What's in a name?

What's in a name, Romeo? A whole freakin lot! Naming digital/technologically based things is one anxiety attack waiting to happen. I search and search my brain, trying to come up with that amazing name that will capture everyone's attention only to change my mind for the four hundredth time to something new. Even this blog got a name make-over two posts in. God only knows the mess I am going to be when I have to name my first child. After learning what my job will be for the Nashville Public Library, I went home and wrote down at least 25 names for the new podcast. Some were clever, most were lame. My mother actually gave me the inspiration for the "chosen name." (That sounds so Chaim Potok). While talking to her on the phone she mentioned that she loved the song "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse because of the catchy beat. I am pretty sure I squirted Diet Dr. Pepper out of my nose. This is the woman who has never listened to anything other than the three C's - Country, Christian, and Classic Rock. Long story short, after hearing her talk about it, I thought about the lyrics to the song:

They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no, no'

Yes I've been black but when I come back you'll know know know

I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine

He's tried to make me go to rehab but I won't go go go

I was specifically interested in the first line of the stanza. They tried to make me go to rehab but I said 'no, no no.' The reason I was interested in this line was because if you add a few letters to rehab you get READ-hab. They tried to make me go to READ-hab and I said 'no, no, no.' How many times have teens/tweens said they were not interested in reading because schools and educational programs are too "old school." As a young adult you are not interested in reading The Scarlet Letter or writing a paper on The Diary of Anne Frank. We all went through middle and high school and even the dorky English majors like me wanted to die when these pieces of literature became the current unit of study. Schools need to go to READ-hab if they are going to engage students. I am not saying 'kill the classic!' All I am saying is, if you are going to teach King Lear to eighth graders at least have the decency to give them the graphic novel by Ian Pollack along with the original text. Give students of today material that they can relate to today.

So, I presented my idea to NPL. This is how it went..."I want to call the podcast READ-hab. I know the connotation is not the best, but the teen/tween listeners will love it and will relate to it. I promise I will annunciate READ so angry parents don't call about appropriateness. But, I want to prove to students that a)reading and teen/tween literature has gone through a huge change b)The library is no longer grandma's library but has revamped its atmosphere and materials - It is a brand new reading HABitat and c)That the different types of literacy out there can be access through so many new forms of media, including a podcast (wink wink).

The director thought it was the greatest idea, but I had to do some convincing and serious groveling for a board approval. I still don't know if I have a go ahead, but we shall see after the first podcast. Cross your fingers because I really think this can be huge. To be able to relate to teen/tweens on their level without being seen as cheesy is going to be the biggest challenge. And going back to what I said before, it all starts with the name.

Total Time at library: 3 hours