Open the Space...and Magic Happens!

This year's conference features a number of firsts, including our first ever Open Space session, facilitated by Elizabeth Scott, a Program Director with University of Calgary, Continuing Education. This session will follow Joanne Gard Marshall's keynote address on "The Value and Impact of Health Library and Information Services."

Session Description
Open Space Technology is an easy, fast and simple way of engaging people from a variety of communities to dialogue around topics that are complex, highly diverse, involve actual or potential conflict, and need an immediate decision. The simplicity of the technique and the results produced seem counter-intuitive, unbelievable, even magic. You are invited to experience Open Space Technology and the power of self organization.

Click here for conversations from the Open Space session.

To get you, our delegates, started about thinking and talking about critical issues in health librarianship, we've come up with some scenarios for you to think about and share your thoughts.

Scenario: You've just pressed the button to the elevator, waiting to go up to the fourth floor. Up walks your [site manager/director/faculty lead/health care practitioner/student] and you stand side by side waiting for the interminably slow elevator to ascend. “So how are things in the library? You know, I haven't really had the chance to come down in a while, not much time for reading books.”

You give a mental sigh (‘Not much time for books.’ Don't they realize all of the amazing services and resources we provide in the library?) and then realize, this is your chance to catch their attention and give them an idea of what the library does that is relevant to them. You say…

What is your elevator speech?

What is Open Space?
Open Space Technology was created in the 1980's by Harrison Owen, an organizational consultant who noted that conference delegates loved the coffee breaks more than the formal program because they could discuss their ideas in an unstructured format.

Your first Open Space session?
Learn more at the following pages:
Open Space Technology Wiki:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Space_Technology
Harrison Owen's Open Space Page:  http://www.openspaceworld.com/brief_history.htm

Four Key Principles
1) Whoever comes is the right people.
2) Whatever happens is the only thing that could have.
3) Whenever it starts is the right time.
4) When it is over it is over.

Law of Two Feet
"If at any time you find yourself in any situation where you are neither learning nor contributing: use your two feet and go someplace else."