Cambridge Libraries Conference 2016

Keynote Address 1

Andrew Whitworth, Programme Director, MA: Digital Technologies, Communication and Education, University of Manchester

XENOPHILIA: How a love of difference is essential in making connections. 

In principle, the almost unlimited expanse of the Internet is a boon to making connections and learning through being exposed to different perspectives. However, much information practice, whether among students, in workplaces or everyday life, is more often governed by structures — information systems, procedures, routines and personal constructs — that filter out anything truly different or challenging. This keynote will explore the ways in which xenophilia — the love of difference — can be integrated into information practice, and why such a move is essential for learning.

Keynote Address 2

Sue Beckingham, Educational Developer and Lecturer in Information Systems, Sheffield Hallam University

Shareology and Social Media in Academia.

As children we learn how to share with others and, in the words of Darwin, '[i]n the long history of humankind (and animal kind too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.' Through the ubiquitous adoption of the internet, there has been an exponential growth of information shared. The use of digital technologies such as social networking tools and smart devices have enabled individuals to connect, communicate, curate, collaborate and create. An array of user-generated multimedia artefacts are now shared that can be discussed, debated and critiqued. As educators it is through knowledge sharing and socially mediated interactions that we can make a difference. However it is not simply the giving or receiving of information, but about the new co-learning opportunities we can make (Rheingold); the ability to develop new capacities for action and change (Grey); and how we create knowledge and leverage it (Wenger). My keynote presentation will consider the concept of shareology and connectedness through social media and the value of working out loud.

A. Sally Rumsey, Head of Scholarly Communications and RDM, University of Oxford & Danny Kingsley, Head of Scholarly Communication, University of Cambridge

Watch out, it's behind you: publishers' tactics and the challenge they pose for librarians.

This joint talk between Danny Kingsley, Head of Scholarly Communication at Cambridge University and Sally Rumsey, Head of Scholarly Communications and RDM for Bodleian Libraries at Oxford University will discuss some of the recent scholarly communication initiatives that publishers have been experimenting with over the past year or so. While many of these initiatives reflect publishers' need to broaden their revenue streams due to changes in scholarly publishing there is a question about whether these initiatives pose a challenge to or complement academic library staff in their support role for the research community. Join the discussion — this affects your future.

B. Lawrie Phipps, Senior co-design manager, JISC and Ajmal Sultany, Learning Technologist, University of Cambridge

What if VLE stood for Virtual Library Environments instead of Virtual Learning Environment?

'In an era of knowledge abundance, scholars have the capacity to distribute and share ideas and artifacts via digital networks...' (Stewart, 2015). So begins Bonnie Stewart’s paper about scholarship and digital networks. Scholarly discussion now takes place in a wide variety of open digital spaces, and one can find excellent examples of collaborative research, and open teaching and learning. But institutions persist in creating walled gardens and closed online spaces. This session will ask us to think about why we want them and what we want to do with them. It will look at Cambridge’s VLE strategy, including a presentation of primary research data collected from conversations with Cambridge Libraries that have already started using Moodle. It will ask delegates to think critically about the VLE within the framework of the Jisc Digital Capability Framework, mapping our existing practices as well as our aspirations.

C. Emma Thompson, Learning and Teaching Lead, University of Liverpool [restricted to 30 people]

Making connections: Information and Digital Literacies.

In this workshop we will use Ketso to explore the possibilities and practicalities of linking Information Literacy to Digital Literacies through the Jisc Digital Capability model. How can this framework influence teaching and training in your library and enhance your contribution to student learning?

D. Only connect! Communicating with users through innovative marketing

Join us to find out more about different ways to promote collections and services, hearing case studies of how different Cambridge libraries have employed promotional tools and techniques to connect with their users. This session will consider why we use promotional materials, look at visual communication and branding at CJBS and discover how costumes and wild boar played a part in the English Faculty Library's "Shakespeare Day".

A. Making connections with Special Collections

A panel looking at the various ways in which special collections projects of various kinds make connections with users and benefit from connections with other institutions. Be inspired by talks from include Paola Ricciardi from The Fitzwilliam Museum, talking about the MINIARE project.

B. Yvonne Nobis, Head of Science Information Services, University of Cambridge, Peter Murray-Rust, Shuttleworth Fellow, Chemistry Department, University of Cambridge

'Open': what does it really mean?

Moving the discussion away from open access, what does open scholarship really mean? This session covers open initiatives and how you can be involved!

C. Lucy Keating, Liaison Librarian, University of Newcastle

Social media training: connections and conundrums.

In this session, Lucy will give some reflections on ten years’ experience of delivering social media training: from developing the first Netskills’ workshops on the topic, to tailored training for academic researchers, and online programmes for library colleagues. Lucy will give an overview of different approaches, the influences behind them, the key issues which have emerged, and what worked and what didn’t. She will invite discussion on how best we can support academic staff, students and library colleagues in such a rapidly evolving area in the future, including whether we should even attempt to do so?