Libraries: The Ultimate Playground

Description

Libraries have grown far beyond the nostalgic scent of books on shelves (though we still have that too). There is an explosive realm of content-wrangling that occurs on the library frontier making life-changing impacts in literacy, health, and education. There is also exists a quagmire of metadata messes, licensing loops, and lack-luster technology that is overdue for an innovative shakeup.

This is a unique setting to bring to the table the wide cast of SXSW tech & entrepreneurial attendees with some of the most grassroots, forward-thinking librarians & information professionals thinking outside-the-box today. Together we can build castles in the sandbox to connect new ideas with immediate impacts. Let's get this collaborative conversation started!

Questions Answered

Why are library public computers are the best usability lab imaginable?
Why are libraries still the best kept secret? (And how do we leak it to the world?)
How can innovators and creatives at SXSW become heros working on solutions for libraries?
What does it take for libraries have the infrastructure to host big data sets and make them available?
How are libraries providing physical and digital space to makers, DIY, BILders, and Happy Mutants?