RUSA offers five preconferences on reference and user services at ALA Annual Conference in DC

Contact: Eileen Hardy
Marketing Specialist
312-280-4398
ehardy@ala.org
For Immediate Release
March 13, 2007

RUSA offers five preconferences on reference and user services at ALA Annual Conference in DC

CHICAGO – Register now for one of the Reference and User Services Association’s (RUSA) five preconferences being held on Friday, June 22, 2007, during the Annual Conference in Washington, DC. The following preconferences focus on major areas of reference and user services:

  • “Behind the Genealogy Reference Desk: Researching Our Nation's Treasures,” preconference is aimed at librarians, genealogists and historians with information on family history research and the US National Archives and the Daughters of the Revolution Library. The event is being held at the US National Archives Building, and will include a private viewing of the Charters of Freedom.


  • “ILL 101: Interlibrary Loan for New Practitioners,” preconference is for librarians and library staff who are new to the field of interlibrary loan and resource sharing. Attendees will learn about the importance of resource sharing to the library community, codes and standards that govern it; and discuss the borrowing and lending aspects of resource sharing.


  • “Libraries, Older Adults and Technology,” preconference focuses is on how seniors, older adults and baby boomers, utilize technology in various types of libraries. Speakers will present practical models, training examples, and tool kits and explore Seniornet and Generations Online websites. Attendees will learn about the importance of marketing the library’s technology and training for seniors, older adults and baby boomers.


  • “Reinvented Reference 3: Emerging Technologies for Reference Services,” Speakers from academic and public libraries will highlight selection, implementation and evaluation of new technologies for cutting edge reference services. Michael Stephens, the keynote speaker, will discuss "Web 2.0 technologies for Reference Services."
  • “Yin & Yang: Bringing Balance to Resource Sharing,” preconference is for advanced resource sharing practitioners with discussions on consortia, committed lending, and unmediated/patron-initiated borrowing. The presentations examine the ideal perspective versus the current perspective (what is happening) of an end user or resource-sharing practitioner.

RUSA, the leading association of reference and user services professionals, is a division of the American Library Association (ALA). To register for preconferences, go to www.ala.org/annual.

For more information about RUSA preconferences, visit: http://www.ala.org/ala/rusa/rusaevents/rusaannual/annualconference.htm.