Idaho Commission for Libraries

One of my big goals to prepare for the Future’s conference was to try to get a better handle on the present – catch up to 2005. Every once in a while I have a mini-panic attack because I don’t feel like I’m really in touch with what’s happening in the world out there. In fact, I’ll confess that one of the reasons I like living in Idaho is it’s perfectly fine to not be as hip as the gals in N.Y. or L.A. We can pick and choose the latest items we want to try (yeah Netflix) and ignore those that aren’t going to meet our needs (like wearing camisoles to work or listening to pod casts while I’m trying to type). I even made a list of “homework” I was going to do before the big event:

The Montana State Library recently published a great programming guide containing nearly 40 adult programming suggestions. The guide can be found at http://msl.mt.gov/whatsyourstory/programmingguide.pdf .

Montana and Idaho are certainly in the same boat as far as needing to reach out to more citizens. A quote from their marketing and communication project page, called “What’s Your Story? Find It At the Library” reads, “Libraries are beloved by citizens and the communities we serve, yet Montana libraries face significant challenges. We are under-funded, short-staffed, and often taken for granted.” That sounds familiar! It goes on to say, “To help remind Montanans of the value of Montana libraries to the communities we serve, the ‘What’s Your Story?’ campaign was born. A group of Montana librarians, representing communities big and small, east and west, and all types of libraries, came together to try to articulate what was needed to help our peers do a great job of promoting ourselves to the large number of patrons we serve.”

The ICFL Pegasus Team had a pre-conference discussion and dinner to further explore the 5 disciplines.  It was a lively, thought-provoking discussion.  One item I thought was interesting was the fact that "tension" can be good for a group.

Debra Meyerson provided an excellent presentation on "Rocking the Boat without Going Overboard:  How Tempered Radicals can steer a course for change."  One of the key points was in regard to Psychological Safety.  Here are the barriers that can face one: 

1. Perceived status differences

Now that the first day is finished and I have had a good night's sleep -- I have been reflecting. At this point, common threads are beginning to appear.  Here is what I see this morning:

1.  Change begins with "U" -- change cannot be fostered or facilitated until individuals change themselves and their behavior.

2.  Community of practice -- change takes practice and it takes a community of individuals willing to practice together and build relations.

Today the conference finished with a presentation by Peter Senge.  Here are some comments for consideration -- reflect to identify what they mean to you -- If you want to talk about them either email me <shirley.hansen@libraries.idaho.gov. or see me at the office.

I purchased a couple of quick reads about systems thinking at the Pegasus Conference – less than 100 pages.  If you are interested in learning more about it, they are available for anyone to read – come see me in my office.  If penguins and walruses, and sheep and wolves can figure it out – so can we!   

This link was sent to me because of the information about the Deschutes Library Spanish Language Outreach Program – however on the front page of the newsletter was an article about their Word Café Conversation!

http://newsletter.dpls.lib.or.us/NewsletterAll.pdf
World Café is invading libraries!

Shirley

Catching up on my reading I looked at the December Leverage Points. The interview with Brian Hinkens caught my eye, Facing Organizational Uncertainity by Learning How to Learn.

This is an interesting blog post (Tame the Web) about the ability to use or not use wireless networks at libraries, along with the barriers encountered.

Patron uses own Wireless network. IT to Patron: Use our Network or Go Home.”

The following link provides access to 25 Beta Research tools from libraries around the world.

In light of recent conversations regarding teaching students in the 21^st century, this article from eSchool News provides information from recent research in regard to technology and student learning.

Tech encourages students' social skills
Studies illustrate how some classroom technology can lead to student collaboration

The annual national conference of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL) will be held this fall in Sacramento on September 19-21, 2008. The conference focus is for libraries serving a population of 25,000 or fewer. Conference information and registration is available at www.webjunction.org/arsl .

Ohio? Michael Samuelson and I are learning about the new Web 2.0 platform that Web Junction will be debuting later this summer. Today we learned about the ways that the content management system handles content, how to brand our community partner page, and build community.

E-branch in a Box Fall Training Schedule

The Idaho Commission for Libraries will provide a half-day update training session for all current e-Branch in a Box users. This is a great opportunity to brush up on development and troubleshooting skills for the e-Branch administrators. You will have an opportunity to work on your own site customization issues.

Mixing It Up: The Mashed up Library was a symposium sponsored by OCLC at the ALA conference in Anaheim. Michael Schrage, Research Fellow, MIT Sloan School for Digital Business, shared his perspective in his presentation "Managing Challeges of Instituional Innovation." Innovation in an institution is difficult because of its values, traditions, cultures, and bureacracies.

Attended Competencies for Your Staff: From Implementation to Integration, a CLENE-RT preconference session. Highlights:

Started the day with Legislative Committee which included information on telecommunication and broadband (i.e., regional cooperatives, rural broadband deployment, network neutrality),reauthorization of LSTA, e-rate, and copyright.