feature the talents and performances of the many artists and arts groups in the seven arts on whose trainings, competitions, and creative expressions it has invested the past year or so. The Festival will be a celebration of the fruits of the creative efforts for the past year and a looking forward to a richer, more fertile ground in the coming years for the evolution of artistic modes of expression available to the Filipino creative imagination.

The National Commission for Culture and the Arts encourages culture and arts organizations nationwide to take part in this celebration by making the PAIF a part of their annual program of activities. Thus, everyone is encouraged to implement their own PAIF Program in their own communities. The NCCA also invites organizations nationwide to submit project proposals which may be considered for possible funding assistance. This funding assistance is competitive. Noteworthy projects shall be selected by the PAIF Ad-Hoc Committee from among all proposals received by the NCCA based on the following criteria:

A. Proposals for new works will be evaluated according to the following:

1. Originality of Concept

2. Innovative Artistic Treatment

3. Interaction of Various Art Forms

4. Reflection of Philippine Culture

Slots open for application: 6 slots (2 slots per island region)

Budget per project: P 200,000

B. Proposals for productions based on works by National Artists will be evaluated according to the following:

1. Originality of Concept

2. Innovative Artistic Treatment

3. Creative Integration of National Artists' Works and Styles

4. Reflection of Philippine Culture

Slots open for application: 3 slots (1 slot per island region)

Budget per project: P 200,000

C. Proposals for previously-staged productions will be evaluated according to the following:

1. Artistic Achievement

2. Audience Impact

3. Critically Acclaimed

4. Reflection of Philippine Culture

Slots open for application: 6 slots (2 slots per island region)

Budget per project: P 200,000

QUALIFICATIONS:

The grant is given to individuals or groups whose proposals or current works meet the following qualifications:

1. A production that has been staged and has received critical acclaim or regional or national recognition may apply for restaging the particular work.

2. A new work with a significant theme and innovative production style and featuring the interaction of two or more art forms (architecture, visual, literary, music, dance, theater and cinema)

3. A new production that aims to deepen the public's appreciation for the artistic achievements of two or more National Artists by featuring and incorporating in a creative way the themes and styles of the selected National Artists

4. The artistic form of all of the above entries may be foreign but the content should be Filipino. However, translations or adaptations of foreign productions (e.g., Broadway) do not qualify. All entries must be original Filipino work and not necessarily funded by the NCCA.

5. The applicant's proposal must contain a detailed written account of the work's concept, its artistic treatment, and other pertinent production requirements.

6. The proposal must also be endorsed by a representative of the NCCA regional committee.

THE PROJECT PROPONENT

1. Organizations must be duly-accredited proponents to the NCCA. Otherwise, proponents may apply for accreditation by submitting all required documents (for more information please visit our website at www.ncca.gov. ph)

2. Proponents must complete the liquidation of an unliquidated project and secure a Certificate of Project Completion from the NCCA Project Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PMED) to be eligible to apply for the Ani ng Sining Grant.

3. Proponents with projects to be implemented until February 2009 shall not be eligible to apply for the Ani ng Sining Grant.

4. Only one proposal may be accepted from each organization/ individual.

The deadline for submission of project proposals, accreditation requirements, detailed line-item budget and other requirements is on or before the midnight of October 13, 2008. Proposals received after the deadline and/or with incomplete requirements shall not be processed and will be returned by the NCCA to the proponent

All project proposals may be addressed and submitted to:

Plan/ Policy Formulation and Programming Division
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
5th Flr., NCCA Building, 633 Gen. Luna St., Intramuros, Manila
Telephone Nos. (02) 527-2209, (02) 527-2192 loc. 509
Cell Phone Nos: 0918-9427972
Fax No. (02) 527-2198 or (02) 527-2084
E-mail: pmd@ncca.gov. ph or info@ncca.gov. ph

The 4th Philippine Blogging Summit

Blogs are getting some negative press these days. But really now, it's how the technology is used for boon or bane.

Check out the 4th Philippine Blogging Summit website. It's going to be on April 26, 2008 at the Malcolm Hall, UP Diliman. Old, reliable names are line dup for this year's summit so it will prove to be one substantial blogging experience once again.

Love Your Books

June is National Book Development Month. Filipinas Heritage Library and the National Book Development Board has prepared a slew of activities for the reading Pinoy.

From June 27 to July 1, a literary exhibit at the Glorietta Park that features places in the metro that have inspired our writers to create their literary master pieces is up for display. Tickets cost Php 500.00.

Aside from this, poetry readings, storytelling sessions, book illustration contests and theatrical presentations make it to the week long calendar of the National Book Development Month. Call 8921801 for details.

iBlog 3

'Tis the blogging season again! The link for the 3rd Blogging Summit is here. The program promises to be as interesting as the past two years since it offers bloggers from all ages old favorites and promising new names. There are a good number of women bloggers who will be speaking, but I'm a wee bit disappointed to find none (male or female) in the field of education and librarianship.

Anyhoo, I hope to go even with a full April schedule. See you there!