Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Library Camps and Unconferences

2011; University Library System, University of Pittsburgh; Volume: 99; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3163/1536-5050.99.4.016

1558-9439

Dixie A. Jones,

Web and Library Services

Camp conjures up images of childhood summer days at a lake participating in activities with other kids. While library camp for adult librarians is a bit different, it shares the similarity of peer camaraderie and may be no less enjoyable than the summer camp of halcyon days gone by. Those who find the informal aspects of a traditional library conference the most valuable are ideal candidates to attend a library camp or unconference. At a conventional meeting, gathering in the hallway, the lobby, or the bar provides an unstructured networking opportunity where the participants can steer the subject in whatever direction they prefer and question one another as they go, delving more deeply into the areas that are mutually of most interest to them. Capitalizing on the synergy achieved through this type of informal exchange of ideas is the relatively new concept of the library camp or unconference. Just as the uncola has been marketed as a refreshing alternative to cola, the unconference presents the potential of a refreshing way of meeting as an alternative to the structured conference. “Library camp” and “unconference” are synonymous terms and may be used interchangeably. Steve Lawson's purpose in writing this book is to assist librarians with organizing an unconference. According to the author, the first widely known library camp was held a mere five years ago in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This meeting, however, followed and built upon the already established related practices of “Open Space Technology” and “BarCamp.” Harrison Owen is the creator of “Open Space Technology,” which abolishes set agendas and gathers people to speak and listen to one another for the purpose of working on ideas and problems of interest to them. Library camps largely adhere to the four principles of open space: Whoever comes is the right people. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have. Whenever it starts is the right time. When it's over, it's over (p. 2). In addition to these principles, there is one law of open space, known as the “Law of Two Feet.” This law does not mean that participants must be two feet apart from one another; it means that if participants are not enjoying a session, they should just use their two feet to go elsewhere. The first open space camps were by invitation only; the first “BarCamp” was open to anyone. For more on “BarCamps,” see the wiki . After the introductory chapter, Lawson offers five brief chapters on the nuts and bolts of planning, implementing, and marketing a library camp, along with best practices and ways to measure success. The most comprehensive chapter is the one on planning. Even though the meeting is unstructured, some planning is inevitably required, especially if there will be a keynote speaker. Other types of sessions, such as pecha kucha, may also involve advance planning. While pecha kucha might sound unfamiliar, the session is very similar to the lightning or ignite presentations at the Medical Library Association's annual meetings. Each participant prepares twenty slides and is allowed twenty seconds per slide for a total presentation time of six minutes and forty seconds. People who are unacquainted with library camps may ask, “How does such a loosely put together meeting support itself?” Ordinarily, there are no registration fees for library camps. If fees are charged, they are negligible. The host library provides some of the supplies and possibly the meeting venue. Sponsors are sought to contribute toward other expenses or in-kind donations. The book's content covers the usual logistics to consider in planning a meeting, such as location, topics for sessions, scheduling of sessions, logo (if any), food and drink, session leaders, audiovisual or media needs, souvenirs or “schwag,” communication with potential attendees, physical setups, problem troubleshooting, Internet connections, and follow up through online postings on social networking tools or online surveys. Evaluation of the meeting may be minimalist: Did anything happen at your library camp? If “yes,” your camp was a success (p. 99). Post-meeting assessment may also simply be a matter of reviewing comments posted on blogs or the unconference wiki. For organizers who prefer more traditional feedback, the book offers a list of online survey sites. As might be expected in a volume in the Tech Set series, the author refers to social networking technologies such as wikis, blogs, email, instant messaging, Meebo, Flickr, Skype, Twitter, and Google Docs throughout the book. These communication tools can be used for planning, registration, and evaluation. The author describes which media are best suited to particular purposes. The slim volume features a list of references and sources for further reading, the majority of which are available online. An index is also included. Black-and-white illustrations—screenshots, photographs, and drawings—are peppered throughout. Podcasts and a wiki provide supplementary information to complement this book and others in the Tech Set series. Lawson's guide offers an excellent overview of the participant-driven conference and practical advice for anyone interested in organizing such an event. Even for librarians who are not planning to host a library camp or unconference in the near future, this book is an intriguing and informative read for those who are curious about the concept and how it works.