Want to sharpen your skills? Find information in the real-time collaborative and social web? Learn from the experts? Join search veterans, speakers, authors, and columnists from Searcher, ONLINE, and EContent magazines and the Super Searcher series of books to learn the latest strategies and techniques for searching online. This fast-paced, newly designed, day-long event allows you to interact with the experts who share their searching secrets and expertise as they focus on the most-current practices in the field of web research. There’s always something new to be learned from these leading-edge panelists. Participants should have basic experience with web searching, but even searchers with extensive internet background will find tips to polish and advance their skills and will certainlycome away with new resources and tools. Academy topics include:

• Tips for Using the Top Search Engines: Learn about the newest changes to the major search engines
  
• Multimedia Searching: When what you want can’t be put in words
• Going Local: Walk through a case study in finding local — and hyper-local — information on the web
  
• Searching the NEW Web: Learn about what’s new in searching podcasts, tracking memes, social graphing, and other portions of the new web
• Going 2.0 Yourself!: Tips and strategies for getting the most out of real-time collaborative and social web sites
• Cool Tools & Techniques: Learn about new resources and tools for searching more effectively

Does your library website need to move to the next level? Does it need a visual makeover, social media tools, or new embedded services? Where do you start? One place to begin is by analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of your current site using analytic tools. Pick up new usability methods that can help you test proposed revisions early so that the new design doesn’t just “look” better but also works better for the users. See how other libraries are using content management systems, user-generated content, database-driven content, federated search, and OpenURL resolvers to provide customized and personalized user content. Explore how social software applications including blogs, wikis, tagging, and RSS, fit in the mix. Pack your toolbox and take home tips, tools, checklists, and new design techniques that you can immediately put to use. Learn about common pitfalls and success factors for library redesigns. Topics and exercises include the redesign process; practical project management; web content management systems; usability and ethnographic methods: affinity mapping, photo reports, and map diaries.

Libraries of all types have embraced Web 2.0 tools to provide innovative online services and reach out to their users. Academic libraries in particular have a unique opportunity to leverage the technologies and philosophy that drives Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 to meet the needs of their users. Join our panel of practitioners and experts as we explore some of the cutting-edge ways in which academic libraries are using Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, wikis, mashups, social bookmarking, and online social networks. This interactive session will also focus on some of the challenges around implementing these technologies such as getting buy-in from staff, administration, and patrons. A worthwhile workshopfor those interested in implementing changes to keep up with the 2.0 world.

Podcasting is one of today’s hottest social computing applications. But what can this emerging technology do for libraries? What is a videoblog and why use one on your library’s website? This in-depth workshop, featuring two experts in the field of library podcasting and videocasting, answers these questions and more. Come explore and discuss how libraries are using podcasts and videocasts for outreach and learning through a variety of case studies, including tips on what types of content work best for different types of libraries. Detailed information on what to consider when planning for and implementing pod/videocasting at your library are provided along with an up-close and personal look at a variety of creation tools. Gain some hands-on experience in making podcasts and videocasts by producing content live during the session.

del.icio.us for subject guides, Flickr for library displays, YouTube for library orientation…. Mashups and APIs (application programming interfaces) are becoming staples of modern web design. Libraries, as repositories of data, have a wealth of information that could be placed within the mashup context. With new tools and scripts available daily, it’s becoming easier and easier to bring pieces of the web together and enable users to find and build new web services with library data. This workshop focuses on what an API is and what it can do, the standard components of web services, how to build a simple mashup with JavaScript, how to work with PHP to consume a web service and create a mashup, what web services and mashups mean for libraries, and how to start consuming and creating web services for your library with available tools and scripts. Come learn how open data standards and a little “know-how” can change your library services. Hear what others are doing and what you can do too. (Participants should be comfortable with HTML markup and have an interest in learning about web scripting and programming.)

This half-day workshop explores the elements of successful project management and how projects might best be planned, implemented, and monitored. Aimed at anyone responsible for managing a project within their library or information organization, this interactive workshop encourages participants to share their own experiences and knowledge.  It discusses key factors related to successful project management, methodologies and tools, proven techniques and tips for managing projects, and examples and case studies.

There’s no denying that the rise of social networking and Web 2.0 tools has created many new avenues for libraries to market themselves. But these marketing streams go much deeper than merely exploring new channels. They allow libraries to shift their focus and truly engage with their customers in remarkably effective online and in-person word of mouth marketing efforts. Come explore this shift in an innovative pre-conference lab that demonstrates and then walks participants through the creation of viral marketing ideas that enable customers to use the library brand to celebrate themselves. Participants are encouraged (but not required) to bring their own recording devices (digital video, still and audio, including upload cables) and laptops for creativity exercises.

If you are like most “accidental” library technology trainers, you are expected to take on computer training in your library, often with little or no previous experience or instruction. This workshop addresses the most common concerns of newly minted technology
trainers, recommends great tools and techniques, and shares helpful advice from many years of coordinating and providing training for libraries of all types around the country. If you are responsible for technology training — whether in computer labs, classrooms,
or one-on-one with library users or staff — join us for this workshop. You will learn why learning styles are important, how to create a learning community, strategies for communicating about technology, techniques for using activities, storytelling, and case studies to increase learning and retention.

Whether you have a standard website, a blog, or a wiki, text-only just won’t cut it anymore. Come learn all you need to know to create, edit, and add images to your library website and how to take advantage of Creative Commons licensing to use others’ images on your site. This session covers not only licensing options but tips on choosing a digital camera, taking photos in your library, image editing, and managing your images.

You’ve developed the ability to create a podcast but now what? This program shows you how to get the public (yes, even those who never visit your library) to listen and love your productions. Get past your fear of the mic and learn the professional tips that will give you a sound that your listeners will love. You’ll get hints on how to take your production from facts to fantastic. And find out how to use social networks as the magnet to your podcasts. Come and experiment with your voice and interview skills and get lots of tips and tricks for engaging your customers.

In the last 5 years, library websites have grown in importance and size, creating a challenge for libraries in effectively and efficiently distributing the creation and maintenance of website content. At the same time, open source systems have gained popularity in libraries, and several open source content management systems have evolved that allow developers to easily extend existing functionality and add new Web 2.0 features. This intersection has presented libraries with the opportunity to implement open source content management systems to maintain their library websites. Learn about implementing an open source CMS for your library. This workshop will describe what a content management system is, provide an overview of the advantages to a library implementing a content management system, highlight several organizations using open source content management systems for their websites, discuss the process of selecting a CMS, and provide an overview of several content management systems. Explore WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal and see the basics of how to install and configure a basic website in each of these tools.

This workshop discusses different strategies and frameworks used by practitioners to manage projects in their libraries. These practitioners share their challenges, tips, tricks, and lessons learned in a variety of situations. Etches-Johnson focuses on project management in web redesign and discusses managing a project on a small scale, in fact where the project manager is also the project team! Blowers describes a systemwide approach to project management complete with sponsors, process owners, etc., at the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML). She also talks about project management from the IT perspective, defining the role of process owners versus product owners as projects near completion and migration into maintenance and support roles. Hear from Phensuvabharp, CML lead project manager, who brings her firsthand knowledge to the conversation. Join this interactive session for practical approaches and techniques that you can use in any library or information environment.

If you don’t know MMORPGs from DDR, this workshop is for you. It addresses two related aspects of gaming in libraries: hosting gaming events and gamings’ impact on learning. Learn how gaming can make your library more fun and how you can use gaming to participate in this developing form of literacy. Workshop attendees have the opportunity to play some games, increasing their understanding of gaming’s appeal and possible applications in their environment.

Today’s librarian must be nimble and fast-moving. Librarians from different parts of the country and different areas of librarianship demonstrate what is emerging in their libraries and in their lives today: hot technologies, social networking, and services and tools for users. Enjoy this fast-paced, informative and interactive workshop from eight Twitter friends who are using these technologies to move themselves and their libraries beyond 2.0 and ahead of the curve.

For those who would like to explore more advanced features of screencasting software, this in-depth workshop builds on Notess’ Saturday workshop and provides proven tips, techniques, and tricks to create compelling online tutorials. Using many examples, Notess explores using call outs, transitions, zooming, highlights, Flash quizzes, and many of the other advanced features of Camtasia Studio, Wink, Jing, and Captivate.

This half-day workshop begins with a discussion of knowledge structures within organizations specifically how a library-KM (knowledge management) connection creates a framework that supports and takes advantage of a number of Web 2.0 social approaches combined with the use of natural category techniques. It then looks at KM and traditional library skills using a case study of collaboration between a KM consulting firm and two corporate librarians at a mid-sized company. The project was an early KM initiative that combined expertise location, taxonomy development, text analytics software, search, and ECM. It talks about what new skills the librarians needed to develop, how they learned from the KM team — and how the KM team learned from them. It shares what worked smoothly and what needed some creative problem solving skills and provides tips on creating a learning experience for everyone, a flexible new approach that results in happy users.

Join our gamers and gadget lovers for an evening of fun and playing. Bring your latest games and gadgets and try out each others’. See if you are a guitar hero, winning Wii bowler/golfer, or rank as a dancing DDR expert. Led by gamer/gadget gurus Aaron Schmidt and Erik Boekesteijn, this evening is not only filled with fun, networking, and of course, learning and laughing but it introduces a new library game developed and designed by high school students in the Netherlands. See Dark Ink’s world premiere! Refreshments included.