Available Workshops

Libraries and the Cloud
Cloud computing is a major shift in the way we're approaching computing as both individuals and organizations, and is being referred to by many as an IT revolution. Today's cloud services make data and computing capabilities portable, sharable, and accessible from any online device, are OS-neutral, and usually easy to use. Libraries have already begun to adopt cloud services to alleviate their IT departments and increase efficiency. They are using these new services to host their library websites, back up media collections, store and access bibliographic data and much more. This talk will explore the major types of cloud solutions which are available, their benefits and limitations, and the different ways libraries are implementing them. Length: 1 hour talk.

• Given at IT-faggruppen, Copenhagen, Denmark, March 2010

Next-Gen Libraries
Today’s Next-Generation libraries are forces of innovation and their librarians agents of change. These forward-looking organizations are embracing the information revolution brought about through Web 2.0 technology, are open to collaboration, and are joining the global community at large. These cutting-edge libraries are creating engaging experiences for their patrons by incorporating social functionality into their websites and online catalogs, building mobile products such as iPhone applications and mobile websites, and offering new services which are native to their users such as SMS text reference. Next-Generation libraries are increasingly adopting the principles of “Open” movements such as Open Source Software, Open Licenses, and Open Data and are sharing with other libraries and a worldwide community. They are taking part in new initiatives such as the Flickr Commons project, lending iPods pre-loaded with audiobooks, and offering downloadable .mp3 library tours. These are the libraries that are creating interactive social media subject guides, chatting with patrons via IM widgets, and enabling patrons to send cataloging records to their cell phones. The Next-Generation library is user-focused, social, open, mobile, and most of all eager to find out what’s next and deliver it to their users. Length: 1 hour talk.

• Given at Online Information Conference, London, England Dec 2009

Libraries to Go: Mobile Tech in Libraries
We are entering a time of ubiquitous computing, one in which the Web is becoming increasingly mobile. People are able to access information from home, work, and everywhere in between thanks to an explosion of new personal mobile devices. This session will explore how libraries are utilizing these mobile technologies to offer patrons cutting-edge services as well as ways to create a mobile experience, and how to get started with the mobile Web. Length: 1 hour talk.

• To be given at METRO: New York Library Council, New York, NY TBA
• Given at Long Island Library Resources Council, Long Island, NY
• Given at NYlink, (Webcast), NY
• Given at Law Library Association of Greater New York (LLAGNY), New York, NY
• Given at the NEASIS&T Mobile Mania conference in Boston, MA

How to Create & Manage Your Online Presence
In today's competitive job market it's more important than ever to have an impressive online presence. This workshop session will provide tips for managing your personal brand portfolio which includes everything from your portfolio webpage to your presence on popular social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. You will learn how to discover what your personal brand currently consists of (yes, you are online in some capacity - discover what others can find out about you and how this effects your image), and how to develop strategies for branding success. We will discuss the "what and how" of posting to new social media websites and the ways in which that impacts how you are perceived online. Length: 3 hour workshop.

• To be given at METRO: New York Library Council, New York, NY TBA
• Given at Barnard College, New York, NY, April 2010

Card Sorting from A-Z
Web users will spend an average of 8-10 seconds and 3 clicks on your website looking for what they need before they get frustrated and click away. Whether you are developing a new website or redesigning an existing one, it is imperative to determine a navigational structure and taxonomy which will be intuitive and usable for your user community. Card sorting is a technique used in the Information Architecture field to determine a classification scheme that speaks to your user population. Discover how to use this quick and inexpensive technique to understand how your users think about your website and its content. Learn how to run both an open and a closed card sort, analyze the results, and make recommendations based on your data. This workshop will explore both online and offline card-sorting techniques as well as analysis software. Length: 3 hour workshop.

• Given at North Suburban Library System, Chicago, IL
• Given at Simmons College in South Hadley, MA
• Given at Internet Librarian 2007 in Monterey, CA

Open and Libraries
"Openness" which has become a hallmark of the new Web has long been a mission in libraries. The philosophy of free and open access to information and technology has become a critical subject for information and technology leaders and practitioners. This one-day session will give an overview of what’s happening in the realm of open on today’s Web. This workshop will give an overview of open-source technologies (such as content management systems and ILS programs) which are being used by libraries today, explore the latest efforts of the open access movement, open courses and learning initiatives, open conferences and “camps”, and open licenses (like GPL and Creative Commons). See Slideshare for the other 4 presentations in this series. Length: 3 hour workshop.

• Given at North Suburban Library System, Chicago, IL
• Given at METRO in NYC

Social Software in Academic Libraries
The Web has seen an explosion of social tools which are empowering ordinary people to connect, collaborate, and participate in a global conversation. These social software applications are some of the hottest properties on the Internet right now. This session will explore how academic libraries are utilizing these new social tools to offer new services and interact with library patrons and each other. Length: 1 hour workshop.

• Given at Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn, NY
• Given at the New York Public Library in NYC
• Given at ACRL/NY 2007 Symposium in NYC

Drupal and Libraries
Drupal, a free, open source content management system, can be utilized to create substantial social networking websites. It offers a flexible modular configuration that allows website community creators to pick and choose functionality ranging from blogs, social bookmarking tools, private messaging, tagging, chat, groups, and events calendars. This session discusses how libraries and librarians are utilizing this increasingly popular new technology to create community-based websites. Length: 1 hour talk.

• Given at the Computers in Libraries 2008 conference in Washington, D.C.

Libraries and the Hive Mind: Folksonomies and Tagging

With the advent of social software and Web 2.0, users are adding metadata and using tags to organize their own digital collections, categorize the content of others and build bottom-up classification systems. This session will focus on the grassroots organizational scheme which has come to be known as a Folksonomy. What are the benefits of folksonomies as opposed to traditional classification schemes and what are the disadvantages? Where does the Folksonomy fit in the future of your library? How are libraries implementing tagging and Folksonomies today? Why do we need to be aware of this increasingly popular Web innovation? Length: 1 hour talk.

Watch a live recording of this talk!

• Presented as a webcast for METRO in NYC
• Presented at ABQLA in Montreal, CA
• Given as a webcast for The Education Institute in Ontario, CA
• Presented at Ohio Libraries Conference in Columbus, Ohio
• Given at Columbia University in NYC

Online Community and Libraries
The library has historically been at the center of the community. With the advent of Web 2.0, a massive online community has arisen. How can libraries use social software tools to connect with their patrons? What can libraries start doing today to increase their value to the online community? This hands-on session discusses ways in which libraries can use emerging tools to build online community as well as practical tips for how libraries can “go where the users are” and participate in developing knowledge communities. Length: 3 hour workshop.

• Given at the Hartford Public Library in Hartford, CT
• Given at The Darien Public Library in Darien,CT
• Given at METRO in NYC

Web 2.0 Technology
In today’s Web environment, users are cataloging their personal libraries, organizing their favorite bookmarks, writing online documents, and sharing their information with others through new generation social software. Take a tour of Web 2.0 technologies such as; del.icio.us, Flickr, Technorati, CiteULike, Bloglines and more. Learn how to use these social software applications to keep up with the latest Internet trends and discover how libraries are already using them. Be the librarian who is tech savvy and fluent in emerging Web technologies. Length: 3 hour workshop.

• Presented as a one-hour webcast for The Education Institute in Ontario, CA
• Given to Pratt Institute's Beta Phi Mu Theta chapter in NYC
• Given at METRO in NYC
• Given as a session in Collaborative Technology, Long Island University Palmer School of Library and Information Science in NYC
• Given as a session in Information Sources & Services , Long Island University Palmer School of Library and Information Science in NYC

Technology Solutions Planning
Whether you’re considering purchasing an ILS or a shared calendar program, choosing a technology solution which suits the needs of your library presents many challenges. This session will explain the process of creating and executing a project plan which will lead to an informed selection. Avoid the familiar traps of choosing a technology because it is; the highest-rated, most expensive, cheapest, comes recommended by a colleague, or they have snazzy marketing copy. Learn how to find the perfect fit for the unique needs of your library. Discover how to gain market intelligence, gather business, functional, and technical requirements, evaluate competing vendors, get buy-in from staff and colleagues, create an RFP and make your final selection. Length: 3 hour workshop.

• Given at METRO in NYC
• Given at Internet Librarian 2006 in Monterey, CA

Emerging Technologies For Library Staff
Web 2.0 has brought with it an amazing array of new technologies which are helping us get organized, collaborate, participate, and express ourselves. We've heard a lot about what these tools can do for librarians, but what's happening in the world of the Web for library support staff? What tools are helping them do their jobs more efficiently? What new Web applications can't they live without? Take a tour of Web 2.0 technologies such as blogs, wikis, productivity tools, social bookmarking, hosted storage, and more. Learn how to use these social software applications to become tech savvy and fluent in emerging Web technologies. Length: 3 hour workshop.

• Given at METRO in NYC

PowerPoint with Flavor
Learn how to spice up your talks with this session on presentation best practices, PowerPoint optimization tips and tricks, alternatives to PowerPoint and preparation resources. Length: 1 hour talk.

• Given at the Columbia University School of Continuing Ed, Information and Archives Management Program in NYC

Information Design for the New Web
Information design for the Web has changed. Today’s websites aim for intuitive and usable interfaces which are continuously evolving in response to user needs. The social nature of the Web brings with it an expectation of interaction with information and modern Web design should reflect that. There are now alternate forms of navigation including the ability to browse by user, tag clouds, tabbed navigation etc. This session discusses the new trend in designing simple, interactive websites which incorporate the advances of Web 2.0. Length: 1 hour talk.

• Presented at Computers in Libraries 2007 in Arlington, VA