Understanding people comes in a lot of flavors. An uncommon flavor is understanding people deeper than explanations and opinions. It’s getting inside people’s minds to see how they achieve their larger human intentions and purposes without reference to your organization. The goal is to allow for later inspiration that represents the complicated inner world of people’s approaches, rather than being constrained by existing systems and conventions. You re-frame the way you think about the problem as if your organization does not exist. When you come back to reality after this little exploration, your deeper understanding influences the way you think about solutions. Our UX expert and speaker defines this deeper understanding, outlines how to collect the data, and illustrates how to curate the knowledge in a depiction of the reasoning- patterns (mental model diagrams) and the thinking-styles (behavioral audience segments).

As the intellectual heart of a school, how the library supports student learning is simply mission-critical. With this as a grounding construct, we explore the changing nature of what a library is, what it means for learning, and how this translates into the effective design of library spaces. We consider the library as a spatial ecology, giving attendees the opportunity to consider how a physical and digital library can work together to provide an always-on, connective experience that will resonate with today’s students. Finally, our exploration of “library” presents the design process as a methodology that librarians can use to continually align and evolve the programs and spaces of the library to create meaningful capacities for student learners. Join in for an enriching conversation about the intersection of library, space, and design!

Ebooks bring a whole new world of opportunities to children and those who help them. The affordances of today’s ebooks can offer environments and tools to students who may have a variety of needs, strengths, interests, and challenges at a wide range of reading levels. This session provides examples of a wide selection of ebooks and discussion of how these can support children at various stages of reading development. We cover what to look for, what to look out for, and how to make good decisions in the selection and use of digital, tablet-based books to encourage and grow young readers.

Our first presenter in this session notes that sometimes techniques for teaching databases can become more “tired and boring” than “tried and true!” If so, it’s time to flip instruction into a Search App Smackdown! This fun, challenging, and competitive gaming approach meets AASL goals, integrates technology, and puts kids in the driver’s seat for their learning. Learn to “flip instruction” to transform boring database lessons into a fun and competitive fast-paced game. Then, learn from our next presenters how you can provide your students with a more “Google-like” search for your library’s databases and book catalog. They discuss the process of implementing EBSCO Discovery Service in a large high school library using a personalized authentication for remote access.

School, public, and in fact all stripes of librarians are “programmed” to serve the public, whether it be their students and faculty, their patrons, or their clients—and to make a difference in their communities. That’s just who they are. Stephen recounts how librarians in his hometown community are reaching out to serve some brand-new patrons: refugees! Come hear his inspiring story!

As the librarian, you are at the forefront of change in your school community. Step up by using solutions to make your library better that are hidden in the stacks! This workshop covers a wide variety of topics, including assessment, data collection, and instructional design, building up your online presence through the library webpage, social media and Google analytics. Learn how to create screencasts, build ads, and create infographics! Work with other librarians to build knowledge, ideas, and tips!

Information Today, Inc. invites all conference registrants and exhibitors to a special Networking Reception in the Sponsor Showcase. This is a great time to gather with fellow Internet Librarians and suppliers, renew acquaintances, meet new colleagues, sample tasty goodies, and check out the latest products and services in a relaxed atmosphere.

Our speaker, a journalist, screenwriter, and library advocate, shines a light on a number of projects of direct benefit to libraries seeking to “future-proof” themselves against digital disruption and the prospect of diminished funding through increased community engagement/library advocacy. He shares the Library Digital Relevancy Index. which contextualizes the results of the first industry-wide pilot of libraries examining the degree of digital future-proofing. He describes the PXI: Patron Experience Index—a dashboard platform which weighs and displays multiple strategic community key performance indicators involving libraries in community cultural/prosperity/entrepreneurship initiatives—in order to identify programming, partnership, and learning opportunities for library staff and engage library staff in “begin with the end in mind” creative media and programming processes in support of those identified opportunities. Howley discusses the OpenMedia- Desk (OMD). which pre-validates media prior to publishing online (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) in order to maximize engagement with target communities. He also talks about an open app publishing platform to support “cultural destination tourism,” in which the physical experience of exploring the “community icons” within Hamilton’s central Gore Park is digitally reproduced indoors at Hamilton Public Library’s Central Branch in a high-engagement iPhone experience using beacons—Wi-Fi transducers which trigger, via Bluetooth LTE, “proximity storytelling experiences.” This talk is sure to propel your thinking and insights into action with impact!

What consumer and public trends can school libraries capitalize on to provide innovative or student-friendly services? Inspired by the Center for the Future of Libraries, Carolyn will explore trends like fast casual dining that can impact library services, design, or policies.   

Imagination, creativity, flexibility, and the ability to play well with others are important qualities for any individual to have. Why are they more important than ever, and how can they be fostered and/or improved? How is imagination different from creativity? What roles do play, tinkering, and making have in the development of imagination and creativity, and where does failure fit in? How can school libraries work with other staff to spark more inquiry and engaged learning in their communities?

Search results have evolved from a portal to a destination. This is especially true for students, who are now entering school with a command of Google, even if they don’t know how to use a mouse. Deirdre and Christi talk about user research findings on the topic of search results, including why students are drawn to Google and Wikipedia, how school libraries can use this to their advantage, and how those habits represent a technological and sometimes generational divide.

How do you craft the story of student achievement in your school library? Or is your school library perceived as a value in a bygone era? We discuss how content marketing strategies, technology tools, and the power of a story can connect school libraries with students, staff, and the community. Come away with the tools to create and launch your library story/marketing campaign.

What does the school library of the future look like? Is it a stark, sterile space with no books? Is it filled with 3D printers and other digital technologies? Does it only exist virtually on a screen? Historically, library futurists, encouraged by a media fascinated with the death of print, have often been very wrong. At the Seven Hills School, a recent transition provided an opportunity to reassess the library program and make major changes that look to the future while honoring the important roles libraries have traditionally played. With these changes, the library is transitioning into a vibrant community hub for its stakeholders. Roquet discusses the successes and challenges the library has faced along the way and shares strategies for making high-impact changes with limited time and money.

Lighthearted and entertaining, but also educational and insightful, this evening is an overview of what was and what was envisioned 20 years ago contrasted with the realities of 2016. It looks at the inaugural 1997 Internet Librarian program topics, speakers, and exhibitors and features comments from original participants; discusses topics and themes that have endured; remembers products and services that no longer exist; and much more! It touches on what customers were exploring and how that contrasts with today, how we are doing business differently today, and what this tells us today and for the future. Join us for a wonderful evening and also crowd source your photos and memories from Internet Librarian events during the past 20 years.