Panhandle Academic Libraries Conference

Magnify your understanding of the central role libraries play in learning at the sixth annual Panhandle Academic Libraries Conference on July 19, 2024, hosted at FLVC’s Main Office in Tallahassee, FL, and virtually from 10 am to 4 pm EDT (9 am to 3 pm CDT).

Immerse Yourself in a Day of Learning:

• Inspiring keynote presented by Gale S. Etschmaier, Dean of University Libraries at Florida State University
• Engaging breakout sessions: Explore a wide range of topics presented by industry professionals covering AI, privacy, publishing, and much more!
• Network and connect: Connect with fellow academic librarians, exchange ideas, and build meaningful connections with colleagues across the Panhandle. Expand your professional network and gain fresh perspectives.
• Free to attend: Attendance is completely free! Enjoy a continental breakfast, buffet lunch, and snacks throughout the day—all provided at no cost.

In-person space is limited, so register now to secure your spot for this inspiring day of learning and collaboration. If you’re unable to join us in Tallahassee, please participate with us online! We look forward to welcoming you!

Keynote with Dr. Gale S. Etschmaier

Academic libraries have changed dramatically in the last decades. As technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning become increasingly sophisticated, what is the value and role of an academic library? This presentation will explore some of the challenges and opportunities these emerging technologies present and how academic libraries are evolving to be essential partners in teaching, learning, and research. Read Dr. Etschmaier’s bio.

Breakout Sessions:

Practical AI/ML Use Cases for College and University Libraries with Renaine Julian: This session will provide examples and use cases for AI/ML use in college and university libraries. Specific examples of integrating tools like ChatGPT or Claude.ai into library instruction sessions at FSU will be discussed in addition to other applicable case studies. Those interested in how these tools could be used in their own work or organization are encouraged to attend. Previous knowledge or experience in AI/ML is not needed for this session. 

Health Research Essentials for Academic Librarians with Jules Bailey: Health literacy refers to the ability to find, understand, and use reliable health information to make informed decisions, or the ability of organizations to enable individuals to do this (per Healthy People 2030). This is a vital skill that poses unique challenges for researchers at all levels. This session will provide a crash course for academic librarians new to or unfamiliar with health research. It will cover key resources from the basic or consumer level to the advanced or clinician level. Basic health reference sources may not appear in your traditional database search, but a variety of reliable resources exist online for free. Health sciences students and researchers also have unique research needs and may be looking for specific resource types. By going from the basic to advanced level, participants will learn the basics of defining and discovering more information about basic health concepts and then applying them to a more advanced search. 

Best Practices in Patron Privacy Transparency: Takeaways from Florida Academic Library Websites with Kirsten Kinsley, Emily Mann, Laura Spears, and Stephanie Jacobs: Privacy has often been cited as a central tenet and best practice of librarianship. Data and privacy literacy have also become important components of information literacy as technologies allow for larger and more personalized data scraping from learning analytics. As academic librarians, we question how privacy rights and education align with the widespread practice of collecting, storing, and analyzing data on patron usage in academic libraries. Are these learning analytics practices transparent to patrons who visit the library website? Are the privacy policies provided by academic libraries in line with the privacy ethics that libraries espouse? We investigated this through an environmental scan of Florida private and public academic library privacy policies. We were surprised that out of the 76 libraries we researched, only 15 had public-facing library privacy policies separate from their institutions. This presentation will provide our methodology and the results of the scan and discuss the implications and recommended criteria for academic library privacy policies. Learning analytics and data collection can be essential for data-informed decisions but should not be done at the expense of our students. This presentation will discuss how to make students active participants in learning analytics data collection and work towards a more informed and protected patron. Participants will learn the salient components of a privacy statement and have time to work on their own improved library privacy statement.

Unconference with Mike Meth: Unconferences are trying to turn the conference method on its head. Rather than attending prepared sessions that have been submitted by speakers and were selected by the conference committee, in this interactive session you get to propose the topics. This unconference session will provide an opportunity to discuss topics that are current for you and reflect what’s on your mind. No preparation for this session is required. Just bring your questions and ideas and flow with the conversation. (This session is in-person only.)

Press Kits and Partnerships: Understanding Your Audience for Effective Program Engagement with Liam O’Leary and Kellie Sparks: Join us for a dynamic conference session on understanding your audience, delving into the diverse demographics including undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members. We’ll explore where they seek marketing information, from social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to email and institutional communications. Discover how to identify campus collaborators, from relevant units to student influencers, and learn the art of creating a comprehensive press kit to streamline your marketing efforts and increase engagement across your campus community.

Explore technology programming at our preconference workshop!

This year’s preconference will take place at The Innovation Hub at Florida State University’s School of Information, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm, EDT, on Thursday, July 18, 2024. 

Topics will include:

• Using Tinkercad for 3D modeling and printing
• Design thinking
• Virtual Reality (VR)