Going to Midwinter? Want a chance to present and boost your CV? Here’s one!

The ACRL New Members Discussion Group invites the submission of proposals for presentation at its meeting at the 2010 ALA Midwinter Conference in Boston, MA on Saturday, January 16, 2010.

Proposals are due by Monday 12/28/2009.

The ACRL New Members Discussion Group is for new (and aspiring) academic librarians. We meet twice a year–at both ALA conferences–to chat about whatever is on our minds. It’s an opportunity for networking and a friendly place to ask any questions you have about succeeding in ACRL. Presenters at this meeting have the opportunity to contribute to the professional development of other academic librarians, gain conference presentation experience, and build their CV. Students are welcome to submit proposals.

This Midwinter conference we want to hear from you on themes relating to Incorporating Technology Tools in Library Instruction. How do you perceive the role of technology in library instruction and how do you handle teaching about technology? We are interested in presentations that share personal experiences with incorporating technology tools, such as customized browser toolbars, screencasting, citation management software, and podcasting into library instruction. The goal of these presentations is to familiarize new and aspiring academic librarians with effective uses of these tools and effective methods of teaching about technology topics. We seek proposals for presentations that address this topic from a variety of angles, including (but not limited to):

  • Examples of effective uses of technology tools in library instruction, either as a means for delivering instruction (for example, creating screencasts about citation management software), or as the topic of instruction (for example, delivering library instruction sessions that teach students how to use tools such as podcasting or citation management software)
  • How to use technology tools to meet specific learning outcomes
  • Successful strategies for promoting library instruction sessions that focus on technology

The ACRL New Members Discussion Group meeting will take place on Saturday January 16, 2010, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Westin Copley Place Essex Center.  Presenters should plan to speak for 10 minutes and allow 5 minutes for questions/discussion. There will be three presentations. Following the presentations, we will open the floor for discussion on the topic, or we can answer your questions about getting involved in national activities and/or academic librarianship in general.

Proposals are due by Monday 12/28/2009. Notification of acceptance will be made by Tuesday 01/05/2010. Please include the following information in your proposal:

  1. A cover sheet with your name, title, institutional affiliation (or LIS program), mailing address, phone number, and email address.
  2. A second sheet that contains no identifying information and includes the title and a 200-300 word description of your presentation. The description should clearly identify the topic of your presentation, your personal experience with this topic, and how your presentation will contribute to new and aspiring librarians’ understanding of how to incorporate technology tools in library instruction.
  3. Keep in mind that there will be no use of technology for these presentations. If your proposal is accepted, you should plan to provide handouts that contain tips, further reading, etc.

Please submit proposal by email to Allie Flanary (ACRL NMDG convener) at aflanary@gmail.com.