Conference gets new sessions, technology at the forefront

The University Library will hold its annual Library Live! conference from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 26. The conference allows faculty and graduate students to learn about new research resources that can be put to use in their teaching.

“Library Live is a great event, and it really helps to forge partnerships between the library and the rest of the campus,” said assistant professor Vanessa Earp, who runs a session at the conference. “It provides a unique opportunity for the librarians to showcase new resources and to demonstrate how we can assist faculty and students.”

This year’s conference will feature new programs, and the deadline to register for the event is tomorrow.

“We have a lot of new programs,” said assistant professor Julie Gedeon, who helps run the event. “I would say that (this year) there is a heavy emphasis on technology.”

During the conference, faculty will have the opportunity to meet with experts who can help them with any problems or questions they may have.

“When we started, we were stuck with a few programs,” Gedeon said. “But this year we have added a lot of new sessions.”

Most of the sessions are about using technology to help faculty make their lectures more interactive, especially in online classes.

Media Services Manager Gary Mote, who is running one of the more popular sessions on e-portfolios, thinks his sessions have gained popularity because of the recent increase in the interest of technology.

“I think the faculty is starting to learn the value of an e-portfolio,” Mote said. “It really is an easy way to help you document your achievements.”

Mote feels that the e-portfolio is a useful tool for showing tenure and promoting yourself. He also hopes faculty will share this with their students.

“It’s important to make the faculty more comfortable with the technology,” Mote said. “If we can do that, they will implement it in their classes so students can use it as well.”

Another popular first-year session is “Proving Your Worth,” which shows faculty how to properly do citation reports and impact analysis.

“President Lefton and Provost Frank have mentioned in public forums that they believe faculty should have an impact on their discipline,” said Earp. “Using citation analysis is one way of demonstrating impact on a discipline.”

Earp also said that the library has resources that can help faculty determine how many times their articles have been cited.

Many members who run a session agree that the main goal is to create a ripple effect.

“If we show the faculty how to use these services, they will show their students,” said Gedeon. “That is the main goal, for these resources to be shown and available to everyone.”

Registration for the Library Live! 2010 conference is available at www.library.kent.edu/librarylive.

Contact libraries and

information reporter

Ryan Stainbrook

at [email protected].