Theory Meets Practice: Educators and Directors Talk

“Theory Meets Practice: Educators and Directors Talk” Reference Renaissance Conference, Denver, CO.

Abstract: Audio from a panel moderated by Gillian Harrison

Panel members were
R. David Lankes, Ph.D., Syracuse University
Jamie LaRue, Douglas County Libraries
Marie L. Radford, Ph.D., Rutgers University School of Communication, Information, and Library Studies
Carla J. Stoffle, Dean of Libraries and Center for Photography, University of Arizona

Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2008/RefRen.mp3

Reference Renaissance

I’m in Denver at the Reference Renaissance Conference (hopefully the first of many). They have great attendance with over 500 attendees. That’s right at the levels of VRD at its biggest (in Chicago). The conference started out with a great keynote. Hopefully the presentation will be available online, because it is well worth a listen. While a bit on the utopian social side, it is rich with ideas to think about (and books to read).

It is great to see the return of a national reference conference. I think these kinds of events are still important to create cohorts, and push ahead the field as a whole.

Good job BCR and everyone!

The Dewey-Level Shift

“The Dewey-Level Shift” WiLSWorld Conference, Madison, WI.

Abstract: The world is changing radically — just like it always has. It does no good to pretend that the field of librarianship has never encountered change at the magnitude offered by the current Internet age. Nor does it help to believe that past success in meeting the demands of a changing society was automatic or did not involve radical change. Lankes will present a discussion of current forces precipitating radical change in the field, and what shape that change might look like.
Slides: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2008/WiLS.pdf
Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2008/WiLS.mp3
Video: http://ptbed.org/downloads/WiLS-Record.mp4

Screencast:

Lankes named to IMLS Task Force

David Lankes will serve as a member on a new Institute for Museum and Library Services task force on 21st Century Skills.

From the invitation:

The IMLS 21st Century Skills Task Force will play a key role in developing the strategic vision for 21st century skills and museums and libraries. Specifically, the task force will help guide a new report and a companion self-assessment tool, developed with the assistance of e-Luminate group, which will detail the need for 21st century skills in our society and the role of museums and public libraries in conveying these skills to their constituencies.

We are reaching out to key visionaries in the fields of museum and library services to ensure that our work reflects the best thinking available around these topics.

The task force’s charter is as follows:

1. Defining the Skills: The task force will help define the critical elements of 21st Century Skills specifically as they relate to the mission of libraries and museums.
2. Identifying Competencies and Aptitudes: The task force will help analyze and describe the elements of museums and libraries that deliver—or may be leveraged to deliver—21st century skills.
3. Articulating Key Strategies: The task force will explore and articulate the key opportunities that libraries and museums can pursue in promoting and integrating 21st century skills into services and programming.