9th Annual MD Tech Connect
MD Tech Connect returns to the Universities at Shady Grove on Tuesday, December 5, 2023! The theme of this year’s event is Building Bridges with Technology and will encompass the ways in which diversity, equity, and inclusion intersect with library technology. Our keynote speaker will be Deshjuana Bagley, founder of TechPlayZone, who will talk about attracting members of underserved communities to STEM careers.
Call for Proposals
The MD Tech Connect Planning Committee is now accepting session proposals for the 9th annual MD Tech Connect. There are two options for session proposals. Regular sessions will be one hour long, including time for Q&A. Successful proposals will showcase the latest trends and best practices in library technology. We want you to provide practical tips and takeaways that can be immediately applied when attendees return to their libraries. Possible topics for presentations include:
- How libraries are supporting and encouraging DEI through technology
- Services to traditionally underserved groups
- The digital divide and/or digital equity
- Improving accessibility and inclusion with hardware, software, websites, UX, etc.
There is also the option to propose a hands-on session for a tech expo that will take place throughout the day as its own breakout session. Is your library using an innovative technology to reach an underserved group – robots, coding kits, virtual reality, etc.? Come and demonstrate it to your colleagues! To see some examples of previous tech expo displays, see our 2019 MD Tech Connect Tech Expo schedule.
The deadline to submit a proposal is Friday, July 28, 2023. Submit your proposal today!
8th Annual MD Tech Connect
MD Tech Connect returned to the Universities at Shady Grove on December 8, 2022. Session slides and handouts are on the MD Tech Connect 2022 page.
What is MD Tech Connect?
More than ever technology is becoming integral to our libraries – from the experiences we provide for customers to the tools we use to serve them. The event is designed to continue the work of building a library technology community in Maryland that is more inclusive than in the past – recognizing that our tech efforts touch ALL library staff, not just IT staff. The intended audience is “IT staff”, “technologists” and “technology enthusiasts” from all types of libraries. The event is designed to bridge these various library technology worlds to be inclusive of all library staff.