Ideas for next year's Summit?

[Joyce Valenza]

What would you like to see as the theme next time around?

[Sandy Kelly]

I suggested to Brian that we visit 21st century skills, the Partnership, maybe reach out to the school library leaders, movers and shakers, across the nation as we did for the first summit and really bring together some great minds on how we as a profession can promote our profession and it's impact on the global skills kids need to succeed in the future. It would be nice, five years later to bring back some of the first summit participants such as Don Knezek, ed secretary Margaret Spellings or her replacement and evaluate where we have gone in five years, where we want to go in the next five and make them all players in our success.

[Heidi Estrin]

I guess this is pushing my own agenda a bit, since I'm a Judaica librarian, but how about a summit on bridge-building via multiculturalism? Multicultural lit, programming, curriculum, and how to integrate it so it doesn't feel like tokenism. With Obama as our new president, it's a very relevant time to be thinking about cross-cultural pollination and the knocking down of walls.

[Cathy Nelson]

Whatever--sessions should have more time for the impromptu conversations that happen immediately after sessions. There is power in the networking that happens during this time. And also we need a "playground" to help people unfamiliar with the ning concept to come get a solid understanding. Maybe it could be a "poster session" where the vendors are set up?? Then we could have volunteers to be there at different times. I would volunteer.

[Dr. Mary Ann Bell]

OK I am fixated on my two issues from before the event:
1. Breaking through restrictive filters to let more educators and students access Web 2.0 resources.
2. Building bridges between librarians and technology staff in order to facilitate all kinds of collaborate, but in particular to make more Web 2.0 access possible.

[Dr. Mary Ann Bell]

I really agree with Cathy here. I think we need more time for reflection and assimilation of what we encounter. I feel this need at every conference I attend. In particular it would be nice with this nice-sized group of people with similar interest. Also, I yearn for time to just sit by myself and think a bit! This is an ongoing wish of mine in these fast-moving times.

Cathy Nelson said:

Whatever--sessions should have more time for the impromptu conversations that happen immediately after sessions. There is power in the networking that happens during this time. And also we need a "playground" to help people unfamiliar with the ning concept to come get a solid understanding. Maybe it could be a "poster session" where the vendors are set up?? Then we could have volunteers to be there at different times. I would volunteer.

[Karen Lemmons]

I particularly like the 21st century skills, because information literacy is considered one of the 21st century skills. As for multiculturalism, I'm not sure. That is a subject that, in my humble opinion, involves more than "integrating" literature into the curriculum. I think multiculturalism needs to be "integrated" into organizations, but that is another issue, and a very complex one at best. However, I was honored and privileged to speak at The Kentucky Conference on Diversity, and that was a successful conference. I am also aware that planning for the next Joint Conference of Colors (ALA Ethnic Caucuses) is underway. Perhaps, it would behoove us, as school librarians, to work with this group and other groups that are addressing the multiculturalism in many ways and on different levels.

[Jennifer Alevy]

I also like this idea. Our state and therefore our district is looking into joining the Partnership for 21st Century Learning. I think learning about what this is, how libraries/librarians are effected by this is something that many librarians are dealing with now.

[Alice Yucht]

Collaboration and cross-pollination -- it's time to stop talking *about* it. There are no current conferences that purposely and purposefully bring together librarians and curriculum people to develop integrated inquiry projects. How about inviting folks from each of the subject area associations (NCTE, SSTA, etc) as well as speakers like Gary Stager, and use the opportunity to actually (gasp) start working together?

[Karen Lemmons]

Alice, I like your idea! Inviting subject area specialists to work with us to develop projects, using their (and ours) standards would be great! Talk about collaboration and cross-pollination. . .

[C. Williams]

I love the idea of having subject area folks attend. I'd also like to have a summit where Principals and other administrators come. We need for these folks to understand what good teaching and learning involves so they don't keep cutting Teacher Librarians first when "crunch" time happens.