Friday Fun: Famous Schools from Fiction http://www.rayburntours.com/education/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/famous-schools-from-fiction-100.png   Stephen

Vacation Reading Time: INFOGRAPHIC http://www.adweek.com/galleycat/vacation-reading-time-infographic/106523 Stephen

How Digital Media is Shaping a New Generation of Commerce (Infographic) http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/how-digital-media-is-shaping-a-new-generation-of-commerce-infographic/623046 Stephen

Pew Study: Low Income and Rural Populations Less Likely to Have Internet Access http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/pew-study-low-income-and-rural-populations-less-likely-to-have-internet-access/623238 "The Internet has become an integral part of American life. Indeed, according to the latest Pew Internet demographics study, 84 percent of Americans have internet access. While the percentage of Americans with Internet access has remained largely the same since 2012, an analysis of 15 years of historical data indicates that the digital divide is still a reality, particularly among low-income and rural populations. The young, college educated and affluent are all more likely to use the Internet. In fact, more than 90 percent of those surveyed in the 18-49 age range reporting regular Internet use. That number drops about 10 percent for Americans over 50 and less than 60 percent of seniors 65 or older are likely to use and have access to the Internet. There are similar trends when it comes to education level. Those with a college degree were been quick to adopt the Internet, with 91 percent active online since 2006. By contrast, only 66 percent of those with less than a high school are actively using the internet, up from 55 percent in 2014. According to the report, household income and community type are also indicators of how likely someone is to use the internet. Urban communities are more connected than suburban and rural communities. Likewise, those with an income of $75,000 or more are more connected than those making less than $30,000 annually. The group most likely to be using the Internet is English-speaking Asian Americans, according to the report. Asian Americans have been using the Internet at a ra"te of 90 percent or more since 2009. Other groups have increased their internet use in more recent years, with 85 percent of whites using the Internet, 81 percent of Hispanics and only 78 percent of African-Americans using the Internet. Check out the full report to see the historical data and find out more about the methodology. Stephen

4 Ways to Create Social Media Ads That Stand Out http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/create-social-media-ads-that-stand-out/ #1: Script It for Broadcast #2: Use Video or GIFs #3: Incorporate Humor #4: Provide Content Downloads Stephen

Top 10 Media Publishers for June 2015: BuzzFeed Food Cooking Up Engagement http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/top-10-media-publishers-for-june-2015-buzzfeed-food-cooking-up-engagement/623237 Stephen

4 Key Trends in Social Business as of Right Now http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/4-key-trends-in-social-business-as-of-right-now/623136 Headings: 1. Social customer service getting better, and more important 2. Content channels/distribution: It’s complicated 3. Data and analytics are a boon and a challenge 4. Social businesses are looking beyond social Stephen

Everything Science Knows About Reading On Screens WE’VE ADAPTED OUR READING HABITS TO FIT OUR SCREENS, BUT AT A COST. http://www.fastcodesign.com/3048297/evidence/everything-science-knows-about-reading-on-screens Thanks to technology, we’re reading more than ever—our brains process thousands of words via text messages, email, games, social media, and web stories. According to one report, the amount people that read tripled from 1980 to the late 2000s, and it’s probably safe to say that trend continues today. But as we jam more and more words into our heads, how we read those words has changed in a fundamental way: we’ve moved from paper to screens. It’s left many wondering what we’ve lost (or gained) in the shift, and a handful of scientists are trying to figure out the answer." Read more: http://www.fastcodesign.com/3048297/evidence/everything-science-knows-about-reading-on-screens Stephen

Jane Dysart and I have been planning and chairing a series of symposia at the University of Toronto and for other locations with Ken Haycock & Associates -  for a few years.  When they’re completed we post the speakers’ slides and links.  FOPL and OLA members are entitled to a 20% registration discount at the iSchool events. I thought it would be helpful to put them all in one place.  We’ve done 11 so far with three more on the drawing board.  Here they are: Customer Service for Libraries July 16 & 17, 2015, Toronto http://www.customerserviceforlibraries.com Pushing the Envelope in Education: Roles for Libraries — MOOCs, eLearning & Gamification Sept. 30 and Oct.1, 2013, Toronto http://www.moocsandlibraries.org Creative Making in Libraries & Museums (2014) Oct. 6 & 7, 2014, Toronto http://www.creativemaking.org Creative Making in Libraries & Museums (2013) July 22-23, 2013 http://www.creativemaking.org/2013-toronto-program.html The Future of Libraries: Do We Have Five Years to Live? 2015 February 5-6, 2015, USC in Los Angeles http://www.thefutureoflibraries.org The Future of Libraries: Do We Have Five Years to Live? 2013 Nov. 12-13, 2013, Vancouver http://www.thefutureoflibraries.org/vancouver-2013-past-program.html The Future of Libraries: Do We Have Five Years to Live? 2014 May 1-2, 2014, Royal York Hotel, Toronto http://www.thefutureoflibraries.org/toronto-2014-past-program.html Building an Engaged Flat Army for the Library 2014 November 13-14, 2014, Toronto http://www.doitourselvesfuture.com Metrics and Libraries 2015 May 11-12, 2015, Toronto http://www.metricsandlibraries.org/archive-2015-program-home.html Metrics and Libraries 2013 July 22-23, 2013 http://www.metricsandlibraries.org/2013-program.html Metrics and Libraries 2014 April 22-23, 2014, Toronto http://www.metricsandlibraries.org/2014-program.html We’re also working on a few more in the future: Outcomes, Value & Impact: Metrics for Library Success Vancouver Club, Vancouver Sept. 28-29, 2015 To register: http://www.metricsandlibraries.org The Future of Libraries IV Oct.19-20, 2015, Toronto And then another symposium back at the iSchool @ Toronto in Jan. 2016! What would you like future topics to be? Stephen

HBR: How to Get the Most Out of a Conference https://hbr.org/2015/07/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-a-conference Headings: "What the Experts Say Change your mindset Pre-introduce yourself Be strategic with your time Network on your terms Listen more; talk less Manage your existing connections Make time for yourself Principles to Remember Do: Shift your mindset by focusing on how networking is good for your career When choosing which sessions to attend, consider whether you’ll learn something or meet someone new Take the initiative to create networking situations where you feel comfortable Don’t: Spend all of your time with coworkers you see every day — draw clear boundaries Burn out — give yourself time to rest and rejuvenate during the conference Try to be someone you’re not — putting on a false persona is stressful and tiring" Stephen