July 2015 SEFLIN Regional Conference

 

  

Conference Review by
Guest Blogger

Reference Librarian Alyse McKeal
PBSC Library-Lake Worth Campus

 




Image Credit: https://www.facebook.com/SEFLINRegionalConference

This year’s Southeast Florida Library Information (SEFLIN) Regional Conference took place on July 23rd at the FIU Kovens’ Conference Center in Miami. The theme of the conference was forming connections and was appropriately titled, 2015 SEFLIN Regional Conference: Connections: Libraries, Users, and Technology.  The conference seemed better attended than ever as was evidenced by the noise level and crowds observed bustling about the conference center. Furthermore, there appeared to be a full house during the Keynote Address, luncheon and presentations, overall.

 

 



Image Credit: https://www.facebook.com/SEFLINRegionalConference

The day began with breakfast and a networking session for conference attendees from all over Florida.  Next was Stephen Grubb’s poignant and eloquent keynote address entitled, “The Fall of RadioShack and the Renaissance of the Public Library.”  Mr. Grubb comes from the Broward County Library system, where he has been extremely effective at developing, planning, and managing technologies to keep the Library System relevant and on point in meeting patrons’ needs.  His keynote focused on the need for libraries to grow and evolve to meet patrons’ needs, similar to what Apple has done, since its inception.  He inspired attendees to reflect on the status of their individual libraries to determine whether there was a need for a “renaissance” or if they were continuing to grow, evolve, and stay pertinent for library patrons, so as to keep patrons coming back.  Mr. Grubb’s analogy of RadioShack versus Apple was a meaningful example of what it takes to be successful in the field of business, and may be an applicable paradigm for libraries. Attendees left the keynote pondering the question of, “Is my library a ‘RadioShack’ or is it an “Apple?” Stephen Grubb continues to challenge and inspire libraries throughout Florida and the nation, due to his presentation being freely available online.
 

Image Credit: Alyse McKeal

Immediately following the keynote were the Poster sessions, which were located in two alcoves within the conference center. The subject matter for the posters ranged from archiving, robotics, information literacy, collaboration between libraries and other support areas such as, digitization, streaming audio and web applications, and technology for maximizing online reference, presentations and meetings.  Unlike regular presentations, the poster sessions were only allotted 30 minutes which may have impacted attendance for these sessions, although some of the posters went longer than the 30 minutes. 



Image Credit: Alyse McKeal

 

Some of the highlights from the day include a variety of formal and informal presentation sessions. The formal sessions focused on such topics as: engaging students; how to do library instruction with iPad Scavenger hunts: creation stations; digital literacy trends; techniques for keeping up with trends in librarianship; and apps for collection development.  Many of these sessions provided attendees with options to work in small groups and collaborate on hands-on assignments. In addition to the formal presentations, less formal, five minute presentations called, “TechSpace Lightning Talks,” were heavily attended. These are a rather new feature of the SEFLIN Regional Conference, having originated at the 2014 SEFLIN Regional Conference, and appear to be trending at library conferences, in general. Statistics and user experience; enhancing student engagement; and cloud archives were some of the topics presented in these brief presentations.

 

Image Credit: https://www.facebook.com/SEFLINRegionalConference

This provided attendees with more time to visit the Conference Sponsors and to further network.  During the luncheon, SEFLIN’s Executive Director, Jeannette Smithee, was recognized for over 47 years of service to libraries, and also for her upcoming retirement this year. She was given a standing ovation for all of her efforts and hard work, but especially for her ten years with SEFLIN. Jeannette was then honored with gifts of appreciation.
 

Another popular feature of the conference that attendees look forward to is the possibility of their number being drawn for a free door prize.  Several conference attendees received door prizes during the lunch hour. A sampling of the prizes included professional development and training opportunities, books, golf outings, gift cards, and much more.
 



Image Credit: Alyse McKeal

Throughout the day and during lunch, conference sponsors provided information and SWAG (pens, resources, grocery bags, bookmarks, and more) to conference attendees who visited their tables.  Without sponsorship from associations, businesses and educational entities, the SEFLIN Regional Conference would not be as successful or large. The sponsors I had the chance to visit were: the Palm Beach County Library Association (PBCLA), DLSG @ Image Access, the University of South Florida (USF), Broward County Library Association (BCLA), Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC), Garrett Book Company, Recorded Books, and WT Cox Info Service.

Image Credit: https://www.facebook.com/SEFLINRegionalConference

 

This was a tremendous conference and an incredible learning experience! Like virtually all attendees, I left feeling I had learned a great amount.  I am now reenergized and prepared to apply the knowledge and skills gained from attending the SEFLIN Regional Conference 2015 to my work and service opportunities. 

 

 

Book Review

‘Go Set a Watchman’

By Samantha Maclaren

Image Credit: www.amazon.com

 

‘Go Set a Watchman’ in its first week on bookshelves had already surpassed a million copies sold, despite several controversies that have surrounded the publication since its announcement. One controversy even concerns who exactly has rights to the book; Harper Lee, the author, is in increasingly failing health and some doubt the book was published with Lee’s full and knowing authorization.

The murky ethics of allowing the book to be published has been questioned by critics as capitalizing on the recognition of the author rather than publishing one of her complete literary works. ‘Go Set a Watchman’ reads less like the sequel it was intended to be than it does a prequel or, in some parts of the novel, a polished first draft of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. In fact, some who have studied Lee’s literary history contend that ‘Go Set a Watchman’ was a rejected novel, and that a publisher had pointed out to Lee the promise of writing in Scout’s perspective rather than the grown Jean Louise’s. This revelation would eventually lead Lee to write ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’.

That publisher may have had a point regarding Lee’s early writing; in some passages, Jean Louise’s narrative feels distant or awkward, lacking in the deftness that a more experienced writer would have. However, there are still brilliant insights that grasp at the difficult themes of racism, sexism and misplaced nostalgia and, despite some clunkiness, the book’s tragedies still powerfully echo the social violence that persists today. The novel’s dialogues on race, in particular, are better for the author’s bluntness. One quote in particular sums up the somber attitude of the novel themes:

“As sure as time, history is repeating itself, and as sure as man is man, history is the last place he’ll look for his lessons.”

Then, for all its faults, does ‘Go Set a Watchman’ dilute the grand themes of ‘Mockingbird’? Or, does it more clearly reveal Lee’s message: that one’s belief in justice does not also necessarily entail a belief in equality?

‘Go Set a Watchman’ is available at the Lake Worth campus library. To place a request, students must log into their PantherWeb, click the library icon, search for ‘Go Set a Watchman’ and select ‘Request Item’. A PantherCard is required for check out.

 Guest Blogger: Samantha is a Library Tech I at PBSC Library at the Lake Worth Campus

LLRC's Library Assistant II receives her A.S. degree!

Congratulations Nora!
 

 

On Monday, May 11, Palm Beach
State College Library Assistant II,
Nora Homan, graduated from Palm Beach State College with an A.S. degree in Accounting Technology. 

She currently works in the library’s Circulation, Reserves and Archives Departments. 

Nora is planning to continue her studies in the Fall, enrolling in our BAS program.
 

Because of her high grades, Nora was asked to carry one of the 1^st flags

into the 2pm PBSC Graduation Ceremony along with her peers.

We are so happy for Nora and her lifelong

goal to  continue her college  studies in America!




Congratulations on your fantastic journey! 
 

 It’s amazing what you can accomplish and

work full time!



New Librarian-Janet DeVries-Graduates from FSU

Congratulations to Janet!

On Saturday, May 2, Palm Beach State College Library Technician II, Janet DeVries, became a newly minted librarian upon her graduation from the Library and Information Studies Graduate program at Florida State University's School of Information and Communication.

She is a Palm Beach State College Alumni, and competed her Master's Degree in just 20 months while working full-time at Palm Beach State College.

Janet currently works in the library Circulation and Archives Departments on the Lake Worth Campus.  She loves assisting students, faculty, and staff at PBSC with information queries and research needs and looks forward to serving the college in a professional capacity.

We’re very proud of Janet! She worked tirelessly with tremendous strength to meet these amazing goals!