Participate in CLA Conference Planning!

The CLA Conference Programming Committee is seeking two volunteer
representatives from the Interest Groups to participate on the
conference committee. The 2009 CLA conference is in Montreal May 29 -
June 1. Each CLA division also has a conference planner, and there are
two Co-Chairs for the committee. The planning team seeks people with
the following skills/background:
- Interested in conference planning.
- An understanding of a broad range of issues within the library
sector, and familiar with CLA's Interest Groups. A list of Interest
Groups is on CLA's website.
- Some knowledge of people who are library experts/leaders/emerging leaders.
- Strong organizational skills.
What is involved?
This is a two conference commitment with most work occurring in
October/November based on the following timelines:
August - November:
- Communicating with Interest Groups (e-mail primarily) to solicit
program proposals. An online form will be available with instructions
for proposers and the planning team will be able to view submissions
online to get a sense of how the program is developing. CLA office
will also be sending communiques to the membership about submitting
proposals.
- One or two teleconference calls.
- Some program development with proposers as needed (for example,
answering questions, assisting with session descriptions if required,
etc.)
- Review of proposals in advance of the November meeting.
- Attendance at an onsite (Ottawa) conference planning meeting
November 15-16 (date to be confirmed and expenses covered). This
meeting will confirm the conference program via selection/rejection of
proposals based on criteria. The program committee is responsible for
the overall look and feel and balance of the program, but each
representative will ensure that the issues from their respective CLA
units are also reflected in the programming.
- Follow up with proposers with the status of the session (accepted or not).
The planning team is featured in the conference program and at
conference. Conference planning is an excellent way to develop
planning skills, meet peers outside of your current professional
sphere, and to be a part of enhancing your profession (plus is great
to add to your resume file!).
Please send an e-mail to wwalton@cla.ca by August 15 with your
expression of interest, plus a paragraph or two about why you are
interested in joining the team, and any relevant background.

There's a Place for Us: CLA Session Notes

There’s a Place For Us: Notes

Chris Middlemass, a Public Services Manager for Vancouver Public Library, was kind enough to share her notes from the recent CLA session with Allan Kleiman and Christina Pottie.

Social Networking for Seniors – Allan Kleiman

• Social networking for seniors not fully present yet.
  
• Lots of competition for the baby boomers’ attention, but they are still working (no time), and their interests not fully represented yet
  
• AARP, Seniornet, Red Hat Society, ThirdAge increasingly have discussion/comment features. These seem very empty – can’t get figures on membership, etc. -- suspect not a huge membership, as their revenues are more based on advertising.
  
• Cranky.com – simple interface, targeting seniors – first age-relevant search engine
  
• Eldr.com – new magazine, larger print format, lots of white space
  
• Senior blogs- great way to connect people, keep mind active, experience the joy of “publishing” – 3% of online seniors have blogs!
  
• Ageless Project – blogs by “age”
  

Senior Spaces Project at the Old Bridge (NJ) Public Library (Kleiman):

• New era in library services, opened on June 8, 2007
  
• Spaces for special age groups, hence, seniors not a new concept
  
• Wanted space to serve 3 generations of seniors – boomers, older adults, elderly
  
• Space with books and reading at the core
  
• Self-paced learning – DVD players, etc.
  
• Opportunity to gather/chat/take a class, etc.
  
• Funding from different sources -- $30,000 spent on the physical space – can start small! Started just by changing the colour of the area, and got furniture that blended with the library
  
• Accessibility – adjustable wheelchair tables, 2 wide screen computers for easier viewing – NO rocking chairs!
  
• Be prepared to move stuff around to get in right
  
• Develop a nice “merchandisable” name
  
• Don’t do alone – have an advisory group – library users (power users) who will give you great information (versus ongoing surveys)
  
• Optelec heavily used
  
• Merchandize shelving “Your Special Needs”
  
• Check out www.seniorspaces.blogspot.com for a flavour of the great things they are doing
  

Programming at the Old Bridge (NJ) Public Library:

• Seniors Fridays – ½ done by the Seniors Services Librarian
  
• Gaming – Nintendo Wii is the hottest thing in town – teens trained the seniors – best idea – seniors loved working with the teens, etc. Regular Wii sessions, including 1-1 training!
  
• Opportunity to share experiences with older adults that is different from what they normally would do – exposure to social networking sites, etc.
  
• Seniors spaces is the catalyst!
  

South Shore Public Libraries: Christina Pottie

• Nova Scotia – counties all very important, politics, etc.
  
• South Shore Regional Library - Encompasses 2 counties which presents some challenges
  
• Large senior population – 15% of population are over 65 years, programs are proven to draw seniors into the library
  
• Seniors Library Café – open on “closed” Mondays. Full services, programs for users aged 55 and over, other branches offer different approaches
  
• the Café - facilitated by staff- you do need staff support
  
• eventually becomes self-directed – participants generate programs and ideas
  take into account competing programs - coordinate
  
• exploit local talent
  
• advertise – get out of the library
  
• have refreshments!
  
• Successful program – sharing letters from WWII
  

Why go to this effort?

• Increased membership
  
• Draws a different crowd
  
• Develop new partnerships
  
• Publicity for the library
  

Indirect benefits

• Good will
  
• Advocacy
  
• Community development
  
• Able to start a friends program
  

Computer training

• Adapt to different branch layouts and access to equipment
  
• Evolved to a 4-week session to bring people along who are beginners
  
• Advertise, be flexible
  
• Collect anecdotal comments
  
• Evaluate
  
• Local knowledge is important
  
• Be aware of competing with local agencies who do training for a fee
  

Questions:

• What’s special as libraries? We build a closer bond with our users, especially the seniors
  
• Fuzzy line with overlap with community centre programs – 75% of seniors are “unaffiliated” – this is a large group! Idea is that we’re providing options that complement, not compete with others. Possibility of sharing programming/programmers
  
• Use blogs for memory writing – local teens get volunteer credits for summer work, etc. Teens to help do the blog (e.g. creating, typing etc.)
  
• Suggestion: find large print keyboards