In relation to the term "Poropitia" and its reference... it is not available in the dictionary, as it is a term that is a combination of information to provide a concept to fit around the theme of "outside the box". The term poro, can be taken to mean, end, or final. We have taken the concept of the porowhita, porowhiti, and porowhiua in that these are about the circles and the action of throwing or casting. The term piti is about being side by side. So if you take a set of circles, and join them side by side (like that of the eternity ring or the slinky type activity) you will see a group of circles, that show no ending, no beginning. Therefore, it leads into the future for eternity without any restrictions.
Outside the box
This refers to the shifting nature of what we do and the world we work in.
What we think this means for Conference 2008...
Working with the community to provide a single resource that tells new residents all they need to know about the district
Working with Booksellers and Publishers to provide a better customer experience
Co-operative public library service nationwide without restrictions on district or location
Using a range of Web 2.0 technologies to get the message out and enabling discussion and participation (including during conference if you can't get to Auckland)
Blogs, wikis and citizens participation in government
Forecasting into the future, outside this current time and into another space in time
To be prophetic, forward thinking and to go beyond the known without reservations or fear
Dedicated computer lab for interactive workshops
Clarity about what the conference is offering especially in terms of the programme descriptions
Enough travelling time between sessions
Highlight awards during conference
Fun, take a risk conference dinner
No jargon or words/phrases that have to be explained; remember the audience
Readers advisory opportunites and skills
Engage with people outside the library and information profession e.g. maybe hold conferences that bring together different business, government etc groups
Generation exploration, career development, recruitment and retentionHow to promote your library in the media and the collections in your library and your library in your organisation
Personal efficiency and networking skills
Opportunities to meet new people with a purpose
Make full use of the facility
Demonstration of new technology plus new library uses for old-ish technology including using social software to interact with our communities and/or our business
Ideas and theories not solely related to library and information areas
Enabling networks e.g. KAREN, the MUSH networks, what's happening with Broadband
Broad range of presentations across the library sector including single-person libraries
What do we want from and for the future of libraries - from our new grads, from the experienced library leaders etc
Providing other services via libraries i.e. council service centre, ticketing office
Something in the programme for everyone regardless of sector or experience in the profession
How to ensure that we have a future - mentoring new grads etc
Practical sessions on successful exporting of our work outside the box and into customers regular information explorations
Opportunities for some think-tank type discussions outside the regular conference presentations
Speakers who are doing some interesting things with Web 2.0; speakers who are researching the concepts of 'gratitude in education and staff integrity'; business leaders; marketing libraries
Literal boxes - the origami folded kind - that digital cats can live on
A reasonable amount of time for each session to enable indepth presentation and discussion
Balancing library and records duties
Legal information challenges in the 21st century
Working with your IT team to scope, plan and implement an EDRMS or knowledge portal
MS Sharepoint 2007 and the future of IM in the Microsoft world (i.e. impact on EDRMSs and library catalogues)
Training clients to use MS 2007 products
New approaches to training - Cognitive Load Theory and instructional design
'Not another OIA request!' - the challenges of managing OIA requests within government agencies
Is KM dead? - special librarians share their views on where KM is at
Rebuilding your special library
There's life after librarianship - what happens after you leave the profession
Planned or by accident? Career planning for special librarians
It's different over there - Kiwi librarians who have worked and lived in Australia/UK etc.
MLIS or Paul Szentirmay award research projects - getting people who have completed research over the past year to present their findings
