This half-day workshop covers the key U.S. and international online resources and strategies that are a must for reference librarians working with genealogists and local historians. Topics include the most important discussion lists, key Websites, Web content, eSerials, and eBooks that are essential to good reference service today. Librarians will learn how they can incorporate eBooks, eSerials and eContent into their collections, making even the smallest library as powerful as if it was a branch of the National Archives or the Library of Congress. Participants will learn about the key listservs that librarians and genealogists use to communicate with their peers; see which Websites have reliable information for answering patron questions; become familiar with sites that provide online indexes and digital images of original documents and records; and will learn more about the thousands of online fully text searchable eBooks and eSerials in local history and genealogy. 
 

Workshop 13
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
How to Teach the Internet
Rita Vine, President, Workingfaster.com

Most Internet-savvy librarians cringe when they see how their end users search for information on the Web. But how do you teach end users the skills and Web resources best suited to users’ needs and abilities? If you are faced with the prospect of teaching your users to search smarter, this course is for you. You’ll learn how to plan and deliver an effective Internet competency training program, together with tips and tricks that experienced trainers use to help learning stick after the class is over. Topics discussed include: understanding the basics of adult learning styles, the Internet needs assessment, methods for planning effective content to meet training goals, getting the timing right and other areas of instruction. 
 

Workshop 14
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Graphics for the Web: All You Need to Know!
Roy Tennant, Manager - eScholarship Web & Services Design for the California Digital Library
Peter Scott, Internet Projects Manager, University of Saskatchewan Libraries, Canada 

The Web wouldn’t be the Web without images. Images help to create interesting, engaging Web sites to which people return again and again. But there is much to know about images if you are to use them effectively on your Web site. This workshop, by two Net pioneers, covers a range of image issues, from basic image concepts and formats, to locating clip art on the Web, to capturing your own images with a scanner or a camera. Attendees are introduced to freeware graphics utilities, online graphics creators and manipulators, and are shown how HTML and Javascript can be used to create pseudo-graphic navigation aids. 
 

Workshop 15
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Information Architecture: From Top to Bottom
Peter Morville, CEO, Argus Associates 

The fields of information science, librarianship, and human-computer interaction offer valuable insights into the design of usable Web sites, intranets, and digital libraries. This half-day tutorial explores the principles of information architecture, their application within major corporations and universities, and the need for research in this nascent field. The workshop begins with a high-level overview that defines information architecture, explains why it’s important, and introduces major concepts and methodologies. Following this conceptual overview, the workshop outlines the information architecture design process, moving from research and strategy to conceptual design to implementation. To illustrate this process, it draws upon case studies from a wide variety of projects for Fortune 500 companies and major academic institutions. To provide a richer, more dynamic learning experience, the workshop leader engages members of the audience in hands-on exercises and discussion. To conclude, Morville provides an information architecture research agenda, highlighting what we don't know about the subject and outlining possible approaches involving both business and academia, aimed at answering some of the most critical questions for the field.
 

Workshop 16
9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Intranet Taxonomies & Metadata: Creating Them, Using Them
Marjorie Hlava, President, Access Innovations, Inc.
Heather Hlava, President, Data Harmony

Putting content on the Internet with a flexible, effective and easy-to-use interface requires a strong metadata set and accompanying taxonomy or taxonomies. Metadata and taxonomies are the two major components that allow for quick, easy navigation and excellent search results, and when they are linked to well-formed data, they create the basis of successful sites. Several standards are in the process of being set and many techniques have evolved to help achieve these goals. Learn about the Dublin Core Metadata, the INDECS data dictionary, the EPICS project, the latest BISAC initiatives, the RDF from W3C, and other metadata projects that can be used in your own Internet or intranet development projects. Taxonomy management deals with the core concern of content developers and disseminators — how to quickly convey meaning of a record or document so that it can be found precisely and accurately. Ambiguity is the ever-present enemy of clarity. Thesaurus (taxonomy) design and control provide tools and techniques for disambiguation. As designers and developers of databases for over twenty years, presenters discuss techniques for building and managing vocabularies and metadata and define the various types of word control including rules for distinguishing among different word control formats. They also demonstrate an XML RDF solution for text management as an example of how these new standards can work together for an effective outcome.
 

Workshop 17
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Business in a Wired World: Focus on International Business Information
Sheri R. Lanza, Founder & President, Global InfoResources, Inc.

Is your organization looking beyond the borders of North America to expand its business? This workshop aims to paint an overall picture of the information available on different countries and how to find it. It takes an indepth look at international information, beginning with a few basics and moving on to cover several countries and/or regions in more detail. It also covers several industries and demonstrates how to find global information. Led by an MBA with an information research and consulting firm that serves domestic and international clientele, this workshop gives you the power to turn your research from a domestic base to include a solid international base. 
 

Workshop 18
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The Extreme Searcher’s Web Finding Tools: Choosing and Using the Right One
Randolph Hock, Online Strategies, Author of The Extreme Searcher’s Guide to Web Search Engines 

Web search engines, Web directories, metasites — all are useful tools for finding the right sites efficiently and effectively. For any question though, one tool may be much more appropriate than another. In this workshop we’ll look at which to use when, and the relative strengths, weaknesses and applications of each category of tool. Each of the major directories and search engines will likewise be examined in terms of strengths, weaknesses, and unique applications. As for metasites, we’ll see why this category of tool needs more recognition and how to easily locate the best metasites in any area. The emphasis of the workshop will be on practical applications and on that knowledge which will enable attendees to most effectively and efficiently find the answers they need.
 

Workshop 19
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Primer on XML and other “ML’s” — Coping with the New Acronym Jungle as a Librarian Content Manager 
Darlene Fichter, Northern Lights Internet Solutions Ltd.

Just when you have a good understanding of one type of document structure, along comes new ones. This primer brings you up to speed with the new formats and terminology and focuses on the practical applications of XML. Cut through the hype about XML and find out how this new language will (or will not) help with document creation, storage and retrieval. Is XML just a fad or here to stay? Where do HTML and SGML fit? What is XSL, XPath and XSLT? Join the Online magazine intranet columnist, answer these questions and take a look at some XML based applications in action.
 

Workshop 20
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Implementing Knowledge Management: An Overall Architecture and Framework
Robert Patt-Corner, Senior Principal Scientist, Knowledge Management, Mitretek Systems 

Successful application of technology tools to KM business problems requires a clear map of capabilities that are available and emerging, their relationships to business needs and to each other, criteria for selection, mixing and matching, and issues and solutions at each level of function. This half-day workshop provides a comprehensive and vendor-neutral knowledge management architecture which enables an organization to select, position and integrate tools and products to enable knowledge sharing. This semi-technical presentation provides attendees with: a consistent logical visual map of the layers of knowledge management architecture and implementation; the relationship of technology to business need, key business drivers and likely gaps; current products and capabilities in each area, and illustrations of how development and purchased systems can integrate effectively; a detailed case study of a full lifecycle KM implementation; as well as emerging capabilities and key players in new technology areas, and promises for intuitive information systems in the future.