Saturday, January 25, 2014

ALA Midwinter 2014 Day 2

Another cold and snowy day in the City of Brotherly Love!  Some highlights of the day include:
1.  NSA session for highlights see ...
2.  Will need to stop by the Google Glass display to try a pair .. Just to see what all the talk is about.
3.  Spent some time at another Edge session facilitated by Lyrasis.  Gained some great insight into  how ICfL can support public libraries who wish to participate in the assessment process during 2014. The benefits of Edge is that is provides valuable data and insight for State Libraries in regard to training and support needs of public libraries.  It also provides a local focus, starts conversations, and creates a common vocabulary.  Pennsylvania provided 10 workshops to get all libraries on the same page as to the process, answering questions and redirecting fears.  The beauty of the tool is that is provides a snapshot of where the library is at a point in time.  Edge is tailored around technology, however community partnerships are key
4.  Reaching Outward session once again focused on the Harwood tools.  March 6 is the deadline to apply for the OTC Public Innovators.  Learn more at www.ala.org.otc.
5.  Digital Badging.  While I didn't learn much about how to creat a digital badge system, I did learn about the diplomatic Reception Rooms in the US State Department.  They are working with the Smithsonian, National Parks Service and ALA to create a quest series in diplomacy.  This series will be featured in an online web conference to be held on February 12.  While a Badge is an image gained for completing a learning quest, not all badges are created equal.  Quality badges contain the following data: Name, Description, Criteria, Issuer, Evidence, Date issued, Standards,Tags.  For registration and more information go to Smithsonianeducationconferences.org/diplomacy, Www.diplomaticrooms.state.gov, Www.diplomacy.state.gov, Www.history.state.gov

Rounded out the day at the ALA-APA Fundraising Reception.  Enjoyed the music by Ian Lashbrook's brother and even Ian got in on the act!  Nice.

Friday, January 24, 2014

ALA Midwinter 2014 - Philadelphia

While the weather outside is chilly...the information is warmly and freely flowing inside the Philadelphia Convention Center.   Today my colleague Sue and I participated in the training session for the Smart Investing @ Your Library grantees.  We are looking forward to hitting the ground running in March.  ICfL's pilot project will focus on enhancing the financial literacy for staff in 12 south central Idaho libraries which in turn the financial literacy outreach efforts of those libraries will be supported for one year following the training in their individual communities.

In Cognotes today two highlights.  There is free content on public awareness available for librarians to use.  Content targets teens, parents and kids, seniors, job seekers and many others.   Content is available under the Creative Commons license that allows libraries to repurpose content in either online or offline formats.  Check it out at www.atyourlibrary.org

The website was launched with funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York with additional support from the Disney Book Group.

ALA with assistance from Innovative Interfaces is sponsoring th 2014 ALA Leadership Institute for 40 mid career librarians in August 2014.  Led by ALA Past President Maureen Sullivan and ACRL Content Strategist Kathryn Deiss, the Institute will help future leaders develop and practice their leadership skills in areas critical to the future of the libraries they lead.

Last year, Natalie Nation, branch Diector at Silverstone Branch of Meridian Library District, participated in the Institute and has rave reviews of her experience.  "It has given me the confidence to take on new challenges that I would have never considered prior to the Institute."   Natalie used the 1st time conference attendee grant to defray costs of attending.  Details and guidelines for applying can be found at www.ala.org/transforminglibraries/ala-leadership-institute