AKLA

First, I gotta say this was an AMAZING conference. If you don't like what's going on at the national level this is the conference to attend. The topics were interesting, varied, and on trend. They had assembled a fascinating array of presentations/workshops/meetings/functions. Just take a look at their program!

I presented findings from my sabbatical in three separate sessions:

Preconference: Academic Librarians Mini Retreat: Who’s Doing What? What’s Working and What’s Not? (full day session)

Presented and moderated by Jenny Semenza: While on sabbatical in the western states (including Alaska,) in her quest to find the innovative, the informative and the interesting; she met with librarians at 26 different academic institutions. Listen to her findings and then join your colleagues to share ideas and discuss current issues of importance to academic libraries and librarians. Topics to be covered include: signage, automated storage, buildings & space usage, information literacy, distance services and some of the biggest challenges academic libraries are facing.

Public Services Western Style: Ideas to Steal (1 hr session)

Jenny Semenza visited libraries in the western states from Arizona and New Mexico north to Alaska in her quest for the innovative, the informative and the interesting. Come find out what she discovered to be the best, most valuable, and innovative. While the purpose of her sabbatical was focused on Public Services (instruction, reference, and distance services), she garnered many insights into space planning, development/funding, collection development and more. Although she is an academic librarian, her research took place in both academic and public libraries.

How Do We Measure Up? Notes from a Wandering Librarian (1 hr session)

During Jenny Semenza’s sabbatical she met with reference, instruction, and distance service librarians at 26 different academic institutions. Come find out how we differ, how we’re the same and the shocking statistical reality of those 30 minute+ reference questions. Additionally, ideas for improvement or enhancement in all areas of public services will be shared.

The librarians were interactive, interested and interesting, kind, friendly and they made it a pleasure to be there.