Better Together: Creating Partnerships for Community Learning

An Exciting Learning Opportunity for California Public Library Teams presented by the clioinstitute

April 8-10, 2006

Cerritos Public Library, Cerritos, California

A unique interactive conference designed to help you

• Create and enhance partnerships with museums, public broadcasters, governmental and other community organizations
• Tap into more resources and increase audiences
• Increase the learning assets and opportunities available to your customers

Featured Speakers:

• Craig Rosa, Director of Information Technology, The Tech Museum of Innovation
• Susan Hildreth, State Librarian of California
• Bob Rogers, Founder and Chairman of BRC Imagination Arts, The New Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum

Activities:

• General sessions about successful collaborative partnerships that resulted in broadening access to and expanding learning opportunities in local communities

• Small group skill-building sessions in four areas:
• interactive navigation and wayfinding techniques in physical facilities
• interactive displays/booths for use at community events/fairs
• interactive elements to enhance existing websites/portals
• production of public programs using webcasting and videoconferencing

• Consultant-facilitated team work sessions for collaborative project planning that will result in
• project plans
• production schedules
• budget estimate
• customer outcome measures

Questions? Contact Gail McGovern, Better Together Conference Coordinator, at gmcgovern@macnexus.org or 916-446-2411.

Why attend?

Your customers are constantly seeking opportunities to gain skills and knowledge essential for improving and maintaining the quality of their lives. Collaborative partnerships are a perfect way to tap into more resources and broaden access to learning opportunities in your community. This conference will give you new skills, insights and information to better serve your diverse communities, including techniques for harnessing the power of modern learning technology.

Who should attend?

California PUBLIC library teams of 3-5 members are eligible to attend. Participants are encouraged to include representatives from museums, public broadcasting, governmental and/or community organizations on their teams.

Space is limited to 100 participants.

Where will it be held?

The conference will be in the conference center at the Cerritos Library, Cerritos, California. Hotel accommodations will be at the Cerritos Sheraton, Cerritos, California.

How much will it cost?

Tuition, lodging and conference-sponsored meals will be paid by a Library Services and Technology Act grant administered by the California State Librarian.

Transportation costs are the responsibility of participants.

Team Commitment:

Since space is limited to 100 participants, our selection of your team entails some responsibilities on your part. The conference is designed as a continuous experience and your entire team is expected to attend all official sessions. As the conference lodgings investment is nonrefundable, all team members must stay at the conference hotel both Saturday and Sunday nights.

How does my team apply?

1. Listen to the Better Together partnership podcast.
2. Download and read the partnership guidelines PDF.
3. By December 31, 2005, complete the online application OR mail or fax a completed copy of the PDF application to:

   Gail McGovern
   Better Together Conference Coordinator
   906 Q Street
   Sacramento, CA 95814
   Fax: 916-446-2411

The Selection Process:

Conference participants will be selected according to the following criteria:

• Team makeup (with emphasis on partner choice and involvement)
• Statement of interest
• Statewide geographic diversity

Notification:

Confirmations (or regrets) will be sent to all applicants no later than February 1, 2006.