Thursday, March 30, 2006
4:30-5:30

Sequoyah YA Sampler

Sponsor: Sequoyah Administrative Team

The Sequoyah YA Book Award Reading Team presents each book on the current Sequoyah Young Adult list, along with ideas for enticing readers.

Speakers: Members of the Sequoyah Young Adult Reading Team.

Of interest to public and school librarians.

Bridging the Distance

Sponsor: Library Education Division

Presenter will discuss helpful tips on creating a successful videoconference, desktop applications, troubleshooting, how to make connections, who to contact for help, and how to plan and run a videoconference. The focus will be on practical rather than solely technical issues. Dr. Wallace's primary research and teaching interests lie in the areas of informetrics, informatics, information science, human-computer interaction, knowledge-based systems, and information storage and retrieval.

Speaker: Danny Wallace, University of Oklahoma

Of interest to all.

Adult Learning Styles

Sponsor: Supervisors, Managers, and Administrators Roundtable

Dr. Varmecky's interactive presentation will inform how adults learn and how to engage them.

Speaker: Dr. Jane Varmecky, Coordinator, Graduate Student Services OSU

Of interest to public and academic librarians; managers.

WebJunction

Sponsor: Public Libraries Division

WebJunction is an online community where library staff meet to share ideas, solve problems, take online courses - and have fun. This program will highlight different aspects of WebJunction and how to use them. Participants will also be briefly introduced to the Rural Libraries Sustainability Project.

Speaker: Linda Gens, Oklahoma Department of Libraries

Of interest to public librarians, managers, and support staff.

Spy Chips in the Library?

Sponsor: University and College Division/Intellectual Freedom Committee

Cameron University Library has converted its collection security and barcode functions to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) System. Many critics of RFID claim that this technology will one day be used to track everyone at all times. Some groups are even claiming that it is the “Mark of the Beast.” This program will cover practical information on Cameron Library's conversion process, information on the social issues raised by RFID technology, and ALA’s position on the topic.

Speaker: Cathy Blackman, Assistant Professor/Librarian, Cameron University

Of interest to public and academic libraries, managers, and support staff.

Can You Hear Me Now? How to Use Instant Messaging (IM) to Break Down Barriers for the Deaf/Hearing-Impaired Patron

Sponsor: Oklahoma Association of School Library Media Specialists

Deaf/Hearing-Impaired patrons are often challenged by traditional library services as reference transactions generally occur through interpreters and/or written notes. Through the inclusion and addition of an interface and IM screen to an existing Web site, libraries can more efficiently serve those who cannot or choose not to communicate through speech or an interpreter. A Web page template that can be added to library Web sites to enable IM capabilities as well as links for the deaf/hearing-impaired will be demonstrated and discussed.

Vivian Cisneros is the high school librarian at Newcastle Public Schools in Oklahoma. Before starting her library career, she taught English as a Second Language for many years in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. She received her BA in Spanish and French from the University of Texas at El Paso, and her MS in Library Science from the University of North Texas. She is currently a doctoral student in Information and Library Science at the University of North Texas. She is interested in researching how Internet access is changing students and teachers’ attitudes towards research, and how the school librarian’s role must change in order to help both students and teachers take advantage of, as well as avoid the pitfalls of, the information available through these new technologies.

Mary Jo Venetis is the manager of Acquisitions and Interlibrary Loan at Dallas Public Library, Dallas, Texas, and is currently a doctoral student in the School of Library and Information Sciences at the University of North Texas. Mary Jo’s research interest is the impact of e-leadership and e-management on practitioners and educators within the library and information science profession. She is also hearing impaired, aware of ongoing issues in the deaf culture. Mary Jo is very active in Texas Library Association, serving on a wide variety of committees related to conference programs, diversity, leadership, and LIS education. She was a member of the 1999 Texas Accelerated Library Leaders class. Mary Jo holds a MLS degree from Texas Woman’s University and a BS degree in Journalism from Sam Houston State University.

Speakers: Vivian Cisneros, Newcastle High School Library Media Specialist, and Mary Jo Venetis, Manager of Acquisitions and Interlibrary Loan at Dallas Public Library

Of interest to all.