The Distant Librarian

Free ebook: The Teacher-Librarianship by Distance Learning program at the University of Alberta

The Teacher-Librarianship by Distance Learning program at the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Canada) is pleased to announce the publication of a new free ebook: Becoming and Being: Reflections on Teacher-Librarianship, edited by Jennifer Branch-Mueller, Kandise Salerno, and Joanne de Groot.

Each chapter was written by 25 graduating (or soon to graduate) TLDL students as part of the final course in their MEd in Teacher-Librarianship. The book includes chapters on becoming a qualified teacher-librarian, space and place and the role of the teacher-librarian, teacher-librarians as instructional partners, the role of teacher-librarians as technology leaders and literacy leaders, school library collections, and the leadership role of the teacher-librarian.

There's also a companion website.

Podcast Recommendation: The New Disruptors

I recently started listening to a new (to me) podcast called The New Disruptors, which you may find interesting. Its tagline is "Discussing the profound changes in the economy for making things." I just finished listening to episode 26, an interview with Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost, who have successfully crowdfunded three projects (two physical, one digital), and learned they had written a book about the experience, which, if you're considering launching something on Kickstarter or Indiegogo, is a must read!

Excited about Netspeed 2013

Netspeed is Alberta's library technology conference, and it's been a few years since I've attended 'cause it always seemed to be about a year behind the times to me. I know, I'm responsible for the content too, and I have spoken at the conference in the past, but overall it just hasn't floated my boat in a while.

That's why I'm really excited to see this year's program (PDF), which has the following things that will have me attending this year:

1. Nora Young keynote
2. Makerspaces (I know, about a year behind ;-)
3. Responsive Web Design
4. Community Engagement
5. Quite a few presentations from UofC colleagues that remind me we're not so behind after all :-)
6. It's in Calgary!

Come join us, October 23-25. Early Bird registration runs until September 15.