LearningTimes Network: Online Conferences and Learning Communities


		Association of College and Research Librarians (ACRL)

		The Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is a professional association of academic librarians and other interested individuals. It is dedicated to enhancing the ability of academic library and information professionals to serve the information needs of the higher education community and to improve learning, teaching, and research. ACRL is the largest division of the American Library Association. ACRL currently has a membership of approximately 12,400, accounting for nearly 20% of the total ALA membership. ACRL provides a broad range of professional services and programs for a diverse membership. LearningTimes is collaborating with the ACRL to produce "virtual conferences", extending the human interaction and knowledge exchange so central to ACRL face-to-face events to the online realm -- before, during and after ACRL venue-based conferences. LearningTimes also partners with the ACRL to produce a catalog of professional development workshops for librarians and other education professionals. Workshop participants access rich online materials, collaborate on assignments, review relevant material, and meet online in virtual classrooms and chat rooms.