I won’t be speaking at ALA instead I’ll be spending much of my time in meetings. I thought I would share sessions of note on digital literacy and ebook issues that readers might be interested in. Unfortunately I won’t be able to be at all these as they often conflict with my commitments. But if you are interested in ebooks or digital literacy issues take note! 🙂
Saturday
The E-book Elephant in the Room: Determining What’s Relevant and Effective for Your Patrons & Making Effective Decisions for Your Future E-collection
8:00am to 10:00am
Anaheim Convention Center 204C
Speaker: Anne Silvers Lee, Free Library of Philadelphia
Speaker: Heather A. McCormack
Speaker: Linda Di Biase, Collection Development Librarian, University of Washington Libraries, Seattle
Speaker: Sue Polanka, Wright State University
DESCRIPTION: Faced with growing e-collections, more interesting e-content from publishers and a struggle to balance our materials budgets, how do we make good decisions about e-collections content? How do we evaluate the success of e-books when many of these patrons never darken the doors of our library building? How do we gain the valuable patron feedback beyond download statistics? What support issues arise around use of the collections, are the vendor platforms reliable, and what e-formats are most in demand? Hear how representatives from both public and academic libraries are measuring the success and challenges of their e-book collections.
Back to Basics: Strategies & Techniques for Teaching Basic Digital Literacy to Underserved Populations – LITA
10:30am to 12:00pm
Anaheim Convention Center 206A
Moderator: Tara Lannen-Stanton
DESCRIPTION: Many different underserved populations often don’t possess basic digital literacy skills necessary for 21st century work and life. How are libraries meeting those basic needs? What works and doesn’t work? How do you identify patrons in need of remedial and basic computer skills training? How should differences in population be handled (Adult basic education, ESL learners, older adults etc)? Examples of successful programs, customization to fit specific populations’ needs and funding strategies will be covered.
Libraries Lead Community Digital Inclusion – OCLC
10:30am to 12:00pm
Anaheim Marriott, Grand Salon A-C
DESCRIPTION: The FCC describes libraries as “vital centers for digital literacy,” but to extend broadband access and encourage adoption of digital technology to improve opportunities for education, employment and civic engagement takes the effort of whole communities. Learn about the Framework for Building Digital Communities and the IMLS-funded project with WebJunction and partners ICMA (International City/County Management Association) and TechSoup Global in this far-reaching effort; and share with us your vision of a connected community.
Ignite Session: Ebooks Must Replace Paper Textbooks, and Librarians Must Lead the Charge
11:30am to 12:00pm
Anaheim Convention Center, 208A Table 4
Speaker: James Huff, Goucher College
DESCRIPTION: Ignite speakers present for exactly 5 minutes, accompanied by 20 slides. Each slide is displayed for 15 seconds, with slides advancing automatically. This is one of six Ignite sessions in this time slot.
As the costs of education at all levels continue to spiral out of control, textbooks (and schoolbooks of all kinds) in electronic format could provide a way for both students and educators to reduce their out-of-pocket expense. Such books are also more convenient to use and more durable than paper books. This presentation is a call for school, academic, and public librarians to take the lead in making electronic texts available as an option for students. There are many complicated problems to be resolved, including issues related to hardware, software, intellectual property, the rights of authors, education policy, and teaching strategies. But the expertise of librarians, and their commitment to service, make them the people best qualified to confront these issues.
Digital Literacy and Libraries: Designing What Comes Next – OITP
4:00pm to 5:30pm
Anaheim Convention Center, 206B
DESCRIPTION: Join a discussion that will challenge you to think strategically about the future of digital literacy services in academic, school and public libraries – and how libraries fit in a larger educational and community context. What do we mean by “digital literacy” and why do these definitions matter? Speakers will address key roles for libraries and present alternative strategies for addressing evolving and shifting literacies. This session kick starts a series of national conversations on this topic.
Sunday
The Rise of E-Reading – Lee Raine will talk about this report and Pew’s survey’s and research included as part of research on Libraries in the Digital Age
When: 10:30am to 12:00pm
LOCATION: Anaheim Convention Center Ballroom A
DESCRIPTION: Lee Rainie, Director of the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, will share recent survey findings and other research about the rise of e-books, their impact on people’s reading habits, and the way that library patrons are hoping to avail themselves of e-book borrowing. He also will explore general reading trends and describe the next steps in the Project’s ongoing research about the evolving role of libraries.
ALA’s Digital Content and Libraries Working Group: Update and Future Directions
1:30pm to 3:30pm
LOCATION: Hilton Anaheim, California B
DESCRIPTION: Come hear about the latest ALA-wide developments on ebooks and other digital content issues of most concern to the library community. Sari Feldman (Cuyahoga County Public Library) and Robert Wolven (Columbia University), co-chairs of the Working Group on Digital Content and Libraries, lead a panel addressing these developments, including an update of where ALA stands with respect to ebooks, publishers, and content distributors. Critical digital content issues for the future will also be discussed.
Monday
Youth, Online Privacy, and the New Literacies AASL
8:00am to 10:00am
Anaheim Convention Center, 202A
DESCRIPTION: Young people today are sophisticated users of the Internet, approaching this medium with ease and enthusiasm but often without understanding the impact the Internet and social media have on their privacy. This session will explore how the definition of literacy has expanded beyond reading and writing to encompass information, media, and digital literacies. Learn how school librarians’ traditional commitments to literacy and privacy must extend into these new domains to educate students about privacy online.
Insert Catchy Label Here or the End of Gen Y, Digital Natives and the Millennial Student Myth
8:00am to 10:00am
Anaheim Convention Center, 205A
Moderator: Pamela Mann, Reference, Instruction & Outreach Librarian, St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Speaker: Roberto C. Delgadillo, Humanities, Social Science and Government Information Services Manager, University of California – Davis
Speaker: Virginia Eubanks, Associate Professor, Department of Women’s Studies, University of Albany (SUNY)
Speaker: Yago S. Cura, Librarian, Los Angeles Public Library
DESCRIPTION: The program will look at how changing demographics effects academic library user populations and how libraries prepare for the changes. Issues addressed may include, demographic projections, users in two-year, four-year and vocational and graduate institutions, economic issues, serving first generation students, the digital divide, race/class/gender/age, Latino students in higher education, information literacy, technology trends and lib 2.0, assessment and ethnographic approaches to understanding users.
Digital Literacy at the Front Lines of Library Service: Issues, challenges, and opportunities
10:30am to 12:00pm
Anaheim Convention Center, 202B
DESCRIPTION: Digital literacy is the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information. Librarians serving diverse, underserved communities are regularly confronted with digital literacy dilemmas. In addition to providing access to technology and basic and increasingly creative instruction, they must address the boundaries of patron privacy, the increasing importance of adaptive technology, and the complex issues around digital citizenship. Panelists will address these issues and begin a national conversation. Sponsored by ALA’s Committee on Literacy, OITP Digital Literacy Task Force, the OLOS Advisory Committee, and PLA.
Librarian by Day 