[ha-Safran]: Congratulations on a wonderful convention
Dear Ann and Zellie, Many thanks to you and to your wonderful committee for a great convention. So much work went into making sure all the details were perfect. I hope everyone is planning a long restful vacation Shabbat shalom, Liza Elizabeth F. Stabler, Librarian Congregation Emanu-El 1 East 65th Street New York, NY 10021 212 744-1400 Fax: 212 570 0826 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
RE: [ha-Safran]: Congratulations on a wonderful convention
Rita and everybody, I must agree that Shuli definitely deserves recognition and applause. I am sorry that I forgot to mention her. I thought that it was wonderful that she and her husband presented a tour of the origins of the Jews in New Amsterdam 350 years ago. I was very concerned that this aspect was almost overlooked, and I was very pleased to see that Shuli and her husband were able to give this tour. I realize moreover, that both Rita and Shuli were involved in a number of activities that were beneath the surface, and for this they certainly must be applauded. Thank you to you and to all of those who pulled off this convention. You were (and are) great. Randy Belinfante Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: Congratulations on a wonderful convention
I think it is never too late to say a few words of thanks to Elizabeth and Elana and everyone who helped to make this convention a big success. Today is my first day of work after my long vacation in the States. Being the first-time attendee, the NY convention is an eye-opener for me. There I met a lot of people whose names I have seen often in HaSafran or I have emailed with. I finally can put the names and faces together. Everyone I met is so friendly and helpful. Thanks to the tireless efforts of the organization committee, there were more sessions than I could attend. I learned a lot and I had fun too. On the personal front, I would like to express my gratitude to those who took me under their wings when I seemed lost. I also thank you Sally Brown for giving me the Doris Orenstein Award. My heartfelt thank you also goes to Laurel Wolfson, Lee Wixman, Alice Shook (my lovely room-mate), David Hirsch and Ronda Rose who extended their hospitality to me beyond the convention. Brenda * Brenda Yi, Librarian Jewish Community Centre One Robinson Place 70 Robinson Road Mid-Levels Hong Kong S.A.R., China http://www.jcc.org.hk E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: (852)2589-2660 Fax: (852)2877-0917 * Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
RE: [ha-Safran]: Congratulations on a wonderful convention
Dear Folks, Before they are entirely forgotten, I would like to thank a few of the other people that were involved in this conference who helped to produce such a successful event. Among the people with whom I am aware, I would like to thank Rita Lifton, Sara Spiegel, Pearl Berger, and Steve Siegel. I realize that Liza Stabler and Elana Gensler contributed a tremendous amount to the conference but I know that these other people contributed a great deal as well. There were undoubtedly other people on the committee that I didn't mention and I am sure that they also deserve recognition. I apologize for not mentioning them. But let's hear it for everyone who worked so hard to bring off this wonderful convention. Regarding the technology issue, I would like to comment that I miss the taping that was done at previous conferences. When they have so many important things going on at the same time, one is bound to miss some more important discussions that one really wants to hear. It was possible to tape the lectures in years past, and with developing technology, it should be possible now. Heck, we should be able to video tape the lectures by now--oh yeah video tape is now a dinosaur, I forgot. Oh well. In any case, thank you to all those involved in the convention, both mentioned and not mentioned. Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
RE: [ha-Safran]: Congratulations on a wonderful convention
June-- Thanks for your valuable suggestions in how to interface with the hotel on technology issues. My bit of advice to those who would like to make presentations in the future is to look at all the options of how to present, and not just jump right in to a high level of technology. Electronic technology can be exceptionally helpful and is growing more sophisticated, but I would caution prospective presenters to consider all the options, including going low tech, i.e. just presenting your paper straight, without visual components as all. I debated within myself all year about what tools to use as I did my research and prepared my presentation. I considered power-point, slides, a CD with images, and consulted with colleagues more knowledgable about technologicl options than I. I then happened on an an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education on the pitfalls of making presentations at conferences. It was an embarassing read, as I have, at one time or another, violated all the don'ts enumerated in the article. In addition to the usual common sense wisdom on presenting, the author also advised not relying too heavily on power-point presentations, that they are helpful in some instances, but not in others. The author then very much surprised me by suggesting that there was still a place for papers presented without technological support at all. This was reinforced by a recent article in American Libraries, which also warned of the overuse of power-point. I eventually chose to present without visuals at all, with the exception of a few copies I passed out, showing the problems connected with the rare books I was discussing. Those of you who came to hear me can judge better than I how successful I was. One thing the decision forced me to do was to spend the last month before conference just rehearsing and editing my paper. I also had my wife video-tape it, and I watched myself deliver it. In addition, I tried to be very careful to use ample verbal clues to indicate the direction of my argument, and such basics as on what part of the paper I was focussing at any given moment. As a result, I was able to concentrate exclusively on what I had to say, and didn't have to concern myself with such details as an adapter. My decision would certainly not be advisable for everyone, but it worked for me, and I would do it again for the type of paper I presented. I don't happen to have the references for the two articles I mention, but can easily get them if anyone would like to read the articles. The Chronicle article appeared within the last six months, and the American Libraries article in a recent issue. Dan Rettberg Rare Book and Manuscript Bibliographer Klau Library Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Cincinnati, Ohio [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
[ha-Safran]: Congratulations on a wonderful convention
Kol ha-kavod to Elizabeth and Elana and everyone who worked on this convention. As a first-time attendee, I was impressed with how warm and welcoming every was, and how smoothly the sessions ran. Perhaps other novices could benefit from two lessons I learned: 1. The technology will fail, so have an alternative method of presentation. 2. Get to the dessert table early--for obvious reasons. I would have liked more time to talk to vendors, so perhaps the breaks between sessions could be a little longer, or some other time could be found. Perhaps others have thought about this issue. I'm sure the vendors also feel marginalized. Shelli Rochelle S. Elstein, Bibliographer Collection Management Northwestern University Library 1970 Campus Drive Evanston, IL 60208-2300 Phone 847/491-3953 FAX 847/467-7899 http://www.library.nwu.edu/collmgmt/elstein/index.html Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
RE: [ha-Safran]: Congratulations on a wonderful convention
Thanks, Shelli, for writing to ha-Safran and for sharing your response to the convention. In the FYI department, I have learned to pace myself at these events. I no longer feel obligated to attend a session in every time slot where they are scheduled, though, of course, I attend many of them. I allow down time when I am just too tired to listen to one more paper, and adequate time to visit the exhibits and interact with the dealers as well. I feel it is important for librarians to be aware of what is coming out in the fields of expertise represented by their collections, independent of whether collection development is or is not one of their responsibilities. For me, an important part of the convention is networking with colleagues as well. Daniel J. Rettberg Rare Book and Manuscript Bibliographer Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Klau Library Cincinnati, Ohio [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
Re: [ha-Safran]: Congratulations on a wonderful convention
Hi, Folks. I also had a great time at the conference and felt warmly welcomed as a newcomer. Thank you to all who worked so hard to put together a very good conference. I'd like to follow up on one of Shelli's suggestion, her first one. My presentation at the conference was a Powerpoint presentation. I had printed out one copy of each slide in case the technology failed, but these paper copies really wouldn't have done the trick and had the technology failed, I probably would not have delivered a presentation at all. So I'd like to suggest advice for future conference organizers. This is not at all a criticism of this year's conference. We are in a transitional period when it comes to technology-based presentations, and it will take years before people can assume that they can rely fully on the connections they need to deliver these presentations. In the meantime, future conference organizers should be aware the trend is toward the increasing use of technology. More and more of us will be developing presentations that rely on technology, and I think that shortly such presentations will be the norm. The hotels are very much benefitting from this trend as they charge exorbitant rates for the rental of the necessary equipment. But we'll still be making lots of Powerpoint presentations (or their future incarnations). The hotel tech people in Brooklyn were wonderful. They were right there to assist me in setting up and showing my presentation, and they were very helpful when I left my mouse in the room and didn't realize it until hours later. (They located and retrieved it for me.) These guys were personable, kind, and most importantly, competent. They got the job done. Things would have gone better for me if I had known I needed to bring a certain adapter. Because I didn't have it, my presentation lost some of its formatting. In the future, it will be very helpful if those giving technology-based presentations know just what the hotel can provide and what they need to supply on their own. One organization I belong to has started to use a form that presenters must fill out if they are using technology. The organizers then get back to the presenters to let them know what they need to bring, or what the venue can and cannot accommodate. In short, there should be a liaison between presenters and the tech people at the venue. This is a big job, and it may be that someone has to be especially appointed to it. But the more planning happens in advance, the less likely it is that the technology will fail. This advice of course applies to all conferences and meetings, not just AJL. I don't mean to sound so negative and apologize for giving so much space to what might seem to be a complaint. But I honestly mean it as a suggestion for the future, and that's why I'm posting it here rather than just mentioning it in the evaluation form. I think this is advice that potentially affects us all. Thanks for listening. Take care, June Cummins June Cummins, Assistant Professor Department of English and Comparative Literature San Diego State University [EMAIL PROTECTED] Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL === Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
