2017 Amigos Annual Member Conference - schedule

Gennie Gebhart of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is a researcher and advocate for EFF, her work revolves around the conviction that, as access to information technologies expand and become more complex, so do threats to user security and privacy. Her keynote address will speak to the security and privacy implications of "fake news" and how libraries are positioned to help protect users in that realm.

During this session, hear from the new CEO and President of Amigos Library Services, Alan Kornblau. Alan will share information on Amigos strategic direction, as well as give an update on programs and services.

Several of our vendor partners will tell you what's going on at their respective companies.

Listen to the short presentations and at the end you will hear the Amigos SECRET WORDS. Make note of those words, go to the conference website, and click on the contest tab. There will be space for you to enter these words and then submit your contact information. You will automatically be entered to win an Amazon Gift Card!

Can't attend the presentations? On May 1, the conference website will have them posted. Listen ahead of time, complete the form, and STILL be eligible to win! This is a fun and easy way to learn what's new from our vendor partner sponsors.

After the success of the University of Arizona Library’s 3D printing service, we have sought out new technologies and services we can provide for users to support their projects and coursework. Toward that end, the library’s maker space acquired a laser cutter and developed a service model to offer low cost cutting and engraving services. This presentation will address how laser cutters are being used in education along with the process we went through to get from initial idea to functioning service. Highlights include challenges faced, staffing and production workflows and budgets, training and certification processes, safety considerations, and our plans for the future of the service.

As we strive to meet the unique needs of our communities, librarians are being asked to provide services that have traditionally been outside of our scope. This outside the box thinking can lead to great results! This session will explain how one community came together to get healthier at the library. I Love my Librarian Award winner, April Roy, will discuss how she created a thriving health and wellness program through community needs assessments, partnerships, and creativity.

UMKC Libraries won the Amigos Fellowship and Opportunity Award in 2016 for their project to develop a Writing Resources Micro-Collection that would enhance student learning at two service points in the busiest area of the Libraries. This readily reproducible initiative highlights the curated collection within both the confines of a physical space shared by the Libraries and the Writing Studio and as a web-based widget for broader outreach and use. The primary outcome of the project is for students to become better writers, which we plan to achieve through providing better access to supportive collection materials. Join us to learn how the space was created, get an update on our progress, and hear the project team’s plans for assessment.

The presenters will introduce the concept of "Maker Literacies" and describe their team's efforts to create a Maker Literacy Program. The team is developing a set of assessable student learning outcomes, identifying potential courses across the university's colleges to incorporate scaffolded learning outcomes, and assisting faculty with maker-based curriculum development. By encouraging interdisciplinary teamwork, design thinking, experiential learning, and use of the library's 8,000 sq.ft. makerspace, the team hopes to see increased retention and improve grades. This presentation will cover the goals of the team, research and discovery, lessons learned, challenges faced, and plans for the future.

Attend this important session to hear the latest news from Amigos Library Services Board of Directors Chair, Craig Stephenson and Treasurer Ruben Aragon. Voting representatives will participate in two action items: a vote on the proposed Membership Fees and the election of four new members of the Board of Directors. Members, you won’t want to miss this one!

The advent of the information society and pervasive digital connectivity presents news challenges to libraries and the communities they serve. This presentation discusses survey data that describes expectations government officials have of community needs and libraries' role in serving them. The presentation will also extensively review data about public expectations of libraries, how people use libraries, and what people think about libraries' future priorities. By focusing on the perspectives of government officials and the public about libraries, the discussion will help the library community reflect on how best to serve the public's needs in the future.