Social Media in Libraries & Archives: It’s More Than Marketing

Usually the conversation about social media in libraries and archives revolves solely around marketing. However, Luther College\u27s Library and Information Services\u27 Social Media Team has been focusing on how to use social media platforms for research, instruction, and to build awareness of the librarian and archivist skillset in the community. Come learn about impact and logistics of two non-traditional social media projects--a rephotography campaign on Facebook and web reputation education using LinkedIn. With stories, insights, and practical guidance on how to implement these ideas in your own institution, you’ll see how social media can be more than chasing likes and followers. Instead, these platforms can be used to empower your community through information literacy

Managing the Syncopations of Socially Connected Collections

Use of social media in archives is expanding beyond the tried-and-true blog or Facebook page into an increasing number of channels such as Pinterest, Tumblr, YouTube, and Instagram and is therefore increasingly incorporating new partners in this landscape. Looking outward, libraries, museums, and even university marketing teams are increasingly collaborators in our social media endeavors. Inside our collections, the workflow may now incorporate staff members from different departments, student workers, volunteers, and even media teams for creating content. How do we seek out and integrate collaborators across departments or institutions? How do we effectively craft a clear identity with so many competing interests? How do we communicate our goals and expectations as we expand to a team of content creators? Three panelists will discuss their roles in successful social media management in government, college, and university collections and how they manage to maintain a clear voice with multiple partners and content creators

A Festivus for the Rest of Us : Perspectives on Diversity in the Midwest

Diversity within a profession dedicated to preserving American society is vital to ensure that the breadth of America’s stories is captured in the archival record. While the Midwest Archives Conference, the Society of American Archivists, and other archival organizations sponsor scholarships, groups, and other initiatives intended to nurture and support diversity within the archival profession (such as MAC’s Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship and SAA’s Archivists and Archives of Color Roundtable), the profession remains overwhelmingly homogenous. This session will include narratives from a panel of archivists of color who will share their experiences, challenges, and lessons learned while working in the Midwest region. The session moderator will then open the conversation and invite you to pose questions and to share your own perspectives and experiences with diversity, both professionally and personally. By the end of the session, we hope to create a group of self-identified archivists and information professionals who may be interested in starting a community of MAC members dedicated to discussing diversity issues within our profession and fostering inclusivity in our geographical region

An African-American Resources and Needs Assessment of the West Bloomington Area, Phase 1

Over the course of the Fall 2009 semester, students in the Community Project Design and Management class worked with members of West Bloomington to recognize the growing needs within the community. Along with the African-American Focus Workgroup (AAFW) and the West Bloomington Revitalization Partnership (WBRP), the students completed Phase 1 of an African-American resources and needs assessment resulting in this report. This document reflects needs, wants, and hopes of the West Bloomington community and the AAFW. Comprehensively, this document is meant to serve as a bridge between community members and AAFW members. As Bloomington as a whole continues to grow and expand, some members within the community feel the difficulty of being left out of development. Therefore, the project‟s purpose was to help ascertain the assets and deficiencies within the West Bloomington neighborhood with the participation of community members, and to help the AAFW integrate their goals with those of the WBRP. This report can aid future efforts and provide useful information in the development of the West Bloomington area. The report includes a brief review of the literature considering race, education, income, age, public space, housing, civil society, and community-based participatory research. The report also includes sections outlining the research methods used, the research findings along the same themes used in the literature review, a discussion of limitations and barriers to research, and conclusions and recommendations. Appendices include Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol for ethical treatment and protection of research participants, definition of the study area for drawing out Census data, and a Survey Design and Administration Protocol Handbook to aid in administering surveys drafted for AAFW member organizations to use with their staff and volunteers, patrons, and the general public. Student researchers analyzed public data and local reports to understand the background and demographics of the West Bloomington community. Reports consulted include these topics: housing conditions and issues; food justice; Census data on race, income, and age; community and economic development; and education statistics for District 87 and West Bloomington schools. Through various focus groups, four common themes appeared: the need for greater communication between and among local organizations and community members; the need for additional activities, especially for young people; a lack of accessibility to various services offered by (or in) the City of Bloomington and surrounding areas; and distressed amenities. Communication can be strengthened between the WBRP and the AAFW, between West Bloomington community members and the City of Bloomington, and among all of these groups and members. Focus group findings also show that the West Bloomington community and organizations serving it do not offer activities to people of all age ranges. In addition, all focus groups shared comments about transportation issues within West Bloomington. Regarding distressed amenities, focus group participants brought up issues concerning poor housing conditions, inadequate amenities at local parks, and old infrastructure in need of repair or replacement. Findings from key informant interviews also acknowledged several areas for enhancement within the West Bloomington community. Within the community, apathy and a lack of respect among residents were identified as negative attributes coupled with a perceived lack of police presence in the area. Residents linked these attributes to a fear of crime, and specifically, drug dealing, prostitution, and gang activity and recruitment. Resource collaboration and greater awareness of available resources also are viewed as necessary enhancements within the community and those serving it. West Bloomington residents serving as key informant interviewees identified issues of homelessness, overcrowded housing facilities, and a lack of affordable housing. Some interviewees expressed a desire for better notification of neighborhood events. Several interviewees mentioned a desire for better communication between the City of Bloomington and West Bloomington community and a better working relationship with the police department. Additionally, multiple interviewees discussed the importance of education, including the need for more job training and literacy programs. This report includes conclusions and recommendations based on findings from key informant interviews, focus groups, local and public data review, and past and future surveys. These recommendations are broken down into three categories focusing on the City of Bloomington, the West Bloomington neighborhood, and youth. City-related recommendations include the following: The Bloomington Police Department can increase its visible presence in the West Bloomington neighborhood by providing foot patrol. The City of Bloomington should develop a plan for addressing infrastructure needs in the West Bloomington area. The Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System can evaluate the current mass transit bus routes for West Bloomington. Improved civic awareness and education can increase residents‟ skills and abilities to address grievances and development issues within their community. Neighborhood recommendations advise the following: Primarily, communication among all stakeholders needs to be improved. Stakeholders can increase awareness of available services, programs, and resources that can benefit community members. A community fair can be held within the West Bloomington neighborhood. A feasibility study should be performed for a multi-purpose community center to be located in the West Bloomington neighborhood. The youth recommendations suggest the following: Encourage The Bloomington Boys and Girls Club to determine if additional services could be added to benefit the teen youth of West Bloomington. Increase the availability of summer programs to benefit both working parents and children. Explore effective strategies for identifying and dealing with barriers to development, especially those that apply to youth and crime. Stakeholders can collaborate on a campaign to bring awareness and encourage action around the need for more volunteer mentors, especially male mentors who are needed for West Bloomington male youth. In conclusion, this report sheds some light on the needs, wants, assets, and resources of the West Bloomington community. It is our hope that this report will serve as an impetus for enhanced relationships among the AAFW, the WBRP, West Bloomington residents, and the City of Bloomington, as well as provide information and materials to aid in future development

Managing the Syncopations of Socially Connected Collections

Use of social media in archives is expanding beyond the tried-and-true blog or Facebook page into an increasing number of channels such as Pinterest, Tumblr, YouTube, and Instagram and is therefore increasingly incorporating new partners in this landscape. Looking outward, libraries, museums, and even university marketing teams are increasingly collaborators in our social media endeavors. Inside our collections, the workflow may now incorporate staff members from different departments, student workers, volunteers, and even media teams for creating content. How do we seek out and integrate collaborators across departments or institutions? How do we effectively craft a clear identity with so many competing interests? How do we communicate our goals and expectations as we expand to a team of content creators? Three panelists will discuss their roles in successful social media management in government, college, and university collections and how they manage to maintain a clear voice with multiple partners and content creators.Colleen Theisen's presentation is currently available. Theisen's presentation has been slightly adapted from the presented version, adding a bit of explanatory text to help fill in some of what was said about the images.</p

"A Festivus for the Rest of Us": Perspectives on Diversity in the Midwest

Diversity within a profession dedicated to preserving American society is vital to ensure that the breadth of America’s stories is captured in the archival record. While the Midwest Archives Conference, the Society of American Archivists, and other archival organizations sponsor scholarships, groups, and other initiatives intended to nurture and support diversity within the archival profession (such as MAC’s Archie Motley Memorial Scholarship and SAA’s Archivists and Archives of Color Roundtable), the profession remains overwhelmingly homogenous. This session will include narratives from a panel of archivists of color who will share their experiences, challenges, and lessons learned while working in the Midwest region. The session moderator will then open the conversation and invite you to pose questions and to share your own perspectives and experiences with diversity, both professionally and personally. By the end of the session, we hope to create a group of self-identified archivists and information professionals who may be interested in starting a community of MAC members dedicated to discussing diversity issues within our profession and fostering inclusivity in our geographical region.</p

Determining the Effects of Balance and Stability in College-Aged Students: Barefoot vs. Shod

Balance and stability are important concepts regarding the overall health of individuals from birth to advanced age. The purpose of the present study is to investigate and determine whether shoes have an effect on balance and stability in college aged students. A total of four tests will be used to test each subject on the Neurocom Balance Master. Each subject will perform a trial with shoes (shod), and then perform the same battery of tests, after an allotted wait period, without shoes (barefoot). The four tests that will be used from the Neurocom Balance Master are: Weight-Bearing Squat, Unilateral Stance, Limits of Stability, and Tandem Walk. The overall analysis will include analyzing the results from the Neurocom Balance Master for each subject, respectively. The present study seeks to conclude better recommendations for shod versus barefoot use in order to prevent injuries resulting in impaired balance and stability