October 31, 2005
10 Things I Learned at Internet Librarian 2005
Finally things have calmed down. Here goes a long overdue summary of what I took home from Monterey.
#1 Public Librarians Rule
I had high hopes for the track when we got the go ahead from Jane to put it together. I am super-pleased with the feedback I've received. (and send more if you haven't...) There was such energy in the room... so, one thing I learned is the folks that work at PLS really seem to be interested in new technologies and serving their users. Public Librarians rule because they care about their users and their buildings and the profession. Many seek out learning, and try new things and aren't afraid of technology or failure. And many of them spent time with us in the De Anza 1 room.
One of my most striking moments was when Ken Weil, super-cool director of South Huntington PL (they are the ones that circulate iPods!) in South Huntington, NY said: "Our staff isn't afraid of change..and we are not afraid to try new things."
I wish every PL staff was like that! Can we foster that culture elsewhere? I think so! Ken and Joe Latini, the assistant director there, should let us know what their secret is!
#2 It's still a struggle for some folks
During a talk about technology and people, David King and I, however, had a question from the audience that made both of us stumble a bit: a lady stood and said "I'm not interested in new technology, and I don't have time for it and i'm not one to play with technology..what about me?"
Wowza! I did a slow turn to my right and said: "David."
So David says: "We're at the beginning of a huge information revolution. We have to change, or we'll be left behind..." (He sums up IL05 here)
And I add: "The wave of technological change is not going to stop. In fact it will only get bigger as newer stuff somes along..."
Here are some more thoughts, a few days later: If you are not engaged and learning right now about how libraries are changing and adapting in the world of Google, digital content, the Read/Write Web, Electronic Resources Management, and everything else... you may be in trouble. A library director stopped me after that presentation and told me that he had found a way to free up some staff time for technology exploration and made it mandatory as part of his library's strategic plan and the staff's development. I was overjoyed. Look closely at processes...what can chage to free up time? Or is it just a mindset we librarians fall into so easily: No Time..No Time..No Time... I think there is time...we just need to find it.
Take a lesson from Ken and the other director who spoke to me. Admin must be behind change and learning or your library may be in trouble, because...
#3 The wave of change is not going to stop and we need to plan for it
Darlene Fichter and I taught an "Organizational Weblogs" workshop and this was the first time I've heard librarians actuall say that blogs and such are becoming part of planning. It's in our "strategic plan" one said. It's part of our long range plan, said another.
Jenny summed it up perfectly at our Future Trends panel: "2005 is the year that librarians got it."
Aaron and I did a workshop on technology Planning and did some exercises to get the group thinking about what they needed to do to implement some HOT tech. It was fun, engaging and the threee hours flew. Here's what the group voted on as HOT HOT HOT:
#4 Little Libraries can do the same things that the big libraries do
Sarah Houghton spoke the truth and engaged the crowd when she discussed what any library can do, not just the huge ones with loads of money and staff. Don't have $20,000 for bloated virtual reference software? How about IM? Need a way to disseminate infor easily without a huge Content Management System? Try a blog -- but lose the word, which i agree with! Need a collaborative web-based workspace for your reference librarians to build useful pages? Guess what?
Many of the social tools are free to use, adapt and share. Try it!
#5 Librarians should all be given a Tech Toolkit
"If I had a million dollars.." If I could, I would outfit every librarian on my staff with a Tech Toolkit to help them do their jobs and serve users as effectively as possible: a super nice laptop filled with useful open software (and to be realistic some of the necessary evils), a big USB drive to swap files and move content, wifi everywhere, and an iPod. (Well, just because...) If I had a billion billion dollars, I'd buy a tech Toolkit for every librarian in the WORLD! I would hope every library would see this as money well-spent. That said...
#6 We all need a playground! And administrators should give time to play and learn...
In my talk on Staff Buy-In, I urged folks to consider some mechanism for time to play with new technologies. It really helps staff feel informed and on top of what the library is doing. Like the above examples, directors and adminstrators must understand they have to be involved as well. If your director is blogging (AADL anyone?) that speaks volumes about how the adminstration feels about the tools we can use to communicate. Ignored tools lead to a disinterested, out of touch staff.
#7 Speaker's gifts can be most entertaining especially combining them with Social Software
The Most Interesting Librarians with Giant Calculators Images at flickr
#8 We need to put a face on the library
This was one snippet of Glenn Peterson's part of the Web trends panel... the Subject Guides at Hennepin Co. PL contain little pictures of the librarians who take care of the pages. This is a Cluetrain alert: let's make our conversations human. Let's get the library a human face. Sign blog posts. Use images. Have a voice. It's not technology, it's people.
Glenn said there were varying degrees of buy in for putting folks' pictures up and offered a tip: let the librarians choose how their picture looks or what prop they use. Hot!
#9 Training is still HOT
Scott Brandt and I had a great workshop with 28 folks who were there for tips on teaching new technologies. Have you looked at your class content of late? Have you updated? Are you promoting Web access to the OPAC, the library blog, the library IM name, etc?
#10 Finally: the Techie types are all over the social tools
This was pretty amazing to watch play out and participate in. Posts were tagged..folks were flickr'ed...wikis were born. Sessions featured serious topics for library bloggers! This wave is not stopping...
The Technorati tag for the conference was IL05. Take a look to see the posts still coming in.
Sherri has a conference category:http://blog.uwinnipeg.ca/schwagbag/archives/conferences/
Liz lawley did a nice "Parting thoughts" piece: http://mamamusings.net/archives/2005/10/26/internet_librarian_05_parting_thoughts.php
Aaron used a category this time: http://www.walkingpaper.org/index.php?c=internet-librarian-2005
Jessamyn had a few things to say: http://www.librarian.net/tags/il05
Libraryman, who i never get to spend enough time with, just rocks: http://www.libraryman.com/blog/archives/000196.html
Some folks were even inspired. Look at this little blog that crossed my path: http://superturbo.blogspot.com/ - Ok Superturbo, let's see how blogging plays out for you. I'm glad you were inspired. :-) Did you learn about ethics? Nice start! And I like your little Pug too!
It was a good time in Monterey. I got to hang with some good friends, chat with folks I seldom see, and join in a great ongoing discussion about libraries, tools and the future! See you next year!
Update: Don't miss Erica's Blog at http://queequegs.blogspot.com/. She has some cool ideas!
A Discussion with Will Richardson, Blogvangelist
http://www.techsource.ala.org/blog/blog_detail.php?blog_id=80
October 30, 2005
Uses of the Biblioblogosphere
There aren't many places in the world where you can get by--get ahead, if you want to think of it that way--simply on the strength of your ideas and your willingness to express them. The biblioblogosphere turns out to be one of those places. I'm immensely grateful for that. I haven't been blogging much lately--the whole life trumps blogging thing that many have experienced--but I still dip in and sometimes dive in to this wonderful set of waterways that all of you have built. One way or another, I plan to keep on tumbling through it, and I hope that next June, one way or another, many of you will all wash up in New Orleans.
October 28, 2005
CJ Points to Oklahoma State Library Podcast
Hurrah! I got to chat with Chris Jowaissis a bit at IL. He is incredible and I'm always glad to see a new post at Technobiblio.
http://www.technobiblio.com/archives/2005/10/get_it_odl.php
Seems CJ has found the first state library podcast, an interview with "ODL Public Information Officer Bill Young about the Oklahoma Reads Oklahoma program." Give it a listen as you form your own plans for podcasting events and interviews...
Library and Information Service - Services for PDA's
Curtin University of Technology in Sydney, Australia has mounted this page of resources for devices:
http://library.curtin.edu.au/pda_services/index.html
Nice collection..most inspiring for planning for PDA/device access.
Video iPod & the Future
I was all a-lust when Jenny showed off her new Video iPod in Monterey! Mine was waiting when I got back! Hooray!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsphotos/sets/1232433/
So far:
It sounds GREAT! (Better than previous generations..I tested)
It looks GREAT! (oh yeah..the screen is incredibly clear...)
I purchased the Desperate Housewives pilot, a few music videos and moved some iMovies over to it...
ILI2005 Presentations Up!
I have a mountain of notes to turn into posts here about ILI and IL, but for now:
http://www.internet-librarian.com/Presentations/
This provides an overview of the breadth of material from the London conference. Check it out. The same will follow for IL soon.
Just Askin?
Coming off of IL05 and reading over "Listening to You," I must ask:
Are you listening to your users?
You should be.
Cerritos PL Blog for Learning and Thinking about Libraries
Via my Assistant Director at SJCPL:
http://www.clioinstitute.info/blog/
This blog has been created as an e-communication tool of the clioinstitute , a learning arm of the Cerritos Public Library in Cerritos, California.
We hope you will visit the clioinstitute blog to tap into resources to help you find new ways to:
• stimulate creative thinking
• imagine new possibilities for your library and community
New resources in each of the clioinstitute clio specific focus areas will be added regularly:
•creativity
•learning
•innovation
•organizational change
So bookmark this page or add it to your RSS feed. Visit often to add your comments and help inspire libraries to inspire communities.
"Inspire Communities!" YES!
A new but possibly very useful blog from Cerritos PL, already I've found some HOT pointers to strategic plans and information for stimulating ideas. Promoting creative thinking, this is some good stuff and one to watch. The hottest thing so far: a pointer to this page at Multnomah where users talk about what they get from the library and what they do there. Echoes of Ann Arbor's conversations/comments in a static HTML format. Pay attention to these type of library sites - it's part of our future!
Listening to You
October 27, 2005
October 26, 2005
What a nice thing to read as I'm about to turn off the light...
...and head home from Monterey in the morning...From Liz Lawley, keynoter and blogger...
http://mamamusings.net/archives/2005/10/25/glory_days.php
Here at Internet Librarian, I see the next posse hanging in the halls. They’re talking about blogs and flickr and del.icio.us. They’re laughing out loud at the stodginess around them (as well they should), and carving out their own space. And I find that I’m not at all jealous. I love seeing them blaze their own paths, create their own disruptive force. I don’t want to go back to who and where I was fifteen years ago. But I am oh so glad for the friendships that were forged during those conference romps, and the memories that remain. I can only hope that this new group of go-getters will have as many joys and successes in the profession that we’ve had.
Thanks Liz!
October 25, 2005
Raise Your Hand if You are a Public Librarian!
Internet Librarian 2005 Public Libraries and Technology Flickr Set
(Let the tagging begin...)
Library 2.0 Web Sites Noted
Nice post at the Read/Write Web by Richard McManus that picked up on Michael Casey's post and the Web Panels' thoughts.
In all this arguing over the value or otherwise of the Web 2.0 meme, I've almost lost track of what is really important - how Web 2.0 ideas are being implemented in The Real World. I came across a great post by Michael Casey of LibraryCrunch, who is investigating what the Library 2.0 Web site will look like. He pointed to Michael Stephens' round-up of responses to that question, which are well worth perusing. I liked this one from Sarah Houghton, from Marin County Public Library and the Librarian in Black blog:
"The next generation small public library website will be moving up to the same level the larger public library websites are at now: blogs, RSS feeds, dynamic reading/watching/listening lists, lots of online forms, with links to some user-friendly and computer-friendly lightweight virtual reference options (like instant messaging)."
I have to admit I'm a big library user, so if my local library gets the functionality Sarah outlined - I will be one happy geek!
To tie this up in a nice package, Jenny told the PL Track yesterday that users are going to expect some types of interactivity on web sites -- including the public library. Don't think that's it's just a geek thing -- it will be everyone!
October 24, 2005
IM Network Springs Up in Social Software Session
As Jessamyn is speaking more and more people are appearing in my chat list....
Steve from Colorado just shared this flickr site he's using for his library:
http://flickr.com/photos/tuttlibrary and his blog: http://library.coloradocollege.edu/steve/
Ten Steps to Insure Staff Buy-In for the Technology Projects
A companion to a presentation I'm giving at Internet Librarian 2005.
Download the big old 10MB file here!
Ten Steps to Insure Staff Buy-In for the Technology Projects
"Why are we doing this?"
A few months ago the Reference staff at SJCPL trained the librarians who would be using IM at their service desks. Katie, who was doing the particular session I heard about, asked the group: "Why are we doing this training?"
"IM is cool" Someone said..."IM is so hot right now," said another (who may read my blog too much!)
"Nope," Katie said. "We are doing this because it is a way to reach a good segment of our users...." She went on to cite some of the recent articles, studies and surveys out there that make the case for IM.
"Why are we doing this?" may be asked more than you think at your library as more and more projects center around technology. If the question is there, you may be missing a perfect opportunity to create staff buy-in for such projects. What follows are ten hints to Insure buy-in..
#1 Listen to Your Staff
Cluetrain time folks. There are conversations going on in your libraries..some in person ("Elevator talk") and some via electronic means. What's beeing said? Are people unhappy? Have you suprised the staff with yet another big project that just seemes to be spending money and time for no discernible ROI? When you meet with folks, listen. The message may come through if you want to hear it: communicate..keep us in the know.,..let us plan with you....
#2 Involve Staff in Planning
From the get go, convene a team to plan whatever new thing you are doing made up of staff from all areas of your organization -- focusing on the key players and the stakeholders. If they are engaged, heard and actively researching, discussing and decided in stuff, they are wedded to the project. This is particularly true for new buildings.
#3 Tell Stories
I've talked about this alot: one way for libraries to promote their value and relevance is to tell the library's story every chance you get. Beyond daunting columns of statistics, users -- and staff -- might benefit from a story about "how the library helped its users today?" Ponder a staff exchange where internal stories can be told. You may find a lot of answers to the question: "Why are we doing this?"
This flickr set of "Rock the Shelves" really tells a story for me.
#4 Be Transparent
Don't be secretive about projects. Don't ambush staff with a new computer on the reference desk no one was told about. Be transparent with you users and your staff as well. Staff intranets cry out to be used as a means to announce and discuss new projects, with facts figures, COST and outcomes. Staff wikis scream to be used to develop plans and timelines for all staff to access and review.
#5 Report and Debrief
http://www.tametheweb.com/ttwblog/archives/001298.html
I love this example of the post-conference debrief we did at SJCPL. Staff often wonder what folks are doing trooping off to Seattle or Washington DC or . Reporting from the conference via a blog or posting reports upon returning to work let's folks see that those attending conference were gathering knowledge to bring back.
#6 Do your Research
There is no excuse in 2005 not to be "in the know" on whatever technology initiative you are planning. there's no excuse not to have done a literature search for articles in our professional litertaure that will help the discussion and inform the participants of strategy meetings.
#7 Manage Projects Well
There are some great books out there that bloggers have pointed to and discusssed!
http://daweed.blogspot.com/2005/05/im-getting-things-done.html
#8 Offer training for All technologies you Roll Out
One of my soapbox topics. You know how important it is to train staff. To keep them in the know. Training doesn't have to be the formal in a room variety, but you might use any number of method to deliver instrruction about new stuff or changes to current systems.
#9 Let them Play
In our Training Workshop yesterday, one of the participants stressed the need for a "playground" where staff could put their hands on new technologies: terminals running a newe OS, a new ILS or updated software, or new gadgets and devices the library might be evaluating. I love this idea. We also went so far to theorize that the playground might be virtual as well as physical.
For that gaming initiative, take folks out to the arcade or set up the consoles in the staff lounge and do some DDR! Let them expwerience first!
#10 Celebrate Successes
Do you do this? Do you stop amidst all of your ongoing tech projects and celebrate the launch of the new Web site? The new service? Do you congratulate each other?
Joe and Ken are Speaking about circulating iPods!
http://shpl.suffolk.lib.ny.us/
This is most cool!
Ken just said: "We have a staff that's not afraid to embrace change..."
Breakfast Tea & Internet Librarians
I'm up early! (J-E-T you are so BAD for me!) and I'm working on a few things for this mornings Public Library track at Internet Librarian 2005. So far this experience has been incredible! I taught 3 workshops over the weekend and got to chit chat with librarians from all over the US as well as Canada AND Copenhagen!
Darlene Fichter and I taught "Organizational Weblogs" and my big AHA moment there was the fact that two of the participants were present because their organizations had a blogging initiative in their strategic or long range plans. Do you have such an initiative?
This was fun coming off "The Blogger's Toolkit" in London, and the differences and similarities between the folks here and over there were fascinating. One of the highlights: blogs being used in the classrooms and inj the school libraries. Nice! I am so happy librarians are recognizing how a tool such as weblogs can solve many problems and create a flow of information that could become a conversation with users.
Aaron and I taight a planning for technology workshop that really came together well. We spent some time on "Ten Steps for Planning for Technology" and then Aaron took us through some hot tech. The group then broke out to discuss how they would implement their chosen technologies. He posted about it here.
Finally, Scott Brandt and I taught a new version of teaching the Internet -- in 2005. Six new courses we presented for the particpants to adapt and use in their libraries included "Setting Up Wireless networks," "All about Podcasting," and "All About Digital Music Players."
Breakfast Tea & Internet Librarians
I'm up early! (J-E-T you are so BAD for me!) and I'm working on a few things for this mornings Public Library track at Internet Librarian 2005. So far this experience has been incredible! I taught 3 workshops over the weekend and got to chit chat with librarians from all over the US as well as Canada AND Copenhagen!
Darlene Fichter and I taught "Organizational Weblogs" and my big AHA moment there was the fact that two of the participants were present because their organizations had a blogging initiative in their strategic or long range plans. Do you have such an initiative?
This was fun coming off "The Blogger's Toolkit" in London, and the differences and similarities between the folks here and over there were fascinating. One of the highlights: blogs being used in the classrooms and inj the school libraries. Nice! I am so happy librarians are recognizing how a tool such as weblogs can solve many problems and create a flow of information that could become a conversation with users.
Aaron and I taight a planning for technology workshop that really came together well. We spent some time on "Ten Steps for Planning for Technology" and then Aaron took us through some hot tech. The group then broke out to discuss how they would implement their chosen technologies. He posted about it here.
Finally, Scott Brandt and I taught a new version of teaching the Internet -- in 2005. Six new courses we presented for the particpants to adapt and use in their libraries included "Setting Up Wireless networks," "All about Podcasting," and "All About Digital Music Players."
October 22, 2005
That Vidcasting is so HOT right now!
Apple really has caused a stir: vidcasting is all over my aggregator!
October 21, 2005
UPDATE: Public Library Web Designers Look to the Future!
The group assembled for the first presentation of the Public Libraries and Technology Track at Internet Librarian 2005 totally rock. If you are attending the conference, don't miss this one because hot trends in web design apply to all types of libraries!
In addition, the topic of web redesign is HOT right now. This press release points out some fascinating statistics.
In planning for the presentation, I emailed the panelists a question. Because Michael Casey's Library Crunch (add him to your aggregator now, I'll wait) is one of my favorite reads these days, I asked the panelists this question:
What does the Library 2.0 Web site look like?
Glenn Peterson, Hennepin County Public Library
"Hi Michael, (I just heard Stephen Abram talk at our library so I may be WWUI (writing while under the influence):
Next generation library websites will meet users' increasingly complex information needs by developing tools that allow users to refine their information seeking in ways that produce highly relevant search results. Libraries will develop more sophisticated federated search tools that highlight the resources in their physical and virtual collections. They will develop online pathfinders on high-interest topics (e.g. how do I start a new business?) And they will find ways for librarians to continue to support users in the virtual information-seeking environment."
David King, Kansas City Public Library, & Dave's Blog
The next generation public library website should be considered a destination, just like the physical library building is currently a destination. As a destination, the website should:
- provide original content (ebooks, articles, encyclopedia entries, local history content)
- provide support content (database and catalog tipsheets, calendar of events, library news, phone numbers)
- provide community content (community calendar types of things)
- provide staff/customer interaction (comments area, question area, ask a reference area) uisng chat, IM,
email, phone, and mailing address
- provide customer/customer interaction (online blook clubs, customer-based reader's advisory [Amazon.com model]
- provide traditional library services like library catalog and databases
- Do all this for specific customer target areas (Seniors, Adults, Kids, Teens, etc)
Sarah Houghton, Marin County Public Library, & Librarian in Black
The next generation small public library website will be moving up to the same level the larger public library websites are at now: blogs, RSS feeds, dynamic reading/watching/listening lists, lots of online forms, with links to some user-friendly and computer-friendly lightweight virtual reference options (like instant messaging).
John Blyberg, Ann Arbor District Library
The others really gave a good summation of the type of content we can expect to be available on library websites. What we provide is really going to depend on where the chips fall after the RIAA and MPAA finish going through their withdrawals and settle on a business model that works for them. Laser-etched plastic is not the future, but audio/visual content is what patron's demand.
In the meantime, good public library sites are going to be the ones that do two things well. First, they need to generate content that is attributed to the library. Second, they need to pull together existing information in new and interesting ways in a manner that makes the web site itself an extention of the library's information store. That way, the website is only a component of a library's offerings.
Conference Travel...
I'm not the only one shuffling around trying to get stuff done!
See you in Monterey!
October 20, 2005
Traverse Area Library Debuts WiFi Guide for Area
http://www.tadl.org/wireless/map/
Traverse Area District Library is my library away from home! Jeff, in IT there, IMs on occasion to let me know what's happening. This just debuted! What a great service provided by the library that reaches out into the community using some pretty nice techie tools.Not only are library hotspots listed, but other free ones as well.
I asked Jeff what their goals were. He said:
"We had a few goals in mind:
1. provide our patrons with an accurate list of free hotspots in the area
2. gain additional real-world experience with (buzzword alert) AJAX, XML, XSLT, the Google Maps API, etc.
3. provide reasonable fallback mechanisms for browsers that do not support all of the aforementioned technologies...the site works very well in latest MSIE, Firefox, Mozilla, Opera, and Safari, while still providing useful information to users using Konqueror, Lynx, Netscape Navigator 4.8, etc."
Check this page out! Is this another way the library could provide a community service?
Update: My Students are BLOGGING!
I know I've mentioned that I'm teaching at Dominican University SLIS this fall. One thing I really wanted to do with this group was introduce them to the Biblioblogosphere as readers and bloggers! From this came an assignment: they all got Blogger blogs the first weekend of class. Their task: 5 blog posts about libraries, technology and the Web! Natalie agreed to let me post a link to her site as a sample..and note her links to many other members of the class. these folks are doing well!
http://whomovedmylibrary.blogspot.com/
Update: Rick made a great comment and I wanted to put it up above. Here goes:
"Michael, this is a really great idea. I think veteran librarians could learn something from following these posts. They may think the new librarians in training know the web stuff, but following these new blogs they can see they don't. Maybe some reluctant older librarians could then connect with the students and learn with them without feeling so out of it. Rick"
Great point. What I get from this is maybe part of an early library school class should be spent exploring the Biblioblogosphere and LIS wikis. Thanks Rick!
October 19, 2005
Why your iPod will be out of date in a year
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=2095642005
Nice article with some thought provoking points.
ILI Photos at Online Insider
Nice pics at Marydee's blog!
http://www.onlineinsider.net/2005/10/ili2005-photos.html
http://www.onlineinsider.net/2005/10/more-ili2005-photos.html
October 18, 2005
See You in Monterey!
I leave early Friday for Monterey and Internet Librarian 2005. I hope to see many colleagues and friends and spend some time taking libraries and tech. See you there and please say HI! I'll be moderating the Public Libraries and Technology track all day Monday -- hope to see you there!
Breaking the Rules
Sometimes we rely too heavily on rules, protocols and procedures. The best policies and practices in libraries are those that can be bent or ignored when the situation calls for it. I admire those managers and administrators that get that and see the difference between micro-management/never break the rules and those that realize we are all in this big thing called life together and yes stuff happens.
Like someone wanting to use the phone.
Thanks FGL for the reminder.
Top Ten Blog Design Mistakes
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/weblogs.html
What great stuff. I love to read a blog author bio as well as see who is writing! That puts a human element in all this blog stuff. And always remember: you are writing for your "future boss!"
October 17, 2005
Video iPod & the Future
Please read jenny's excellent post at ALA TechSource!
Texting with Jenny from the UK, I said I just wanted to post a big "DITTO" next to this post.
"All very interesting, but it worries me all the more when all of this is sold directly to the consumer and bypasses libraries. It's times like this I re-light a candle that Audible will wake up from its coma and bridge the Digital Rights Management (DRM) gap between libraries and iPods. Right now, I believe OverDrive is the only company that lets libraries circulate copyright-protected videos, but of course Overdrive's Windows-Media-encrypted files don't work on iPods."
This is a huge step toward the future of digital entertainment. Years from now, we may look up from our devices (whatever they are) and remember when DVDs ruled and new release days on Tuesdays meant motoring to a big box store or the local library...
(PS: Tag this post --- LUST X 1000000)
Gartner Hype Cycle at Stephen's Lighthouse Applied to LIS Weblogs
(Darlene Fichter and I are presenting a workshop on organizational weblogs next Saturday in Monterey...this is good food for thought!)
http://stephenslighthouse.sirsi.com/archives/2005/08/the_gartner_hyp.html
1. Technology Trigger: A breakthrough, public demonstration, product launch or other event generates significant press and industry interest.
Ponder any of the hot hot technologies we're discussing. When did you first hear about RFID? Podcasts? IM in libraries? Was it at a conference or a big event or in an article... what about BLOGS? Let's ponder blogs and podcasts for this example.
March 2002: CIL...I first heard about blogging..and I discovered some classic bloggers...
2. Peak of Inflated Expectations: During this phase of over enthusiasm and unrealistic projections, a flurry of well-publicized activity by technology leaders results in some successes, but more failures, as the technology is pushed to its limits. The only companies making money are conference organizers and magazine publishers.
Here I'm reminded of a bit I read in a recent issue of Business 2.0 on what technologies to ignore: podcasting, the writers state, "Yes, it’s nice to get MP3s downloaded to your iPod. But where are the revenues? Podcasting will continue, but as a business, it’s the latest iteration of CB radio."
BUT: while the business model may fail or die and return in some new way, user-created content will rule... be ready.
3. Trough of Disillusionment: Because the technology does not live up to its over inflated expectations, it rapidly becomes unfashionable. Media interest wanes, except for a few cautionary tales.
How many librarians started a blog and ceased after a few posts... how many libraries did as well. What about comment spam, broken software and how many folks sat in the conference and thought "I don't have TIME for this at my library...."
At the same time, some folk were realizing how powerful the read/write web might be....
4. Slope of Enlightenment: Focused experimentation and solid hard work by an increasingly diverse range of organizations lead to a true understanding of the technology's applicability, risks and benefits. Commercial, off-the-shelf methodologies and tools ease the development process.
Look at how the various content management systems have advanced and evolved. AADL is not your uncle's Blogger site is it?
5. Plateau of Productivity: The real-world benefits of the technology are demonstrated and accepted. Growing numbers of organizations feel comfortable with the reduced levels of risk, and the rapid growth phase of adoption begins.
Just look at ASIST...ALA TechSource (where I contribute)...PLA... 'nuff said!
Cool Flickr Toy!
http://flagrantdisregard.com/flickr/calendar.php
See any library Web uses folks? I sure do!
NEWS: Purdue gets Info Lit Chair
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=15312
Hopefully, many more universities will follow with similar programs!
Top Ten Web Design Mistakes 2005
I shared this link with my class at Dominican:
http://www.useit.com/alertbox/designmistakes.html
Via Jakob Nielsen, there are many gems here. Pay attention to the "Writing for the Web" bit.
Cluetrain & Public Service
From the Rambling Librarian:
http://ramblinglibrarian.blogspot.com/2004/09/differentiating-public-service.html
We should go out there and engage potential users in the forums, chatrooms etc. As I wrote in my other blog:"... the presence that librarians project can no longer be the “Thou knoweth more than you-eth” attitude. To connect with our average information-customer, we need to show them that we’re as human as they are; as fallible, and there’s nothing to be fear from us."
In providing our service, be it answering reference enquiries or Readers' Advisory, or checking a reader's loan record, PLS librarians can distinguish themselves by engaging in conversations with the reader. In a real conversation, we don't go "Dear Mr Lee, with regards to your enquiry..." but we say things like "Hi Mr Lee, that's a most interesting question. It's something new to me but I've checked with my colleagues and...". Our tone (written or verbal) should be informal, approachable, human.
Heck yeah! The "voice" of the library should be human. It should resonate with emotion, interest and sincerity -- on the web, via IM, on the phone and in person.
J-E-T You are so good for me!
Well, yes...the New Order song rocks but I'm J-E-T-lagged folks... more in a couple days...
On the Upside: VoIP
When a new technology gets picked up by NPR, I'd count it as on the upward slope toward tipping into the mainstream.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4956468
Thanks to Meg in Evansville for the heads up!
Terrebonne Libraries & Katrina
I interviewed Wanda Bruchis for my technology planning article last year. I emailed shortly after Hurricane Katrina and was glad to hear she's fine. She sent along a link to local coverage of the hurricane and her library.
http://houmatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051006/NEWS/510060315/1026/ARCHIVES14
October 16, 2005
Congrats to Indiana & Michigan ASIS&T Chapters!
The Lethal Librarian reports the Indiana and Michigan Chapter of ASIS&T "won chapter event of the year award for their program on "To Google or Not To Google." They share the award with the NEASIST chapter for their "Syndicate, Aggregate, Communicate" event."
Woohoo! Hooray for Indiana and Michigan and Hooray for Beatrice and her group as well. I was honored to participate in NE-ASIS&T this year!
October 11, 2005
The Blogger's Toolkit Workshop at ILI2005
Sunday morning I spent three hours with a neat group of librarians from all over the world discussing how to successfully implement weblogs into the library setting. We had a lively discussion and the group came up with some brilliant ideas. Many of them already had some blog experience as well as a few were working with wikis!
Evaluating LIS weblogs & a worksheet to use when evaluating other library blogs.
A brief PPT file of blog features used as a handout (With special thanks to Darlene Fichter for this one, which is in the workshop we are giving at IL Monterey)
Twenty Technology Training Tips
Rob Coers and I met for the first time last year at ILI 2004. What amazed me is how similar our training back grounds are: training public librarians for many years, etc. From that meeting, we began chatting and decided to propose a session on technology training for 2005 and presented "Twenty Technology Training Tips for Trainers" yesterday. I was excited about the idea of two trainers from different parts of the world coming together to share experiences and insights.
What an incredible session it was! With most planning and discussion carried out via IM and other tools, we had not spent too much time practicing together. But I believe our audience was engaged, enriched and will use some of the tips to create dynamic sessions.
October 10, 2005
Tags & Folksonomy Links
Thoughts about Tags:
"...the key is to tag sparingly and with focus, using words that are highly descriptive." WIRED
Reverse Thinking as well...
http://www.imdb.com/Sections/Keywords/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/
TAGFIGHT! http://www.netomer.de/flickrtagfight/fight
http://www.last.fm/user/mstephens7
Digital Tools Session at ILI2005
My presentation: Tools.pdf
Aaron is talking about flickr!! Here are the photos uploaded with the "ili2005" tag!
Brian is speaking: "E-Mail Must Die!"
October 09, 2005
October 04, 2005
UPDATE: "Talkin' Blogs" An LJ Roundtable from ALA 2005
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6261414.html
Flickr set of the session: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsphotos/sets/517913/
I was very happy to work with Brian Kenney on this article and gather the bloggers featured. I was impressed with their insight, candor and ideas for the future. Also, don't miss my interview with The Feel Good Librarian - in its full-length Web version!
Update: Meredith weighs in and I agree: I wish we had more space... the conversation was 2 hours in the making!
UPdate: Library Crunch
This is one to add to your aggregator!!
I linked below but here's Michael Casey's blog:
I'm intrigued by the twist "Library 2.0"... I just added it to Safari's RSS feeds. Michael - I want to hear more about your work and your library...
UPDATE: I am so excited to read these new voices of the Biblioblogosphere... and just looking at the last series of posts from Mr. Casey, I want to keep reading more. Someday, I want to sit across a table from him and talk all about this stuff! Wowza.
UNT Cohort Colleague publishes at FirstMonday
Congrats to my cohort colleague Mary Jo Venetis! She and dr. Maurice whheler have published "Evaluation of Web access to historical sheet music collections and music–related iconography" online!
http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue10_10/wheeler/index.html
This Morning's Presentation
This morning I'm speaking at the District 1 meeting of the Indiana Library Federation. I love to meet with Indiana Librarians and I'm especially happy because these folks are from my "hometown" -- District 1 includes all of my county and the counties across northern Indiana.
Here's the talk, a new version of "Optimizing Tech" today:
October 03, 2005
A Hoosier Librarian in the United Kingdom
Greetings! I'll be off to England tomorrow. Internet librarian International begins Sunday October 9th with workshops and then the conference takes place over Monday and Tuesday. We'll be in residence at the Millennium Copthorne Tara Hotel. I am looking forward to a few things:
Presenting with Aaron and Brian Kelly on Digital Tools
Presenting with my chum Rob from the Netherlands on Tech Training
Rubbing some international librarians' elbows at various lunches, dinners and meet-and-greets. Note that there will be "Dine Arounds" and Aaron and I are hosting a "Technology in Libraries" Thai dinner on Monday. Sign Up here.
Then, dear readers, I am officially unplugging for 5 days to enjoy England!
I'll blog some from the conference and will post some flickr shots using the tag ILI2005.
October 01, 2005
Web 2.0 for Librarians
I have another post up at the ALA TechSource Blog entitled Web 2.0 for Librarians.
Don't miss Theresa's coverage of Roy Tennant speaking at LITA as well!
Still More Work to Do
Michael Casey, who JUST STARTED BLOGGING in September -- wooohoo -- commented yesterday on a post from 2004, 10 Things A Library Can Do to Boost their Techie Stuff* (*without breaking the bank), and I wanted to put that comment here because it's way back in the TTW archives. I couldn't agree more with what Michael says:
"Looking at this more than a year after posting causes me much frustration and angst when I realize that so many libraries -- libraries that can and should have embraced all of these long ago -- have yet to adopt more than one or two. Blogs and RSS feeds, especially, seem to be a no-brainer, yet they continue to be difficult projects to push upstream."
It does make me realize the "blogvangelists" I know still have much to do, as well as those that try to point librarians to the wonders of the next wave of collaboration online. What can we do to help? I once suggested to someone from the Indiana State Library that they should buy a big server and give every Indiana library a blog! I wish they would!
Maybe we need to keep plugging away..keep writing and speaking and pointing to the libraries that get these new tools...
Thanks Michael!