ACRL preconferences at 2008 ALA Annual Conference

Contact: Margot Conahan

(312) 280-2522

mconahan@ala.org



For Immediate Release,

February 5, 2008

ACRL preconferences at 2008 ALA Annual Conference


CHICAGO - The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) is offering three professional development preconferences in conjunction with the 2008 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Anaheim, Calif. All three preconference workshops will take place on June 27. Registration materials are now available online at http://www.acrl.org (click “Events & Conferences”).


  • “Assessment of Academic Library Effectiveness: Using ACRL Standards for Continuous Evaluation” (8:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, June 27): This full-day preconference will introduce the ACRL “Standards for Libraries in Higher Education” as a framework for assessing all academic libraries. Discover how to use commonly collected information, statistics for internal and peer comparison of inputs and outputs and user satisfaction and service quality data for evaluating the academic library. Presenters are Robert W. Fernekes, Information Services Librarian, Georgia Southern University, and William N. Nelson, Library Director, Augusta State University.


  • “Library Instruction 2.0: Building Your Online Instruction Toolkit” (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 27): Teaching librarians have long used the Internet to create flexible, shareable learning objects and to augment their classroom instruction. Emerging Web technologies now offer the potential for library instruction tools that are ambient, user-centered, agile and responsive. In this preconference, explore the continuum of technologies available for web-based instruction, from proprietary screencasting software to open-source Web 2.0 services and technologies. Become introduced to the conceptual and philosophical underpinnings of Web 2.0 and gain practical, hands-on experience applying these principles to your teaching. Presenters are Karen Munro, E-Learning Librarian, University of California, Berkeley, Anne-Marie Deitering, Undergraduate Services Librarian, Oregon State University and Rachel Bridgewater, Electronic Resources Librarian, Reed College.


  • “Mindfully Resolving Conflicts: Facilitation for Diversity Issues” (1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 27): This experiential workshop combines role play, training vignettes and exercises and discussion to address issues such as racism and cultural differences. Through mindful listening and inquiry, participants will develop observation, intervention and facilitation skills for working with diverse communities. Presenter: Lee Mun Wah, Stirfry Seminars.

Complete details about these ACRL professional development preconferences are available online at http://www.ala.org/acrl/events (click “ACRL @ Annual”). Registration is now open at http://www.acrl.org (click “Events & Conferences”). The advance registration deadline is May 16, 2008. For more information, contact Margot Conahan at mconahan@ala.org or (312) 280-2522.



ACRL is a division of the American Library Association (ALA), representing more than 13,000 academic and research librarians and interested individuals. ACRL is the only individual membership organization in North America that develops programs, products and services to meet the unique needs of academic and research librarians. Its initiatives enable the higher education community to understand the role that academic libraries play in the teaching, learning and research environments.