Resource-sharing experts appearing at upcoming ASCLA preconference

A stellar lineup of resource-sharing experts will present at the upcoming preconference “Giving People What They Want: Information Access in Libraries and Beyond,” a full-day workshop sponsored by the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies.

“Giving People What They Want”, which will be held 9a.m.-5p.m. on Friday, June 25, will feature a thought-provoking examination of technology and how its pervasive development is challenging traditional approaches to resource-sharing and content access. Presenters will examine users’ different information-seeking behaviors and how they differ significantly from how libraries have traditionally provided information. Participants will also discuss technological limitations inherent in sharing resources across disparate systems; innovative approaches that are broadening the definition of resource-sharing; and the impact of digital publishing, library end-user research, and innovative implementations of resource-sharing.

The event speakers include:

• Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, a non-profit “fact tank” that studies the social impact of the Internet. The Project has issued more than 200 reports based on its surveys that examine people’s online activities and the Internet’s role in their lives. Rainie is a co-author of a series of books about the future of the Internet and is working on one about the social impact of technology that will be published in late 2010. Prior to launching the Pew Internet Project, Rainie was managing editor of U.S. News & World Report.
• Marshall Breeding, director for innovative technologies and research for the Vanderbilt University Libraries. As a part of the library’s management team, he focuses on issues related to the strategic use of technology in the library, designs and develops digital library resources and investigates emerging technologies. Breeding also serves as executive director of the HYPERLINK “http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/”Vanderbilt Television News Archive, a large-scale archive of digital video content. He frequently speaks and writes on topics of network technologies and library automation. He is the creator and editor of  HYPERLINK “http://www.librarytechnology.org” Library Technology Guides and the HYPERLINK “http://www.librarytechnology.org/libwebcats”lib-web-cats online directory of libraries on the Web, and has authored eight issues of ALA’s Library Technology Reports as well as many other articles, book chapters and books.
• Kyle Banerjee, digital services program manager for the  HYPERLINK “http://www.orbiscascade.org/” Orbis Cascade Alliance. He has written numerous articles and coauthored two books on digital library issues. Last year, he chaired a team responsible for migrating the 36 Alliance member institutions to a new resource sharing system.
• Michael Lascarides, who is a specialist in information architecture, focusing on usability analysis and user experience design for the New York Public Library.  He is also an adjunct professor in the computer art departments at the School of Visual Arts (New York) and New York University.
• Cyril Oberlander, associate director, Milne Library, at the SUNY College at Geneseo.  He has previously worked as the director of interlibrary services at the University of Virginia Library and head of interlibrary loan at Portland State University from 1996-2005. His consultation experience includes independent consulting services through OCLC Western and workflow design with various vendors. Oberlander’s research interests include organizational development, workflow design, mobile technology, information visualization and knowledge systems.
• Bryan Skib, collection development officer at the University of Michigan. After earning degrees in French history from Princeton University and from the University of Michigan, he worked for 18 years in a variety of public service roles at the Hatcher Graduate Library, particularly in the areas of History, European Studies and Religion. He has been active in several academic and library associations, including the Western European Studies Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL). As a member of the Library’s senior management team, he contributes to library-wide strategic planning. His current responsibilities include overall management of the materials budget, collection development strategy, preservation and document delivery activities for the University Library.

“Giving People What They Want” is open to librarians and library staff involved or interested in the field of resource sharing. Interested participants can register for this event only, or can register in conjunction with Annual Conference registration by adding it as a ticketed event. For institute-only registration using the online form, select “Institute and Ticketed Events Only” as the registration type and proceed to select this event from the list. Advance registration ends May 14, 2010. Advance registration prices for this event start at $205 for ASCLA members. On-site registration starts at $215 for ASCLA members and will be available online until Sunday, June 20. Step-by-step instructions for registering online can be found at the ASCLA blog.

This workshop is one of many ASCLA activities at the 2010 ALA Annual Conference, and ASCLA recently released its comprehensive guide to all the division’s activities at the conference. Download the guide now from the ASCLA Web site, or learn more about the ALA Annual Conference at the conference Web site. Interested participants are encouraged to register online (login requred) before Advance Registration closes on May 14 and event prices increase.