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Auditorium
Most OPAL programs are held in the Auditorium. Enter any username. Leave the password blank.

Schedule
The complete schedule of upcoming OPAL public online events.

Archive
If you missed an OPAL live online event, look for a recording of the program in the OPAL archive.

Getting Started
If you're new to OPAL, this page provides info and tips on getting started.

Podcast
If you want to listen on your computer or favorite MP3 player to an audiorecording of a previous OPAL event, visit the OPAL Podcast blog.

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Chronological List of All Upcoming Programs

    Note: Nearly all OPAL public events are free of charge and open to everyone worldwide. Most OPAL online programs last about an hour.


  • Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time, 11:30 a.m. Central, 10:30 a.m. Mountain, 9:30 a.m. Pacific, and 4:30 p.m. GMT:
      Let's Get Social: Twitter

      We'll talk about library-related uses of Twitter and your favorite Twitter applications. Everyone is welcome to attend this live online event, which will last approximately 90 minutes. If you live outside of Illinois, there is no need to register. Illinois librarians, please register online at Library Learning.

      About the "Let's Get Social" Series: Join your library colleagues for a series of lunchtime programs on various aspects of online social networking. Hear from librarians at DuPage Library System libraries, and share your own experiences. All sessions are from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central Time. The programs are open to all, but Illinois librarians are asked to register online at Library Learning.

      Host: DuPage Library System The DuPage Library System is one of nine regional, multitype library systems in Illinois that support local library services. It serves 132 member libraries, including academic, public, school, and special libraries in the western suburbs of Chicago.

      Location: OPAL Auditorium
  • Monday, March 29, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 1:00 Central, noon Mountain, 11:00 a.m. Pacific, and 7:00 p.m. GMT:
      FiLBeRt Roundtable Discussion: The Future of Libraries, Books, and Reading

      The shared futures of libraries, books, and reading seem very hazy at present. Join us for a monthly, lively, informal discussion of new developments, challenges, and opportunities. It'll be a roundtable, so everyone is welcome to chime in. If it's a FiLBeRt discussion, it's going to be nutty!

      Host: TAP Information Services

      Location: OPAL Auditorium
  • Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain, 5:00 Pacific, and 1 a.m. Thursday GMT:
      American Short Stories with Professor Loren Logsdon: My Kinsman, Major Molineux, by Nathaniel Hawthorne

      In high school or college did you have an English teacher who really made literature come alive for you? Well, Professor Loren Logsdon of Eureka College in central Illinois is better than that! Throughout 2010 we'll be meeting monthly to discuss classic American short stories.

      First published in 1832, "My Kinsman, Major Molineux" is set in colonial New England. Young Robin Molineux seeks out his kinsman, a major in the British army, seeking access to power.

      Host: TAP Information Services

      Location: OPAL Auditorium
  • Tuesday, March 30, 2010 at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 9:00 Central, 8:00 Mountain, 7:00 Pacific, and 3 a.m. Thursday GMT:
      A Discussion of the novel Cripple Creek by James Sallis (Monthly Meeting of the "Waiting for the Other Gumshoe to Drop" Book Discussion Group)

      John Turner, a deputy sheriff (and ex-con and former therapist) in the small town of Cripple Creek, Tennessee, is overcoming his checkered past and reconstructing his life...until some minions of organized crime come to Cripple Creek, drawing Turner back to Memphis to confront both his past and his future.

      Note: This discussion also will occur at Mystery Manor on Info Island in Second Life. Feel free to join the discussion in OPAL or in Second Life.

      Host: TAP Information Services

      Location: OPAL Auditorium
  • Tuesday, April 13, 2010 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 Central, 9:00 Mountain, 8:00 Pacific, and 3:00 p.m. GMT:
      Trendy Topics One-Day Online Conference on Teens and Technology

      Over the course of the day a group of presenters (including keynote speaker Kelly Czarnecki) will explore and discuss with participants how libraries can reach out to teens without breaking the budget.

      Please Note: Participants are required to register for this one-day conference and pay a small registration fee. This is the third of nine monthly one-day Trendy Topics conferences that will be held throughout 2010.

      Conference Website (includes registration info): Trendy Topics Conference Website

      Co-Organizers: Alliance Library System and TAP Information Services
  • Tuesday, May 11, 2010 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 Central, 9:00 Mountain, 8:00 Pacific, and 3:00 p.m. GMT:
      Trendy Topics One-Day Online Conference on eBooks and Audiobooks

      Over the course of the day a group of presenters (including keynote speaker Tom Peters) will explore and discuss with participants how libraries can expand and improve their collections and services of eBooks and audiobooks.

      Please Note: Participants are required to register for this one-day conference and pay a small registration fee. This is the fourth of nine monthly one-day Trendy Topics conferences that will be held throughout 2010.

      Conference Website (includes registration info): Trendy Topics Conference Website

      Co-Organizers: Alliance Library System and TAP Information Services
  • Tuesday, June 8, 2010 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 Central, 9:00 Mountain, 8:00 Pacific, and 3:00 p.m. GMT:
      Trendy Topics One-Day Online Conference on the Future of Libraries

      Over the course of the day a group of presenters (including keynote speaker Stephen Abram) will explore and discuss with participants how libraries can understand, embrace, and lead future developments in libraries and librarianship.

      Please Note: Participants are required to register for this one-day conference and pay a small registration fee. This is the fifth of nine monthly one-day Trendy Topics conferences that will be held throughout 2010.

      Conference Website (includes registration info): Trendy Topics Conference Website

      Co-Organizers: Alliance Library System and TAP Information Services
  • Tuesday, July 13, 2010 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 Central, 9:00 Mountain, 8:00 Pacific, and 3:00 p.m. GMT:
      Trendy Topics One-Day Online Conference on Web Design for Libraries

      Over the course of the day a group of presenters (including keynote speaker Aaron Schmidt) will explore and discuss with participants how libraries can maximize their web presence through user-centered design.

      Please Note: Participants are required to register for this one-day conference and pay a small registration fee. This is the sixth of nine monthly one-day Trendy Topics conferences that will be held throughout 2010.

      Conference Website (includes registration info): Trendy Topics Conference Website

      Co-Organizers: Alliance Library System and TAP Information Services
  • Tuesday, July 20, 2010 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time, 11:30 a.m. Central, 10:30 a.m. Mountain, 9:30 a.m. Pacific, and 4:30 p.m. GMT:
      Let's Get Social: Social Bookmarking

      Social bookmarking lets you share your favorite websites with others, as well as giving you access from any computer. We'll talk about how and why libraries are using various social bookmarking sites, such as delicious, digg, and StumbleUpon. Everyone is welcome to attend this live online event, which will last approximately 90 minutes. If you live outside of Illinois, there is no need to register. Illinois librarians, please register online at Library Learning.

      About the "Let's Get Social" Series: Join your library colleagues for a series of lunchtime programs on various aspects of online social networking. Hear from librarians at DuPage Library System libraries, and share your own experiences. All sessions are from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central Time. The programs are open to all, but Illinois librarians are asked to register online at Library Learning.

      Host: DuPage Library System The DuPage Library System is one of nine regional, multitype library systems in Illinois that support local library services. It serves 132 member libraries, including academic, public, school, and special libraries in the western suburbs of Chicago.

      Location: OPAL Auditorium
  • Tuesday, September 14, 2010 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 Central, 9:00 Mountain, 8:00 Pacific, and 3:00 p.m. GMT:
      Trendy Topics One-Day Online Conference on Digital Reference

      Over the course of the day a group of presenters (including keynote speaker Alison Miller) will explore and discuss with participants how libraries can understand and meet user needs and expectations for digital reference services.

      Please Note: Participants are required to register for this one-day conference and pay a small registration fee. This is the seventh of nine monthly one-day Trendy Topics conferences that will be held throughout 2010.

      Conference Website (includes registration info): Trendy Topics Conference Website

      Co-Organizers: Alliance Library System and TAP Information Services
  • Tuesday, October 12, 2010 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 Central, 9:00 Mountain, 8:00 Pacific, and 3:00 p.m. GMT:
      Trendy Topics One-Day Online Conference on Virtual Worlds and Libraries

      Over the course of the day a group of presenters (including keynote speaker Jeremy Kemp) will explore and discuss with participants how libraries are colonizing virtual worlds to provide library services to avatars.

      Please Note: Participants are required to register for this one-day conference and pay a small registration fee. This is the eighth of nine monthly one-day Trendy Topics conferences that will be held throughout 2010.

      Conference Website (includes registration info): Trendy Topics Conference Website

      Co-Organizers: Alliance Library System and TAP Information Services
  • Tuesday, November 16, 2010 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 Central, 9:00 Mountain, 8:00 Pacific, and 4:00 p.m. GMT:
      Trendy Topics One-Day Online Conference on Building an Electronic Branch for Your Library

      Over the course of the day a group of presenters (including keynote speaker David Lee King) will explore and discuss with participants how libraries are replacing their outdated websites with cutting edge, full service electronic branch libraries.

      Please Note: Participants are required to register for this one-day conference and pay a small registration fee. This is the ninth of nine monthly one-day Trendy Topics conferences that will be held throughout 2010.

      Conference Website (includes registration info): Trendy Topics Conference Website

      Co-Organizers: Alliance Library System and TAP Information Services

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