Category: News

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UIS staff and faculty help to coordinate state-wide ILEAD U initiative

I don’t think I ever put up information on a new IMLS initiative I’m working on with the State Library of Illinois. The following is a nice press release on the project from another project partner, UIS:

Staff and faculty members from the University of Illinois Springfield’s Brookens Library and the Center for Online Learning, Research and Service (COLRS) are teaming up with staff members from the Illinois State Library and other libraries throughout the state for a prestigious new institute that will be one of the most significant Illinois library initiatives of 2010. The institute, called ILEAD (Illinois Libraries Explore, Apply and Discover) U: the 21st Century Technology Tools Institute for Illinois Library Staff, will be comprised of three in-person sessions from February 23 to 25, June 15 to 17 and October 26 to 28 on the UIS campus. The sessions will be supplemented by online instruction between meeting dates.

ILEAD U, funded by a Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program Grant awarded to the Illinois State Library by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, will encourage both the experimentation with and building of participatory Web services and programs. Library educator R. David Lankes of Syracuse University will lead the instructors for the project.

As part of the institute, the UIS participants and their colleagues from other Illinois libraries will implement web technologies that foster community participation and develop leadership, innovation and positive change.

The institute is the brainchild of Anne Craig, director of the Illinois State Library, who has “exceptional vision in seeing a need and conceiving of such an innovative way to meet it,” according to Dean Jane Treadwell, University Librarian at UIS. Treadwell is chairing the steering committee which selected the instructors, mentors and teams of participants and will guide the work of the project.

Other UIS participants include Natalie Tagge, visiting Instructional Services Librarian at Brookens Library, who will serve as a mentor in ILEAD U, and two other Brookens librarians, Pamela M. Salela and Amanda Binder, who will participate in cross-institutional teams that will learn to use participatory technology tools to understand and respond to patron needs.

“We hope to foster a philosophy that technology becomes powerful in libraries when people engage with it critically and thoughtfully,” said Tagge.

Additionally, Ray Schroeder and Shari Smith of the Center for Online Learning, Research and Service are acting as consultants to the instructors for the project, and David Racine of the Institute for Legal, Legislative and Policy Studies will direct the evaluation of the ILEAD U grant.

“We in the Brookens Library and COLRS are very excited to collaborate with the Illinois State Library on this project that has the potential to transform the way that libraries interact with their patrons,” noted Treadwell.

Smith, associate director of COLRS, added, “The ILEAD U grant is an excellent example of why libraries and librarians are uniquely qualified to lead their communities forward to a new knowledge society. The grant has been carefully crafted to include cutting-edge technology, careful assessment and evaluation, location-specific consideration and stakeholders from around the state.”

Participatory technology tools will include:
Blogging tools
Digital audio/podcasting, photography and video
RSS feeds
Social networking and photo-sharing sites
Videoconferencing and web conferencing
Virtual reference and virtual worlds (ie. Second Life)
Gaming
Instant messaging
And more

“The Illinois State Library is proud of its strong commitment to continuing education and providing librarians with the tools and resources necessary to address the ever-changing needs of their patrons,” said Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White. “Nowhere is the need for continuing education more important than in the area of technology. Librarians need to constantly enhance their skills to keep up to date with the latest technology, and ILEAD U represents an exciting, innovative new program to build technology and leadership skills among Illinois librarians.”

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New Year, New Web Site

Greetings all,

I have changed my homepage (if you are just reading my blog you probably didn’t notice). Why? Well my former website was a hybrid site for both my professional work, and the area of participatory librarianship. Participatory librarianship, or new librarianship as I am now calling it, has grown beyond my personal agenda. Also, the Participatory Librarianship Starter Kit site is about to go under a pretty major transformation with the upcoming Atlas of New Librarianship (more on that in the months to come). It seemed like a good time to divide things.

So if you are looking for articles, presentations, and ideas on participatory or new librarianship, go to http://ptbed.org. Want stuff on me including my presentations, articles, and such: http://www.DavidLankes.org. No need to change RSS feeds.

Also, I’m changing the “Participatory”category on my blog to New/Participatory Librarianship.”

Let me know what you think.

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Where’s Dave?

So I noticed my last blog post was August 25th. The short answer to the title’s question “Where’s Dave” is: writing. I can’t go into too many details (yet), but I’m working on my next book. It has been a pretty intensive experience and taken some quiet contemplation. Also, since I’m taking on the role of director of Syracuse’s LIS program I’ve cut back on speaking gigs, so fewer screencasts.

Things will be picking up in the next few weeks. I’m still here, and really cool stuff is happening. Stay tuned.

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Podcast Feed Consolidated

So it doesn’t make sense to have two RSS feeds anymore, one for the all blog entries and one just for podcasts. I’ve consolidated everything into just one feed: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/blog/?feed=rss2.

If you subscribe to this in iTunes or any podcasting tool you will still get all my presentations and screencasts. Please update your feed readers (note just if you subscribed to just the podcast one). If you are reading this, then you have the right link already.

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Lankes Named to board

Library council named to advise OCLC in development of Web-scale management services

OCLC has named members of a Library Advisory Council that has been put in place to advise OCLC in developing the first Web-scale cooperative library management service.

In April, OCLC announced plans to launch a new service for Web-scale, cooperative library management services—network-level tools for managing library collections through circulation and delivery, print and licensed acquisitions, and license management. These new services will complement existing OCLC Web-scale services, such as cataloging, resource sharing, and integrated discovery.

The Library Advisory Council comprises leaders from the library community who will assist OCLC in creating a service strategy that will meet the needs of libraries across various sectors and geographies. Members of the Library Advisory Council are:

Helene Blowers, Digital Strategy Director, Columbus Metropolitan Library

John Helmer, Executive Director, Orbis Cascade Alliance

Jan Ison, Executive Director, Lincoln Trail Libraries System

R. David Lankes, Associate Professor, Syracuse University

Sarah McHugh, Statewide Projects Librarian, Montana State Library

Mary Piorun, Associate Director, University of Massachusetts Medical Center Library

Tim Rogers, Executive Director, NCLIVE

John Teskey, Director of Libraries, University of New Brunswick

Andrew Pace, OCLC, ex officio

The Library Advisory Council will hold its first meeting following the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago. The Advisory Council will expand soon to include more global representation, and pilot sites for the new Web-scale management services will be announced at the ALA conference.

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Lankes Named Next Director of Syracuse’s Library Science Program

From the Dean:

“I am very pleased to announce that Dave Lankes will be the next Director of our MLIS Program, beginning with a year of shadowing of current Director, Scott Nicholson. Dave, Scott, and I have been meeting recently and exploring some very exciting ideas for the program – which we will share shortly – so trust that the very positive trajectory of our MLIS Program will continue. Scott has had a wonderful tenure as Director, and we are extremely grateful for his excellent leadership. While we know he is a tough act to follow, Dave surely is the right person to take on the challenge.

Liz

Elizabeth D. Liddy | Dean & Trustee Professor| School of Information Studies
Syracuse University”

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Email Problems

If you sent me email this week, and was wondering why I hadn’t responded, it turns out my email has been screwed up. It should be OK now, but you’ll have to resend.

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In Memoriam: Donna Dinberg, Librarian, Reference Pioneer, and a Dear Friend

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On April 11, Donna Dinberg passed away after a fight with cancer. She will be greatly missed. I came to know Donna as a passionate advocate for reference and a key architect of the virtual reference movement. At every meeting Donna was there. She was particularly effective in ensuring that the next generation of reference would be truly international. She helped build CDRS. She helped build the Virtual Reference Desk project and conferences. Donna was a voice of sanity and innovation throughout her career.
Donna was an inspiration. No matter how bad her circumstances in work or life, she always remained an optimist. As a librarian she represented the best of us. She was very much my teacher and I will miss her voice and passion.

I believe that people live on in the words and deeds of those they have influenced. I commit that she will live on in me. She will live on in inspirational words. She will live on in actions in the face of inertia. I will remember Donna the best way I know how * taking from her example of solving problems and making a difference. Donna*s legacy, for me, shall be in teaching students to strive for excellence; in building systems that matter, and in seeing her smile, her humor, and her dedication in those around me.

From the Ottawa Citizen

DINBERG, Donna (Library and Archives Canada) Passed away peacefully at The Hospice at May Court surrounded by family members, at the age of 66, on Saturday, April 11, 2009. Daughter of H. Margaret (Madge) Dinberg (nee Malloch) and the late Dr. Maurice C. Dinberg of Oil City, Pennsylvania. Beloved wife of the late Joseph “Habao” Texidor. Loving mother of Edith “Liz” Fletcher of Chicago, Michelle Reynolds (Suzanne Perrenod) of New York City, Nicole Texidor of Victoria and Camille Octave (nee Texidor) (Lesly) and grandson Samuel Isaac of Montreal. She leaves behind her brothers Norman (Brenda) and Douglas (Carolyn) and her sister Janet D. Thompson (nee Dinberg). Fondly remembered by Aunt Billie , wife of the late N. Campbell “Cam” Malloch and Aunt Jean, wife of the late Ian G. Malloch. Remembered also by her cousins Michael Dinberg and Joni D. Goldblatt (Peter). Missed by her close friends, Franceen and Pierre Gaudet. Donna was a graduate of York University (B.A.) and McGill University (M.L.S.). Following her studies, she worked for the National Library of Canada and its successor organization, Library and Archives Canada, for more than 34 years. Donna was also Librarian for the Jewish Genealogical Society of Ottawa. A graveside service was held at the Jewish Community Cemetery, Osgoode, on Monday, April 13. A Memorial Service celebrating Donna’s life will be held on Friday, April 17 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel, Hulse, Playfair & McGarry St. Laurent, 1200 Ogilvie Road (www.hpmc.ca/locations-st-laurent-chapel.cfm) ; 613-748-1200). In lieu of flowers, please consider in memoriam donations to The Hospice at May Court ( www.hospicemaycourt.com/donations.html ; 613-260-2906 ext. 222); the Canadian Cancer Society (convio.cancer.ca/site/PageServer?pagename=donations_can_home) or to the charity of your choice. The family expresses their sincere appreciation to the nurses and staff of The Hospice at May Court, and to Dr. Louise Coulombe, for their kindness and care. Gratitude also expressed to health care workers and other care providers.

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Prof. R. David Lankes receives the 2009 Emerald Outstanding Paper Award

Emerald Group Publishing of the United Kingdom has selected Syracuse University School of Information Studies (iSchool) Associate Professor R. David Lankes’ paper, “Credibility on the Internet: Shifting from Authority to Reliability,” as a 2009 Outstanding Paper Award Winner.

Emerald is the world’s leading scholarly publisher in business and management, publishing more than 190 journals as well as serials and books, and had more than 20 million articles downloaded in 2008 alone. Emerald invites each of its journal’s editorial teams to nominate what they believe to be the most outstanding paper and three highly commended papers each year.

The editorial team of the Journal of Documentation, which published Lankes’ paper, selected his article for the award, dubbing it “one of the most impressive pieces of work the team has seen throughout 2008,” according to the announcement.

Emerald bases its decision on a list of criteria, including the contribution of new knowledge, structure and quality of the writing, rigor of analysis or argument, relevance, and timeliness or connected to the latest developments in the field.

His paper addresses how Internet users determine the credibility of information on web sites from a conceptual level and how that affects new online tools and services. He describes how and why people are dependent on the Internet for information, and also describes the progression of users shifting from analyzing the credibility of an online source to determining the reliability of sources.

Lankes will be recognized at the 2009 Literati Network Awards for Excellence ceremony.

Lankes is director of the Information Institute of Syracuse and a fellow of the American Library Association’s Office for Information Technology Policy. Lankes’ research focuses on education information and digital reference services. He has authored, co-authored or edited eight books, and written numerous book chapters and journal articles on the Internet and digital reference. He holds a bachelor of fine arts in multimedia design, a M.S. in telecommunications and network management, and a Ph.D. in information transfer from Syracuse University.