ALAVC12 Part 2

• FOSS4Lib:  Free/Open Source Software for Libraries
• includes a survey re if you're lib is inclined to oss
• One-Stop Center
• Pew Report results...not really a good presentation subject...go read the report...
• good chart on page 17 illustrating extensive community / civic engagement
• "Way We Serve Statement" with Steven Bell
• excellent presenter with lots of audience interaction
• focus on User Experience (aka UX)
• need to get to the WHY of the lib...staff know the WHAT we do and HOW to do it, but the core is the WHY (aka Core Values)...tbpl needs to do this (next strat plan?)...then all "work plan" stuff gets tested against the WHY
• used Pike Place Fish Market example:  "Treat People as if they are World Famous"
• see Designing Better Libraries blog
• Making Our Future
• more maker culture stuff
• check out tekventure.org (cool chain reaction challenge)
• is anything like this going on in TBay?  Would be a cool use for Marina Park buildings...
• shared tools (similar to shared lib resources)
• possible partnership with LU/ConColl engineering?
• again makes me wonder WHY...

ALA Virtual Conference 2012

Some thoughts and highlights:

• lots of talk about "Maker Spaces" and maker culture etc...I feel kind of cynical about this...feels trendy, like "scrapbooking" (but then, libraries can use "trends" to draw people in...we have done scrapbooking programs!)...people have been "making" stuff for a long time...but now with new tech / instant communication etc they are getting together to share resources (like super expensive 3D printers, and laser cutteres etc).  Some libraries have partnered with local Maker Spaces ...interesting fit ... check out http://www.columbusideafoundry.com/ ...philosophy of sharing / collaboration / open source 
  
• Danish Librarian talking about new "Urban Mediaspace" in Aarhus...see http://www.urbanmediaspace.dk/en   Similar project to Danish lib who spoke @ SC12, but this one is newer ...introduced concept of planning using "last responsible minute",which involves mega inclusion / participation / cooperation...open yourself up to knowledge, new ideas, input before making decisions ...they also used Personas in planning   ...also mentioned T!NG which is a national scale initiative all about the digital society
  
•  "Thinking Entrepreneurialy"...heavily based on "The Lean Startup" by Eric Ries..."pivot towards success"...adjust while things are in motion...constant beta (blah blah blah...)
  
• interesting talk from Sacramnento Public Library about the I Street Press.  The Library BOUGHT an expensive print on demand printer and has become a publisher for local (and other) authors.  Unique take on community engagement / working with local authors...also offering writing classes (using volunteer teachers)
  
• Moving Upstream:  super progressive public lib which built its own ebook platform (Jamie LaRue, from Douglas County (Colorado) Libraries)  Look at :  http://evoke.cvlsites.org/  open source ebook platform software
  
• George and Joan on Post-Print Libraries:  
• people who get content instantly think it's *better*
• non-text searching eovloving
• ownership>access
• libs need to focus on a SMALL number of things to be EXCELLENT at (we need to give up trying to be all things to all people)
• role for Libs wrt user-managed portfolios (like Flickr, Pinterest, LibraryThing, Delicious)...encourage (and teach) people to manage their own info