IL04: some final thoughts

I’m sure I’ll have some follow-up posts about the conference in the next few days, especially once certain folks start posting their photos (including myself,) but I’m on the flight home and I figured I’d make one last “official conference post” reflecting back upon the experience.

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Michael Stevens asked me last night what my best experience from the conference was. I’d have to say it was meeting a particular librarian, Irene, from Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. I met her Tuesday morning before the keynote and we started talking about blogs and RSS. She’d heard of them but still wasn’t clear on what all the buzz was about. We talked a bit and I filled her in and explained how these technologies might assist her in distributing information to her patrons. Wednesday morning I was sitting in the same seat before the keynote, this time with a WiFi connection along with Karen and another woman with her iMac. Irene was also there and had said hello and Karen and I were discussing things, and posting to our blogs. At one point Irene said “listening to the two of you wants me to get back to my office and my computer.” We asked her why and she told us that after our talk the previous morning, listening to us that morning and having attended most of the blogging track on Tuesday she was really jazzed about blogging and just couldn’t wait to start one of her own. “Forget the library and administration. I’m just going to do one for myself.” Now that made me feel good. All it takes in one person not only getting “it” but being excited by “it” that makes what I do worth while. That made the conference for me.

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I did catch up with at least one person so wasn’t excited at all about blogs and RSS. That’s their opinion and it’s their right to have it. I’ll even admit that this person had a few valid points. But, when it comes to blogs and RSS there is no excuse not to try. Granted, these technologies are not perfect for all situations but the cost of entry is practically zero and the potential benefits are much too significant to ignore. When it comes to RSS, again, the cost is near zero. Is it a replacement for e-mail? Not for everyone. However, no one can use it if you don’t offer it. The belief that no one will use it before you’ve even offered it is defeatist thinking. Offer it first. If no one uses it, stop and focus your energies elsewhere. The only sure way to find out is to make it available.

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Regarding the imperfections of the conference, there are ways to deal with these things. I’ll admit that when I found what I believed to be a problem with how the conference was working (or not working,) I blogged my concerns. (WiFi service anyone?) But, and this is a big one, I didn’t just whine about it on my blog and left it at that. I talked to the folks in charge and made my concerns known. If I though something wasn’t being done, I talked to the folks who would be involved if it was being done. There were plenty of opportunities to talk to anyone who could at least have made note of someone’s concerns and ideas for the next time around, but I noticed a blogger or two complaining and not following through. Yes, by all means blog your ideas and concerns but that is not enough. The folks you can talk to about these things, in most cases, are speaking at the conference. Why is this important? Well, if they’re speaking, they’re on the schedule and you know exactly where they’ll be at certain times. There’s no need to rely upon trying to find them via their nametag in a group of 1000 people. Look at the schedule, figure out where they’ll be and when, and go talk to them. Do something about it beyond your blog. I guarantee you, you’ll have much better luck at getting the changes you’re looking for.

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Well, I think that’s it. If I have any additional thoughts I’ll post them as usual. Thanks to everyone that made Internet Librarian 2004 an amazing experience. I hope to see all of you again at Computers in Library in March.