Sandra Says

When family and friends ask me about my day, I sometimes wonder how I would explain the process of setting up an interview for someone else. The calls to and from the reporter, and the conversations with the interview subject about what can and cannot be said, and the logistics of setting up the place, space, and topic of the whole thing… the entire process is so much more than just “I set up an interview.”

Earlier this week the Houston Chronicle ran a Q&A with one of my teen librarians.

Teenagers, better known in the book world as young adults, are carving out their own sections — away from the children’s department — in the modern public library and are craving more than just books. Chronicle reporter Cynthia Leonor Garza sat down with Craig Bertuglia, a self-proclaimed “comic book geek” and teen librarian at the John P. McGovern-Stella Link branch library, to talk about what they’re reading, what’s popular with them in the online world and how today’s teen interests differ from those of previous generations. 

So I point to this and say: “I did this!” I like my kudos, even if my name isn’t in the article itself.

Article referenced: Teens’ librarian knows what’s popular, by Cynthia Garza.

In today’s Houston Chronicle story Texas AG: Children need to be protected from Net predators, my one paragraph claim to fame:

The Houston Public Library system has filters on all computers, spokeswoman Sandra Fernandez said, though adults can request that the filter be removed for their sessions.

I’m trying to remember, old person that I feel today, when I became “spokeswoman” and am drawing a blank. Is memory the first thing to go?

Newly added to the Sandra Says online calendar:

Houston Public Library & The Ensemble Theatre present
An Evening with author E.Lynn Harris

The Ensemble Theatre
3535 Main St.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Reception 6:30 p.m
Program begins at 7:00 p.m.

E. LYNN HARRIS is the author of the memoir “What Becomes of the Broken-hearted” and of eight novels, including “A Love of My Own,” “Just as I Am,” and “Any Way the Wind Blows,” all of which were named Novel of the Year by the Blackboard African American Bestsellers, and “If This World Were Mine,” winner of the James Baldwin Award for Literary Excellence. “I Say Little Prayer” is filled with the plot twists, humor, and provocative insights readers expect from Harris.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 832-393-1313 or visit http://www.houstonlibrary.org.

Happy 4th of July, everyone!

I’ve spent years helping people get online. I’ve worked on getting small businesses and nonprofits online. I’ve worked closely with my IT group in developing, launching and maintaining online projects.

I didn’t have my own Web site.

I used to have one, back when online journals were all the rage. I used to have one, when I was first learning html and needed a venue to test my newly-acquired skills. I used to have one, once upon a time.

I thought it might be time for a new site.

These days I can quote you chapter and verse on the importance of social networking. I know about the rise of podcasting, the real power of blogs, and the ongoing debate surrounding the best ways to monetize content. I can give you examples of good online communications, ways to improve your message delivery to your clients and why distributed news sources are actually a good thing.

Sandra Says read my blog, visit my calendar, check out my photo album (I promise to add photos soon), and bookmark my site.