NEASIS&T

When:
Thursday, August 16, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Where:
Uno’s Pizzeria (lower level)
22 JFK Street (Harv. Square)
Cambridge, MA

What:
All Things Data Visualization

Data Visualization is a method of presenting information in a graphical form. Good data visualization should appear as if it is a work of art. This intrigues the viewer and draws them in so that they can further investigate the data and info that the graphic represents.

Come learn more about what folks are doing to make data more interesting.  Come share what you have been doing with your old line graphs.  Bring your ipad or other devices – as the restaurant is wired for us to share.

Check out these links for points of discussion:

• http://radar.oreilly.com/2012/02/why-data-visualization-matters.html
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/oct/17/data-visualisation-visualization
• http://flowingdata.com/2011/12/21/the-best-data-visualization-projects-of-2011/

When: Monday, April 23rd, 1pm-5pm
Where: MIT Bush Room
Directions and Parking

Smartphone sales eclipsed PC sales for the first time in late 2010. Some analysts predict mobile phones will overtake PCs as the most common web device worldwide by 2013.

Designing for mobile web experience offers a new set of challenges and opportunities for libraries. We need to better understand our users, plan for mobile-friendly content, ensure contextually relevant information, and collaborate with technology partners. On Monday April 23rd, join us to learn from colleagues who are taking their libraries mobile. Light snacks, coffee, and tea will be served.

• Dave Bretthauer, Webmaster, University of Connecticut Libraries
• Amy Deschenes, Systems & Web Applications Librarian, Simmons College Library
• Bobbi Fox, Digital Library Software Engineer & Corinna Baksik, Systems Librarian; Library Technology Services, Harvard University Information Technology – Harvard Library
• Remlee Green, User Experience Librarian, MIT Libraries
• Edward Iglesias, Systems Librarian, Burritt Library, CCSU
• Maura Keating, Reference Librarian, Bryant University Library
• Carli Spina, Emerging Technologies and Research Librarian, Harvard Law School Library

Tuesday, November 1, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Are you a lover of TED Talks? Or maybe you’re wondering just who this Ted person is that everyone keeps talking about? Either way, join us for an evening of TED Talks, pizza, and sparkling conversation.

TED Talks are “inspired talks by the world’s leading thinkers and doers.” TED stands for “Technology, Entertainment, Design,” but talks span a vast range of topics. The TED conference challenges intriguing people to “give the talk of their lives (in 18 minutes or less).” Many focus on technology and design, and no matter the topic, most are extremely engrossing.

REGISTER – by noon on Monday, October 31

Tuesday, November 1
5:30 – 6:30: pizza & networking
6:30 – 7:30: TED Talks & conversation

Cost: $10 (covers pizza, salad, and drinks)
MIT Bush Room, building 10, room 105; Map & Directions to MIT

Come join in a lively (and informal) gathering to celebrate a few of our successes this year!

When:
Monday, September 26, starting at 5:30 to 7:30
Come and go at your leisure!
NEASIST will be with a Wonder Woman image on a stick!

Where:
Meadhall
4 Cambridge Center
Cambridge, MA 02142
http://themeadhall.com/

The gathering is to celebrate three great ASIS&T awards!

2011 Chapter of the Year Award
NEASIST received this ASIS&T honor for hosting a number of well-attended events including book clubs, social events, and presentations, and for engaging in outreach activities  targeted at members and non-members alike.

2011 Chapter Innovation of the Year
NEASIST received this honor for our meet-up, “All Things e-Readers.” We gathered to share experiences of reading on Kindle, iPads, Nooks, smart phones, and other devices; and shared ideas on how to negotiate licenses, catalog books on Kindle, and manage patron expectation for using devices and accessing material.

Congratulations also to the Simmons GSLIS ASIS&T chapter for winning the Student Chapter of the Year Award! Simmons ASIS&T had a very successful year, hosting a number of heavily attended events, with some well known names, including Peter Suber and Nicole Hennig.

When:
Tuesday, July 19, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Where:
Cambridge Brewing Co.
1 Kendall Square, Bldg 100
Cambridge, MA 02139
http://www.cambrew.com/

What:
Summer installment of the NEASIS&T Meet-up!

Gather with friends and colleagues for a happy-hour discussion on “Things Researchers Want.”

The Research Information Network recently released a report with detailed analysis of how humanities’ researchers discover, use, create and manage their information resources.

• “10 Things That Humanities Researchers Want“
  a summary of the report by Friedel Grant of Europeana Libraries
• Full Research Information Network Report: “Reinventing research? Information practices in the humanities”

What is your organization doing to meet these 10 identified needs? Come share in an informal discussion on various aspects of this report and how your role as information specialist or librarian may be shifting to meet these researcher demands.

RSVP not required but very helpful so we can save you a seat!  If possible, email darcy[at]mit.edu if you are coming.

Have you ever been to a boring awards dinner?  This ain’t it!

Come to the NEASIST Awards Dinner and experience a lively speaker, great food, and an opportunity to catch up with your colleagues.

We will also announce and congratulate the Chapter Member of the Year, the Student Member of the Year, and the Student Travel Award winner.

Understanding and Engaging Your Users in a Social World

Ryan Evans, Director of Experience Design at Corey McPherson Nash and graduate of MIT’s Media Lab

Social media not only projects who your organization is, but engages existing and new audiences in an ongoing dialog. Find out how social media integrates into existing, traditional user tasks and how user personas can help you identify the effect the social world has on your users and how they interact with you.  See Ryan’s bio below.

Register by noon on Friday, April 22nd!

Schedule:

6:00-6:30 Cocktails & light hors d’oeuvres
6:30-7:45 Dinner
7:45-9:00 Award presentations followed by speaker, Ryan Evans

The NEASIST Annual Awards Dinner will be held at the lovely MIT Faculty Club in Cambridge MA. Directions & Parking

View from the MIT Faculty Club

About Ryan Evans

Ryan began his career at the MIT Media Lab where he specialized in content-based interactive story telling, working on digital tools for filmmakers. In 1995, Ryan joined Corey McPherson Nash and since that time has played a critical role in developing Corey’s award-winning web work and interactive work process.

Ryan leads the critical process of understanding user needs and mapping those to information architecture, user experience,  and design for web, mobile and social media.

His clients include Harvard Business School, Museum of Science Boston, Phillips Exeter Academy, Ernst & Young Center for Business Innovation, MIT OpenCourseWare, Forrester Research, Pleasant Company, and Keurig. His work has been recognized with awards from MITX and the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA).  He holds an MS (Media Arts and Sciences) and a BS (Computer Science and Engineering), both from MIT.

Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 (register by March 4th!)
8:30am – 12:00 speaker talks and panel discussion
12:00 – 4:00pm optional lunch and workshop (space limited)

Simmons College, 300 The Fenway, Boston, MA

Co-Sponsored by the Simmons Student Chapter of ASIS&T

As librarians and information professionals, we often find ourselves responsible for creating or organizing online content, but without the tools, budget or technical skills to make it an efficient or sustainable process.

Setting up a new web site.  Organizing e-content.  Training non-techie staff to edit HTML.  Enforcing style guidelines.  Maintaining some semblance of control over our web sites.

Having a content management system (CMS) would make our lives easier, but we’re so busy we don’t have time to do the research, nor the money to hire a developer to set one up.  What’s a busy librarian/information professional to do?  This program will introduce you to a handful of CMS systems (some free!) that can be used for simple or complex projects, depending on your needs.

In the morning, there will be expert speakers and a panel discussion comparing and contrasting different CMSs (WordPress, Expression Engine, Drupal, and Springshare’s LibGuides/CampusGuides), with presentations of actual projects to give you a sense of what CMSs can do.

In the afternoon, NEASIS&T will offer an optional hands-on workshop for attendees who wish to get their feet wet using WordPress.

A continental breakfast is included for everyone and a tote lunch will be provided to those staying for the afternoon workshop.

Full details with speakers, cost, schedule, and directions

Register in advance by Friday, March 4

PODCASTS FROM THE EVENT NOW AVAILABLE:

Part 1

• Theresa Maturevich (Head of Reference, Bedford Free Public Library) speaks about WordPress
• Michael Witwicki (Principal, Booyant) speaks about ExpressionEngine

Part 2

• Steve Sanzo (Director of Marketing and Business Development, Isovera) speaks about Drupal
• Anna Burke (Manager of Community & Training, Springshare) and Talia Resendes (Community Specialist & Trainer, Springshare) speak about LibGuides