GOLD/GALILEO Conference delivers "Big Bang" of benefits for small academic libraries

Journal entry from a GOLD/GALILEO Users Group Advisory Committee Representative - Conference Musings - On behalf of small academic libraries - July 7, 2010 - Shaundra Walker, Head of Reference, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA

Does the thought of a new academic year make you a little nervous? Are you interested in providing better services to the students, faculty and staff on your campus? Is your professional development budget strapped? If you answered yes to any of these questions, consider the benefits of attending the 21st GOLD/GALILEO User’s Group Conference!

Scheduled for Friday, August 13 in Athens, the conference is now in its 21st year. I’ve been attending since 2002, and I have never been disappointed. Although the users of academic libraries have changed over those years (think Beloit College Mindset List! Compare the 2002 list to the 2010 list), the GOLD/GALILEO User’s Group Meeting has remained a shining star that has consistently evolved to meet the shifting needs of librarians and support staff members.

If you’ve never attended the conference, it’s a great place to learn about new ideas, as well as to see how other libraries have met the challenges that daily face us. In this time of shrinking budgets and increasing demands from our users, collaboration and learning among libraries have become increasingly important. For veteran attendees and first-timers alike, this meeting is a great place to learn and share — and a wonderful opportunity to network with colleagues from around the state.

Consider attending this "coming of age" party for Georgia library collaboration. It's the big 21 and we're always transitioning! Remember our inklings about the hidden web around 2002:

"The Semantic Web is not a separate Web but an extension of the current one, in which information is given well-defined meaning, better enabling computers and people to work in cooperation." -- Tim Berners-Lee (British Physicist of the World Wide Web (WWW). b.1955)

Register here and come be part of what's new!

Best,
Shaundra

Shaundra Walker
Head of Reference
H.A. Hunt Memorial Library
Fort Valley State University
1005 State University Drive
Fort Valley, GA 31030
478.825.6764

Toni Zimmerman
Director, Resource Sharing & Interlibrary Cooperation
Georgia Public Library Service
A Unit of the BOR Univ System of GA
1800 Century Place, Suite 150
Atlanta, GA 30345-4304
P(404)235.7129
F(404)235.7201
tzimmerman@georgialibraries.org
www.georgialibraries.org