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<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I know I'm a little late to this conversation, but I wanted to
respond to some of the comments and suggestions. <br>
</p>
<p>First of all, many thanks to Grace for pulling these suggestions
together! It's very easy to continue doing things the way they've
always been done, and I think it's a good idea to step back
periodically to ensure that we are getting the best experience we
can out of the conference. I've also witnessed first-hand the
tight margins in previous conferences with a few coming close to
losing money for the project. I agree that we need to find ways to
generate more income from the conference so that we aren't
experiencing anxiety from year to year about whether the
conference will pay for itself.</p>
<p>- Attendance - I do think it's reasonable to plan for 150
attendees from year to year with our current user base. Most of
our recent growth has come from libraries joining existing
consortia, not from new library systems / consortia implementing a
new Evergreen system. Of course, we hope to see future growth,
and, at that time, we should expect to see higher numbers at the
conference. However, I wouldn't expect to see higher attendance
from libraries joining consortia. Looking at the Evergreen
consortia in Massachusetts, it is our central consortium staff who
are attending the conferences, not the library staff. The central
consortium staff then learns lessons from the conference that they
bring back to their member libraries through their own training
programs. <br>
</p>
<p>- Two-tracks - I wasn't a big fan of two tracks at the 2013
conference, but I would be willing to give it another try.
Instead of designating a general and technical track, could we
just do the two tracks without labeling them, keeping in mind that
two concurrent programs should appeal to different audiences? For
the two conferences I worked on, my recollection is that it was
sometimes difficult to get a lot of proposals for technical track
programs. Just as non-technical folks could probably benefit from
sitting in on some technical programs to get a sense of how
underlying Evergreen development works, I also think technical
folks could benefit from "this is how I use feature x" programs. <br>
</p>
<p>- Programming - I agree with Grace that training should be a
pre-conference thing and not part of the general conference. Do we
know how many attendees are repeat attendees as opposed to those
who are first-time conference attendees? My sense is that a large
percentage are repeat attendees and that most first-time attendees
are library staff that work in the area where the conference is
being held. If attendance is indeed mostly seasoned Evergreen
users, we should probably avoid introductory sessions on how to
use the software. <br>
</p>
<p>- Although I'm also in favor of reducing the number of days of
the conference, particularly on Saturday when we don't really have
a lot of content, I'm not a big fan of scheduling the hackfests
around the programming. It could be a personal thing. It takes me
a while to get settled into working at a hackfest, and I feel like
I would just be getting a rhythm when it time to move into
programs. Overall, I think it benefits the entire community if a
day is set aside for working on Evergreen, whether it be code,
documentation, web site revisions, etc. Although that day then
costs more money, it's an investment that generates actual
improvements to our project resources. I would be curious to hear
what other developers, documentators, etc. think about the
hackfest times.</p>
<p>- I think I'm of the minority opinion that keynote speakers add
value to the conference. I like them. They inspire me and, when
they are from other open-source projects, make me think of new
ways our own community can operate. <br>
</p>
<p>- Food - I know food & beverage minimums can reduce other
conference costs, but I think we could make big reductions here. I
see in the surveys that most people wanted to continue with the
existing food options. However, the food costs are quite large and
I don't know if most people realize that sponsorships only cover a
portion of those costs. My one regret from the Cambridge
conference is that we set our food & beverage minimum way too
high for the number of people who ultimately attended. A lot of
work could be done to curtail costs here. Breakfast and the
receptions have become more elaborate over the years. I know
people like eggs and bacon for breakfast, but they increase the
food budget significantly. Afternoon snacks are important as they
get people into the vendor hall, and we need to keep people
visiting the exhibitors. Coffee is important too. Another option
might be to consider ticketed breakfasts or lunches, which is how
meals are handled at our local library conferences.</p>
<p>I know I'm now moving in the opposite direction of cutting costs,
but another thing to consider is that this is the one time during
the year when such a large segment of the community comes
together. Is there other work we could be planning to get done
while we're at the conference? Could we be setting aside time to
talk about larger, strategic plans for Evergreen? Those are
discussions that often work better when we're meeting face to
face. <br>
</p>
<p>Thanks again Grace for sparking this discussion!<br>
Kathy<br>
</p>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 05/31/2017 03:34 PM, Ruth Frasur
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAGKJA8joBBbZYc367Xd7XOx_D6WdF_+WRnj9CttE_rMA4R1JuQ@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<div dir="ltr">Just letting y'all know that I'm reading through
the suggestions and comments. There's not much that I feel like
I can add, but I'm going to anyway.
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>- Tracks: I like the idea of two tracks - one
for development, the other for end users. In
Grace's mock-up schedules, the hackaway events
were concurrent with end user sessions and that
intrigues me.<br>
</div>
<br>
</div>
- Food: I'm not sure what was up with the snack breaks
this year. I know that the idea was to shuttle people
closer to the exhibit area, and that's cool. They
were just too soon after breakfast with more breakfast
food (that was weird). I'm all for snack breaks, but
it'd be great if they were went people needed both a
break and a snack and included something(s) that were
particularly interesting and/or related to the
conference location.<br>
<br>
</div>
- Keynote: I'm pretty ambivalent about this. I've both
enjoyed and not enjoyed keynote addresses in the past.
I ALWAYS look forward to the State of Evergreen and the
Developers' Updates and wouldn't mind to have those
expanded in lieu of a keynote. I do like Galen's
suggestion of bringing in over FLOSS community members
to address our community. I think that was the goal
this year, but I'm not sure how successful it was.<br>
<br>
</div>
- Merch: We learned a lot this year, and will definitely
be putting those lessons into practice in upcoming years.
As Rogan mentioned, we will be better at understanding and
mitigating risk when it comes to merchandise. Having
things not necessarily Evergreen or conference related may
be a good idea. Again, it'll come back to balance risk
and reward.<br>
<br>
</div>
- Vendors: I have no problem with vendor spotlights other
than I'm not sure I'd attend them. And maybe this is an
issue. Unless it's something actually innovative and
interesting, I'm tired of the same buzzwords and library
land sales pitches.<br>
<br>
</div>
<div>- Types of Programs: I know there's always the push/pull
surrounding types of programs. From my standpoint, as an
end-user, I still think that the conference should be, first
and foremost, focused on the development of the software.
It should be incumbent on end-users, to push themselves to
develop user groups and "local" community specific
training. While I am a fan of the interest groups, it gets
very tricky very quickly to do specific workflow training
sessions because of local customizations.</div>
<div>
<div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>- Icebreaker Games - ahahahahahah! Unless you're
talking about games that have Icebreaker gum as the
prize. Or big boats with fortified hulls. Then I'm in.</div>
<span class="gmail-HOEnZb" style="font-size:12.8px"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, May 30, 2017 at 9:58 AM, Terran
McCanna <span dir="ltr"><<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:tmccanna@georgialibraries.org"
target="_blank">tmccanna@georgialibraries.org</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>I also agree.<span class="HOEnZb"><font
color="#888888"><br>
</font></span></div>
<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">Terran<br>
</font></span></div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><span class=""><br clear="all">
<div>
<div class="m_-158990703956566232gmail_signature"
data-smartmail="gmail_signature">
<div dir="ltr">Terran McCanna <br>
PINES Program Manager <br>
Georgia Public Library Service <br>
1800 Century Place, Suite 150 <br>
Atlanta, GA 30345 <br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="tel:%28404%29%20235-7138"
value="+14042357138" target="_blank">404-235-7138</a>
<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:tmccanna@georgialibraries.org"
target="_blank">tmccanna@georgialibraries.org</a>
<br>
<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
</span>
<div class="gmail_quote"><span class="">On Thu, May 25,
2017 at 2:48 PM, Andrea Buntz Neiman <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:abneiman@equinoxinitiative.org"
target="_blank">abneiman@equinoxinitiative.<wbr>org</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
</span>
<div>
<div class="h5">
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">From the peanut gallery...
<div><br>
</div>
<div>I really enjoyed the community member
speeches in Boston. I'd be in favor of doing
something similar in lieu of an opening
keynote, perhaps in combination with a
welcome/conference overview from the local
conference chair.
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The State of Evergreen/Board Update in
addition to the Developer Update makes for a
good closing/last day segment, IMO.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Andrea </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail_extra"><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, May 25, 2017 at
2:23 PM, Holly Brennan <span dir="ltr"><<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:haderhold@ci.homer.ak.us"
target="_blank">haderhold@ci.homer.ak.us</a>></span>
wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote"
style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px
#ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-US">
<div
class="m_-158990703956566232m_2799433468128188877m_2650830188639108370WordSection1"><span>
<p class="MsoNormal">>>If we
were to get rid of the keynote, what
would replace it? </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century
Gothic","sans-serif";color:#376092">Icebreaker games!
(Ahh! Just kidding)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century
Gothic","sans-serif";color:#376092"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century
Gothic","sans-serif";color:#376092">At the Boston
conference in 2014 three Evergreen
members did short 5-minute talks on
the theme of “our experiences with
Evergreen”, just prior to the
Keynote. They were lumped together
as State of Evergreen… I really
enjoyed listening to more casual
speeches by our own community, so a
longer block for an individual or
couple people doing something like
that would be nice. That or a Blake
GH magic show. </span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:#376092">J</span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century
Gothic","sans-serif";color:#376092"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century
Gothic","sans-serif";color:#376092"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century
Gothic","sans-serif";color:#376092">-Holly</span><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Century
Gothic","sans-serif";color:#376092"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">
eg-oversight-board [mailto:<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:eg-oversight-board-bounces@list.evergreen-ils.org"
target="_blank">eg-oversight-board-bou<wbr>nces@list.evergreen-ils.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Timothy
Spindler<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 25, 2017
9:58 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:scott.thomas@sparkpa.org"
target="_blank">scott.thomas@sparkpa.org</a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Grace Dunbar; Oversight
Board</span></p>
<div>
<div
class="m_-158990703956566232m_2799433468128188877h5"><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re:
[Eg-oversight-board] Final
conference thoughts</div>
</div>
<div>
<div
class="m_-158990703956566232m_2799433468128188877h5">
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I like the
idea of a vendor showcase. If
we were to get rid of the
keynote, what would replace it?
Do we have information on
whether it has attracted
attendance?</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tim</p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Thu, May
25, 2017 at 8:57 AM, <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:scott.thomas@sparkpa.org"
target="_blank">
scott.thomas@sparkpa.org</a>
<<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:scott.thomas@sparkpa.org" target="_blank">scott.thomas@sparkpa.org</a>>
wrote:</p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Regarding
consortia, I have a few
thoughts about this.
First, money is
obviously the first
barrier to attendance,
but we offer
scholarships that have
paid for all of the
costs (previous years)
or a fixed amount to go
towards the cost (this
year), and we advertised
for applicants across
all of our listservs
which takes us down
deeply into our 104
members. Every year we
only get a handful of
applicants, and they are
always from the larger,
well-staffed libraries
who could actually
afford to send their
staff without consortium
assistance. Why? In the
smaller libraries, the
majority of our 104,
they simply can’t spare
the time commitment.
Bodies are needed at the
desk. The other, darker
issue is that some
consortia may not
encourage wider
attendance from members
because they then go to
the conference, learn
things, and start asking
for things that you may
not want to give. You do
lose a bit of control.
These things are hard to
overcome.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I
think we just need to
stress, as the
conference approaches,
that there is something
for everyone not just
administrators and
coders and that it is a
great experience for
anyone who uses
Evergreen. I have a few
folks who would be
willing to give
testimonials on You
Tube.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Scott</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">
Grace Dunbar [mailto:<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:grace@equinoxinitiative.org" target="_blank">grace@equinoxinitiativ<wbr>e.org</a>]
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday,
May 24, 2017 12:13 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:scott.thomas@sparkpa.org" target="_blank">scott.thomas@sparkpa.org</a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Amy Terlaga
<<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:terlaga@biblio.org" target="_blank">terlaga@biblio.org</a>>;
Kathy Lussier <<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:klussier@masslnc.org" target="_blank">klussier@masslnc.org</a>>;
Oversight Board <<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:eg-oversight-board@list.evergreen-ils.org" target="_blank">eg-oversight-board@list.everg<wbr>reen-ils.org</a>></span></p>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re:
[Eg-oversight-board]
Final conference
thoughts</p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hi,</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Diane,
I'm glad you asked
your question...
and I'm glad Kathy
answered. :) It
really is a very
broad conference
that's trying to
meet a lot of
needs. But,
realistically, I
think we have to
look at it like
any other similar
conference. For
example, when I
would go to NCLA
when I worked at a
library in North
Carolina, I went
with the
expectation of
networking, being
exposed to new and
innovative ideas,
and collaborating
with colleagues.
The Evergreen
conference is
organized by the
community itself,
with all the work
and content being
provided by
community
volunteers - and
we are at the
mercy of that
wonderful and
talented group of
people who all
have other
responsibilities.
Even if we wanted
to provide
more/different
programming at the
conference, can we
realistically
deliver on that?
What *do* people
expect from the
conference?</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">But
that brings us
neatly into what
Scott asked...</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do
we know why people
don't attend? I
think the obvious
one is money. The
"hidden" reason is
that Evergreen is
adopted largely by
consortia. People
in branch
libraries often
feel that the
Evergreen
conference is for
the people "at the
top" and not for
them. If we want
to increase the
Evergreen
conference numbers
then we need to
figure out how to
promote more
outside the
Evergreen
community and how
the community and
consortia using
Evergreen can
better promote the
conference to
their members.
Evergreen Indiana
and NC Cardinal
did great jobs in
that regard and
the conference
attendance numbers
reflected that.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">I
do think it's
absolutely worth
surveying the
broader community
to find out what
would encourage
them to come to
the conference.
As an interesting
data point, there
are just over 700
subscribers to the
Evergreen General
Mailing List. So,
all 700 of those
folks ought to
have been aware
that there was a
conference...</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Thanks!</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Grace</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">On
Wed, May 24, 2017
at 8:20 AM,
<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:scott.thomas@sparkpa.org" target="_blank">scott.thomas@sparkpa.org</a>
<<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:scott.thomas@sparkpa.org" target="_blank">scott.thomas@sparkpa.org</a>>
wrote:</p>
<blockquote
style="border:none;border-left:solid
#cccccc
1.0pt;padding:0in
0in 0in
6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">I
am sorry I’m
weighing a bit
late.
Yesterday was
our Users
Group
conference.
Thank you,
Grace, for
sharing your
thoughts. I
also
appreciated
hearing
everyone’s
responses. As
a newbie on
the board, I
need to ask a
few questions,
and I
apologize in
advance if
this was
already been
discussed
numerous
times. Given
the size of
the Evergreen
community, do
we think 140
is a
reasonable
number of
attendees?
Also, do we
have any
theories as to
why we did not
see an
increase from
last year
given that the
Evergreen
community is
growing and
not shrinking?
Prior to
putting out a
Call for
Proposals for
2019 (and I am
all in favor
of Kathy’s
suggestion of
advancing the
deadline),
should we
survey the
community
about the
conference? It
can start with
a Did you
attend? Y/N
and, if N, we
can try to
find out why.
We can also
ask them to
rate what is
most and least
important in
terms of the
conference
experience. If
you are all
amenable to
this, I will
volunteer to
take the lead
with the
survey.</span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Scott</span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> </span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"">
eg-oversight-board [mailto:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:eg-oversight-board-bounces@list.evergreen-ils.org"
target="_blank">eg-oversight-board-bou<wbr>nces@list.evergreen-ils.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf
Of </b>Amy
Terlaga<br>
<b>Sent:</b>
Tuesday, May
23, 2017 12:49
PM<br>
<b>To:</b>
Kathy Lussier
<<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:klussier@masslnc.org" target="_blank">klussier@masslnc.org</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b>
Grace Dunbar
<<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:grace@equinoxinitiative.org" target="_blank">grace@equinoxinitiative.org</a>>;
Oversight
Board <<a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:eg-oversight-board@list.evergreen-ils.org" target="_blank">eg-oversight-board@list.everg<wbr>reen-ils.org</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b>
Re:
[Eg-oversight-board]
Final
conference
thoughts</span></p>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">All
good
suggestions,
Kathy!</p>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">Amy</p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">On
Tue, May 23,
2017 at 12:43
PM, Kathy
Lussier <<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:klussier@masslnc.org"
target="_blank">klussier@masslnc.org</a>>
wrote:</p>
<blockquote
style="border:none;border-left:solid
#cccccc
1.0pt;padding:0in
0in 0in
6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<div>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I haven't
read the
document
closely, but
some pieces
(new
sponsor/exhibitor
rates) may be
something we
can implement
sooner while #
of rooms, food
expenditures,
and other
contract items
can be planned
out for 2019.
Another
thought I've
had is that we
might want to
consider
putting out
the call for
the 2019
conference
earlier this
year. Although
we put out the
call about 16
months ahead
of time, I
know some
locations are
already fully
booked by that
time. Maybe we
can plan for
putting the
next Call for
Proposals out
in August /
September and
plan on
resolving
these
questions by
then so that
the 2019
planners know
what the new
requirements
are.</p>
<p>In addition
to reducing
costs, the
other
advantage to
reducing the
number of
rooms is that
it increases
the number of
conference
hotels that
can
accommodate
us.</p>
<p><span
style="color:#888888">Kathy</span></p>
<div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">On
05/23/2017
12:28 PM, Amy
Terlaga wrote:</p>
</div>
<blockquote
style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">These
are some very
intriguing
suggestions
for future
conferences.
I'm all for
reducing the
overall cost
to help the
project make
money.
Unfortunately,
contract
signing with
the conference
venue for 2018
is wrapping up
today or
tomorrow. I
followed this
year's plan.
I stuck with
the formula.
I needed
something to
go on and felt
the pressure
of locking in
the venue as
the local
committee has
been working
out a plan
with them
since before
the 2017
conference. </p>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">I'm
sorry some of
this can't be
executed for
2018, but the
work has been
laid out for
2019.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">Grace,
you've done so
much work - it
is much
appreciated.
Your insights
and expertise
are
invaluable..</p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">Amy</p>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">On
Tue, May 23,
2017 at 11:39
AM, Grace
Dunbar <<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:grace@equinoxinitiative.org"
target="_blank">grace@equinoxinitiative.org</a>>
wrote:</p>
<blockquote
style="border:none;border-left:solid
#cccccc
1.0pt;padding:0in
0in 0in
6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt">
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">I thought it might be useful to provide my
suggestions
for the
Evergreen
conference and
changes we may
want to
consider for
the future.
Apologies in
advance if
this is either
rambling or
redundant, or
both.</p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">The
conference
operates on
thin margins.</p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">Every
year the
conference
committee is
confident
(perhaps
overly
confident)
that this year
they will
increase
attendance
numbers and
increase
sponsorships.
The problem is
that we can't
increase our
sponsorships
without
increasing our
attendance.
And our
attendees who
increase our
numbers are
generally just
employees of a
library in an
existing
consortia.
This exact
complaint was
brought up by
multiple
vendors -
essentially,
the Evergreen
conference is
really only
between 8 and
10 "clients"
and having
more circ or
cataloging
staff
attendees at
the conference
doesn't
increase their
ROI. And
that's fair.
</p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">And the attendees who can increase our
numbers (local
staff) seem to
want very
specifically
targeted
information
related to
them at the
conference.
The conference
surveys have
been pretty
clear that
end-user staff
want and
expect
*training*
from the
conference.
But that
hasn't
traditionally
been the aim
of the
conference,
nor can we
reliably
provide that
since the
programs are
solicited from
volunteers in
the community.
Also
complicating
things for
"training" on
Evergreen
features is
that Evergreen
is so
customizable
that
"training" or
explanations
of how to use
certain
features may
not jive with
local policy
for their
consortia or
library
system.
Regardless, I
believe we
can, to some
extent,
provide that
kind of
training in
the
pre-conference
sessions.
However, we
will need to
be very
selective in
the process of
recruiting the
pre-conference
presenters
(trainers) if
we're going to
try to
actively meet
that need.</p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">Also,
I firmly
believe that
the conference
should make
money for the
project. With
that money,
the project
can provide
outreach,
build
infrastructure,
and promote
the
community. We
want to
provide a good
conference
with stellar
programs and a
welcoming
environment.
But the
conference is
also for
building
relationships,
allowing
developers and
community
leaders to
conduct
business and
brainstorm, as
well as
providing
space for the
EOB,
committees,
and interest
groups to
meet. IOW,
we're trying
to meet a lot
of needs and
there needs to
be balance -
we can't make
everyone happy
all the time.
If you look at
the breakdown
of attendees,
systems
administrators
and developers
are roughly
1/3, end-users
are roughly
1/3, and
admin/consortia
leaders are
roughly 1/3.
Those are all
stakeholders
that are
important but
their needs
are very
different.</p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">To
reduce
overhead for
the conference
and to try to
give
<u>everyone</u>
the best
experience we
should at
least look at
making some
changes. Based
off of my
experience and
the results of
conference
surveys, I
have some
suggestions
for changes to
the structure
and the
sponsorships.
<br>
Note that the
proposed
reduction of
the conference
to two tracks
had wide
support in the
survey and the
track
reduction and
changes to
pre-conferences
and when/where
IGs, etc.
meet, should
reduce the
overhead for
costs
associated
with meeting
rooms, A/V,
signage,
labor, etc.<br>
See attached
doc for
details.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">Thanks
for sticking
with the
rambling...</p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"
style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">And as always, this is just a suggestion
based on my
experience - I
leave it to
y'all to
decide what to
take away from
the
information
and what
direction to
go.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">Cheers!</p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><span
style="color:#888888">Grace</span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">p.s.
Exhibitor and
attendee
surveys also
attached. For
anyone who
prefers visual
representations, just let me know and I can share the Google form with
you.</p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><br>
<br
clear="all">
</p>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">--
</p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=<wbr>+</p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">Amy
Terlaga</p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">Director
of Member
Services</p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">Bibliomation,
Inc.</p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">24
Wooster Avenue</p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal">Waterbury,
CT 06708</p>
</div>
<div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="tel:%28203%29%20577-4070" target="_blank">(203)577-4070
x101</a></p>
</div>
<p
class="MsoNormal"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:terlaga@biblio.org" target="_blank">terlaga@biblio.org</a></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p
class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
</div>
<pre>-- </pre>
<pre>Kathy Lussier</pre>
<pre>Project Coordinator</pre>
<pre>Massachusetts Library Network Cooperative</pre>
<pre><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="tel:%28508%29%20343-0128" target="_blank">(508) 343-0128</a></pre>
<pre><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:klussier@masslnc.org" target="_blank">klussier@masslnc.org</a></pre>
<pre>Twitter: <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.twitter.com/kmlussier" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.com/kmlussi<wbr>er</a></pre>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">
</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">--
</p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal">+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=<wbr>+</p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Amy Terlaga</p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Director of Member Services</p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bibliomation, Inc.</p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">24 Wooster Avenue</p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Waterbury, CT 06708</p>
</div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="tel:%28203%29%20577-4070" target="_blank">(203)577-4070 x101</a></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:terlaga@biblio.org" target="_blank">terlaga@biblio.org</a></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">
______________________________<wbr>_________________
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<p class="MsoNormal">-- </p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<table class="m_-158990703956566232m_2799433468128188877m_2650830188639108370MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse:collapse" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
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<td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;padding:5.25pt 5.25pt 5.25pt 5.25pt" valign="top">
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Tim Spindler | Executive Director</span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:tspindler@cwmars.org" target="_blank">tspindler@cwmars.org</a> | <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="tel:%28508%29%20755-3323" value="+15087553323" target="_blank">508-755-3323 x120</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">C/W MARS |</span><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http://www.cwmars.org/&c=E,1,gIdhDEAxjEPPOvyj76o12qShEjw3F19ZdxpVZMxpG7PfVSnZqIM1MBkOT6RZf8_y5OW6mUsFzKAISt-FrjdfTHElWoRsaCgHep7FgsD2hcQU_NuV&typo=1" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#222222;text-decoration:none">
</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1155cc">http://www.cwmars.org</span></a></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">67 Millbrook St., Ste. 201</span></p>
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<td style="border:solid black 1.0pt;border-left:none;padding:5.25pt 5.25pt 5.25pt 5.25pt" valign="top">
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><img moz-do-not-send="true" id="m_-158990703956566232m_2799433468128188877m_2650830188639108370_x0000_i1025" src="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/rq0aQEIQeQFIZtFlhOcPwUGmbK2PkNH3ly8_KIAhVwwSGaCexfMvv7F8hooB8vsWDeHNWLgUFJP2QtFLk_2t2MhidNbqGfjxxFld6yzmARgOEzEe3xpdIeSnDjiFDqkZxHtbBbn4&c=E,1,gpo_dBYyLl1BeCay62eUOzlokgz6DCH-rLdb2uAmzwUhbi60S1jld3cFvflUKb_t9kCBkw-b1sWRMJL0gr6KHUHS_fzv_NSZwz2szQ,,&typo=1" border="0" height="58" width="96"></span></p>
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______________________________<wbr>_________________
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</div>--
<div class="m_-158990703956566232m_2799433468128188877gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px">Andrea Buntz Neiman</span>
</div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px">Project Manager for Software Development</div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px">Equinox Open Library Initiative</div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:abneiman@equinoxinitiative.org" target="_blank">abneiman@equinoxinitiative.org</a></div><div style="color:rgb(136,136,136);font-size:12.8px"><span style="font-size:12.8px">1-877-OPEN-ILS </span><span style="font-size:12.8px">(673-6457)</span>
</div><div><font color="#1155cc"><u><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.equinoxinitiative.org" target="_blank">www.equinoxinitiative.org</a></u></font>
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<div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Ruth Frasur</span>
<span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">Director of the Historic(ally Awesome) Hagerstown - Jefferson Township Library</span>
<span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">10 W. College Street in Hagerstown, Indiana (47346)</span>
<span style="font-size:12.8000001907349px">p (765) 489-5632; f (765) 489-5808</span>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://hagerstownlibrary.org" target="_blank">Our Kickin' Website</a>, <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://facebook.com/hjtplibrary" target="_blank">Our Rockin' Facebook Page</a>, and <a moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://nettlecreekplayers.com" target="_blank">The Nettle Creek Players</a></b>
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<fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"></fieldset>
<pre wrap="">_______________________________________________
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</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Kathy Lussier
Project Coordinator
Massachusetts Library Network Cooperative
(508) 343-0128
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:klussier@masslnc.org">klussier@masslnc.org</a>
Twitter: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.twitter.com/kmlussier">http://www.twitter.com/kmlussier</a></pre></body></html>