CiL: run-down, wrap-up, overall impressions

What I’d really like to do is write a perfectly cohesive narrative wrapping-up the past three days neatly, but the fact of the matter is, my brain is still abuzz with ideas and impressions that relate to each other only in the most tenuous of ways. And I thought the 11-ish hours of sleep I got to-day would help. So here’s a list of some things, chances are I’ll add to it as thoughts marinate:

• ITI puts on a good show. A really, really good show. I’m not going to complain about the iffy wifi because you’ve probably already heard all about it, I will say that I was really impressed with how well they took care of the conference bloggers, iffy wifi notwithstanding. Of course, a good tech conference is not all about the wifi (really), it’s also about a great program, thoughtful sessions, and good parties. Check, check, and check.
• Blogging a conference makes the experience better. It just does. It certainly was a lot more work to summarize the sessions and add the linkage after the fact, but I’m glad I did it. It gave me a chance to check out the stuff the speakers pointed out as well as reflect upon what I’d heard. I feel like I really engaged with the content rather than having it simply wash over me. I hope you got something out of it too.
• 2.0 was big, yes, but not as predominant as I thought it would be, which is fine by me. What the 2.0 conversations did solidify for me is that our focus in a 2.0 world is really about making things better for our users, and that’s a definition I can get behind.
• IM is big! Both of the IM sessions I gave were followed by more than 20 minutes of questions and conversations with librarians who are doing it or planning to do it at their libraries. Contacts and business cards were exchanged like crazy, I really hope to hear from the folks I spoke with!
• Wikis are big! Thanks, in no small part, to Meredith wiki-girl Farkas (I mean that in the best possible way, Meredith!). Not only did a few of the speakers touch on their use of wikis during their sessions, but it was also easily the word I overheard the most in hallways and elevators throughout the conference. Cool!
• While “OPAC” may be a bad word, there was more interest in the catalogue and the ILS than I thought possible. Another manifestation of the way we’re trying to make things better for our users? I think so.  And there’s plenty of work yet to do.

[Technorati tag: cil2006]

Hi Amanda,
Just wanted to let you know that I heard you speak on Thursday at CIL — great presentation! Our library has been going back and forth for two years now on implementing a chat or IM service, and I’m glad to hear there are success stories out there. Many on our staff seem to think it would be a HUGE increase in reference responsibilities — from your talk, it doesn’t sound that way at all!
Thanks!
Kate Pitcher
SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo, NY

Hi Kate – glad you found the session useful. Implementing any new service is not without its challenges, but the great thing about implementing IM is that there are so few barriers to entry (low/no cost, minimal training required, etc.) that’s it’s a pretty simple service to pilot to see if it will even work for your user community. Feel free to get in touch if you have any other questions and good luck with it!

I’m learning to accept my title with pride. It’s kind of like when William Shatner finally got over the fact that he would forever be known at Capt. Kirk and embraced it. He’s having a comeback now, so maybe there’s hope for me in the future!

I saw your session on Wed. and Fri. and you did a terrific job promoting IM reference. It was great to finally meet you!

[...] This is the first year I was a blogger at CIL – it’s my first year as a blogger at all – what’s the point? Well I was reading everyone else’s summaries (now that mine are finished) and I saw this bullet point from Amanda Etches-Johnson and I just had to share it here because I agree 100%. Blogging a conference makes the experience better. It just does. It certainly was a lot more work to summarize the sessions and add the linkage after the fact, but I’m glad I did it. It gave me a chance to check out the stuff the speakers pointed out as well as reflect upon what I’d heard. I feel like I really engaged with the content rather than having it simply wash over me. I hope you got something out of it too. [...]

Hi

Just thought I’d say that I just quoted something from this entry on my blog (today, 29 March), when musing about why I’d not blogged a conference during the conference!

Sheila