Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The Cyber Smorgasbord

I presented on Wed 10/1/08 at the South Central Chapter of the PA Library Association (PALA). Here are all of the links from the presentation.

Link to PowerPoint on Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/Slzimm1/the-cyber-smorgasbord-presentation/

The Cyber Smorgasbord
View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: web2.0 libraries)
What is Web 2.0?: Michael Stephens “The Hyperlinked Library” - http://tametheweb.com/the-hyperlinked-library/

Rich User Interface: http://www.amazon.com/

The Web as Platform: http://secondlife.com/, http://docs.google.com/

Technological Changes: Howard Rheingold – http://vlog.rheingold.com/

This is Why!: Helene Blowers – http://librarybytes.com

Blogs: Helene Blowers – http://librarybytes.com

Blogs/Platforms: http://www.blogger.com/, http://wordpress.org/, http://www.typepad.com/, http://www.livejournal.com/, http://home.services.spaces.live.com/, http://mephistoblog.com/

Types of Biblioblogs: “Web2.0 & Libraries: Best Practices for Social Software” – Michael Stephens - http://www.techsource.ala.org/ltr/web-20-and-libraries-best-practices-for-social-software.html

Provide Content and Information: http://www.aadl.org/ - Ann Arbor MI

Promote a Collection: http://lansinglibraryyouth.blogspot.com/ – Lansing MI

For a Specific Audience: http://lansinglibraryadult.blogspot.com/ - Lansing MI

From...: http://plainfieldlibrarydirector.blogspot.com/ - Plainfield IL

A Patron Blogs: http://vielmetti.typepad.com/superpatron/ - Ann Arbor MI

Creative Titles: http://blog.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/ - Brooklyn NY

Professional Development: http://www.lisnews.org/

Local Examples: http://palibblogs.wik.is/

Libraries that Blog: http://www.blogwithoutalibrary.net/links/index.php?title=Welcome_to_the_Blogging_Libraries_Wiki

Librarians that Blog: http://liswiki.org/wiki/Weblogs

Implementing Library Blogs: “Web2.0 & Libraries: Best Practices for Social Software” – Michael Stephens - http://www.techsource.ala.org/ltr/web-20-and-libraries-best-practices-for-social-software.html

Best Practices for Library Blogs: “Web2.0 & Libraries: Best Practices for Social Software” – Michael Stephens - http://www.techsource.ala.org/ltr/web-20-and-libraries-best-practices-for-social-software.html

Podcasts: Helene Blowers – http://librarybytes.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast

Podcatching Software: http://www.apple.com/itunes/, http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/, http://www.yahoo.com/, http://winpodder.com/

My iTunes: http://www.apple.com/itunes/

Podcasts in General: http://www.whitehouse.gov/rss and http://www.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/index.html and http://twit.tv/

Podcasts in Libraries: http://www.opal-online.org/ – Tom Peters TAP Information Services, http://www.lansing.lib.il.us/podcasts.html – Lansing IL, http://www.homerlibrary.org/audioreviews.asp - Homer Glen IL,
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/bookcast/ - Fairfax Co. VA

MORE Podcasts in Libraries:
http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Podcasting

Podcasts for Professional Development: http://uncontrolledvocabulary.com/, http://talk.talis.com/, http://www.lisnews.org/pseudo_masthead_listen_lisnews_org_podcast, http://tisfortraining.wordpress.com/

10 Points on Podcasting in Libraries: “Web2.0 & Libraries: Best Practices for Social Software” – Michael Stephens - http://www.techsource.ala.org/ltr/web-20-and-libraries-best-practices-for-social-software.html

Photo Sharing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_sharing

Photo Sharing Sites: http://www.flickr.com/, http://www.kodakgallery.com/,
http://picasa.google.com/, http://www.snapfish.com, http://photobucket.com/, http://www.picnik.com/

flickr: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flickr

My flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/slzimm1

Libraries that flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hennepincountylibrary/ - Minnetonka MN, http://www.flickr.com/photos/11329886@N00/sets/72157594291410121 - Lenexa KS, http://flickr.com/photos/hersheypubliclibrary/ - Hershey PA, http://www.flickr.com/photos/gwinnettcountypubliclibrary/sets/72057594070076072/- Lawrenceville GA

Good flickr Profile:
http://www.flickr.com/people/gwinnettcountypubliclibrary/ - Lawrenceville GA

Involve!: http://www.hclib.org/pub/bookspace/hpphotos.cfm- Minnetonka MN

Library of Congress flickrs: http://www.flickr.com/commons

Library Groups in flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/librariesandlibrarians/, http://www.flickr.com/groups/librariancards/

Get Creative: http://www.flickr.com/photos/80464212@N00/sets/72157602100601598/ - Champaign IL

Hints for Using flickr in Libraries: “Web2.0 & Libraries: Best Practices for Social Software” – Michael Stephens - http://www.techsource.ala.org/ltr/web-20-and-libraries-best-practices-for-social-software.html
Laws for Using Photos You take at Your Library-http://www.infotoday.com/mls/sep08/Carson.shtml, Legally, should Libraries NOT be Using flickr?-http://tametheweb.com/2008/09/18/legally-should-libraries-not-be-using-flickr/

Video Sharing: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_sharing

Video Hosting Services: http://www.youtube.com/, http://blip.tv/, http://video.google.com/, http://www.vimeo.com/, http://video.yahoo.com/

Video Blogs: Helene Blowers – http://librarybytes.com and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_blog

Video Blogs in General: http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog/, http://dailybuzz.mobuzz.tv/, http://revision3.com/tekzilla/

Video Blogs in Libraries: http://www.gailborden.info/m/content/view/411- Elgin IL, http://www.ahml.info/vlog/ - Arlington Heights IL, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-qujBrz8W4- Arlington Heights IL, http://www.youtube.com/matthewslibrary - Fredericksburg PA

Video Contests: http://teens.denverlibrary.org/media/youtube.html - Denver CO, http://www.youtube.com/group/librarylaughs - Lancaster PA

Video Tutorials: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKvR0OC4nYc, http://www.youtube.com/user/askacpl - Fort Wayne IN, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EramdKlwzS4- Fort Wayne IN

For Fun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrtYdFV_Eak – South Bend IN, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEOg8-EzQpQ

Make a Statement: http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Banned-Books-Week/20181651661#/video/video.php?v=27005783953

An Interactive Library: Steve Campion – http://librarystream.wordpress.com/

10 Steps for Staff Buy-In for Technology Projects: “Web2.0 & Libraries: Best Practices for Social Software” – Michael Stephens - http://www.techsource.ala.org/ltr/web-20-and-libraries-best-practices-for-social-software.html

Go Download This NOW: http://tametheweb.com/the-hyperlinked-library/ – Michael Stephens

Check Out This Resource: http://socialwebhandson.wik.is/

Where to Find Me:

References to images used in the presentation. Most are flickr photos used through the FlickrCC site (all CreativeCommons licenced photos from flickr):

Build Community:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34427466731@N01/436654901

Where are they?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/90011821@N00/566243279

The Web as Platform:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/44631364@N00/435369048

Wait... Why?:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/58971759@N00/2125478238

Blogs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035767928@N01/68953352

Types of Biblioblogs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035767928@N01/68953352

Implementing Library Blogs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53447223@N00/192134453

Best Practices for Library Blogs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40571485@N00/403675546

Blogpoly: http://littleoslo.com/eng/blogpoly.htm

Podcasts: http://www.flickr.com/photos/20645801@N00/251945664

Podcatching Software: http://shop.cafepress.com/design/15970888

10 Points on Podcasting in Libraries: http://www.flickr.com/photos/74097907@N00/423040635

Photo Sharing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43698630@N00/403600044

Video Sharing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/83245449@N00/108612818

Video Blogs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26572975@N00/1346068786

Tips for Using Video in Libraries: http://www.flickr.com/photos/63093688@N00/119694282

An Interactive Library: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28783003@N00/2656902648

How Do We Do This?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/81859405@N00/260323975

Don't Feel...: http://www.flickr.com/photos/81445502@N00/2648803271

Be excited...: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14434912@N07/2870074686

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Computer Messages I Can Understand

It's time for a good laugh. For some amusing Windows errors, please check out these entertaining examples. Here's one of my favorites:

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Web2.0 is Contagious!

I'm so proud of all of the wonderful Web2.0 activities happening across PA since doing the workshops.

Sharon Custer from Eccles-Lesher Memorial Library started a team blog for her library and incorporated a Google Calendar which helped address one of her library's needs. See the blog here. As she stated, "Many of our phone calls are about when our programs are, or to schedule use of the community room. The calendar, which will also go on our web site once we have the full re-design done, will help our patrons find that information even when we are closed. It will also allow all staff to immediately see when something is going on, and whether or not the community room is in use at any time." Great work using the tools to address the needs.

Beth Grant, Youth Services Librarian for the Rebecca M. Arthurs Library actually started a social network before coming to the workshop using Ning. It's called the RMA Parent Connection . It is by invitation only, but she let me peek in as a guest. This is just wonderful. The description states "This social network is an opportunity for parents, grandparents, educators and caregivers in the Brookville area to share resources & ideas." Parents can post their photo, have their own blog, make friends with other parents, share pictures and video and all the other wonderful stuff social networks allow you to do. Here's a screen shot:

Their Teen Services Coordinator (first, how cool that they have one of those...) set up another Ning network called The RMA Teen Connection. It's description states, "This social network is an opportunity for members of the teen book club at Rebecca Arthurs Memorial Library to share resources and ideas". Again, it is invitation only.

Beth also shared a cool Web2.0 tool with me, Ballot-Box.net. It allows you to create polls that you can then put on websites.

Lastly, they created a new blog after the workshop that will be promoted to all of the teens in their school district. Check out RMA Teen Space for yourself. Great work Beth and all at your library!

Next up, Linda Young, County Coordinator for Cambria County Library asked me a question about Scribd and iPaper. She read about them at the Internet Tourbus site. First, I'd never seen the Internet Tourbus site that's been around just about as long as the Internet. I added it to my Bloglines reader, of course. I also missed the boat on Scribd and iPaper and read up on those. This would be a great way to share documents on blogs or other avenues on the web. Thanks so much Linda for pointing me to these resources!

Lastly, Lynn Burkholder from Lower Providence Community Library shared an internal blog she set up for their staff. In her words, "I created a blog for our staff to improve communication since so many of us work different shifts, different days, and part-time. We often have information about issues, problems, a change in procedure, and so forth that needs to be passed along. We have a shortcut saved on the desktop of all staff computers and staff members are instructed to check it each time they report for work. Any staff member can post. We can also use it to share information about books we recommend, helpful websites, etc." Since this is a private blog, I will not share the link, but yet another great use of Web2.0 technologies to build communication.

I tell you, I'm learning more and more just watching everyone else. I look forward to continued updates of what people are doing and will continue to share what I learn with all of you.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Improve Your Library's Usability

This is a great post by Heather Johnson from BestCollegesOnline.com. It talks about 100 Ways to Improve Usability in Your Library. The intro states:

"With the popularity of Library 2.0, libraries are getting more complicated these days, and it’s becoming harder to make sure that everyone is happy. You have to stay on top of online collections, new library programs, websites, and more. Read on to find out how you can make these and other components of your library better, and make life easier for yourself and the people that visit your library."

These are grouped into the following sections:

  • General
  • Website
  • Catalog & Search
  • Availability
  • Staff
  • Library Environment
  • Interaction
  • Computers
  • Equipment
  • Kid Friendly
  • Fun Tools

Web 2.0 Hands On Workshops are Finished

Wow, August was quite a busy month for me. I used up 6 days of vacation in order to do some workshops across the state of PA for Commonwealth Libraries. These were Web 2.0 Hands On Workshops and I had a great time meeting many librarians across the state willing and ready to learn how to play with 2.0 technologies. If you want to see all of the information we covered, check out the workshop wiki. I think I learned as much as each participant did!