The Distant Librarian

LJ Webcast Archives

I haven't had a chance to listen to/watch them myself, and am bookmarking them here as much for my use as yours, but two recent webcasts in the Returning the Researcher to the Library series are now archived at the LJ website:

• Webcast: Returning the Researcher to the Library: Building ROI through Discovery
• Webcast: Returning the Researcher to the Library: Understanding the Next Gen user

Looks like this is scheduled to be a 4-part series.

American Chemical Society (ACS) heading towards online-only

The Chronicle of Higher Education reports, "the American Chemical Society, which publishes several dozen academic journals, is moving to end print editions and produce journals only online."  You can read more at Ars Technica.

Handheld Librarian Online

From the conference website:

More people than ever are using mobile devices for a wide variety of purposes including communication, internet access, text messaging, and entertainment. It is important that libraries provide services on these devices as use increases.

The first ever Handheld Librarian Online on July 30, 2009 is the place to learn about these and other topics related to using wireless and hand held devices in your library.  The program, sponsored by Alliance Library System, LearningTimes and Infoquest, will include a variety of ways to collaborate, network and learn from a great group of experts in the field.  In addition to live interactive webcasts, we will have a collection of available resources, discussions boards, and access to the recording  of all live events for one year after the conference.

Registration is $49 USD for an individual or $89 USD for two or more people logged in from 1 computer.

IM widgets on academic library subject guides

From Danielle Dennie at Concordia University:

I will be repeating a study I did last year. The aim of the study is to learn about and compare usage of IM widgets on online subject/research guides from different North American academic libraries. I would like to see the types of users that use IM widgets on a librarians subject guide and the type of questions that are asked. The survey is short (it should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete).

Here is the link to the survey:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Lk5nkzDRP_2bUOh2NEdgU2YQ_3d_3d

If you (or someone you know) have an IM widget on your subject guide, I would appreciate it if you could take the time to fill out the short survey.

Registration and program for Internet Librarian 2009

The program for Internet Librarian 2009 is now available, as is registration.  The opening keynote is to be given by Vint Cerf!

After taking a year (or two?) off, I'll be back this year, presenting a screencasting workshop on Sunday morning.  Dates of the conference (held in Monterey, CA) are October 26-28, with two days of workshops available on the 24th and 25th.  Following my prediction about this being the year of the mobile library, there's a whole track on Tuesday dedicated to Mobile Trends and Practices.

Understanding the Next-Gen User - Free Webcast

Library Journal is hosting a series of free webcasts on Returning the Researcher to the Library.  The first runs this Thursday from Noon - 1PM EDT - you can register online.

Title: Returning the Researcher to the Library: A Series in Four Parts

Part 1 – Understanding the Next-Gen User

Sponsored by Serials Solutions

Live event: Thursday, June 4, 2009 – 12:00 pm (noon) Eastern Daylight Time – 60 minutes

Users' expectations of information search changed dramatically in the wake of Google and continue to evolve. Some studies point to a slow, but steady disintermediation of the library from the research process. Yet, libraries have a powerful competitive advantage in the quality, breadth and authority of their content – an advantage recognized and valued by users, especially in the academic library. This four-part series explores how libraries are taking back their role as the starting point for research by focusing on the user experience and supporting it with innovative technology. The opening learning session in the series – Understanding the Next-Gen User – brings together Joan Lippincott and Alison Head, leaders in research on next-gen research habits, for an insightful exploration into the needs and expectations of students and how libraries can respond in ways they respect and understand.

Panelists:

Joan Lippincott, Associate Executive Director of the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) and an authority on learning, engagement and technology

Alison Head, acclaimed researcher on user experience, currently leading Project Information Literacy

Moderator: John Law, Vice President, Discovery Services, Serials Solutions

Register now for the inaugural Understanding the Next-Gen Webcast, sponsored by Serials Solutions, Thursday, June 4, 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time. If you can't join us on June 4, register now and we'll send you an email when the archive is ready to be viewed, at your convenience.

CFP: Web 2.0 Applications for Distance Learning: JLIDLS

The Journal of Library and Information Service for Distance Learning, a peer-reviewed journal published by Routledge/Haworth Press, is planning a special issue on the topic of Web 2.0 applications, particularly as these applications may be utilized to support library services for distance students. JLISDL welcomes the submission of manuscripts for this special issue.

The journal is devoted to the issues and concerns of librarians and information specialists involved with distance education and delivering library resources and services to this growing community of students.

Web 2.0 applications addressed in this special issue can include but are not limited to the following library areas:

• Faculty/librarian cooperation and collaboration
• Information literacy
• Instructional technology/service techniques
• Information delivery
• Reference services
• Document delivery
• Developing collections
• Library science programs 

If you are interested in submitting an article, send the manuscript directly to the Guest Editor, Johanna Tunon at tunon@nova.edu by July 15, 2009.  Inquiries and questions are welcome.

Instructions for authors are available at http://www.informaworld.com/openurl?genre=journal&issn=1533-290X  or can be emailed to you directly.

CFP: The 14th Off-Campus Library Services Conference

The 14th Off-Campus Library Services Conference is now accepting proposals for the upcoming conference in 2010.

The Off-Campus Library Services Conference is extending a formal invitation to librarians, administrators, and educators to present their research and share their knowledge with their peers. Individuals who provide library resources and services to students and faculty participating in instruction either away from a main campus or in the online environment are invited to submit a proposal. Through formal proceedings and the publication of Conference papers in the Journal of Library Administration, this information is made available to all who have an interest in this field.

For more information, please visit the conference website or contact us at ocls2010@cmich.edu

Guidelines for Presenters
Please use the guidelines below when preparing a proposal for presentation to the 14th Off-Campus Library Service Conference. If you have any additional questions or need assistance, please contact us.

SUBJECT TRACKS
The following subject tracks are appropriate for this conference. It is understood that a presentation may fall into more than one track.

Research
Surveys, assessment, statistics, theories, overviews

Teaching and learning
Methods, strategies, models, one-on-one, classroom

Electronic information and delivery
E-books, databases, online tutorials, streaming video, virtual reference

Collaboration
Librarian, faculty, consortia, or other

Administration and support services
Program development, ILL, document delivery, reference management systems, collection development, budgets, staffing


FORMATS

Presentations
Presentation sessions should be 55 minutes in total length, with 10 minutes included for questions. Presenters are encouraged to use technological aids to augment their presentations. Online access and a laptop will be available in all rooms; please see our audio-visual request form if you need additional support. Presenters are encouraged to supply handouts or other materials as appropriate. Session evaluation forms may be provided at the discretion and expense of the presenters. A written paper that will be included in the official conference proceedings is required of all presentations.  Please refer to the manuscript guidelines for proper formatting and other details.

Workshops
Workshops will be scheduled for two-hour sessions and should offer hands-on learning for the attendees. An abstract for the workshop must be presented for inclusion in the proceedings but no written paper is required.

Panel Discussions
Panel discussions should include several speakers and run a total of 55 minutes, with 10 minutes included for questions. A written paper is not required for the proceedings.

Poster Sessions
Posters sessions provide an informal forum to report innovative projects, introduce new services and resources, or test research ideas of interest to the off-campus library community. Posters may include narratives, tables, graphs, and handouts. They may be in print or electronic format or a combination of the two. Presenters must provide their own laptop if needed. Internet access will be available.  Presenters are required to set-up and host their display for one hour and 10 minutes and to provide an abstract for the program. No written paper is required.


SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL
To submit a proposal, complete the online proposal form available from the link below. The deadline for submission is September 15, 2009.


EVALUATION AND ACCEPTANCE
After September 15, 2009, the OCLS Conference Program Advisory Board members will be provided with blind copies of the proposal abstracts. Proposals will be evaluated based on their potential interest to conference attendees, contribution to the body of knowledge associated with the field of off-campus library services, and their clarity of organization and expression. Program balance and room space will also be a factor in proposal selection. All presenters will be notified regarding their status of their proposals by October 15, 2009.


Form to Submit a Proposal

http://ocls.cmich.edu/conf2010/

I see that there's also a twitter feed for the conference: http://twitter.com/offcamp_conf

WISPR now available for sharing

 It feels like so much longer ago that I introduced it here, but almost exactly two years later the award-winning(?) Workshop on the Information Search Process for Research (WISPR) is now available for you to download under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License.  There's a pretty good set of documentation, but you're going to need some technical skills to get it all up and running.  We just opened it up today, so are eager to hear of any successful or failed installations - will you let me know?

Screencasting: seeking panelists for MARS Hot Topics DG

Looking for an opportunity to present at ALA?

The RUSA MARS Hot Topics in Electronic Reference Discussion Group seeks panelists for its upcoming program at ALA Annual 2009:

“Casting a Wide Net: Using Screencasts to Reach and Teach Library Users”

Is your library using screencasts or video tutorials for user instruction? Maybe you use Jing for virtual reference, or you’ve created a set of short tutorials that demonstrate how to use your databases. We’d love to hear your thoughts on how this technology is (or isn’t) working at your library. The RUSA MARS Hot Topics in Electronic Reference Discussion Group is planning a panel discussion for ALA Annual about screencasting - our panelists will briefly share how they are using screencasts or video tutorials at their libraries, then discuss successes, challenges, best practices, and ideas for the future. Finally, we will take questions from the audience.

If you are interested in serving as a panelist, contact Sarah Lehmann, lehmans@arc.losrios.edu, or Michelle Jacobs, michellejacobs@library.ucla.edu by June 1.

The Not-So-Distant Librarian: Online Library Instruction to Engage Students and Faculty

The Not-So-Distant Librarian: Online Library Instruction to Engage Students and Faculty

Friday, July 10, 2009
1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Chicago, Illinois
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Hone your online instruction skills in a preconference conducted by experts. The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) is a leader in distance education, and its librarians play an active and innovative role in the school’s online classes. In this half-day preconference, UMUC librarians will share practical tips and tools for designing and implementing online library instruction that addresses a variety of learning styles and engages students through active learning exercises, and fosters faculty buy-in. Participants will then work to draft an active learning exercise that meets the learning outcomes of their instruction session.

Learning outcomes:

• Design an online library instruction session that meets the needs of various learning styles.  Participants will review and discuss instruction material used by UMUC librarians.  Participants will begin drafting or revising instruction content and determine delivery methods.
• Design an active learning exercise that engages students and teaches information literacy and critical thinking skills. After viewing and discussing models used by UMUC librarians, participants will work in groups to draft an active-learning exercise.
• Discover tips and techniques to promote information literacy to faculty and administrators. UMUC librarians will share their experiences conducting outreach to faculty, increasing the library’s visibility and advancing information literacy within the curriculum

Presenters:
Barbara Mann, Assistant Director for Public Services, Information and Library Services, University of Maryland;
Megan Davis, Regional Services Librarian, University of Maryland University College;
Joe Rawson, 24 x 7 Services Coordinator, University of Maryland University College

Registration fees: ACRL member - $195; ALA member - $245; Nonmember - $285; Student - $95.  May 22, 2009 is the advance registration deadline.  Registration materials are available online at http://www.acrl.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/events/notsodistantlibrarian.cfm.

Visit http://www.acrl.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/events/notsodistantlibrarian.cfm for complete details.  Direct questions to Margot Conahan at 312-280-2522 or e-mail mconahan@ala.org.

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ACRL is a division of the American Library Association, representing more than 13,000 academic and research librarians and interested individuals. ACRL is the only individual membership organization in North America that develops programs, products and services to meet the unique needs of academic and research librarians.  Its initiatives enable the higher education community to understand the role that academic libraries play in the teaching, learning and research environments.

Analysis of web-based tutorials created by academic libraries

Have only skimmed it myself, but you might be interested in Analysis of web-based tutorials created by academic libraries, The Journal of Academic Librarianship, Volume 35, Issue 2, March 2009, Pages 126-131 (doi:10.1016/j.acalib.2009.01.010).

Abstract: This paper aims to analyse the characteristics of tutorials created by academic libraries. It evaluates a sample of 180 tutorials by applying thirty basic indicators referring to general characteristics, content, teaching methodology, usability and technology. The general conclusion is that most of the tutorials are at an early stage of development.

Conclusion: If academic libraries wish to increase their role in all aspects of education, they must provide high-quality tutorials.

I see the ANTS project is one of the samples.

Call for Articles: Library Hi Tech News

Library Hi Tech News has posted an updated list of areas in which they're particularly interested in receiving submissions:

• Google Chrome and Internet Explorer 8.0: Review and Implications for Libraries
• Beyond Meebo Chat:  Free Available Programs for Virtual Reference
• Library Uses of Skype
• Blogging Software – Comparison Guide
• Libraries on the Move: Mobile Web Browsers for Smart Phones
• Libraries on the Move:  Library Mobile Applications
• Librarians on the Move: New Ultra Portable Mobile Computers (lightweights with 7” to 10” screens)
• WorldCat Local
• Library Toolbars
• Library Calendar Applications
• Google Books – New Developments and Implications for Libraries
• Ning – Create Your Own Social Networks
• MUVEs Beyond Second Life
• You Tube Videos Made Easy
• Open Source Content Management Packages – Comparison Guide
• Library as Publisher: E Journal Applications/Programs
• Collaboration Networks (e.g. 2collab.com)
• Twitter Applications for Libraries
• Novel Uses of Social Tagging
• Web-Based Gaming and Simulation Software for Libraries
• Freely Available Survey Tools for Libraries
• Rethinking E-Reserves
• Digital Textbooks
• New Library Learning Spaces
• Preservation of Born Digital Information
• Virtual Conferencing
• Keeping Up With Technology

Author Guidelines

MLA no longer requires URLs

Michael Rees at Impressons Scholarcast reports that in the 7th edition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers print should no longer be treated as the default medium, AND that the MLA has ceased to recommend inclusion of URLs in citing Web-based works – unless the instructor requires it or a reader would likely be unable to locate the source otherwise.

Following back to the announcement of this resource in Inside Higher Ed there are some  questions raised in the comments about whether library copies will enable access to the web-only examples that go along with the new handbook.

CFP: International Conference for Digital Libraries and the Semantic Web (ICSD2009)

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CALL FOR PAPERS
International Conference for Digital Libraries and the Semantic Web (ICSD2009)
September 8-11, 2009 - University of Trento, Trento (ITALY)
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Digital libraries, in the central view of the term, focus on storing and organizing digital objects and providing access to these objects through professional or user-generated metadata or content-based search (full text, image content, full musical score). In an expanded view, DLs also support annotation, generation or editing of digital objects and provide tools for processing digital objects. The semantic Web focuses on the formal representation of data for more precise retrieval and, more importantly, for reasoning so that many often disparate items of data can be combined to directly answer a user's question or to devise a plan of action. ICDLSW addresses two main questions:

(1) How can digital libraries support Semantic Web functionality?
(2) How can Semantic Web technology improve digital libraries?

Ultimately the goal is an environment in which all functionality is available to the user without the perception of different systems or system boundaries. Contributions are sought that address one or both of the main questions or steps towards the ultimate system. Some example topics are listed below, but the purpose of this list is just to stimulate thinking.

SPECIFIC TOPICS that address one or both of the main questions:

• Digital objects that provide formal representation of data ready for reasoning, possibly in addition to text, images, or sound.
• Knowledge acquisition: Editing tools that assist subject experts in the creation of formal representations of data.
• Digital objects that interact with the user or software agents.
• Standards and specifications for digital objects.
• Organization and retrieval of software agents and Semantic Web services.
• Semantic search. Use of ontologies and knowledge bases (such as topic maps) to improve search for digital objects.
• Question answering from text, from data/knowledge bases, or a combination.
• Next generation OPACs.
• The structure and creation of ontologies to support these functions.
• Using the intellectual capital available in traditional KOS such as Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), UDC, or MeSH in the construction of ontologies that support truly semantic search and reasoning.
• Vocabulary and taxonomy development.
• Multilingual issues in Digital Libraries.
• Semantics of bibliographical databases.
• Metadata standards, Interoperability and Crosswalks.
• Digital Library and Semantic Web Projects and Case Studies.

We invite original papers in English on all relevant topics as mentioned above. Papers will be reviewed based on originality of work, quality and relevance to the main theme of the conference. Peer reviewed and accepted papers will be published in the conference proceedings. The papers should follow the SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS provided on the conference website.

The conference will explore the area of digital libraries and the semantic web through tutorials, workshops, demonstrations, invited talks and presentations. The conference will also serve as a working platform for communities to discuss and agree on joint work. We also encourage the submission of workshop proposals for this purpose.

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE:

*Paolo Bouquet, University of Trento (Italy)
*Johannes Keizer, FAO of the United Nations (Italy)
*Wolfgan Nejdl, University of Hannover (Germany)
*ARD Prasad, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore (India)
*Heiko Stoermer, University of Trento (Italy)

IMPORTANT DATES:

April 16, 2009: Submission (Papers, Posters & Workshops)
June 24, 2009: Camera-ready copy
September 8-11, 2009: Conference at the University of Trento

FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://www.icsd-conference.org/