Time to vote for libraries at SXSW : : District Dispatch : : Panel Picker by Sep 4

Time to vote for libraries at SXSW

District Dispatch: 8.17.2015 by Charlie Wapner

South by Southwest (SXSW) is once again around the corner – and, as in years past, ALA needs your help to make sure libraries are well represented.

Last year, with your help, OITP’s Larra Clark with D.C. Public Library’s Nick Kerelchuk and start-up MapStory’s Jonathan Marino. Their SXSW Interactive panel described how hundreds of U.S. libraries meet the needs of this country’s growing cohort of self-employed, temp and freelance workers by providing workspaces and programming that foster entrepreneurship and creativity.

This year, ALA once again hopes to make an impression at SXSW. The Office for Information Technology Policy proposed two programs, one for Interactive and one for EDU:

Technology Adoption as Policy Linchpin

As technology innovation speeds forward, the gap between early and late adopters is growing to the detriment of individuals and communities.

Improving 3D Printing Workflow to Boost Learning
3D printing is taking off in libraries, schools and universities, expanding opportunities for creative learning and expression.

Plus, Re:Create, a new copyright coalition of which ALA is a founding member, proposed this program:  Copyright & Creators: 2026

What does the future hold for copyright? Who are the gatekeepers and how does this power structure need to change to meet not only the needs of today’s digital age, but also the needs of future creativity and innovation?

And…Benetech, a non-profit social enterprise organization, proposed the following program for Edu: No More Yoda Heads: 3D printing 4 diverse learners

Research suggests that 3D objects are important for learning and reinforcing complex spatial concepts that are difficult to convey or explore in any other way (e.g., cells and DNA).

SXSW received more than 4,000 submissions this year—an all-time record—so we need your help to make the cut. Public voting counts for 30 percent of SXSW’s decision to pick a panel, so please support these great programs. It’s easy: Become a “registered voter” in the Panel Picker process by signing up for a free account here, and get your votes in before Friday, Sept. 4. Supportive comments are even more helpful in making one proposal stand out from another.

ALA also is a member of the SXSW library “team” that connects through the lib*interactive Facebook group and #liblove. Join the group and learn more about library proposals around the country.

Please share far and wide! Selected panels for SXSW Interactive will be announced starting Monday, Oct. 19, 2015. Those for SXSW Edu will be announced starting Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2015. Thanks!  READ MORE !