Kentucky Library Association Conferences

Kentucky Virtual Library Go(es) Beyond Google

2007-11-02T13:45:00.001-04:00

The Kentucky Virtual Library's most excellent poster session! Yes (inquiring minds that want to know) that is Enid Wohlstein, Kentucky Virtual Library Director, trying to hide from our intrepid reporter/photog. I swore to her that she was out of the frame. . .

The KSMA Exploratorium was a Big Hit!

2007-11-02T13:29:00.001-04:00

At this year's KLA/KSMA 2007 Conference the KSMA Exploratorium was standing room only. Attendees were given lots of fresh and exciting new ideas for programming for their school libraries!

The Hobbit Visits the KSMA Exploratorium

2007-10-15T12:01:00.001-04:00

Johan Koren, Coordinator of the Library Media program at Murray State University, presented an exhibit for the KSMA Exploratorium. Being an old hippie I was drawn to Johan’s 70th anniversary display of The Hobbit. J. R. R. Tolkien's, The Hobbit, was one of many “must reads” for the flower power generation. I think, judging by Johan’s extra-extra wide Birkenstocks and wooly stockings that Johan must be one too… hippie that is!

Faith Steele & Loreine Roy

2007-10-12T16:26:00.001-04:00

Faith Steele received the first ever Kentucky Library Association Scholarship for Minority Students. Currently Faith is enrolled in the University of Kentucky’s School of Library and Information Science where she is pursuing a Master of Science in Library Science. She also was the recipient of the 4th Annual KLA African American Librarians & Library Employees Round Table (AALLERT) Minority Scholarship. This Scholarship provided Faith with a stipend to attend the Fall KLA/KSMA Conference and KLA membership for one year.

Madonna???

2007-10-12T15:21:00.001-04:00

Is that Madonna? No it is Sara Brown the Government Documents/Public Services Librarian at the Mansbach Memorial Library at Ashland Community & Technical College, silly! No I think it is Madonna! What would Madonna being doing at a library conference in, of all places, Loo uh vul, Kentucky? I don't know, but I swear that is the "Material Girl" herself! You are so silly!

Michael Gorman at 2007 KLA/KSMA Conference

2007-10-10T18:01:00.001-04:00

(2007 KLA/KSMA Joint Conference) ALA Past President, Michel Gorman’s presentation, advocating for the Library of Today and Tomorrow” was very well received! His articulate blend of anecdote, analysis and insight left the audience with a wealth of inspiration to advocate for their own libraries. Thanks Michael!

More Talented Librarians!

2006-10-09T12:36:00.000-04:00

Late breaking news flash... At the Howl at the Moon Talent Show Susan Henthorn on Alto Horn and Margaret Foote on piano performed "Till There Was You" written by Meredith Willson, sung by the character 'Marian the Librarian' in the The Music Man; and "(Somewhere) Over the Rainbow" music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, arranged by Goff Richards, much to everyone's delight!

2006-10-04T11:11:00.000-04:00

Glen Horton did a session at conference on "Controlling Digital Content in Libraries. His presentation is available at
http://www.swonlibraries.org/presentations/kla2006-drm.html

Reality Data

2006-10-03T12:10:00.000-04:00

Ron Crouch
Originally uploaded by kentuckylibrary.

If you missed Ron Crouch's presentation, then you missed out on a wonderfully funny and informative session. Dr. Crouch has presented for KLA conferences and groups several times, but this is the first time I've been able to catch his presentation.

Ron is the Director of the Kentucky State Data Center and he has all the numbers. Ron reminded us that the population data and other statistics are showing how our perceptions and reality are different. The most memorable piece of data came from Ron's study of Kentucky data (which will be available from the Kentucky State Data Center) and showed that Kentucky has the highest increase in percentage of residents who have completed high school. More information like this is available from the Kentucky State Data Center and the United States Census.

Ron also distributed copies of an article he wrote for Museum News, May/June 2004. The title of the article is "Rules for a New demographic Ballgame." Essentially the article shares how the population has changed and how we should prepare for the changes that will need to be made to accommodate this new society. Overall, I found it to be a very interesting read.

If you have the opportunity to hear Ron Crouch in the future, I hope you will take it.

A School Media Evangelist

2006-09-30T11:11:00.000-04:00

It's not just evangelicals who have the power of conversion! I've just come from Dr. Ross Todd's presentation "School Libraries Work!" and I want to change the world--my world, at least! He was "naughty" and he was chastising, but he set a fire alight under the assembled school librarians he was talking to.

The main import of his message was--don't complain about the principals, don't work inside the box, don't see yourself and your library as the center of the universe. We are not about teaching our kids to find information--we are about teaching our kids to create new knowledge and deep understanding. Make your school library "a cesspool of intellectual discussion!"

President Goff?

2006-09-29T20:51:00.000-04:00

Dateline 2007: The Kentucky Library Association welcomes President Goff as the youngest President the association has ever had. The "Prez" as the members now call him, is no stranger to setting new standards. As the first graduate of the new Western Kentucky University 30 second MSLS program the "Prez" nearly stumbled on the "Not" portion of his Orals but to the amazement of his Professors he acheived the first perfect 3 out of a possible 3 score! "While I found 'And' and 'Or' kind of self explanatory, I struggled with the utillity of 'Not'" the "Prez" was heard to remark. Kim Goff and John T. (Tom) Underwood, mother and "uncle" of the "Prez" (and the heart and soul of the Kentucky Library Association), were so delighted they nearly burst as they swelled with pride!

Librarians Are Talented!!!!!

2006-09-29T15:10:00.000-04:00

"Out of the Stacks and Onto the Stage II" at the Howl at the Moon was an unqualified success. It is amazing that all these selfless individuals have sacrificed what could only be described as lucrative careers, living in the lap of luxury in Branson, MO (or some other entertainment Mecca), to do what they love to do best, shush people! Well if you missed this year, don't make the same mistake twice, and make plans now to stay up a little late, act like a fool, and hang out with some of wildest liberrians in the good ol US of A! I told you Michael and Peter, you guys should have hung around for another day! Guten tag ya'll!

Librarians Are Talented (cont.)

2006-09-29T14:54:00.000-04:00

Maybe not patently original, but pretty darn talented none the less. The Unidentified Librarian (patent pending) is like Rodney Dangerfield--he don't get no respect... ta, ta, ta, boom. And he knows about the 30 second Liberry Scientist degree; and, or, not... No, really folks this guy was FUNNY. I am not for sure, but there are theories going around that it might have been Matt O!

Librarians Are Talented (cont.)

2006-09-29T14:44:00.000-04:00

And pretty darn funny too! Julie Grannis shared a few of her own personal liberry experiences answering the often asked question "why do people work in libraries for so little money?" To gather material for a real career--stand up comedienne!

Librarians Are Talented! (cont.)

2006-09-29T14:34:00.000-04:00

Shadowdancer, Jack Montgomery and Graham Hudspeth, perform traditional Celtic and original music ending the evening with lots of toe tapping, clapping and such. These boys are GOOD!

Librarians Are Talented? (cont.)

2006-09-29T14:30:00.000-04:00

Bet you don't know what's going on here--heck, I bet they don't know what's going on here. I was there and I know I don't! Anyway it was something called McNet (McNut?) Book End Drill Team and it was kind of sexy and I know I was entertained and they did play good music as they pranced around the bar!

Librarians Are Talented (cont.)

2006-09-29T14:14:00.001-04:00

At the talent show the old trick shoecam struck catching two unwary revelers and two unconfirmed UFOs?!?!

Tale of Teen Tuesdays

2006-09-28T16:42:00.000-04:00

Louisville Free Public Library's Bon Air branch, has been doing interesting activities with their teenagers, as I found out at their program, Tale of Teen Tuesdays. A sudden change of demographics from, as I understood it, a predominantly white, older neighborhood, to one where African American families had moved in, forced a white female staff, to learn new tricks.

Geneva Huttenlocher, Marilyn Leathers, Beth Dantler and Angel Justice shared how they involved the community--and the city--in varied programs, from cooking to basketball to making Christmas ornaments, taking the kids to movies and museums. In the process, they learned some surprising things about the kids, but I suspect, although they did not articulate it in so many words, much of it boiled down to the simple fact that they were giving the kids a chance to feel at home in a non-threatening community situation, where the kids had a chance to be themselves, without the pressure that they have in so many other areas of their lives, from school to sports, and, yes, even in relation to their peers and in many cases also at home, to perform to certain expected standards. There are rules, of course, and behavior expectations, but not the explicit or implicit expectation that they, in a sense, have to pass a test to stay in the group and participate, and teenagers need that kind of belonging, too: where they can be themselves and relax.

2006-09-28T15:53:00.001-04:00

The McCracken presentation, "Journey from Good to Great," is available at Iris Garrott's blog http://circulating.wordpress.com

2006-09-28T09:58:00.000-04:00

At the "Gaze Into My Crystal Ball" preconference talk on Wednesday, ALA's diversity expert Tracie Hall talked about trends that might affect public libraries in the future. One of her key messages was for us to realize that public libraries are moving away from what she called Information 411 -- basically, reader's advisory and little else. She said the libraries of today need to be focused instead on Information 911 -- providing services to customers who need information and need it RIGHT NOW. Tracie told us it is great to have all the new bells and whistles, but we also have to be able to "ring the bell and blow the whistle," reminding us to make sure our staffs are trained in the use of our new technologies and can help our patrons use them.

Tracie also reminded all of us that for many people, the library may be the only place where they see or talk to other people in the course of day; it may be the only place where they get to use a clean bathroom or have a quiet place to read for a few moments.

2006-09-28T09:43:00.000-04:00

I have been thinking about Leslie Burger's speech. One of the things she mentioned was a series of discussions that she is planning with different leaders and groups on what is the thing that is needed most for libraries. She was talking within the context of a national effort with a singular focus. I thought we might be able to give her some ideas from Kentucky libraries. What would you say is the thing that is needed most in a national effort to help transform libraries? If you would like to make a suggestion, click on "comment" below and share your ideas.

Libraries in Singapore

2006-09-27T17:31:00.000-04:00

Leslie Burger also mentioned how libraries in Singapore were doing revolutionary things with their public libraries. This intrigued me, so I did a quick search, and here is what I found. Browse around there and check out some of the services. Looks like they take their public libraries very seriously in Singapore. Pretty cool to see!

Neat Ideas in Communities

2006-09-27T16:44:00.000-04:00

Leslie Burger, president of the American Library Association, presented at the opening session, "Your Library on Steroids: How Public Libraries are Transforming Communites." Some of my conference blog colleagues will, I hope, add their thoughts. One of the ideas that I came away with was the collaboration with and involvement of the community in your library--and it does not have to be public libraries, either.

She related the story about the Robin Hood Foundation and its L!brary Initiative in New York City, a "unique collaborative project to re-imagine and rebuild public elementary school libraries." Volunteer architects were involved, some of whom designed sets for Broadway plays. All right, so maybe you don't have Broadway theaters in your neighborhood, but you do have parents with talent. Get to know your parents--just as important, have them get to know you and show them how your library and your school really does benefit your child. Find out some of the neat things your parents can do and get them involved in some kind of improvement project--even if it's only donating a couch or even a bath for a reading corner!

Carnegie Library session

2006-09-27T16:42:00.000-04:00

Kentucky had many less Carnegie libraries than Indiana, which had the most, and Ohio, which was fifth. Built between 1899 and 1908 in Kentucky, few are still libraries today, but some are used as civic buildings or museums. The community had to provide the land and 10% of the cost of the building. Applying for a library involved writing a letter about the community and very few requests were denied.

Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit

2006-09-27T16:34:00.000-04:00

I attended this session with David Birkhead. He gave an overview of the FREE Microsoft Shared Computer Toolkit. It's best feature is that it cleans a public PC when the computer is rebooted. It has a lot of other features, including a session timer. David works at Boone County Public Library. The sofware is available for download at http://www.micorosft.com/sharedaccess. There is a comprehensive and helpful manual that downloads with the software.

Blog Master

2006-09-27T11:49:00.000-04:00

Our Awesome Leader and Blogging Guru Michael Stephens Blogs at Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology!

Workshop

2006-09-27T11:46:00.000-04:00

saravaleriezack
Originally uploaded by kentuckylibrary.

Here's the conference blogging team at work!

Lucky!

2006-09-27T11:17:00.000-04:00

A lucky librarian wins a prize!

Library Media Blogs

2006-09-27T11:06:00.000-04:00

Shameless advertising:

If you are at the conference, and plan to still be here on Friday afternoon at 1:30, I invite you to come hear my presentation on blogs in school library media. It's called Blogs: Changing the New Century? It's in the Thoroughbred room on the 2nd floor of the Marriott.

KLA Blogging Workshop

2006-09-27T10:59:00.000-04:00

We came, we saw, we blogged.

This will be the official blog for all the happenings at the KLA conference. Check back often for updates on presentations, events, and news from around the conference.

KLA/KSMA 2006 Conference Blog

2006-09-27T10:50:00.002-04:00

Hi! My name is Johan Koren, associate professor at Murray State University, and Coordinator of the Library Media program. This post was created as part of a preconference workshop at the Kentucky Library Association/Kentucky School Media Association Fall Conference in Louisville September 2006. Although I have two other blogs, I am very much a Johan-come-lately to this whole area of blogging. Michael Stephens is realy helping to open up this new world !

My aim will be post as often as I can throughout the conference from the point of view of a school library media person.

A great session for public librarians

2006-09-27T10:50:00.000-04:00

I would like to let you know that Mary, a public librarian, is doing a session tomorrow (Thursday) at 3 p.m. on how to take a list of accelerated reader books and match it to your library holdings. The session is called "School Reading Program Books @ Your Public Library." For those of you who have struggled with this manually, this session is just brilliant. You will be so glad that you attended. This will save your sanity!

Here is a link to the result that you can produce....Buckner Elementary Accelerated Reading List ( what's available at the library).

Let's Save KY's Ag History Together!! - We need YOU!!

2006-09-27T10:49:00.001-04:00

Come to the KLA Poster Sessions 10-11am on Thu 9/28 and learn what you can do to help preserve our rich agricultural and rural life heritage.

This USAIN project is part of the NEH-funded "Preserving the History of United States Agricultural and Rural Life: State and Local Literature, 1820-1945." Kentucky is participating in Phase VI of this important project. Project Coordinator is Abby Thorne . Please contact her with any cataloged or uncataloged collections you have that might be relevant.

Let's do this together!

2006-09-27T10:38:00.000-04:00

Welcome to the 2006 KLA/KSMA Joint Conference

This is the first time KLA has blogged the annual conference. Please stay tuned for reviews of the conference presentations, and most importantly the Talent Show.

Introduction

2006-09-27T07:58:00.000-04:00

Good morning!

I'd like to introduce myself to you. I work for the Kentucky Dept. for Libraries and Archives. I am the Regional Consultant in the Northern KY Region. I have been in this position for just over a year, acting as the consultant to the public libraries in ten counties. The job is fun and exciting! Driving over 1,000 miles a month, I get to meet and work with the public library staff and trustees and provide information and assistance that they need to better serve their communities.

This is my first attempt at blogging and I hope that I can provide some interesting and helpful information on the sessions that I attend here at the KLA 2006 Conference! Since I'm new at this, please feel free to offer suggestions and advice in your comments to make my posts more valuable!

Welcome to my perspective of this year's KLA Conference!