From InfoTodayWiki

25th Anniversary Memory Bank for Computers in Libraries

Can you believe this is the 25th year for Computers in Libraries?  It was started as Small Computers in Libraries by Mecklermedia.  Nancy Nelson programmed the first 10 conferences.  At that point Information Today purchased the conference from Mecklermedia and Jane Dysart became the program director -- and she can't believe this is her 15th Computers in Libraries conference in DC.  The conference, under ITI's direction, was first held in the Crystal City Hyatt and outgrew their facility.  It moved to the Hilton for a number of years and has been back at the renovated Crystal City Hyatt for the last few years.  There are so many wonderful memories of past Computers in Libraries conferences that I hope you will share yours here with storeis &/or pictures.

Favorite Stories

Jane Dysart  [Has too many great memories, but here's a few]

I vividly remember Tom Hogan Sr., President & CEO, talking with me (at Nancy Nelson's suggestion) and hiring me to design and develop the program for Computers in LIbraries in the bar of the Crystal City Hyatt during the 10th conference in 1995.

I still laugh about the year of the gigantic DC snowstorm which grounded everything and held our audience captive in the Crystal City Hyatt.  Exhibitors loved it.  We had a wonderful party that night -- couldn't do anything else!

I remember overflowing speaking rooms at the Crystal City Hyatt when everyone was clamouring to know more about that thing called the Internet!  Hope Tillman and Walt Howe were my mentors and helpers and we sure packed them in.

Scott Brandt is a highlight as our MC for many Dead Tech sessions -- he's been AWOL for a few years but is chairing this year's Tues night session, Dead & Innovative Technology: Recreating the Inforamtion World.  Don't miss it!

Mingling with the Republic National Caucus members at the Hilton one year when our events overlapped was certainly interesting, as was watching the preparations for the attendance of the President of the US.

Last year's Computers in Libraries 2009 Twitter tag, #CIL2009, as a top trending tag was a real achievement!

Information Today staff writiers creating an ITI blog and covering Computers in Libaries was wonderful, and linking bloggers at the conference to it, was terrific.  And with free wireless in all the speaking rooms, live blogging is the norm.

The InfoTubey awards in 2007 for libraries creating the best library marketing videos was amazing -- red carpet, popcorn in special bags, fashion extravaganza, and more.  Will have to post some pics in the space below for that terrific event.

Lora Baiocco

I saw your tweet for CIL stories. I went to my first CIL in 2008. I was a newly hired online services librarian (the position had just been created) and she is a reference librarian (she's worked at the library for 25+ years). We were so excited and inspired by what we heard that we decided to start a blog - right there at the conference. We didn't bring a computer, so we gave ourselves 5 minutes/session to write about every session we attended and we did it all on the free computers CIL supplied on the trade floor and on the 2 computers in our hotel. We called our blog Conference Blips and we told our co-workers to follow us and learn along with us. Our enthusiasm was infectious and I'm sure that the blog has made my work easier in terms of the amazing support I get from my co-workers with our online initiatives (and the re-design of our website!).

Favorite Pictures

These are the 2008 Infotubey awards.