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<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>Contact: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Brandie Baumann</st1:PersonName>,
communications coordinator; 800.397.1552; <a href="mailto:bcrpress@bcr.org"><font
size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>bcrpress@bcr.org</span></font></a></span></font><font
size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><font size=2
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:
bold'>Inaugural Reference Renaissance Conference Creates Buzz<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>Aurora</span></font></st1:City><font
size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Colo.</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font size=2
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Verdana'>, October 22,
2008 — By all measures, the <i><span style='font-style:italic'>Reference
Renaissance: Current and Future Trends</span></i> conference, held in Denver
(CO) this past August, was an unparalleled success. Nearly 500 attendees
from five countries and 41 <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region>
states participated in two days of thought-provoking, inspiring and practical
presentations and workshops focused on established, emerging and merging areas
of reference service. Conference presentations now are available, and a print
collection of proceedings is scheduled to be published in 2009. Plans even now
are underway for a 2010 conference.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Participants across the board have raved about the variety
and quality of the topics. From subjects as wide ranging as text and instant
messaging services to marketing and merchandising tactics, predatory reference
and new models and products, attendees chose from 36 sessions sorted into six
tracks over the two-day conference. “The number and variety of
sessions were excellent. We got so much out of two days!” commented
one conference participant. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Attendees also had the opportunity to attend product demos
and meet with representatives from more than 20 vendors offering a wide range
of products and services from reference databases to online tutoring to
reference software. Strong support from sponsors RUSA, tutor.com, OCLC and
others helped to make the conference possible.</span></font><font size=2
color=black face=Verdana><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Verdana;
color:black'> </span></font><b><font size=2 face=Verdana><span
style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>Coming from a broad cross-section of the library community
including special, academic, public and school libraries, many participants appreciated
the opportunity to network with their colleagues. Debbie Rossman, Westlake
Porter Public Library (OH) reflected the feelings of many conference
participants, saying “…this was absolutely the best conference I
have ever attended. I feel recharged! Wonderful ideas and terrific
enthusiasm.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>The keynote address, “Reference in the Age of
Wikipedia, Or Not…” was presented by David W. Lewis, Dean of the
University Library, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. He
examined how libraries attempt to sustain innovation as related to existing
values and processes of the organization and how, by watching what customers
do, rather than asking them what they want, libraries can become more
user-oriented.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>The Plenary Session Panel on the second day created the
opportunity for participants to express many diverse opinions. Titled
“Theory Meets Practice: Educators and Directors Talk,” the
panel presenters included R. David Lankes, Ph.D., Syracuse University; Jamie
LaRue, Douglas County Libraries; Marie L. Radford, Ph.D., Rutgers University
School of Communication, and Library Studies; and Carla J. Stoffle, Dean of
Libraries and Center for Photography, University of Arizona. The
discussion touched on the overwhelming need for organizations to budget for
continuing education for their staff, as well as the need for good customer
service skills along with repackaging information into forms that customers
really want and will use. A very good overview of the session can be found on <a
href="http://shinylib.com/2008/08/06/plenary-panel-theory-meets-practice/">The
Shiny Librarian blog</a>.(http://shinylib.com/2008/08/06/plenary-panel-theory-meets-practice/)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=red face=Verdana><span style='font-size:
11.0pt;font-family:Verdana;color:red'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>For anyone who was unable to get to all the sessions they
wanted or would like more information, links to presentation materials are now
available for download in the <a
href="http://www.bcr.org/referencerenaissance/schedule_details.html">detailed
schedule</a> on the Reference Renaissance website. As one conference attendee
pointed out, “…there were so many great sessions that they
frequently competed with each other, so I had some tough decisions to
make.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>In addition, all conference presenters have been invited
to submit research papers and reports from the field. These will be peer
reviewed for selection for print proceedings to be published by Neal-Schuman
Publishers and edited by Marie L. Radford and R. David Lankes. Publication is
scheduled for mid-2009. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'>With the success of this year’s conference, BCR has
committed to sponsoring a second Reference Renaissance conference tentatively
scheduled for August, 2010. Watch the <a href="http://www.bcr.org/">BCR
website</a> for date and registration announcements. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-weight:bold'>About BCR</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Verdana'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><font size=2 face=Verdana><span style='font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Verdana;font-style:italic'>BCR brings libraries together for
greater success by expanding their knowledge, reach and power. They offer a
broad range of solutions and their hands-on, personal attention to each member
enables them to deliver effective and timely solutions that help libraries keep
pace with new developments in technology and services. BCR is the
nation’s oldest and most established multistate library cooperative.
Since 1935, the BCR team has helped libraries learn new skills, reach patrons,
increase productivity and save money. BCR (<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Bibliographical</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Center</st1:PlaceType> for Research) is a 501(c)3
nonprofit headquartered in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Aurora</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">Colorado</st1:State></st1:place>. For more information,
visit <a href="http://www.bcr.org/" title="blocked::http://www.bcr.org/">www.BCR.org</a>
or e-mail <a href="mailto:info@BCR.org" title="blocked::mailto:info@BCR.org">info@BCR.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><strong><b><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>Brandie Baumann</span></font></b></strong></st1:PersonName><b><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold'><br>
<strong><b><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>Communications
Coordinator</span></font></b></strong></span></font></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><strong><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>BCR</span></font></b></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><font size=2
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>14394 E. Evans Ave.</span></font></st1:address></st1:Street><br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>Aurora</span></font></st1:City><font size=2><span style='font-size:
10.0pt'>, <st1:State w:st="on">CO</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">80014-1408</st1:PostalCode></span></font></st1:place><br>
<strong><b><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
Arial'>p:</span></font></b></strong><font size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>
303.751.6277 ext 110<br>
800.397.1552<br>
<strong><b><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>f:</span></font></b></strong>
303.751.9787<br>
<strong><b><font face=Arial><span style='font-family:Arial'>e</span></font></b></strong>:
</span></font><a href="mailto:bbaumann@bcr.org" title="mailto:bbaumann@bcr.org"><font
size=2><span style='font-size:10.0pt'>bbaumann@bcr.org</span></font></a><br>
<a href="http://www.BCR.org" title="http://www.bcr.org/"><font size=2><span
style='font-size:10.0pt'>www.BCR.org</span></font></a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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