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Challenge your Thinking

“Challenge your Thinking” Connecticut Library Association Annual Conference, New Haven, CT

Abstract: What if librarianship wasn’t a vocation of tools and skills, but of passion and knowledge? What if instead of identifying our roles with materials and order, we thought about embracing the chaos and excitement of change?
Slides: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/Presentations/2009/Conn.pdf
Audio: https://davidlankes.org/rdlankes/pod/2009/Conn.mp3

Screencast:

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Conversants Keynote Title and Abstract

Here are the title and abstract for the keynote:

They Named the Building After Us: The Library as Conversation

The mission of librarians is to improve society through facilitating knowledge creation in their communities. Through service, innovation, and leadership librarians facilitate conversations in schools, communities, colleges, government, businesses, and beyond. It is this act of facilitation of knowledge in partnership with communities that makes a library – not collections, blogs, catalogs, or ivy on walls. This is the central premise of participatory librarianship. This keynote will explore the new role of librarians as a passionate and powerful force focused on the social good. It will present a unifying approach to librarianship that seeks to make sense of Library 2.0 and information commons alike.

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Conversants Reminder

Tomorrow is the first deadline for submissions to the Conversants Online Conference/Conversation, however we will be accepting new program ideas throughout the duration of the conference. This message is intended to give you an update and some additional information on the conference.

We have already lined up sessions in gaming, assessment, and case studies in participatory contexts. We will also be working with SLA, METRO, and LITA to provide events as part of their unconference and library camp activities. If you are hosting an event coming up and want to have a discussion about participatory librarianship as part of it, let us know and we can provide materials and ideas.

Many thanks to the folks who have volunteered to host conversations as part of the conference. I think we are going to have some great discussions. Special thanks to ALA for working on getting us space at ALA annual for the hybrid event.

We will also be recording the conference Keynote on April 28th in Syracuse. If you are in the area and want to attend, let us know. Special thanks to the Central New York Library Resources Council for coordinating the event. If you are interested in hosting a live Q&A based on the keynote, please let us know.

We have also put up a blog at http://conversants.syr.edu/blog to keep you to date on new developments.

Below is some additional information on the kind of sessions we are looking for. If you have any questions, please let us know at [email protected] .

Papers

Description: We are seeking submissions of traditional long-form papers for publication in Conversants, an online open-access journal. These papers will use CommentPress to allow participants to comment upon and discuss the paper on a paragraph-by-paragraph basis.

Format: MSWord or equivalent, RTF, HTML

Events

Description: We are also seeking time- and/or place-based events that can be archived and shared. Examples might include a SecondLife presentation, which can archived as a streaming video and shared with participants, or a podcast of a workshop or discussion that took place at a physical library.

Format: URL of publicly shared video or podcast, presentation or event

Cases

Description: Do you have an example of something that you did at your library that worked really well? Or that flopped spectacularly? Share your experience with your fellow Conversants! Creativity in format is encouraged.

Format: Open, but should be publicly available

Posters

Description: Present your research, tackle an idea or controversial topic, or present conflicting viewpoints of a current event. Everyone is welcome to submit poster proposals, but library students are especially encouraged to participate at this level.

Format: PDF, jpeg image

Links

Description: Links to blog postings, open Facebook posts, etc., that will carry a conference badge.

Format: URL of publicly available website

Conversation Topics

Description: Topic ideas for “water cooler” threaded conversations. Proposals should include an overview of the topic, starter questions, [and a core of at least 5 people to seed/start conversation.?]

Format: Email containing this information

We will post very soon on the Conference hub location and details!

Please send Proposal submissions offers to:
[email protected]

For Proposal Submission, please include “Proposal for Conversants” in the subject.

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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.