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This fall The Education Institute of The Partnership of Canadian library associations will be offering a series of audio conferences called Tech Tuesdays: Talking with Techies.  The Nova Scotia Provincial Library will be hosting these and there is one coming up on September 27th on "Instant Messaging and Collaboration" with Aaron Schmidt, a reference librarian at Thomas Ford Memorial Library, Western Springs, Illinois.  A recent survey indicated that nearly 70 percent of the U.S. university Internet population used Instant Messaging (IM). Schmidt covers research, applications, case studies, usage, workflow impact, and ethics of IM. He looks at the many uses of IM, from in-house staff communication to the delivery of content and discussions with customers, as well as utilizing IM to confer and plan with colleagues no matter where they are. He shares the success of IM at his public library with teens in the community.

The Benefits
This interactive interview with an experienced podcaster and librarian focuses on the concepts and uses of podcasting as well as tools and tips for libraries looking to try podcasting in their environments.

Who Should Participate?
Anyone looking for innovative ideas and practices for their library and new technologies that can be applied in their environment to share information and knowledge and attract customers and users.

Key Topics
What is podcasting?
How can podcasting be used in libraries?
Tools necessary for podcasting
Tips for creating podcasts
Cool podcasts for librarians
How to find podcasts in your topic
Further resources

About Aaron Schmidt:
Like many young people, Aaron Schmidt loves electronic gadgets. But not for their own sake. He believes the future of libraries depends on how well we meet the needs of today's young adults, who are far more tech-fluent than most librarians. As reference librarian and all-around technology guru at Thomas Ford Memorial Library, Schmidt created the library's Web site using Movable Type, a publishing platform familiar to anyone who reads or publishes blogs. On the site, he offers reference by way of instant messaging. Better yet, on the homework help page, his message reads, "You may find what you need with these links, but don't give up if you don't. In most cases, getting in touch with the library will be faster, and you'll get a better answer. AIM us: thommyford." It did the trick. As Schmidt wrote in his own blog, Walking Paper www.walkingpaper.com, "Today I received my 100th question via AIM. We've increased our availability to patrons for no cost... I've done more YA readers' advisory in the past two months than I have in the previous two years. I can't help but think that I'm breathing some life into libraries for these kids." Jenny Levine, Suburban Library System, IL, says it's a "testament to his personality and abilities that he has become so prominent in just one year."

This program was developed for the Education Institute by Jane Dysart, founding partner of Dysart & Jones, Toronto.

SESSION DETAILS:
Time: Tuesday, September 27th, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Place: Conference Room, Nova Scotia Provincial Library, 3770 Kempt Road, Halifax
Format:  One hour audio conference
This session is free but registration is limited on a first come basis.
Parking is available in front of the building.

Please respond to Carol Morris at [log in to unmask] or by phone at 424-2477 if you would like to attend this session.

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We respectfully request that you refrain from wearing any scented products, including perfume, hair spray, cologne, deodorant, etc. and we thank you for your cooperation.
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