ALA 2009 Grassroots Programs
Libraries and Obama’s Information Policy
Saturday, July 11, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Hilton, Lake Ontario
The nation’s information policy is a major concern for the library community. We are facing a critical historical juncture, where libraries can raise our voices and provide a vision of information policy. This panel will provide an opportunity to identify key issues in the new administration’s information policies and discuss ways the library community can participate in forming that policy.
Moderator: Caroline Nappo, Doctoral Student, Information in Society Fellow, University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library & Information Science
Panelists: Jim Jacobs, Data Services Librarian Emeritus, University of California San Diego, Co-creator of FreeGovInfo.info; Gabriela Schneider, Communications Director, Sunlight Foundation; ShinJoung Yeo, Information in Society Fellow Graduate School of Library and Information Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
A More Narrow Discussion: The African American Male Librarian
and Career Choice
Saturday, July 11, 3:30 -5:00 p.m.
Hilton, Conference Room 4D
Spawned by Julius Jefferson’s 2008 ALA program on the historic role of African American male librarians, this program discloses results from Davis-Kendrick’s recent study on currently practicing African American male librarians. Panelists will discuss why they became a librarian, share career goals, and reveal perceived triumphs and challenges in LIS
Presenter: Kaetrena D. Davis-Kendrick, Learning Commons Librarian, Georgia State University
Moderator: Julius C. Jefferson, Jr., Information Research Specialist, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress
Panelists: Damon Campbell, Research Assistant Professor, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Jon E. Cawthorne, Interim Dean, San Diego State University; James B. Jones, Collection Development Librarian, Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System
From Legacy Data to Linked Data: Preparing Libraries for Web 3.0
Monday, July 13, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Hilton, Lake Ontario
How can library cataloging data be transformed to function within “Web 3.0” and be understood by non-library web applications? Speakers from both the library and Semantic Web communities will explore the situation in a non-technical manner and describe current work underway to transform legacy library data into linked data.
Moderator: Corey A. Harper, Metadata Services Librarian, New York University
Speakers: Eric Miller, President, Zepheira, Inc.; Diane Hillmann, Director of Metadata Initiatives, Information Institute of Syracuse; Jennifer Dowen, Co-Principal Investigator, eXtensible Catalog Project, University of Rochester; Rebecca Guenther, Senior Networking and Standards Specialist, Network Development & MARC Standards Office, Library of Congress
Hiring the Best: Looking for Experiential Learning in MLS Students and Asking the Right Questions
Monday, July 13, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.Hilton, Conference Room 4M
New librarians face many challenges, and employers need professionals who are ready to “hit the ground running.” Learn what over 400 surveyed school and public librarians had to say about recent graduates, about the difference experiential learning makes, and how to ask better interview questions. Includes group work and brainstorming.
Speakers: Stacy L. Creel, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Division of Library & Information Science, John’s University, New York; Elizabeth B. Pollicino, Ed.D, Associate Director, Division of Library & Information Science, St. John’s University, New York
Student Speakers: Alaina Cauchie, Peggy Gallagher, Lindsay Klemas, Kelly Sanders, Victoria Ross and Katja Rossi, Institute for Museum and Library Services funded St. John’s University MLS students
Access to Information as a Human Right: Changing Practice and Policy in Central Africa
Monday, July 13, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Hilton, Lake Huron
Countries in the region face many obstacles to improving human well-being – a task in which access to information is vital. Using comparative data, this program examines the progress of access to information as a human right in select countries in the region.
Presenters: Natalia Taylor Poppeliers, Library Collections Coordinator, University of South Carolina Aiken & Country Specialist, Central African Republic, Amnesty International USA; Trinie Thai-Parker, Foreign, Comparative and International Law Librarian, Harvard Law School Library
Free2 Succeed: Creating a Library Job Center
Monday, July 13, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Hilton, Lake Erie
Staff from the Free2 Succeed Job Center at the Livermore, California Public Library will share how to establish and operate a library job center offering free career advice and resources to help job seekers be successful, along with tips for funding and maintaining the job center on a limited budget.
Presenters: Leila Swisher, Supervising Librarian; Megan Pittsley, Career Advisor
Learning to Lead
Monday, July 13, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Hilton, Lake Ontario
Leadership takes place at all levels and in all types of libraries, but it doesn’t just happen. Leadership is a learned skill. Participants will gain real-life lessons on learning to lead; hear varying viewpoints on leadership training and receive valuable resources and materials for learning to lead.
Speakers: Mary Pergander, Director, Deerfield Public Library; Merri Monks, Director, Learning Resource Center, American College of Education; Crystal Megaridis, Manager, Library Services, Praxair; Janet Colwell, Children’s & Programming Associate, Warren-Newport Public Library; Lauren Collen, School Library Media Specialist, Greenwood Elementary School
Naked Ladies in the Library! or Public Art in Public Libraries:
Building Lasting Alliances and Creating Social Capital
Monday, July 13, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Hilton, Conference Room 4D
A panel of staff and the Director of the San Diego County Library will describe and discuss their ongoing public art program, and its success in partnering with a variety of diverse communities. Mural and mosaic projects have created inclusive communities with their public libraries in new relationships.
Speakers: Jose Aponte, Director, San Diego County Library; Ruth Ketchum, Principal Librarian, Central Region, SDCL; Bertha Huertero, Circulation Services Manager, SDCL; Elizabeth McKenty or Rebecca Serrano, Lakeside Branch, SDCL; Gretchen Schmidt, Branch Manager, Del Mar Branch, SDCL
Many Stories, Many Options: Pushing out your digital content in new ways
Tuesday, July 14, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
Hilton, Lake Ontario
Interested in connecting the “voices of the library community” through oral history and technology? Attendees will be introduced to the world of Internet broadcasting through Web sites like Vocalo.org, which connect your content (like oral history or digital shorts) to a global audience free of charge. Content creation will also be explored.
Speakers: Juliana Nykolaiszyn, Visiting Assistant Professor/Oral History Librarian, Oklahoma State University; Tanya Finchum, Associate Professor/Oral History Librarian, Oklahoma State University; Jesse Seay, Radio Producer/Sound Artist
Not all Education is Done in a Classroom: The Role of the Library in Identifying and Establishing Resources and Programming for Homeschooler Families
Tuesday, July 14, 8:00 to 10 a.m.
Hilton, Lake Huron
Homeschooling is a rapidly growing trend, but what do libraries need to provide good service to this emerging group? Join Krista McKenzie in examining homeschooling trends, exploring homeschool families’ service, programming, and resource needs and wants through first person accounts, and discussing how librarians can be involved in these communities.
Presenter: Krista McKenzie, Children’s Specialist, featuring recorded Homeschooler Parent and Children Discussion Groups