---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 4 Mar 2002 10:02:11 -0700
From: "Bezanson, Liz" <bezansonl@U.LIBRARY.ARIZONA.EDU>
Subject: FW: ARL Announces Conference...Living the Future 4: Collaborative
                ly Speaking

        This message is cross-posted to several lists:

LIVING THE FUTURE 4: COLLABORATIVELY SPEAKING

A Conference co-sponsored by the Association of Research Libraries, the
Association of College and Research Libraries, and the University of
Arizona Library

Tucson, AZ
April 24-27, 2002

Back by popular demand: The University of Arizona Library's conference
on organizational change, "Living the Future 4: Collaboratively
Speaking." This international conference focuses on how libraries can be
effective, creative, and user focused. The conference will take place
April 24-27, 2002 at the Sheraton Park Hotel in sunny Tucson, Arizona,
including pre-conference workshops on April 24th.

The conference focus will be on team structures and accomplishments at
the University of Arizona Library and other libraries around the country
that are implementing new structures to better prepare for the future.
"There has been a continuing interest in our organizational developments
since we reorganized into teams in 1992," says Carla Stoffle, Dean of
Libraries. "It is important for our library to share our story, both the
successes and the challenges, but also, we all need to learn from each
other. Many other libraries are now involved in reorganization
processes, taking different paths, having different experiences."

The first day will focus on developments at the University of Arizona
Library since the previous international conference, Living the Future
3: Telling our Stories, Sharing our Visions, 2000. Library teams will
present organizational efforts initiated to cope with technology change.
Other topics will include: Partnerships with faculty on scholarly
communication issues and the integration of information literacy across
the curriculum, and the evaluation of reference services in the virtual
environment. Collaboration across team, local and regional boundaries,
and challenges anticipating and meeting higher expectations of users in
the fluid and increasingly electronic environment will also be
highlighted. Progress in designing and implementing performance
measurement, compensation, and reward systems will be featured. There
will also be a presentation and discussions on efforts to reach diverse
audiences and how to make the library welcoming for students from
diverse backgrounds.

On the second day, other creative organizational initiatives will be
shared by invitees from a wide range of libraries, including Emory
University, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Brown University, George
Washington University, University of Connecticut and the University of
Virginia. Presenters will focus on changes and challenges inherent in
enlivening reorganization efforts to assess and improve services. Both
days will include panel presentations, invited speakers, community
dialogues, and poster sessions.

On Saturday, April 27th, participants will come to the University of
Arizona campus, tour the new Integrated Learning Center/Information
Commons, and the renovated Special Collections. The focus will be on the
special challenges in serving customers in a digital world. Such
challenges include how to staff new spaces to support learning
technologies, partner with campus units, develop consortia, recruit, and
train for skills to serve the new generation of customers.

On Wednesday, April 24th, the following pre-conference workshops will be
offered:

* Library Project Planning: Learn how to use an integrated
problem-solving model to manage a project to its successful conclusion;
learn how to use tools such as Gantt charts, and to apply new skills and
concepts to a real and specific project.
* Advanced Facilitation Skills: This laboratory allows intensive
practice for experienced facilitators. Participants in this lab will
work in small groups and receive feedback on their facilitation,
communication, and group process skills. Of specific focus will be
overcoming group and organizational dysfunction, surfacing and testing
assumptions, and building shared meaning.
* Conducting User Surveys in Academic Libraries: Presents the, basic
concepts and steps in conducting a user survey, including defining
objectives, sampling, measurement scales, logistics, data analysis and
report writing.
* Constructive Dialogue: Using the constructive dialogue model will
improve participants' abilities to have honest and meaningful
conversations, even during difficult situations. Using their own and
others' experiences, participants will practice the steps required to
develop successful and productive working relationships.

Registration fees until March 15 are $280.00, through March 15, 2002.
Institutional group and student rates are also available. Pre-conference
fees are $150.00 per person.

Conference accommodations are at the Sheraton Tucson Hotel and Suites, a
recently remodeled garden hotel. The hotel provides a buffet breakfast
to all registered guests and includes amenities such as a swimming pool,
restaurant and lounge. While the conference provides intense learning
opportunities, the conference schedule also permits exchanges that are
more informal in the relaxed atmosphere of the Sheraton Tucson. Rooms
should be reserved early by calling the hotel directly. For more
information about the conference, including registration and hotel
accommodations, visit the website at
<http://www.library.arizona.edu/conference/ >.