ARSL 2013 Journal Day 3

Friday

Another full day of speakers and workshops at ARSL 2013.  The morning started with author Joe Starita -- Pike Professor of journalism at the University of Nebraska College of Journalism and Mass Communications and author of “I Am A Man” – Chief Standing Bear’s Journey for Justice -- providing a gripping insight into the power of humanity.  How a father's devotion to his son reached across cultures to impact a moment in history.  Chief Standing Bear unwittingly ended up in the cross-hairs of a historic legal decision - one establishing for the first time in the nation's 103-year history that an Indian was "a person" with many of the "same Constitutional privileges as the more fortunate white race."

From there I tripped into Sarah Uthof's Genealogy Basics and came away with a lot of resources for Idaho Commission for Libraries' upcoming genealogy LibGuide [will be at guides.lili.org].  Check out the resources at http://arsl.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Sarah-Uthoff-Handout-1.pdf.

Lunch brought award winning author of the Longmire series, now a popular series on A&E, Craig Johnson.  Craig was engaging the ballroom full of librarians as he guided us through the back story and development of this storyline.  Certainly peaked my interest!

After lunch, two more workshops .... Mind Mapping and Small Libraries Oral History Projects.   Mind mapping isn't so difficult and should be a good way to help in that brain health activity of memory.  Can't wait to use it!  Wait .. I have already started!

Final workshop of the day focused on how Kinsley Public Library in Kansas turned oral history into a community engagement project.  Being a history buff, I found this an intriguing opportunity for libraries of all sizes, especially small libraries in small, rural communities to build community and add valued library services.

Handouts for all workshops can be found at http://arsl.info/category/handouts/

Gaming night tonight after dinner with Jez and Josh from Portneuf

ARSL 2013 Journal Day 2

Thursday

Kicking off with a wonderful continental breakfast .. They do provide ample food in the Midwest.  (481 registered, 37 states represented).  I spent some time chatting with Linn E. of Geek the Library and Kathleen G. of Webjunction prior to the keynote from Lee Rainie of Pew Research .. While you can check out the Twitter feed at #arsl2013 for tidbits, here are my takeaways:

• Rural libraries are gaining momentum through digital literacy training efforts, yet there is still work to do.
• Consider libraries as a platform .. Do what you do best and link to the rest!
• 98% of people interviewed like libraries .. It is like a job interview,everyday.
• Libraries have rebranded themselves as technology hubs.
• Because access to information is ubiquitous, libraries have to change their approach.
• Public libraries give everyone a chance to succeed; promote love of literacy and reading.
• A public library improves the quality of life in a community.

The question a library should ask is what is the franchise, rather than what is the commodity. For slides, report go to http://libraries.pewinternet.org.

Then we moved into the workshops for the day.  For workshop handouts and highlights go to http://arsl.info/2013/09/2013-program-and-handouts/

Here are few notes:
Gaming was presented by Idaho's Josh Barnes and Jezmynne Dene of Portneuf Library District.  They provided a great overview of how they initiated a gaming program which includes both board and electronic games.  Friday night they will host a gaming session for conference participants.

Community Connections focused on how three different libraries focus on an important aspect to engage their community:  schools, businesses, and community groups.  Take always include work closely with your school district to discover a niche to fill, including special programs such as GED, refugees/migrants, or inter generational programming.  Examples of programs include story walks, Pinkalicious and Stinky Feet parties. http://www.crete-ne.gov/index.aspx?NID=41

Seward Memorial Library focuses on their business community to facilitate a wide variety of ongoing activities (http://arsl.info/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Becky-Baker-Handouts.pdf).  They focus on a variety of scavenger hunts which take readers to businesses throughout the community to gather clues to solve a puzzle.  When they have the answers they return to the library for their reward.  At the end of the year the library hosts a business after hours for all business partners as a thank you!

Finally Kilgore Memorial Public Library focuses on partnering with community groups in their library programming.  This includes heritage organizations historical groups, cultural organizations and service groups.   The best idea that came out of this discussion was another library that facilitates a Scarecrow Contest, raising over $500 for their library.  They charge $10 for a group or individual to create their scarecrow during the Halloween season.  They then split the funds raised with the organization or individual.  Last year they had almost 100 scarecrows .. What community engagement .. Pretty scary!!!

All in all another informative day, filled with great networking opportunities

Excuses for not doing CE

The excuses are many -- too busy -- no time -- too old -- no money -- to much to do -- no time -- too old......

Sound familiar? Yes this is reality for many of us -- myself included. However, the reality in today's fast-paced, ever-changing world, is that if you do not keep up with trends and technology in the library world --- you will be left in the dust.

We all work in very unique communities -- some are smaller and enjoy the slower pace of life, while other communities are fast-paced making it a challenge just to keep up with the daily routines. However, in order to keep all of our libraries in the forefront as a "learning" organization, we must be willing to look beyond the openings of our cave dwellings and take a chance on the "new stuff". (see David Hutchen's Shadows of the Neanderthal: Illuminating the Beliefs that Limit Our Organization)

I went to a library conference in eastern Idaho this past week. In talking with another colleague I was fascinated by his enthusiasm for learning! He said he felt like the robot in a 90's movie that kept asking for "more data -- more data -- need more input!" He is thirsty for new knowledge and is continually expanding his learning through a variety of avenues: self-education, workshops, e-learning, conferences, reading, playing and experimenting! Every day is a new exciting opportunity to learn!

I challenge to you to play with new trends and technology ... experiment and explore! You will not be dissappointed. Not every new trend or technology tool will be appropriate for you, however, it will be valuable knowledge that some day you will be able to share with someone else.

Why Moving On?

That was the hardest part of starting this blog -- what to name it! I hope to provide information for anyone looking to "move on" -- move forward -- advance -- develop -- whichever term you might want to use. Particularly for those involved with libraries. I will try to gather resources that might be valuable as you move along in your library career pathway!