ALA TechSource's Workshop on Gadgets in the Library: First Session Starts Tomorrow

Jason Griffey will be presenting a two-part online workshop called "Gadgets in the Library: A Practical Guide to Personal Electronics for Librarians":

Session 1: Tablets and eReaders
Thursday, May 10, 2:30pm – 4:00pm Eastern

This session will cover the following topics:

• Why do we care?
• Operating Systems vs Devices
• iOS & Android
• Circulation & Policy

Session 2: E-Readers, continued and Future Tech
Thursday, May 24, 2:30pm – 4:00pm Eastern

This session will cover the following topics:

• More on eReaders
• 3D printing and hackerspaces
• Discussion on best practices
• Wrap up

Registration information.

Last week, Griffey posted Experiences Become Expectations on the ALA TechSource blog. One snip:

Our patrons are increasingly coming to expect that our resources will be available and easily used on their devices. Libraries are the democratizers of information. As information is increasingly amorphous digital content, we need to be familiar with the containers that give our digital bits form and substance. Being democratizers of technology, as well, ensures that everyone has the ability to use the latest and greatest in electronics.

NB: The ALA TechSource Editor's note:

This post is adapted from the introduction to Jason Griffey’s new Library Technology Report “Gadgets and Gizmos: Libraries and the Post-PC Era.” Jason revisits the technologies that he highlighted in his 2010 report. And he beats himself up a bit over it. Help him let go of the past; excuse him from predicting the future; and join him in discussing the gadgets your patrons are using today... .

Got webinars? ALA TechSource online workshops are fairly regular occurrences. Many, like "Gadgets in the Library" for example, IMHO are relevant to law libraries. It might be worth considering an ALA membership because AALL webinars on law library matters are few, far between, and not part of any discernible concerted effort to utilize 21st century communication mediums to offer programs on topical education and professional developments on a regular basis.

For an association that expends so much time, effort and money on its primary vehicle for education and professional development aka the 20th century model of annual meetings, it just might be worthwhile to reform our association's institutionalized focus because, well, it is the 21st century, right? [JH]