HealthCampNYC: Using Collective Knowledge to Improve Health Literacy and Community Health Through Unconferences

I recently presented a poster session on HealthCampNYC: Using Collective Knowledge to Improve Health Literacy and Community Health Through Unconferences at the Medical Library Association 2013 Conference – One Health: Information in an Interdependent World.

More info
HealthCampNYC
HealthCampNYC wiki
HealthCampNYC summary report
LibGuide on unconferences

The unconference concept is new to some attendees. Many of the attendees are interested in organizing unconferences at their libraries and organizations.

Unconferences is one of our areas of focus. Contact us for more info.

Providing a Collaborative Environment for Learning, Sharing, and Relationship-Building – HealthCampNYC Unconference Poster Session at MLA 2013

Are you going to MLA 2013?

Stop by Sunday, May 5th at 1:30-2:30pm at poster #129 in Level 2 Exhibit Hall. I will be presenting a poster session on “HealthCampNYC: Using Collective Knowledge to Improve Health Literacy and Community Health Through Unconferences”.

HealthCampNYC was a regional unconference that brought together over eighty-five educators, librarians, literacy professionals, public health and medical professionals, and people interested in sharing their work, skills, and knowledge about health literacy and community health. The content of the unconference is determined and managed by the attendees. HealthCampNYC offered a collaborative environment with unique opportunities for learning, sharing, and relationship-building.

Learn more about unconferences.

SLA 2012 in the Windy City: Conference Highlights from a SLA Rising Star

SLA 2012 — Seeing people I’ve met at previous SLA conferences, meeting people in-person that I’m connected with on LinkedIn, and meeting completely new people. It was a good conference.

Rapid Fire Consultant Showcase
Consultant or not, information professionals or anyone for that matter, need to have their own pitch or elevator speech and be able to deliver it. Jan Sykes and Lorri Zipperer (the session organizers) provided an informal environment for attendees to deliver their pitches and get feedback from fellow attendees.
Resources to check out:

• Toastmasters
• Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP)

2012 SLA Fellows and Rising Stars Roundtable
This was the third annual SLA Fellows and Rising Stars Roundtable. This year’s umbrella roundtable topic is how technology has changed and has not changed the information profession, with sub-topics grouped by pairs. Each pair consisted of a Rising Star and a Fellow.
The line-up:

• Search and Content Expertise – Ruth Kneale (Fellow) and Chris Zammarelli (Star)
• Engagement with Customers and Users – Scott Brown (Fellow) and Davis Erin Anderson (Star)
• Leadership and Change Management – Ann Cullen (Fellow) and Lisa Chow (Star)
• Organizational Strategy – Chris Olson (Fellow) and Janel Kinlaw (Star)
• Giving Back and Volunteering – Roberto Sarmiento (Fellow) and Moy McIntosh (Star)

User Experience (UX) Caucus Meeting
The UX Caucus, SLA’s newest caucus (formed in January 2011), met for the second time at this year’s SLA conference. Angela Schmeidel Randall, Gretchen McNeely, and I each talked about our work and experiences with usability and user experience.

Congratulations
Congrats to this year’s SLA awardees with a shout-out to fellow Pratt alum (Davis Erin Anderson and Moy McIntosh) on receiving this year’s SLA Rising Star award.

Future Ready
Last year’s SLA conference was in Philadelphia and SLA 2013 will be in San Diego.

SLA 2012: Picks from a SLA Rising Star

SLA 2012 is less than a month away. Here are some of my picks for this year’s SLA conference in Chicago:

Rising Stars and SLA Fellows Roundtable – Monday, July 16 @ 10am
Join us for the 3rd annual Rising Stars and SLA Fellows roundtable. Due to schedule conflicts, I wasn’t able to participate in last year’s roundtable. I’m looking forward to participating in this year’s.

Reinventing Library Skills – Monday, July 16 @ 4pm
Mary Talley will moderate a panel consisting of case studies and practical advice for transporting library skill sets to other areas of the LIS profession or entirely different careers.

Chocolate Reception – Monday, July 16 @ 8pm
It’s a reception with chocolate. There’s nothing more to say. I wonder if there will be chocolate ice cream – it is July in Chicago.

From Info Pro to Info Hero: 5 Easy Ways to Turn Information into Insight – Tuesday, July 17 @ 8am
Mary Ellen Bates will talk about five ways to provide more insight and value in what you send your clients.

Lincoln Park Networking Lunch – Tuesday, July 17 @ 12pm
Free lunch. Networking opportunity. Only wish: lunch in actual park.

User Experience Caucus Roundtable Meeting – Wednesday, July 18 @ 10am
Check out the newest caucus in SLA. This is the 2nd User Experience Caucus meeting.

More SLA 2012 picks.

Quick Guide to Attending Library Conferences on the Cheap

Another year means another round of library conferences that offer opportunities for professional development and networking. Unfortunately, with increasing budget cuts and staff shortages, conference attendance support from your organization may be minimal or non-existent. Similar situation if you’re not working.

Here are some tips & tricks that I’ve picked up along the way (attended over 10 library conferences in the past five years) on attending library conferences on the cheap:

1. Register at the student rate until you can’t anymore. 
2. Apply for travel scholarships, grants and continuing education awards. Most library associations offer them for LIS students, recent graduates, new librarians, etc. Here’s a list from LISjobs to get you started. Also, look into your local and student chapters for scholarship opportunities.
3. Apply for diversity, professional development and leadership programs. Extra program bonus is complimentary conference registration or conference sponsorship opportunities. Look into ALA Spectrum, ALA Emerging Leaders, ARL Diversity Scholars, and SLA Rising Stars.
4. Submit proposals to present at conferences. Not only is it a great way to gain public speaking experience and share your knowledge, the registration fee may be reduced or waived for speakers. Also, your organization may be more likely to support your conference attendance if you’re presenting.
5. Attend on work time. If your organization can’t provide funding support, ask if you can attend on work time.
6. Crash at family/friends’ place or find hotel roommates. Also, consider staying at a cheaper hotel that is a little farther away from the conference but easily & quickly accessible via conference shuttle or public transportation.
7. Be on the look-out for free conference exhibit passes. It will, at least, get you into the exhibits.
8. Buy snacks at a local supermarket/store. You’ll want snacks to munch on when you get hungry and conference/convention center food tends to be blah-tasting and expensive.
9. Be on the look-out for events and receptions with free food. Not only do you get food, they’re great networking opportunities. Also, some conferences such as SLA offer a free meal voucher.
10. Crash. I have yet to try this one.

What are your tips and tricks on attending library conferences on the cheap?