This blog was originally published on the WebWise 2013 blog.  By Lisa Rhody Within hours of opening registration to IMLS grantees and the public, conference registrants began submitting ideas for and voting on potential pre-conference workshop offerings.  Through the use of social idea sharing software called IdeaScale, conference goers will have a direct impact on the “look and feel” of this year’s WebWise.  As participants register for the conference and choose to participate in pre-conference workshops, they also receive information on how to log into IdeaScale and begin offering suggestions for workshops.  Similarly, if participants see existing workshop ideas that they would like to see at WebWise, then they can vote by clicking an “I agree” icon. IdeaScale voting is one way that you can take an active role in shaping what happens at this year’s WebWise conference, and voting early is one way to ensure that your voice is heard.  Posting your idea or registering your support for someone else’s idea early can build critical support for the kinds of workshops that will address the needs, challenges, or opportunities facing your home institution.  A commenting option is also available for those participants who would like to clarify, narrow, or split a topic into two possible areas.   Committed to putting you, the conference participant, at the center of the WebWise agenda, our aim is to help each attendee walk away with a new skill, partnership, or project plan. Through the voting process, the most popular ideas (those with the highest amount of support shown through voting “I agree”) float to the top of the list, while less popular ideas sink to the bottom of the list.  For example, as of today, the workshop idea “Engaging Learners” has the highest number of votes and has floated to the top of the IdeaScale list.  Other ideas, such as “Contribute to History Pin” have sunk to the bottom of the list because fewer conference participants have voted for it.  There is no limit on the number of ideas that might be suggested, which means that if conference registrants have ideas about workshop offerings they would like to see but do not currently exist, they can suggest new ideas and recruit fellow participants to support it. Active voting is ongoing through February 1^st, and early participation will help ensure that your ideas are heard and that you can gather additional support for what you would like to see this year at WebWise.  You can follow the voting, comment, and add your own idea at http://WebWise2013.ideascale.com.  Keep an eye out for IdeaScale updates, more opportunities to get involved, and ongoing developments as we get closer to WebWise 2013 from March 6-8^th in Baltimore, Maryland.