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Presented October 21-22, 2009
By: Christopher Korenowsky, Director of Professional Development, OLC
 As was announced in July 2009, the decision was made to cancel the 2009 Convention & Expo, Oct. 21-23 in Cleveland, Ohio, due to state public library funding and forecasting issues.
The Ohio Library Council staff recognized that many dedicated volunteers spent countless hours planning the traditional OLC Convention & Expo.
 We recognized that great opportunity often comes from great challenges. That’s why we were pleased to announce that by working with OCLC, six of the programs originally scheduled for the OLC Convention & Expo were offered online last October for the OLC’s first-ever Unconventional Convention.
So how did the Unconventional Convention work? OCLC offered the use of their web meeting technology so any OLC member could attend one, two or ALL of the six live online convention programs. During the program, attendees were able to view and hear the presentation as well as submit questions using an online, interactive chat feature.
Over 296 individual OLC members signed up to participate in the following list of online offerings:
Beyond Circulation: A New Look at Customer Behavior and How to Use It to Remake Your Library Presented by Paula Brehm-Heeger and Greg Edwards, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County The YALSA Road Trip: Teen Tech Week 2010 Presented by Robyn Vittek, Akron-Summit County Public Library
Removing the Fear From Readers’ Advisory: Developing an Effective RA Curriculum for Staff
Presented by Mary Kelly and Ronda Rossbach, Columbus Metropolitan Library Analyzing Job Help Centers at Your Library Presented by Joe Yersavich and Steve Hipes, Columbus Metropolitan Library With Friends Like These Who Needs Enemies?: Building a Strong Relationship With Your Friends Presented by Kim Fender, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County and Anne Keller, Friends of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Booktalk 2.0: Communicating Books in a Wired World Presented by Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Worthington Libraries (at the time)
Library staff was appreciative of the offering and the ability to receive education in a way that allowed them to not travel. The OLC followed-up the event with a survey to registered attendees. Sixty-five attendees have replied to the survey with feedback and suggestions. One survey respondent noted,
I thought this was a fabulous experience and a great way to still offer some of the content that was going to be offered at OLC. It was very easy to use and I had no problems with the technology end of things. The information presented was excellent!
The OLC also wishes to formally thank the team from OCLC and the Unconventional Convention presenters who were instrumental in the success of this initiative.
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