…. well, only if you want to be up to date on software tools like video, citation bookmarking tools and building aps in Facebook. Only if you want to see extremely engaging examples of librarians creating screencasts.

BIGWIG stands for the Blogs, Interactive Groupware Wikis Interest Group. It’s a division of the Library and Information Technology Association, which is itself a part of the American Library Association.  Their first shindig last year covered twitter, meebo rooms and folksomies among other topics.

What is also radical is the way that the content of the sessions are made available before and after the event. Last year they set up tables where people could talk to the presenters about the particular topic that interested them.

This year, they are experimenting online too - the Your BigWig site has been up for a couple of months,with topics determined by a vote. They are also livestreaming the event.  And you can follow them here:

• Live Video Feeds
• Twitter
• LITABlog

Social Software Showcase 2008

• Citation Bookmarking Tools - Lorena O’English
• Community Building & Experience - David Lee King
• Apps in Facebook & Opensocial, and Why Librarians Should Pay Attention - Rachel Vacek
• LibGuides - Cindi Trainor
• Video 2.0 and the new Media Revolution - Jason Griffey
• Niche Social Networks: The Power of Yarn - Katie Dunneback
• OpenID - Robin Hastings
• VuFind : Social Features - Chris Barr
• WorldCat API, Social Software, and making things easier - David Walker
• WorldCat Local: Social Features - Jennifer L. Ward
• WorldCat Widget for Wordpress - Karen A. Coombs

Virtual Discussions

• APIs  - Saturday June 28 from 3:30 - 4:30 Central - via TalkShoe
• Efforts to Bring Social Features to Library Software - Wednesday July 2 from 1:00 - 2:00 Central - via TalkShoe

Help connecting to the Virtual Discussions