All the Learning is Free at the Library Worldwide Virtual Conference
There’s no need to pack your suitcase to join thousands of your colleagues, who will be attending the Library 2.013 Worldwide Virtual Conference. This conference is held entirely online in multiple languages, with sessions scheduled around the clock in multiple time zones, and it is free to boot.
If you are seeking professional development that features a global perspective about the future of libraries and is easy on your wallet, mark your calendar for the Library 2.013 Worldwide Virtual Conference. Information professionals will gather in online rooms October 18-19, 2013, to hear from library and information science thought leaders during this open online conference.
The Library 2.013 Worldwide Virtual Conference is the third installment of the Library 2.0 conference series founded by the San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science and Web 2.0 Labs.
This year’s conference schedule is shaping up to be chock-full of inspirational sessions. Nine keynote presenters have been confirmed, including Jocelyn Cranefield, Sandra Hirsh, Buhle Mbambo-Thata, Lee Rainie, and Barbara Stripling. Plus, there will be 10 distinguished speakers, including Kathryn Greenhill, R. David Lankes, Michael Stephens, Ellen Tise, and David Weinberger. The keynote and distinguished speakers represent a truly international perspective. Infographic: Keynote Presenters Span the Globe
Rounding out the conference schedule will be numerous sessions presented by information professionals, academics, and graduate students. Titles of some of the accepted presentation proposals include:
- “Open Access: Policy and Practice in the Library,” presented by Chantal Phillips, University of Guelph Ridgetown
- “Library Intellect, An Online Graduate Student Blogging Guide,” presented by KYmberly Keeton, Graduate Student, The University of North Texas
- “The DIY Digital Exhibition Experience at Tarrant County College,” presented by Ayyoub Ajmi, Library Technology Manager, J. Ardis Bell Library – Tarrant County College
- “The Historian and the Librarian: Collaborating and Coordinating Embedded Librarianship in the Field of History,” presented by Raymond Pun, Research Librarian, The New York Public Library
- “5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Online Discussion Boards,” presented by Anna Cobbs, Graduate Student, San Jose State University School of Library and Information Science; Intern, Credo Reference
The Library 2.013 Worldwide Virtual Conference presentations will follow eight thought-provoking subject strands, including two new strands dedicated to doctoral student research and library tours. Doctoral students are encouraged to take advantage of this open forum to polish their presentation skills and get feedback on their research. The library tours strand will showcase unique libraries and information centers.
Eight Subject Strands:
- Digital Services, Preservation, and Access
- Emerging Technologies and Trends
- Learning Commons (for school libraries and/or academic libraries)
- Management of Libraries and Information Centers in the 21st Century
- User Centered Services and Models
- Library and Information Professionals – Evolving Roles and Opportunities
- Doctoral Student Research
- Library and Information Center “Tours”
The call for presentation proposals went out in early April, and presentation proposals will be accepted until September 30, 2013. This is a participatory conference, and everyone is encouraged to join the conversation as a presenter. This is a great opportunity to share your research, case studies, skills, and knowledge with a global community of information professionals.
The Library 2.013 Worldwide Virtual Conference is hosted on the Library 2.0 Ning Network, which was created by conference co-founder Steve Hargadon of Web 2.0 Labs. You don’t have to be a Library 2.0 member (membership is free) to attend the Library 2.013 Worldwide Virtual Conference. However, you do need to sign up, in order to submit your presentation proposal, comment on submitted proposals, and connect with other Library 2.0 members (17,000 information professionals from 164 countries are members of the Library 2.0 network!).
If you’re a newbie, here’s a snapshot of how the conference works: All Library 2.013 Worldwide Virtual Conference presentations will be held via the online web conferencing platform Blackboard Collaborate. The session schedule will be posted on the conference website (Library20) a day or so before the conference kicks off with the opening keynote on Friday, October 18, 2013. Sessions will be held around the clock in multiple languages, organized by time zone. You can pick and choose which sessions you want to attend. To join a session, you simply click on the session link. During the live sessions, some speakers allow text chat, others don’t. Most allow time for Q&A. Follow the Twitter hashtag #lib2013 during the conference to see what your peers are learning.
October is still a few months away, but you can immediately access the wealth of information (300+ presentations) shared during the Library 2.012 and Library 2.011 open online conferences.