Lili Wilkinson

On Sunday, 50 young people, six authors and other assorted interested/ing individuals gathered at the State Library, to hear two additional authors talk about stuff, and eat cake.

The authors on stage were Simmone Howell and Justine Larbalestier. They were awesome. It was all awesome. The cake was awesome.

And it made me really happy, because it kind of felt like coming home. I’ve been working at the Centre for Youth Literature for nearly six years now*, but I’ve been involved for a lot longer.

The first CYL event I went to, a Bookgig at St Martin’s Youth Arts Theatre. It was 1993. I was 12. The author was Isobelle Carmody, the book was The Gathering. I went to a whole lot of Bookgigs as a kid, and loved them all. Talking about books with other young people and Real Live Authors seemed to be pretty much the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon, and I’m pleased to say that it still is.

Here’s a photo of that first Bookgig. See if you can find Tiny Lili**.

*ZOMG.

**Clue: Jeans too short. White socks. Otherwise, I haven’t really changed.

I’m in Sydney at the ALIA Info Online conference, listening to lots of papers about the role of libraries and technology and how those roles are changing.

On of the presenters, Liz Lawley, talked about libraries as Happiness Engines. Apparently there are four elements of happiness:

1. Satisfying work to do

2. The experience of being good at something

3. Time spent with people we like

4. The chance to be part of something bigger than yourself.

I really like that list. I like that it has nothing to do with money, or status, or owning things. And I like that I can tick every box.

The other thing I really liked about Liz’s presentation was the idea of doing Wii bowling for seniors at public libraries. And organising live tournaments online between different libraries. Unreal.