Conference Highlights: California Library Association Annual Conference, 2010

Library Journal Movers & Shakers Closing General Session:
Passion, Imagination, & Leadership

I participated in a panel presentation featuring California’s 2010 Library Journal Movers & Shakers at the Sacramento Convention Center, from 10:30-11:45am, on November 15, 2010. Other participants included: Technical/Electronic Services Librarian Liana Juliano for Nossaman, LLP, also a lecturer for San Jose State University, honored in the Community Builders category; Digital Collections Services Librarian Bonnie Tijerina, University of California, Los Angeles, honored in the Tech Leaders category; and Federal Librarian Virginia Sanchez, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, honored in the Advocates category. Interestingly, all panel members earned library degrees in the 21st century. The event was moderated by California Center for the Book Director Mary Menzel, and planned by Senior Account Executive at Association Resource Center Holly Macriss and California Library Association President Kim Bui-Burton.

Library Ideas

• Each semester assign students a personal librarian.
• Offer a drop-in class re: the use of iGoogle to better organize information searching.
• Offer a drop-in session re: the use of edublogs.
• Post links to faculty publications on the library Web site or blog (http://www.lib.jmu.edu/).
• Create an RSS feed for library information or blog.
• Is Fullerton College Library collecting Japanese manga at a lower rate than American comics? This is a trend that presenters recommend reversing.
• To promote library services, use emerging and established technologies like: digital storytelling, slideshows (like Animoto, SlideShare), Hulu, Wordle, wikis, LibGuides, Moodle, del.icio.us, Shelfari, federated microblogging, and value-added catalogs (including user reviews and tagging). (The latter item is the most relevant item for Fullerton College Library.)
o Make library Web site mobile-friendly (Boopsie).
o Phone blogging = phlogging

Presentation Ideas

After observing four days of sessions, I have a few ideas to share re: presenting well.
• Begin by asking audience, “At what level would you like to start?” (I.e. would participants prefer to begin at intermediate level?) Assuming that the audience is at the lowest level is not logical among an audience of librarians.

Presentation Ideas (cont.)

• Work through tech glitches. When the PowerPoint fails or the connection is slow, do not complain, but use the time as an opportunity to more thoroughly explain a concept, or to request audience input and questions.
• When making the presentation into a game --- request volunteers --- rather than moving in a linear path from person to person. Participants should choose to participate, rather than being forced to do so.
• If an audience member inquires about a kink in the presentation, be gracious and explain your methodology. (Do not attack audience member for asking a question!)

Conference Session Sampler

SMACKDOWN! Fast & Furious Web 2.0
Moderated by Fullerton Teacher/Librarian Marie Slim, this discussion considered top Web 2.0 tools for library instruction, including VoiceThread and ZooBurst (example @ http://www.zooburst.com/zb_books-viewer.php?book=zb0_4ccf82b8bed48). A few minutes of this presentation available via: http://www.youtube.com/user/cslasouthernsection#p/a/u/1/Z0_OsJPLJOQ

Improving Your Library’s Technology Tool Bag
Web conferencing software options (OoVoo, DimDim, Skype, WebEx), suggested screencast options (i.e. Wolfram Alpha), improving mobile Web applications (including Boopsie, Mashable). The PowerPoint is available via:
https://docs.google.com/present/view?id=0AenTIpMkaJrjZGcyMnNycnhfNDRmOHRrdGRnOA&hl=en. 

Top 10 Strategies to Enhance Communication in Virtual Reference
This session considered how to improve virtual reference interactions by using tools like Jing, Awesome Highlighter, and YouTube. Awesome Highlighter is a tool that FCL has not yet implemented, but is easily installed using the bookmarklet. This free tool enhances screen captures.

Using iGoogle to Create Your Personal Learning Space
Tips and tricks for managing iGoogle. A few minutes of this presentation available via: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hw8DU5D4rsM

Additional conference presentations available via:
http://baya.org/cla2010.html & http://www.youtube.com/user/cslasouthernsection#p/u