Stream me up Scotty!

Well it really should be no surprise to some that I'm a bit of a Trekkie, being dedicated enough even to order copies of a series at my local video outlet on VHS, that's how much I was obsessed. but then I became a librarian, and my Trekkie desires somewhat abated.

But this article I recently peruesd over on Agnostic, Maybe made me realise that elements of Star Trek are indeed creeping back into my life. With the increasing mobility of access to information, it is only the freedom of access that is keeping us from coming even closer to the way those space faring corsairs had information at their fingertips.

Now considering the fact that the Star Trek world had almost all information accessible anywhere anytime, where does this leave the path of the humble library building? People will have grown up interfacing with the Trekkie information receptacles, so there is no need for the everyday reference interview. So does this mean I should be looking forward to being out of a job?

Re-thinking about being a twit...

So having been using facebook for a few months now as a birthday present to myself, I've been trying to wrap my head around using social networking sites to the advantage of the library. This really came to the fore of my mind when we had a combined issue with our computers and phone system. I thought to myself 'hey, this would be a great time to tell our visitors about what's going on via twitter!', which has of course made me rethink about its uses as a communication medium. it could be used to remind patrons of events, provide quick reference pointers, even renew items. Whilst browsing through some blogs I follow there was a good one on some tools to enhance the twitter experience. The tools it mentions would go a long way in making twitter an effective and manageable tool in the library world;

bit.ly
Tweetdeck
Friendfeed
Twitter Search
Twitter Sheep

So if you are already using twitter, check them out and see what you think.

One Library to rule them all

So with the increasing digitisation of books, one does have to ponder the belief that will there one day be a singular address that can provide materials to everyone? Project Gutenberg and many others have tried to achieve this in the form of free digitisation, but with advent of online ebook vendors becoming more prevalent, a recent article champions google books as putting up its bid to bring the end of the library age as we know it. But how successful will this be?

Current trends of the now generation may be in their favour, but what will the end result be? The article somewhat takes the narrow view that books are simply a hoarding place for paper knowledge, but it disregards that most are moving toward a gathering place to access information, not just within its walls but online as well. What do you think?

Imagine the image of your images.

Confused? well given the advent of increasing levels of technology being adapted for use in the library, not all are so egalitarian when it comes to accomodating it. This even extends to the view that time honored librarian 'shush' being spurned as libraries become a place for social gathering; a cultural hub if you will. But not all would agree with this sentiment as the signage indicates. I can even remember the formative years of my youth being chided 'no dinner in front of the tv', would it now be 'no twittering at the table'?
So take a look at these pictures and have a think about how technology has impacted on the projected or percieved image of a library you know.

signage, originally uploaded by cindiann.

The Librarian’s Touch!, originally uploaded by vanhookc.

Libraries under threat

Libraries in America are under threat from the Global Financial Crisis. Funding is being cut, opening hours being cut and staff losing jobs . In a climate where statistics are proving that customers are using Libraries more and more how can government justify the closing of such an important service to the community.

The latest library fighting the cut of funding is Ohio Public Libraries, the staff are fighting back having a plan and using technology to reach as many of their customers as possible. They have a plan and are trying to stop the reduction of services throughout the state. Helene Blowers latest blog post and following information on Twitter #saveohiolibraries are using the technology available to their advantage.

Ray Bradbury has joined the cause to save Public Libraries, surely with a well known author mounting the fight maybe if more authors got on side then the government would see that we are an important institution that customers need and not something that they can just slash in their budgets when times get tough.

We will be watching what happens in Ohio with great interest and with all Public Libraries in the US.

how does the other see it.

So it seems social networking is creeping its way into the psyche of many organisations as a legitimate means of communicating information in a fast and formal/informal manner. As I was doing a bit of catchup on my 'professional reading' following a meeting with my fellow technovisionaries, I came across an interesting post in regards to blocks to social networking. You can find the blog post here on Michael Stephen's blog.

The crux of it is a public department using a social networking too, in this case twitter to promote an event in the community, but having social networking blocked on its own public computers. Think if the library in question was hosting an event and people wanted to comment on it whilst at the library, with participants asked to comment on their website/feed?

This is yet another example that highlights the control many public libraries face: being under the jurisdiction of another governing body. It means any communication that goes out for instance from a public library feed needs to meet the governing body's standards. Its still a very murky area, but we'll have to see how it will pan out.

Going up?

Well, a month or so has passed since my last attempts to enlighten and enliven peoples knowledge through my musings and enthusings. So much it seems that our much lauded 2.0 has become a 3.0. as mentioned in by Kara Swisher and Walt Mossberg. But where are my patch updates dare I say? are we ready for such things? Some say nay to this increment of integers such as a Mr Scobleizer, in his piece on why this is wrong.

So what do you all think? the simple advent of computers and the Internet has seen many libraries struggle to meet the ever flowing development in not only hardware and software that the technology savvy socialites utilise everyday. you could almost compare library service eras to that of the Internet to see how the two compare. It would be interesting to see how well we as information professionals stack up against the ever changing tidal waves of Internet movements.

Flat Panel ideas

John Blyberg from Darien Library sent a Tweet on Saturday afternoon. A simple message that of course pipped my curiosity. Darien Library are using a Flat panel in the library to advertise what items are being returned. Customers have the ability to see what is being returned and if there items have been returned. It is a great tool for customers and staff alike.

It could be used for many different things. It could be adapted and used for items that are going out on loan as well. Items that are being reserved and for searches that are on the OPAC. Items being ordered and received into the Library.

This idea could be adapted for whatever you choose. Any ideas on how best to serve the customers?

Do You Compute?

Yes, computers certainly have made their mark, and taken up some space in our ever popular libraries across the world. But having technology in the library to satisfy public need should not be the only goal of providing them to the public; we should be thinking ahead of how we are offering the service. Sounds like something to discuss at a conference eh?

Well it has been! and whilst I was a continent away and unable to arrange transport, sufficient funds, leave etc. some lucky people, such as the esteemed David Lee King were able to attend CIL2009 and take some lovely notes for us distance challenged types. Hell most of my favourite bloggers were there!

Reading his notes it's great to see librarians thinking about the future of how we can adapt technology to our current services, rethinking and retooling the role of libraries and the librarian. One post of interest was on training which I have found invaluable in crafting ideas for the new courses my own library will implement in the future. The most important thing I pulled from this was this:

Don’t put the cart before the horse - there are some things you have to figure out first:

• Determine what the need is first - what do they need to learn/to improve their jobs, etc
  
• Then determine who the audience is.

It also mentioned some great new tools, Talkshoe and WebJunction, and of course Twitter.

Of course, my favourite was the John Blyberg headed a presentation on Innovation Services & Practices at the Darien Library. It completely blows apart the way traditional library services are being offered by meeting users at their points of need, rather that simply persevering with a service that is old and clunky. Its really amazing to read the direction that they are going in; Open source, roaming(!!!) one-on-one reference, and Instant Messaging through Meebo (though they are moving to LibraryH3lp).

It is conferences like this that really give us time to think about what it is we are offering to the public. Rather than setting up a service they may be able to use and be interested in, why not spend the time finding out what your community would like to see, investing in their interests, adapting to their usage patterns. Most importantly Libraries should not being afraid to try new things, to emphasise a culture of change. So if your operating under an Imperial Death Star structure, blow it it Rogue Librarian Squardron Style!

Diigo

Diigo provides an easy way of sharing relevant web content with friends, colleagues and collaborators. Once signed up, you can highlight a passage of interest within a webpage and even add a sticky note with comments. You're able to then bookmark the page so you can return and read more later or share it with others via, for example, email or blog. It seems like a very useful tool for collaborators to use to communicate between meetings. It presents a way of bringing information together in a way that isn't onerous and doesn't require reinterpretation of the content for it to be shared. By creating a group, when a member finds something of interest it can easily be distributed to other group members. Groups can be made public or private allowing you to control who you are communicating with. It makes it easier to pool resources, recommend reading to others and reduce the need for duplication of searches.

Michael Stephens

Michael Stephens
Originally uploaded by laura-ann

With the announcement that Dr Michael Stephens, from the blog Tame the web, will be working with Townsville Libraries' Warren Cheetham to 'Measure the value and effect of Learning 2.0 programs in Australia'.

It is exciting news from that the first study of how effective Learning 2.0 programs are is being studied here in Australia.

I will be looking forward seeing what the studies findings are. With the Library having had the highest participation and completion of staff in the program in the state of NSW and the implementation of a committee to investigate and implement new and emerging web 2.0 technologies. It will be good to see how we as a library service have effectively used the training.

Have you hugged a luddite today?

With all the new fangle dangle tech tools that are amusing and bemusing the denziens of the globe, its a fair thing to say that not all are happy to embrace the race to a digitally delightful utopia. I see it within my family, my friends, at work, even on the streets in the eyes of children. and it seems I'm not alone in my observations, as guest author on Tame the Web Blog Mick Jacobsen elaborates upon in his post "love thy Luddite"

I'm sure that whilst some of us are extremly enthusiastic to join the emerging technology typhoon that never seems to be ending, others seem content to see the weather out, rather than get swept away. So maybe we should think about why they are ducking for cover everytime a new tecnological tool comes to the fore. I myself have noticed such tendancies when confronted with technology that has the potential to radically alter the way in which I see myself interacting with the world. So next time someone balks at your offer to show them a new technology they could use to enhance their lives, rather refute such a view, try to understand why it does not compute with them.

Twitter and the Victorian Bushfires

I read an article today on how Twitter helped with getting information out about the recent Victorian bushfires. As usual, there were pros and cons associated with this new method of information delivery.

The pros concentrated on the speed at which information was spread versus industrial-age media… “Fast and flexible, Twitter spread information through people’s overlapping social circles…”. Another pro was the use of fairly reliable sources such as @cfa_updates, @sbsnews and ABC’s @774melbourne.

The cons concentrated on the darker side of information overload as the rising death toll was reported at 20…25…30…35 as well as the links to every new photo and every new report in all its horrendous details. The overloading of websites such as CFA ended up with the authors pleading with people to stop visiting their website unless they were in genuine need. On the other hand, the lack of Twitter updates from @KevinRuddPM was disappointing but one also needs to remember that there are only 1 in 5000 people currently using Twitter.

Food for thought for us as Technovisionaires isn’t it!

To view the full article click on the following link http://www.crikey.com.au/Media-Arts-and-Sports/20090211-Twitter-enabling-the-new-global-rubberneckers.html

Can you visit your library online?

The previous post on the 2.0 Masterclass reminded me of one of the blogs that I subscribe to, that of David Lee King. Now here is a man that has pondered over just how much people can do when visiting a libraries virtual location, and seeks to emulate the environment that can be experienced at any libraries physical location. you can read about his musings here and an interview here.

At his own library he has come up with the digital branch, its like any other in a library system, yet this one is purely online. have a look at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. He has also written a book on designing the digital experience, which I sure would be well worth a read.

I wonder when we will be adding a new branch to our system...

Keith.

Learning 2.0 Masterclass

Innovation
Originally uploaded by Vermin Inc

The first day of Masterclass Learning 2.0 with Helene Blowers, has been an informative and interesting day. I have spoken to people in the group from public, TAFE, specialist and academic libraries. From this group discussion has ensured including our experiences and ideas for where to head for the future.

I have learnt about changing my thinking and changing the thinking of library staff and the organisation. We need to look at the idea that the web presence of the library is not another branch of the library but an extension of the library that the customers use. We need to assess what our community is? Community is not just the people that walk through our front doors, it is not just the people who live in our shire it is also the community that we grow through our web presence.

Library 2.0 is the way of the future but the way of future does not have to dictate that we implement every technology out there. Change is good but change for change sake is not part of the plan. We need to make changes that will empower the customers experience but still have a purpose for the change in the library as well.

We need to explore how we communicate with customers and what we communicate with the customers. We don't know exactly what customers wants and needs from a library service why not ask them? Why not put out there what we are working on and investigating and ask for comments? Why not harness the information that customers can provide and use it to our advantage?

Tools are available that we should be looking at to examine what people are saying about us on the internet. This could be used to show the organisation what customers think of our service, what they saying about our service or what they want to change about our service.

Forums and Ning

Online forums seem like a great way to draw people together, for example, as a medium for "conversations" about the books people have enjoyed. It's like an interactive book review which could draw out the different aspects of the book and occur over a period of time. Alternatively the forum could be used for a more instantaneous or "live" chat following a seminar, providing a more informal discussion with an author or presenter and allowing a greater number of people to participate.

There is a range of software available to run forums with options for downloading and hosting the forum yourself or having it hosted by a third party. Wikipedia has tables providing a comparison of a number of different software options and sites based on factors such as price, threading, whether or not the user can select the theme and whether images can be included. Another option is to use a site such as Ning which provides not just forums but a whole social networking site including chat. There is a Library 2.0 site that has been set up on Ning. It's worth having a look at this site. I haven't tried setting up an "online community" on there yet but think it would be really interesting to try.

Tiny URL

TinyURL.com - shorten that long URL into a Tiny URL232010
Originally uploaded by Shellingfordinjugem

Leading on from sending tweets you don't have enough characters to send a long website address so the answer is Tiny URLs. A website that converts all web addresses to a small and easy to access Tiny URL.

You can send the Tiny URL in an email, a tweet and instant message and the link will send you to the correct website address each time. The tinyurl is unique to each website address and never expires.

Try this one for size Turn this URL turning the long website address below into a tinyURL
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?ovi=1&mqmap.x=300&mqmap.y=75&mapdata=%252bKZmeiIh6N%252bIgpXRP3bylMaN0O4z8OOUkZWYe7NRH6ldDN96YFTIUmSH3Q6OzE5XVqcuc5zb%252fY5wy1MZwTnT2pu%252bNMjOjsHjvNlygTRMzqazPStrN%252f1YzA0oWEWLwkHdhVHeG9sG6cMrfXNJKHY6fML4o6Nb0SeQm75ET9jAjKelrmqBCNta%252bsKC9n8jslz%252fo188N4g3BvAJYuzx8J8r%252f1fPFWkPYg%252bT9Su5KoQ9YpNSj%252bmo0h0aEK%252bofj3f6vCP

into this tinyURL:
http://tinyurl.com/6

Twittering

My extended Twitter page
Originally uploaded by wboswell

Twitter, the social networking website that allows people to communicate with friends, family etc in short text messages answering the question 'What are you doing?'. You can send tweets via your mobile phone, instant messaging tools and using the simple but effective website.

Evan Williams the founder of Blogger has found this simple yet effective website for family and friends to keep in touch.

Not only are family and friends using this service but politicians are now using Social Networking tools to attract the younger generation. It was used widely in the American US Presidental campaign along with other Social Networking tools. Our own Prime Minister and Leader of the Oppposition have their own twitter accounts.

Out of interest Lance Armstrong is a regular user of the service and fans of him knew when approximately he would arrive in Australia as he had not sent a Tweet in severeal hours.

How you could adapt this to a Library I am not entirely sure, but it looks to be the way of the future in the current atmosphere.

Top Technology Developments in 2009

It was interesting to read Kathryn Greenhill's interpretation of 3 of the Top Technology Developments in 2009

These included -

The Semantic Web - a new name for linked data. It is about creating conceptual relationships between things found on the internet. Similar to the traditional library card catalog - have an item in hand, give it a unique identifier, describe it and have all descriptions in one place. Then allow people to navigate to the space.

Blogging - although it is here to stay people have discovered how hard blogs are to maintain and how hard it is to keep coming up with meaningful things to say. For me a wiki seems a more organised approach with perhaps a page for the blogging format of "New Technology - What's Out There??".

Word/tag clouds - very fashionable and a whole lot like concordances - one of the first types of indexes. Perhaps this is a way around organising the rambling blog. (Sorry fellow bloggers)

Bye for now,

Talk to you after the Online Conference...

New Year Resolution: 1680 * 1050

Well it looks like I will be breaking my resolve never to use computers for the year, proving too difficult yet again to go without. So perhaps I should go with more, ala Darien Library's new and stupefyingly gorgeous Surface! Mr. Blyberg of said establishment has a brief chat on this amazing new technology, and the best part you ask? They are giving it to the KIDS first! Yep, the most advanced piece of hardware in the library to the youngest users, based on the fact that its interactive and intuitive interface will be something children will be able to virtually pick up and use. For mine it really is a wonderful piece of technology that multiple people can use at a time, and of course I wonder just how much this piece of technology costs. I wonder when they will be for personal use...