rambleonsylvie

back to the future

2012-01-27T12:25:00.001-05:00

RE-HEATED POST: Would you believe I wrote this in 2006 and I still; not only feel exactly the same way; but also regularly have to "defend" this argument with co workers and managers...

Monday, October 09, 2006

going global
Catering to tourists, temporary residents and the likes is an investment for the community. We try to make much of our resources accessible to all, we hope many other libraies are doing the same.
One one hand, we want to create and sustain this expectation that when traveling for business or pleasure, the library is "the very best place to start". From home to prepare, once you are there to get more, stay in touch and so much more... That's what I do, and it is a real joy to find a welcoming library, and to meed a friendly librarian, when I arrive in a new town.

Also, I love the idea that libraries exist outside their own walls and that they are all part of a broad community... It's probably the old hippie in me but it seems that even though you may not be a locally registered library user, you are a registered library user somewhere and that should make you part of our family.
(I am so cheezy sometimes...)

Every tourism related website should have a "start at (Y)OUR library" button...

1 comments:

Anonymoussaid...

: This is not rambling, these are great ideas.; 5:42 PM

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say no to sopa

2012-01-09T15:00:00.001-05:00

this piece of legislation moving thru congress is very very bad.!
since you vote, you can do something about it.
Read here how Jessamyn covers the topic very clearly.
http://www.librarian.net/stax/3778/getting-serious-about-sopa-what-librarians-need-to-do/

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leftovers: call for help; or we want macs

2012-01-05T15:18:00.000-05:00

Funny funny, sad, sad...
guess what, we are currently trying to revive this very dream:

rambleonsylvie: call for help; or we want macs

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recycled post: Outliers

2011-12-29T07:44:00.000-05:00

yet another one of my all time favorites.

rambleonsylvie: Outliers

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rambleonsylvie: Clay Shirky: How cognitive surplus will change the world | Video on TED.com

2011-12-28T12:52:00.000-05:00

this remains my favorite even after all this time.

rambleonsylvie: Clay Shirky: How cognitive surplus will change the world | Video on TED.com

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rambleonsylvie: a test for the web

2011-12-27T09:12:00.000-05:00

this old one still could work...rambleonsylvie: a test for the web

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re-heated: good food

2011-12-19T14:21:00.001-05:00

this post form about jamie oliver's food revolution 2010 still holds true
http://rambleonsylvie.blogspot.com/2010/02/jamie-oliver-and-public-libraries.html#links

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recycling is cool

2011-12-01T17:04:00.000-05:00

I was tickled that another blogger picked up one of my old flickr photos. I was also inspired by the topic they were associating my photo with: "Taking a break from blogging..."

I have just recently been thinking frequently how I wish some new people could read what I posted here in the years past. So I decided to take Dionna's advice and re-post some of what I either consider my best thought or some stuff that is currently making a resurgence, online or here at MPOW.

Watch for it.

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First, fire all the managers!

2011-11-22T09:46:00.002-05:00

My favorite library resource, the hard copy of the Harvard Business Review, brings a fantastic article this month about the MorningStar (the food company) approach to management without managers.
You can read a tease here and later go to your nice public library and sit to read the full article. Now, this is not an endorsment of vegan prepared food on my part. Not by a long shot. but...

Pardon the expression but it takes balls to do this and it then certainly take balls to work there. I love the thought of responsibility to this extent.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

Geek, Pray, Love.

2011-08-30T14:54:00.002-05:00

sorry to be corny but as I try to revive staff training/tech meetings...

I am thinking Geek, Pray, Love. fits the format bill just right

1 hour a month, with 20 minutes of focus on each
GEEK: tech needs NOT to be a chore, explore many fun ways people use technology to enhance their lives. I am thinking find your personal interest to explore emerging library tech like quilting blogs, tweeting chefs, coupons and qr coders etc.
PRAY: the all important "when, where and how to ask for help." review of resources, support and other means of finding help with technology.
LOVE: learn to love technology for what it can do for you. we will focus on how to leverage the technology you have so it serves YOU. as well as how to learn to love "letting machines do machine things so people can do people things."

what do you think???
please, a real comment here would be a nice change from all the spam I have been getting on this blog ;)

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

ALA report

2011-07-15T14:09:00.034-05:00

ALA 2011 Annual Conference New Orleans June 24-27 2011 report
(unmitigated notes and comments)
FOCUS
My focus was on technology, access services and public libraries.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
I was impressed that (in comparison with when I last attended in 2000) many of the all academic sessions were very applicable to public settings.
I am always impress on how we compare with all the best of/innovative/leaders all over. We have managed to accomplish so much of what people are showcasing but with defi
nitely less people, money, connections and time.
I also was there to continue to explore alternatives to our current ILS, not just the vendor but the way to manage to data overall. Opensource continues to be an interesting option but seems definitely best suited in consortium and academic settings where support development and training can be organized and provided "overhead", almost outside of the library's operation structure. I mean they have help and teams dedicate to that that don't exist for us.

It was refreshing and restoring to go and get a broader perspective; and it was rewarding to learn things that i will be able to apply (or at least explore) immediately at MPOW.

VENDORS (exhibits)
I mostly spent time at our vendors booths (Sirsidynix/Bibliotheca/Envisionware etc.) but I also visited other ILS (Integrated Library Systems) competitors to Sirsidynix as alternatives for service. I thought it a little inconvenient that vendors opened late after the conference opened and closed early before the conference was over. It seem counter intuitive for me as I would have had more time to spend there before and after my time was so committed to various presentations and workshops.)

Opening Session & Keynotes.
A lot of ALA awards were presented and the mayor of New Orleans made us all feel very welcome.
Dan Savage spoke of his “It Gets Better” campaign, started in reaction to multiple LGBT teen suicides last year. He spoke of what motivated him and his partner to reach out on youtube and how fast the movement became huge and touched a great number of other public figures and celebrities. What resonated with me the most was his way to explain how bullying happens to most all young people for various reasons but that if kids were bullied because of their religion, economic situation, cultural background or social status, most of them came home to see adults who were living proof that you can survive these things and grow to have a happy fulfilled life. The same cannot be said for LGBT teens. How great a reminder of the library’s role as a place where all people can recognize themselves and find commonality of ideas, information and human connections.

TRACKED SESSIONS
***Conference 101
Was an excellent basic on what not to miss and where conference resources were to be found. Presenters reminded everyone not to miss the exhibits (see my personal comment above!) They also let us know not to be afraid to switch session after the 1st 5 to 10 minutes if it wasn’t what we expected and to look online for session slides and handouts for sessions we liked or missed. (I found much of that was missing still 2 weeks after our return. It should be noted that the wifi was not very reliable at the conference site so may presenters may have tried to upload contend and failed?)

***Taiga Forum meeting
Was about the Taiga “provocative statements” which were written and reviewed in the last year. http://taigaforumprovocativestatements.blogspot.com/ To be honest, I don’t think most of these statements are that provocative anymore. They did solicit new statements but the conversation was largely based on the academic library experience and expectations.
TAKE AWAY: I still like and think we should discuss: statement # 2. radical cooperation

Within five years, campus administrators will expect research libraries to significantly reduce library budgets by engaging in radical cooperation among competing universities: jointly-owned collections, deep outsourcing, shared staffing, and shared services
I believe this applies to public libraries as well.

***LITA 101
Was an open meet and greet about the work that LITA (Library Information Technology Association) does and the committees and interest groups it manages. Looking for recruits and volunteers. I signed up as a member.
TAKE AWAY: membership in LITA and involvement in one of the committees should allow for more collaboration outside our own system.

***One Person Can Make a Difference: Tips and Techniques for the Lone Change Agent
Speaker: Scott Hughes, City Librarian, Bridgeport Public Library
Speaker: Stephanie Chase, Central Library, Multnomah County Library

Was an excellent session on how to get not only “buy in” for change but also help!!! I loved it, especially Stephanie’s part (based partly on “good to great”) where she did re-enforce a lot of what I truly believe in, like:
“Look up! You can’t see what’s coming if you keep your eyes right in front of your bumper”
“The needs we planned for yesterday may not be the needs that we have to meet today”
“be willing to do the work for the reward of success. It is the best reward and may be the only one.”
“get out of the echo chamber”
“over communicate”
She definitely taught me a few things as well:
“put your best people on the opportunity, not the problem”
“bureaucracy was set up to handle incompetence”
“information is energy”
“look for next practices not best practices”

...one question remain: to brown bag or not to brownbag? :)
TAKE AWAY: try to better define each effort in technology improvement and do so with the help of at least one staff member who cares enough about the specific service goal to champion the project.

***ILS Migration Project Manager's Jambalaya: 1 part library science, 1 part open source, and a whole lot more!

Speaker: Jennifer Turner, Minnesota State University
Speaker: Melissa Lefebvre, Bibliomation, Inc. … and also speaking Shae Tetterton from Equinox (vendor/support of Evergreen and Khoa)

ILS migration is a big deal. It seems that being in a consortium helps as they have a dedicated team to deal with the vendor, do the migration and do the training.
The contract is soooo important. everything must be spelled out and clarifications must be made at that time on both sides. HAVE ONLY ONE PROJECT MANAGER but multiple "sous-chefs".
made me laugh: "Seek the people that understand your dataset because it will be the key to the entire process" ... DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT.
also important: free up people's time.
delegate things that can be done at a lower cost (data clean up? training? etc.)
do your weeding, inventory, data mapping ahead of time.
and remember, NO MIGRATION IS EVER PERFECT. don't panic, sleep on it (problems) if you can.
TAKE AWAY: don't be afraid to manage the project. these things do need spreadsheets and lists and deadlines. Don't rely on the vendor. (or anyone else)

***FEAST (Future & Emerging Access Services Trends) presented by LLAMA (Library Leadership & Management Association) SASS (Systems and Services Section)
Amy form Emory University lead a project to consolidate circ, ref and the library's "biz hub".
they had time and experimented with temporary desks (rented furniture!) in various locations to find the perfect place and configuration. They found that circ had much better documentation and training procedure (due to the nature of their work and high turnover) and ref was much more organic in all that and their schedule. the coming together as slow but successful. they still have to work on team building as it was not their focus at 1st.
It definitely brought to my mind how we did all this under deres when one of our branches was condemned for roof failure (and without the luxury of rented furniture or test periods ;)
TAKE AWAY: review other possibilities for consolidated delivery. not only main public services, but also any other "services" which could be combined like some of what children services do that is like what literacy wants to do or what reference does one on one that would make fantastic programs for larger groups.

another presenter highlighted the 2 types of DVD dispensers on the market right now 3M and LAT
since you browse the screen it's always in order (if you cataloguing is good !?) never an empty box returned. can be put outside!
3M can fit 720 to 2800 discs; Mediabank (LAT) 400/3000 discs. (at Topeka Shawnee)
they start at 25000$! they say it pays for itself in 16 months.
TAKE AWAY: is more of a question but these machines are great, but so costly; should we not spend that money on downloadable collections which need not protected and need no real estate.

***Lost in Translation: the Emerging Technology Librarian and the New Technology
Implementing technology can be both an exciting and hard endeavor. Who doesn't know the scenario of Library meets technology, technology woos library, library implements technology, technology disappoints. Please join us where our emerging technology librarians present common miscommunication between those that implement the technology and those that use it. By walking the audience through a number of scenarios, the audience will learn to identify when there are communication problems and learn tips on how to improve understanding on the project. Sponsored by LITA Emerging Technologies Interest Group.
THIS WAS LIKE GOING HOME TO ME. so relevant, so reflective of my day-to-day.

Staff sees or hear about great tech and "wants it now!"
you (I) have to be the wet blanket that makes them think hard about:
-what is the advantage to your user? who will provide the data used for this application? who will maintain the data/hardware/social side of new tech? what effect will this have on other people/services/systems???
what is the useful application for this technology?
QR CODES were cited as a great example of technolust often gone wrong.
ask "what is the use case?"
is it a project or a product?
sometimes, it has noting to do with tech (start form an outside/other goal)
then tech helps
then in the end it has nothing to do with tech again...

the project SLEEVEFACING BLOG was cited as great success http://blogs.bgsu.edu/librarysleevefacing/

TAKE AWAY: it is not only OK but actually essential to question the reasons for the technology requests. ask for the service case (an example of what added value this brings our customer). Continue to ask where the content will come from. IS IT SUSTAINABLE?

***top tech trends (I always watch from my desk, now I was there!
I read later that this panel may be trending towards, "what I would like to see emerge strong" more than the original intent of "what is trending strong"

-drupal yes, still

-MOBILE APPS and their implications such as content becoming vulnerable to the software ability... as well as IT'S ONLY A GOOD APP IF IT LEVERAGES THE DEVICE ITSELF otherwise, it should be a widget or a mobile website bookmark...
...which almost directly lead to
-proximity based marketing: as in "please, turn ON your cell phone when you enter the library" (love that thought.) it can leverage wifi and PUSH info.
-SOCIAL READING is also trending up. all library things, good reads and even some e-readers with social networking components. (Kobo) think also of the sirsidynix facebook application for your catalog, bibliocommons should be a natural for this. http://www.bibliocommons.com/
-managing down print
-IMAGES/imaging as datasets.
-death of the mouse. tablets are everywhere, mouse will disappear. (even camera will be input)

TAKE AWAY:
1-I was really hoping to hear more about the possible future demise of the all powerful one system ILS... too bad. I think it is coming and libraries will purchase more separate systems to integrate themselves to other smaller systems and services. M. Breeding reminds us later that new generation cloud based, is coming like serials solutions web scale management solution (dump your ILS) similarly; OCLC web scale management services leverage worldcat with the ability to add circulation and acquisition licenses.
2- I really think the library has to become an important player in social reading.
3- i will ding dong dance on the mouses' grave ;)

***Issues Briefing Session (ALA IFC / FTRF)
The issues briefing session of the Intellectual Freedom Committee and Freedom to Read Foundation explores hot issues. I went specifically to find out about their recommendations to public libraries about the self service holds processes. A lot of their recommendation sounded like they were against our practices but the truth was that they wrote it to stop practices where all the user info was in plain sight. The confirmed to me that a combination of some letters from the user name and some numbers from their card was considered a code and could be used as we have it right now.
TAKE AWAY: I thought we could make some improvements on privacy safeguard and will make proposals to the managers at their next meeting like all spines back, only 2 or 3 letters of last name etc...

***cataloguing efficiencies
focus seems to mostly be on offsite storage for academics these days...
TAKE AWAY: funny how the more we digitize, the more we seem to have a storage problem ;) there is the cloud of data, then there are big cloud warehouses of "last physical copies".

***COSUGI meeting at ala11
Only a few people present. The incoming COSUGI president and Jim (last name) former Dynix CEO and a few (3 or 4) customers.
get a quote I was told (which I did, not heard yet)

academics discussed RDA tags and sirsidynix confirmed that 3.4.2 will have all of them.

I did have a few questions which I submitted like
what will be the costs for Webservices (tool to customize Symphony/elibrary/enterprise)?
no more than $300 i was told !
what about cost of the Facebook integrated application for the catalog?

also sounds like sirsidynix want to get into the ebook discovery/delivery business in the cloud.
they are planning a "total" solution which could include authentication, platform intelligent download and provide discovery thru catalog records which would be part of a "full content" subscription. this should sound familiar as other vendors are proposing something of the sort.
may have potential for other electronic collections such as music and movies too.

we proposed that they let cosugi use the sirsidynix institute for some user group training/sessions .

TAKE AWAY: it really hurts us not to go to the user conference... SD still seems in flux about how to "handle" their customers and specifically enhancement requests. only time will tell. Hope that this possibility of online training materializes, it would really help us.

VENDORS BOUNTY: (100% take away)

AT SIRSIDYNIX BOOTH

facebook add on (3.4.1) is neat, there are (may be) privacy law issues though.
note that some facebook info gets entered in the library user record ?!

Enterprise (the add-on catalog discovery layer)seems to finally be ready for public use ;)
most all the cumbersome non-links to "my accounts" issues resolved at V4 out this week.

we are definitely as far behind on versions as we have ever been. issues with sirsidynix support last year prevented us from performing any upgrades so I intend to schedule the following in the next few months:
-upgrade symphony to version 3.3.1 with latest patch cluster
-switch iBistro page sets to Rev. D
-set up and offer Bookmyne the mobile catalog interface
if money allows also install webservices to make customizations easier
AND start working on implementing Enterprise after that. ... Hoping to get a good project manager on the SD side.

must write a serious schedule for the test server starting as soon as I return from vacation.
and investigate circulating sets (but I believe that is only available in v3.4)
and running the name refactor script to separate user names and 1st names in the database (currently 1 name field: last, first, middle. becomes surname: last; first name: first; middle name: middle.) this allows for a few tricks like having your holds slips made of some letters from each part of the name instead of just one. not really a plus for privacy though...)

much more goodies discovered as I had a chance to explore the label making features of the java client, they seem to work well both with single label printers (wish we could afford immediately) and with page labels. I also had a chance to connect back with some good sirsi folks I hadn't seen in a long time. it was good to meet face to face with Sonia, our very own customer advocate at the company. we agreed regular calls may help keep everyone on track and well informed.

AT BIBLIOTHECA
met many new people following the merger with ITG. Looks like it will be a plus for everyone. we really can hope for much added value. Sad that non of the actual tech support people were there but understood how busy they are.(It was also nice to learn more about the ITG group at the social (one of only 2 after hour events I attended. Mackey definitley had the best music mix.)

AT ENVISIONWARE
facing the happy/sad fact that the product has been so good and simple and working for us that we have not needed to make any changes (read upgrades) in a long time. that, coupled with the lack of PC tech support at the library put us pretty far back in product version. they contract out and some library pay them to make multiple version upgrades on site. (could be as much as $1000/day + travel.) They can also consult with staff here with eliminated the travel fees. To determine later if needed.

They seem to be coming up with some interesting web (only!) payment that can be combine with iBistro fee/fines payment and copy/printing from the new konica minolta copier/printers we are starting to purchase now. (but that would require some upgrading)

later that week, from my desk, I participated in an online webinar called :
***ala tech roundup:
(where most of the highlights from the conference matched my notes)

native apps are hard for libs... not yet so many web apps
outsource it? (like boopsie)

there were talks about a media creation area
we have thought and proposed this so many times here.
almost did it in the expanded multigenerational tech room in our "high tech branch"
wanted /needed macs for it?

---ebooks "twitter version" summ up:

overdrive WIN
adobe stays, kindle is coming
chooses the format for you
some simultaneous use
patron driven acq.

3M cloud library
4 publishers
30000 titles>100000 this year
multi platform
discovery station (browsers)
for 2500$
e-readers for checkout
for 149$
in beta

gluejar open access ebook
from gotohellman
free
funded public radio style

open library
co-op style (member)
not best sellers
donate 1 book to join

freeding
pay per use
20000 titles offered
like freegal

blio B&T
in the cloud
not for mac
vaporware?

ebooks on ebscohost
(netlibrary)
fully searchable

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all ends well

2011-03-23T09:19:00.034-05:00

a way overdue post on some great things arising from a small disaster.

a previous post explained that one of our branch library had a sudden roof failure (not total, no one was hurt, thank God) and had to be closed.
Here is how we made it a great opportunity.

Some additional pillars had to be added for roof support, forcing us to relocate what was the circulation desk.

We thought to shrink the old "fortress" type desk and use smaller foot print, configurable desks that could be grouped for customer service.
The smaller footprint allowed us to place it in a more prominent, welcoming spot. That left us with significant space to dedicate to self service, and allowed us to group together holds, selfchecks, catalog/library resources, photocopy machine etc.

We still were left with enough space to re-use the old circ desk in the computer area and add a friendlier homework help desk.

The pictures below may give you an idea, (click them to enlarge) and we are always happy to have visitors or to talk about the process.

the 1st feature was already in place before but turns out to help a lot (even more) in the new configuration since library checkout limits are one of the remaining hurdles to selfservice:

patrons drop off their returns in the lobby

an old fashion checkin station with a real staff person ensures prompt credit and sorting of materials

the welcoming customer service desk
complete with swivel monitors for easy communication

self service "side" with holds, selfcheck and a "library online" station
the library online stations are replacing our old "catalog only" PCs and allow patrons to use any of the many self-service online options from placing holds to printing tax forms to ILL to brainfuse homework assistance... this one wedged between the 2 selfcheck stations sits on a recycled corner of the old circulation desk.

...

the old circulation desk was recycled to become a PC access/express PCs/Printing station for the public .

...
the quiet area was equipped with power outlets on every table for easy laptop use.

...

below:
leaving the children's area, a lower deck selfcheck unit encourages use.

last, the staff side of the customer service desk equipped with re-configurable container units and shelves on wheels for adaptable purposing.

It is also quite amazing what I was able to accomplish technically with our sirsidynix unicorn/symphony ILS right out of the box, just using the standard features it offers.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Everything from managing the due dates, overdue notices and automated phone calls, to hiding and "re-showing" the collection when it was time was fairly simple for me and for the staff, only requiring some thoughts and care in preparation and execution.

I am assured that the staff and the community out there is happy with the improvements and comfortable with the changes. I do believe it is a great example of how simple changes can ease everyone's discovery, access and workload.
In my mind that is a lot accomplished.

Please comment or contact me for details, we are very proud of what we did here.

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OMG #hcod

2011-03-18T13:55:00.003-05:00

wow, I did the math for MPOW and here are the numbers.

If this rule was to applied to physical media (printed or av)

I thought you’d like to know that this library system has
384180 items, 370878 of which circulate. (not REF etc…)

Of these 370878, 164290 have circulated more than 25 times!!!
That is 44% (right?)

#HCOD proposes “disappearing” the e-item after 26 checkouts

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, #hcod

about this Harper Collins/Overdrive library mess...

2011-03-04T08:29:00.003-05:00

EVERYONE SHOULD SEE/REPOST THIS:

find out more via good links and info gathered by librarian by day

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers, ebooks

Read Across America Day

2011-03-02T12:05:00.002-05:00

Reading is reading is reading, it's all good.

via boingboing

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

instead of work dribble

2010-11-05T14:54:00.000-05:00

I've been swamped, things not too good...
instead of listening to me whine, much better spend your time listening to this:

they are the best, they are my friends and they always make me feel good.

big disasters and small miracles

2010-08-02T08:28:00.016-05:00

ok, ok, maybe miracles is pushing it. ;)

but really,
1st off; all this could have been so much worst. Given that the entire truss assembly has been compromised, a couple main truss girders have failed, yaddi yaddi yadda. We are so very lucky that no people was hurt, no material or equipment was lost. so sigh!

Then, this is where being lil' admin in a smaller library system serves me (and therefore my employer) well. That is how we were able to do this (start serving the community again in their own neighborhood) inside 72 hours, thank you very much! Thanks to our friends at the local tax collector's office.

a lot of the credit should go to some beautiful features of the unicorn (ahem, symphony) software. I know, I know, I am the 1st one in line to complain about it every other day; but here is what knowing the software well, and having access to simple but powerful report allowed me to do. (forgive me for the sirsi speak)

globally editing to MAIN LIB / CLOSED-STORAGE LOCATION (hidden, not available, non-holdable) all that branch's collection...in small batches (never more than 10000) by item type, excluding floating item types

then run rebuild text to make all the indexes OK and have all the item easy to find again where they are. big plus: rebuilding our entire text database only takes 23 minutes here. (see what I mean about being small helping a lot)

edited closed dates, close days, for that branch to have the new little outpost service hours reflected and to eliminated fines accruing on materials while everyone looked for us...
edited all the notice text files (separating the ones for/from that branch) and created new notice text to inform patrons of situation (that for both automated phone and email notices.)
we are also adding a copy of press release announcing re-location to final notices

edit branch name to show CLOSED and customize holds pick up choice list to reflect temporary outpost choice.

created some daily maintenance report to catch what would have/will fall thru the cracks (by item type./loc/branch)

In the 1st 2 weeks after this event, we made sure to:
hold update meetings 2x day
email update to all staff daily.

finally, we were also able to pluck a couple of public cpus and re-purpose as extra public computers at nearest branch which is seeing most of the re-routed traffic.

Ill be glad to discuss this with anyone interested. It was (still is) a learning experience.

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mythbusters

2010-07-09T07:35:00.001-05:00

via LISNews
doing a good job of debunking some silly but persistent foolishness.

watch for the sexy librarian pinup captioned: "sorry if you were expecting this"

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Clay Shirky: How cognitive surplus will change the world | Video on TED.com

2010-06-28T11:42:00.001-05:00

I love TED, I love Shirky, I love sharing:

Clay Shirky: How cognitive surplus will change the world | Video on TED.com

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old crumbs

2010-03-19T10:08:00.002-05:00

been missing a lot, out, personal reasons.

here were a few things I had noted before :

nice bookcase, birthday, IKEA
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1247694/Bondi-beach-IKEA-bookcase-offers-ultimate-holiday-reading.html

social works
http://scanblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/using-social-media-v-building-online.html

still love seth:
http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/02/when-i-want-your-opinion-ill-ask-for-it.html

via signal vs noise (http://37signals.com/svn/)
embrace life (I love good ads)

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

Jamie Oliver and Public Libraries ???

2010-02-12T13:33:00.007-05:00

Cure Food Ignorance!!!
I say PLA or ALA should totally get involved and join forces with Jamie Oliver in this effort. We are in a fantastic position to deliver the message, the assistance and all the resources that go with that. IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SEE A KID CALL AN AUBERGINE A PEAR. We are such a big part of that triangle of influence.

why not have (or market in a themed series):
-kids (and YA!) programs on food (invite community farmers)
-cook book clubs
-shopping "classes" (healthy choices, money saving options)
-experts on heath and nutrition programs (focus on solving the problem)
-cooking demos? (can we use a webcam to show live details on the big screen?)
-gardening programs
-website focus on Food
-any other fun family food things...

We have connections in our communities who would LOVE to help us do this.
I know it.
When do we start?

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, Jamie Oliver, customers, food, ignorance

friday finds

2010-01-29T15:09:00.003-05:00

this week for you: raw urls ;)
(no, well, yes, but raw urls to cool stuff.)

http://www.resourceshelf.com/2010/01/24/bigger-libraries-are-not-better-if-they-are-closed/
neither would be more libraries...

jessamyn at boingboing (1 week only)
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/24/welcome-guestblogger.html

ipad lust:
http://www.apple.com/ipad/
and ipad cons
http://i.gizmodo.com/5458382/8-things-that-suck-about-the-ipad
and ipad opinions
http://eu.techcrunch.com/2010/01/29/get-real-geeks-the-ipad-is-the-apple-for-mum-not-you/

and last, because I feel for you my friends:
http://closedstacks.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/tax-season-who-needs-it/

oh and yes, the smartest thing I read so far this year:

"Books should only be catalogued once. Currently the public purse pays for having the same book catalogued over and over again..."

-- Jens Vigen, Head of the CERN Library, who just made their entire catalog dataset available to anyone.

any comments? anyone?

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

best of the week

2010-01-22T15:16:00.002-05:00

fravorite links from the interwebs:

aaron on the user experience

5 things innovators do.
(thanks bobbi newman)

open source marketplace:PTFS acquire liblime

Rober B Parker dies
I am very sad. he was like a friend to me.
so many say: "he's one of the reasons I do what I do." I am part of that group also.

Just for fun: computer engineer barbie anyone?

Richard turned me on to this, then LifeHacker features:Firefox portable

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

getting caught up.

2010-01-12T14:27:00.003-05:00

sorry this list goes on and on. many brilliant finds in the last few weeks.
start with my 3 absolute favorites:

what makes a person satisfied...
IT'S ABOUT PROGRESS...

-for those who think the internet is killing social interactions:
how the internet enables intimacy.

and taming the paper dragon (love lifehacker)

then there is so much more:

FUN: over the years, social networks have allowed me to meet with
library people with whom I share all kinds of common personnal interest.
be it dogs, tattoos, motorcycles and of course food...
geeky foodie

Have you heard the library 2.0 gang? here is a good one to listen to

literacy, what does it mean:

free holiday ebooks

oh, oh, let's try this:
5_universal_truths_all_librarians_can_agree_upon_right_now

10 new librarian blogs for you to discover

... last but not least: I love mashable

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

Tuesday Tidbits

2009-12-15T13:52:00.004-05:00

Seth speaks on what people you should listen to

sarah on neil on audio...

bobbi says everything I think (always! it's uncanny)
note the effective use of multiple supporting articles.

cris brogan on 30 minutes of time
... and if you don't know what he's talking about, you should take 30 minutes a week and learn! you will miss the train if you don't.

leadership thought

this is soooooo disgusting.

Hey! the Feel Good Librarian is writing again. Yay!

Read on LIB: staffless library

I am in love with Mike Rowe.

my favorite (of my church's creed)

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table crumbs

2009-11-19T08:56:00.003-05:00

I read these and thought they were good...

marketing in libraries, get yours

the cool guys quotien is reaching maximum capacity:

Lorcan Dempsey: "Community is the new content." so true.

dawn of the dreadfuls

daniel pink on TED: "...this is not a feeling, this is not a philosophy..."

good typography should be like a crystal wine goblet. ban comic sans

library technology sacred cows

creepy cool YA program
(love the altoid tin)

seems we should be able to do this easily too, and post it on our website...

better late than never...

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

a test for the web

2009-10-30T13:47:00.003-05:00

find in catalog (place hold)

browse our movie soundtrack collection

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

shameful, ugly, can I even say stupid?

2009-10-26T07:33:00.004-05:00

an "anti-library" faction?

"Don't cry crocodile tears about people who are making $100,000 a year wiping tables and putting the books back on the shelves," Xinos smirked, apparently referencing the fired head librarian, who has advanced degrees and made $98,676 a year. He said Oak Brook had to "stop indulging people in their hobbies" and "their little, personal, private wants."

can't help but wonder what kind of library experience marked this person in their youth??? !!!

Xinos, who unsuccessfully sued to stop the building of the new library, which opened in 2002, sits on one side of the issue. He lost his election bid to be a village board member, but has been president of his home association since 1983 and worked to elect board members who agree with him about the library.

thanks (I think;) to michael stephens for thelink
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good reading

2009-10-16T14:39:00.003-05:00

how to get rid of spyware
a free video training at AADL

the word is: don't do it!

making an effort???

best free ref sites:

how to violate HIPA and library privacy statutes at the same time!

incredible food scanning iphone app tells you when to stop eating for the day!

some of why broadband is the new divide

and another link since so many of us are working either literacy or digital divide projects:
my favorite on the topic

Dacula update:
and the gwynnett county saga continues:

and more

and more

and last

now oakland

oh no!

close/merge

nice user friendly set-up, look at that color coded shelving.

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professional interest, meet personal joy

2009-09-30T08:41:00.005-05:00

via the most useful LISNews feed

a press release relates to many things I am focused on because we are trying to do a version of them these days:
-digitizing an archive
-getting grants
-web design

and fills me with giddy anticipation for the day when UC Santa Cruz completes "The Virtual Terrapin Station"

and today 11/13/09, an update (thanks to Michael Casey for making my day!)

"alphanumeric! now, slow down, I don't have a doctorate."

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

Want Ads - Grateful Dead Archivist

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Health Care Crisis

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, grateful dead, deadhead

almost not business related... Google Blues

2009-09-28T10:34:00.007-05:00

Language warning: not suitable for all ears

Rich Lyons sings with The Nouveaux Honkies
"...don't try to pick up chicks in a bar that offers wi-fi" ;)

that night Tim O'Donnell climbed on top of Mike's base and Tommy De Quattro was on deck playing drums.
I guess you had to be there...

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more crumbs...

2009-09-22T12:44:00.002-05:00

I keep waiting so long these are outdated by the time I post them.

Do not miss:
the young librarians series

cool: flood maps (when the oceans rise)

free lunch:Freely Accessible Databases for the Public

cnn's take on elibraries (or not)...
but then Bobbi Newman says it best

more good stuff at Tame The Web
a library's code of conduct
(and let me say how much I support supervisors being singled out about COMMUNICATION...:
Communication will be my number one goal, so that everyone on staff understands who makes decisions, how decisions are made and what decisions they can make.)

fun via jessamyn west: the community bookcase

more fun and : whoa!

more on Gwynett budget woes

best of DLK
connecting digital and physical
(or vice versa) ...Great sign!

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

crumbs (or pebbles...?)

2009-09-03T13:17:00.004-05:00

"some of the best of the past few weeks on the web":

adding amazon images to a worldpress blog.

very original: beat the director 5K run

geek out:
gotta love the technology that rocks the cradle

SENIORS
another great idea (why not in our little FL town?)

GAMING
of course, we already do, but it's nice to be reminded why we should never be ashamed of it.

yay!
free ebooks

DON'T MISS an opportunity to participate in important professional reference

our favorite: the LIB
a new look, and the most brilliant tag line ever. I really wished I thought of this one, credited to Michael Porter.

outreach is dead long live outreach

Budget Woes
Dacula Branch closing

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inspired: library contest?

2009-08-12T09:26:00.003-05:00

you may know fl is famous for Hemingway look-alike contests...

this lovely post form the chef's widow got me thinking:
What a nice summer contest for the locals,
"Do you look like a character in a book?"
let your customer submit photos, make a flickr set, maybe even have folks vote for their favorite on your website.

then why not try to get a prize from a publisher, like an author's signed copy of the works (if possible) or something like it.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

Help Wanted.

2009-06-25T14:43:00.002-05:00

I was going to rant about people who'd rather die than change but then I thought better of it.

Instead let me make this post totally personal and ask for good advice from experienced people.

I am looking to totally revamp my connectivity setup and budget. Those of you who know me are aware I do not have internet at home (I have my reasons) and that I just bought a big screen TV.

In the spirit of improving and saving, I would like to reconsider my phone and cable expenses to maybe find a set up where I also have internet access without spending much more.

so here is the old/current set up:

phone land line: about 25$/month
long distance calls: about 25$/month
comcast cable standard: about 60$/month

potential new set-up (I think):

can I find a cellular provider who will allow me to keep my land line number and have unlimited data AND an internet card for my laptop?
who does that?
how much is the minimum that would cost me?

consider I could save the 50$ on the land line and I don't really mind scaling back the cable to basic with HD which I can get from comcast for less than 20$

Doesn't it sound like that may be a great improvement at a small expense?
drop land line, reduce TV add internet and cell all at once, who hoo!

Otherwise...

...SHOULD I consider a bundle package from the cable co.?
They start pretty low (99$/month) and I get a lot more TV.
THE LIMITATIONS ON INTERNET upload and downloads seem pretty harsh...
but of course, then we don't get an extra cell (which we don't really need, my husband like the land line...)

What else is out there? I'll consider pretty much any options and it seems like there should be so much more.

Help me come up to speed and save money pleeeeeeease.

Outliers

2009-05-20T15:03:00.005-05:00

I am listening to the book Outliers in my car and it is blowing my mind.

watch this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m363KIRPC7BAK

then check the book (or audio book) out.

update from 5/21/09
I keep re-playing and re-playing some passages:
"...when the world changed, they were ready."

"plane crash are most often the result of 7 errors, SEVEN!
and not errors due to lack of skills or knowledge, but failures in teamwork and COMMUNICATION... someone knew something and didn't tell someone else..."

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved the audio read by the author. (hachette audio) Every chapter was more interesting than the one before and the 1st one about birth dates and hockey players blew me away... Definitely eye opening, very smart and clear about what it means to teach. Made me appreciate my family and the environment in which I grew up so much.loved it.

note. I kept wanting to stop the car and write down brilliant one line quotes, which of course, I never did. that's the problem with audio.

about opportunity and practice and luck: "...when the world changed, they were ready." stuck with me still.

View all my reviews.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

friday ramblings

2009-05-15T10:58:00.002-05:00

yea yea, i am just re-posting, but mind your links, there are some cooooool things here:

innovation ingredients (stone soup anyone?)

I love a good cheeseburger

OMG lessons I needed:

thanks to meg from pointing this out:
http://www.the350project.net/home.html

Good news from San Jose.
I especially like the bit about funding other child safety priority, and restoring the libraries' open hours to their 2000 levels.
yay!

webcat, worldcat, localcat...!?

WorldCat Local for circulation
For libraries that catalog their collections with WorldCat and use WorldCat Local as their public interface, the local ILS serves primarily for circulation and acquisitions. The next logical step in OCLC’s strategy moves these remaining tasks into WorldCat Local, making it possible for a library to phase out its local integrated library system.
WorldCat Local for circulationFor libraries that catalog their collections with WorldCat and use WorldCat Local as their public interface, the local ILS serves primarily for circulation and acquisitions. The next logical step in OCLC’s strategy moves these remaining tasks into WorldCat Local, making it possible for a library to phase out its local integrated library system.

Everyone who's cool already knows about drop box. this screencast covers it well.

why weeding is good

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proud, busy, cool

2009-05-08T15:26:00.002-05:00

the reason I haven't been posting:
The Cummings Library will open again on Tuesday 5/12 after the addition of a brand new youth wing is completed.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

ramblings

2009-04-03T13:35:00.003-05:00

next week i'll be in dallas at the sirsidynix user group conference you'll hear from me from there, maybe more on flickr than here

here are nuggets to chew on while I'm gone:

More than Books: http://morethanbooks.ning.com/
This group created a community for midwest librarians with Ning.
They used the Ning Network help pages and community pointers to build the site. They also outlined what worked, what didn’t and what they learned. They want to encourage use of the Ning beyond class and will continue to work on it.

http://www.popgadget.net/2009/03/turn_your_words.php
love this idea, soundfiles into bracelets. say what you want

st john's county uses bookletters to do patron reviews...
http://www.booksite.com/texis/scripts/bookletter/showlist.html?sid=5003&list=CNL20

funny
http://www.libgig.com/node/1105

ROI from DLK
http://www.davidleeking.com/2009/04/01/cil2009-what-is-the-return-on-investment-for-your-library/
Guy Dobson:
He is figuring total value by mining SIRSI records on borrowing use and an averaged item price. Nice. Some patron’s library cards are worth more than $10,000 per year, because they check out so much!

the future of libraries, take it from the good folks at Darien:
http://www.blyberg.net/2009/04/03/the-darien-statements-on-the-library-and-librarians/

bhe-bye!

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

great trick

2009-03-31T13:40:00.006-05:00

this is how it all comes full circle.
Jim asks a question on twitter, which gets me thinking about new uses for social networking.

just a couple of statements back and forth and my constant concern with bridging the old and the new leads me to add a simple 856 tag in the marc records of one of our non- fiction book club title, which is now an online venture in the form of a blog.

eat this! old stubborn OPAC!

I think it's pretty neat, if I may say so myself.

Now this:

Goes to this:

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a lot of lil' ramblings

2009-03-30T13:50:00.002-05:00

I have skipped a few fridays, here is a bunch of stuff not to miss:

seth and job applications I love Seth...

DOW in perspective I love that...

WJ 23 things online summit one of the best online event I attended.

Technologies and Savings since I know there is never enough money, thanks Bobbi

real help for yous meetings (and mine)

Drupal resource list
from the LIB who always creates top notch resource lists

twitter advice (i use twitter to listen in as smart people muse... it works for me)

from stephen, tech guy at staff meeting

new wireless device smile

the coolest

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

LSW Shovers and Makers

2009-03-23T15:19:00.004-05:00

I are one, how 'bout you?

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, LSW,

Monday musing

2009-03-09T18:10:00.000-05:00

Was I wrong to send this out to all the staff at MPOW?

1st AN ANSWER________________________________
I got a question this weekend which seems to be asked on a regular basis in different forms so I thought I'd share some info on AV searches/finds in our catalog. There is no good way to retrieve sensible results in an AV search. Period. You can get full lists and good results by ITEM TYPES. That is it. You cannot reliably narrow by language, by fiction or non-fiction, you cannot get only comedies nor can you trust that a subject search on cookery will lead you to all our instructional videos on cooking. The best you can do is become more familiar with what our “good” marc for movies can look like (search burn after reading) and look at the marc tags which are specific to the type of items you are searching. Rating, Genre etc. Also, become more familiar with the copy cataloguing spreadsheet created for you in the \support_services\collection shared directory. It will give you a guide in what is consistent about copy data at MPOW. I can certainly give you some tricks but I am sorry to say, none to help the weekend gang who had an issue with non-fiction CD books.

THEN, A SOAPBOX STATEMENT ;)_______________________________________________
If you care to hear it, an editorial comment:
I do believe the source of our recurring problems with av searches comes in part from a generalized lack of respect for AV materials in libraries. It manifests itself in many not so subtle and a few very subtle ways. Everywhere (some) librarians complain about the lack of value, the high amount of work and all the other pains AV items bring, such as higher theft rates, fickle format sustainability etc...

One of the most obvious means libraries have discriminated against AV is thru cataloging (or lack thereof.) Possibly because we thought this was just a fad, we never extended the breath of our talent to standardizing and polishing the cataloging of AV materials.

To this day, in marc records, we mislabel actors as authors, we use the same term for any video format whether it's recorded on tape, dvd or only exists in the digital world. We hardly make use of any subject headings, (not consistently anyway) and that's only the tip of the iceberg... think of tv series and all the volume, episode names and other challenges we face there.

From this trend, locally, we also neglected to thoroughly think our call number prefix/suffix strategy AND WE NEVER CREATED DISTINCT cat1 or 2 (general type and audience) item type and location for the fiction/non-fiction materials which are AV. That goes for ALL our AV items, not just dvds, but also books on tape/CDs, language lesson with audio components, children's music etc... Look at any copy record for any AV item and you'll find a good example of inefficient use of multiple fields data entry. Too much repeating of the same entry in different fields…

LAST A POSSIBLE SOLUTION _____________________________________________
Our best (easiest) option would (will) be to create at least new LOCATIONS for these different items "types".
After all, currently, everything with various av TYPES all shows a location of AV. Audio books, music, movies, language and instructional videos etc...

You must remember that this is not unique to us, all libraries struggle with this.

See:
http://www.aadl.org/node/17414
how serendipitous...

Please let me know what questions you have.

sylvie (what-did-she-eat-this-morning?)

sylvie

"Change. Bring it."
-Laura Solomon, Library Geek Woes blog

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, cataloging, customers

ramblings

2009-03-06T16:48:00.006-05:00

Yep, another friday comes around...
here is some of the best of what I saw this week:

too cool:
mini golf at the library

creativity

Quintessential Godin:
be fedex, dont let me (sylvie) be "that guy"

and fresh off the wire:

Her name is Maureen Clements and she is a librarian for NPR.

I wanted to let you know about a new blog we've started at NPR for librarians called As A Matter Of Fact. We hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to share your comments, ideas etc. We'd love to hear them. You can also follow us on twitter under the moniker NPRLibrary.
Thanks so much. We look forward to seeing you in the blog-o-shere!
Maureen Clements
Librarian (and now blogger)
National Public Radio
635 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20001

also, finally,
my bucklette came
I'm psyched. But wait, what flickr? "I'm the only person who has used "bucklette" as a tag."
...not for long I hope.

PS: I found bucklette reading the great Popgadget blog
technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, bucklette, customers

ramblings

2009-02-27T16:35:00.002-05:00

It must be Friday...

history of the internet
complete simple 8 minutes!

keep libraries free
don't you love "Indexed"?

more finds from Stephen's Lighthouse (YOU SHOULD BE READING THIS BLOG BY NOW ;)
watch all the way thru... (it's less than 2 minutes.)
The Dumbest Generation

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries,

tid bits I collect and send to staff on fridays

2009-02-24T16:50:00.000-05:00

information (via Stephen's lighthouse)

graphic novels
2008's 5 best according to NPR

DLK's crib notes frm Levine's gaming presentation.
Doesnt't it make you wan to PLAY!

More from Stephen...
read carefully I love that we really ARE the GREENEST DEPARTMENT of all.

now this just blows my mind as a cookbook collector, i am a little freaked out.

___________________________________________________

wow I just love this, I always try to shop indie... thanks for the link James W Hall.

solinet / palinet merger 'cause I know i should care more.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

flickr widget

2009-02-16T14:42:00.002-05:00

You all know by now that my very favorite social tool is flickr. I really really dig it and am unfortunatly quite codependant by now.
Thanks to Aaron Schmidt for pointing out this cool widget

Roy Tanck's Flick Widget requires Flash Player 9 or better.

Get this widget at roytanck.com

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lovely charts

2009-02-11T13:31:00.005-05:00

thanks to many bloggers and twitters, I discovered Lovely Charts.
I have already made good use of it fort this month's efficiency project.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

WOW

2009-02-05T16:52:00.002-05:00

Just want to cry.

...commission could theoretically reach that target by cutting both the Library and Parks and Recreation departments in their entirety in order to avoid closing fire rescue stations and laying off deputies, county administrators said....

read more of what's what for MPOW in today's local paper

my favorite is the sheriff stating:
“I’m surprised that the downfall in the economy hasn’t resulted in more of an increase in crime than it has. I was expecting more violent crime and burglaries ... and we may see it yet.”
to justify refusing to cut one red cent from his budget,
forgetting that without parks and libraries, he just may get his wish.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

librarian rockstar

2009-01-30T15:15:00.003-05:00

Congratulations Michael. You ARE hot!
and thanks for getting so many of us started.

PS funny how a geek remains a geek even when he's a rockstar, no?
please checkout Tame The Web
technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, librarian, rockstar

Library "Day-in-the-Life" round 2

2009-01-23T09:40:00.003-05:00

I encourage you to participate in Bobbi Newman's "Library Day In The Life" project round 2. I did have a lot of fun with it last year.

It's a great example of why I think all this 2.0 stuff is great;
It allows you to work with many many leaders in the profession.
This is how one gets better, by working with the best.

also may introduce you to blogging, wikis and more, oh my!

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries,

hilarity

2009-01-16T09:00:00.003-05:00

Via Chris, who got it from Helene.
I found this particularly brilliant (and on so many levels...)

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Happy Holidays!

2008-12-24T08:43:00.002-05:00

Best e-wishes to all my i-friends.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0,

do you think people get it?

2008-12-11T16:30:00.001-05:00

Stephen said to post it and I would not argue with Stephen (not on this anyways ;)

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

Holiday Joy.

2008-12-10T15:20:00.003-05:00

Hey, I have been sick and not at all inclined to get into the Christmas spirit.
I don't know what it is this year...
But it's hard not to when you work with Santa.

Ron, PC tech and all around miracle worker.

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This is broken

2008-11-18T15:43:00.003-05:00

I am very disappointed that I must shutdown our "pay your fines w/paypal" feature in our OPAC. I was so proud to have gotten it working.
Alas, there seems to be a field size issue which makes the instant crediting of user accounts unreliable when paying multiple fines at once.

This must not affect many libraries and is either very complex to address or very low priority, and all the workarounds in the world cannot make me make sense of making my users pay all their $0.50 overdue fines one at a time nor would it be wise for us to pay the paypal transaction fee on each of these.

So I had to eliminate the service today.
It makes me very sad and it makes my glass half empty.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, opac, sirsidynix, paypal

ground breaking news

2008-11-17T10:49:00.002-05:00

I was so incredibly pleased to read this. really makes my monday.

my webmaster has been getting his feet wet with drupal, and I have been encouraging him to get involved at drupalforlib
and I really really hope he does so we can explore a move towards SOPAC

more to come (fingers crossed)

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, sirsidynix, drupal, sopac, blyberg

blogging in my slippers

2008-11-13T10:10:00.003-05:00

blogging in my slippers
Originally uploaded by rambleonsylvie

well, this one is good to

meme anyone?

A message 4 Obama

2008-11-07T09:07:00.001-05:00

message4obama
Originally uploaded by rambleonsylvie

I'm pretty happy with this one.

Zappos again

2008-11-05T11:20:00.002-05:00

you know I love them, but
free audiobook with my shoes, be still my heart,
this library geek is sooooo smitten!

from an email they have permission to send me:

------------------------------------------------------------------
TRIBAL LEADERSHIP: COMPLIMENTARY DOWNLOAD
------------------------------------------------------------------
Courtesy of Zappos, download the Tribal Leadership audio book
featuring Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, having a conversation
with Dave Logan, co-author of Tribal Leadership.

http://www.zappos.com/n/z/ref/81103l/kw/triballeadership.html

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

my little push

2008-10-31T15:31:00.005-05:00

since it's very hard to speak of PLAY at MPOW and since we are not quite ready for transparancy... (our staff blog is private, we don't twitter for work, use event pictures online etc) I have started a little tradition called friday fifteen, where I point the staff (using an email message)towards a fun 2.0 typey thing.
I try never to have it be about their day to day work but always to have it relate to something we could be doing, and I try to always have it be a fun thing.

here is an example

Subject: [Dept_lib] friday fifteen (halloween edition)

watch this

Note a few things (since the video is less than 3 minutes):

-Jessamyn West is cool.
There is no questioning that, Google her and find out.
-Banking is a hot topic.
Jessamyn wonders at the number of hits that a banking tag got her little you tube video.
What do you think about tags?
-Richard Brautigan is a funny writer, too bad none of his stuff is checked out...

-You meet the weirdest people while waiting in (or waiting on) a line.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

sylvie
"Our job is not to convince people they need libraries. It is to convince libraries they need people."
-Nancy Dowd, The M Word Blog.

and

Subject: [Dept_lib] friday fifteen
Ok,
-read this in 1 minute,
-look it up for 4 minutes,
-then really think about it for 10 more minutes…

It’s not like we don’t have the potential to exploit this idea around here!

(cut from the Librarian In Black Blog, reporting on a Future of Libraries Conference session)

“Innovations in Reaching Older Adults” by Richard Bray, Alameda County Library
He covered the popularity of wii gaming with seniors. The Pleasanton Library has a video online showing seniors playing the wii at the library. Gaming for seniors has really taken off in the last year, particularly at the senior centers or VA facilities. Games that offer physical or mental exercise are very popular. Libraries can and should take the lead as community brain fitness centers. This will help us attract boomers. He did caution against the hype of many brain fitness products. The Alameda County Library expanded its support for services for older adults. Each branch has a services for older adults coordinator. They have a committee that meets and creates programs and staff training. The classes for the public are all first given to branch staff. They average 45 people per senior-geared program. The library coordinates all of its senior work with the local senior centers. He also recommends doing a library training for each speaker or present at the library. They learn, give a better presentation, and then continue to promote the library's services in the future. His library developed a key program for seniors: Aging and Spirituality.

sylvie
"The market is astonishingly quick at responding to what consumers do (and incredibly slow at reacting to what we say)." -Seth Godin

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

call for help; or we want macs

2008-10-30T15:15:00.003-05:00

I need assistance regarding support for mac deployment in public library.

As part of a branch expansion, we are planning a room dedicated to "multi-generational interactive technology"
What we envision there are a few "pods" of multimedia creation. We want to set up a podcast/music creating editing station, a movie making/editing station and a game creating/playing station.
What better tools to put there than macs? Remember we have a number of PCs available and will continue to offer those...

Now in the past, we have had help adding services thru private donors, dedicated organizations and either special prizes or funds made available thru grants. I'm afraid money is not my 1st line of expertise and I would much appreciate if anyone can help point me in the direction of potential sources or help.

1-I am waiting to hear back from the local mac user group here in the area.
2-I have looked into apple discount program but it only seem to apply to k12/higher ed institutions.
3-I already read on an apple support list that I should talk to the good folks at St-Joseph ;) which I will.
I am also thinking of contacting some local music studios to see if they would want to partner at least on the audio effort.

Does anyone out there know of any other potential contacts I should make?

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, apple, customers
mac

geek2.0 in a management1.0 organization

2008-10-22T12:27:00.002-05:00

since this is my personal blog, I have the luxury to express many ideas that MPOW doesn't necessarily endorse. since this is my personal blog I also run the risk of getting myself in some trouble if i expose MPOW too much, or if I shine an unflattering light on it. I have done it before, I will do it again, and I don't really need high tech tools like a blog to get there, if you know me you know that.

the upcoming series is probably going to set new records in risk, exposure and all around trouble making but also, a new twist, of outreach, compromise and all around goodwill on my part.

for the last few years I have attentively listened to pioneers, champions and leaders in all things library 2.0 and done my best to both emulate them, and spread the innovation gospel all around, all the time, to all who would listen and many who didn't want to.

It has improved my work, my workplace and hopefully the services we deliver to the community. But it has been INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING as well.
It is frustrating mostly because many many people mean to help but don't, want to support it but won't, say they will get out of your way but don't. It is frustrating because management still tend to think of technology as a separate department instead of an intricate part of every departments, therefore, often sees technology innovation efforts as expandable. The first thing we stop, to save time/money/stress etc. It was very disruptive anyways, right?

I see other organizations thrive, innovate, expand their horizon and deliver extraordinary value to their customers. I think: "Man, they are so lucky that everyone is on board!"

...then I realized, there is an AL in every workplace.

...then I saw this great article in HBR on "the new volunteers" referring to content contributors.

...then I read that Helene Blower said at IL2008: "...know what is important to your management and administration and cater to that..."

so I decided to attempt to design 2.0 ventures from the point of view of our local management. cater to what I know is important to them...

right now, the easy one will be presenting cost saving projects.
that is the first obvious place where geek2.0 and management1.0 meet.

that will also be where I may be able to get open content creation added and given the same value as all the rest of the volunteer hours!

there is a lot of stuff to reconcile here, there is an incredibly wide gap to fill on topics like transparency and play... but I will do my best to approach all this from a new angle and discover new grounds to cover at the same time.

Please do not misunderstand me, I love my director1.0. I have a lot of respect for her. she is dedicated to this library's success, loves the staff and the community and is a very open minded person. But she is also a very "proven-traditional-management-style-and-traditional-library-services-equals-guaranteed-success" kind of woman. She is incredibly uncomfortable with the concept of PLAY. I think she mostly sees transparency as unreasonable sharing of the burden she has agreed to be responsible for. She feels responsible for all of us professionally. She is very good at what she does, and in these times of budget cuts and layoff talks, she obviously strive to deliver high quality services and keep staff focused on service delivery and customer care. I know she is just like much of the management in libraries today. Time to stop trying to make her something she is not and instead, start to bridge that gap between what she sees as success, and what I see as success.

So I'll take potential innovations one at a time, I'll lay out what the real life obstacles to it are (that be the risky part), and then I'll attempt to design new angles and approaches to implement them.

It should be fun, wish me luck.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

Neil Gaiman Video Tour

2008-10-10T07:47:00.008-05:00

via BoingBoing...

It's true, Neil Gaiman is not only a talented writer, but also a spectacular READER.
He posts videorecordings of chapter readings of "The Graveyard Book", all readings are from his book tour.

Now, how wonderful a journey, from the author's mind to the page, to the reader's eyes and mind... back to the author's lips to the reader's ears, and eyes again and on and on, via the web.

I am also putting an 856 in the marc record of our OPAC and will be praying for serendipity... (but why not also, add a special Halloween feature of the title on our library's website...)

...even Techdirt picked it up!

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries

SWoM

2008-10-06T14:59:00.001-05:00

trust the word:

View my page on Society for Word of Mouth

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, customers

of tags, tag clouds and OPACS

2008-09-24T08:39:00.003-05:00

Tags in your library catalog.
Many have asked: "would users do it?", "why would users do it?"
(and always: "wouldn't that be the end of the world?")

Darien shows great ways to kick start it:

they are showing them off, creating a buzz, making it fun...
I have no doubt people will find why, how and when to tag library records in their opac

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

text bytes

2008-09-22T15:08:00.006-05:00

reading around last week, I loved:

"..if you enforce the intended purpose of something, it greatly reduces its use."
the effing librarian

______________________

"If you have the same problem over and over, maybe it's not a problem, maybe it's a fact."
Clay Shirky

quoted in a Blyberg twitter
_______________________

“don’t toss up a bunch of bibliographic citations when a decent URL will do. You’re online, act like you’re online.”
Jessamyn West

quoted at maisonbisson
____________________

"Sports is to war as pornography is to sex."
Jonathan Haidt

TED blog
________________________________

"...it takes 100 crazy ideas to find 10 worth funding experimentally in order to identify 1 project worth pursuing..."
Eric Schnell
probably, likely, I think quoted at TameTheWeb

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, quotes, smart people

Google Sketchup

2008-09-16T07:50:00.002-05:00

Hey Hey Hey, thanks to Paul for pointing it out, no more core board for me:

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

PayPal bust

2008-09-12T14:23:00.003-05:00

file under "this is broken":

I set up a PayPal account for my library to directly collect fees and fines from the OPAC...
I create the account with PayPal, have it email me (and a few back ups) about deposits etc. The PayPal account is linked it to my employer's bank account.
Beside the fact that I was puzzled by the absence of a way to automatically transfer the $ from the PayPal account into the associated bank account, I now find out that all PayPal accounts have a $500/month WITHDRAWAL limit (yes that is what they consider that kind of transfer to be.) That limit can only be lifted by giving PayPal either a SSN or a CC#. Of course, MPOW doesn't allow me to use my SSN or CC for that purpose, and I now find out that PayPal cannot accept an Employer Identification Number in lieu of a SSN. Isn't that the SSN for businesses?
Anyway, I get the really stiff "nothing we can do" on the phone, "these are the 2 options for lifting limits", "can't you get a debit card from the bank?" la, la, la... There is only 1 level of supervisor you can talk to...

I really hope that bureaucracy does not force me to terminate this service before it even takes flight...

so bummed (did I already say that?) and now grumpy...
I miss Zappos!

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers,
PayPal, Zappo

tinkering

2008-09-12T10:49:00.002-05:00

I love to tinker, we are expanding a library to add a youth services wing, and there we plan a lot of really really cool things. one of these is a wifi cafe where we want to offer power (A/C) right in the booths. We debated how to best have powe outlet in an eating drinking surface. I tried to draw up my ides but I am not that good at it. I turned to coreboard and made this:

note the funny photocopy of an outlet glued to the surface made from this phototaken with my cellphone, emailed to flickr so it could be printed pronto.
I had fun. Hope the booths turn out good. Furniture folks will probably laugh at me but hopefully they get the idea and come up with a real no crumbs no coffee solution.
note the "wave" line exists in many forms in the building and other furniture.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

of learning

2008-09-09T14:13:00.003-05:00

I LOVE TED Talks
"...be very careful of what you put in people's heads..." so true...

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, learning, teaching,

my little brag

2008-09-03T08:59:00.012-05:00

we finally have Paypal access thru the OPAC. it credits the user's account in Unicorn in real time. it wasn't hard, SD offers the option. really, getting the accounting side of it organized was the hardest part...
i know it's not much compared to what Gwinnett and Darien just did but hey, here's to a nice thing done. i shall buy myself a drink tonight.

update 9/5/08:
well, I never got to get myself that drink. It took a few days for the 1st user to discover/try and it seems like the PayPal IPN (instant payment notification) is VERY slow at times. All my testing was done in the early morning hours and I could see credit applied to my library account in Unicorn immediately. The 1st true payment took a whole hour to post. subsequent tests (mid-day, and afternoon) were just as disapointing... Then again this morning at 7, immediate credit appears. I hope this is not what SD and PayPal call "minimal delay"...
more to come

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

The Darien Library Model

2008-09-02T09:13:00.008-05:00

Blyberg Rocks! See for yourself

Darien Library Director Louise Berry:

...John Blyberg, Darien Library’s Head of Technology and Digital Initiatives, has created our website and the connection to our online catalog using open source software, and at his initiative, we are making it freely available to all libraries, as a contribution to strengthening the role of all libraries in their communities.

Michael puts it best :
“This, friends, is huge - or it has the potential to be huge. The next step is for libraries - many libraries of all types and sizes — to explore this option, to try it out, to make it so…”

also read LJ article

update:
credit also must go to the team that designed this website. the way it's organized, the simplicity and the meat behind it is spectacular.
I just registered and played aroud a little.
Man, it is truly a great usability design.

update 2 the update (He DID do it all!):
Thanks Alan for the clarification. I have been a long time fan of John, and this only goes to confirm and further my admiration. You guys are lucky to have him on your team, we are all lucky to have him in our field.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, blyberg

brain dump

2008-08-28T12:57:00.003-05:00

before all these thoughts fall out of my head:

-EXTRAORDINARY web page redesign at Gwinnett County, why isn't everyone talking about it.

-stupid hurricane season gives my twitches, and they are now available via RSS
not sure I want Hanna in my Bloglines...

-I MISS TRAINING! I gave 1 session yesterday and it reminded me of how much smarter and better adjusted teaching makes me feel. It's incredible what I learn from the people who actually use the software/talk to the customers everyday. Not to mention that when you teach it on a regular basis, the language gets in your head and you keep the good lines at the tip of your tongue all the time. I really do miss it.

-FURNITURE MATTERS. I mean, it's not as important as people, or as information, or as cake, but really, if you are going to get some new one, you should put some thought into it. this is so cool...

-what defines an expat? Is it where you chose to live, is it the home that you miss, does it matter if you could return or not? most of all, can I find an expat bar near by? ;)

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers, hurricanes, training,melancolie, expat

Hi-Fi, Sci-Fi....

2008-08-25T08:48:00.002-05:00

couldn't miss out on this... Note joyful appearance of Michelle w/son Gideon

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries

favorite vacation shot

2008-08-07T07:32:00.001-05:00

favorite vacation shot
Originally uploaded by rambleonsylvie

this is one of my best vacation moments.

postcard

2008-07-29T12:07:00.001-05:00

could not be having a better time,

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, vacation,

unplugging

2008-07-18T15:34:00.004-05:00

I am now officially on vacation. I will be offline except for my flickr compulsion and all I'll be posting will be happy pictures of sunny, yummy, loving and funny moments. like this one from 2006:

...back in a few weeks.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, vacation, unplugging

Library Day In The Life FRIDAY

2008-07-18T09:43:00.002-05:00

email, bloglines, flickr...

Last minute Room Reservation online payment review/meeting
we have to solve the issue of adding tax or not and then depositing it appropriately when collected.
IT can solve this by creating 2 separate payment sites, we will link to the appropriate one on our room invoices
Yea!

clean some access and error logs in ILS so size don't matter while I'm away.

passed "wilson-award" on to Ron for all the manly work he does around here.

impressed by the goblin's whiteboard, I thought I'd post here how I spill out all ideas, important instructions, to-do lists and other invaluable stuff in my office:

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, librarydayinthelife

Library Day In The Life THURSDAY

2008-07-18T07:57:00.003-05:00

as everyday, email, bloglines, flickr.

ILL documents review as I will "fill in" for another vacationner upon my return.This should not be a big deal since I did ILLs for years before...

wait on hold for paypal business support/open ticket on website

return all lib materials
clean finished reports list

suspend some maintenance/statistical reports I am the only one looking at.

meeting with unit to cover vacation punts, project status etc...
...
continue to wage a war against mosquitoes in my office (yes)
and hope they all starve to death while I am away.
...
late day massage to get kink out of neck before flight.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, librarydayinthelife

Library Day In The Life WEDNESDAY

2008-07-17T06:36:00.002-05:00

PAYPAL TEST # 5 SUCCESS!
my account was credited in the ILS appropriately and immediately Yea!
Thanks to good SD client care help and to persistence.
Must complete automatic deposit/reports from Paypal set-up.
will be ready to launch when I return from vacation.
(along with libraryElf service, LibX toolbar and the Library's Flickr account)

meeting with capital projects for branch building expansion plan review
re: data and power for planned innovative use of AV (what else!)

take important lunch call for professional development

compile UUGI (Unicorn User Group International) circulation forum enhancement votes, analyze, rank and forward to chief moderator. ...man that was a big one!
Good thing done!

Received the "wilson winning service hoodoo doll" prize at work, take picture and blog to staff.
Be on the lookout for the next recipient to pass it on to before I leave...

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, librarydayinthelife

Library Day in the life TUESDAY

2008-07-16T09:37:00.003-05:00

Paypal test #4,
log review, same issue, update call w/SD.

Update UUGI circulation enhancements polls/
consult with moderators for closing and other cycle arrangements
email users

turn on live video of political meeting to possibly hear of any surprise related to the budget? (sounds like they will wait for me to be away on vacation)

Attend SDI Web Video Primer by David Lee King
great one!

looked at budget to find cuts (just in case... argh...)

generate collection management lists for weeding

as always email, bloglines, flickr etc...

stayed late to put time into formatting the Blues Alliance newsletter. (done)

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, librarydayinthelife

Library Day In The Life MONDAY

2008-07-15T07:23:00.002-05:00

Afraid it will look both "hum drum" and light weight, but here it goes, day one:

back up ILS

paypal test #3
8:30 am
troubleshoot with SD

book for troops email

write faq:suspend holds, Most Wanted program.

new org chart = adjustments to mailing aliases, sirsi reports targets

vacation adjustments to sirsi maintenance/monitoring reports.
email punt receivers.

update ILS email instructions
update ILS back-up instructions
update ILS contact info

general help desk calls: workflows support/Myspace problems/dead public computer, etc...

****plan efficiency study at Branch A in back room for week following vacation.
spend min 1 hour day/each day all week.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, librarydayinthelife

"day in the life" project

2008-07-11T15:02:00.003-05:00

an invitation from Bobbi Newman

blog about it, comment about it, wiki about it.. oh my!
I love this kind of stuff, both for the fun and for the practice it provides. I hope our staff will join in too.
Next week I will be preparing for my summer vacation so it should make for some interesting variety.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, librarydayinthelife

meet Bobbi Newman

2008-06-30T13:47:00.003-05:00

I love my flickr feeds.
Daily, I scan hundred of photos tagged library. Today, one of them was a shared slide show for the Missouri River Regional Library detailing steps for renewing items online they also have one for placing holds. That lead me to the Librarian by Day photostream, which lead me to the Librarian By Day blog.
Bobbi Newman is the Digital Services Librarian at the Missouri River Regional Library. She obviously has a passion for all things Library 2.0 and for instruction, training and user services.

Reading thru her posts, I quickly discover that what lead me to her was only the tip of the iceberg and I can only encourage you to discover her work in the use of social networking and to read how she trains library users in blogging and photo sharing

I am looking forward to learn a lot from Bobbi, and to steal some of her great ideas. This is a blog that I should have been following all along; I will now. (I don't know how I missed it!?) She's definitely a Mover and Shaker in my book.
(Maybe next year?)

It doesn't hurt that we seem to have quite a few things - in common. Not the least of which being an appreciation for open minded cell phone signs.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, talent, customers

the year so far

2008-06-20T14:18:00.002-05:00

not too scholarly or deep I guess...

but it's fun to play with wordle

Friday Fun

2008-06-20T12:58:00.002-05:00

Cool Spider will follow your mouse...
Via the New York Statewide Summer Reading Program folks.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

more cool connections

2008-06-19T10:19:00.001-05:00

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

My libX

2008-06-05T15:19:00.004-05:00

w00t!
I had promised that it would be on my short list after the SirsiDynix Superconference this year. I went to a great (GRRRRREAT) pre-conference session on catalog add-ons and Bernardo Gomez from Emory presented it there. (note: I heard Mack once say that if we created a sirsi API knighthood, Bernardo would be the 1st one in.)

Long, long ago, (1999?) we go iBistro and we had the option to add a link to Amazon in the form of a BUY NOW button to title records in our catalog which had a wait list.
I remember bitching ;) that until Amazon was willing to put a library button in their results, we shouldn't do that. (which is not the reason why PTB decided against it.)

Well here it is, not official yet, not even public outside this little forum. Probably still full of bugs and certainly not ready for prime time. A way for our customer to download the firefox plugin and have our library at the tip of their finger (mouse) everywhere they browse, all the time.

Best yet will be the library icon next to every amazon record (or NYT book review title), the ability to search for any term by simple highlight, right click; AND the fact that we will have it downloaded at ALL OUR PUBLIC PCs to allow all the good Internet users to access all the rest of the resources they might have been missing out on.

Can you tell I'm excited?

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

Heaven and Hell

2008-06-04T08:47:00.004-05:00

David Armano is VP of Experience Design with Critical Mass,
a professional services firm with a sweet spot for creating outstanding experiences.

His Logic+Emotion Blog is one of my all time favorites.
In this case, he makes the point so well. (as always.)

How does our library brand measure up?

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

Making your customer laugh

2008-05-29T07:53:00.009-05:00

I loved this email I just got from CDBaby.

Your CD has been gently taken from our CD Baby shelves with sterilized contamination-free gloves and placed onto a satin pillow.

A team of 50 employees inspected your CD and polished it to make sure it was in the best possible condition before mailing.

Our packing specialist from Japan lit a candle and a hush fell over the crowd as he put your CD into the finest gold-lined box that money can buy.

We all had a wonderful celebration afterwards and the whole party marched down the street to the post office where the entire town of Portland waved "Bon Voyage!" to your package, on its way to you, in our private CD Baby jet on this day, Wednesday, May 28th.

I hope you had a wonderful time shopping at CD Baby. We sure did. Your picture is on our wall as "Customer of the Year." We're all exhausted but can't wait for you to come back to CDBABY.COM!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Sigh...
--
Derek Sivers, president, CD Baby
the little store with the best new independent music
http://cdbaby.com cdbaby@cdbaby.com (503)595-3000

It put a smile on my face 1st thing this morning.
It came "FROM:CD Baby loves Sylvie (orders@cdbaby.com)
I wish I could write the "hold available notices" that way.

BTW,
check CDBaby out for genius stuff such as :

The Nouveaux Honkies

Swamp Chicken

and Ben Prestage

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

my i-friends

2008-05-23T14:43:00.004-05:00

Today, Meredith Farkas blogged about online disclosure and "friendships". It's nice how she articulates a lot of the feelings I have had, both anxiety and joy, about my online presence and about all the contacts I have made in the past couple of years. In most cases, I am mostly an admirer, and I have been lucky enough to be able to converse, online or otherwise with a few of them. So it still feels to me like a "rock star-groupie" kind of thing. But I have grown fond of many for what they share, what they encourage me to share and for their willingness to help EVERYONE make some headway in their efforts to make their little/big library more open, more transparent and more responsive. These people are real to me, they set an example for me everyday and often I use their eyes to see further. Often I use their words to initiate change.

I did the same thing in flesh and blood 10 years ago when I got involved with the Unicorn User Group International and met system administrators and librarians I found so bright and inventive. I became a fan, then a friend. I would have not become the library geek I am without Selden, Mack, Karen, Jack and countless others. They gave me the confidence to develop my skills, and to become someone others can got to for help and who is involved enough to bring about change in that community. ...The same thing.

On that path, then and now, I got to fall in love with their dogs, meet their parents, eat their food, go to my hometown with them, pray for their babies...
I got to plan a revolution, joke around with them and, oh yeah, sometimes, really cool stuff happened to me too.

-heard from photographer (and Nelson ;) at 7:30 am, posted on flickr at 7:33 am, got it back in Bloglines from TTW at 7:38 am.

This is hot, it made my day.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, i-friends, friends, humans

web2 Oh!

2008-05-16T07:18:00.002-05:00

if you have ever asked "where do they find the time?"
If you think the LOLCATS are stupid...
If you play WOW in secret.

spend 15 minutes listening to this guy, all the way thru, it's worth it.
PS: if you know and love a 4 year old today, there is a big payoff.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, customers

Michelle's prayer

2008-05-13T08:42:00.008-05:00

In case some of you still think that social networking is not about "real life"...

Thru social networking, (probably where library people and dog lovers intersect) I was lucky to "meet" a young woman with a fresh voice who was doing her best to turn ALA on it's head (or at least remind it it had one) and to really show that the virtual world is a gift, a great tool, and the best way to allow the next generation to participate in the classic institutions (and possibly change them.)

I have read Michelle Boule's great thoughts and innovative ideas on "A Wandering Eyre" for a while now. That is where I feel like I got to know her. When she left work on pregnancy leave, I followed her to "Defying Genetics" where she shared her journey in making a family.

Michelle gave birth to a beautiful boy on May 3, which happens to be the birthday of my oldest nephew Charles. Like Charlie when he was born, Michelle's son Gideon has been in the NICU fighting the good fight. I remember so well how we felt then, and from Florida to Texas, without having ever met, I have been praying with Michelle's family much in the same way now. "My" Charlie's is 11 years old now, Gideon will be 11 days tomorrow.

This IS real life, and real human beings are now able to share it thru the virtual means we have grown to see as our ways to feel connected as humans.
What I feel most like sharing now is Michelle's prayer:

"Lord, please help Gideon’s lungs to be just a little bit better today. Please help him to have no complications today and no infections. Please watch over his doctors and nurses. Thank you for blessing of this place. Thank you for this day and the perfect, precious child you have entrusted to me. Amen"

Hoping she knows I pray it too.

technorati tags:
libraries, humans, community, library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, Michelle Boule

UUGI day 3

2008-04-08T14:09:00.002-05:00

whoo!
circ update

floating collection features are free, we'll need the with less money for materials.
NEW good receipts for holds ARE ACTUALLY COMING large font/vertical/character suppression etc. NEED JAVA, NEED 3.2 SYMPHONY
users are doing macros locally to achieve this and have been for long time
much good in holds queue manipulation also coming (3.3)

ecommerce

still no receipt thru cc/paypal arghh!
but ease of test and use and good compatibility with unicorn.

general

The idea is to open ILS to the world, thankfully not trying to cram the world into the ILS. I think I heard that they get it.

"the e-library IS iBLink" no one seems willing to say it that clearly.

my circ sharing session went very well, got great ideas and am encouraged that the user enhancement process is viable and effective.

jBistro
Joel Hahn rocks! If all of us had a Joel on or team, the state of libraries in this country would improve to levels we can't even imagine. Reminds me of John Blyberg for that reason.

So much more in my head, byt this laptop keyboard and bad chair are killing me.
Next is Steven Abram's closing session. Ill try to get a few candids there and tonight. going home tomorrow. will blog more from work next week.
My to do list id very very long upon returning from this conference. I'm excited.
check flickr
bye

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

UUGI detroit day 2

2008-04-07T10:26:00.003-05:00

Iblink update (do you know what an iblink is?)

SD will continue development of the iBistro iLink product as a PAC. this reassured a lot of folks, me included. Long story.
nice new features announced:
my account and renew my items same page
holds delivery by mail option
keep "all on this page"
online user registration, really, no work-around!
no hold button if no copies are holdable (!) yay!!
standard CSS

Automated calling update

new language field in user account will allow calls to be made in native language
new improved text to voice engines. yay again!

Ibistro customization

I got enough info to klug code to remove the annoying display stating items are "available in ONORDER"
this will be high on the to do list

other nifty stuff some cool guys are doing:

text call number to my phone from the catalog result
what's new selection page with nice variables (branch, format timeline...)
good stats on lib value based on user count checkout count and comparing local use to system use.
integrating google booksearch content API to opac.

having fun...

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers

Detroit UUGI

2008-04-06T10:47:00.006-05:00

Hey Hey,
quickly, more later:
Preconf was great. Nice to see multiple products "side by side" and compare.
SD enterprise
Aquabrowser
Primo
Vufind = coolest, AND FREE!

Best find (how did I miss this?):
LibX, puts your library logo next to any recognizable title isbn etc in ALL webpages in the user browser.
Imagine a link to your library record in every amazon page, throughout NYT article pages etc...!!!!
I Must Do This Right Upon Return!!!

Today previews were interesting and business meeting had some controversy. Keeping thins ineresting. Gotta go.

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries,

SirsiDynix Superconference planning

2008-03-31T17:32:00.000-05:00

I will be attending the SirsiDynix Superconference in Detroit next weekend and plan on blogging events, contents and general impressions each day.
It shouldn't be very had to do a better job at it than last year, as I was thoroughly overwhelmed with the task then. This year, I'll carry my copy of "Tips for Conference Bloggers" and try to apply it as best I can. also, thanks to great examples such as David Lee King, I should be better equipped this year.

TTYS ;)
technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, blogging, conference

via "Le Soleil", a bit of women trivia

2008-03-04T09:36:00.002-05:00

in honor of International Women's Day on Saturday,
a bit of trivia.
These people brought about real big change in women's lives. Find out what.

Gregory Pincus
Léonard Corning
Hermine Cadolle
Alva J. Fisher
Dr Earl Haas
André Courrèges
Édouard Robert

Answers (in french) can be found here.
I'll publish them in english in the comments later. UNLESS YOU DO?

technorati tags:women, woman, femme, March8th, 8mars

beauty, and brains

2008-02-27T12:58:00.004-05:00

via Des Bibilotheques 2.0 (i'm so glad I can read french)
a fantastic library website, that includes:
visual search
RSS feed for new items,
Meebo chat
Top5 databases (great idea!)
blogs
and so much more...

Bright, colorful and intuitive.
so cool.

Chapeau La Mediathèque ESC Lille!

cheaters can view the english version of the site here

technorati tags:library-20, library2.0, library 2.0, libraries, policies, customers