We’ve had an excellent first three days of the Local by Social online conference – and there are now over 1000 members.  We’ve covered everything from members and social media, open data and knowledge management in the face of public sector cuts. (See all the topics in the agenda). And the great thing about unconferences is that it’s not just about the ‘speakers’ – it’s been about your contributions, too – both in the official ‘presentations’ and in the threads you’ve started – like the one on apps for public services and ‘why tweet’ – which prompted stories of how your colleagues in the public sector are using Twitter to communicate with the public and for professional development.

And don’t forget our ‘icebreaker’ thread – “My Social Media Shame’ - Friday’s winner was Steph Gray with Muffingate.   We thank Steph for his honesty, and the laugh – and for this he’ll get a £10 Amazon voucher.   Have you made an online faux pas or dismissed out-of-hand a new technology that you’re now actively using.  Tell us and you could win a voucher, too.

And there are two more days to go! And we’ve got a packed line-up fantastic topics.

Today we’re covering:

Social media: Citizen and council

10:00 Vinay Gupta, Resilience and Social Media

13:30 Tanya Ashworth, Preston, Proud Prestonian: Social Media in the City

15:00 Helen Leech, Surrey County Council, Library 2.0

Social Media practitioner to practitioner

13:30 Dave Briggs – running unconferences.

15:00 Hollie Snelson, Kent – Staff social networks add value…just ask the otters

Open Data

10:00 Andrew Larner, Licensing

11:00 Richard Goodwin, TSO, linked data and mark-up tool

13:30 Richard Wallis – de-mystifying linked and open data

15:00 Stuart Harrison, Lichfield Council

And if you like the online conference, you’re going to love our Local by Social regional events.  This Friday we’re in Coventry and there are still a handful of tickets left – PLUS – we’ve opened tickets for the Saturday session – where we’ll work on putting the ideas we generate together on Friday into practice.  (here’s the link for tickets and to see the line-up).  If the Coventry event’s not convenient for you, get on our mailing list to be the first to hear about a regional event near you.

It’s not too late to join the online conference, either – so do alert colleagues who may be interested in the topics we’ve already covered and the ones we’re about to cover.