Tech Services Happenings

First off, I’d like to thank Harriett for allowing non-librarians such as myself to attend the SEFLIN Conference-Future of Libraries. It was really neat to walk in a large room filled with an array of smart people drinking coffee/tea and talking about the future! Intellectuals who can’t get enough of more intellect! (lol, does that make sense?). There was a load of information shared throughout the day, my favorite was the 1st key note speaker, Meredith Farkas,  since she spoke with enthusiasm and a love for what she does.  Basically, some highlights I liked were when she showed us the pictures below:

    In this library, there were signs like: ”Access to MySpace is Prohibited. Those discovered on this site will be escorted from the library” which makes the place very unwelcoming. She points out how the reference desk looks like a “DO NOT ENTER” fortress and the trash can is even in front of the desk where the patrons are….what kind of message is that? She also goes to say what teenager would understand the lingo of the sign: Patrons, Periodicals cannot be Circulated”? It reminds me of myself back in 2003, this is exactly how I felt!

A BETTER PICTURE OF A REFERENCE DESK:

I forgot which library this is but all the furniture are on wheels so that any patron/student can configure it to fit there needs (group or individual). They even have a large computer screen that a group can work around comfortably.

Meredith really did an awesome job in revving up the theme of the conference…what should the future of libraries be like? Please see Cheryl’s blog on the other topics she touched upon. Or you can watch the speaker’s PPT slides: http://meredithfarkas.wetpaint.com/page/Riding+the+Shift+-+Organization+2.0+and+the+Future+of+Libraries

Another presentation I attended was GIS and Mapping Data. I did not know that there was such a wealth of information and uses for GIS. The map librarian, Jill Uhrovic, explains that GIS can help any organization in their planning and decision-making.  She says they are truly more than maps, they have layers and layers of data behind it just like the picture below.  For more info, clink the link: http://seflin2008.wetpaint.com/page/Breakout+4%3A+GIS+and+Mapping+Data

P.S. ANd just in case you were curious, we were well fed at Signature Grand. Breakfast, they served bagels, danish, yogurt, etc. Lunch we got, no it wasn’t Chicken! It was salmon and steak with mashed potatoes and the veggie meal was like the ones last Christmas that we got 2nd’s for! yummy sun dried tomatoes with pasta and other stuff…I’m not a cook but you know what I mean. Dessert was key lime pie…wish it was chocolate but it was still good…..I ate a LOT so guess who I bumped into spinning class later that day? Carrie Gits (Reference Librarian)! First thing she said when I saw her was, burning off all those calories? lol YES!