Please join us for any or all of the sessions. All listed times are in Eastern, check out timezoneconverter.com to convert start time to your local time zone.

Here are the details and registration links:

• TechAtlas for Libraries – Introduction to Inventory Tools
  March 10, 1:00 – 2:00pm (Eastern time)
  Join us as we explore the technology inventory tool features in TechAtlas. The TechAtlas tools can help your library build a complete inventory of your technology resources – everything from computers to digital cameras. You can even use a great set of automated inventory tools to help make the process easier. Participants will be lead through a live demonstration of TechAtlas and hear best practices about inventory management.

  Register for this Session.

• Implementing an Online Help Desk – Event Tracker
  March 16, 2:00 – 3:00pm (Eastern time)
  Event Tracker is a tool within TechAtlas which allows users to create an online “help desk” so they can track all of the requests and solutions to computer troubles in the library. When a staff member reports the problem using the web-based form, TechAtlas notifies the designated technical support staff by e-mail. After the problem has been resolved, there is space in Event Tracker to include the solution. This creates a knowledge base that can be referred to later if the same problem occurs. It also helps you to stay on top of all the technology tasks that need to be completed in the library. Note that you may find the free session on the inventory tools on March 10 helpful, but it is not required.

  Register for this Session

• Technology Planning with TechAtlas
  March 24, 3:00 – 4:00pm (Eastern time)
  Join us as we explore the technology planning features in TechAtlas. The TechAtlas tools can help your library build a technology plan starting with defining your mission and vision, creating goals and objectives and all the way through budgeting your expenses. We’ll discuss important tips for libraries that apply for E-rate funds and that are creating a technology plan as a requirement for that program. Participants will also see a live demonstration of TechAtlas and hear best practices about technology planning and how to help lead your library into the future through effective planning.

  Register for this Session

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) invites you to help invent the future of museums and libraries through your participation in UpNext: The Future of Museums and Libraries Wiki. IMLS’s first-ever wiki is a platform where individuals inside and outside of museums, libraries, and related fields can discuss, dissect, expand, and inform the issues outlined in the Future of Museums and Libraries: A Discussion Guide. IMLS will use the knowledge shared in the wiki to help shape the agency’s strategic plan, research directions, publications, convenings, and grant making. The wiki officially launched March 3 and is an opportunity to share resources, examples of what works, and vexing questions. It’s sure to be a thought-provoking five weeks for all participants and provide food for thought for your career, your institution and the choices you face.

Nine discussion themes and one theme on next steps will each be featured on the wiki for a two-week period, introduced by expert discussion leaders. The themes and discussion leaders include:

Happening NOW! – March 3-16

1. Changing Definitions & Roles of Museums and Libraries

Martín Gómez, City Librarian, Los Angeles Public Library

2. Shifts in Power & Authority

Beth Takekawa, Executive Director, Wing Luke Asian Museum

Cassie Chin, Deputy Executive Director, Wing Luke Asian Museum

March 17-30

3. Museums & Libraries as the “Third Place”

Susan Hildreth, City Librarian, Seattle Public Library

4. Technology & Policy Development

John Wilkin, Associate University Librarian for Library Information Technology (LIT), University of Michigan, Executive Director of HathiTrust

March 31-April 13

5. 21st Century Learning & Information Use

Tom Scheinfeldt, Managing Director for Center for History and New Media at George Mason University, OMEKA Project Director

6. New Models & Structures for Collaboration

Mark Wright, Director of Partnerships, National Children’s Museum

April 14-27

7. Planning for a Sustainable Future

Emlyn Koster, President & CEO, Liberty Science Center

8. Metrics for Evaluating Service & Impact

John Fraser, Director, Institute for Learning Innovation-New York

April 28-May 12

9. The 21st Century Museum & Library Workforce

Joanne Marshall, Alumni Distinguished Professor, School of Information and Library Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

10. UpNext: Where Do We Go From Here?

Larry Johnson, CEO, The New Media Consortium

May 19

Last official “Wiki Wednesday” IMLS will post wiki final summary.

Each theme will have a unique wiki page describing the theme and posing questions for discussion. Wiki users will be able to respond and comment on the questions, as well as pose new questions and thoughts particular to that theme. Wiki users will also be able to build a collaborative bibliography on the wiki and share existing projects at their own institutions or others, which are relevant to the discussion themes. A unique page will also exist for educators and students to share how the wiki, the Discussion Guide, and other resources on the future of museums and libraries are or can be used in professional education. If you have any questions or comments regarding the wiki or the Discussion Guide, please feel free to contact Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov or Erica Pastore, epastore@imls.gov.

I especially encourage small and rural library staff to get involved in this program. How are your libraries changing? Are there special considerations for our plans for the future? WebJunction staff will be watching and participating because it’s an exciting new turn in asynchronous online programming for the library field. We’re interested to see if this is a format that we might consider bringing into the online programs that we create at WebJunction.

Public Libraries and Access to Justice (Oregon Convention Center Room E145-146), Thursday March 25th at 8:30 AM

This session provides tools and training that will help public libraries serve as gateways to justice and governmental institutions, with a focus on collaboration with courts, law libraries, and legal aid programs. It introduces information and tools and how public librarians can appropriately help their patrons use these tools, such as those provided by legal aid and courts. Participants will learn about the national network of state Access to Justice Commissions, and how public libraries can participate in these groups. The session will also introduce the online “train the trainer” tools developed by the Self-Represented Litigation Network of the National Center for State Courts, as presented at a recent national conference funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Participants will receive tips and a template for creating a list of key resources, and ideas on how state access to justice partners can assist in the customization of that listing.

For those of you who will not be going to PLA: We have also posted the PowerPoint presentation to WebJunction. This slideshow is absolutely chock full of information and links to additional websites and online resources, so be sure to check it out. Additional material resulting from the Self-Represented Litigation Network’s January training workshop on legal resources will also be posted to WebJunction in the coming weeks.

I think we can safely say that we met our goals across the board. Here’s what we learned:

Of the 1160 people who registered, most were from public libraries (47%) and academic libraries (29%), and more than half serve populations of fewer than 25,000 people. We also had students and unemployed professionals in attendance.

The top 5 states in terms of attendance were Indiana, Georgia, Illinois, California, and Minnesota. There were also 39 people from outside of the U.S. who registered.

Average attendance at each of the 10 sessions was 291 people. Some folks went to just a few sessions, while some attended every session. We also heard from libraries who set up a room for multiple staff to watch and listen.

The top responses to our survey question about what went well was that the in-session chat area was informative and engaging and that technical issues were fixed quickly. Also noted were that the presenters were knowledgable and prepared, that session timing was managed well, and that audience participation was excellent. Here’s the full list of top responses:

• chat informative and engaging 45
• technical issues fixed quickly 38
• presenters knowledge/preparedness 31
• time management of sessions 23
• audience participation 9
• management/moderation of conference 19
• polls 14
• online conference format in general 13
• orientation to platform/tools 13
• broad range of topics 13
• archives – quick and convenient 10

The top suggestion for how to improve the experience was to improve the audio quality. Other suggestions were to decrease slide lag time, to show the presenters while they are speaking, and to help minimize chat distraction. Here’s the full list of top responses:

• audio quality 27
• slide advancement 23
• chat distracting 13
• ability to see presenter 11
• fewer technical difficulties 9
• session material in advance 8
• reminders and login information 6
• break time (shorter, longer) 5
• better use of online format 4
• presenter delivery – unengaging 4
• longer sessions 3
• more often 3
• start earlier (ends too late) 3
• add video 3

We also asked what topics you would like to see covered in future conferences. The top 10 topics suggested were:

1. customer service
2. social networking
3. grants and grant writing
4. cataloging
5. CMS options
6. patron training
7. reader’s advisory
8. copyright issues
9. library management
10. marketing

With this valuable feedback, we plan to offer another, even better conference in the future on one or more of the topics you suggested. Stay in touch with Crossroads to learn about this and other events at WebJunction.

For those who won’t be attending the conference f2f, we aim to provide you with conference coverage here on WebJunction. If you’re a WebJunction member who would like to help cover the conference for the community (the f2f or Virtual PLA versions), let us know and we’ll set you up as a guest blogger!

Wednesday, March 24

If you plan on arriving early, there are over a dozen preconference events to consider but you won’t regret attending this one. Longtime WebJunction member and super hero of accidental technology trainers, Stephanie Gerding will kick-start your conference adventure.

The Accidental Technology Trainer

Presented by Stephanie Gerding
8:30 am-12:00 pm, Oregon Convention Center – A105-106

Accidental technology trainers are responsible for technology training in labs, classrooms, or one-on-one with users or staff. You will learn about great tools and techniques, the most common concerns of technology trainers, and get helpful advice resulting from many years of coordinating and providing training for public libraries. You’ll discover why learning styles are important; how to create an interactive learning community; strategies for communicating about technology; and techniques for using activities, games, storytelling, and case studies.

Exhibits Open/Reception
4:00pm-6:30pm

Stop by and visit WebJunction at the OCLC booth, #1847 in the exhibits hall. We’ll also be there on Thursday from 9:30-5 and on Friday from 9:30-4.

Thursday, March 25

LITA’s Top Technology Trends
8:30-9:45 am, Oregon Convention Center – B113-116

A panel of LITA leaders who are acknowledged for their reputations and expertise in the library and information technology fields will discuss and debate the top technology trends in public libraries. WebJunction’s Michael Porter will be joined by David Lee King, Joan Frye Williams, and Michelle Frisque.

Geek the Library: Putting Theory into Practice
8:30–9:45 am, Doubletree Hotel Portland, Oregon Room
Please register for this session

Geek the Library is a public awareness pilot campaign implemented in select communities in Iowa, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. After several months, the results of the pilot are in. Were we able to increase awareness of the need for public library funding? Get the full scoop, and find out how you can implement Geek the Library in your community.

Power up Your Learning Organization
2:00-3:15 pm, Oregon Convention Center – A105-106

Transform your library into a Learning Organization. Discover new strategies and tools that move staff beyond training to proactive learning. Explore opportunities for self-directed, online, and social learning. Discuss ideas for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and mentoring. Then put these ideas into action. You won’t want to miss one, staring some of the WebJunction community’s brightest stars: Betha Gutsche, Jennifer Fenton, Kathleen Gesinger and Michele Leininger.

Latinos and Public Library Perceptions (Talk Table)
4:00-5:15 pm, Oregon Convention Center – A103-104

In partnership with the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, WebJunction published research about library use and perceptions of more than 2,860 Latinos nationally. At this talk table, discuss the findings and recommendations for increasing Latino library use and suggest best practices for implementing outreach to Spanish-speakers in your library community. Facilitated by WebJunction’s Jennifer Peterson and SLO program coordinator/trainer, MaryKay Dalgreen, Oregon State Library.

WebJunction’s Party with Competencies
6:30-8:30 pm, Doubletree Hotel Portland, OCLC suite 1455
Please register for this session

Grab a bite and a sip and connect with the people and proven competency resources that can help your library! We’ll have plenty of fun, food, festivities, good company and practical material for you to enjoy and take back to your library to help you and your staff learn and work more effectively.

Friday, March 26

OCLC Update Breakfast
7:30–8:45 am, Doubletree Hotel Portland, Hawthorne/Sellwood/Ross Island Rooms
Please register for this session

Join OCLC President and CEO Jay Jordan for breakfast and an update on what’s new at OCLC, including service enhancements and new initiatives that make information access easier. Share your questions and discussion with your colleagues at WebJunction’s roundtable discussion.

2010 Perceptions of Libraries in Changing Economic Times
10:30 am–12:00 pm, Doubletree Hotel Portland, Hawthorne/Sellwood/Ross Island Rooms
Please register for this session

In 2005, OCLC published a groundbreaking report, Perceptions of Libraries and Information Resources. Five years later, OCLC has embarked on an updated study about library users and their information-seeking behavior, paying particular attention to the perception of libraries in these current economic conditions. Join Cathy De Rosa, Vice President for the Americas & Global Vice President of Marketing at OCLC, for an engaging discussion of the findings from OCLC’s latest research.

Expanding your world through Web Conferencing
2:00-3:15 pm, Oregon Convention Center – E141-144

Join panelists Jennifer Peterson, Karen Burns, and Cindi Hickey for a session filled with experience and expertise in online engagement! We’ll discuss our own use of web conferencing tools to host online conferences, produce e-learning activities, conduct capacity building for remote staff, and host virtual meetings and focus groups. Together we will share best practices for presenters, ideas for integrating web conferencing with other technologies, and user success stories.

Two participant generated documents from the conference deserve special recognition:

The Participant Marketing Ideas compiled from the presentation by Cindi Hickey and Janie Rutherford, M&M: Maximum Marketing/Minimum Investment is filled with suggestions and examples on everything from calendar tools to ways of marketing your databases and from partnerships in marketing to leveraging social media tools in marketing efforts. Kudos to Cindi and Janie for putting participant engagement at the core of their presentation!

And longtime WebJunction member, SLO trainer, and Utah State Library’s Library Consultant/State Data Coordinator, Juan Tomás Lee has graciously shared his document collecting Participant Notes, a thorough and thoughtful compilation from all 10 sessions!

We have heard from many of you that you attended the conference along with a group of colleagues and are excited to hear that you are sharing your learning with others via staff meetings and wikis. Please let us know how that experience worked for you or how you are applying new skills, tips or tricks on the job.

And thank you again for your participation. We are thrilled to see that the online conference model sustains WebJunction’s commitment to collaboration and learning and it doesn’t happen without you!

View complete conference archives »

Karen Brown, library program specialist at the State Library and Archives of Florida, manages a program to harness the activities and documentation of libraries around the state, including coordinating a working group that meets once per month. The state library has given a number of training workshops to staff around the state on e-government. We look forward to learning more about the resources that this group produces.

Nancy Fredericks, e-government services manager at Pasco County Library System (PCLS), used LSTA grant funds to create extensive e-government resource section on the PCLS website:

• E-government Tools Page : includes e-government videos, tutorials, statistics, and more). Click on each section and more information displays below.
• E-Government blogs: General E-gov information ; Healthcare blog ; Job Seekers blog . In the works are blogs on topics such as business, legal, and grants information.
• PCLS E-gov web page

Florida also maintains an e-government email discussion list. This list is open to anyone.

Nancy also serves on an ALA e-gov committee, which exposes her to the needs and ideas of librarians around the nation. She tells us there will be some helpful resources–including a toolkit–coming out of this group’s work later this year.

We also heard from Sol Hirsch, director of Alachua County Library District, and Otto Pleil, a staff member at the library, who described the innovative partnership between their library and the local community. As part of the program “Partnership for Strong Families,” thirty social agencies rotate into the open space in the building that also houses the library, and the library sets up related material in a highly visible location. This means that patrons don’t even need to leave the building to find the additional information they may need for their social service needs, such as job search, literacy, parenting, healthcare, and so on.

Otto described his witnessing of the challenge that staff face in shifting from book- to computer-centered service and the growing need to provide social service information and assistance. He has presented with Nancy on tips and techniques for how libraries can be prepared for this type of service. We have posted one of these presentations (as PowerPoint slides) on WebJunction in the Introduction to E-Government section, along with Nancy’s cheatsheet of both state and federal e-gov resources.

What e-government initiatives are happening in your state? Post a comment here or on WebJunction to let us know.

Today’s post builds on an earlier announcement about a webinar hosted by ALA’s Washington Office – How to Connect (to federal broadband funds BTOP or BIP). The archive is not yet posted but the presentation materials are posted at ALA’s Broadband Resources page. In this week’s Technology Essentials online conference hosted by WebJunction,  Wendy Knapp and Mary Alice Ball presented on Funding for Broadband: Indiana and Beyond. Their presentation reconnected me personally to this issue so critical to public access to information, especially important for libraries where they are the only option for such access in their communities.

The most urgent message in their presentation was this: there is federal support for this and every year schools and libraries are not accessing it.

It’s no wonder. It’s a challenging application process, especially if you’re not supported in the effort by a larger organization like state library or regional consortia. But the application process for the second and last round of funding begins on February 16 and ends on March 15.  I can vouch for the fact that federal grant application processes are more challenging than the others I’ve worked with. But this application process has supposedly been streamlined since the first round, so don’t let that scare you away. It wouldn’t hurt to check out the ALA webinar once it is posted or check out the workshop recordings from regional workshops on both programs. Or take a look at Stephanie Gerding’s Library Grant 101 materials if this is a first grant application process.

All that said, here’s the bottom line:

The Recovery Act appropriated $7.2 billion and directed the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) and The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across the U.S., increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term economic benefits. The result is the RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the NTIA Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).

BIP will make loans and grants for broadband infrastructure projects in rural areas.

BTOP will provide grants to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects.

A very nice summary of BIP’s process was presented at the webinar, and will give you a high-level overview of the process and how to complete a successful application. Everything you need to know about the official application process is at BroadbandUSA.gov.

If you’d like to get more involved in broadband access issues, our presenters suggested working with ALA’s Office for Information Technology Policy (OITP). Thank you to these presenters for reminding me how important this topic is for rural libraries! I’d love to hear your experiences with any of these programs…is there more we should be doing to help each other with this process? Let us know…

Register for the event »