ACRL 2007 – what might have been

ACRL 2007 – what might have been

Oh Baltimore , what could have been. Apparently ACRL isn't feeling the Ubiquitous Librarian either. 0-2 so far with proposals for the 2007 conference. Maybe the Annoyed Librarian can provide some advice about how to get proposals accepted? Unlock the door for the rest of us! I guess I should have tried to work the terms information literacy, scholarly communication, effective practices, usability, curriculum focused instruction, or professor-librarian collaboration into the title—those seem to be the same old regurgitated themes that ACRL loves.

Here's a look at what might have been:

#1 The Reference Question--Where has Reference Been? Where is Reference Going?

Short Abstract: Fifteen years ago technological innovation challenged librarians to “rethink reference.” What has driven change—strategic decisions made by librarians, external forces, or some combination of the two? How must reference change to thrive during the next fifteen years?

Panel:

• James Rettig, University of Richmond
• Jerry D. Campbell, University of Southern California
• William Miller, Florida Atlantic University
• Cheryl LaGuardia, Harvard University
• Brian Mathews, Georgia Tech

I was really looking forward to meeting this panel, especially Jerry Campbell. I'm hoping we might find a new outlet for this talk, even if we do it via phone/skype and release it as a podcast. Talis , interested?

#2 The Intuitive Reference Approach: interacting with students through blogs

Short Abstract: While reference transactions are in steady decline, students still require assistance with research. This session introduces a proactive approach toward reaching students through their personal blogs.

This was based upon the white paper I wrote: Intuitive Revelations: The Ubiquitous Reference Model . It was actually the start of the whole ‘ubiquitous' librarian approach. Hmmm, maybe this session could fit in somewhere like the Blended Librarian ?

My suggestion/lesson for ACRL 2009: submit 10 proposals!

Comments

[Angel]

I just have to ask, what the heck to those people want then? And I am not being snarky. I really would like to know. I would have thought you would practically be a "shoo-in" with your work which seems to touch all those areas of IL, communication, practices, so on. Oh well, I am sure you will find some other place, but it does not exactly encourage a little peon like me to send a proposal. Best, and keep on blogging.

[brian]

Thanks for the interest. Yeah, I should have added 2.0 or some of the other trendy things.

Now I know why my friend called them:
Absence of Creative Reference Librarianship
or: Abysmally Conservative, Relevance Lacking

[steven bell]

Hey pal, my rejected ACRL conference proposals are way better than your rejected proposals! Honestly, no one can really unravel the mysteries of the proposal decision process. Since I also had a proposal related to blogging rejected I'm going to guess that this topic is a bit ahead of its time for ACRL. My suggestion. Try them elsewhere. I've gotten rejected ACRL proposals accepted at EDUCAUSE and other perfectly good conferences that also have peer review processes. I think the right number of proposals is 4 because with a 25% acceptance rate you have a 1 in 4 shot. Ten may be a bit of overkill. In any case, Blended Librarians will be glad to have you! And I hope we'll still see you in Baltimore.

[Ratcatcher]

I agree with Steven--submit it to EDUCAUSE or another education technology conference. Whenever I mention your blog-tracking project to anyone, jaws drop, so there are definitely some interested people...

[faucons]

Courage, man! your time will come.

At Conferences, Revolutionaries Languish
Arrogant Cliques Revile Latecomers
All Coups Require Labour (even inevitable ones!)
Advocate Confidently, Resourceful Liberal
Anticipate Change--Retiring Librarians!

[brian]

ACRL: Anticipate Change--Retiring Librarians! (Golden! Thanks T)

[brian]

Part of the problem is the way funding works. It's not a GT thing, our admin is really cool about supporting us, but we put in for travel Aug 1. So to add extra conferences means paying fully out of my own pocket. I feel trapped into both ALA and have enjoyed the last 2 ACRLs--- however I'd love to attend CIL, IL, or EDUCAUSE -- but you have to pick and choose. We'll see. Thanks everyone for the interest.

[Paul R. Pival]

Brian, Steven Bell didn't mention in his comment that he's also got some suggestions on what to do with that unaccepted ACRL proposal.