The library is one of nearly 300 sites across America where each satellite teleconference is downlinked to an audience of library personnel. Library assistants from several Berrien County libraries come to the Sky Room of James White Library each month to view the series in company with personnel from our own staff. Produced at the College of DuPage, Glen Ellyn, Illinois, the teleconference series is the first extensive use of this medium to train library assistants. Topics covered include attitudes toward service, use of technology, reference assistance, effective communication techniques, and the various roles of library paraprofessionals. The annual event brings professionals and researchers from all over the world to study and discuss how the built and natural environments affect the welfare of humans around the globe.
Topics range from health care facilities to shopping malls and beyond.
A highlight of each conference is the EDRA Book Display, prepared and staffed by the Architecture Resource Center at Andrews. This year's display was housed in the famous Press Room where John F. Kennedy announced his candidacy for President of the United States. As usual, the display was popular, and the room was filled with people from the moment it opened in the mornings until closing time in the evenings. Each year the ARC solicits from publishers all over the world one copy of each new book or other item within the broad field of environmental design and research. The donated items are collected during the course of the year and taken to the spring EDRA Conference for display.