IT at the help desk have warned network speed will be affected sporadically throughout today, due to background work being done to correct the ICT systems failure. If students complain, ask them to be patient, as the delay should only last a few minutes.

Jessica Dorr – Program Officer, Global Libraries
Jessica Dorr’s work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation began in 1997, as a technology trainer for West Seattle Learns, a community technology center.

For the Foundation’s U.S. Library Program, Jessica installed computer and Internet networks throughout the country. She oversaw the Native American Access to Technology Program, which provided funding and resources specifically designed to meet the technology and information needs of Native communities.

She currently oversees grants to Mexico, Latvia, and Lithuania and supports the foundations’ annual Access to Learning Award. Jessica has experience with both school and academic libraries and holds a BA from Georgetown University and an MLIS from the University of Washington.

The good people on the Conference Committee have decided to extend the call for Abstracts.
The new date is Wednesday 27th May – and it isn’t far away.
So note it down in your diary, on your calendar, or in your PDA.
Check out the official Conference pages on the LIANZA website for more information about what they are looking for and how to submit your abstract.

(Taken from LIANZA Conference 2009 Blog) : http://lianza2009.wordpress.com/

A student reported sparks flying out of the hand dryer in the mens toilets, Level 2, Central Library. A call has been made to FM who will look into this.

The LIANZA 2009 Conference Committee invites the submission of abstracts for this year’s conference at the Christchurch Convention Centre, October 12-14.

Our theme this year is “he tangata, he tangata, he tangata”, and we are looking for contributions that celebrate the importance of people, both within and outside our profession. The Conference will “Acknowledge the past, Embrace the present, and Advance the Future”.

In 2009 we are encouraging participation from all parts of our
profession:
* young and not so young;
* first time presenters and seasoned campaigners;
* recent graduates;
* those new to the profession and experienced librarians;
* representatives from all aspects and sectors of librarianship
and related fields.

To support this we are offering opportunities for local mentoring to assist with nurturing your idea into an abstract and then into an engaging presentation. We are also offering a wide variety of formats, so that hopefully there is something for everybody.

Don’t be shy – if you’ve got something you’re passionate about, a great idea, something that has worked for you and might have wider applicability, or something controversial; please consider presenting at LIANZA 2009. This is your chance to interact with the people in your profession, engage in some healthy debate, and contribute to our collective future.

Please visit the call for abstracts
http://www.lianza.org.nz/events/conference2009/abstracts.html for more details:

* Friday 22 May – Deadline for abstract submission