Monday, October 15, 2018

Now that our smartphones can not only search the web for us but also predict the fastest route to work, how do info pros set themselves apart from anyone with access to Google? This full-day workshop looks at what is innovative, creative, and digitally transforming in advanced web search, research, and analysis. Searchers Academy allows you to interact with a series of industry experts who share their ideas and expertise in the field of research on the web and in social media. There’s always something new to be learned from these leading-edge info pros. Participants should have basic experience with web searching, but even searchers with an extensive searching background will come away with a new attitude and new resources and tools for more effective and strategic searching. Expect to have your assumptions challenged about effective search techniques, strategies, and approaches. Academy topics include:

• Getting More From Web Search: Learn about today’s search engine features and techniques that enable you to out-Google anyone … even your clients!
• Digging Deeper: Find out how and where to look for the rich content within the deep web and open access content
• Savvier Search Strategies: Forget the tricks from a year ago and learn new search approaches that work today
• Digital Transformation: Find out how to use artificial intelligence and chatbots to transform search and research and streamline your processes.

In response to a manager’s query about how to plan products, Alan Kay famously remarked “the best way to predict the future is to invent it.” His answer invokes a paradox at the heart of design: We can’t know the future, yet it’s what we design for. If we hope to practice design successfully in an era of rapid change, we must get better at planning. To start, we must let go of “the plan” and embrace a dynamic way of planning that’s social, tangible, agile, and reflective. Engaging our colleagues and communities to align use cases, prototypes, and road maps with culture, governance, and process is critical, so in order to design sustainable programs, services, software, and experiences, we also need to design the context. Topics discussed include the relationships between planning, information architecture, and libraries; integrating planning with agile, lean, and design thinking practices; tools and methods for individuals, teams, and cross-functional collaborations; roles involved; and how to plan while implementing, improvising, and learning. This interactive workshop shares a collaborative series of dynamic “planning together” exercises that invite us all to share stories, solve problems, and invent better pathways for strategic design.

This half-day workshop demonstrates how to use visualization and drawing techniques to facilitate and communicate whether it’s in meetings, brainstorming, or problemsolving sessions. Getting groups from Point A to B in decision making and change, or solving challenging issues requires facilitation and communication techniques to help them go smoothly. Our experiences and talented facilitator and learning expert shares his secrets and prepares you to facilitate decision making, solve problems, and more in your community or organization. Everyone needs these skills, so sign up, enjoy, and learn!

Learn from our experienced practitioners how to grab the attention of your clients, students, and users. From detailing customers’ journeys to identifying personas and laying out user-friendly digital interfaces, this workshop presents the latest trends, practices, and tips not only for online but also in-person interactions.

Technology has changed the face of libraries and is continuing to change how we work and how we deliver services to customers. This workshop introduces emerging technology trends and shows how those trends are reshaping library services. Examples are provided of how to incorporate these evolving trends into libraries. Attendees learn what trends to look for, find out the difference between a technology trend and a fad, and get ideas on how their library can respond to technology as it emerges.

In recent years there has been a great deal of discussion about how libraries determine and respond to the needs of their communities. EPL implemented a community-led model of service delivery in 2008. Join our practitioners for an interactive discussion about developing strategies for building relationships with stakeholders, identifying and prioritizing community needs, offering meaningful resources and services, and learning when and how to say no without killing the relationship.

Adult programming, workshops, and instruction are the fastestgrowing offerings in libraries of all types. And, it’s also a very crowded, competitive market; elearning and adult courses are everywhere! To ensure our adult learning approaches are top-notch and in demand, come and work with a longtime practitioner and instructor to build or refresh an adult program or course for your library. Share tips for reaching adult learners, and leave the workshop with a ready-to-implement draft for an adult learning event. Take the AGES methodology— Attention-Generation-Emotion-Spacing—and put it into practical ACTION: Acknowledge-Collaborate with Them-to create Insights-Ownership-Now.

Libraries require appropriate technology in order to best fulfill their strategic missions. They invest in many types of tools for managing their collections, enabling discovery for patrons, and to fulfill access in the most efficient way. As the proportions of electronic and digital content continue to increase, libraries need to align their technology infrastructure. In this half-day workshop, Breeding outlines some of the types of technology products and services available to help libraries face these challenges. The workshop focuses on the issues raised by the attendees to help guide their development of technology strategies which best serve their organizations.

How do we design for changing technologies and flexible smart spaces? How do we incorporate new gadgets, apps, and technologies to engage our communities? Get some insights and ideas for planning for the future for successful user library experiences.

This half-day workshop, presented by early adopters and library practitioners, shares what it takes to start a community program based around AR and VR. During the workshop, participants gain an appreciation of the history of this bleeding-edge technology and learn how all the basic hardware/ software components work to create engaging experiences in your library and far beyond it. An HTC Vive, Microsoft HoloLens, Google Cardboard, a DIY hologram viewer, and other technologies are present, so participants have an opportunity to play with all the latest and greatest AR/VR technologies as well as identify opportunities to use these technologies in their communities.

Need a stretch after a day of workshops or traveling on airplanes? Want to hear some of the lore of Cannery Row and see some of the sights? Join our California librarian as she leads a walking tour from the Marriott to Cannery Row before our Games & Gadgets evening networking event!

Join our gamers and gadget lovers for an evening of fun, playing, learning, and networking. See how you can transform your thinking, your programs, and your spaces with the latest games, gadgets, and ideas! Share with a poster about what your library is doing with creative making and makerspaces. Play, make, and fill your bingo card for a chance to win a free registration to next year’s Internet Librarian! Led by Brian Pichman and Tod Colegrove this event starts your conference experience with lots of learning and laughing! Refreshments included.