PLA Blog

How will the business of public libraries shift to meet the needs and preferences of next generation learners? How will libraries support knowledge creation in communities in 2020 and beyond?

That’s what I’m hoping to find out today.

I landed in Anaheim yesterday, and I’m doing a twofer this trip.  The day before the beginning of the ALA 2008 Annual Meeting, I’ll be blogging the Foresight 2020 conference, presented by the Urban Libraries Council.

The one-day program includes sessions like “What Does Learning Look Like in 2020?” presented by Dr. John Seely Brown, Visiting Scholar and Advisor to the Provost at the University of Southern California and Independent Co-Chairman of a New Deloitte Research Center, and “Taking Action and Innovation Ideas Further – Key Tools, Partnerships and Strategies to Consider, Pitfalls to Avoid” presented by Omar Wasow – NBC Internet Analyst and BlackPlanet.com founder.  The program is delightfully rounded out by interactive Talk Tables to discuss and learn from the presenters and each other.

I’ll likely be tweeting the session like a fiend, so if you want to follow along real-time, check out my Twitter stream for anything hash-tagged #fs2020.  I may even post a few Utterz from the conference, we’ll see.

PLA is now accepting applications for the Polaris Innovation in Technology John Iliff Award. PLA members can nominate their colleagues and libraries for this new award through an online application available on the PLA Web site via the PLA Online Awards Application. The deadline for submitting an application is December 3, 2007.

The Polaris Innovation in Technology John Iliff Award honors the life and accomplishments of John Iliff, early adopter and champion of technology in public libraries, and recognizes the contributions of a library worker, librarian or library that has used technology and innovative thinking as a tool to improve services to public library users.

The purpose of this award is to encourage innovative user-oriented thinking and practical solutions using old and new technologies. The award provides a $1,000 honorarium, a plaque, and a bouquet of roses for the workplace of the awardee. The cash award honors the recipient’s efforts, while the roses sent to the workplace honor the environment that helped nurture the recipient’s innovation.

Visit PLA’s PLA Online Awards Application to apply or nominate a colleague for the award.