2009 Conference Tracks

We are pleased to announce the call for proposals for the ALAO Annual Conference. This year’s timely theme is “At the Crossroads: Recharging, Redefining, and Realigning our Libraries.”    Our libraries and institutions are going through a period of challenging and complex changes.   In an economic climate beyond our control, we are challenged by expectations that we will continue to provide existing services, while simultaneously developing and supporting new ones. We want to hear from those who have viewed these challenges as opportunities, from those who used challenges as motivation to spin off in rewarding new directions.  We are all facing many of the same issues and know we can all learn from one another. 

The ALAO Conference Program Committee invites you to share your experiences, practical solutions, expertise, or innovative practices by submitting a proposal for a conference presentation or poster session.  Presenters are encouraged to develop creative proposals that show thoughtful exploration of the conference theme.  We have identified 3 separate tracks, but don’t hesitate to veer off-track and offer other ideas.

 

Recharging & Revisiting

  • Building (and re-building) morale
  • Goals, mission and vision
  • Supporting staff development
  • Re-engaging particular populations
  • Retraining staff: working with new tools, new formats, new media 

Redefining

  • Non-traditional spaces and services: learning/information commons, media centers, and other collaborative services
  • Creating and sustaining virtual spaces and services
  • Re-defining our image: marketing library services and resources
  • Maintaining and promoting use of traditional and electronic collections
  • Doing more with less: maintaining quality
  • Transitioning K12 students to a college/university environment
  • Creating next generation tools to provide access to collections and services
  • Sharing positions, resources, and library facilities across institutions

Realigning

  • Assessing our services and priorities: instruction, collections, and facilities
  • Re-structuring the library's organization
  • Enhancing communication to build a more diverse community of users
  • Offering new services or tweaking the old
  • Realigning and redefining roles of staff and student employees
  • Providing access to new media and collections

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