ALA

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Online conferences – the future is now

Sunday, February 15th, 2009

I’ve been lucky to have had some recent involvement with two online conference models — one that recently happened and one that will be happening soon. I’m really pleased to see more organized professional development opportunities being offered online in light of the current economic situation and, selfishly, the fact that I personally won’t [...]

ALA Annual Unconference

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

For the past year and a half, I’ve had the pleasure of serving on Jim Rettig’s Presidential Advisory Committee. I honestly had no idea at the time what it would mean to be on this committee, but Jim seemed like a really cool guy with a vision for a more inclusive ALA, and I really [...]

Libraries in tough times – what about librarians?

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

Yesterday I received the ALDirect (from American Libraries) Special Issue on the Tough Economy in my Inbox. It contained great information about library advocacy during tough times. What I found glaringly missing from this email was any discussion about or tips for librarians who’ve been laid off or about-to-graduate LIS students. Obviously, if we [...]

Want an awesome job?

Sunday, July 6th, 2008

There is a very small, select list of people who I really see as role models in this profession. One of them is Mary Chimato, Head of Access Services at North Carolina State University. Her generosity, her strength, her humility, her sense of humor, her unwillingness to be steamrolled by anyone, her focus on being [...]

Anaheim-bound

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

Oh Thursday I’ll be heading to ALA Annual. I wish I could muster up more excitement about going to Anaheim, but the location doesn’t exactly thrill me (nor does the amount of flying and driving it will take to get there). Then again, ALA isn’t really about the location so much as the people. And [...]

Quiet time

Friday, June 13th, 2008

Friends Lake

Originally uploaded by ftzdomino

Tomorrow morning, Adam and I are leaving for a vacation in the Adirondacks. This is the first time in AGES that our vacations haven’t either centered around a talk I’m giving or a trip to visit family. This is an honest-to-goodness [...]

ACRL’s FREE Webcast (for members)

Sunday, March 9th, 2008

I was thrilled to hear last week about ACRL’s decision to start offering some free Webcasts for members. This is something that many people have suggested to ACRL in the past and I’m happy to see that the organization is starting to respond:
Join us on Wednesday, April 2, from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CDT [...]

My (Tentative) ALA Midwinter Schedule

Saturday, January 5th, 2008

This will actually be my very first trip to ALA Midwinter, and I’m looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. With my job covering the exhibit hall for American Libraries, I suspect that I’ll be spending more time at the exhibit hall than I’ve spent at the three Annuals I’ve been to [...]

Going to Midwinter after all

Wednesday, December 5th, 2007

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on how I was probably not going to ALA Midwinter due to the high cost of travel to attend two meetings. Well, it looks like I will be going after all. I have been asked to cover the exhibit hall for American Libraries, taking over for Andrew [...]

An alternative funding stream?

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007

Jason Griffey the other day suggested alternatives to the traditional funding streams ALA has, and it got me thinking about how ALA could make money in the online medium.
I sometimes forget that I have this amazing resource at home (my husband) and that the things I learn from him can sometimes be translated into the [...]

Alternative ways to participate (or why I probably won’t be at Midwinter)

Monday, November 12th, 2007

I’ve written some posts critical of ALA in the past and have had a number of people encourage me to get involved so that I can try to make a constructive difference (instead of just complaining). So, when I was asked to be on two committees whose missions I felt strongly allied with, I said [...]

Free online learning… from ALA?

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007

Speaking of libraries doing 2.0 things just to look cool, there is an organization that I’ve criticized about that in the past. I’ve been concerned that many of the hip, 2.0-ish things ALA has done have been mere window-dressing to make the organization look cool to new members. I didn’t see a lot of changes [...]

Libraries using Flickr

Sunday, July 8th, 2007

Over the next week, I need to write my column for September’s American Libraries magazine. I’ve already decided that I want to write something about libraries and Flickr, but I’m not sure which library (or perhaps 2 libraries) to focus on. I have a few ideas, but I thought I’d put it out to my [...]

Giving and Taking

Thursday, June 28th, 2007

Oh Meredith, why can’t you just write a nice, short, concise post?
I really don’t know what happens! I start writing and my fingers just seem to take over. This is what happens when my husband goes away and leaves me alone with my thoughts. Sorry folks!
Something I frequently think about when I go to [...]

My Top Technology Trends for 2007

Friday, June 15th, 2007

When I was asked to be one of the Top Tech Trend experts, I knew I wasn’t going to be able to attend the actual panel session this year, because I was slotted to be on another panel at the same time. I knew I’d at least post something to the LITA Blog, but I [...]

BIGWIG Social Software Showcase

Thursday, June 14th, 2007

I’m kicking myself for having turned down the opportunity to take part in this, but I was (and am) way too swamped to take on anything else. My delightfully subversive friends Michelle Boule, Jason Griffey and Karen Coombs have come up with a brilliant reinvention of the conference session, which makes it possible to benefit [...]

My developing ALA Schedule

Wednesday, June 13th, 2007

I’m really excited about ALA and I can’t believe it’s coming up so soon! I’m giving three talks and have to do signings and appearances at the exhibits on Saturday, so I don’t have a lot of time to see DC or to go to sessions other than my own. Still, it’s going to be [...]

Is the book out? Good question.

Monday, June 11th, 2007

A couple of weeks ago, I finally received copies of my re-printed book. The laminate is on nice and tight as it should be and the cover colors are a bit lighter. It looks good. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like my book is shipping (at least I have not heard of anyone receiving a copy) [...]

Well, I said yes.

Thursday, April 26th, 2007

Last night, I got an e-mail asking if I’d like to join the LITA Top Technology Trends panel as one of their experts. And it didn’t take me more than 2 seconds to decide that I was going to say yes. Wow! What an honor to be included with such a distinguished group of professionals! [...]

What about Library Association 2.0?

Monday, April 2nd, 2007

One thing I have loved about the whole Library 2.0 movement is the push to stamp out the “but we’ve always done it this way” attitude. I am a strong believer in questioning the common wisdom. So often we do things because of tradition, not because it’s the best way to do it. I think [...]

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