web2 Oh!

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

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

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

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

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,