The underlying concern seemed to continue to be the continuation of job loss. How could we makeover, enhance and sell ourselves and our talents? How can we prove that we are “worth our salt”?
There were many fine programs. Reports, comments, slides and papers can be found here: http://slablogger.typepad.com/sla_blog/ I hope that more will be forthcoming.
The most popular again, perhaps were: “60 Sites in 60 Minutes”, and now, “60 Apps in 60 Minutes”. More topical programs included: “Energy Issues: Moving Towards a Sustainable Future”, “Environmental Issues in the Great Lakes”, and the “Science of Beauty Care”. The biofuel development lecture is mentioned below: “History of the Development of Cellulosic Ethanol”.
Science and Engineering 101 this year dealt with Nuclear Science and Engineering, given by Mary Frances Lembo, and James Manasco taught us Physics Information 101. The speakers did an excellent job of keeping up a worthwhile tradition.
Spotlight Sessions were: The Wikileaks Controversy; The New Knowledge Services – Next Steps for Career Professionals; Meaningful Measures: How Do Buyers and Sellers Show ROI?; Reinventing Library Skills; E-Discovery Preparation Through Information Management and Data Mapping; Cross-Cultural Competitive Intelligence; 60 Apps in 60 Minutes Redux: The Next 60 Apps You Need To Know; Improv!-ing Your Library Using the Principles of Second City; Best Practices in Self-Assessment: Offering Sustainable Value to Users and Clients; Museums, Libraries and 21st Century Skills – Preparing Now for the Future; and What’s Changed Since Library School? MLS Training Update for Veteran and Not-So-Veteran Librarians.
Susan Hildreth, the Director of the National Institute of Museum and Library Services, spoke on “Museums: Preparing for the Future”. There are 123,000 library members of NIMLS, and 17,500 museums. There is less grant money to share — ~$232 million; however, 80 libraries, 13 museums, and 7 administrations have received grants to lessen cost burdens. Their strategic plan, the key goals for 2012-2016, is to engage people in life-long learning, empower them through learning experiences. Work to anchor institutions within your communities; promote discovery of knowledge and cultural heritage. She mentioned the significant 4 C’s: creativity, collaboration, community, and critical thinking /problem-solving.
Slides from the Legal Division’s 60 Sites in 60 Minutes: The Last Dash!
session by John DiGilio & Gayle Lynn-Nelson
Selected sites:
- https://join.me.org easy way to hold meetings
- http://www.skillshare.com a community marketplace for classes — anyone, anywhere
- http://www.goodreads.com/
- http://www.pinterest.com online pin board for organizing and sharing (LeMasney)
- http://www.box.com offers secure online file sharing from anywhere
- http://translate.google.com can now edit or view alternate translations
- http://www.tekserve.com for all things Apple
- http://knoema.com “world statistics at your fingertips” (beta)
- http://www.aarp.org much useful information for elders
- http://www.realclearpolitics.com ads present (Starbucks)
- http://opentable.com make easy restaurant reservations
- http://penzu.com mobile personal diary or journal
- http://copypastecharacter.com symbols, shapes, letters
- http://www.goby.com travel – things to do, places to visit
- http://slickdeals.net
- http://drive.google.com keep everything, share anything, edit together — anywhere
- http://www.resumebaking.com
- http://www.salestracker.com
- http://dailytekk.com “a discovery site for the hungry mind”
- https://www.mint.com “understand what’s going on with your money”
- http://www.meetingwizard.com an alternative to the Doodle Poll
Message from charismatic keynote speaker, Guy Kawasaki, transcribed /posted on Wolper’s Blog, by Valerie Ryder, 7/18/12: “Ten Ways to Enchant Your Customers” He coaches us to become “bakers” – as opposed to “eaters”. http://www.wolper.com/2012/07/on-the-scene-in-chicago-at-sla2012/
Dr. Thomas Jeffries (U. Wisc.) gave a wonderful talk on the history of the development of Cellulosic Ethanol. This biofuel process is a promising one as an arrow in the quiver of renewable resources. It was a presentation that everyone should hear: the chemistry and technology is tempered with history, and culminates in an update of global warming evidence. Marshall McLuhan was quoted, and I paraphrase: “Our progress seems to be made mostly by marching forward, but looking backward.”
Notes from Louise Deis, Aug. 22, 2012
