Latest From All Groups

Hey Everyone, glad to joing this group. I've had an interest in the correlations between civic engagement and government information for awhile now. In fact, GODORT is developing a pre-conference that I helped propose on the topic of Government Info/Technology/Civic Engagement. I'll keep you posted!

Also, I started a Government Information Interest Group at ALA Connect. All kinds of librarians are welcome! Public, School, Special, Academic, etc.! It is pretty bare bones right now and I could use some help in developing it and making it grow. It is a great way to connect with all types of librarians who share an interest in government information, but may or may not be part of a depository library or a member of GODORT. It is another way to provide outreach and educate our fellow librarians about the world of government information!

The group is for those interested in government information (federal, state, local, and international). Various topics of interest include depository libraries, government information collections, open access, transparency, and preservation of government information, E-government, Government 2.0, and using social networks to collect and disseminate government information (”Gov Docs 2.0″) and more!

If you could spread the word, I would really appreciate it!

Check out these possible topics and comment which ones you like, how they could be changed, or what other possible topics you would suggest.

We are looking for debate-y topics that are general enough to attract a variety of people and provoke interesting comments and questions.

Any ideas for speakers for topics would also be great.

-  privacy of user information

- open source vs. proprietary products

- next-gen discovery systems - value, problems, etc.

- are we choosing technologies and designing our services for users or for other librarians? who are our users?

Twenty-two comments on threats to intellectual freedom from the audience at the ACRL Intellectual Freedom Committee program, "Academic and Intellectual Freedom Climate on Campus: Are Our Freedoms Secure in the Next Generation?"

See the June 23, 2009 post in ACRL Board of Directors (Association of College and Research Libraries) from Katie Coombes, UPDATED Board II Agenda and Documents now available, which includes the following pertinent documents as PDF file attachments:

Doc 31.0 ACRL Second Life Task Force Final Report 2009.pdf - 27.6 KB 

Doc 5.0 Virtual Worlds Interest Group ACRL_Board_Action_Form.pdf - 101.95 KB

(excerpts)

The ACRL Second Life Task Force has been operating within the virtual world of Second
Life since 2007. In that time we have provided programming and professional networking
for ACRL members and potential members within Second Life. Educators are increasingly
using virtual worlds for both distance and traditional classes. Librarians involved in virtual
environments have found that in addition to the opportunity to support academics, many
opportunities exist for professional networking and continuing education for library
professionals.

The ACRL Second Life Task Force sunsets in 2009 and the recommended ACRL Virtual
Worlds Interest Group will continue and expand upon the initiatives of the Task Force by
including any virtual environment where educators, library professionals, and library
students operate. The ACRL Board has approved the recommendation of the ACRL
Second Life Task Force to find a volunteer to manage the ACRL in Second Life space on
ALA’s sim in Second Life.

Our charge is to provide support and oversight for a designated volunteer to manage the
Second Life presence of ACRL; to facilitate communication and collaboration for ACRL
members and potential members involved in or interested in virtual worlds for professional
activities; to participate in and support the activities of ACRL in virtual worlds on an ongoing
basis; to advocate for ACRL and to recruit new members to ACRL in virtual worlds.

FISCAL AND STAFFING IMPACT: Minimal. ACRL staff will need to work with the ACRL
Member Services office to ensure that the new interest group is added as a dues
product to the membership form before September 2009. Staff will also need to
update the ACRL web site to include information about the IG and work with the ALA
ITTS department to add this group to ALA Connect.

See the June 23, 2009 post in ACRL Board of Directors (Association of College and Research Libraries) from Katie Coombes, UPDATED Board II Agenda and Documents now available, which includes the following pertinent documents as PDF file attachments:

Doc 31.0 ACRL Second Life Task Force Final Report 2009.pdf - 27.6 KB 

Doc 5.0 Virtual Worlds Interest Group ACRL_Board_Action_Form.pdf - 101.95 KB

(excerpts)

The ACRL Second Life Task Force has been operating within the virtual world of Second
Life since 2007. In that time we have provided programming and professional networking
for ACRL members and potential members within Second Life. Educators are increasingly
using virtual worlds for both distance and traditional classes. Librarians involved in virtual
environments have found that in addition to the opportunity to support academics, many
opportunities exist for professional networking and continuing education for library
professionals.

The ACRL Second Life Task Force sunsets in 2009 and the recommended ACRL Virtual
Worlds Interest Group will continue and expand upon the initiatives of the Task Force by
including any virtual environment where educators, library professionals, and library
students operate. The ACRL Board has approved the recommendation of the ACRL
Second Life Task Force to find a volunteer to manage the ACRL in Second Life space on
ALA’s sim in Second Life.

Our charge is to provide support and oversight for a designated volunteer to manage the
Second Life presence of ACRL; to facilitate communication and collaboration for ACRL
members and potential members involved in or interested in virtual worlds for professional
activities; to participate in and support the activities of ACRL in virtual worlds on an ongoing
basis; to advocate for ACRL and to recruit new members to ACRL in virtual worlds.

FISCAL AND STAFFING IMPACT: Minimal. ACRL staff will need to work with the ACRL
Member Services office to ensure that the new interest group is added as a dues
product to the membership form before September 2009. Staff will also need to
update the ACRL web site to include information about the IG and work with the ALA
ITTS department to add this group to ALA Connect.

See the June 23, 2009 post in ACRL Board of Directors (Association of College and Research Libraries) from Katie Coombes, UPDATED Board II Agenda and Documents now available, which includes the following pertinent documents as PDF file attachments:

Doc 31.0 ACRL Second Life Task Force Final Report 2009.pdf - 27.6 KB 

Doc 5.0 Virtual Worlds Interest Group ACRL_Board_Action_Form.pdf - 101.95 KB

(excerpts)

The ACRL Second Life Task Force has been operating within the virtual world of Second
Life since 2007. In that time we have provided programming and professional networking
for ACRL members and potential members within Second Life. Educators are increasingly
using virtual worlds for both distance and traditional classes. Librarians involved in virtual
environments have found that in addition to the opportunity to support academics, many
opportunities exist for professional networking and continuing education for library
professionals.

The ACRL Second Life Task Force sunsets in 2009 and the recommended ACRL Virtual
Worlds Interest Group will continue and expand upon the initiatives of the Task Force by
including any virtual environment where educators, library professionals, and library
students operate. The ACRL Board has approved the recommendation of the ACRL
Second Life Task Force to find a volunteer to manage the ACRL in Second Life space on
ALA’s sim in Second Life.

Our charge is to provide support and oversight for a designated volunteer to manage the
Second Life presence of ACRL; to facilitate communication and collaboration for ACRL
members and potential members involved in or interested in virtual worlds for professional
activities; to participate in and support the activities of ACRL in virtual worlds on an ongoing
basis; to advocate for ACRL and to recruit new members to ACRL in virtual worlds.

FISCAL AND STAFFING IMPACT: Minimal. ACRL staff will need to work with the ACRL
Member Services office to ensure that the new interest group is added as a dues
product to the membership form before September 2009. Staff will also need to
update the ACRL web site to include information about the IG and work with the ALA
ITTS department to add this group to ALA Connect.