4th Annual Web 2.You

My experiences co-organizing Web 2.You at McGill University in 2009 and again in 2010 were definitely pinnacle moments during my MLIS degree. Not only did I gain incredible experience in event planning and management. I especially got to meet some very awesome librarians! Before beginning my MLIS I had never thought of the possible existence of librarian superstars.  Luckily thanks to the inspired library school student I was quickly introduced to the world of the biblioblogosphere when I started in McGill’s MLIS program and through Web 2.You I got to meet some of the most well-known and influential modern librarian thinkers like Michael Stephens, Stephen Abram, Jenica Rogers, and Michael Porter. Not only did I get to hear them speak from the heart about important issues but after the conferences I got to hang out with them over supper! Both years provided me with such fantastic memories.

In fact, now that Michael Porter (keynote speaker ,Web 2.You 2010) has been elected to the ALA Executive Board, I can officially say that I’ve been to supper with an ALA Executive Board member. How cool is that?  All thanks to my involvement in Web 2.You!

Although I can’t attend Web 2.You 2011 due to distance, I am still thrilled to see the incredible line-up of speakers that my former co-organizer Adrienne Smith has rallied together for this year’s event.  By scoring Jason Puckett as a keynote speaker as well as several other well-known and respected specialists in the field of information, the proud tradition of Web 2.You will continue to bring innovative minds and new ideas to library school students and information professionals in the Montreal area. I strongly encourage anyone in the Montreal area to attend this event. Registration and information about the speakers is available on the Web 2.You 2011 wiki.

New ABQLA Bulletin featuring Web 2.You report

The new ABQLA Bulletin is now available to download for free from the ABQLA website’s Bulletin page. As Lora Baiocco, one of the editors of the Bulletin, a librarian at Westmount Public Library, and the blogger behind Infinite Digressions affectionately teased me, this edition of the ABQLA Bulletin could be dubbed the “Graham and Amanda” edition. It is true that not only did I write up a summary of the Web 2.You conference (p.12-13)but between the two of us, Graham (Inspired Library School Student) and I appear in five pictures! These pictures are mostly from Web 2.You and the CODE Holiday fundraiser but I think is a testimony to our commitment to being involved in the library community that the editors would grant us so much face space in the Bulletin. The ABQLA offers a great mix of traditional library values and fun innovative events, they are also extremely supportive and encouraging of new librarians and library school students. I am grateful to have been able to get involved in this great association and I can’t wait to attend the 78th Annual ABQLA conference in May on “Libraries as Learning Places”!

Web 2.Wow

The unfortunate thing about working on the weekend is that I have not yet had time to recap on my blog the unforgettable impact that Web 2.You 2010 has had on me as a person and as a future information professional. Organizing this conference with Adrienne Smith (MLIS I) has taught me so much and all of our hard work has been rewarded with positive comments and words of congratulations from everyone who participated in the event.

It seems that I have already waited long too long before posting anything to my blog (I would have been tweeting about the conference live but my laptop was needed as an emergency back-up for the speakers). In the meantime, Lora Baiocco has beaten me to the punch by posting a fantastic summary of the day’s activities entitled “Web 2.You at McGill – the little conference that could and does”. I really encourage everyone to read this post to get a better idea of the diversity of ideas that were presenting on Friday and that still have my head spinning.

For those of you unable to attend Web 2.You 2010, the video should be available on the Web 2.You Wiki in the next week as soon as we are finished editing.

Web 2.You 2010

I have the honour this year of co-organizing the 3rd annual Web 2.You conference. Web 2.You brings together information professionals and MLIS students for a day of learning and exchange on the implications of Web 2.0
technologies in professional information settings. This event was originally organized in 2008 by Amy Buckland and Jan Dawson who, at the time, were both MLIS II students at McGill University. The first conference was a huge success with speakers like Jessamyn West and John Dupuis. One MLIS I student who attended of this first conference, Graham Lavender, was inspired by John Dupuis’s presentation to start a blog and went on to co-organize Web 2.You 2009 the following year. Well, this year it is my turn, luckily with Adrienne Smith, a fantastic MLIS I student, at my side, and we have had quite a learning experience! Organizing a conference is hard work! From finding speakers, to securing a venue, to applying for grants, this year’s organization has been full of ups and downs. This is why I am SO proud to announce that registration has now begun and we have an amazing line up of speaker: Michael Porter, Jenica Rogers, Graham Lavender (I am aware that this leaves me open to accusations of favouritism) and a panel discussion group featuring Michael Lenczner, Patrick Lozeau and Michele Ann Jenkins.

Web 2.You 2010 will take place on February 5th 2010 at McGill University’s Thomson House. I hope to see as many of you there as possible!

For more information on the event, our speakers, or registration, visit the Web 2.You Wiki.