The 2016 LibTech Conference was another exceptional experience that I feel very fortunate to be able to attend. Thank YOU SAMMIE for continuing to make conferences, workshops, and training opportunities available to all of us through your scholarships.
The Keynote speakers were excellent this year. Keynote speaker Safiya Umoja Noble, PhD, challenged all of us to Reject “neutrality” and “information brokering” , Embrace critical Perspectives on information, Resist “black boxed” technologies, Curate the indexable web too, Remedy colorblind racist/sexist collection development, Eliminate technology over-development and e-waste, and Organize and fight the corporatization (and devaluation) of our libraries. Keynote speaker Andromeda Yelton challenged us to protect ourselves and our libraries from sharing our private information on the internet. I will never look at/ use another copy machine without thinking how vulnerable they are, that is for sure.
A few of my favorite sessions: “Digital Storyteling: Expanding the Life Cycle of a Story. I picked up valuable information on how to tell my libraries story to help with grant writing to spreading the word out about programs and events., “Coding Clubs for Kids” was just what I was looking for, someone who started with some basics and built a great program out of it. , and “Lessons Learned Establishing a Technology Makerspace”. Although this particular Makerspace was for a University setting, I walked away with some great information.
If you have the opportunity to attend the LibTech Conference, do it. I am so glad that I have.