Last Friday’s “Web 2.You” event at McGill University was crammed full of interesting speakers and attendees. The sessions were useful and thought provoking, the crowd was smart and engaged, the egg salad at lunch was even magnifique’. 
On top of that, they even hosted a reception after, where we got to get into some meatier conversations (a perfect follow-up to a heady, info packed, full day of material). They even had a cheese ball, twice the size of your head! Seriously though, all around this was a great event, one I was very honored to be a part of it.
So if you are in Montreal around this time next year try and get your ticket (before they sell out of them again). And to Amanda, Adrienne, Amy, Brianne and the many, many other capable volunteers who made this student run event work so well, kudos to you all, as well as to McGill University for supporting this fine student effort. Very impressive work!
Finally, here is some commentary from Montreal librarian Lora Baiocco, who attended the event. This is from her “infinite digressions” blog. Thank you, Lora!
“Michael Porter, aka Libraryman, uncensored, live at Thompson House, one day only”…”what are the right tools for us? Do we have them? Are we using them? Who are we trusting to build what we need? What started off as leisurely stroll through the tech park grew into a frantic facing of the facts. Where is the infrastructure to support libraries and, more importantly, library users’ needs (what, when, where they want it) and why are we not real players in the infrastructure game…that so directly impacts access? that so directly impacts service? that so directly determines our relevance? I can put it down here as a few reasonable questions, but the effect in the room was like running in heels while being chased by zombies through that tech park with only a gum wrapper, a salad spinner and dead AA battery for protection. The presentation also reminded me of that distinct Montreal music sound – it starts off soft and then builds and builds to a cacophony. All of a sudden, Arcade Fire’s Régine is screaming over 15 instruments. So in the spirit Arcade Fire let’s ask “Who’s gonna throw the very first stone?” and then, why can’t it be us?”
Best…review…ever. 
Stats of note for libraries in todays iPad launch slides: Apple stats: “75 million iPhone users”, “iBookstore”, “over 125 million accounts with credit cards”, over 12 billion downloads”…These brief notes say more about what the things Apple is doing to pieces of library business than any hype or buzz ever will.
I’ll be doing a free webinar March 3rd with my pal Jeff Dawson (Director of the Lester Public Library in Two Rivers, Wisconsin). You should come! “Library Images and Video: Engage, Inspire and Tell Your Story” is the title. Here is a registration link with more details.
Session description:
“In this entertaining and heartwarming presentation you will learn how two librarians teamed up to advocate more effectively (and boldly) while staying true to the personality of the communities, the libraries and the staff they serve. You and your library really can market your services and engage more effectively, and images, video and authenticity can be a key! Learn how you too can use images and video creatively and effectively to inspire Libraryland, engage the communities you serve boost staff morale and get more enjoyment from your job. The stories and lessons in this session will be presented by Jeff Dawson from the Lester Public Library in Two Rivers Wisconsin and by Michael Porter from WebJunction.”
I’ve also got a slew of presentations coming up, including two international presentations next month, which are pretty exciting!
Also, I wrote a summary post for WebJunction about ALA Midwinter, (which was an exhausting blast btw). You can find that post here.
Here’s the intro slide. At large size (like when you walk in the room to see the presentation), you have to squint to read the title letters. Its hard to read, just like it is hard to predict the future! Geddit? You can click the images to be taken to the full image and larger versions of each.
And here’s the intro slide for the recent Staff Day keynote I gave at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana.:
That’s the new intro slide, this time poster style, for the two day workshop I’m leading next week in Mountlake Terrace (just barely North of Seattle) which is part of the Public Library Association’s Certified Public Library Administrator Program (CPLA). This session is co-sponsored by PLA, the Washington State Library (WLA), Sno-Isle Libraries and the Mountlake Terrace Library. Wow! Those are a lot of credits for a workshop!
If you are interested, you can still attend as there a couple open slots left. Details on the course and the CPLA program from PLA can be found here: www.lita.org/ala/mgrps/divs/pla/plaevents/cplacourses/tec…
PS- v1 of the intro slide is below. Can’t decide which is best. Or, maybe usable is a better word?
—————-
Now playing: Library 101
Actually,
Now playing: Morrissey’s new album, Swords.
WOW WOW WOW!!! The Library 101 Project made it to Boing Boing!!! So cool! Huge thanks to Cory and to Boing Boing, and again, thanks mostly to everyone that joined in the project so far (and still will). Libraries rock!!
David and I also want to thank the other librarians who sent this in to them too. As with this entire project, it has been a massive group effort, proving what astounding collaborators modern library staff are.
PS- If you don’t know Boing Boing you might give it a shot beyong scoping out Library 101. Of all the interweb sites out there on the tubes, this is one of my personal favorites.
Have you seen it? Have you heard the song and seen the music video? Have you read any of the 23 essays from some of the greatest minds in Libraryland (and David King and I too;)? Have you looked at the carefully selected list of 101 hyperlinked resources that share critically important things to think about and know in order to ensure a vibrant future for libraries, even as technology changes the information access and community landscapes?
Well you should go check it out!
And while you are there, please notice there there are comment boxes all over the place along with easy share buttons on almost every page. Those are really important to the project’s success! We want YOU to chime in and talk about what YOU think the new Library 101 is. So…what *is* your Library 101? Check out the Library 101 Project to let the world know!
You can watch a live stream of the in-person session where the Library Project is launched today! After a fab ten minute “opening act” of sorts, David and I will be back to talk Library 101, debut the video, and then, open up the site to the world! And be sure to become a fan of the Library 101 facebook page (linked below). That page has all the streaming info you’ll need to attend.
PS- Many thanks to Information Today, Inc. for sponsoring part of this video! ITI does a LOT of good for Libraryland and we are very happy to have worked with them. Thank you ITI!
PPS- Thanks also to the Shanachies for doing so much extra to get the live stream working today. And with such great equipment!
As of today, at http://www.libraryman.com/library101, the Library 101 Project pre-launch page is live! This page is a teaser page at this point with lunch info and a link in to the Library 101 facebook page (where you can become a fan and get project updates). We’ll have a few prizes around the both the pre-launch here and next week’s full on Library 101 Project launch! Woo hoo!
fyi, Next Wednesday at 2:00pm PST, this page will have host all three of the main Library 101 Project pages, including the song, video, nearly 20 essays from Libraryland thought leaders and a resources list of things to help library staff keep up, get ahead and feel good about library work…even as technology and culture evolve in unexpected ways!
This morning/afternoon I was very grateful to be a part of Maurice Coleman’s regular “T is for Training” podcast recording. We talk about the “Library 101 Project”, training, technology, library futures, collaboration and a slew of the subjects so many of us hold near and dear. It was a fun conversation and if you would like to listen in, just follow this link. Fun stuff! Thanks again Maurice!
PS- Here’s Maurice with the Library 101 qr code he made for the Library 101 video. So cool/fun/geeky!:
Libraryman