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8:00am Registration Opens
9:15 – 10:30am
The State of the Book in the Digital Age
What’s up with books these days? Books are ordered online, created on demand, and distributed in digital form to individuals and libraries. Many bookstores have closed in recent years, and publishers have had to drastically downsize, retool or go out of business. How have individuals and businesses responded to this new environment? Are books giving a last gasp or being reinvented? An author, a book artist, a publisher and a bookstore owner will give their thoughts on the changing environment for books. Co-presented by the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates
Speakers: Susan Stinson, Author, Writer in Residence at Forbes Library, Northampton; Daniel E. Kelm, Book Artist; Gavin J. Grant, Publisher, Small Beer Press.; Nancy Felton, Co-owner, Broadside Bookshop.
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Whodunnit? Who are the Fantastic Mystery Authors Visiting MLA?
Mysteries are among readers’ most beloved genres, whether it’s a series with a detective that we all know and love, or a crime thriller that keeps us on the edge of our seat, readers love a good mystery. This panel of mystery writers runs the gamut of styles, and all know how to keep readers turning pages. If you want to hear the lowdown on the life of a mystery writer, don’t miss this thrilling panel!
Speakers: Linda Barnes is the author of sixteen previous novels, including her Carlotta Carlyle mystery series. Her work has won the Anthony and American Mystery awards, and received numerous nominations for the Edgar and Shamus awards. Born in Detroit, she now lives in the Boston area with her husband and son.
William Landay is the author of the highly acclaimed Mission Flats, which was awarded the John Creasey Memorial Dagger as the best debut crime novel of 2003. His latest novel is the New York Times’ bestselling Defending Jacob. A graduate of Yale University and Boston College Law School, he was an assistant district attorney before turning to writing. He lives in Boston, where he is at work on his next novel of suspense.
Katherine Hall Page
Katherine Hall Page is the author of twenty previous Faith Fairchild mysteries, the first of which received the Agatha Award for best first mystery.
MakerSpaces Redux
Where does a MakerSpace come from and how does it fit in a library? The Westport Library has recently experienced the maker movement and will share their story of how it impacted programs and services. Through participation in the production of a Mini-Maker Faire and then the creation of a physical MakerSpace in the center of The Great Hall, there are many concrete suggestions and anecdotes to share on how to plan and implement maker concepts in your library. The MakerSpace has been a place for children, teens and adults to help build two large model airplanes which will hang in the Great Hall. We will also describe the impact of having 3D printers in the library and their almost magical effect on patrons of all ages. The MakerSpace is an innovation that is helping to redefine the 21st century library.
Speaker: Maxine Bleiweis, Director, Westport Library
10:45 – 12:00pm
Beyond the Flood Metaphor: Understanding Digital Authorship and the Rapid Growth of Self-Publishing
For most of the twentieth century, publishing a book outside of the royalty system was prohibitively expensive. As we move into the twenty-first century, software and digital distribution systems have made publishing a book cheaper and faster than ever. The result has been hundreds of thousandsundefinedif not millionsundefinedof self-published books. Some critics have dismissed the authors of these books as rank amateurs, but as a group they are remarkably diverse and hold heterogeneous goals for their writing. This presentation draws on findings from a study of 75 writers to trace the emerging contours of self-publishing and new forms of digital authorship. It then discusses the influence self-published authors are having on contemporary book culture, paying particular attention to how libraries have begun (and might) react to their vast output.
Speaker: Tim Laquintano, Assistant Professor of English and Assistant Director of College Writing, Lafayette College, Easton, PA
Privacy – Is There Still Such a Thing?
The age of electronics has ushered in an era of unlimited areas of risk for patron privacy. Protection through the establishment of policies and procedures is a must. Join us in exploring the concept of LIPAA – Library Invasion of Patron Privacy Audit and Avoidance. The Internet, major companies we use daily who manipulate issues of personal privacy, (i.e. Google, Amazon), and the resulting impact on democracy will be discussed. Co-presented by the MLA Intellectual Freedom Committee
Speaker: Dr. Arlene Bielefield, MLS, JD, Faculty Member of the Department of Information and Library Science, Southern Connecticut State University
Serving Underserved Urban Youth
How do you serve the diverse needs of urban youth? Many children and teens are in transition, whether they’re in foster care, shelters or detention facilities. Join youth librarians at both Cambridge and Boston Public Libraries who have successfully partnered with community organizations, reached out to youth and families and have tailored their library policies to meet the needs of underserved urban youth.
You will leave with many new ideas and a new appreciation for kids and their circumstances. Presented by the MLA Youth Services Section
Speakers: Sharon Colvin, YSS Chair, Young Adult Librarian, Chelmsford Public Library; Laura Koenig, Teen Services Librarian, Grove Hall Branch, Boston Public Library; Julie Roach, Manager, Youth Services, Cambridge Public Library, Adjunct Faculty, Lesley University School of Education and Simmons College, Graduate School of Library and Information Science; Jessi Snow, Youth Services Coordinator, Boston Public Library.
Social Media Part II: Pinterest and Twitter
Looking to start a Pinterest page for your library? This program will show you what Pinterest is, what you can do with it, and how you can promote your library using images. Want to get the most out of your Twitter account? Learn to use Twitter in creative and engaging ways.
Speakers: Allison Babin, Young Adult Librarian, Beverly Public Library; Gina Perille, Chief of Communications and Strategy, Boston Public Library; Ona Ridenour, Assistant Reference Librarian, Beverly Public Library
12:00 – 1:30pm
Luncheon, Business Meeting, State of the State and More!
2:00 – 3:30pm
Tours and Reception at Cambridge Public Library
