Roundtable Discussion in Frankfurt on March 22

["Jaster, Miriam " <JasterM2@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear colleagues:

Over the past two years, Information Resource Center (IRC) staff of the
Amerika Haus Frankfurt have successfully established the concept of
"Librarians' Roundtables", bringing together American library experts with
German information professionals throughout the Rhein-Main region.

Our speakers included representatives of the New York Public Library, Harvard
University Library and the Library of Congress, covering topics like "the Role
of the Library in a Community", "Fund Raising" and "QuestionPoint".

These roundtables offer an excellent opportunity not only to discuss
professional challenges and concerns with American experts but also to network
with German colleagues in this region.

We are very grateful for the support from institutions like Die Deutsche
Bibliothek, Frankfurt University Library and Stadtbücherei Frankfurt that
often host our events.

Please join us for our first roundtable discussion this year, featuring

Ms. Anne Lipow
Director, Library Solutions Institute and Press, California
http://www.library-solutions.com/

who will address

"Virtual Reference" and "Redefining the 'Professional' in the Librarian"

Monday, March 22 2004
14:00 - 17:00

Die Deutsche Bibliothek
- Konferenzraum -
Adickesallee 1
60322 Frankfurt am Main

Please register by Email at IRCFrankfurt@xxxxxxxxx no later than March 18.
Upon registration you will receive the conference materials.

Information on our guest speaker:
Anne Lipow, director of Library Solutions Institute, is an internationally
recognized expert on virtual reference.  The changing nature of library
reference services and the continuing education of librarians are her special
areas of expertise.

She recently published "The Virtual Reference Librarian's Handbook" and has
helped the Library of Congress launch QuestionPoint, formerly known as the
Collaborative Digital Reference Service (CDRS), a global project involving
public and academic libraries throughout the United States as well as the
national libraries of many other countries, to provide 24x7 reference service.

At this roundtable, Ms. Lipow will offer practical ideas on how to implement
virtual reference procedures.  She will also address some of the special
challenges libraries throughout the world are facing today, like redefining
jobs in light of changing definitions of "professional work," when information
seekers who once relied on the library are turning to alternatives resources
or when technological advances enable library workers with lesser education to
accomplish work traditionally reserved for librarians.

We hope to have raised your interest and look forward to a lively and
inspiring afternoon!

IRC Frankfurt Team
Miriam Jaster, Dr. Renate Vollmer, Nicole Fries
http://www.usembassy.de/irc/frankfurt/index.htm