Stephen Abram: Building the Library Experience

When:		Tuesday, March 16, 2010 (9:30 AM - 11:30 AM)
Where:		MLS Meeting Room (Burr Ridge) (In Person, Max: 54)
Cost:		Free

• The registration deadline for this event has passed.

MLS welcomes Stephen Abram and Sara Tarpley from Gale to discuss how to build the library experience for your users. Come to this exciting free event and learn about ways to connect to your users.

Building the Library Experience - Stephen Abram

Our definition of what comprises a library experience is mutating. Is it just what happens in our physical spaces? Of course not. With virtual presences everywhere - on desktops, phones, and beyond - and with digital content easily accessible beyond our walls, the library is truly everywhere. But is the library experience? Where do social media fit in? Can we model more of the important experiences in the library? Can we align with entertainment, learning, job seeking, health advice, and more? Can we insert library staff and library programs into our communities' daily lives? Stephen Abram is a popular blogger at Stephen's Lighthouse and a library futurist who leads discussions on the future of libraries of all types. Prepare for a challenging day!

Creating Communities of Innovation - Sarah Tarpley

Creating communities of ideals and innovation – it’s not just a theme, but an action plan to better our world. At Gale all of our resources seek to bring us together using the power of knowledge. Join us to hear how we are reshaping our resources to better align with the changing needs of your community and learn about some exciting new ways that we are partnering with libraries in a non-traditional manner to help promote the investments your library has made in order to build increased perceived value within your community. Power to the user, Power to the Community!






Biography:

Stephen Abram, MLS, is mmediate Past-President 2008 of SLA and the past-President of the Canadian Library Association and the Ontario Library Association. He is the Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Markets for Gale Cengage. He was Vice President Innovation for SirsiDynix and Chief Strategist for the SirsiDynix Institute. He was Publisher Electronic Information at Thomson after managing several libraries. Stephen was listed by Library Journal as one of the top 50 people influencing the future of libraries. He has received numerous honours and speaks regularly internationally. His columns appear in Information Outlook and Multimedia and Internet @ Schools, OneSource, Feliciter, Access, as well writing for Library Journal. He is the author of ALA Editions' bestselling Out Front with Stephen Abram. His blog, Stephen's Lighthouse, is a popular blog in the library sector.

Sara Tarpley, New Product Specialist for Gale, has worked for the organization since 2002 and has held a variety of positions in the organization. Her background includes work in the Human Resources, Sales Product Training and Market Strategy departments and currently she is a member of Gale’s K-12 and Public Library sales management team. Sara has a Bachelors Degree from Michigan State University and a Masters in Training & Organizational Development from Oakland University. Sara is responsible for facilitating and gathering feedback on Gale’s vision, product development and marketing initiatives to ensure the voices of our library partners embody Gale’s strategic direction.

Register by: 3/12/2010

This event is sponsored by Metropolitan Library System.

Last day to cancel registrations is: 3/16/2010

Questions? Please contact Gretel Stock-Kupperman.

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