Understanding and Using APIs

The Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) bridges the gap between information science practice and research. Members share a common interest in improving the ways society stores, retrieves, analyzes, manages, archives and disseminates information. The Northeast chapter (NEASIST) has a particular interest in providing low-cost professional development opportunities to practitioners who work in library digital services, IT systems, and data science.

NEASIST

The New England Chapter of the Association for Information Science & Technology, together with the Simmons College Student Chapter, invite you to join us at our 2018 Winter Event:
<H2> Understanding and Using APIs</H2>
Finding ways to connect information is one of our biggest challenges. Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are sets of requirements that govern how one application can talk to another and share data. These capabilities are great for library users and researchers, as well as librarians and staff! Our morning speakers are experts in APIs, and through them you'll understand what APIs are and learn the practical uses of how APIs can enhance your data. In the afternoon session, you'll see hands-on demonstrations and learn about API tools you can bring back to your organization.
Beginners are welcome and encouraged! This is a great chance to see how other librarians are using APIs, and to figure out which applications are useful for you in your organization. And if you already use APIs, here's a great chance to find a community of practice. 
Check out info about travel stipends below!
<H3>Program</H3>
8:00 | Coffee and Networking
Morning Keynotes
9:00 | Getting Started with APIs 
Amber Stubbs, Assistant Professor, Simmons College
Amber Stubbs is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department and School of Library and Information Sciences at Simmons College, where she teaches a variety of programming-related classes, including how to leverage information from APIs.  Her research is in the area of Natural Language Processing.
10:15 | Enhancing Content Discovery through APIs
Rob O’Connell, Director of Discovery and Access, Smith College Library
Rob O’Connell has been the Director of Discovery and Access at Smith College since 2013.  He was previously the Head of Technical Services at Higher Colleges of Technology in the United Arab Emirates.  Rob has been working with APIs and discovery systems for the past 10 years and has created several tools based on their architecture including Smith College's new bento box interface.
11:15 am | Fun & Games with APIs
Jeff Steward, Director of Digital Infrastructure and Emerging Technology, Harvard Art Museums
Jeff Steward directs the museums on the use of a wide range of digital technology. He oversees the collections database, API, and photography studio. For the opening of the new Harvard Art Museums in November 2014, he helped launch the Lightbox Gallery, a public research and development space. Steward has worked at museums with museum data since 1999. Areas of research include visualization of cultural datasets; open access to metadata and multimedia material; and data interoperability and sustainability.
Lunch, provided by NEASIST (Noon - 1:00 pm)
<H3 CLASS="MsoNormal">API Demonstrations (1:00 pm - 4:00 pm)</H3>
Brad Coffield - <A HREF="https://www.bradcoffield.com/APIs-for-librarians/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">APIs for Librarians</A> and Saint Francis University Library
Eben English - Digital Commonwealth
Kayla Hammond - formerly of the Boston Open Data Project
Doug Loynes - OCLC
Martha Meacham - E-utilities from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (the people behind PubMed) We're sorry to announce that this E-utilities demo is canceled, as of 1/5/18. For people who are interested in this resource, there will be some self-guided activities to explore. 
Whitney Christopher & Ian Callahan - Harvard Art Museum
David Moore - WBUR and the NPR API
Bill McKinney, Ellie Collier, David Podboy - EBSCO
 
<HR>
<H2>Logistics</H2>
<H3>Travel Stipends</H3>
We want to serve all of New England, so we're offering eight travel stipends for attendees coming from outside of Greater Boston. Each recipient will receive $50 to offset travel expenses, as a check at registration. Email <A HREF="mailto:neasist@gmail.com" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">neasist@gmail.com</A> if you're interested. First-come, first-serve; don't assume that you've snagged one of the stipends until you get a confirmation from <A HREF="mailto:neasist@gmail.com" TARGET="_blank" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">neasist@gmail.com</A>. 
<H3>Getting There: Public Transport</H3>
You can take the T: Green Line E train to the Museum stop at Huntington Ave & Louis Prang, Green Line D train to Fenway Station at Park Drive & Brookline Ave, or Orange Line to Ruggles Station at Ruggles Street & Columbus Avenue. Alternatively, you can take the MBTA Commuter Rail to Ruggles Station or Yawkey. Finally, you can take the bus: 8, 19, 39, 47, 60, 65, CT2, or CT3
<H3>Getting There: Parking</H3>
You can park in the Simmons College garage; pricing details are <A HREF="http://www.simmons.edu/offices/finance-administration/administrative/parking/visitors/1165.php" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</A>. 
Other options are available: street parking, the <A HREF="http://www.masco.org/directions/lma-public-parking" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">MASCO garage at 375 Longwood</A> (day maximum $29), and the <A HREF="http://www.mfa.org/visit/getting-here" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">MFA garage</A> (day maximum $29).
Contact the event organizer if you need special accommodations.
<H3>Wifi</H3>
Simmons offers guest access to its wireless network, in addition to Eduroam. For guest access, choose the wireless network "Simmons." Open a browser and navigate to any website; your browser will be redirected to the Simmons Wireless Network login page. Click "login as guest," review the terms and conditions, enter your email address, check "I agree," and click the login button. You'll be connected! Click <A HREF="http://servicedesk.simmons.edu/articles/index.php?action=showEntry&data=1964&searchText=guest" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</A> for more details.
<H3>Nursing mothers</H3>
Simmons offers a Private Room for Breast Feeding in the Main College Building, W-206A. Simmons Public Safety can open the room; call them at 617 521 1112.

Understanding and Using APIs

More events from NEASIST

Discover more events from NEASIST, from Science & Tech to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Boston and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

Understanding and Using APIs

More events from NEASIST

Discover more events from NEASIST, from Science & Tech to other experiences you might love.

You might also like...

Browse more events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Boston and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.