2016 STLS Annual Meeting & Conference

Making Space: Listening to Library Patrons for Better Space Design – Camille Andrews

Who are your patrons and what are they doing? What do they want and need, and how can you find out in order to create an effective and welcoming library space for your community? For years, Mann Library at Cornell University has been redesigning its spaces, services and technologies to meet patron needs by applying methods to gather feedback on the behaviors and needs of its patrons. In this presentation, hear about quick techniques you can use (with limited budget and staff) to get feedback and tips on what we’ve learned about creating an effective, welcoming, and accessible library space.
Camille Andrews is User Engagement Librarian at Albert R. Mann Library at Cornell University Library (CUL), where she works on outreach, instruction, and assessment for learning outcomes, technologies, services and spaces. Since 2004, Camille has been involved in information literacy, learning technology, user studies and space design initiatives in libraries. Camille and Sara E. Wright were co-authors, with Howard Raskin, of “Library learning spaces: Investigating libraries and investing in student feedback” in 2015 in the Journal of Library Administration.

Presentation Slides (.pdf)

Dropping Dewey: One Library’s Story – Lisa Carr

Many libraries are moving away from the traditional Dewey classification system, and transitioning towards a different type of patron experience
with a focus on book store-like organization. Lisa Carr will share the experience of her library deciding to go Deweyless. Learn about the impetus behind the decision and how her library is making the transition.

Lisa Carr is the Director at Seymour Public Library District in Auburn, NY. After earning her MLS from Simmons College, she worked as a librarian in Maine before making her home in Auburn. Her library interests include community engagement, the intersections of library innovation and user experience and readers advisory. When she’s not working, Lisa enjoys cooking, the Finger Lakes wine trail and attempting to renovate her Victorian house.

Presnetation Slides (.pdf)

Recorded Presentation (YouTube)

We used to view the digital divide as people who did not have computers, or who did not have broadband. Now we’re looking at issues of digital inclusion and empowerment as other limiting factors in people making the best use of technology to solve their own problems. This short workshop will explore the way the digital divide impacts our own lives and those of our patrons and looks at the similarities and the differences in how technology problems get address and solved.

Comics @ Your Library: collect with confidence, promote with passion, and be a literacy leader for all ages! – Xandi DiMatteo and Jason M. Poole

Comics and graphic novels create exciting collections for readers and are an excellent springboard for vibrant programs that will interest the whole community. They are a gateway for literacy and can support curriculum at every level. Join us in discovering the latest & greatest comics, ways to program that attract a crowd, and great resources for collecting graphic novels.
Xandi DiMatteo has served Rochester Public Library for over 7 years as a teen librarian. Serving on planning committees for Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival (2008 – current) and the Kids Comics Committee (3 years). She is lucky enough to promote literacy to detained youth, assist the Rochester City School District with summer reading, and support curriculum to various schools in the city. By day she works a reference desk, plans programs, and speaks to comic book fans of all ages – sometimes they speak back.

Jason M. Poole has been a children’s librarian at the Webster Public Library near Rochester, NY, for over ten years. He started the Kids’ Comics Committee in 2009 to be a resource for Monroe County Librarians and with that group put on a couple of full-day professional conferences on comics and literacy. He served on ALA’s Great Graphic Novels for Teens selection committee for three years, chairing the committee his final year and most recently was a judge for the 2016 Eisner Awards.

NYLA Conference Scholarships presented by Pat Selwood

Outstanding Library Advocate – Big Flats Library Advocates (Big Flats Library, CCLD) presented by Sarah Collins

Library Volunteer Award –  Anthony Heidrich (Southeast Steuben County Library, Corning) presented by Betsy Gorman

Best Use of Social Media Award – All the Books Podcast, Nic Gunning and Eric Mikols (David A. Howe Public Library, Wellsville)

Innovative Library Director – Leah Weber (Cuba Circulating Library, Cuba) presented by Lynette Decker

Grass Roots Award – Yet to be announced!

Mini Grant Recipients

Libraries Easing the Empowerment Divide – Annual Dinner Keynote Speech

Despite everyone’s efforts, the offline population of the US has remained at about 15% for the last several years. Library technologist Jessamyn West discusses the many ways in which people remain digitally divided and the ways in which libraries can help address newer digital divides such as the inclusion and empowerment divides.

Keynote Speaker – Jessamyn West

Jessamyn has been speaking on the intersection of libraries, technology and politics since 2003. Her specific interest areas are:

She has given workshops and keynotes on technology and library topics. Additionally, she has written book introductions and chapters and edited two compilations. Librarian.net, her professional blog, just celebrated its fifteenth year online and was one of the first librarian blogs.
Her main work is in Orange County Vermont, helping libraries and librarians make sense of technology and teaching adult education classes in basic technology topics and the Open Library, a project of the Internet Archive, lending eBooks worldwide, for free.

Presentation Slides (and other resources)