This year as never before, we are all being called upon to reset our assumptions on search techniques and approaches. From Google's frequent algorithm changes that affect our search results to new sources of both open source and fee-based information, as well as new expectations from clients and patrons, information professionals need to re-examine all their search practices. Info pros have a unique skill set that gives us the ability to own the search space. But equally important is the ability to challenge our assumptions about search and hone our search skills.

This practical, full-day workshop provides the latest tips, tricks, and techniques for unlocking the "black box" of search. Our search experts reveal what you need to know today to perform better and more effective searches, analyze search results to surface value, teach others good search practice, and remain on top of search innovations. There's always something new to be learned from these leading-edge info pros. Whether you're a novice or expert searcher, you come away with a new understanding of innovations in search, new resources to share with colleagues, and more search tools for your professional toolkit.

Our experts cover these topics:

In this half-day workshop, technology expert Marshall Breeding moderates a discussion of key technology problems and challenges facing libraries today. He begins with a look at the key areas to be included in a technology plan. He incorporates recent information about the issues and developments of the technologies, products, and services that are relevant to the building of a technology plan as well as the topics of interest to workshop participants. This workshop focuses on the real-world technology plans and issues, so come prepared with the topics and issues of interest in your organization. What are your library and community challenges in today’s uncertain world? Bring them to this informed facilitated discussion, get tips and techniques for planning, and take away some new ideas!

Most libraries invest more than 60% of their budgets in staffing costs. People are a library’s most important resource, and the managers, team leaders, and department heads have the essential role of developing these resources to their full potential. This is why on-the-job coaching is such a critical skill for all those who are accountable for employees. Coaching brings out the best in individuals, with positive impacts for all those involved, including the coach and the entire organization. Join us to practice the basics of coaching—from the power of listening, questions, challenging, and supporting through to the game-changer of accountability. Quoting an HBR study: “Asking questions is a uniquely powerful tool for unlocking value in organizations: It spurs learning and the exchange of ideas, it fuels innovation and performance improvement, it builds rapport and trust among team members.” This interactive half-day workshop is packed with actionable, thought-provoking techniques and experiences designed to help you, your colleagues, and your library grow.

Do you have space issues in your library? Or challenges due to the recent pandemic? This workshop focuses on designing spaces for changing technologies and flexibility. How do we step up our digital transformation in uncertain times and keep our members safe? How do we incorporate new gadgets, apps, and technologies to engage our communities in new and exciting ways? Get some insights and ideas from our experienced librarians for planning successful future library experiences for your users.

3D scanning may be riding on the coattails of 3D design and printing technologies, but it has had a long history of useful applications. For example, the Innovation Lab, a community-driven solution space located in the Seminole Community Library at St. Petersburg College, has been working on some 3D scanning projects such as digitizing real dinosaur bones and other objects to be shared as holograms to help augment traditional learning opportunities, helping a local glass museum import 3D scanned objects into virtual and augmented reality spaces, and others. See what exciting things can be done with 3D scanning, holograms, virtual reality, and more!

Protecting privacy and security while leveraging technology to accomplish positive change is becoming a serious challenge for individuals, communities, and businesses. This workshop, led by expert leaders and practitioners, covers personal and organizational privacy as well as top security issues for libraries and their communities. If you don’t have a security plan in place, are unsure of where to even start with making sure your library is secure, or you have an existing plan in place but want to cross your T’s and dot your I’s, then come to this interactive workshop.

Technology has changed the face of libraries and is continuing to change how we work and how we deliver services to customers. In fact, the past year has pushed us, or, in some cases, made us scramble, to discover and experiment with new technologies and tools, to train our staff and community, and to look for new ways of doing our core activities. 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 ID what trends to look for, find out the difference between a technology trend and a fad, learn how to adapt what others are doing into your community, and get ideas on how their library can respond to technology as it emerges

This workshop focuses on new types of programs and ser­vices libraries are providing for their communities—makerspaces, innovation labs, and an assortment of studios that give users the tools to be creative and gain experience with emerging technologies. Filled with tips and techniques, our experienced speakers give you all you need to get started and to move into an innovative, customer-centric learning space based on STEM education, which also thrives around solving problems while being curious and inventive. Come explore new community engagement possibilities providing learning experiences for jobs of the future and the latest bleeding-edge technologies. Learn how they all work together to create engaging experiences in your library and beyond its walls as our world becomes increasingly digital. Full of practical insights and techniques from experienced and knowledgeable innovators, this workshop provides a road map for building or taking your exciting new program to the next level. It discusses the challenges (e.g., dealing with technology issues and funding shortages) while presenting real-world examples to help inspire you to explore the amazing opportunities these types of initiatives offer.

In this workshop, you learn the basics to start your analytics journey. Using a free analytics platform, we’ll have hands on exercises exploring the fundamentals of analytics in information organizations and how to properly prepare and clean data for analysis. Once we’re familiar with the basics, we delve into the world of visualization to demonstrate findings and discoveries to make more effective cases for our advocacy efforts. Finally, we dabble in some machine learning techniques as a means for obtaining deeper understanding into patterns and trends that lie within the data we collect. Participants will need to provide their own laptop and engage in a bit of prework to prepare their machine for the workshop.

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 native 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. This year, Chad Mairn shares tips and strategies for using special technology to engage your communities, while Brian Pichman highlights the latest gadgets you might like to try out in your library. This event starts your conference experience with lots of learning and laughing! Refreshments included.

When researching, it's easy to lose track of resources online. What if there were ways to not only organize, but maintain, your information? Learn valuable ways to better organize research, photos, websites, and more!
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Innovations are constantly happening in the digital world, so much so, that universities are struggling to meet the demands of today's learners, who have access to a huge amount of information. Digital platforms are key. Discuss with your colleagues the importance of digital platforms as one of the smart digital content management systems in supporting distance learning and hear what’s happening at PMU and the Indian Institute of Technology.

Our trained systems engineer with a Ph.D. in cognitive science in education has always been interested in the integration of technology and learning. She co-founded Tiggly, an early learning company that pioneered the integration of physical play with digital applications, to provide a rich and interactive learning experience for children. She then was the head of education strategy for littleBits. Through The GIANT Room, an innovation hub, she and her team give children the opportunity and community support they need to act on their most ambitious dreams. Jamalian shares tips for designing learning platforms for children, taking advantage of emerging educational tech, and utilizing game design, mathematical education, and cognition.

Founded in the U.K. in 2006 with the first North American customer in 2012, Communico is an integrated suite of cloud applications empowering libraries with technology to help them better reach and engage their communities and grow usage of their resources. Hear how their clients have been using the solutions to engage their communities and have a positive impact.

Don’t miss one of our most popular sessions for the last 25 years of Internet Librarian! Our knowledgeable speaker is always reinventing and transforming the world of search and delighting customers. Bates is a super searcher, an annual favorite whom attendees flock to hear as she continues to surprise and impress with new strategies, techniques, tips for getting the most out of web research, and making an impact in whatever information community you are affiliated with. The host of Searchers Academy (where even more secrets are shared along with her colleagues), Bates provides an up-to-the-minute and jam-packed-with-valuable-tools-and-tips talk that's always a hit! Bates tells us she takes days to research this session, so take advantage of her knowledge and gather tips and tools to share with others!

Sometimes librarians are like tea bags in hot water—we don’t know how strong we really are until we are put to the test. Libraries in communities of all types are facing an unprecedented volume of book challenges, along with an ever-present plethora of disinformation that our constituents may find confusing and difficult to navigate. How can we prevent the kettle from boiling over and instead use this phenomenon to showcase our expertise in content evaluation and curation and as leaders in the freedom of information movement? Abram and Affelt share tips and advice to help you seize these opportunities to play an integral role in the right to read and as an expert in finding high-quality, factual information and data from rock-solid sources. You’ll leave this session prepared so that when these situations are brewing, you can keep the heat on simmer and lead!

Are you the intelligence officer for your organization or community? If not, find out how to do so from our popular and knowledgeable speaker, Price, who each day curates thousands of news items and reports to publish online briefs that thousands of people depend upon for reliable, usable information. He shares how to build an open web resources database that suits your clients. He elaborates on the latest tools and techniques he uses to build a timely collection and gives you a road map to build your own! In addition, he shares cool tools you will want to try, no matter where you practice your info pro skills!

KCPL is home to the first Wikipedian in Residence (WiR) at a public library in the country. Explore what a WiR is, how WiRs collaborate with community members and GLAM institutions (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums), and why collaborations between Wikipedia and public libraries are mutually beneficial and have an impact. Pratt and Gile reflect on the first year of this residency at KCPL and give an update on their Wikipedia journey that started in 2018.

When President Joe Biden told Americans to “Google COVID test near me,” some people joked that “When the President says to ‘Google it,’ you know you’re in trouble!” Have no fear, librarians are here! The pat directive to “Just Google it,” can be a scary response to legitimate queries from people in desperate need of information and help. Oftentimes, uncovering the needed research and data either requires online searching skills that go beyond typing in words to the Google search box or are contained in sources that will never appear in a list of Google results. Our speakers look at common reference queries and their treatment by search engine algorithms and discuss how to help customers and patrons move beyond “Googling it.” They discuss how to market skills and research knowledge to present our impact not only to patrons, but also to organizations at large as the first-thought anecdote to Google as a verb. They share how “Google hacks” can be used to generate more robust results, as well as how to add value to those results.

The XR Equity & Diversity Playbook was constructed for libraries to explore how to use virtual reality (VR) and discuss equity and diversity through an “immersive experience.” VR is an immersive medium through which one can experience how it is to “walk” in another person’s shoes or “see” through their eyes. Therefore, it is a perfect medium to build empathy and create understanding between diverse people and cultures. Hear about community “lost stories”: Witness the world through a blind person’s eyes in “Notes on Blindness,” or understand the hurdles an African American would have encountered in 1960s‘ America in “Travelling While Black.” Be immersed in the modern racial justice movement, or get in the mind of someone who has mental health issues in “Depression.” Uncover the story of a wrongfully convicted man in “Send Me Home.” Stories of hope, perseverance, and dignity of the human spirit abound in VR.

Before COVID, most libraries had all but completely discontinued teaching basic computer skills—there just wasn’t any demand, or so we were forced to conclude based on the fact that folks just quit showing up to these kinds of classes. When COVID forced library and workplace closures, the urgent need for digital upskilling to combat negative outcomes for health, education, employment, and general welfare was clearly revealed. The challenge of reaching all who need basic digital skills is huge, with BIPOC, late-career adults, and non/limited-English-speaking immigrants among the most disproportionately affected populations libraries have always struggled to reach. As libraries continue to navigate reopening and resume library programming, it’s difficult to imagine going back to those same “how to use a mouse, send email, search the internet” computer classes which were the bread and butter of library programming almost 20 years ago. The scale and complexity of the challenge demand a fundamental shift in how we think about this problem, the tools we use, and the very role of the library. Speakers share case studies from multiple statewide implementations using the Northstar digital literacy platform, each taking unique, innovative approaches befitting these complex, still uncertain times.

The city of San Diego is taking action to close the digital divide that leaves tens of thousands of San Diegans without internet access. Through the SD Access 4 All initiative, open Wi-Fi is now offered at more than 300 public locations, and 2,000 Chromebooks and hotspots are now in circulation at public libraries. To connect residents to these and other critical resources along with tech support, San Diego Public Library is starting up a Digital Navigator program and a toll-free digital equity hotline developed via a collaborative co-design process with stakeholders from across the city. As technology advances with developments like 5G wireless and the emergence of Smart Cities Initiatives, it is critical that residents in communities most impacted by the digital divide can be active participants and content creators in the digital landscape. Wilson provides a look at the Kalamazoo Public Library, along with several community partners, who developed the Digital Access for All (DAFA) program. Now entering its third year, the goal was to provide wireless internet access to Kalamazoo public school students and adult learners without reliable connectivity at home. Since DAFA’s inception in 2020, more than 1,400 hotspots have reached students and community members in need. Learn the costs and logistical issues associated with a hotspot lending program, discuss educational outcomes and analytics of the program, and discover how to integrate hotspots with ILS systems, related MARC fields, and rugged packaging.

As digital access becomes increasingly essential for participating in community life, public libraries can play an important role in the digital equity and inclusion ecosystem. Learn how to develop relationships that can lead to services and programs that are sustainable to maintain digital inclusion. Hear the nuts and bolts of real-world examples ranging from launching a Digital Navigators service, circulating hotspots and laptops to partners to reach people experiencing homelessness, participating in a community-owned wireless network to supporting telehealth. Learn to adapt and apply these ideas in your own communities to maximize digital equity through creative connections.

During the pandemic, social isolation became a significant problem for many seniors, who were also the most vulnerable to COVID. On top of the isolation, the persistent digital divide left many older adults in the St. Louis area either without internet access, a device, the skills to use digital technology, or all three. St. Louis County Library devised a way to serve the digital needs of the community through an innovative program of lending GrandPads for an entire year to isolated, low-income older adults. GrandPads are tablets designed by older adults for older adults with a simple, intuitive, and decluttered design. They are already internet-connected, and users can easily make phone and video calls, send emails (including recorded voice messages), access news and weather, and even use telehealth services. In this session, learn how St. Louis County Library planned and implemented the GrandPad program, including securing $1,000,000 in funding from local government, reviewing applications, and distributing and administering the GrandPads. Learn how the success of this program has led to another $2 million in funding to double the number of GrandPads and continue service for another year.

In this popular Internet Librarian event, Breeding relays the latest events and trends in the library technology industry. He authors the annual “Library Systems Report,” published in American Libraries, which covers strategic technology products used by libraries and the vendors that develop and support them. Following the rounds of consolidation in recent years, technology products and strategies have evolved according to new priorities. Open source products are well-established and continue to have a major impact on the industry. Get the most recent insights and perspectives beyond the latest May 2022 report.

Understand the strategy behind and the implementation of an automated clinical support service in a regional hospital library network. Using a popular commercial customer support product-encompassing contact database, online ticketing system, and multichannel communication features, a regional health science library with limited resources is able to develop a deep understanding of its patron base, track information needs and behaviors, and leverage multiple communication channels through a single online interface. The presentation encourages library managers to consider integrating standard business software products into their libraries to offer higher-quality features and more attractive pricing compared to purpose-built "library-only" tools.

Hear about a recently launched archive documenting the black experience at the University of Pittsburgh through the years. Users contribute the content: photos, memories, and soon, audio and video. The project, “The Blue, Gold and Black Digital Archive”, is a collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh Library System and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and it definitely illustrates the concept of empowering communities to control their own narratives and build a history and context. Get lots of tips and ideas from our speaker.

Existing library discovery platforms are complex beasts and generally long in the tooth. Users have been exposed to visually stunning user interfaces from Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Roku, etc. Additionally, existing platforms provide a collection of non-integrated services—often by vendor (search events separately, search the catalogue separately, search econtent separately, etc.). And what about evolving recommendation engines for our patrons? TLC imagined big changes and evolution in 2018 when preparing its ILS tender. It approached Apple, Google, and Microsoft among other big tech to try and engage them in our vision for our next-generation digital front door. Four years on and with the help of our chosen ILS vendor, SOLUS, as the developer of the new library services platform and the passion of our member libraries, the new platform launched! Hear an update on the project, what was learned, how it is impacting member libraries and patrons, and what’s next.

The last few years have brought about drastic changes in how libraries provided services to their patrons. UNT Health Science Center took what could have been a crippling time and turned it into an opportunity for evaluation and adaptation of library policies and procedures. From changing ILS to retirements to lockdown procedures, Speer shares how library needs were evaluated and adapted to meet goals and patron needs while preserving the sanity of library staff.

Many organizations are hesitant to undertake strategic planning in the turmoil of today’s environment. Yet planning for the future is imperative. In response, libraries are creating strategic bridging plans to the future. These bridging plans take the uncertainty into account and how to build the paths and infrastructure essential for the library to progress toward its vision and serving the community or campus of the future. Bridging plans usually have a timeline of 18—24 months. And while they don’t replace a strategic plan, they rely on the same tools: strategic thinking, environmental awareness, an uncensored understanding of the factors and conditions that have secured the library’s sustainability and success to date, and a candid discernment of the library’s strategic options and areas that must be fortified. Hear about real library experiences and get basic tools you’ll need.

After working with dozens of library makerspaces, with countless aspiring entrepreneurs, it is apparent that people want to help make the world better. It's true. But many struggle to identify problems to which they can contribute a solution. In this session, learn how the Library of Problems drives innovation where it is needed most, and how this Library can be paired with additional resources to support job seekers and entrepreneurs in the search for meaningful work and positive innovation.

This practical session, full of tips and stories, shares techniques for framing your approach in developing relationships and building an effective and productive “funding ask/fundraising ” with different types of stakeholders and influencers. This highly successful influencer shares her secrets for gaining support and making positive things happen!

By all accounts, the hybrid work environment is here to stay. Over the past 2 years, librarians have proved to be exceptionally successful in providing services to their clientele in a virtual world. Librarians quickly adopted to providing research, on-boarding new joiners, and creating plans for engagement of resources—all within a remote environment. The challenge we face in the coming months and years is how to provide the same high-level service in a hybrid environment. Technology tools such as Microsoft Teams have been critical to our successes in the virtual world. Learn how to use the rich features of Teams, from whiteboards to meetings to channels.

Edmonton Public Library's "The Wall" is a two-story 40 foot wide fully interactive digital experience, designed to inspire imagination on a grand scale while at the same time offering a unique interactive way to foster interest in STEAM learning. Inspired by and developed in partnership with the Queensland University of Technology in Australia and launched in September 2020, The Wall is the first of its kind in North America and a truly unique installation implementation of this scale in the world featuring access to dinosaurs, space, the Great Barrier Reef and more. Join EPL's Director of Technology as he shares details from project inception to development to execution to future planning.

Even with limited budgets, it’s possible to use connections and partnerships to organize materials and provide digital access. Hulser shares examples from the city of West Hollywood, the Immaculate Heart Community in Los Angeles, and the first Beverly Hills estate and gardens, part of the Los Angeles County Parks & Recreation Department. Share your successes with colleagues over breakfast!

There is an increasing need for open data in governments and systems to analyze equity at large scale. Local governments often lack the necessary technical tools to identify and tackle inequities in their communities. Data equity describes the city of San Jose's commitment to use the city's data ethically and in ways that drive equitable outcomes for constituents. Keung addresses how San Jose's approach to data equity differs from other municipal data equity initiatives that focus on indices and how a data equity framework has become a critical tool for driving fairer outcomes. She shares tips for libraries to use their local data for positive impact on their communities.

The SWAN library consortium went live on Aspen Discovery beginning in 2021, launching 100 catalogs across our member libraries to serve 1.8 million patrons. Working at this scale amplifies the need for a shared understanding of what makes a great user experience. In this session, SWAN and ByWater Solutions, which supports and develops Aspen, share their experiences working with an intrepid team of pilot libraries to conduct user testing, prioritize development needs, and implement new features in Aspen that benefited both patrons and library staff. Whether you are at a small library or a large consortium, you come away with practical strategies to improve your catalog and manage change around a major migration.

Hanson shares that progressive web apps are a browser-based tool that bypasses the app store and are saved like a bookmark to your device. She began exploring progressive web apps as a single alternative to their previous app’s separate Apple and Android codebases, which were time-intensive to update. In the new version, built using a React framework, her team reproduced their old app’s core functionalities and released it to their community. Learn about the benefits and challenges they’ve discovered over the past year with this approach. Harrison discusses using the Bootstrapr.io app. Users can rapidly create custom web components in the Bootstrap 3 framework to radically improve the user experience (UX) of Springshare LibGuides. Create the same components and even entire sites in just minutes in the Bootstrap 4 framework. If you are using or administering LibGuides (or other platforms using Bootstrap 3), or are teaching or working in front-end design, learn how to wrestle the ubiquitous Bootstrap 4 from front-end libraries.

Join these four super web librarians as they share, through two case studies, their adventures in branding, site redesign, and user engagement as a response to the pandemic and the changing needs of users. They share their experiences in gathering input and support from students and other employees in order to meet the needs of their users and improve accessibility.

During the last few years, libraries have learned that they definitely need more skills and partners to promote their econtent as well as their other programs and services. Our speaker shares insights, learnings, and tips as well as examples of libraries doing innovative things in their communities.

Web3 is the emerging future of the internet, built around blockchain, virtual reality, and distributed computing. Get up-to-speed on Web3 with real-world, easy-to-understand examples about how Web3 will impact our work lives, the arts, publishing, education, government, and libraries. This talk addresses the widespread concerns about Web3 and how academic and public libraries can help onboard users into the future through digital literacy programming, technology services, and exhibits, including recent efforts at the Palo Alto City Library.

The library systems and services industry has been shaped through mergers and acquisitions driven by private equity investments and publicly traded companies. Large-scale consolidation has reduced the number of companies, though their products mostly persist. Have these financial forces driven innovation or hampered it? This panel discussion probes these high-stakes issues. Marshall Breeding and Richard Hulser explore these high-stakes issues. Breeding lays out some of the seminal events that have played out in recent years. Hulser discusses how these events impact libraries as customers of these companies and on the communities they serve. Attendees are invited to share their perspective and concerns on the recent trends in industry investment and ownership arrangements.

In March of 2020, Lake Forest Library closed, as many did, without any clear path for reopening. While there were many uncertainties at the time, impacting programming, human resources, facilities management, and public welfare, perceptions surrounding technology were forced to the surface. Finn discusses the move from on-premises services to a more flexible framework for collaboration and innovation. The ability of the staff to quickly pivot to new ways of providing services, working together, and continuing to serve patrons is at the heart of this story. Finn not only shares technologies explored, vetted, and implemented, but also briefly the change theories that guided this transformation. This interactive session solicits feedback from the audience on similar experiences, challenges, and pitfalls. As with all learning experiences, the sharing of stories will illuminate and guide best practices for future projects.

Extended reality (XR) includes AR and VR (augmented and virtual reality) technologies that are leaping ahead in every industry, especially in a world riddled by health and other crises. Libraries are taking advantage of the wave in a big way. Hear the latest about the technology and what's on the horizon. Learn about the types of programs being offered in libraries and be inspired by our innovative and imaginative speaker.

As libraries and schools return to "normal" following the last 2 years, this is an opportunity to look at how virtual events can enhance programming and increase equitable access for our patrons. Erickson focuses on why to keep virtual events, examples of successful virtual programs, and technology considerations for these events: Create programming that is a “new better!” rather than ““normal.” Markman discusses OBS (Open Broadcaster Software), a free, open source software tool for live streaming to Twitch.tv, YouTube, Zoom, and almost every other video platform under the sun. He shares not just how to get started, but also how to also leverage newly added features in OBS to enhance virtual library events. He pays special attention to the hardware and software limits often encountered in public computer labs and "less than fresh" laptops or netbooks.

Our awesome set of librarians share their use cases of QR and Texting—bringing back the classic technologies. Our first speakers share unique opportunities to reintroduce QR codes, from surveying students on creating more comfortable study spaces, marketing research guides, locating online reference materials, and more! Our next speakers explore the use of texting to request help. They investigated how the pandemic changed users’ expectations of texting and discovered not only a significant increase in its use, but also a change in the types of questions that users ask and their complexity.

Customer service is an essential part of library work. When libraries moved online, their customer service interactions did too. While many libraries have returned to mostly in-person service, the need to provide online access and support is still as important as ever. Remote customer service, however, is different from in-person customer service. Kowalski discusses how to provide excellent remote customer service by creating high standards, providing training, following best practices, using ongoing assessment, and encouraging staff self-care. She looks at how all library staff can uphold and encourage a positive and effective customer service culture while navigating the pitfalls of the online experience

Panelists talk about innovative and creative learning and discovery opportunities recently launched by the Salt Lake City Public Library and the Utah State Library. The City Library’s Maker Box project launched in 2020 as a quick pivot to the pandemic closures and brought library Maker programs as takeaways, online, and the potential for in-person programming when available. The Utah State Library designed a Maker Cart program that enabled public and school libraries to implement a mobile makerspace that allowed accessible and collaborative STEM education. Rooted in collaboration, the panelists discuss strategies on remixing existing content to create new learning and discovery opportunities for Maker programs. Learn their strategies for maker programs with accessibility in mind that are STEM-minded for in-house library programs, virtual spaces, and takeaway projects.

Academic libraries don’t just serve users, they actively nurture and support student and faculty content creators. For the past decade, librarians at Georgia Southern University have collaborated with content creators to host and support a variety of user-generated content, including course assignments, undergraduate degree portfolios, graduate capstone projects, and grant-funded open educational resource (OER) projects. Join our panel of four librarians as they share their adventures supporting these and similar projects, and explore how supporting student- and faculty-created content informs new roles for academic libraries and librarians.

Hear how a FarmBot had an impact on the community and how the library launched videos to teach people how the bot works (in-person programs were not open yet at the library). Lou shares the excitement of harvesting the very first carrot from the FarmBot!

Blagrove shares his view, supported by real-world examples, of the importance of podcasting for communication, entertainment, and marketing in libraries. Clapp discusses how the Ancient Burying Ground in Hartford, Conn., was seeking an online photographic inventory of the markers in their current state of preservation (as of 2021). Having worked with a research team from Central Connecticut State University to build an award-winning website featuring a database of African, African-American, and Native Americans who were likely to have been buried in the Ancient Burying Ground (africannativeburialsct.org), the Ancient Burying Ground Association sought out help to rebuild its website and incorporate photographs of the markers. Of course, the concept of “simple” for users is never “easy” to achieve, but it is a necessity. This project also happened at a time when shifting web performance and accessibility standards added complexity to the build. Get tips and ideas from their experience.

San Diego City Council leaders recognize libraries and parks as critical infrastructure; however, recent budgets do not reflect the increasing demands for services these departments provide or the crippling maintenance needs and ongoing operating budget shortfalls. Learn from our library leader how she and her team garner support and partnerships, experiment and show proof of concept of new programs requiring funding, and have a positive impact on their community.

Libraries and librarians must look beyond our present-day models, assumptions, and ideas in order to recognize external disruptors on the horizon of our profession alongside broader emerging patterns in order to “create functional views of alternative futures and possibilities.” The Connecticut State Library Division of Library Development (DLD) has identified strategic foresight as a critical discipline for librarians now. Strategic foresight training can provide librarians with the skills to plan for future shifts. We all want to “ensure that our libraries are ready to adapt and serve the ever-changing needs of their communities.” Come and get tips for developing strategic foresight for your community.

Library digital collections are rapidly evolving. As we continue to add streaming movies, music, digital magazines, and other formats to our collection, our need to effectively train staff and promote these services grows. This presentation takes a comprehensive approach to maximizing your investment in library digital media.

Patron visits aren't back to pre-COVID levels, libraries don't have the marketing budget to attract new-to-the-library users en masse, and existing collection development software based on circulation and holds data models that are now outdated (in our presenter's opinion). Learn about new opportunities for outreach and engagement strategies, enhancing community partnerships, and strengthening local support, and gain some new insights into how you may deploy a portion of your collection development dollars more effectively with community partners.

Created in late 2021 as a method to understand library user behavior, needs, and expectations, the SJSU Library Feedback Group consists of more than 500 SJSU students, staff, and faculty. The group is used to solicit user input on the SJSU Library's collections, services, and facilities in order to improve the library's physical and digital user experience. This includes recruitment for usability testing, surveys, focus groups, and other user testing activities. Each member of the group expressed a willingness for the library to contact them for future usability studies, which contributes directly to the improvement of the overall library user experience by providing library employees with a pool of participants they can contact to evaluate new and existing services and resources. This session discusses the creation of the SJSU Library Feedback group and the projects it has supported to date. Attendees also hear how the group is currently maintained and the benefits of engaging directly with campus stakeholders to inform design decisions. These tools and tips will allow other libraries to create a systemized approach to user research within their library, which can inform collection development, innovative services, digital presence, programs, and more. By providing an opportunity to quickly gather feedback directly from users, the Library Feedback Group allows the library to be much better positioned to take a proactive approach in all of these areas.

Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Assistant Programming are being used in many interesting ways. Are they making an impact with the members of your community? Can your library use their assistance to make an impact on resources or on the fun and learning factors in library programming and services? Have you considered the privacy issues while using AI assistants? Get tips and innovative ideas from our speakers and share your experiences too!

Walk through two tools you can begin practicing today and using tomorrow to gain smiles at work and even laughter. Discuss practical ways to set boundaries and have critical conversations with a long time library leader, coach and strategist.

Join our speaker, workshop leader, and futurist in residence for an informal chat about trends and insights for the future: It's always fun to learn from others!

Learn how artists and librarians can collaborate to help provide their community with more cultural visibility for the arts and technology during a conversation with Louis Markoya. Markoya, a former protégé of surrealist Salvador Dalí, is a multimedia artist and engineer who is merging classical oil painting with mathematics, fractal geometry, and 3D holographic technology. Markoya has also spent 34 years as a research scientist and engineer and has more than 30 patents employing complex animations and holography. He has been on the forefront of art and technology since the advent of personal computers in the 1980’s. See firsthand how the Leepa Rattner Museum of Art at St. Petersburg College partnered with the Innovation Lab and Markoya to bring his innovative art and 3D short film Strange Attractors to life in virtual reality and in other more traditional 3D settings. Come enjoy Markoya’s wonderful stories that will help inspire creativity at your libraries.

Learn how a library system in Louisiana partnered with regional social services organizations to provide educational and affirming opportunities to the public and staff via digital platforms.

The Vera P. Shiffman Medical Library Outreach Advisory Council is a multi-institutional group that has worked together for more than a decade to offer high-quality health information programs to the community. The council's current mission is to educate underrepresented groups in biomedical research on the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Precision Medicine Program, enabling them to make educated judgments about their willingness to engage in the research. The COVID-19 pandemic put the outreach council in an unusual position of continuing to provide programming to the community, although in an online environment that brought new obstacles and opportunities. Each institution contributes its own resources to continue virtual programming while conforming to national program objectives. Discover how a nationally acclaimed multi-institutional outreach advisory council modified its program platform, content, and collective capabilities throughout the pandemic to better address the needs of its diverse community.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets out 17 United Nations (U.N.) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 169 associated targets and 231 indicators underpinning the goals serve as a framework for countries, businesses and industries, and civil society organizations to address sustainable economic and social development. Based on their report published in Information Today, Inc.'s Library Book Trade Almanac 2022, speakers highlight the diverse ways the scholarly community—publishers, educational institutions, and libraries—collaborate in sustainable development initiatives. A sustainable future requires innovation, with all segments of the scholarly community working together: teachers and scholars, publishers and database providers, and libraries and professional organizations. There is no one right path for achieving sustainability. Get practical ideas for starting (and expanding) your sustainable development initiatives.

This presentation focuses on developing a one-stop-shop that provides resources and vital information for students in their first year on campus. Ward shares methods used in designing a LibGuide that contains various assignments and research activities so that students gain an understanding of library research, critical thinking, evaluation skills, financial literacy, registration, ethics, and more. The guide has been so popular, it has been designated as a required tool in freshman campus and online courses.

Traditionally, libraries have not allowed companies and individuals to use the library as their place of business. Makerspaces have now blurred the lines. How do libraries balance long-standing policies with more recently developed makerspaces and excited patrons who see business opportunities? How can libraries best support this spirit of entrepreneurship with equipment and staff resources?

Makerspaces are in a continuous state of evolution and do not have to be challenging or expensive so think about meeting your population at a starting point and create a rewarding experience together. Gets tips and lessons learned from our experienced librarian who is all about customer engagement.  Following the opening of a new makerspace/creative space, hear the library’s plans for how to manage and market it! 

This talk shares the experience of one university in Dubai in implementing AI-based IBM Watson services. The university library has been providing virtual reference services using LIBChat solutions. During the pandemic period, the usage of this service increased significantly. However, the library could only provide the live chat service during working hours since the actual presence of librarians is required for the Live chat. The demand for 24/7 virtual reference service from users instigated thinking about implementing AI-based chatbots. After analyzing various options, the library decided to go with IBM Watson's assistant for developing the chatbot. The programming team analyzed content from Zayed University Library's LibAnswers FAQ page, chat reference and circulation desk transcripts, and reference emails to create training phrases (potential user inquiries) and responses (chatbot replies). Currently, the AI training phase is going on and is intended to be complete by the end of May 2022. Hear about the various stages of implementation of IBM Watson's assistant as a library chatbot and the challenges in training the bot.

Makerspaces and maker-centered instruction continue to grow in academic libraries. However, it may not always be clear how makerspaces support the missions of academic libraries, or how they further the goals of information literacy. Explore makerspaces as tools for helping students develop non-cognitive skills that are crucial to mastering the threshold concepts for information literacy. Using specific interdisciplinary classroom examples, Nagle explores how connecting maker-centered learning to the ACRL Framework centers makerspaces within the core missions of academic libraries, ensuring that makerspaces remain relevant and on the cutting edge of library trends. These learning outcomes expand partnership possibilities across campus by demonstrating the impact of maker-centered learning on student success in any discipline.

The ALA sees blockchain as a key feature of future libraries—but is it? Authors would love to license e-books directly to libraries, but who will handle publicity and distribution? If book royalties go directly to authors, bypassing publishers, who will vet the books’ quality? Since art, texts and music created by AI’s cannot be copyrighted, what are the implications for libraries and their special collections? Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have the potential to convey exclusive ownership of individual creations, but are there use cases in libraries? Blockchain has been critiqued to be a significant consumer of energy which is required to maintain a worldwide decentralized net of computerized records. How would libraries address the environmental impacts? Implementing blockchain technology in libraries faces esignificant challenges, most notably from inadequate intellectual property laws and the environmental impact of their enormous greenhouse gas emissions. Hear differing perspectives and share your thoughts!

It's time to revisit the future of libraries. Our futurist does so, offering four views of the future. He explores the major uncertainties that will drive how libraries evolve. With the community focus, Rasmus includes comments on learning, community, influence models, and other relevant topics.

How can we better leverage some of the most innovative technology such as AI, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality? Pichman and Marin examine the positives and negatives of introducing a concept called Digital Twins into libraries and education. Wouldn’t it be amazing for your community have a virtual librarian you can connect with at any time? Or would it be awesome to take your patrons on a safari tour without ever having to leave the walls of the library?

Healthy organizational cultures are hotbeds of innovation. Employees enjoy high levels of job satisfaction and produce optimal customer outcomes. So why don’t more organizations build them? The reality is that most people in leadership positions don’t have a clear sense of what a healthy organization looks like or a consistent approach to cultivating one. This session reviews some of the most current research on organizational cultures, particularly in libraries. Attendees learn how to evaluate the current health of their libraries, identify key elements of healthy workplaces, and begin taking concrete steps toward transforming libraries.

Working online, on our computers and in front of screens, takes a toll on us physically and mentally. When we add work-from-home (WFH) to that, do we suffer even more? Some studies indicate that, yes, we do. Why is the WFH scenario not a perfect situation, and what can we do to improve it?

Protecting the privacy of patrons as they access the resources and services of the library is one of the fundamental requirements for the library profession. Despite the general erosion of privacy in the consumer sphere, many vulnerable individuals rely on libraries to not reveal sensitive information regarding their research and reading. Libraries have always valued the protection of patrons to ensure that data related to access or use of library materials or services remains entirely confidential. While libraries generally follow practices for the circulation of physical materials optimized for privacy, web-based services have often lacked the basic mechanisms needed to ensure the privacy of patron access to library-provided resources. Breeding shares his latest research related to the proportions of libraries using HTTPS to encrypt communications and discusses the use of tracking tags related to advertising and other critical issues with implications for patron privacy.

This final keynote of the conference looks at connecting with our different types of library communities, looking ahead, taking advantage of opportunities and partnerships, as well as understanding our communities’ demographics and needs. Our panel members from different communities share their thoughts and ideas and hopefully spark some insights for experimenting and trying something new in your community.