MD Tech Connect – Going Virtual!
This year’s conference focused on adapting library services in times of uncertainty and how libraries can reach their communities remotely. Technology-focused sessions addressed topics such as online programming, privacy, racial inequalities, user experience, and more.
MD Tech Connect 2020 Sessions
Keynote with Carson Block: The Future We Make Together
Wednesday, September 9th 2 – 3 p.m.
The recording and presenter resources for this session are only available for registrants
Perhaps the most important quality of a modern library is the ability to pivot — and to forge ahead with strategic, proactive moves in the midst of troubled waters. Despite the enormity, focus, and often heartbreaking scale of our current uncertainties, in truth, we never really can know what the future will bring. But all libraries – public, academic, special, rural, urban and others – have a shared purpose that is too important to fail. Using humor and compassion — and drawing on nearly 10 years as a library consultant — Carson Block will share the qualities of libraries that thrive despite the obstacles.
Carson will also share some of the results of a library user satisfaction survey (centered on technology topics) that he conducted a few months ago showing what’s working – and what needs a little more love – in library technology.
Carson Block has lead & loved library technology efforts for more than 25 years. He has served in leadership positions in ALA ASCLA, ColoradoPLA and others, and evangelizes libraries to SXSW Interactive and other tech communities. Carson is the author of Library Information Systems (with Joe Matthews; Libraries Unlimited 2019) and Managing Library Technology: A LITA Guide (Rowman & Littlefield 2017).
MD Relay – Remote Conference Captioning
Wednesday, September 16th 10 – 11 a.m.
Travis Dougherty of Telecommunications Access of Maryland – Maryland Department on Disabilities will introduce the new Remote Conference Captioning service (RCC), which is available through Maryland Relay. He will explain how RCC benefits Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities, and how libraries can request RCC for their live online video meetings and webinars.
Presenter Resources
View the RCC slides
View the RCC Informational Flyer
Outdoor Programming – Facilitated Sharing Session
Wednesday, September 16th 2 – 3 p.m.
Has your library been working on providing outdoor programs for your community? Or maybe you’re early in the planning stages and need to hear more ideas and troubleshooting techniques. Conni Strittmatter of Baltimore County Public Library will facilitate this sharing session of what libraries around the state are doing with outdoor programming, how they’re tackling various hurdles, and what their needs are to make outdoor programming more of a reality.
Presenter Resources
View the Outdoor Programming slides
Carson Block: Approaches to Stakeholder Engagement
Wednesday, September 23rd 2 – 3 p.m.
The recording and presenter resources for this session are only available for registrants
Part of technology planning is knowing what library users want and need. There is often confusion, though, in wading through all of the options to gather information and make decisions that lead to the right actions. Using concepts he has developed for library leaders (via ALA’S Certified Public Library Administrator’s Management of Technology class and Texas State Library and Archive’s Library Technology Academy curriculum) Carson will introduce participants to the various modes of learning what patrons need (via data and stakeholder engagement) and a new model to distill the information simply and clearly to make actionable decisions for better library services.
Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library and Its New Website
Wednesday, September 30th 10 – 11 a.m.
Join Susan Cohen of DCDL to learn about the new Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Library, its digital resources through the new website, best practices in building the website, and the resources available to library staff and customers.
Presenter Resources
Website Banner
Breaking It Down and Putting It Back Together
Wednesday, September 30th 2 – 3 p.m.
Teens benefit when they can think critically and solve problems throughout all parts of their life. Another word for this skill is Computational Thinking (CT). In this session, Carrie Sanders (Maryland State Library) and Kelsey Hughes (Prince George’s County Memorial Library System) will lead participants in creatively exploring the concepts of CT. They will also have an opportunity to discuss what computational thinking is and how it can be integrated into teen activities. A bit of content will be shared along with interactive engagement and sharing.
Presenter Resources
View the Computational Thinking Slides
CT and CL Handout
CT image
The Why of CT
Claire Ratcliffe on the What, Why, and How of CT – Video
Creating Virtual Customer Connections with LibApps
Wednesday, October 7, 10 – 11 a.m.
Find out how Baltimore County Public Library is using LibChat and other Springshare tools to connect with our customers virtually while our library buildings are closed to the public. Cynthia Dennis and Alex Houff will cover how they created new forms, added queues, trained staff, launched a new chat service using LibChat, and designed and implemented the Virtual My Librarian (VML) service where customers or staff can easily set up one-on-one appointments. The VML service utilizes SpringShare’s LibChat/Zoom integration.
Presenter Resources
View the Virtual Connections Slides
How to Use LibChat Video
Interactive Digital Storytelling & Game Design
Wednesday, October 7, 2 – 3 p.m.
In this session, John Whitfield (Baltimore County Public Library) will teach librarians how to create rich, text based adventure games using free the free online programs Google Slides and Twine. This knowledge can be used to create online programming on game design, intro to programming, and/or basic storytelling.
Presenter Resources
Interactive Digital Storytelling & Game Design Slides
Naruto If/Then Adventure
Digital Interactive Storytelling
Twine Storytelling Tool Guide
Fantasy Door Complete
The Room
User Experience (UX) Evaluation and Design in the Physical World with Carson Block
Wednesday, October 14, 2 – 3:30 p.m.
The recording and presenter resources for this session are only available for registrants
The letters “U” and “X” joined together can often be mysterious to library people. We all know what a great user experience feels like, but due to the complexities fo some UX models, designing one can feel like an overwhelming task. Please join Carson for this fun and active session to learn how evaluating UX — and designing improvements for your patrons — can be as simple as jotting thoughts down on a few sticky notes.
Maximizing Reach: Anti-Racism Virtual Programming
Wednesday, October 21, 10 – 11 a.m.
The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) is a national leader in virtual programming with robust equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism content. In conjunction with local and statewide partners like Joe’s Movement Emporium, Prince George’s Community College Center for Performing Arts, and the Maryland State Library, PGCMLS developed an effective model for consortium virtual programming. The July 20, 2020 Kendi event exemplified the effectiveness of this model with 19 Maryland public library co-presenters, over 226,000 live views, and 122,920 on demand views over 30 days. The program required use of multiple digital platforms to maximize access, including Zoom, OBS Studio, Crowdcast, YouTube, Eventbrite, and Communico. The program was also broadcast on PGCC-TV, a local public access station. The technical production plan included a strong contingency that proved necessary due to a key platform failure. Participants will learn how to leverage partnerships and digital platforms to expand the impact of virtual programs with limited production resources. Presenters will also discuss the unexpected technical hurdles and contractual challenges that should be anticipated with headliner virtual programs.
Presenter Resources
View the Maximizing Reach Slides
Collaborative Esports, Apart Yet Together
Wednesday, October 21, 2 – 3 p.m.
Frederick County Public Libraries teaches teamwork and collaboration using popular esport games and gaming equipment. Esports have the ability to draw a broad cross section of individuals who may not typically frequent the library, as well as individuals whose gaming participation is limited due to cost. Esports can provide comfort to the post-COVID-19 world, in that gaming in the library is done apart, yet together. FCPL is also looking to learn from local college esports teams, who have continued to compete remotely, with the hope of facilitating virtual gaming in the future.
Presenter Resources
View the Collaborative Esports Slides
Tech Mentoring and Peer Learning: An Active Approach
Wednesday, October 28, 10 – 11 a.m.
Does your library harness the innate talent and technological ability of customers – no matter the starting point – and supply them with the courage, wisdom, and hope to grow their tech and digital literacy skills alongside their general knowledge? Although not all customers will take advantage of a library’s resources and learning opportunities, learn tips and tricks for setting the stage for individual transformation through tech mentorship from Conni Strittmatter (BCPL), Carrie Sanders (MSL), Dorothy Stoltz (Carroll County Public Library).
Presenter Resources
View the Tech Mentoring and Peer Learning Slides
Creating Various Book Projects with Book Creator
Wednesday, October 28, 2 – 3 p.m.
In this session participants will engage in creating a sample book creation. The online book creator can be used for grades K-12. Charlene Saint-Jean (Prince George’s County Public Schools) will show participants how to connect reading with creativity and fun for their students while virtual. Virtual Tools used during the session include SCHOLASTIC Story STARTER. Teachers can use these tools to also create book reviews, and to compare authors or any book project. In addition, any book students create can be shared…at the teacher’s discretion. Finally participants will have an opportunity to discover the various features of Book Creator.
Managing Apple Devices in Libraries
Wednesday, November 11, 10 – 11 a.m.
Apple devices are being more widely deployed across all levels of government. But is this something that would be feasible for your library? Would it make sense for the library to bring in iPads or Macs as part of its operation? This may involve loaning iPads to patrons, or the use of Macs for your staff or for public access. Before you can consider deploying Apple products, you will need answers to a few basic questions: – How simple is it to deploy and maintain these devices? – How can your library effectively control iPads or Macs without large staffs of people? – What tools or programs are available to do this? – Can we afford this solution? Members of Apple Government and Apple Financial Services will lead this presentation. You will learn about mobile device management, Apple Business Manager, new models for shared iPad and iPad temporary session, as well as flexible spending programs.
Digital Skills Programs at Microsoft
Wednesday, November 11, 2 – 3 p.m.
Libraries have always supported communities in skills development. Accelerated change in technology and its changing place in society and the workforce have consequently driven increased demand for digital skills development in the community. Microsoft’s support for skills development is connected to our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. This session will detail programs and certifications available from Microsoft to deliver digital skilling to your community, how to access support to deliver these and how to engage your community in digital skilling programs through digital outreach.
User Testing Virtual Program Software: Or Let’s Break it Before We Buy It
Wednesday, November 18, 10 – 11 a.m.
Picking the right virtual programming software is hard! And often, you can’t be prepared for any issues that may arise during a live program until they happen! This is where user testing can help! Join Lo Smith and Tracy Diamond of Enoch Pratt Free Library to learn how to assemble a testing team, develop tasks, collect data, and share what you’ve learned with your team and your community!
Combined Session: Serendipitous Browsing AND Minecraft Education Edition
Wednesday, November 18, 2 – 3 p.m.
Serendipitous Browsing, Karen Collier and Jo Powers, Talbot County Public Library – We wanted to offer patrons an online experience similar to wandering down an aisle at the library and stumbling upon a book they didn’t know they wanted to read. While our online catalog offers a “browse” feature for left-anchored searching, we wanted a more serendipitous kind of browsing, so we created a Web page to fill this need. Pandemic-related closures provided the impetus to get this done quickly, but we anticipate this page will have lasting benefit to patrons seeking the convenience of browsing from home. We’ll discuss how we set up the page and our results so far.
Minecraft Education Edition (MEE)/STEM program, Ayanna Dawkins, Microsoft – Overview of MEE will cover key resources: sample lessons/lesson plans; starter worlds; coding; and cool tools in MEE that are not in the Minecraft game.
Closing Keynote
Dr. Mega Subramaniam
In Librarians We Trust: Digital Privacy Literacy Learning in Libraries
December 2, 2 – 3 p.m.
This event was recorded, but the recording is only available to registrants. Registrants received the link to the recording via email.
Dr. Mega Subramaniam, an Associate Professor and the Co-Director of the Youth Experience (YX) Lab at the College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland, will discuss how the University of Maryland developed resources and training that will empower patrons to develop safer digital privacy and security habits. Most Americans say that libraries can help them find reliable and trustworthy information. This implicit sense of trust the community has on library staff results in expectations that staff will be comfortable and responsible for helping patrons with varying backgrounds of digital literacy to complete everyday digital transactions at the library, including those that involve personally identifiable information. Through an IMLS-funded project researchers at the University of Maryland worked with library staff nationwide to develop resources and training that will empower patrons to develop safer digital privacy and security habits. In this talk, Dr. Subramaniam will share the major findings from this project – the challenges that library staff face as they assist patrons with their everyday digital transactions, and prototypes of resources that library trainers and staff can use to facilitate digital privacy literacy learning in the communities that they serve.
Bonus Session
How to Avoid Dystopia: Privacy, Artificial Intelligence, and Setting the Future Straight
Wednesday, December 9, 2 – 3 p.m.
This event was recorded but the recording is only available to registrants. Registrants received the link to the recording via email.
Jennifer Golbeck, Professor at the College of Information Studies, University of Maryland, College Park, will discuss how online sharing combined with opaque mass surveillance and powerful analytic tools has led us to a place where data is collected and transformed into incredibly personal insights, often without users’ knowledge or consent. This impacts the information they see, the way they interact, and it can be used in deeply manipulative ways. This session will cover users’ feelings about these practices and how they tie back to classic sociological understandings of trust, power, and privacy.