The Technology Conference for Information Age Librarians General Conference • Friday, March 17th Track K • Track L • Track M

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Session K1 • Keeping It in the Family: The Library in Today’s Business Environment
Carol J. Knoblauch, Product Manager, Open Text, BASIS Division
Internet technologies provide an infrastructure for collecting and disseminating information on an unprecedented scale. This  has given rise to many business theories. Projects promoting learning organizations, core competencies, expert systems, or knowledge management are designed to support innovation and improve market value. What are the common components of these business practices and how do they relate to your information center? Carol discusses the elements of knowledge initiatives, the problems they solve and focuses on collaboration and enhancing the library’s traditional role as a venue for intellectual discourse.
 

10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Session K2 • Knowledge Management Research and End User Work Environments
Wilda B. Newman, Information Resources Manager, Johns Hopkins University
Having been awarded the prestigious Hafstad Fellowship by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Wilda is undertaking research on knowledge management and end user work: Environments — 2010. This session will be a unique opportunity to hear what the data are revealing, and to give some thought to the implications for knowledge and information management initiatives.
 

10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Coffee Break—A Chance to Visit the Exhibits
 

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Session K3 • Intranet Development for an International Audience
Jan Rivers and Kathleen Swantek, Arthur Andersen LLP, AskNetwork
With the increasingly global marketplace, more and more intranets are accessed by an international audience. Through a case study of Arthur Andersen’s KnowledgeSpaceÆ, a Web-based knowledge and content service, this presentation covers the elements to consider when developing your intranet for an international audience.
 

12:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Lunch Break—A Chance to Visit the Exhibits
 

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Session K4 • Corporate Intranets: Strategic Content Planning & Creation
Betsy Farr Cogliano, The MITRE Corporation
Joanne Lustig, Associate Director, InteliQuest, Knoll Pharmaceutical Company
Corporate intranets don’t just happen, and they aren’t just platforms for content purchased from vendors. Betsy begins the session by describing the process for creating MITRE’s strategic content plan for their intranet, highlighting the business needs, goals, early successes and issues. Joanne then discusses how Knoll’s InteliQuest creates original intranet content, based on deep client and business knowledge.
 

3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Session K5 • UNCLE! Help Command Center: The Intranet Hub
Dan Keefer, Systems Librarian, Health Sciences Library, University of North Carolina
The evolution and integration of UNCLE Help with other library services is a case study in collaboration with units outside of the library, interdepartmental cooperation, Web design, database utilization over the Web, balancing form with substance, and overall intranet strategy. Once a specialized, isolated service performed by a single individual, changes in the service, library environment and technology required that UNCLE Help become more integrated into overall user services. Dan’s session will highlight various factors and processes that are likely to exist in any similar project.
 

3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Coffee Break
 

4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m
Session K6 • Context: Connecting Content, People and Current Updates
Mary Durham, Context Integration
Many organizations have implemented knowledge bases, but most of these are simply electronic repositories waiting to be searched. Context Integration, highlighted in Fast Company’s September 1999 issue (www.fastcompany.com/online/27/ideas.html) is a system that connects staff in different offices with each other, with resources and experts, and daily distributes articles and tips to employees who might find them relevant. Mary relates how information professionals can exploit this type of system, and shares what Context has found to be the success factors.

9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Session L1 • High-tech vs. High Touch — Can Technology and Information Professionals both Thrive in the Digital Age?
Bill Dietrick, Business Leader, Internet Products Division, Teltech Resource Network Corporation
The growth of the Internet, the proliferation of intranets, and “portal mania” are all having a significant impact on information professionals. Suppliers of technology solutions, however, are beginning to realize that while technology solves many problems, it introduces others. Technology innovators who recognize the value of the “human touch” are leveraging people by integrating them into their service offerings. Innovative information professionals in turn have embraced technology to create new service solutions. The result can be a win for both people and technology. This session examines: the integration and convergence of technologies and content and Web-based services; the impact on information services and the role of the information professional; the importance of linking service strategy to key business processes; the key skills information professionals can leverage to take advantage of current service trends; and the increasing importance of content management in emerging service solutions.
 

10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Session L2 • Erasing the Lines: Integrating Libraries and Technology Functions at Universities
Jack Smith, Lister Hill Library of the Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham
James Spence & Leah Krevit, Co-Directors, Information Resources and Technology University of Texas
Smith’s presentation chronicles the library’s involvement with various campus groups who explore the implementation of new technologies. The library has become intimately involved with technology support for the campus through distance learning production and support, PC and network support for medical center schools and clinics, coordinating campus system administrator interaction, etc. Krevit and Spence describe how The University of Texas-Houston Dental Branch combined its library, learning resources center, and computer and network services into one department. This consolidated department, Information Resources and Technology, oversees strategic planning, resource allocation, user services, teaching and training, equipment and collections. “IRT” realized that creating a stable technology infrastructure is the first step to creating an environment that allows users to “visualize” new and useful ways of using IT.
 

10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Coffee Break—A Chance to Visit the Exhibits
 

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Session L3 • New Technologies, New Strategies, New Teams: Learning in the Government Environment
Deirdre Grimes, Ontario Legislative Library
In July 1999, the Ontario Legislative Library introduced a new organizational structure designed to support its strategic plan, many of whose key strategies addressed technology issues. The new structure uses a mixed bag of organizational components: hierarchy, cross-functional teams, process teams, steering committees, functional managers, and an assortment of other less formal arrangements. The presentation focuses on the strategies, organization changes and the lessons learned so far in their implementation.
 

12:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Lunch Break—A Chance to Visit the Exhibits
 

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Session L4 • Product and Relationship Management: Building Knowledge Bridges in Organizations
Rebecca A. Smith, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Reference Services, Texas A & M University
The intense competition of today’s marketplace present interesting challenges to those who create and provide goods and services. Consumers’ high expectations generate pressure on service-sector organizations such as libraries to respond with speed, flexibility and customer support. An important aspect of customer support often involves product management. The presentation focuses on how one academic business library restructured reference services, using product management to leverage the expertise of the librarians to deliver quality services and products to their clientele. Challenges and the benefits accrued are discussed.
 

3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Session L5 • E-Books and E-Texts: Forging New Paths
Dr. Scott Plantz, Chairman & CEO, emedicine.com
Sean Gallagher, Marketing Services Manager, netLibrary, Inc.
Many people are still disregarding e-books as ridiculous, but the technology and demand are there to make these happen — and this session highlights some of those who ARE making it happen. emedicine.com, Inc. is the developer of a new networking online writing software package that allows authors and editors from around the world to write textbooks online quickly and efficiently. Scott describes the technology behind, the strategies driving and the current status of their work. netLibrary, Inc. has also been taking innovative strides. Sean examines the impact of electronic books (eBooks) on librarians, publishers, traditional book vendors, and eBook vendors.
 

3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Coffee Break
 

4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m
Session L6 • What’s Hot: Technology and Information Industry Trends
Ulla de Stricker, de Stricker & Associates
Stephen Abram, IHS Micromedia
Are there hot new tools we should be clamoring for? Or has the heat died down, and the best we can expect is more of the same? Find out what our seasoned industry veterans think about the type of tools we can expect to work with in the future.

9:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Session M1 • Building Community Using Internet Tools
Leslie Fournier, NODE Learning Technologies Network
Walt Howe, Delphi Forums
Hope Tillman, Babson College
 An Internet community is a combination of place, content, and people and the interactions/relationships between those three elements. An essential element to building community is the exchange or transfer of information on two levels, where visitors come and find useful information on the site and visitors give you and other visitors something as well, making the exchange of information a collaborative effort. This session will look at public, school, and academic library current and potential applications.
 

10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Coffee Break—A Chance to Visit the Exhibits
 

11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Session M2 • Linux and Open Source Software
Sharon Yang, Moore Library, Rider University
Scott Anderson, IT Librarian, Millersville University
This session discusses the reasons for the growth in popularity of the open source operating system Linux and its applications. Open source software tools such as MySQL, Linux, Apache, and Perl, can be used to provide easy end user access to commercial products on and off campus in compliance with license agreements via Web pages generated on the fly.
 

12:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Lunch Break—A Chance to Visit the Exhibits
 

2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Session M3 • Security and Access: New Technologies in Wide Area Networks
Cheryl A. Bower, Network Field Engineer & Sally J. Lodico, Network Field Engineer, Interface Electronics Inc.
The increased demand for electronic resources and supporting technology in libraries has strained budgets and frustrated efforts to provide increased access. This session examines new tools to provide and control access to electronic resources for customers across a wide area.
 

3:00 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Session M4 • Way Beyond Text: Sound and Image in Digital Format
Michael Seadle, Digital Services and Copyright Librarian, Michigan State University
Frank Cervone, Associate Director for Library Information Technology Services, DePaul University
This two part session treats multimedia tools: first, digital sound formats and second, digital images in geographic information systems (GIS). The increasing numbers of streaming and compacting options for digital sound, such as MP3, have boosted their popularity on the Web. Although seemingly simple, it is easy to end up with barely usable or illegal files. The first session describes the research at Michigan State University as part of a national Digital Library Initiatives grant. The second speaker will talk about a Web-based implementation of a system that uses GIS to interface with images related to geographic sites at DePaul University. Using digital images is an increasingly important component of GIS systems.
 

3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Coffee Break
 

4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m
Session M5 • Intranet Portals
Moderator
Peter Moorville, Argus Associates
Panel of Software Providers
Sagemaker, Automony, Plumtree
The organizational “portal” or mini-”Yahoo” is an increasingly popular approach for designing intranets due to its focus on helping employees find the information they need quickly and effectively, while allowing for efficient content management. This panel features perspectives from major portal software vendors, covering product differences, challenges, user needs, content management, and how to successfully implement an intranet portal in the face of resource constraints and corporate politics.