I have loved all the interesting ways that Google represents holidays and other events on their home page…. in fact, I started saving them. In talking to the folks from Google who were attending and speaking at Internet Librarian 2005, I learned that they are called Google Doodles! I haven’t yet found all the ones I liked and remembered from the past, but check them out — they’re great.

Another first at Internet Librarian 2005!
One of the IL05 cybertours was a podcast on the topic of the podcasting. Greg Schwartz of Open Stacks put together the podcast along with a powerpoint presentation. Listen to Greg talk and read his slides at the same time! Also check out Jenny Levine’s Podcasting 101(.pdf).

Lee Rainie, Director, Pew Internet and American Life Project, and a great speaker, shared the following at Internet Librarian 2005 this morning:
* “the more invisible the technology, the greater the impact”
* “broadband is the norm”
* “those with hot relationships with the Net are hyperconnnected”
* 12-17 year with their use of instant messaging, cell phones, text messaging, picture taking, etc. are “redefining what it means to be present/be with other people”; proximity matters less and less
* “with today’s teens, the conversation never ends”
* it’s a media ecology for today’s teenagers — they are media creators with their stories, photos, blogs, art work, etc.
* teens are multitaskers, generation M for media, who spending 8.5 hours/day online but only 6 hours in real time
* new term — continuous partial attention rather than multitasking is something to keep an eye on as a major behavioral change — sort of like a radar that is always on and lights on this or that — more on that from Liz Lawyley tomorrow

Monterey, California is definitely a misty, foggy area this year as Internet Librarians descend upon the Monterey Conference Center for this year’s event. Despite travel difficulties, the mood is already positive — especially with the addition of some free wifi areas and a conference wiki and blog for attendees as well as those who were not able to be in Monterey this year for the event. And the Information Today blog is filled with lots of happenings and pictures.

I was lucky to participate recently as a mentor in the Northern Exposure to Leadership retreat at Emerald Lake Lodge in the Canadian Rockies. If you or your staff need/want to develop into a good leader, check out the program; the next retreat will likely be in the winter of 2007. A fabulous program supported by the University of Alberta, SirsiDynix, Ebsco & YBP.