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2022 Montana Academic Library Symposium

Symposium Schedule

Schedule-at-a-Glance


Tuesday, May 17

Time Session Title Speaker(s) Presentation 
9:00 - 9:05am Welcome! Pamela Benjamin N/A
9:05 - 10:15am

Keynote

Estranged from Our Profession: Responding to Academic Librarian Burnout


Christina Holm & Nashieli Marcano
Go here.
10:30 - 11:00am

Algorithms as Data
Applying Explainable AI Methods to turn Algorithmic User Experiences into Research Data Objects


Jason Clark
Go here.
11:00 - 12:00pm

Reinvigorating OER through Purposeful Collaboration Across Local, State, and Regional Levels

Crystine Miller, Christina Trunnell & Liliana Diaz Go here.
1:00 - 1:30pm Building Assessment Dashboards in Your Library Scott W.H. Young & David Swedman Go here.
1:45 - 2:45pm 10 Reasons Why Vendors Still Suck John Hubbard Go here.
3:00 - 4:00pm Intellectual Freedom: Taking Action Matt Beckstrom Go here.

Wednesday, May 18

Time Session Title Speaker(s) Presentation 
9:30-10:00am

Library & Learning Commons: Creating a Collaborative Intellectual Hub


Jennifer Oates
Go here.

10:15-11:15am

On Tyranny: Book Discussion Jan Zauha N/A
11:15-11:45am "Happy Hour" Kahoot! Trivia Eileen Wright & Victoria Contreraz N/A
1:00-2:00pm


Beyond the Typical:
Providing a Fee-Based Research Service to a Campus Partner


Kris Johnson, Taylor Moorman & Star Bradley
Go here.
2:00-3:00pm Collaborating with Faculty on Campus to Develop a New Model of Library Instruction Jaqueline Frank & Taylor Moorman Go here.
3:00-4:00pm How (and Why) to Use & Cite Social Media in Research Melody Karle Go here.

 

Thursday, May 19

Time Session Title Speaker(s) Presentation 
8:45-9:45am

Resource Sharing & Fulfillment Open Forum 

Mary Ann George & Jerusha Shipstead  N/A
9:45-10:45am

Collective Power for Public Good: Organizing for Libraries


Emily Drabinski
N/A
11:00-12:00pm

100 Years of Story Telling: Responsibly Describing the Art of Walt Disney Animation


Bethany Ellerbrook
N/A
1:00-2:00pm

Learning From Each OtherGenerational Awareness

Gavin Wolter Go here.
2:15-3:15pm MMIP Database
MT Missing Indigenous Persons
Drew Landry N/A
3:15-4pm Closing & TRAILS Appreciation Award Pamela Benjamin N/A
 

 

Day One - May 17

Session Descriptions


 Tuesday, May 17 


9:00 - 9:05

Welcome!

We will have a very brief kickoff for the 2022 Symposium. In keeping with the keynote subject matter, several relaxation/self-care door prizes will be given out during the welcome and closing sessions.
 All prizes* below are made possible by a generous sponsorship from - 
               
1 Year gift subscription to Calm Premium.                                                                                                                                           1 Year gift subscription to the Burlap Bag Candle Club.   

                                                 1 Year gift subscription (quarterly) to Free Your Tea.        
    

                                                                       1 Year gift subscription to Serenity Now            

                    
       

* Winners must be be present to win and members of a TRAILS institution.


Host - Pamela Benjamin, TRAILS Coordinator
Connect to session.


9:05 - 10:15 am

Keynote Speakers

Estranged from our Profession: Responding to Academic Librarian Burnout

In 2017 researchers Wood, Guimaraes, and Holm launched a survey on the Work-Related Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and received an overwhelming 1,628 responses, which indicated that academic librarianship was in a burnout crisis. Driven by the interest in their original research, Holm, Guimaraes, Marcano and the Association of College and Research Libraries began a collaboration to publish an edited monograph about academic librarian burnout. In this keynote address, presenters Holm and Marcano will examine the history of burnout in the librarian profession, discuss how the CBI applies to attendees’ own experiences, and situate this phenomenon as a current and future driver of professional change. Holm and Marcano encourage attendees to begin their own journey to confront the ways that burnout can permeate our practices and make us strangers within our own professional identities.

Christina Holm

Teaching & Learning Team Lead, Instruction Coordinator, and Librarian Associate Professor at Kennesaw State University

 

 

 

 

Nashieli Marcano

Archivist and Digital Collections Librarian at Furman University




Connect to session.

Host: Pamela Benjamin


(back to schedule)


10:30 - 11:00 am

Algorithms as Data

What if algorithms weren’t the Ghost in the Machine? Can algorithms be understood as part of the open data continuum? Montana State University Library, with grant funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, has conducted research in order to develop software and a curriculum to support the teaching of "Algorithmic Awareness": an understanding around the rules that govern our software and shape our digital experiences. Taking our inspiration from investigative data journalists, like The Markup, we will introduce a research module for algorithm auditing practices using code, web scraping methods, and structured data formats to uncover proprietary algorithms and turn them into research data objects for analysis. Our case study for the session will be the YouTube Video Recommendation Algorithm which has come under criticism for its tactics in drawing parents’ and childrens’ attention to their videos. Our goal will be to show the generic patterns, data points, and scripts one can use to analyze algorithmic user experiences and demonstrate how code can be used to turn algorithms into datasets for analysis. In the end, attendees will be able to realize actionable steps for seeing algorithms as data objects, gain a sense of the first steps one can take to programmatically audit these systems with code, and take away investigative data techniques for their own work and teaching.

Jason Clark

Lead for Research Informatics, Digital Initiatives Librarian, MSU-Bozeman 

Jason is a librarian @msulibrary, professor, hacker, metadata geek, author, hiker, runner, footballer, dog lover - "I am large, I contain multitudes." In his work, he has focused on Semantic Web development, digital library development, metadata and data modeling, web services and APIs, search engine optimization, and interface design. More recently, he has started to look at algorithmic literacy and machine UX - how bots and AI create particular types of user experiences and knowledge patterns.

Connect to session

Host: Star Bradley

back to schedule)


11:00 - noon

Reinvigorating OER through Purposeful Collaboration Across Local, State, and Regional Levels

In this session, presenters will provide a wide overview of the OER movement regionally, statewide, and localized to the broader Montana library community. Presenters will lend insight into effective strategies and ongoing challenges and promising opportunities for OER capacity building. Discussion will focus on building broad networks for OER support by connecting to institutional, state, and national imperatives. The presenters will engage attendees through conversation that will then be used to inform the presenter’s work supporting OER initiatives across Montana and the west. 

Liliana Diaz 

Policy Analyst, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) 

As a policy analyst with the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), Liliana Diaz works on a diverse range of activities including conducting and communicating policy research on a wide array of higher education-related topics, developing and sustaining relationships with external stakeholders, and conceptualizing and executing short- and long-term collaborative projects with states. Liliana received her B.S. in journalism and mass communication, B.A. in film studies, and a certificate in technology, arts, and media from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She earned her M.A. in higher education from the University of Denver, where she is currently a Ph.D. candidate in higher education administration.

Crystine Miller 

Director of Student Affairs and Student Engagement, The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education (OCHE)

In this role, she drives system level strategic priorities and initiatives aimed at enhancing equitable student success. Key areas of her work include OER, student mental health and wellness, the MUS Teaching Scholars program, developmental education reform, and Montana 10, the state’s signature comprehensive student success program. She received her BA in English from Carroll College, an MA in English from the University of Oregon, and is completing her PhD in Literature from Arizona State University.

 

Christina Trunnell

Reference & Instruction Librarian, MSU-Bozeman

Christina created the Montana OER program and serves on regional and national OER leadership programs. In her role as a Research & Instruction Librarian, Trunnell is leading the Montana State University's OER program, working with faculty to publish new works and grow campus awareness of affordability. One of the most innovative aspects of the program is that all faculty who receive grant funds are required to participate in an instructional design course which includes training on student centered equity and inclusion.


Connect to session

Host: Pamela Benjamin

(back to schedule)


1:00 - 1:30 pm

Building Assessment Dashboards for your Library

A library assessment dashboard is a curated set of charts and graphs that highlight the work of the library. Dashboards can be used for internal assessment and to demonstrate the library’s value to external audiences. In this presentation, we will begin by discussing various use cases and approaches for dashboards. The centerpiece of the presentation will then be a walk through of the process for creating dashboards using SpringShare’s LibInsight tool and Tableau. Finally, we will close with a discussion of how to present the data visualizations to different stakeholder groups such as administrators and the public. Attendees will be able to take home new insights and skills for creating their own library assessment dashboards.

Scott Young

User Experience & Assessment Librarian, MSU-Bozeman

Scott's work focuses on service design, assessment, participation, and ethics. In short, he studies how people use the library and applies insights to improve services. He is also a co-editor at Weave: Journal of Library User Experience

 

David Swedman

Grants and Assessment Coordinator, MSU-Bozeman

David is the current Chair of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Allyship (IDEA) Committee. He specializes in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches to library assessment, strategic plan creation and implementation, grant writing and management, and institutional diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Connect to session

Host: Star Bradley

(back to schedule)


1:45 - 2:45 pm

10 Reasons Why Vendors Still Suck

This session will provide a candid examination of the assorted problems arising from doing business with commercial interests whose goals run contrary to the mission of libraries, including a discussion of tactics for mitigating those shortcomings.

John Hubbard

Discovery & Web Services Librarian, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

 

Connect to session

Host: Pamela Benjamin

(back to schedule)


3:00 - 4:00 pm

Intellectual Freedom: Taking Action

This presentation provides an overview of current intellectual freedom issues, both nationally and state-wide. Resources will be provided to assist librarians facing intellectual freedom issues or challenges.

Matt Beckstrom

Systems Librarian, Lewis & Clark Library, Helena, MT

Matt has been active in the Montana Library Association since 2003 and has been involved in the Intellectual Freedom Committee since then.  Matt is currently the chair of the Intellectual Freedom Committee.  He is the author of several books on Intellectual Freedom, patron privacy, and security.


Connect to session.

Host: Anne Kish

(back to schedule)

Day Two - May 18

 Wednesday, May 18 


9:30 - 10:00 am

Library & Learning Commons: Creating a Collaborative Intellectual Hub

In 2014, the Roy Simperman family donated funds to create the Simperman Learning Commons within the Corette Library. While this partnership has solidified the building's place as the intellectual heart of the campus, it has also created some challenges. This presentation will outline the history of the partnership between the Corette Library and Simperman Learning Commons, discuss the opportunities and challenges we have faced, and share our plans for the future. In doing so, I hope to illustrate how team building, communication, and collaboration within the Library and with the broader campus community can lead to improved services, outreach, and more

Jennifer Oates

Library Director, Carroll College

Dr. Jennifer Oates is currently the Library Director at Carroll College. Her scholarship encompasses information literacy and pedagogy as well as musicological studies of music in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Britain. Her article, “Engaging with Research and Resources in Music History Courses” in the spring 2014 issue of The Journal of Music History Pedagogy, received the Music Library Association’s 2016 Richard S. Hill Award for best essay or article on library instruction/pedagogy.

Connect to session.

Host: Anne Kish

(back to schedule)


10:15 - 11:15 am

Book Discussion - On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder


We hope that you can join us for what is sure to be an interesting discussion about Timothy Snyder’s powerful and timely book. This vade mecum is small but full of big ideas.

On Tyranny is a non-fiction cautionary tale, reminding us that the forward march of democracy is not inevitable. Recent events have reawakened us to this truth.

What does democracy have to do with libraries and librarianship? Can you have the latter without the former? How has American democracy been challenged in the 21st century? Which of Dr. Snyder’s twenty lessons reverberate the most in your mind?


An e-copy is available for a 3-day checkout for all TRAILS members.

Chapter 1 – Do Not Obey in Advance. Chapter 11 – Investigate.
Chapter 2 – Defend Institutions. Chapter 12 – Make eye contact and small talk.
Chapter 3 – Beware of one-party rule. Chapter 13 – Practice corporeal politics.
Chapter 4 – Take responsibility or the face of the world. Chapter 14 – Establish a private life.
Chapter 5 – Remember professional ethics. Chapter 15 – Contribute to good causes.
Chapter 6 – Be wary of paramilitaries. Chapter 16 – Learn from peers in other countries.
Chapter 7 – Be reflective if you must be armed. Chapter 17 – Listen for dangerous words.
Chapter 8 – Stand out. Chapter 18 – Be calm when the unthinkable arrives.
Chapter 9 – Be kind to our language. Chapter 19 – Be a patriot.
Chapter 10 – Believe in truth. Chapter 20 – Be as courageous as you can.

Discussion led by: Jan Zauha

Outreach Librarian, MSU-Bozeman

Jan's research interests include: History of Montana foodways; Ivan Doig; Public performance of literature; Recreational reading collections and promotion in academic libraries; Outreach planning and programming in archives and academic libraries.

 

Connect to session.

Host: Pamela Benjamin

(back to schedule)


11:15 - 11:45 am

"Happy Hour" (in the middle of the day) Kahoot!   

What would a library conference be without some trivia action?
There will be prizes for First, Second and Third place winners*,all sourced from local businesses around the Billings area. We will ship your prizes to you. Check them out -


        
* Winners must be members of a TRAILS institution.

 

Victoria Contreraz

Distance Learning Librarian, MSU - Billings

Victoria received her BA in English from Syracuse University and MILS from the University of Washington.

 

 

 

Eileen Wright

Reference Librarian; Archivist, MSU - Billings

Eileen has been at Montana State University Billings Library since 2001. Like many of us, I have many roles at the library, which include professor for our LSCI125 course, Research in the Information Age, outreach coordinator for the many student events, running the student and staff book clubs, and of course working with our excellent faculty on projects.

Connect to session

(back to schedule)


1:00 - 2:00 pm

Beyond the Typical: Providing a Fee-Based Research Service to a Campus Partner

Since the spring of 2021, MSU Bozeman research and instruction librarians have been providing fee-based research services to another campus-based research organization: MilTech. This presentation will cover how the partnership developed and the benefits the library has experienced through engaging in this novel approach to a service that goes beyond the typical academic research offerings. Contrary to common belief, libraries have been offering fee-based services since the mid-20th century. Such services are provided by all types of libraries, ranging from public, academic, and health sciences libraries to historical societies and museums. These services generally start after an external constituent seeks to utilize the libraries’ research skills in exchange for financial remuneration. Our project mirrors this, as it was MilTech that approached the MSU Library to start a conversation about the possibility of partnering on research. Through our presentation, we’ll share details about how this project developed and how our model can work for your library. 

Star Bradley

Reference and Instruction Librarian, MSU - Bozeman 
Star has taught credit bearing classes, to include LSCI 121 (Library Research Skills) and LS 350 (Literature Reviews: Theory & Practice). Star creates and presents workshops on information literacy, citation management and more. 



 

Kris Johnson 

Head of Learning and Research Services, MSU - Bozeman 

Kris has worked at MSU since November of 2014. Prior to this, she was a reference and instruction librarian at Cal State Chico as well as a state library consultant at the Colorado State Library

 


Taylor Moorman

Research and Instruction Librarian, MSU-Bozeman

Taylor (she/her)has a special interest in workplace well-being in academic libraries, instructional design, and the crossroads of technology and instruction. She holds an MA in English from Montana State University and an MLIS degree from Valdosta State University.

Connect to session.

Host: Pamela Benjamin

(back to schedule)


2:00 - 3:00 pm

Collaborating with Faculty on Campus to Develop a New Model of Library Instruction

With limited personnel, time, and resources, the MSU Library needed to get creative in our response to a growing number of instruction requests for a specific class. Hear how the library collaborated with faculty and instructors from that course to develop a new approach. See an overview of our new model to offer instructor training sessions on how to teach research in the classroom, which ultimately expanded our library instructional reach.

 

Jacqueline Frank

Instruction & Accessibility Librarian, MSU-Bozeman

Jacqueline helps students with research, and works to improve library resources and services to be more accessible and inclusive for everyone.

 

 

 

Taylor Moorman

Research and Instruction Librarian, MSU-Bozeman

Taylor (she/her) has a special interest in workplace well-being in academic libraries, instructional design, and the crossroads of technology and instruction. She holds an MA in English from Montana State University and an MLIS degree from Valdosta State University.

Connect to session.

Host: Star Bradley

(back to schedule)


3:00 - 4:00 pm

How (and Why) to Use & Cite Social Media in Research

Tiktok is being used to document the war in Ukraine. Facebook has played a part in recent American elections. Sanctioned Chinese social media is shaping the social and cultural history of a whole country. Yet, in many cases, researchers and writers (including K-12 teachers and students, as well as academics and librarians) are reluctant to see social media as a credible “source” for inclusion in their work. Just as Wikipedia was criticized early on for not being credible or reliable, social media has its pitfalls--but it is hard to ignore its value as a source of information used by the masses. How do you put social media in context? How do you assess it for accuracy? And how on earth do you cite it in a paper? The presenter will provide users with a whitepaper she is writing on this topic and resources for them to share.

Melody Karle

System Administrator for the Montana Shared Catalog.

Melody has also held the roles of Resource Description and Management Coordinator at the University of Houston Libraries and Collection Management Librarian at the Lincoln County Libraries in Montana. She is the author of multiple scholarly articles, anthology chapters, and books, including A Social Media Survival Guide: How to Use the Most Popular Platforms and Protect Your Privacy (2020).

 

Connect to session.

Host: Bobbi Otte

(back to schedule)

Day Three - May 19

Thursday, May 19 

8:45 - 9:45 am

Resource Sharing & Fulfillment Open Forum 

People new to Fulfillment and Resource Sharing and Veterans can share ideas and strategies to provide best services to Students, Faculty and Staff.  Facilitators will call for topics before the event and welcome ideas on that day,


Mary Ann George, MS Ed.

Library Technician, Helena College Library

Mary Ann has been at Helena College for 15 years. She has been involved in TRAILS since its creation as an active member of the Resource Sharing Fulfillment Subcommittee.In her free time she loves to play Pickleball, hike, watch movies and read.


 

Jerusha Shipstead, MLS

Library Director, Miles Community College (Miles City) and Dawson Community College (Glendive) 

Jerusha grew up in eastern Montana and loves being an academic librarian here. She is an avid collector of antiques and dogs, and her favorite subject of study is the Gilded Age and Progressive Era.



Connect to session.

Host: Susan Lee

(back to schedule)


9:45 - 10:45 am

Collective Power for Public Good: Organizing for Libraries

Organizing collectively is crucial for library workers who want to change the way our libraries are funded, supported, promoted, and developed. In this session, library workers will learn the basics of working together to advance a common agenda. Topics covered will include how to hold an organizing conversation, making and assessing lists, shaping complaints into demands, and the nuts and bolts of running campaigns for change.

Emily Drabinski

Critical Pedagogy Librarian and Interim Chief Librarian at the Graduate Center, City University of New York and the ALA 2023–2024 president-elect

Connect to session.

Host: Morgan Ray

(back to schedule)


11:00 - 12:00 pm

100 Years of Storytelling: Responsibly Describing the Art of Walt Disney Animation 

As one of the only archives in the world committed to animation, the Walt Disney Animation Research Library holds over 65 million pieces of physical art made throughout the production development process. Ranging from the story sketches of early concept talks to the clean-up animation seen on screen, this unique collection requires equally unique taxonomies. It is no secret that, like any person or any institution that has been around long enough, Disney has not always gotten it right when it comes to accurate and respectful representation. As the lead cataloger at the archive for such legacy titles, it has been critical in the creation of our in-house taxonomies to not only capture the complexity of the art form, but to make a conscious effort to acknowledge any harmful depictions.

Bethany Ellerbrook

Archives Data Specialist for the Walt Disney Animation Research Library in Burbank, CA

Connect to session.

Host: Victoria Contreraz

(back to schedule)


1:00 - 2:00 pm

Learning from Each Other: Generational Awareness

Generational labels, a social construct, are a sticking point in many organizations today--with both positive and negative implications. This program explores how best to work with colleagues of different generations by identifying where the gaps of understanding might be bridged in communication, technology, and professional development. Additionally, an examination of what it means to be of part of the in-group and out-group of organizational culture is discussed.

Gavin Woltjer

Library Director, Billings (MT) Public Library

When not held hostage in a good book, he enjoys exploring the wilds of Montana with his wife, Rena, and their three children. His research interests include data analytics; library leadership; economic development and libraries; archives and record management; and, librarian as a public historian.

Connect to session.

Host: Darlene Hert

(back to schedule)


2:15 - 3:15 pm

MMIP - Montana Missing & Murdered Indigenous Persons Database

Every day, someone goes missing in tribal communities across the nation. The same is true in Montana. Native Americans make up 6.7% of Montana’s population, but they comprised 32% of the state’s active missing persons cases (as of 4.27.21).  Blackfeet Community College and the Montana’s Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force have created a scalable portal and database for missing and murdered Indigenous people  The database, which is accessible at www.mmipmt.com, is intended to provide families with a safe, judgment-free reporting system that compiles information and communicates with law enforcement. 

Drew Landry

Director for the Montana Missing Indigenous Person's Coalition & USDA Extension Agent at Blackfeet Community College

Connect to session.

Host: Pamela Benjamin

(back to schedule)

3:15 - 4:00 pm

Wrap-Up & TRAILS Appreciation Award

We'll conclude the 2022 Symposium with a some pointers on dealing with burnout at a personal level, the first-ever TRAILS Appreciation Award recipients, and the final two door prizes

                                                                                 
 

Connect to session.

Host - Pamela Benjamin, TRAILS Coordinator

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Meeting password: 2164

 

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