Hiller, Self, Laughlin to Headline Online Amigos Conference
“Assess. Act. Advance.” is the theme of the 2010 online Amigos Member Conference, which will focus on embedding the practice of improvement in library culture and services. The conference will be held online May 5 and 6 with nationally recognized experts Steve Hiller, James Self, and Sara Laughlin presenting the headline programs.
Benchmarking, LIBQual, process improvement, outcomes measures, Balanced Scorecard: whether they choose one or the other or a combination of techniques, libraries are compelled to measure services and processes to maintain vitality, prove value, retain customers and stakeholders, obtain funds, and remain relevant. The Amigos 2010 Conference will provide an overview of the culture of assessment as well as practical tips and steps on specific techniques.
Steve Hiller, Director of Assessment and Planning at the University of Washington Libraries, will set the stage May 5 with the opening program on embedding the practice of improvement in library culture and services. For the May 6 lead programs, Sara Laughlin, Director of the Monroe County Library in Bloomington Indiana, will focus on public libraries while James Self, Director of Management Information Services at the University of Virginia Library, will focus on academic libraries. Laughlin’s program will provide strategies for process improvement with examples and practical skills public library participants can put to use right away. Self will concentrate on practical uses of data, using them to tell a compelling story.
Amigos members are invited to submit program proposals on the topic of assessment and continuous improvement. The deadline for program proposals has been extended to January 29. Submit your proposal by January 29, 2010, using our convenient web form. Indicate if you have experience presenting online. Don’t worry if you’ve never presented online. Amigos will schedule orientation and practice sessions, and during your session you will have a producer sitting with you. Acceptance emails will be sent by February 8, 2010.