Photo: Jane Dysart
Reflecting on how online learning and professional development learning has been transformed over the year by COVID and by other factors, this conversation brings back Jane Dysart, Program Director of Internet Librarian 2021. Jane is a member of IFLA’s Knowledge Management Standing Committee and a past member of Continuing Professional Development Committee and Workplace Learning Standing Committee. Missed the first part of the conversation? See here!
Ray: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me! It’s been almost 11 months since we last chatted about online conferences, the impact of COVID-19 and your thoughts in shifting into digital learning. What lessons or insights can you share with us about your thoughts with professional development learning?
Jane: Charlene Li, https://www.charleneli.com/, author, consultant, digital transformation & disruptive leadership expert, said last year when speaking at the first virtual KMWorld event, that in times of crisis innovation soars. I truly believe that as we are seeing more user friendly, and easy to use, collaborative platforms and learning environments. Our skills are increasing as we use a wider variety of new and exciting tools. For example, the subject-oriented standing committees of IFLA are now doing many targeted virtual events that are reaching a global audience. Awesome!! The growth in interactive learning environments has not only opened up the playing field for those seeking professional development, but also to those who have wonderful expertise to share that we would not otherwise experience in our local venues.
I think we will continue to see these types of virtual events as well as in-person events. I’m not sure about hybrid events that offer both in-person and virtual participation in a big way, but as I said, innovation is the name of the game these days and we will see more in the future for professional development and learning environments, especially in the area of extended reality development meeting tools – augmented and virtual reality being the foremost ones. If you want more about that, talk to Chad Mairn, Librarian, Innovation Lab Manager, St. Petersburg College, he’s a popular Computers in Libraries and Internet Librarian instructor who leads some sessions in VR, and some do not require the wearing of goggles!
Ray: The Internet Librarian 2021 is celebrating its 25th anniversary! It is held in-person on Oct 25-28, 2021 in Monterey CA, USA. What are some of your favorite memories that you’d like to share?
Jane: Wow, there are so many wonderful past experiences from Internet Librarian, most of which were held in Monterey but there were a couple in other cities. I remember first meeting Jenny Levine in our Palm Springs venue, the retail shopping at close by retail outlets in San Diego, the fabulous auditorium in Pasadena that is often used for Hollywood events. I certainly remember so many of our excellent speakers/practitioners who share their experiences so we can all learn, but there are few keynotes who stand out to me – Vint Cerf, author J. A. Jance, Nina Simon, Howard Rheingold, Roy Tennant vs Rich Wiggins on the Next Big Library, entrepreneurial women software innovators, students from Monterey area schools, Lee Raine, Danny Sullivan, and so many more!!
Many of my favorite memories revolve around people and the fun interactions: our evening fun/learning events that have included skits, wrestling matches, music, debates, games as well as an earthquake which California resident Cindy Hill immediately pointed out was happening as the chandeliers were shaking; our extra-curricular activities like Karaoke, Whale Watching, guided walking tours, butterfly sanctuary in Pacific Grove, the lone pine we use in many of pics, in-town farmers market, Portola Plaza concerts and art sales, Fisherman’s Wharf and all it’s great restaurants; and of course, our fabulous audience representing all types of libraries and organizations. And then there are all the fog incidents causing travel havoc in many ways including several workshop leaders to participate from the Denver and other airports; the seals barking or climbing on boats in the bay; the Hallowe’en pumpkin contest at the Portola. As I say, just so many wonderful members over the last 25 years of the internet (so new when we began!) and Internet Librarian. You really stimulated me with this question and I’ve now tweeted and put on Internet Librarian’s Facebook page that we’d like more people’s memories of Internet Librarian shared and perhaps even highlighted in a 25th anniversary and pandemic breakout party at our event in October! Stay tuned for more details!
Ray: Any sessions in the upcoming conference you’d like to highlight?
Absolutely! Our theme, Call To Action: Innovation In Library Technology & Communities has sparked many interesting and diverse speakers for Internet Librarian 2021. Our program has just gone live online, http://internet-librarian.infotoday.com/2021/Agenda.aspx, with key themes around search and discovery, digital presence, community engagement (especially during and after COVID-19), insights and practices in data, content management and open access, management, technology updates (especially the latest in Makerspaces, Innovation Labs, XR, AI, Robotics as well as library and meeting platforms), innovative practices and the future for libraries!
We start with pre-conference workshops on a range of topics, http://internet-librarian.infotoday.com/2021/Program.aspx. Our keynote speakers include: the former Smithsonian and U.N. tech visionary Michael Edson, a popular and thought provoking speakers representing the entire GLAM community; author Alex Deschamps-Sonsino, on ideas from her new book, Creating a Culture of Innovation; and long-time knowledge management guru Jean-Claude Monney who sparked so much interest a few years ago when he talked to internet librarians about Skype applications (like auto translation) when they were purchased by Microsoft where he worked at the time; as well as our traditional closing panel of librarians on challenges and opportunities for 2022+! Returning favorites: Games & Gadgets featuring a VR meeting experience and lots of new tech entrepreneurs, Showcase Networking Reception, Evening learning event populated by information/library community students in “Wheel of Library Vision: Listening to Different Voices”. New networking feature: early bird chat arounds over breakfast before the morning keynote, some great topics!
Ray: Finally, we discussed what trends you were seeing for the international library community — are these trends that you described still valid and/or are there other emerging ones?
Well, I mentioned earlier about IFLA units doing more global online events making our library and information world much more connected throughout the year and I do think this is a terrific new trend that will continue and hopefully we will also do more cross-fertilization with other types of organizations who could become partners in the journey to fulfilling the world’s critical challenges and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We need to build more partnerships with organizations who can help us in our communities in many different ways. For instance, with emerging new collaborative technologies like the SLA Canada chapter who is doing a free workshop on “Standing Tall: Articulating Our Value” on a new meeting platform, Airmeet. Or, with broadband providers who can help our goal of bridging the digital divide. Or with other health-related or social groups who can support our outreach to our community.
Last time you asked me about trends I said, “I really believe we need to reset, not look for a new normal or try to fit the old ways into the new environment, but really rethink what we want to accomplish in our communities.” I believe our community has definitely been innovative and creative (and have been recognized for doing so in lots of press), and will continue to do so in the coming future – we still have many challenges in our world! I also said, “We definitely need to build up our digital collections in libraries with many different learning and discovery avenues, such as couch safaris to different places, zoos, museums, art galleries, aquariums, etc; virtual bird watching expeditions using webcams all over the world; as well as open access to our research and scientific resources and lots more. I think we need to build more relationships with our communities (academic campuses, municipalities, enterprises, schools), bridging many of these communities in our geographic locations. We also need to look for strong partners as IFLA always says – stronger together. We need support from many new and diverse partners.” I do think libraries have definitely strengthened their digital collections and services, and they will only get stronger in the future since we’ve engaged new muscles in this area. Keep flexing them! I still think we need to do more to build more relationships and partnerships. Our work is never done!
Thanks for asking me these questions, they never fail to energize me and spark new ideas!
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