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Consulting Toolkit workshop from ASCLA offered again at Annual Conference

The wildly successful workshop “Assembling a Consulting Toolkit: What You Need to Know to Become a Successful Library Consultant”, which sold out at the 2010 Midwinter Meeting, will be offered again at the 2010 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

“Assembling a Consulting Toolkit” is a full-day preconference offered by ASCLA, a division of ALA. It’s the perfect event for librarians looking to strike out on their own in the library profession or those library professionals approaching retirement and seeking a flexible way to maintain employment. The summer workshop will be held 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday, Jun. 25, at one of the ALA conference hotels and is designed to prepare participants to begin – or advance – a successful consulting career.

Seasoned consultants and ASCLA members Nancy Bolt, Sara Laughlin and Beth Bingham will present an overview of library consulting for attendees, who will discover through  self-assessment their personal consulting potential.  Participants will work together in an active and engaging format to explore different roles that consultants play, services consultants may deliver to clients, marketing consulting services, managing a consulting business and finding clients.

Interested participants can register for this event only (event code ASC2), 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 $185 for ASCLA members. On-site registration starts at $215 for ASCLA members and will be available online until Sunday, June 20. All interested participants must register by June 20—there will not be seats available at the door on the day of the event.

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ASCLA preconference investigates technology’s role in world of resource sharing

UPDATE! Check out bios and presentation details for the full list of speakers at this event by clicking here.

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When it comes to resource sharing, the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) knows how to figure out exactly what your users need.

The upcoming ASCLA preconference “Giving People What They Want: Information Access in Libraries and Beyond” 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.

“Giving People What They Want”, which is open to and librarian or library staff involved or interested in the field of resource sharing, will be held 9a.m.-5p.m. on Friday, June 25 at one of the ALA conference hotels in Washington, D.C. Featured speakers at the event will include Lee Rainie, director at the Pew Internet & American Life Project, Washington, D.C., and Marshall Breeding, director for innovative technologies and research at the Jean and Alexander Heard Library, Vanderbilt University.

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. All interested participants must register by June 20—there will not be seats available at the door on the day of the event.

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Save the Date: June 29, 2010 is Library Advocacy Day!

When making your travel plans for the 2010 Annual Conference, be sure to stay long enough to participate in Library Advocacy Day! Keep an eye on the ALA Washington Office page for more information in coming months; basic details are below.

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For one year only, Library Advocacy Day will replace National Library Legislative Day (NLLD). On June 29, 2010, library advocates from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. will meet at Upper Senate Park on the U.S. Capitol grounds. The event, which will begin at 11 a.m., will feature guest speakers, photo ops, and a chance to cheer on libraries! After the rally, participants will meet with their elected officials and their staffs.

Your NLLD coordinator will be running point for your state, so please get in touch with them if you plan to attend. To find out whom your NLLD coordinator is, please click here.

The states with the most people will be featured front and center, which means they are the ones that will be in the majority of pictures. Make sure your state is the most represented so your group can be in the most pictures!

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ASCLA Discussion Groups at Midwinter: downloadable brochure

Learn everything you need to know about ASCLA discussion groups at Midwinter–download this handy brochure and take it with you to Boston. Groups are open to anyone interested in the topics, and are a great way to meet others and collaborate to solve common professional challenges.

This snappy and informative one-page brochure also talks about ASCLA membership–who we are, our annual activities and the benefits of joining this amazing group of professionals.

Do you see yourself in ASCLA? If you belong with us, click over to www.ala.org/membership to join! Annual membership dues are just $40. Reach our membership and customer service team at 800-545-2433 to join by phone.

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Midwinter workshop registration closes Friday, Jan. 8!

Hard to believe it, but Midwinter is upon us, and registration closes tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 8, for RUSA’s genealogy institute and ASCLA’s universal design workshop, which both still have seats available.

Visit www.ala.org/midwinter to sign up now. Links below will take you to blog entries with more information about the events. You do not have to register for Midwinter in order to participate in these workshops–come for the day, stay for the learning, leave with valuable knowledge!

(The popular ASCLA consulting workshop is sold out, and will be offered again at the Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.—registration is open now at www.ala.org/annual.)

ASCLA: “Breaking Down Barriers: Best Practices in Universal Design for Libraries”
What it covers: How to create a library that is not only physically accessible to all library patrons, but also takes into account accessible communication and information tools available to libraries. Best practices, advice for your library’s specific accessibility challenge and how to account for accessibility in strategic and long-range planning will be discussed.
Who should attend: Library leaders, library friends and any librarians or staff from all types of libraries looking to improve the accessibility their library in both the short and long term.
Details: Friday, Jan. 15, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Institute for Human-Centered Design, 200 Portland Street, Suite 1, Boston.
Registration: $185 until Jan. 8.
More info at: http://ascla.ala.org/blog/2009/10/universaldesign-mw2010/

RUSA: “The Genealogy Reference Desk: Where Everyone Knows Your Name”
What it covers: Core genealogy reference skills, as well as resources unique to the New England area
Who should attend: Reference desk staff at all types of libraries looking to better serve patrons as well as those with family roots in New England interested in researching their own heritage.
Details: Friday, Jan. 15, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the New England Historic Genealogical Society, 99 Newbury Street, Boston.
Registration: Starting at $125 for RUSA members until Jan. 8.
More info at: http://rusa.ala.org/blog/2009/10/09/mw10-genealogyinst1/

Register for all of these events by visiting www.ala.org/midwinter. Midwinter Meeting registration is NOT required in order to participate in these workshops.

We appreciate any reposting, retweeting or forwarding of this blog post!

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Kick off privacy week at Midwinter with ALA OIF

Here’s some information about an exciting upcoming event from the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). Visit their website at www.ala.org/oif

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OIF invites you to help launch ALA’s new privacy initiative, Choose Privacy Week, at a fun and exciting event featuring social critic Hal Niedzviecki, author of The Peep Diaries: How We’re Learning to Love Watching Ourselves and Our Neighbors (City Lights Books, 2009).

This event will take place during the ALA 2010 Midwinter Meeting from 4 – 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 16, in Room 252 A/B of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, and will offer snacks and beverages for attendees. ALA President Camila Alire will be in attendance to welcome Niedzviecki and to introduce ALA’s first-ever Choose Privacy Week.

Read the entire OIF blog post about this event.

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An invitation from ASCLA leadership to shape the future!

Mark Your Calendar Now for the ALA 2010 Midwinter Meeting – Boston, Massachusetts

ASCLA Leadership Session
10:30 am to 12 noon
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
Room 155

Bring your creative ideas for ASCLA’s future and win a special gift!

Did you know that ASCLA has:

–647 personal members

–4 sections, 25 committees and taskforces, 5 forums, 10 discussion groups and one Assembly

–120 committee members

–30 committee chairs and co-chairs

–36 elected division and section officers

–13 ASCLA representatives to other ALA groups and outside organizations

–15 ASCLA Board members, including 4 Executive committee members, 1 Interface Editor and….

–1 full-time ASCLA staff member (25% executive director, 50% marketing specialist and 25% web services manager)

Have you ever asked:

–Why is so much precious ASCLA member time and expertise spent on PROCESS?

–Why does it take so long to GET THINGS DONE?

–Are there new opportunities to STREAMLINE PRIORITY WORK?

–What kind of ASCLA structure will best help members focus on RESULTS?

THERE HAS TO BE A BETTER WAY…..so don’t miss this important opportunity to:

–Share your vision for ASCLA’s future!

–Network with your ASCLA colleagues!

–Identify top priorities for ASCLA restructuring!

–Propose new ideas for how ASCLA can meet member needs!

** SEE YOU IN BOSTON!! **

Sincerely,

Carol Ann Desch and Diana Reese

Co-Chairs, ASCLA Budget and Planning Committee

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Midwinter institute registration open until Jan. 8

Have you considered gifting yourself a ticket to a career-enhancing workshop? It’s a great way to start off 2010 on the right professional foot.

Registration for Midwinter institutes remains open until Friday, January 8, and there are still seats left for ASCLA’s Universal Design workshop.

(Our consulting workshop is sold out, and will be offered again at the Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.—registration opens Jan. 4 at www.ala.org/annual.)

Register for this institute by visiting www.ala.org/midwinter.

Midwinter Meeting registration is NOT required in order to participate in this workshop.

ASCLA: “Breaking Down Barriers: Best Practices in Universal Design for Libraries”

What it covers: How to create a library that is not only physically accessible to all library patrons, but also takes into account accessible communication and information tools available to libraries. Best practices, advice for your library’s specific accessibility challenge and how to account for accessibility in strategic and long-range planning will be discussed.

Who should attend: Library leaders, library friends and any librarians or staff from all types of libraries looking to improve the accessibility their library in both the short and long term.

Details: Friday, Jan. 15, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Institute for Human-Centered Design, 200 Portland Street, Suite 1, Boston.

Registration: $185 until Jan. 8.

More info at this other blog post.

Register for this event by visiting www.ala.org/midwinter.

Midwinter Meeting registration is NOT required in order to participate in these workshops.

**We love it when you share information about ASCLA events with friends, colleagues or groups who might be interested in attending. Send a link to this blog post along!**

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Complete ASCLA discussion group schedule for Midwinter 2010

All Midwinter Meeting participants are invited to engage with ASCLA’s discussion groups scheduled throughout the meeting. These session are an informal opportunity to connect with peers tackling the same issues who are interested in learning about available solutions.

Interlibrary Cooperation Discussion Group
Sunday, 1/17, 10:30a.m. – 12 p.m., Pacific F, Renaissance Boston Waterfront, 606 Congress St.
Provides a forum for discussion of interests in interlibrary cooperation and the statewide development of library service, emphasizing the interdependence of all types of libraries. In 2010, this group will tackle how you are proving your worth—and the necessity of ILL—in today’s economy. Participants are encouraged to bring information about their own experiences with this challenge, and expect a lively discussion with collaborative problem-solving.

Physical Delivery Discussion Group
Sunday, 1/17, 8 – 10 a.m., Room 156 A/B, Boston Convention Center, 415 Summer St.
This discussion group is for those interested in and involved with physical delivery systems for library materials. Topics include an upcoming NISO standard that addresses delivery best practices, planning for the national delivery conference, Moving Mountains 2010, a multistate delivery project in Colorado and Missouri; and an update on a Massachusetts RFI for the automation of sorting library materials. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about each others’ projects and make valuable professional contacts.

Virtual Library Discussion Group
Monday, 1/18, 10:30a.m. – 12p.m., Room 156 A/B, Boston Convention Center, 415 Summer St.
Provides a forum for discussion of library services that can be provided in an electronic format. This group also provides an opportunity to discuss cutting edge pilot projects as well as established services that promote a 24/7 library that is accessible anytime, anywhere.

Collaborative Digitization Discussion Group
Saturday, 1/16, 4 – 5:30p.m., Burroughs Room, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St.
The resource for collaborative digitization discussions within ALA. In 2010, the group will take up “Librarianship and Traditional Cultural Expressions,” a set of principles developed by a workgroup led by the ALA Office for Information Technology Policy. Following presentations on this main topic, all representatives of collaborative digital projects will also have an opportunity to provide brief status updates.

Consortia Management Discussion Group
Sunday, 1/17, 4 – 5:30p.m., Room 213, Boston Convention Center, 415 Summer St.
This group is home to consortia and systems, a discussion of their challenges and sharing of service experiences including automated virtual union catalogs, aggregated purchases of databases, virtual reference services, region-wide platforms for digital assets, resource sharing, training and central processing. Participants engage in conversations about important topics such as service delivery, value of services, system viability and the future of systems and consortia In 2010, we’ll talk about the formation of the New York Alliance of Library Systems (NYALS), and what the system has learned about demonstrating their value to members, funders and other key stakeholders.

LSTA Coordinators’ Discussion Group
Sunday, 1/17, 10:30a.m. – 12p.m., Lewis Room, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St.
LSTA coordinators convene for an opportunity to share updates on current activity in their states, and share problems in need of a collaborative solution. The session typically includes a presentation from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Come prepared to collaborate!

State Library Consultants’ Discussion Group
Saturday, 1/16, 4 – 5:30p.m., Independence Room, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St.
Discussion topics for this group cover the full spectrum of the areas that library development bureaus typically handle or are involved in: state and local library budgets, marketing and public relations activities, changes in their state library or local libraries and new initiatives, to name a few. All librarians who function as consultants at their state library agency are welcome, and state librarians interested in participating are also welcome.

Youth Services Consultants’ Discussion Group
Sunday, 1/17, 4 – 5:30p.m., Paine Room, Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer St.
This group typically consists of a round robin of state level youth services representatives on news and activities in the state: what’s happening, good speakers you’ve heard, grant programs you’re running, etc.  All are welcome to come and bring information about current happenings in your state, as well as any questions you may wish to share with the group.

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ASCLA/COSLA reception in Boston offers desserts, networking

Sunday is the sweetest day of the Midwinter Meeting, and the Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) cordially invite meeting attendees to cap their day with dessert, networking and socializing at the ASCLA/COSLA reception.

The event, a Midwinter Meeting tradition co-sponsored by ASCLA and COSLA, is open to all meeting participants who are current or potential members of ASCLA. Reception guests can take advantage of desserts, coffee and a cash bar while catching up with old colleagues and meeting new ones. Midwinter meeting attendees employed or interested in the areas ASCLA serves—state library agencies; networks, cooperatives and consortia; specialized libraries such as those for the blind, deaf, hard of hearing and incarcerated populations; and independent librarians and library consultants—are encouraged to join the party and meet other professionals.

The reception will be held from 8:30 to 11 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010, in the Burroughs Room of the Westin Boston Waterfront, 425 Summer Street, Boston.