Wednesday, May 20, 2009 Session One Program
Please consult the program brochure provided for you on the day of the conference for final program details.
Become a Better Advocate for Your Library
Cathy Beaudoin, Library Director, Dover Public Library
Denise Van Zanten, Library Director, Manchester City Library
Tips from the Gates Foundation "Turning Page" Conference; how to effectively advocate for additional library support; make lasting impressions; tell compelling stories; sustain relationships with library allies; and identify new partnership opportunities in your community.
Library Guides: A Reference Librarian at Your Fingertips
Carolyn Gamtso, Associate Professor/Library Specialist, UNH Manchester Library
Melinda Raupach, Library Associate, UNH Manchester Library
Join two UNH Manchester librarians as they discuss how they use LibGuides, an online research guide software program, to promote information literacy, assist distance learners, and provide customized point–of–need library instruction. Come ready to participate in a conversation about how this research portal can be used in your public, school, or academic library.
Embracing the Penguin: The Promise and Peril of Linux in the Library
Darrell Eifert, Head of Adult Services, Lane Memorial Library
An introduction to Desktop Linux for those who have heard about the possibilities of "free" software but are wondering whether the benefits of adopting Linux outweigh the risks of relying on a community–supported operating system. We will look briefly at the history of how Linux was developed, walk quickly through the installation process, take a tour of the GNOME desktop, talk about what kind of applications are available for both staff and public use, and finish with a focus on how to solve problems and find help within the Linux community.
This seminar is open to everyone (even geeks), but if your hobby is tuning blade servers and hacking the kernel, it probably won't be of much use. However, if your first thought after reading the title was "There's a penguin?" you might pick up some worthwhile information
Digitization Projects in a Small Academic Library
Kelli Bogan, College Archivist, Colby-Sawyer College
Discover how your academic library can have a digitization project even when resources are limited. We'll examine some community and open source projects going on throughout New England, including Digital Commonwealth and Maine Memory. We will also discuss how to get started with a digital project of your own, using Colby-Sawyer's new digital library, Haystack, as a case study. Topics will include hardware/software selection, material selection, metadata, and management.
Gee Wally, That's Swell. Baby Boomers Beat a Path to the Library: Are We Ready?
Sherry Evans, Head of Public Services, Portsmouth Public Library
Baby boomers, those born in the post-WWII years between and including 1946 to 1964, have impacted every life stage by reshaping traditions and are now poised to reshape aging. Boomers, in contrast to earlier generations, are healthier, more active, and more consistently committed to ongoing community engagement and number over 70 million! As a recent attendee at the New England Lifelong Access Libraries Institute presented by Libraries for the Future, Sherry will highlight what she learned about the psychological, sociologic, and practical implications for libraians and library programming. If you are a boomer, work with a boomer, or are experiencing the impact of boomers in your library, please plan to attend. Examples of programming ideas geared toward a 50+ population will be explored.
Homeschooling in New Hampshire
Jane Gracy, NHHC Coordinator, New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition
Stefanie Marsh, NHHC Webmaster and Carroll County Representative, New Hampshire Homeschooling Coalition
Library—Sweet Library: The public library is a treasure trove for homeschooling families. Please join us to hear from experienced New Hampshire homeschooling parents about ways public libraries can serve their homeschooling patrons.