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Contact: Liz Markel

Marketing Specialist, RUSA/ASCLA

(312) 280-4398

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NEWS

For Immediate Release

March 2, 2010

Future of reference now showing at upcoming RUSA preconference

CHICAGO--Reference and user services professionals won't want to miss the upcoming workshop, "Reference Evolution: Envisioning the Future, Remembering the Past" which will be hosted by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA) as a part of ALA's 2010 Annual Conference in Washington, D.C.

The workshop, which is presented by RUSA's Machine Assisted Reference Section (MARS) and Reference Services Section (RSS), is open to all library professionals involved or interested in reference and user services at all types of libraries. The event is an opportunity to participate in a lively discussion of the current state of the profession, to see beyond the hype and identify where things are actually headed. Speakers will offer a "state of the union" on the profession, acknowledging traditional reference tools and skills that remain relevant, and projecting how newer technologies will better serve patrons.

Speakers at this event include:

·         Joe Janes, associate professor at the Information School, University of Washington, who has co-authored eight books on the relationship between technology and librarianship, including Introduction to Reference Work in the Digital Age, writes American Libraries' "Internet Librarian" column and is the founding director of the Internet Public Library.

·         Stephen Francoeur, information services librarian and assistant professor at Baruch College, City University of New York who has covered the rise of digital reference, including reference via instant message, SMS, video, VoIP, and other applications for the past ten years at his website, The Teaching Librarian.

·         Amy Van Scoy, associate head of research and information services, North Carolina State University Libraries and a PhD candidate at the University of North Carolina, whose research and writing focuses on the establishment and maintenance of effective, patron-centered virtual reference services. Van Scoy presented "Teachable instants" in instant message reference: Taking the opportunity or taking a pass?" at ALA's 2009 Annual Conference.

 "Reference Evolution" will be held 9a.m.-5p.m. on Friday, June 25, at one of the ALA Conference hotels in Washington, D.C. Interested participants can register for this event only, or can register in conjunction with Annual Conference registration by adding it as a ticketed event. For institute-only registration use the online form (login required) available at www.ala.org/annual, select “Institute and Ticketed Events Only” as the registration type, and proceed to select this event from the list.

Advance registration is open through May 14, 2010. Advance registration prices for Reference Evolution pre-conference start at $175 (for RUSA members). On-site registration starts at $195 (for RUSA members), and will be available until Sunday, June 20. All interested participants are strongly encouraged to register by June 20, as only a handful of seats will be available at the door on the day of the event. Register now at www.ala.org/annual where you will also find pricing for non-members and have the opportunity to join RUSA.                  

The Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association, represents librarians and library staff in the fields of reference, specialized reference, collection development, readers advisory and resource sharing. RUSA is the foremost organization of reference and information professionals who make the connections between people and the information sources, services, and collection materials they need. Not a member, but interested in discounted registration rates on conference, preconferences and other events? Join, renew or add RUSA to your ALA membership by calling 1-(800)-545-2433, option 5.  Learn more about the association at www.ala.org/rusa.