January 23, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

IMLS Press Contact
202-653-4799
Giuliana Bullard, gbullard@imls.gov

WebWise 2013: Audrey Watters Announced as Keynote Speaker

Washington, DC—Today conference organizers announced that freelance writer Audrey Watters has been chosen as one of the keynote speakers for this year’s WebWise conference. Watters will speak on the morning of March 8.

Watters is a writer who has worked in the education field for the past 15 years as a graduate student, college instructor, and program manager for an education technology nonprofit. Her work has appeared in Edutopia, MindShift, Fast Company, Inside Higher Ed, the School Library Journal, O'Reilly Radar, ReadWriteWeb, Campus Technology, and The Huffington Post, in addition to her own blog Hack Education.

Watters is a leading thinker on the intersection of education and digital technologies. A well-respected journalist whose work has appeared in print and across the web, Watters will offer WebWise participants her unique view of the shifting education technology terrain and the ways that libraries, archives, and museums might productively target their efforts to support learning in formal and informal venues.

A signature initiative of IMLS, the WebWise Conference annually brings together representatives of museums, libraries, archives, systems science, education, and other fields to explore the many opportunities made possible by digital technologies. WebWise highlights recent research and innovations in digital technology, explores their potential impacts on library and museum services, and promotes effective museum and library practices in a digital environment. It also provides recipients of technology-based grants from the Institute with an opportunity to showcase their exemplary projects.

Those seeking more information about the conference should visit the WebWise 2013 website, which also provides a registration form.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit http://www.imls.gov or follow @US_IMLS on Twitter.