Despite the sweltering summer heat of New Orleans, I had a great time at ALA Annual 2018. In addition to attending conference programs, I enjoyed the wonderful cuisine for which the city is known, reconnected with former colleagues who have moved on to other universities, and attended events that celebrated and honored my former (Wanda... more ›
For the final year, I attended the Archives Leadership Institute as a Steering Committee member. The Steering Committee consists of archivists (Rachel Vagts, ALI Director) from Berea College as well as representatives from New York (Geof Huth), Massachusetts (Beth Myers), Ohio (Dan Noonan), Oregon (Terry Baxter), Virginia (Brenda Gunn), and North Carolina (Tanya). Funded by... more ›
I hadn’t been to New Orleans in several years, so it was fun to be back in the city! I just want to share a few highlights from the programs I attended. ALA this year for me was mostly about events and activities with the RUSA History Section. We started off with our all-committee meeting... more ›
The kickoff for ALA was the aforementioned Michelle Obama opening session. The line to get into seeing her speech was exceedingly long, (so much so that we feared getting a seat in the 9000 seat auditorium) but what really surprised me was the relatively light security. Her conversation, as was already mentioned, was her very personal... more ›
I have three major takeaways to share from the 2018 ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. I’ll give the headline versions and then add more detail below, if you’re still interested: 1) As far as the Library of Congress is concerned, BIBFRAME is definitely going to replace MARC. Eventually. 2) A lot of libraries are... more ›
I always enjoy visiting New Orleans, even with a forecast of 90+ degree temperatures. This was my fifth visit to the city (all WFU-related trips), but this time was special because I believe this was my final ALA conference. I completed my 3-year commitment to LITA (Library and Information Technology Association) as director-at-large and, with... more ›
Important takeaways from ALA in New Orleans: The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is not a mile long. It is, however, almost exactly one kilometer long, or 5 furlongs, or about 1200 steps. Naturally, ALA’s meetings were divided between the two ends. You can spend three enjoyable days in New Orleans without setting foot on... more ›
Here is a 1.5 page list of random items (in chronological order). I’m happy to talk in more detail with anyone who wants to know more about anything I learned (or pushed)! At the opening and closing sessions, officers of the ALA were introduced, including Wanda Brown as president-elect. Photos are courtesy of UNC-G classmate... more ›
Between May 8th and June 7th, I traveled three times for work: my annual intellectual property officers conference, a library leadership workshop, and a copyright conference. My trusty little suitcase, bright yellow backpack, and I traveled to The Ohio State University, Yale University, and University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Rather than write three separate blog... more ›
This year’s NASIG Conference was a little unusual for me, as it was the first one since 2012 that I was able to attend like a “civilian,” with no Executive Board or program planning responsibilities requiring me to arrive early and/or stay late. Plus, I was actually able to attend a full slate of sessions!... more ›