2018 MLA Annual Conference

The cataloging and metadata management world has undergone many trials and pilots lately as libraries continue to transition to new ways of interacting with the larger information universe. Libraries are starting to publish and consume linked data, through vendors and on their own. Join Minitex staff for an update as we address successes and failures of linked data in practice, BIBFRAME development work, and other emerging cataloging topics.

When Chief Brody first sees the shark in Jaws he backs away from the stern of the Orca and quietly, but certainly, tells Quint, "You're gonna need a bigger boat." That one line, combined with a terrific delivery by Roy Scheider, packs a great deal of contextual information into six words. Packing meaning into finite space is a key concept in Data Visualization. In this session, Mark and Trish will discuss the fundamentals of human visual perception, including the important distinction between pre-attentive and attentive processing. We will use fun examples from films like The Wizard of Oz, The Incredibles, and Star Wars to show important aspects of visual analysis around color, form, position, and motion. By the end of this session attendees will have a solid understanding of the importance of data visualization and the best strategies to effectively convey meaning with graphs and charts.

Why are libraries managed the way they are? This session will introduce principles from "Critical Management Studies" in order to take a metaphorical step back and reexamine the "taken-for-granteds" in library management and workplaces. What historical and social trends influenced our current ways of operating? How does the language we use affect the way we work? For library managers, critical interrogation of workplace norms and practices can help move the needle on complex problems. Library workers are also included and welcomed more fully as partners in strategy and planning. After introducing participants to theories for thinking critically about our workplaces, I will share several activities through which all library staff can engage with these ideas, such as Critical Action Learning, Critical Reflective Practice, and Learning Communities. Participants will have time to practice one of these techniques in small groups, tackling representative library cases or real-life examples from their own libraries.

The Kathryn A. Martin Library at the University of Minnesota Duluth has utilized LibGuides as a content management and teaching tool since 2009. This product proved to be a favorite tool of librarians and staffers alike. Over time, an extensive collection of subject, project, event, and miscellaneous guides proliferated. With the migration to LibGuides 2.0 and a recent move to Drupal, the Library Web Team saw an opportunity to implement gradual, necessary, and useful changes that would benefit students, faculty, and librarians. As a result of extensive UX testing, we converted to a new navigation system, added CSS, developed best practices, and offered training and support to library staff. We’ll explore the preparations, conversations, and processes that slimmed and standardized our guides.

Join the Minnesota Digital Library's Metadata Librarian and Outreach Coordinator for a sampling of the current projects, services, and digital resources offered by the Minnesota Digital Library. Minnesota Digital Library is a leading force in digital project development in the upper Midwest. MDL served as one of the original six services hubs to the Digital Public Library of America; and continues to provide innovative leadership related to both our projects and metadata efforts. MDL serves as an emerging leader in the development of the Rights Statements Standardization project and is consistently recognized for our metadata standards work. The MDL staff members will provide an overview of the Minnesota Reflections Primary Source Set project, recent efforts with geospatial metadata, Minnesota Reflections' new discovery layer, the MDL Rights Statements Standardization Project, and the new equipment loan program Scan for Keeps. The overview will be combined with an analysis of how our work will change and grow in the near future, using the findings of recent analysis work such as the 2018 Minnesota Reflections Gap Analysis and our conversations with contributors on future planning. There will be time for live demonstrations of some of our projects and resources, as well as information on how the library community can get involved in the work we do. We also plan time for questions.

Should libraries retire their print collections? Will Google eventually replace reference services entirely? During the past year the CLIC consortium (made up of six academic libraries in the Twin Cities) used David Lewis' book Reimagining the Academic Library as a common text for discussing the future of academic libraries. Lewis' book lays out the forces shaping librarianship today and makes a number of fairly radical recommendations to libraries considering their futures. During the first half of this session, we'll summarize the themes and ideas Lewis sees as key to the survival of academic libraries, and how CLIC libraries are currently acting on some of them. For the second half we want to hear from you - what forces are shaping the future of your library and how are you responding? We have learned a lot from each other, and we are excited to continue the conversations with MLA attendees.

Seven years ago both Kathy and Janice presented a session at MLA about the role of the special Library as an "information commons" within a landscape arboretum and an art museum. Over the past few years, collaboration has become one of the most defining features for the way that these Libraries work. As cultural heritage institutions assess what culture means for today's audiences, so the Libraries in these settings must also have an understanding of the broader cultural environment. And for special libraries, this means that collaboration, outreach and creativity must become prime components of the Librarian's toolkit in working with others in order to advance the mission, vision and strategic vision of the institution as a whole.

Recent articles in Library Journal and American Libraries have featured the emergence of Virtual Reality (VR) technology. In the near future, this emerging technology will challenge librarians to think about its use as an information resource, as well as another programming tool. This session will present a hands-on demonstration of the HTC Vive virtual reality headset. A brief presentation will focus on using the technology in the community, both in programming as well as engaging your community in recognizing the library as a leading resource in cutting edge technology. Information regarding costs and technical requirements will also be available. Come experience what all the VR fuss is about, and get a chance to step into a virtual world and discuss the ways in which your library can use this new technology to be a leader in your community.

Come and hear about services available from the Minnesota Braille and Talking Library including how patrons receive customized materials based on their reading interests. Session will include information on the download service, Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD), and the library's new online catalog.