RASD at LILC: The Future of Reference Services

RASD at the Long Island Library Conference 

The Future of Reference Services
Speaker(s): 
Ellen Firer, Director of Merrick Library
Trina Reed, Director of Levittown Library
Caroline Ashby, Assistant Director of Nassau Library System
Sponsored by: SCLA & NCLA RASD
Arranged by: Cynthia HoSang and Rose Marut
Location: Salons 1, 2, 3 Upper Level    Session I (9am-10am)

The Member Library Directors’ Reinvention Committee was established in 2012 as a follow up to a program on Reinventing the Library. Currently, the Reinvention Committee, after attending a variety of conferences, particularly the “Library Leaders’ Summit” at Computers in Libraries, decided to focus on the future of Reference librarianship.

To begin with, we created surveys for staffs of representative libraries to gather data on what is currently being done at Reference desks. Roundtable groups will follow, to discuss what Reference librarians see as their job, and what direction they see it going in the future. These roundtable groups will be composed of either volunteers from the libraries in one group, recommendations by Directors of innovative and forward thinking librarians in another group, and then each member of the committee will have a group at their own library. At the end of the project, we will compile results, and the methodology and results of this project will be in our presentation.

RASD Committees Presenting Programs at the Long Island Library Conference on May 4

RASD joint program with NCLA RASD and SCLA RASD
Title: Are you struggling to promote your online resources?
Description: How hard can it be to get people to use free online resources from the library when patrons are already paying for comparative services? It may be easier than you thought.
If a person gets a library card and begins using the physical space, most libraries have promotional strategies in place to encourage patrons to expand their usage such as signage, promotional materials and recommendations by staff. But when it comes to getting people to use our online resources, too many libraries are frustrated and unsure of what to do. Sure, promoting online services can be a bit more difficult than in-house marketing but it’s possible if you think like your users.
Join Nancy Dowd, as she shares the work her company is doing with 50+ libraries as part of a pilot program that uses emails to get the word out to card holders about their online resources. She’ll discuss the strategies they are using, as well as sharing the results and insights at the time of conference. This session is sure to inspire libraries to relook at the way they are marketing their online resources.
Speaker: Nancy Dowd of EBSCO
3:00 to 4:00 pm in Salons 4,5, 6

MOSAIC:
Title: Naturalization One-on-One
Description: Curious what it takes to become a U.S. citizen? Join USCIS immigration officer Shyconia Burden to find out the requirements, test and naturalization and what’s involved in the Naturalization process. Q&A to follow.
Speaker(s): Shyconia Burden – USCIS Community Outreach Coordinator
3:00 to 4:00 pm in the Whitman Room.

Health Concerns Committee:
Title: A Candid Look at Autism
Description: This presentation will provide a candid look into what it is like to grow up, live and work with a diagnosis of autism; as presented by the author and illustrator, Michael Werner and aspiring motivational speaker Jonathan Civardi. Both gentlemen offer their personal insight into the world of autism and leave the audience with a clearer understanding of what it means to be a child growing up, as well as an adult with autism, living and working in today’s world. In a candid and engaging manner, Michael describes his childhood through his children’s book “Aspey’s Adventures with Asperger’s”. He clearly articulates his childhood experiences in a way anyone that one can understand his personal struggles while also seeing the similarities of experiences and feelings from of their own childhood memories. Jonathan speaks about lessons learned, life after high school and stepping stones towards future goals he strives toward. Jonathan shares not only his story but a wealth of knowledge of resources for any library professional desiring to offer support to adults on the spectrum, their family and friends who seek to support their loved ones.
Speakers: Michael Werner and Jonathan Civardi
9:00 to 10:00 am in the Whitman Room

Health Concerns Committee:
Title: Barking Up the Right Tree: Animal Assisted Therapy in the Library
Description: We have all seen children reading to a therapy dog in a library, but what else can that therapy dog do for our patrons? In this workshop, public and academic librarians will discover best practices in animal assisted therapy programming in libraries. You will learn theoretical foundations of animal assisted therapy, best practices in spatial design and planning for library programs involving animals, and perspectives of dog handlers providing animal assisted therapy for children and adults. Hans, Veteran Animal Assisted Therapy Canine, will be available for photos, and resources will be distributed.
3:00 to 4:00 pm in the Roosevelt Room

New Adult Committee:
Title: Board Games at the Library
Description: An explosion of new and innovative board games has granted libraries a chance to tap into their growing popularity for a diverse audience. Do you have an interest in creating a gaming group for your library? This program will give an overview of the board gaming and tabletop world, highlighting trends and the wide variety of games available. We will also discuss programming ideas, marketing to your audience, and gaming on a budget.
Speaker(s): Tim Sicurella, Sayville Library; Michael Buono, Patchogue Library; Brian Schwartz, Patchogue Library
9:00 to 10:00 am in the Vanderbilt Room.

Electronic Resources Committee
Title: Who’s Afraid of Podcasting? One public library’s leap into the realm of media production.
Description: Learn how to start your own library’s podcast. Equipment, online distribution, software, and general cost will be some of the topics covered by Chris Kretz, creator and producer of The Long Island History Project and In The Stacks, a library podcast from the Half Hollow Hills Community Library. HHH librarians Ellen Druda, Charlene Muhr, and Chris will discuss the planning and production of In The Stacks, Half Hollow Hill’s book review podcast that launched in Sep. 2016.
Speaker: Chris Kretz is the head of Stony Brook University’s Southampton campus library. He has been a podcaster since 2005, first with the Dowling College Library Omnibus program and now with the Long Island History Project, produced with the Long Island Radio and Television Historical society (longislandhistoryproject.org)
10:30 am to 11:30 am in the Roosevelt Room

 

More information is available at Long Island Library Conference.