Alberta Library Conference

Libraries have potential to be more to our communities than what we currently are. Shake things up a little (or a lot!) by doing programs that make people say "I didn't know libraries' did THAT!" Discover how to get other people to do your programming for you and how to re-evaluate evaluation so you can recognize "unintended successes".
Learning Objectives:

• WHY non-traditional programs
• Re-evaluating evaluating
• Failure Happens
• Everyone has something to offer

A book has the power to unite a community. Learn about On the Same Page from the University of Alberta's Faculty of Education and the Edmonton Public Library's One Book One Edmonton. These diverse and innovative programs aim to create community, conversation, and engagement. Learn how to start a program at your library, engage users in person and online, and garner benefits for your community.
Learning Objectives:

• Learn why shared reading is beneficial and has the potential to create community
• Learn how to implement a successful shared reading program
• Learn how social media can be used to engage readers

Within the context of the latest trends and research, this informative session will include engaging group conversations guaranteed to “shake up” perceptions of wellness and mental health in the workplace.
Learning Objectives:

• Increased awareness of mental health issues today/how they impact
• Performance/morale
• Increased knowledge of how to develop & contribute to solution focused strategies to improve workplace wellness 

Publishers’ representatives from three publishing houses share their favourite Children's and Young Adult books for the current and forthcoming seasons. Advance copies will be available at this session for attendees.

Publishers’ representatives from three publishing houses share their picks for their favourite Adult books for the current and upcoming seasons. Advance reading copies will be available at this session for attendees.

Join us for a remarkably fun and instructive design exercise that encourages teams to experience simple but profound lessons in collaboration, innovation and creativity. Using a unique set of tools (including spaghetti and marshmallows) this hands-on, interactive session will focus on team-building and will demonstrate how to improve a team’s capacity to generate ideas and build rapport.
Learning Objectives:

• Get delegates into a creative frame of mind
• Encourage delegates to think about what it takes to dramatically increase innovation
• Foster a sense of team-work among delegates

This session will present the findings taken from a public library “big data” set of user queries posed to the Edmonton Public Library during the summer months from June 21-September 21, 2014. Some of the questions this “big data” set can answer include determining variation in the number of library catalogue searches by day of the week, users’ preferred formats of materials, the long tail of library collections, and the topics of materials being searched for by Edmonton Public Library users. Implications for studying user behavior using big datasets are discussed along with areas for future research.
Learning Objectives:

• What materials users are searching for
• Kinds of questions large datasets can answer
• Data analytics

Discover how the CPL Board turned a tortuous task of policy review into an opportunity for increased clarity, decreased clutter and deep discussion of principles of governance matters. Participants will learn about the review process, the resulting new Bylaw and Policies, the next steps planned to support robust board governance, and will be invited to share their experiences and best practices.
Learning Objectives:

• Strategies for managing policy review
• Strategies for increasing focus and clarity of Board Policies
• A full set of Board Policies for 21st century public libraries

We've all heard it before: work smarter, not harder. But when it comes to effective communication, all too often a lot of effort results in only a little bit of success. This session will provide you with a tool kit of ideas, templates, guidelines and resources to help create and maintain the communication you need--and deserve--to be the best library you can be!
Learning Objectives:

• Write and submit a press/media release
• Write and submit public service announcements
• Write and edit web content
• Create and execute a social media plan

From the 2016 Alberta Library Conference

Modeled after the Cyber-Seniors Documentary, this program showcases a real world example of bringing youth and seniors together to share in technology. Presenters will be discussing their experience and showing participants how they can get a program started in their community.

Learning Objectives:

• What is Cyber-Seniors and why?
• What are the steps for implementing a program
• Materials and examples from the Olds experience