Comments on: ALA Annual 2007 Reflections or Where is my next meeting? http://wanderingeyre.com/2007/07/02/ala-annual-2007-reflections-or-where-is-my-next-meeting/ A bibliophile's musings on books, libraries, the world, life, and anything else that comes to mind Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:55:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Deep Thinking :: Should we meet online? :: July :: 2007 http://wanderingeyre.com/2007/07/02/ala-annual-2007-reflections-or-where-is-my-next-meeting/#comment-11967 Deep Thinking :: Should we meet online? :: July :: 2007 Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:03:46 +0000 http://wanderingeyre.com/2007/07/02/ala-annual-2007-reflections-or-where-is-my-next-meeting/#comment-11967 [...] Range Librarian brought my attention to the blog A Wandering Eyre. Both are discussing ALA with it’s too many meetings and overbooked people double and triple [...] [...] Range Librarian brought my attention to the blog A Wandering Eyre. Both are discussing ALA with it’s too many meetings and overbooked people double and triple [...]

]]> By: Free Range Librarian » Blog Archive » The ALA Conference Meeting Life Cycle http://wanderingeyre.com/2007/07/02/ala-annual-2007-reflections-or-where-is-my-next-meeting/#comment-11965 Free Range Librarian » Blog Archive » The ALA Conference Meeting Life Cycle Tue, 03 Jul 2007 02:53:09 +0000 http://wanderingeyre.com/2007/07/02/ala-annual-2007-reflections-or-where-is-my-next-meeting/#comment-11965 [...] what is that work to date? It is, as Jane at Wandering Eyre points out, the sort of stuff that much of the rest of the information-privileged world now resolves between [...] [...] what is that work to date? It is, as Jane at Wandering Eyre points out, the sort of stuff that much of the rest of the information-privileged world now resolves between [...]

]]> By: Julian http://wanderingeyre.com/2007/07/02/ala-annual-2007-reflections-or-where-is-my-next-meeting/#comment-11963 Julian Tue, 03 Jul 2007 01:37:55 +0000 http://wanderingeyre.com/2007/07/02/ala-annual-2007-reflections-or-where-is-my-next-meeting/#comment-11963 This year's Annual was my first ALA conference. I only attended two "traditional" programs at the conference, in addition to some first-timer programs and events. The second half of the conference consisted of business meetings and discussion/interest groups, though not by original design. I attended the tail end of the BIGWIG meeting, and walked away feeling like I had never been in a better-run meeting in my life. I was told that BIGWIG runs quite differently than other interest or discussion groups. This was likely due to the nature of the topic that brought the group together. Each of my meeting experiences was different (good and not-as-good). One discussion group was extremely structured, and always has its proceedings published in a well-respected journal 18-20 months later (which is 17-19 months too late for those who weren't there). Another interest group was a combination of future program planning, co-chair appointing, and open discussion. And then there was a Round Table business and membership meeting that went on for over four hours. I left that meeting feeling that not a lot was accomplished that day, and that I could not have done much to contribute more than I did. It was obvious to me that working "virtually" was something that this group was not completely comfortable and/or familiar with doing to this point. I had planned on getting on a committee, but when that came up, I couldn't figure out which committees needed volunteers. This never really came up on the RT's online discussion list, either (leading up to the conference). Four hours... and they meet for the same length of time every Midwinter as well. In terms of groups planning conference programs, I agree. One program is a realistic expectation, and a realistic maximum. If a group wants to do more than one program, then I think that any additional programs should be in conjunction with another group (possibly with another division or round table). This year’s Annual was my first ALA conference. I only attended two “traditional” programs at the conference, in addition to some first-timer programs and events. The second half of the conference consisted of business meetings and discussion/interest groups, though not by original design.

I attended the tail end of the BIGWIG meeting, and walked away feeling like I had never been in a better-run meeting in my life. I was told that BIGWIG runs quite differently than other interest or discussion groups. This was likely due to the nature of the topic that brought the group together.

Each of my meeting experiences was different (good and not-as-good). One discussion group was extremely structured, and always has its proceedings published in a well-respected journal 18-20 months later (which is 17-19 months too late for those who weren’t there). Another interest group was a combination of future program planning, co-chair appointing, and open discussion.

And then there was a Round Table business and membership meeting that went on for over four hours. I left that meeting feeling that not a lot was accomplished that day, and that I could not have done much to contribute more than I did. It was obvious to me that working “virtually” was something that this group was not completely comfortable and/or familiar with doing to this point. I had planned on getting on a committee, but when that came up, I couldn’t figure out which committees needed volunteers. This never really came up on the RT’s online discussion list, either (leading up to the conference). Four hours… and they meet for the same length of time every Midwinter as well.

In terms of groups planning conference programs, I agree. One program is a realistic expectation, and a realistic maximum. If a group wants to do more than one program, then I think that any additional programs should be in conjunction with another group (possibly with another division or round table).

]]> By: Katie http://wanderingeyre.com/2007/07/02/ala-annual-2007-reflections-or-where-is-my-next-meeting/#comment-11959 Katie Mon, 02 Jul 2007 23:03:04 +0000 http://wanderingeyre.com/2007/07/02/ala-annual-2007-reflections-or-where-is-my-next-meeting/#comment-11959 Hey Jane, NMRT has had virtual committees for years! They're why I've been so loyal to NMRT since I started getting involved since I couldn't go to every Annual and Midwinter. I, too, think much committee work could easily be stripped down to virtual meetings. IMHO, one of the very, very few exceptions would be awards committees, especially when voting, since that's to be by "secret ballot". Hey Jane, NMRT has had virtual committees for years! They’re why I’ve been so loyal to NMRT since I started getting involved since I couldn’t go to every Annual and Midwinter. I, too, think much committee work could easily be stripped down to virtual meetings. IMHO, one of the very, very few exceptions would be awards committees, especially when voting, since that’s to be by “secret ballot”.

]]> By: nanette http://wanderingeyre.com/2007/07/02/ala-annual-2007-reflections-or-where-is-my-next-meeting/#comment-11958 nanette Mon, 02 Jul 2007 22:57:08 +0000 http://wanderingeyre.com/2007/07/02/ala-annual-2007-reflections-or-where-is-my-next-meeting/#comment-11958 That's not a rumor at all...NMRT has been doing work virtually for years, but that's what happens when you've got a group of new-ish librarians with little or no conference funding! Without working virtually, we'd never get anything done. NMRT will have some cool online programming coming up soon, though...it's in the planning stages, and it should launch in September. That’s not a rumor at all…NMRT has been doing work virtually for years, but that’s what happens when you’ve got a group of new-ish librarians with little or no conference funding! Without working virtually, we’d never get anything done.

NMRT will have some cool online programming coming up soon, though…it’s in the planning stages, and it should launch in September.

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