LISNews: Librarian News

Sign up for a day-long virtual conference to be held on Wednesday Sept 29 from 10am - 6pm EDT--eBooks: Libraries at the Tipping Point, a unique online conference that explores the way the digital world is changing books and how these changes are reshaping the way we produce, distribute, and consume them.

This event will offer librarians, technology experts, publishers, and vendors a glimpse into the future of libraries with keynote speeches, special tracks, and an exciting exhibit area. Don’t miss this opportunity to investigate the evolving role of libraries in the twenty-first century!

Librarians and library administrators will learn about current best practices for library eBook collections and explore new and evolving models for eBook content discovery and delivery. Publishers and content creators will learn how to effectively identify and develop the ‘right’ content offerings for each segment of the relatively untapped library eBook market. ebook platform vendors and device manufacturers will learn just what libraries need and want in this rapidly changing environment. It's a party and everyone's invited!!

FOUR SPECIAL TRACKS: -- Read More

The LJ Teaching Award, sponsored by ProQuest, recognizes excellence in educating the next generation of librarians. This annual award, now in its fourth year, honors the winning LIS teacher with an article in LJ in the November 15 issue, a $5000 prize, and a reception at the 2011 ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego.

NOMINATION POSTMARK DATE SEPTEMBER 27, 2010

Please send nominations to:
The LJ Teaching Award
Library Journal
160 Varick St., 11th Floor
New York, NY 10013

or via email to rmiller@mediasourceinc.com

Andy Woodworth, Emily Lloyd and others have been weighing in on the very contentious debate over what an MLS actually means these days. Inspired by their ideas and the related spirited debate, I'm throwing my hat in the ring with two thoughts. -- Read More

More than 90 per cent of teacher-librarians in Australia are believed to be over 40, compared to half of teachers generally. Many teacher-librarians also retire early because of a lack of promotional opportunities reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Meanwhile, there are just four tertiary courses nationally to train them, from a peak of 15, and only about 100 graduates a year.

Library associations say job security is poor, discouraging potential students. In Victoria, rationalisation during the Kennett era and dwindling budgets has meant many principals have chosen to hire extra classroom teachers instead of librarians to reduce class sizes.

''The view is that libraries are not important because students just access information online,'' Mrs Ellingworth told The Sunday Age. ''But the thing is, students have got information overload. They don't know where to start.''

Ms Ellingworth conducts sessions for students on finding, assessing and publishing information safely on the internet. But she would like to offer the students more.

''We used to have specific library programs … but now we work with teachers and classes..''