Springshare Web 2.0 Library Guides

Springshare Web 2.0 Library Guides are basically a solution for libraries that want to draw together many of the Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 tools available in an easy, user-friendly manner. Springshare seems to suit academic and school libraries best, as the main feature of Springshare is the Library Guides which aid students in their research, however there are many other useful interactive features that would suit a public library too.

Users can rate each library guide which is great to get user input and track usage. You can add librarian profiles which might help to personalise the library and add a human face to the library online. There is also inbuilt reporting functionality. This video illustrates many of the features
LibGuides Intro from Springshare on Vimeo. The downside is that Springshare isn't free, unlike many Web 2.0 tools, but at around US $800 or so, it is probably worth the (annual) cost. This is especially the case where the library (such as a public library) might be short of programmers: Springshare is so easy to use and does not require any programming skills to add content and functionality - it's just point and click stuff. There are free open sources equivalents however they seem to require greater IT knowledge to set up and maintain. Perhaps a public library version of Springshare might not be too far away (and less expensive). The Burlington County Library System is an example of a public library in the USA that is using Springshare and has 62 library guides!

ereading@your.library.now

Ahh more bad titles.


Anyway I've been researching the use of online books and ereading services and devices, and came across a nice blog that is keeping tabs on the very subject. I'm currently supposed to be looking into Overdrive for our library but thought I better do some research first to get some actual user feedback form those in the know more than me about it category.


In this review at Teleread they reviewed Overdrive and Fictionwise e-lending libraries which you can read about here. It goes through the pros and cons of both systems and the experience a user has with each when browsing, borrowing and returning titles. Props of course go the wonderful convenience of being able to quickly access hundreds of titles quickly and relatively easy, but slops go to the DRM system that is not yet fully compatible with every ones mobile readers, at least for the moment.

Still, it is definitely an area of lending that all libraries consider as society moves further into portable digital technology.

Computer loans the way of the future?

Hello again teamsters, I was once again perusing my bloglines when I came across this wonderful article on the downsizing of the the computer to a level which may even see the lending of them basking in the radiant glean of happy patrons LCD illuminated faces. I for one am waiting for the merging of the portable computer and phone into the one actually functional item, rather than a device with some of the capabilities of the other. My kinsman from Anaheim Mr. Douglas wrote an great collection of words,sentences and paragraphs on the subject The Mobile Computer Lab. Great stuff and as always, you should read it if you somehow found your way to read this.