Conference Updates
Tips for Successful Conference Live-TweetingMar 16 2015 - 8:36pmOne of the best, most useful ways to get more out of a conference experience is by participating in a back-channel conversation using the official conference hashtag on the social media platform of your choice. It's also a great way to see Twitter at its best: hashtagged conversations from conferences are rich, fast-moving, and provide opportunities for people outside the conference to learn from what's going on. They're also a good way to find out what's happening at sessions you can't attend (unless you've got a Time-Turner) and for presenters to continue the conversation with participants once a given session is over.
Participate along with us during the 2015 NJLA Conference by using #NJLA15.
If you're new to Twitter or just want to brush up your live-tweeting skills, this handy one-sheet should point you in the right direction. See you at Ocean Place!
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Unique Learning Opportunities -- and Lunch!Mar 14 2015 - 3:42pm
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The Power of FriendsMar 10 2015 - 4:43pmThe Power of Friends: A special preconference aimed at those great volunteer supporters of libraries! We all know that $100,000s of dollars and 100,000s of hours are donated each year through Friends groups in New Jersey’s libraries. Be it in public, academia, or schools, these selfless individuals, working together and with library staff, supply the extras – and in some cases the necessities – of library service. So: how can we help all these Friends be even better? Well, we can start with encouragement, new ideas, and support. This year, NJLA is offering a special preconference program targeted at Friends members, library administration and Library Trustees, to begin a concerted effort to engage and support all different types of Friends of the Library groups. The program will begin at 1:00pm on Monday, April 20 at the Ocean Place Resort and Spa with an introduction from NJLA President-elect James Keehbler, Director of Piscataway Public Library, and continues with a keynote address from Leslie Burger, Executive Director of Princeton Public Library and past president of both NJLA and ALA. Following the welcome address, attendees will break up into specific groups to talk about what works in the areas of book sales, memberships, fund-raising, and programming. After a break, Keith McCoy, Assistant Director of the Somerset County Library System, will coordinate the reporting from the breakout groups and then facilitate discussion around the question "What would state-wide support for New Jersey Friends’ groups look like?" At 4:00pm, we will wrap up the preconference with a summary and a call for volunteers to take whatever next steps seem appropriate. To support and encourage participation among our Friends groups, a special rate of just $25 per person is available to Friends for this preconference. (Please note that library staff and trustees pay the standard NJLA member or non-member rates to attend.) Take an afternoon at the ocean and get invigorated with The Power of Friends. Register today, right here -- or print this form!
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Why Conference is Good for Everyone . . .Mar 10 2015 - 3:05pm. . . Even those who know everything already! Have you been working as a librarian for years? Do you feel confident in your skills? Are you satisfied with your current position? Well then, why attend the NJLA Conference??!! Hear why seasoned librarians Doug Baldwin, Emerging Librarian at Piscataway Public Library, and Laura Leonard, Teen and Reference Librarian at Hillsdale Public Library, continue to go to Conference year after year.
LL: Attending Conference is a fantastic way to meet new colleagues and strengthen existing connections. Without hearing from inspiring colleagues, I’d most likely be stuck in a rut feeling. DB: I go to Conference to recharge the intellectual batteries. It is so easy to get caught in our daily frustrations, so hearing about new ideas or speaking with our colleagues can give us that energetic recharge that we need to return to our libraries with new focus and drive to start something new, improve something old, or something in-between. LL: Have you been considering a new program or approach, but aren’t quite ready to take the plunge? Avoid the pitfalls and benefit from tips provided during the many fantastic programs. DB: There is always room to learn something new. No matter how many years you have been in the trenches, there is always something new to learn from a colleague, or a Conference program that can make you see something in a different light.
DB: Diversity. Our libraries and communities are do different and unique. It is always a great experience to hear about what other libraries, and other communities are doing, and thinking about and reflecting upon how that might work or benefit your community. LL: It’s a chance to blow off some steam. Everyone faces frustrations at work, maybe talking to a colleague will help shift your perspective and lead you towards a solution. Possibly the early morning yoga will be the stress reliever your need! DB: New partnerships and collaborations. You never know who you are going to meet, network or talk with at Conference that could spark a shared program idea or collaborative project pilot. Likewise, you may find out about a community partner or organization that might be right for you to reach out to for something for your community. DB: Mentoring. I think it is in our blood as a profession to want to help others -- and this goes for our more newly minted colleagues as well. Conference is a great opportunity to connect with those new to our profession, offer words of advice, hear from them about new trends, and provide a helping hand as they begin to grow within the profession.
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Come Conference with Your Colleagues at the Jersey ShoreMar 9 2015 - 10:05amDid you know that the New Jersey Library Association (NJLA) offers a special rate for out-of-state attendees? If you live outside of New Jersey and you are a member of your own state library association, then you are eligible to attend our annual Conference at the NJLA Personal Member rate! Professional development is learning from dynamic speakers and informative handouts. But it’s also more than that. The NJLA Conference experience is about connecting, collaborating, and socializing with people outside of your typical professional network. It’s about making friends, exploring new ideas, and engaging with your fellow librarians and library professionals. To enhance these opportunities and foster new relationships, we encourage our colleagues from outside of New Jersey to attend our annual Conference. Featured keynote speakers this year will be public innovator Rich Harwood and librarian/technologist Jason Griffey, plus a president’s program with WCBS radio personality Joe Connolly, a "Librarians on the Edge of Fashion" show, and much, much more! See our schedule for a full listing of program sessions and special events. So come down (or up) to the Jersey Shore this April, stay at the newly renovated Ocean Place Resort and Spa, and be a part of the New Jersey Library Association. If only for a few days. Register today! Early bird rate ends on March 30.
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College & University Librarians – There’s Never Been a Better Time to Attend NJLA!Mar 5 2015 - 3:36pmThere's Never Been a Better Time to Attend NJLAThe 2015 NJLA Conference is loaded with programs tailored to the needs and interests of college and university librarians. This year, the sessions sponsored and co-sponsored by the College and University Section are spread throughout the Conference, with a Preconference on Monday, six programs on Tuesday, and another six on Wednesday. Experience the full Conference for three days of professional development, networking, and learning about Libraries on the Edge. Continue reading for descriptions of the programs sponsored and co-sponsored by the College and University Section! MONDAY
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Pre-Conference Programs at #NJLA15Feb 16 2015 - 1:38pmPreconferences offer a unique opportunity to extend the experience of a conference. While you may think, “two days is plenty of days for a conference, why do I need to extend that?”, what people often do not realize is that the sessions are very different from what you would expect on the regularly scheduled sessions. With more hands-on and active participation than can be afforded in a typical conference session, the preconference allows room and time for brainstorming and collaboration, a genuine exchange of ideas that enriches the experiences to come throughout the rest of the conference. Not only are preconferences valuable in terms of professional development and gain, but they also are a bit less overwhelming than your usual conference session days. With less people, and less sessions, there is more room for discussion and meeting up with old friends or making new ones. Instead of running between sessions to try to catch bits and pieces of as many as you can, you and enjoy the one you choose without the pressure of where to go next. Sounds nice, right? The preconference might offer a less expensive, one day option for those who cannot make it for the full event, but it also allows for a more full and complete conference experience for those who can stay through at least Tuesday. The Monday evening following the preconference sessions is full of unique professional and networking experiences. If all of that does not sell you on attending the NJLA 2015 Preconference, check out our topics below, with more detailed descriptions in our schedule. Register today!
And for more on Monday evening events:
As an added bonus, you’ll be among the first to check out the new and most popular items at the NJLA Store, and if you stay overnight you’ll also be able to participate in early morning yoga overlooking the beach. So what were your reasons for NOT joining us on Monday, again? See you there!
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Share a Room, Share a Ride!Feb 5 2015 - 10:15amHow are you planning on getting to NJLA? Looking for a roommate? The NJLA Conference committee is now offering a new roommate matching service alongside our ride-share program! How room-sharing works: The NJLA Conference Committee is using a short survey to match interested attendees with roommates for hotel accommodations at conference. While we aren’t making the room reservations for you, after matches are made we will pass along your potential roommate’s details through email. It will be your responsibility to reach out to your match and make your conference reservations. Sign-ups for roommate matching and ride-share must be made by Monday, March 23 and potential matches will be emailed to you later that week! How ride-sharing works: Join the ride-share listserv at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/njla-conference-rideshare/join. Then you can post to the listserv by sending a message to njla-conference-rideshare@googlegroups.com to let people know that you are interested in sharing a ride to Conference. This is not just for people who are looking for a ride, but also intended for people who are planning to drive and looking for company. Why you should use our Ride-Share and Roommate Matching Service?
To find out more or sign up to be matched, fill out these forms: Roommate Match and Ride-Share.
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Introducing the New & Improved Ocean Place Resort and Spa!Feb 2 2015 - 5:00pm
New carpets, light fixtures, chairs and other details have brightened up meeting spaces and breakout rooms. There is also free, upgraded wi-fi available throughout the meeting spaces to accommodate the many attendees who will be using devices and laptops during the conference. Situated along the boardwalk at Long Branch, Ocean Place has always featured beautiful views of the ocean (almost to the point of distraction in some meeting rooms!), and some of the renovations have highlighted these views and created additional spaces for visitors to enjoy the outdoors and the calming seaside atmosphere, including an outdoor Tiki Bar. Fortunately, even if the weather is cool, conference attendees can still take a dip in the indoor pool located on the first floor regardless of whether the outdoor pool on the mezzanine level is open. The dining area near the front lobby, where luncheons will be held during this year’s conference, has been fully updated and now features a large bar front and center. This space, now called the Seaview Restaurant and Lounge, will be a great place for networking events and mixers as well as a place to meet with friends and colleagues after conference hours. We expect that many attendees will gather at the seating area near the bar for conversation (about libraries, of course) and maybe play a game or two of pool.
Whether this is your first NJLA conference or you are familiar with the location, Ocean Place will feel fresh and new. With so much to see and enjoy, you may want to extend your stay or return for a visit on your own! For more photos, visit the Ocean Place website: www.oceanplace.com. For more information about completing your conference experience with an overnight stay, you can also take a look at the NJLA Conference website: http://njlaconference.info. |
Making the Case for ConferenceJan 22 2015 - 8:57am
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Lightning Lunch and Learn
Effective Training: Understanding and Assisting Adult Learners -- Discover what makes adult learners unique and how to identify different learning styles. Find out how using different training styles can maximize the effectiveness of training efforts by matching them to the different learning styles. This session will offer content that is appropriate for presenters and classroom trainers as well as those conducting one-on-one or small-group training. (Tuesday, 3:10-4:00)
As you know, the NJLA Conference is returning to the 
Let’s band together to try to make sure that April 20-22 is warm and sunny!
Conference attendees are encouraged to take advantage of the well-appointed rooms at Ocean Place and stay overnight rather than making a daytrip. All of the hotel’s 256 
20 Reasons You Should Make the 2015 Conference the Best Yet!
Show how much you can save if you register and book travel and accommodations early. Consider factoring in the savings for traveling together with a colleague or co-worker. Or use our ride-share / room-share service to find a fellow librarian to drive down and/or split a room with.Pages
