Unconferences

Presenters: Steve Lawson, Stephen Francoeur, John Blyberg, Kathryn Greenhill

Kathryn: Methodology

Barcamp, open spaces meeting, libcamp, bibcamp, mashed library are all terms for unconferences.

Recommended reading: Open Space Technology

Methodology of Unconferences
Turn up on day and talk about what the group wants (sometimes that means more structure, not less; depends on group)
Whoever comes are the right people
Whatever happens is the only thing that could have
Whenever it starts is the right time (conversation goes on as long as needed)
When it’s over, it’s over

Law of Two Feet: every individual has two feet, and must be prepared to use them. Responsibility for a successful outcome in any Open Space Event resides with exactly one person -- each participant. Individuals can make a difference and must make a difference. If that is not true in a given situation, they, and they alone, must take responsibility to use their two feet, and move to a new place where they can make a difference. This departure need not be made in anger or hostility, but only after honoring the people involved and the space they occupy. By word or gesture, indicate that you have nothing further to contribute, wish them well, and go and do something useful.

For more, read Dave Winer's post What is an unconference?


Steve: Planning

For unconferences, as with a party, you pick the location, bring the refreshments, invite a bunch of people, invite specific people, but you can’t/don’t plan what each person says.

General unconferences are not about specific library settings.

Casual, but how casual?
What will you keep from traditional conferences?
Keynotes (It can give a basis or establish a theme; this can be good or bad)
Sessions
Registration
Fees
Hybrid?

Select the time and place
Everyday is a bad day for somebody
How many will attend?

Use social software to organize.
Unconferences share a wiki-ethos in terms of participation.
Establish a wiki with details about when/where; seed the wiki.

Supplies, meeting space, etc
Free as in someone else is paying—partner when possible.
Borrow from your own institution.

Consider amenities and grace notes
Takeaways, gifts, schwag

Stephen: Real world examples

Library Camp NYC
Provided notebook printed with logo to participants (200 at $4 each)

Planning
Asked for topic ideas, received 160, merged/combined (via open discussion) into 28 slots.

Use the above moderated method to organize OR...
consider posting a blank grid on a wall and individuals fill-in to present.

Once it is set up, participants run the unconference themselves.
Organizers simply then focus on food and WiFi.

John: Real world experience

Organized 6 unconferences, all different topics.
Most recently--responsibilities of librarians in the future, responsibilities of librarians to the future

Unconferences are agile to address emerging needs.

To be successful, feel free to diverge from outlined model above. Some structure may be important, be ready to activate a topic, if participation is not there.

Unconferences will not replace traditional conferences, but they are a great way to inject intelligent thought into work.

Unconferences can be exhausting (in a good way) when participants are fully engaged.