Executive Program

Open Libraries

In keeping with the SirsiDynix Institute's mission to help grow your skills as library professionals, SirsiDynix Institute Executive Conference 2008 presented an engaging two-day program on Open Libraries. Our theme centered on the "openness" that characterizes successful libraries - open partnerships, open approaches, open technologies, open dialog, and open communities. We explored how library decision makers can open a world of new strategic opportunities for their institutions, with presentations from Semantic Studios' Peter Morville, librarian-trailblazers, Lee Rainie of the Pew Internet and American Life Project, and SirsiDynix executives who overviewed key open technologies.

Agenda Saturday, April 5
9:00-9:15 a.m.	Opening Gary Rautenstrauch, SirsiDynix CEO, and Kate Duval, SirsiDynix MC
9:15-10:15 a.m.	Open Library 2.0: The Whole Package? Stephen Abram, Vice President Innovation, SirsiDynix What is today's "Open Library?" Open systems, open architecture, open standards, and open source tools, for sure. But it's also about open dialog and partnerships with interests outside of libraries. open approaches to challenges. open communities. and more. Join Stephen as he helps set the tone for this engaging two-day event. Supplements: Presentation
10:15-10:30 a.m.	Break
10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m.	Opening the "User Experience" Peter Morville, Semantic Studios Peter Morville, a trained librarian, has led the information world in defining the "information architecture" concept. As a result, Peter's Semantic Studios is helping guide successful organizations everywhere (including libraries!) in facilitating meaningful "user experiences" for demanding information consumers. Hear Peter address the structure and behavior of web sites, software products, or interactive services that will help current and prospective library users achieve goals, complete tasks, and find what they need. Begin to see how abstract vision for online services can be transformed into a well-grounded, actionable blueprint for design of your successful online strategies. Supplements: Presentation
12:30-1:30 p.m.	Lunch
1:30-3:00 p.m.	Keeping Our Libraries More Open Deborah Jacobs, City Librarian, Seattle Public Library Deborah has found that all the rules have changed. What worked for the first 30 years of her career has now evolved into a deeper, more open form of engagement and relationship-building, reflecting her belief that libraries are not only more relevant than ever but more important to community strength and health. Deborah will talk about leading, listening, and relationship-building in today's world. Following her comments, she and Stephen Abram will engage in a dialog digging even deeper into "opening our libraries."
3:00-3:30 p.m.	Networking: Grab refreshments and join discussions of the day's insights
3:30-4:30 p.m.	Facilitated Feedback from Table Discussions Supplements: view the results of the roundtable discussions here
4:30-5:30 p.m.	Cocktail Reception
Agenda Sunday, April 6
8:00-10:00 a.m.	Conference General Opening Session Gary Rautenstrauch, SirsiDynix CEO, and Executive Staff Executive Conference attendees will join all attendees for SirsiDynix SuperConference 2008 Gary Rautenstrauch's opening keynote, plus product overviews by the company's product management and development leaders.
10:00-10:30 a.m.	Break
10:30-11:45 a.m.	Open Technologies for Libraries: What Directors Need to Know SirsiDynix Development Team: Talin Bingham, John Dickson, and Berit Nelson SirsiDynix offers key "open system" advantages to its clients: open architecture, open standards, and open interfaces. Take this opportunity to hear from SirsiDynix technologists about APIs, SIP2/NCIP connections, support for industry-standard databases, the flexibility for software-as-a-service (SaaS) hosting, and more. Attendees will gain important business insights into why the full story of "open" technologies can be so critical to their institutions.
11:45-1:00 p.m.	Lunch
1:00-1:45 p.m.	Open Partnerships Part 1: Visionary Libraries Engaging K-12 Communities Terri Fredericka, Executive Director, INFOhio Learn from Terri, a leading light in the U.S. K-12 library community, about an exciting concept and powerful strategy for connecting Ohio students with educator-selected content. The goal is to place library-quality information in the context of the curriculum that students are addressing in their classrooms. Attendees will hear from Terri about the motivations, processes, and ongoing planning involved in the INFOhio initiative that is opening students in Ohio (and elsewhere) to new explorations and discoveries never before experienced. Supplements: Presentation
1:45-2:30 p.m.	Open Partnerships Part 2: Visionary Libraries Engaging Statewide Implications Lesley Boughton, Wyoming State Librarian Like every state, province, and locality, Wyoming is blessed with a rich history. and a plethora of archived materials that tell its history. Opening that history to the people of Wyoming became a strategic objective of the State Library. Join Lesley as she describes her objectives and tells how she has partnered with interests throughout Wyoming to preserve and share an irreplaceable newspaper collection. Supplements: Presentation
2:30-3:00 p.m.	Break
3:00-4:30 p.m.	Learning from the Web Successes Lee Rainie, Pew Internet and American Life Project In what has become an annual tradition, Lee Rainee will share with attendees the latest from his research into how individuals and society at large are interacting with and being impacted by the Internet. For library leaders seeking to maximize the power of the Web, Lee will bring to light valuable findings, theories, and arguable conclusions based on his project's research. Attendees will no doubt be interested in discussing one of Pew's latest studies, which revealed just how much young adults and others in the U.S. continue to use public libraries for the Internet and also books. According to Lee, as quoted by the Associated Press, "The age of books isn't yet over." Supplements: Presentation