Internet Librarian 2013 Conference Highlights, Part 1

Last week I had the pleasure of attending the Internet Librarian Conference.  I think this was my 6th time attending this conference.  I enjoy it because it’s not just limited to school librarians.  All different types of librarians attend, so it’s a great way to broaden my knowledge of libraries in general.

I learned lots of cool things, but I think I learned the most about search this year.  This post will highlight some of the most interesting things I learned about search.  In my next post, I’ll talk about other topics from the conference.

Online Searching: Tools & Teaching Tips

The first session I attended was Mary Ellen Bates‘ Super-Search Secrets.  I appreciated her humor and her ability to speak clearly and professionally.  She presented several search tools that were new to me, including:

  • Disconnect.me: Allows you to run private searches on the major search engines
  • MillionShort:  Removes the top 100- 1 million (you decide) search results.  This allows searchers to find more obscure sources.
  • Qwant:  A social search engine.  It has a shallow archive, but it’s good for discovering what’s trending now.
  • Zanran:  A data search engine.  Searches tables, PDFs, Excel spreadsheets and other reports for numerical data.

Mary Ellen also told us about some search strategies she uses that are quite creative.  My favorite included:

  • Use Google’s Reading Level feature to find more in-depth articles.  This is helpful when you’re only finding basic research and want to dive deeper.
  • Use the Google search box auto-complete to identify potential keyword combinations.  For example, if you type in [Amazon vs], you’ll see that you get a list of potential alternatives to Amazon.

SearchAlternative

  • Google’s auto-complete feature can also be helpful for seeing what keyword combinations other people are using.  For example, if I type in [teacher librarian], the auto-complete lets me know that other common searches are [teacher librarian jobs],  [teacher librarian magazine], etc.  I think this can be helpful when students are having trouble identifying keywords to narrow down their search.

AutoCompleteSearch2

  • Infographics are a great way to provide basic information in a visually-appealing manner.  To search for infographics on a particular topic, try searching for [infographic AND your topic].  For example, I searched for [infographic "romeo and juliet"] and found this awesome infographic.
  • Google’s Media Tools organizes all the Google products and services by what you’re trying to do.  Bates suggests using it to help students identify which tool to use at specific steps in the research process.

I also attended a session by Tasha Bergson-Michelson.  The session was actually about her experience developing Google’s MOOCs, but my big take-aways had to do with teaching search.

I’ve seen Tasha present several times, and she has the rare ability to give tons of content while maintaing a sense of humor.  Just consider these two quotes from her presentation:

“Search education starts at home.  If you didn’t know that, start brainwashing your kids now.”

“If you type a question mark into the search box, you might be a bad searcher.”

Hilarious!

She also talked about how it’s important to realize that the general public (and students) don’t really care about information literacy like librarians do.  We need to make sure we find ways to balance the content we want to teach with student buy-in.

One way to do that is by determining what moves our students.  She gave the example of demonstrating color filtering in Google.  Students love this example because it’s fun and visually appealing, but it’s a good way to teach students how color can define a source.  ”Color defines what keywords cannot.”

For more cool Google search tips check out PowerSearchingWithGoogle.  You can take one of their self-paced courses.  I’ve done one and learned a ton.

Thanks for reading this very long post.  In my next post, I’ll share more highlights from the conference.   

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The Ultimate School Library Conferences Calendar 2013-2014

conferences2012-13

After the popularity of last year’s Ultimate School Library Conferences Calendar, I knew I had to do another one this year.

Conferences can be a lot of fun, and they’re crucial in terms of our professional growth and networking opportunities- especially if you’ve never been to one before or if you’re a new librarian.  I hope you get a chance to attend at least one of the conferences coming up this school year.

I’ve done my best to make this a comprehensive list, but please leave a comment below if you know of a school library conference that is not listed here!

August 2013

  • Aug. 26-30.  International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) Annual Conference.  Bali, Indonesia.

September 2013

  • Sep. 11-14.  Kentucky School Media Association (KSMA) joint conference with Kentucky Library Association.  Louisville, KY.
  • Sep. 25-27.  Tri-Conference 2013 (South Dakota Library Association, Mountain Plains Library Association, and North Dakota Library Association).  Sioux Falls, SD.

October 2013

  • Oct. 3-5.  North Carolina School Library Media Association Annual Conference.  Winston-Salem, NC.
  • Oct. 3-5.  Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL) Annual Conference.  Murfreesboro, TN.
  • Oct. 4-5.  New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL) Fall Conference.  Lawrenceville, NJ.
  • Oct. 9-11.  Nebraska School Librarians Association (NSLA) / Nebraska Library Association (NLA) Annual Conference.  Kearney, NE.
  • Oct. 9-11.  Kansas Association of School Librarians (KASL) Annual Conference.  Topeka, KS.
  • Oct. 11-12.  Oregon Association of School Libraries (OASL) Fall Conference 2013.  Portland, OR.
  • Oct. 16-18.  Ohio Educational Library Media Association (OELMA) Annual Conference.  Sandusky, OH.
  • Oct. 17-19.  Washington Library Media Association (WLMA) 2013 Conference.  Yakima, WA.
  • Oct. 18.  Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASLMD) Annual Conference.  Ellicott City, MD.  
  • Oct. 28-29.  Internet@Schools West.  Monterey, CA.
  • Oct. 29-Nov. 2.  Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT) International Convention.  Anaheim, CA.
  • Oct. 31-Nov. 2.  Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) Annual Conference.  Springfield, IL.

November 2013

  • Nov. 7-9.  Virginia Association of School Librarians (VAASL) Fall Conference.  Williamsburg, VA.
  • Nov. 8-9.  Hawaii Library Association Annual Conference.  Teaching Library Instruction & Information Literacy: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Directions.  Aulani, HI.
  • Nov. 14-17.  American Association of School Libraries (AASL) 16th National Conference.  Hartford, CT.
  • Nov. 20-22.  Michigan Association for Media Education (MAME) Annual Conference.  Kalamazoo, MI.
  • Nov. 20-22.  Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME) Annual Conference.  Orlando, FL.

February 2014

  • Feb. 6-9.  California School Library Association (CSLA) Annual Conference. San Diego, CA.

March 2014

  • Mar. 9-10.  Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA) Annual Conference.  Hyannis, MA.
  • Mar. 12-14.  South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL) Annual Conference.  Columbia, SC.
  • Mar. 23-25.  Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association (WEMTA) Spring Conference.  WI Dells, WI.

April 2014

  • Apr. 7-9.  Schools@Internet East.  Washington, D.C.
  • Apr. 12.  Minnesota Education Media Organization (MEMO).  One-day mini-conference.  Stillwater High School, MN.
  • Apr. 13-15.  Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Spring Conference.  St. Louis, MO.

May 2014

  • May 1-3.  Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) Annual Conference.  Hershey, PA.

June 2014

  • Jun. 8-12.  School Library Systems Association (SLSA) of New York State 2014 Institute.  Saratoga Springs, NY.
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Beginner’s Guide to Library Conferences

Ahh, autumn.  It evokes images of rust-colored leaves, hot apple cider, candy corn, and… library conferences.

Photo courtesy of http://www.sxc.hu/photo/228332

For me fall means conference time!  In fact, at least 21 school library conferences will take place this October and November.

Your first school library conference can be a little overwhelming.  Here are some quick tips to make sure the experience is enjoyable.

Dress comfortably, not sloppily

Conferences are fairly informal, but they’re still a professional event.  There’s no need to dress up, but remember that you’re representing yourself, your library, your school, and your profession.  We don’t need to contribute to the stereotype of poorly-dressed librarians.  Wear comfortable shoes, a pair of well-fitting jeans, and a casual top.  A jacket or sweater is always useful, too.

Don’t feel guilty if you need a break

Conferences are notoriously over-scheduled.  You have the opportunity to attend session after session with very few breaks in between.  Some people thrive on that kind of stimulation, but others (including myself) need some down time.

I try to avoid attending more than two sessions back-to-back.  Instead, I’ll find a quiet spot and process some of what I just learned.  If the weather is nice, I might take a quick walk outside.  Or I’ll head back up to my hotel room and take a nap.  Do whatever you need to do to keep yourself alert, refreshed, and ready to learn.

Take Time to Walk the Exhibits

The first time I attended a conference, I was working at a school that gave me a joke of a budget.  Walking through the exhibits made me feel sad because I saw exciting products I couldn’t afford. However, my attitude changed when I realized that exhibits aren’t just about what I can buy for my library.  It’s about educating myself.  Seriously, I consider it professional development.  I always find something new and interesting to learn about.  And when I eventually moved to a school with a fantastic budget, I knew my options and I knew what was available.

What About the Free Stuff?

I’m not sure who started the rumor that you get tons of free stuff at library conferences.  Sure, you get free catalogs and free trials, but I can get those things without attending the conference.  The best free stuff I’ve ever received at a conference was a piece of candy and a pencil.  Never once have I even seen an offer of a free book.

If you’ve ever scored good free stuff, let me know which conference and I’ll rescind my assertion that it’s just a rumor! Update 9/26/12: A kind reader commented below and let me know that ALA Conference and Meetings are full of book freebies!  I’ve only been to state-level conferences, so it looks like the national conferences are where the freebies are!

What to Bring

  • Notebook /pen or portable device
  • Healthy snacks (I try to bring my own.  Conference food is always over-priced).
  • Business cards (Make your own if your school doesn’t provide you with them).
  • An extra tote bag or roll-cart if you intend to make purchases at the exhibits.

Enjoy yourself

Conferences are supposed to be fun!  They’re a break from your daily routine.  They give you the opportunity to travel.  You get to socialize with and learn from other librarians.  Use the time to refresh, relax and bit, and come away inspired!

What are your conference tips?  Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.  

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The Ultimate School Library Conference Calendar 2012-13

Update 9/12/13:  Looking for conferences for the 2013-14 school year?  Check out my 2013-2014 school library conference calendar

I love attending school library conferences, conventions, and workshops.  Here’s a list of conferences specifically for school librarians in the upcoming school year.  I hope you get to attend at least one of these exciting events!

Also, I’ll speaking at the CSLA conference in San Jose in November. My session is called “Figuring Out Faith: A Discussion on Issues on Religious & Parochial School Libraries.”  The session will be more of a roundtable discussion, and will allow for plenty of time for sharing among colleagues.

Photo courtesy of http://www.sxc.hu/photo/228348

September 2012

  • Sep. 19-22.  Kentucky School Media Association (KSMA) joint conference with Kentucky Library Association.  Louisville, KY.
  • Sep. 19-22.  North Dakota Library Association (NDLA) Annual Conference (includes a School Libraries track).  Fargo, ND.
  • Sep. 20-22.  Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) 2012 National Institute.  Indianapolis, IN.  
  • Sep. 22.  Hawaii Association of School Librarians (HASL) Fall Conference.  Honolulu, HI.

October 2012

  • Oct. 4-6.  North Carolina School Library Media Association (NCSLMA) Annual Conference.  Winston Salem, NC.    
  • Oct. 11-13.  Minnesota Educational Media Organization (MEMO) Fall Conference.  St. Cloud, MN.
  • Oct. 11-13.  Washington Library Media Association (WLMA) Annual Conference.  Yakima, WA.
  • Oct 12-13.  Oregon Association of School Libraries (OASL) Fall Conference.  Seaside, OR.
  • Oct 12-13.  American Association of School Librarians Fall Forum.  Greenville, SC.
  • Oct. 17-19.  Nebraska School Librarians Association (NSLA) Tri-Conference.  LaVista, NE.
  • Oct. 17-19.  Ohio Educational Library Media Association (OELMA) Annual Conference.  Sandusky, OH.
  • Oct. 18-20.  Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) Annual Conference.  St. Charles, IL.
  • Oct. 18-19.  Kansas Association of School Librarians (KASL) Annual Conference.  Salina, KS.
  • Oct. 19.  Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASLMD) Annual Conference.  Linthicum Heights, MD.  
  • Oct. 22-23.  Internet@Schools West.  Monterey, CA.
  • Oct. 25-27.  Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL) Annual Conference.  Murfreesboro, TN.
  • Oct. 29.  Connecticut Association of School Librarians (CASL) Joint Conference with Connecticut Educators Computer Association (CECA).  Hartford, CT.
  • Oct. 30-Nov. 3.  Association for Educational Communications & Technology (AECT) International Convention.  Louisville, KY.
  • Oct. 31-Nov. 2.  Michigan Association for Media Education (MAME) Annual Conference.  Lansing, MI.

November 2012

  • Nov. 1-3. Florida Association for Media in Eeucation (FAME) Annual Conference.  Orlando, FL.
  • Nov. 2-4.  Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Young Adult Literature Symposium.  St. Louis, MO.
  • Nov. 8-10.  Virginia Association of School Librarians (VAASL) Fall Conference.  Hampton, VA.
  • Nov. 11-15.  International Association of School Librarianship (IASL) Annual Conference.  Doha, Qatar.
  • Nov. 16-19.  California School Library Association (CSLA) Annual Conference. San Jose, CA.
  • Nov. 29- Dec. 1.  New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL) Fall Conference.  Long Branch, NJ.

March 2013

  • Mar. 3-4.  Massachusetts School Library Association (MSLA) Annual Conference.  Sturbridge, MA.
  • Mar. 6-8.  South Carolina Association of School Librarians (SCASL) Annual Conference.  Columbia, SC.

April 2013

  • Apr. 7-9.  Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association (WEMTA) Spring Conference.  Monona Terrace, WI.
  • Apr. 8-10.  Schools@Internet East.  Washington, D.C.
  • Apr. 14-16.  Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Spring Conference.  Osage Beach, MO.
  • Apr. 25-27.  School Library Systems Association (SLSA) of New York State Annual Conference. Rochester, NY.

May 2013

  • May 2-4.  Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) Annual Conference.  Hershey, PA.
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