Library Camps and Unconferences

Citation

Manžuch, Z. (2011), "Library Camps and Unconferences", The Electronic Library, Vol. 29 No. 2, pp. 162-180. https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471111125221

This book adopts the innovative practice of engaging library and information specialists in professional discussions. Reading it was a particularly interesting experience due to a pleasing coincidence – the reviewer at the same time was the main organiser of the first unconference for librarians in Lithuania.

Unconferences and camps are popular formats of professional meetings that engage participants in informal discussions in a friendly atmosphere and provide room for improvisation during the event. Usually, participants gain more control of the agenda and discussions opposed to the more pre‐planned and passive mode of participation common for traditional conferences.

The book tries to familiarise librarians with unconferences and camps and provide a practical step‐by‐step guidance for planning and holding such events. It includes a brief introduction into the format and its history, supplying examples of such events held mainly in the USA, Canada and Australia. The main focus is on Open Space Technology, an approach encouraging the participants to choose topics for discussion and define the agenda for breakout sessions, although other approaches are also considered.

The major part of the book is devoted to different stages of planning, implementation and measuring the success of the event. Various practical aspects such as finding partners and sponsors, using web 2.0 tools for providing information, pre‐unconference and camp planning, communication, marketing, tasks and issues faced during the event, etc are discussed.

As the author argues, the major role of organisers is to be the “party hosts” providing a comfortable atmosphere and tools for collaborative work. This is the essence of unconferences and camps; therefore, practical tips on how to encourage collaborative learning and innovation are particularly useful. However, certain important aspects do not get appropriate attention; icebreaking methods, unconference techniques, and moderation are only mentioned briefly. Additionally, the success of self‐managed participants' discussions partly depends on the facilitator. More detailed guidance for session leaders and participants would help to avoid common problems such as domination by a moderator, doubts about how to start, encourage, and lead a discussion, etc. More attention could be drawn to multiple methods (e.g. World Café, Fish Bowl, Appreciative inquiry etc.) that can meet the different demands of the community. In this light, it would be useful to provide more examples of innovative practice; for instance, Next Library – a well‐known unconference organised by Aarhus Public Libraries (Denmark) – is a perfect instance of successful practice that provides plenty of creative ideas for bringing people together to brainstorm, innovate and have fun. Despite these reservations the book is a good starting point for professionals wishing to organise unconferences and camps.