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We’ve been listening! A comment we’ve heard pretty often is that so many presentations at conferences seem to be by and for librarians from larger libraries. Well, Big Talk From Small Libraries <http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk/> will change that. This free one-day online conference is aimed at librarians from small libraries; the smaller the better. Each of our speakers is from a small library or directly works with small libraries. Topics range from technology (new tech and old tech) to programming to partnering with your community. Speakers will cover eight topics—one each hour. Come for the programs on what you’re dealing with now or maybe try something new. Everyone is welcome to register and attend, regardless of how big or small their library is, but if your library serves a few thousand people, or a few hundred, this is the day for you. More details, including speaker bios, session descriptions, technical information and registration can be found @ http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk/. This conference was organized and is hosted by Michael Sauers and Laura Johnson of the Nebraska Library Commission <http://nlc.nebraska.gov/> and is co-sponsored by the Association for Small & Rural Libraries <http://www.arsl.info/> and Library Renewal <http://libraryrenewal.org/>.

* Conference background and goals A new paradigm is sweeping the society, organisations and the business environment. In fact, society and business world alike are moving from its tangible bases to intangible ones based on knowledge and information systems (IS) to support its management, use and sharing. In this emerging paradigm, terms like information, communication, knowledge, and learning have acquired a critical relevance to the understanding of the nature of contemporary business. This led authors such as Drucker (1993) to state that “we are entering the knowledge society in which the basic economic resource… is knowledge”. In fact, since the mid-1980s, there has been a sudden avalanche of a new kind of vocabulary. Corporations, which so far had been economic entities, are being described as ‘information-based organizations’, ‘learning organizations’, ‘knowledge-creating companies’ or knowledge intensive organisations. Instead of product-market strategies, the fashionable business discourse invokes core competencies, intangible assets, knowledge-based capabilities, intellectual capital, knowledge management etc. Consequently, in this 21st century of ours, terms such as intellectual capital, knowledge management, and knowledge mapping have increasingly become part of the corporate landscape. However, none of this apparent revolution would be possible without the underlying technological support provided by IS. The IADIS Information Systems Conference (IS 2012) aims to provide a forum for the discussion of IS taking a socio-technological perspective. It aims to address the issues related to design, development and

* Keynote Speaker (confirmed): Professor Agnes Kukulska Hulme, Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, UK * Conference background and goals Mobile Learning where to next? Accelerometers and motion sensors will tell Since the advent of mobile learning, developments in its practice and research have been triggered by technological innovation and advancement. For instance the arrival of laptops, afforded new models of technology integration and accessibility within the classroom and freed technology from the ‘imprisonment’ of computer rooms. The appearance of handheld devices offered potential for the exploitation of contextual outdoor learning and freed learners and technologies from the confinement of classrooms. The emergence of mobile phones democratized access to technology, revolutionized the concept of user generated content and freed learners and technologies to experiment with technologies outside classrooms and schools. The incursion of multi-touch tablets in the mobile learning scene is the latest technological ‘wave’. Though in early stages, sensationalist reporting of the ipads for Learning (http://www.ipadsforeducation.vic.edu.au/) initiatives already advocate ipads will displace playdough and finger painting in Kindergartens and the Horizon report 2011 states ‘electronic books are beginning to demonstrate capabilities that challenge the very definition of reading’ (http://wp.nmc.org/horizon2011/sections/electronic-books/). Against this background the relevance and need for mobile learning research and practice founded upon learning theories, focused on pedagogically meaningful approaches to mobile learning and systematically evaluated with appropriate data collection and analysis tools, remains paramount.

Creating Innovative Libraries Creating Innovative Libraries is what librarians, systems and information professionals, and teams of other partners and experts do with computers, the internet and cutting edge technology. At Computers in Libraries 2012, the focus is on practices and techniques, technology, and the “secret sauce” or “extra” that creates innovative libraries. The conference program is filled with ideas, leading edge practices, tips and techniques for creating innovative libraries, engaging communities, as well as designing and delivering strategic services that are of primary importance to our communities. The emphasis is on thinking outside of the box, learning from other industries, finding strategic partners, and creating value for our user communities with new tools, techniques and skills that build innovative and priority services.

Future Perfect Conference 2012: Digital Preservation by Design Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, NZ 26 – 27 March 2012 Call for Contributions now open   The Digital Preservation by Design theme of Future Perfect 2012 seeks to stimulate discussion about how, when and why influencing the design of systems can ensure that today’s information is available tomorrow.   The call for contributions is now open and we welcome proposals for original presentations and demonstrations on the following topics:     *   Where do we start with digital preservation – create a custom-made system or buy off the peg?   *   Who should do digital preservation? Where does preservation fit in the wider organisational context?   *   Case studies of working across disciplines, organisations and the lifecycle of information to ensure that information is successfully preserved (e.g. creating preservation ready objects, including preservation requirements in business systems, taking a cooperative approach to preservation)   *   How do you identify your digital content – using preservation formats and format libraries   *   What are we preserving and how? Are we preserving appearance, structure, behaviour or content?   *   Repository examples, requirements and examples of innovation   *   Challenges of preserving data and databases   *   What tools are in use and what skills are essential?

 

The Virginia Hamilton Conference is the longest-running event in the United States to focus exclusively on multicultural literature for children and young adults. Honoring author Virginia Hamilton, the conference reflects a commitment to promoting cultural awareness and affirming cultural pride while addressing the array of issues which surround the concept of culture. The conference is held each April at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ksuslis Twitter: @KentStateSLIS 2012 Virginia Hamilton Conference (link to official conference website) The 28th Annual Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth "Celebrate Diversity: Sharing Our Stories"

Registration is open! The Fifteenth Distance Library Services Conference (formerly known as the Off-Campus Library Services Conference) will be held April 18-20, 2012, at The Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee. Please join us for this opportunity to explore issues related to delivering library resources and services to distance students and faculty.   Conference program Conference schedule (PDF)   Register online today! Registration closes April 4, 2012.   We hope to see you in Memphis!  

Mark your calendars for the NETSL Annual Spring Conference Program 2012: iLibrary: Digital Futures for Libraries<http://nela.camp9.org/netsl/2012conference> Thursday, May 3, 2012 Hogan Campus Center, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA Keynote speaker : Rachel Frick is the Senior Program Officer for the Digital Library Federation<http://www.diglib.org/> (DLF) at the Council on Library and Information Resources<http://www.clir.org/> (CLIR). She previously served as a Senior Program Officer at the Institute for Museum and Library Services<http://www.imls.gov/> (IMLS) and has held a variety of library positions including Head of Bibliographic Access and Digital Services at the University of Richmond. A second keynote speaker, breakout sessions, and panel discussion to be announced. Check the conference website<http://nela.camp9.org/netsl/2012conference> for more information, including registration details, as it becomes available. Two awards will be presented: winner of the NETSL Logo Contest<http://nela.camp9.org/netsl/logocontest> and the NETSL Award for Excellence in Technical Services<http://nela.camp9.org/netsl/award>. Questions, suggestions, or other feedback? Contact Helen Linda, NETSL President, at celestihel@gmail.com<mailto:celestihel@gmail.com>.

The Association of College and Research Libraries, New England Chapter (ACRL/NEC – http://www.acrlnec.org/) invites you to submit a proposal to present at our 2012 Annual Conference. This event entitled "Leading the Change: Integrating the Library into the Future of Higher Education" will be held Friday, May 18, 2012 at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. Higher education is rapidly evolving in many ways: pedagogically, technologically, financially, and socially. The roles of libraries in higher education are concomitantly changing. Where is higher education going, and how will libraries fit in? What can librarians do not just to navigate but also to guide the changes in higher education? We are seeking innovative thinkers and doers to offer presentations, panel discussions, interactive sessions, posters, and "show-and-tell" booths to share creative ideas and initiatives on how to integrate our libraries into the future of higher education.  Presenters, panelists, and session facilitators should plan for a one hour session, including time for questions.