So, it looks like library camps and library related unconferences are an increasing trend: http://liswiki.org/wiki/Library_Camp There were just two in 2006, a handful in 2007, more in 2008 and then during 2009 it seems like library unconferences/library camps just exploded!

Why are they so popular? Because traditional conferences are expensive due to the planning, preparation and other long term expenditures, unconferences make sense. This website for Library Camps and Unconferences explains this trend similarly, and also offers a helpful guide to hosting your own unconference: http://lln.lyrasis.org/node/355

This site says that the mark of a good and successful unconference is, “In a good unconference, all or almost all participants are participants, not just audience.”

The benefits seem to be resource sharing, networking, the participants power to decide what they want to learn collectively, that the participants are not just audience, but participants (much like the whole point of web 2.0), and of course the major cost savings to just about everyone.

The STELLA (Science, Technology & Engineering Library Leaders in Action!) unconference stems from how hard it is to attend so many conferences that apply to the specific needs of science librarians: http://www.nuthingbut.net/2008/12/sci-tech-bunching-of-lsw.html

Joe writes, “science librarians don’t neccessarily need to have an umbrella
organization to talk, chat and meet with each other. We can organize
ourselves without the organizational beauocracy.” The STELLA unconference is happening now this week in Denver: http://denver-stella.pbworks.com/

I’m hesitant to suggest that Idaho libarians need this, but we might. I at least think it’s something worth investigating and if you are interested I’d like to hear your thoughts.My thoughts are to put something together that is as free as humanly possible where the spirit is just to share ideas, brainstorm, and come up with some great, great ideas.

Lastly, here is a link to an article overview on library camps called The unconference: a new model for better professional communication http://www.lianza.org.nz/library/files/store_021/GreenhillandWiebrands_Unconference.pdf