Summit Report

Keynote Stephen Abrams
Stephen Abram, a library futurists, opened up the summit with an exciting and energizing presentation about the future of libraries. Stephen is the immediate Past President 2008 of SLA and the past-President of the Canadian Library Association and Vice President Innovation for SirsiDynix and Chief Strategist for the SirsiDynix Institute. He has been VP of Corporate Development for Micromedia ProQuest and Publisher Electronic Information for Thomson.

Presentation (PDF version)

Panel 1 - Community Success Stories
Panel 1, Community Success Stories, highlighted stories from librarians across the state - including Houston, San Angelo and Boerne. The three libraries represent a large, medium and small example of libraries, but all three had a commitment to Internet connectivity and serving the technology needs of its patrons.

Dr. Rhea Brown Lawson, Houston Public Library
Nicole Robinson, WeCAN (Wireless Empowered Community Access Network)
Larry Justiss, Tom Green County Library
Kelly Skovbjerg, Boerne Public Library

Video of the panel:
















Keynote - Graham Richard
Former Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard was the dinner keynote and presented a rousing presentation about how communities and libraries can invest in broadband and libraries and provide essential and meaningful services to its constituents. Mayor Richards reiterated the value of libraries as they "Convene, Connect, Collaborate."

Presentation (PDF version)

Presentation Video:













Panel 2 - The Role of Libraries in Meeting Community Needs

Panel Two of the summit offered an opportunity to showcase applications (dependent on a broadband connection) that libraries of all sizes can offer to their communities. Panelists discussed distance education, emergency response services and telemedicine.

Presentations:
Terry Barksdale (PDF Version)
Mercedes Franks (PDF Version)
Karen Vargas (PDF Version)

Video of the panel: