Now that our smartphones can not only search the web for us but also predict the fastest route to work, how do info pros set themselves apart from anyone with access to Google? This full-day workshop looks at what is innovative, creative, and digitally transforming in advanced web search, research, and analysis. Searchers Academy allows you to interact with a series of industry experts who share their ideas and expertise in the field of research on the web and in social media. There’s always something new to be learned from these leading-edge info pros. Participants should have basic experience with web searching, but even searchers with an extensive searching background will come away with a new attitude and new resources and tools for more effective and strategic searching. Expect to have your assumptions challenged about effective search techniques, strategies, and approaches. Academy topics include the following:

Part of our series of workshops focused on preparing for the future, this half-day workshop begins with a look at the life cycle of services, determining the needs of your audience, and moving ahead. It features current processes used by academic, public and special libraries as they plan and implement new services, and consider retiring old services that are not providing an appropriate bang for the buck or value to clients. Get a road map for evaluating your services, determining those at the end of their life cycle, as well as preparing for new services which maximum positive impact for your community.

For a conference of librarians who are more familiar with the technology side of our profession, this workshop provides a basic knowledge of DAM, including what it is and is not; the 10 core characteristics; how to select, design, deploy and manage a DAM program; and determining the benefits of DAM. Fu discusses both the traditional library skills and the technical skills applicable to working in DAM (a Gen-Next role?), identifies the key concepts, looks at the role of IT and technologies involved in DAM, and illustrates by describing real-world examples.

How do we design for changing technologies and flexible smart spaces? How do we incorporate new gadgets, apps, and technologies to engage our communities? Get some insights and ideas for planning for the future for successful user library experiences.

Libraries require appropriate technology in order to best fulfill their strategic missions. They invest in many types of tools for managing their collections, enabling discovery for patrons and fulfilling access in the most efficient way. As the proportions of electronic and digital content continue to increase, libraries need to align their technology infrastructure. In this half-day workshop, Breeding outlines some of the types of technology products and services available to help libraries face these challenges. The workshop focuses on the issues raised by the attendees to help guide their development of technology strategies which best serve their organizations.

We are taught in library school and in many advocacy training sessions that stories will lead to public support and action. The problem is, the storytelling model of advocacy relies on trusting our supporters and leaders to take action on good ideas. However, if the previous few years are any indication, this simply is no longer the case. Stories don’t drive action, and they don’t lead to real political power. Sweeney explores the significant amount of work that is necessary beyond storytelling to engage supporters and influence leaders in order to enact change through true organizing. He discusses the use of big data, messaging, and using digital tools and platforms and specifically focuses on how to identify, cultivate, and empower supporters in order to encourage real and tangible action to build support for funding libraries and information services. By rethinking your library’s online activities, you can do more than just raise awareness of your library and its services in your community. He shares specific practices you can use on your website to generate feedback, resources, and more. See how you get real financial and political benefits with your library’s online activities.

Technology has changed the face of libraries and is continuing to change how we work and how we deliver services to customers. This workshop introduces emerging technology trends and shows how those trends are reshaping library services. Examples are provided of how to incorporate these evolving trends into libraries. Attendees learn what trends to look for, find out the difference between a technology trend and a fad, and get ideas on how their library can respond to technology.

This workshop focuses on the new types of programs and services libraries are providing for their communities—creating and evolving makerspaces, innovation labs and an assortment of studios. Filled with tips and techniques, our experienced speakers give you all you need to get started within your area and to move it into an engaging customer problem-solving and learning space! Building a STEM learning or entrepreneurship program alongside a makerspace, a studio alongside 3D printing or music, or an innovation lab with AR & VR? Come explore new community engagement possibilities. Learn about the bleeding-edge technology and how all the basic hardware/ software components work to create engaging experiences in your library and far beyond it. An HTC Vive, Microsoft HoloLens, Google Cardboard, a DIY hologram viewer, and other technologies are present, so participants have an opportunity to play with all the latest and greatest AR/VR technologies as well as to identify opportunities to use these technologies in their communities. Full of practical insights and techniques, this workshop provides a road map for building or taking your exciting new program to the next level. It also discusses the challenges such as dealing with tech and funding, presents real-world examples, and inspires you with the impact of these types of initiatives.

In conjunction with SLA, this interactive workshop provides a facilitated discussion of issues important to enterprise information services: the changing roles of corporate librarians or information chameleons becoming go-to pros by translating info pro skills across silos; the use of artificial (or augmented) intelligence and the implications; the opportunities in and between libraries and other sectors—new partnerships; traditional services in non-traditional venues along with non-traditional services in traditional venues; digital services to a virtual audience; and experimenting with new tools to accelerate learning and change. Join the conversation with our facilitators and your colleagues to get some different perspectives and thinking about possible futures for your library. All types of libraries are welcome as there are many strengths we should be sharing in our communities.

Is your library website engaging to your community—your campus, city, school, law firm or corporate library? We’ve all seen good and bad websites, but our workshop leaders from industry and libraries critique your websites and make suggestions for improvements, further development, or scrapping. Understand what the most important features and functions are for making your library website engaging to your audience, successful for your stakeholders, and competitive in the web world. Get tips from successful commercial and industry sites and learn how to use their winning web strategies.

Librarians are increasingly finding reasons to create taxonomies or related knowledge organization systems. They may need to classify a special collection or local archives, develop a thesaurus to index a local or institutional periodical, create a controlled vocabulary for tagging pages or posts in a web content management system, or merely categorize a large collection of resource links. This workshop, taught by the author of The Accidental Taxonomist, provides instruction and best practices tips on designing and maintaining taxonomies for practical use. Design considerations include whether to create a taxonomy or thesaurus; whether a taxonomy should be primarily hierarchical or faceted; how large it should be; whether synonyms/variants are needed and if so, how many; what the sources are for the terms; and what the guidelines are for properly creating hierarchical relationships. The outline of the workshop is as follows: introduction, definitions, types, uses, benefits; creation and wording of terms; sources for terms; synonyms, alternative labels, non-preferred terms; term relationships; structural design: hierarchies and facets; maintenance and governance; and taxonomy management software.

Join our gamers and gadget lovers for a “date night”-style evening of fun, playing, learning, and networking. See how you can transform your thinking, your programs, and your spaces with the latest games, gadgets, and ideas! Share with a poster about what your library is doing with creative making and makerspaces. Also check out the great items offered in our online Silent Auction with funds going to EveryLibrary. Led by Brian Pichman & Tod Colegrove this event will start your conference experience with lots of learning and laughing! Refreshments included.