Silicon Valley Chapter | SLA

Event: New Orleans West Coast Chapter Reception, June 15, 2010

 

Situated in the heart of the French Quarter (on Royal St.) and housed in the Louisiana Supreme Court building is the Law Library of Louisiana. This library provides service to the Judiciary, the Bar and the public. On June 15, 2010 it was host to the SLA Conference West Coast Chapter Reception attended by around 100 West Coast SLA members who braved a torrential downpour to attend this event.

Under high security members were shown into the main hall of the building, which opened up into a grand staircase and reception area where the wonderful Joe Simon Jazz Trio awaited everyone. Additionally, the area was festively decorated with Mardi Gras beads and masks, as well as offering drinks and a wonderful assortment of appetizers catered by New Orleans Catering. Speeches were given thanking our host, vendors and by several chapter members celebrating milstones. The San Diego Chapter (celebrating 50 years) was toasted by Bobbie Weaver and the Silicon Valley Chapter (celebrating 30 years) was toasted by Helen Keil Losch and Kathleen Gust. 

(photos by Jason Kruppa of the Law Library of Louisiana)

Attendees were encouraged to tour the library exhibits and were allowed to peek into the Supreme Courtroom, where the justices sit when hearing cases. Members also took advantage of the wonderful live jazz to dance away the evening.

Event: Panel Discussion about the SLA Annual Conference - Thursday, July 15, 2010

The Solo Librarians of the Silicon Valley Chapter of SLA invite you to join them at their next meeting on Thursday July 15th. Anyone with an interest in libraries is welcome, including students and recent grads of the MLIS programs. 

 

Sonia Dorfman will be hosting the meeting at 6 P.M. on Thursday, July 15th at NeuroPace, 1375 Shorebird Way, Mountain View. The map link is below. 

 

The SLA Annual Conference takes place in New Orleans next week from June 13 – 16.  A panel of librarians who will be attending SLA 2010 will be at our meeting to share their impressions and experiences.  

Event: Blackberries, iPhones and the Future of Libraries: Quick and Easy Library Mobile Services at Joint SLA Chapter, May 11, 2010

Attendees of the joint SF Bay / San Andreas SLA chapter dinner meeting enjoyed a fast-paced presentation by Sarah Houghton-Jan, Digital Futures Manager, San Jose Public Library, who blogs at the Librarian in Black (http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/).

Mobile devices change how we interact with our users and the services that can be provided. Mobile services are ubiquitous, and people are using them to do multiple things quickly and efficiently.   According to a Morgan Stanley report (http://mashable.com/2010/04/13/mobile-web-stats/), 80% of American adults currently use mobile devices, and by 2015 two-thirds of them will be using smart phones.

As librarians we need to ask our users what devices they use and how they are accessing the library. Then we need to design our services based on what users need and the platforms they use. Improved mobile access can be provided in two major areas. The first is a mobile-friendly website which requires simplifying the traditional interface and which meets the needs of a wider number of users. The second is apps, which can be more sophisticated, but must be downloaded to a smart phone. Sarah recommends modifications to the library website so it is more usable by mobile devices before developing apps.