My name is Steve Butzel, and I am head of the reference department at the Nashua Public Library in Nashua, NH. I am also the coordinator of the “From the Reference Desk” blog at our library. Some of the sessions I’ve attended so far include: “Podcast U” pre-conference LITA Technology for Public Libraries interest group LIRT discussion about services to millennials. One observation I’ve made in general is that my presence as a public librarian at most sessions is greatly appreciated. Apparently, librarians from public libraries are not frequent visitors to some committees/interest groups/round tables at the national level. In fact, the LITA Technology of Public Libraries group was started specifically because LITA members felt there was a need to more effectively recruit public librarians to LITA events. That being said, remember, I am new to this whole scene, so my observations may not be espoused by all. I plan…
Month: January 2007
Public Libraries Technology Interest Group
Sunday: 8 – 10 a.m. Our first event/meeting was a big success with almost 30 participants. Thanks to everyone who attended. Paul Keith and Irmgarde Brown (co-chairs) welcomed everyone, gave a brief introduction to our new interest group and encouraged public librarians to join LITA. Our Discussion Topic Our guest speaker was Brian Auger from Howard County Public Library in Maryland. Brian shared a few facts about his system: 3rd wealthiest county in the country, second smallest population at 260,000 people, and yet they circulate over 2M items a year out of only 6 branches. Howard County started re-thinking their commitment to “traditional” computer software as Web-based technologies began emerging. It appeared to them that such a basic system should be cheaper and easier to secure. With the support of only 2 I.T. staff back then, the library began a slow evolution into Linux (first by implementing the Linux Firewalls…
Web Coordinating Committee
Introductions *Mary Taylor introduced our new staff liaison, Melissa Prentice * David Altenhof, Kyle Felker, Howard Sherman, Aaron Dobbs, Janet Arth, Nick Baker, Melissa Prentice, Sue Peacock, Bonnie Postlethwaite IG & Comm Chair meeting discussion — David Altenhof & Aaron Dobbs * Recognise duplication & triplication of effort in reporting (an archival copy, blog, and wiki) — Archival copy (must be submitted by Chair of IG or Committee) — blog posts about meetings could be linked (let IG or Committee Web coordinator know about specific requests) — wiki posts about meetings could also be linked * Conclusions / Action Items — Archival Quality Minutes are mandatory (required by Association (LITA & ALA) — Kyle Felker offered to look at writing a reports page to stick in WordPress which will list required report elements, send an email for the “official” archive, and post the official meeting report (go Kyle!) (see Meeting…
LITA BIGWIG Midwinter Meeting Minutes
Would we want to put on a face to face web 2.0 thing? Give people hands on experience with stuff? Could be a good chance to get techie and non-techie people together. Facilities might be available if we can come up with a plan for events and such in the next 60-90 days. —– Michelle Boule, U of Houston, Co-Chari Diane Hillman, Cornell, Standards Coordinator for LITA Erin McCaffrey, Regis U in Denver, Mark Beatty, VP, President-Elect Tiffeny McCall, UTKnoxville, new LITA person Jason Griffey, UT Chattanooga, Chair-Elect Karen Coombs, Co-Chair, U Houston Beth Hoffman, Newbie, Not Present but Important Kevin Clark, Tech Coordinator for Blog Jonathon Blackburn, volunteer wrangler for Blog — Program for ALA Annual Not quite sure what to do yet – social software something or other…. We need a name and brief blurb soon to get into the official ALA material – but viral marketing worked…
IG Chairs meeting
Introductions Bylaws and Organization – Margaret Kelly) Program Planning Committee – Rachel Cheng * PPC Liaison list handout (file will be linked when I get a copy) * PPC will make new guidelines for IG chairs with minimum program information and drop-dead deadline * PPC will refer other Divisional requests to IG chairs for co-sponsorship comments IG Communication – Email Lists, Blogs, Wiki, LITA site Official Organization Archive * The LITA site is still the official archive — IG (& Committee) Chairs please remember to fill out your meeting reports on the LITA site form Questions
LITA IG and ComChairs Meeting
Mary Taylor Happy Hour was a success yesterday with new members, old members, and people checking us out. At Annual, Happy Hour will be after the open house on Friday or Saturday. She introduces Mary Prentice who is the new Programs and Marketing Specialist for LITA. Bonnie Postlethwaite Use the wiki. There are spaces for the committee’s to contribute and help the wiki to grow. Currently the standards watch is upon the wiki. The town meeting, which will be run by Mark Beatty, will offer an opportunity for member to raise their concerns. Gail Clement Podcasting preconference yesterday was a success with good attendance. The speakers were wonderful and were a combination of both library and other types. She is currently working on a better way of document management so that our forms and other information we gather from our sessions can be kept in one place. It allows us…
My favorite photo from LITA Happy Hour
OITP Advisory Committee Meeting
Welcome, Intro, General Update * OITP is busy & being approached to do more work * ALA Presidential Candidate visits: — Davenport — Information Technology Policy is an area ALA will need to focus upon (she said more & I like her candidacy) — Rettig — Technology is pervasive in the association and he would encourage conversations across the association to get consensus on technology concerns (he said more, too & I like his candidacy) Gates Connectivity and E-Rate Project * Gates wants their results fairly quickly * Base data is not really available * OITP has to do (contract out) the basic research as well as interpretation of the results Digitization Project Discussed background, goals & timeline, and a draft of principles that are already laid out in various current ALA policy, etc. Participatory Networking Report * Building methods to describe participatory networks * Describe how libraries are facilitators…
LITA Town Meeting
LITA President-Elect Mark Beatty invites LITA members to the LITA Town Meeting, to be held on Monday, January 22, 2007, from 8–10 a.m. in Room 606 of the Washington State Convention & Trade Center in Seattle. Recent years’ Town Meeetings have focused on gathering input for the LITA Strategic Plan, which was approved by the LITA Board at Annual Conference 2005 in Chicago http://www.ala.org/ala/lita/aboutlita/org/plan.htm This year’s Town Meeting will be an idea gathering discussion based on the Strategic Plan, the current environment in the library world, and the question: What does success look like for LITA and it’s members? Mark Beatty will give a quick environmental scan. Then the LITA members at the Town Meeting will engage in small group brain storming and cluster ideas in a Tag Cloud like way. The LITA Blog will be used to inform LITA members of the ideas gathered, solicit their additional input and…
Come join the Bloggers
If you are a blogger at ALA Midwinter (and why wouldn’t you be?) come join the rest of your clan at the official ALA Blogger’s Table, sponsored by LITA. ALA Office 6th Floor of the Convention Center far left back of the room Look for the Ninjas