The Project
Community First is a series of interviews with the "library luminaries" who were using technologies available in time to build community, participatory library services, and networking for professional development.
The Point
- The work that we're doing is built on the work (both success and failures) of those who came before us
- "We are /not/ amateurs!" and "We're /not/ the old guard!" The series might help us tell that story and make that case
- Connecting what we learn from the series to what's happening in libraries now (web 2.0, participatory librarianship, etc.)
- Getting these stories out; the content is unique to the library field
- It's not about the technologies so much as the connections and communities we make with them
The Logistics
- Volunteers interview a selected "library luminary" during 30-45 minute conversations, which are recorded live, via telephone, or VoIP
- We use a standard set of 4-5-8 questions (sent first via email), along with some back up questions waiting in the wings
- Volunteer audio editors help us publish quality full-length interviews and shorter (less than five minutes) excerpts
- We publish and store the files and interview materials at WebJunction
- We aggregate the interviews through an RSS feed (at WebJunction)
- We try to capitalize on "in person" meetings and conferences already in attendance so that we can do in-person interviews, where possible
Get Involved
- Join this group from our main page
- Subscribe to our RSS feed
- Volunteer to conduct an interview
- Volunteer to audio edit
- Volunteer to be interviewed
- Let us know what kind of topics you'd like to hear more about. You can post to our discussions or leave a comment right on this page.
