LAT REPORT FROM COMPUTERS IN LIBRARIES 2006
April 2006
In March 2006 as members of the Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Library Automation Team (LAT), we were given the opportunity to attend the 21st Annual Computers in Libraries conference held at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. This conference focused on "all aspects of library and information delivery technology." Additionally, we were able to attend the Internet@Schools East conference which ran concurrently with the main conference. We were so excited by all that we heard that we wanted to share it with all our library staffs. What better tool to communicate all the rich resources we received than a wiki! What you will find on these pages are our reflections on the presentations. If presenters made their PowerPoints and links available on the conference website, we incorporated them here.
The Millennials. . .
If you haven’t been hearing or reading about them lately, you soon will. They are the generation that currently occupies our schools and colleges and they cast a wide shadow at the Computers in Libraries 2006 Conference last month. It’s a month later and we are still trying to assimilate all that we heard.
Before leaving for Washington, we thought we had prepared. After all, we knew what topics were to be covered. We knew what vendors would be there. We had a plan. We had read Marc Prensky’s \"Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants\" article, were familiar with RSS feeds, blogs, podcasts, and wikis. But we hadn’t anticipated the passion with which we were exhorted to action. Action to move libraries into the 21st Century, because as in the words of Jill Hurst-Wahl, “if we can’t innovate in order to be relevant for Millennials, we won’t have to worry about the generation that comes after them.” WOW--and that was the first session.
So what did we take away?
• An understanding of the millennial generation, why they are different, and why we should care.
• A status report on current technologies being used by most libraries, such as search engines, library automation software, and online databases
• Lessons on how new technologies can and are being implemented by libraries, including blogs, wikis, podcasts, RSS feeds, RFID tags, and the new “OPACs”
• A glimpse at bleeding edge technologies – what to expect on the horizon. . .
At the main conference we loved hearing about how academic and public libraries are using first generation technologies. But it was at Internet @ Schools East, which focused on K-12 school libraries, that we learned how schools are using the latest tools now, in their K-12 libraries to teach. They urged us to share what they already know with you. They reminded us that technology for technology sake is not a worthy goal, yet they showed us how new technologies used properly can not only enhance learning but insure a school librarian’s place as a teacher and an information broker for their 21st century school.
We were fortunate enough to be given the time and means to attend this conference. We would be remiss if we did not make what was so freely offered to us available to you. If you can, please take a few minutes to peruse the wiki we have created. In it you will find an outline of our experience and links to conference resources. If you see a topic that interests you, we urge you to follow the link. Contact us if you want more information or need assistance implementing any of the ideas presented.
Karen Mitchell and Jane Reeves
Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Library Automation Team (LAT) Members
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