July 3, 2009
The Future of Library User Experience
Nate Bolt, a user experience expert, gave the ULC (Urban Libraries Council) 2009 Webinar keynote on The Future of Library User Experience.
Check out his slideshare and turn your speakers on. (Set aside 1:24:00)
Future of Library User Experience
Check out the #ULCTalk on Twitter for particpant comments.
Three pieces of good advice:
1. Watch three people use your site. (Don't ask them anything until they're done.)
2. Draw or build one webpage. (Outside your current architecture. Use WordPress)
3. Play with a free open tool. (FreeBase, Google Squared, Open Library, Google Wave Preview)
It's all good.
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 8:37 AM | Comments (0)
100 Ways to Be More Creative on the Job
Are you stuck on what to do next on your portal, what API to create using your OPAC, what to post to your library website/blog today?
I had a fun time doing a creativity workshop at SLA where we explored ways to embrace and encourage our own creativity through play and working the less used portions of our brains and consciousness.
I loved this posting from The Heart of Innovation Blog.
100 Ways to Be More Creative on the Job
Print it out and post it over your desk. Try each one at least once over three months and see if you're more creative at the end. I think you will be.
I have a lot of deliverables like speeches, presentations, white papers, workshops, columns, blog postings, and articles. All of these require that I rise above writer's block and feeling uninspired to get done. I do find that my creativity is unblocked by the following:
a. Touring an art gallery
b. Visiting a museum
c. Sitting in a garden in bloom
d. Walking through a neighbourhood
e. Listening to my iPod
f. Talking to kids
g. Listening to seniors' stories
h. Write a blog posting
i. Play with the cat (or dog)
j. Read a poem (I like haiku since I have a short attention span)
k. Watch a short YouTube video
l. Call a friend I haven't talked to in a while
m. Go to a play
n. Go to a concert
o. Ask youself how your issue is like an alligator, rose or skunk.
Some of this stuff is just about being balanced. Maybe balance is a prerequisite to creativity.
What works for you?
Stephen
Continue reading "100 Ways to Be More Creative on the Job"
Posted by stephen at 8:07 AM | Comments (0)
July 2, 2009
Blogging as a Special Librarian
Here's my column for the June issue of Information Outlook.
Blogging as a Special Librarian
Download file
(MS Word format)
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 8:06 AM | Comments (0)
July 1, 2009
Does any technology ever really die?
I love this graphic from The Steve Rubel LifeStream.
He explains it here in his posting: Blogs are Out of Beta, But Bloggers Should Always Be in Beta this way:
"The image above is one of the most important graphics I have ever seen. In fact I stare at it every day on my desktop to remind me that a) there will always be shifts in media and b) one format never supersedes another."
I know that the entertainment industry is much larger than it was when I was a kid and very much larger than when my parents were little and paying nickels to go to the movies. Every new format added rather than replaced - even if video killed the radio star!
Then again you can feel free to shut down your Archie, Veronica and Gopher servers. And try selling that old 8Track player on eBay.
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 10:30 PM | Comments (1)
Everywhere is here!
Got two minutes?
Quite a few people are pointing to this video and I think it's a good investment of two minutes.
What is the future of the library? from Guy Adam Ailion
Quite a few good concepts packed into two minutes.
What is the future of the library?
Everywhere is here.
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 8:57 AM | Comments (0)
Preparing for the New Media Literacies
Here's my column for Multimedia and Internet@Schools in the Mar./Apr. 2009 Issue
Preparing for the New Media Literacies
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 7:24 AM | Comments (0)
The New Normal
Finally catching up!
Here's my April/May Information Outlook column:
The New Normal
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 7:13 AM | Comments (0)
Happy Canada Day
It's the first of July and therefore it's Canada Day! Yay, eh!
If you want to be Canadian for a day, watch this fantastic video and you'll be trained:
So you want to be Canadian . . .
Of course, you'll need to like getting your milk in bags, eat poutine, apologize for Celine Dion, tear up at Canadian Tire commercials, and more.
Have a great day, eh.
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 3:26 AM | Comments (0)
June 30, 2009
IMLS Publishes FY 2007 Public Libraries Survey Report
Ahhh, remember 2007. Good times! And then that nasty economic downturn hit.
IMLS Publishes FY 2007 Public Libraries Survey Report
"The report includes a number of key findings to assist the library community, and policymakers, at the local, state, and national level, in making decisions to better their communities.
- The growth in per capita circulation from FY 2006 to FY 2007 was a continuation of the steady growth that has occurred since FY 2000. Per capita circulation grew from 6.4 materials per person to 7.4 materials per person from FY 2000 to FY 2007, an increase of 16 percent.
- Nationwide, visits to public libraries totaled 1.4 billion, or 4.9 library visits per capita, a small increase from the 4.8 visits per capita that were made during FY 2006. As in the case of per capita circulation, this is a continuation of a larger, longer upward trend. Per capita visitation increased from 4.2 to 4.9 between FY 1998 and FY 2007, an overall increase of 17 percent (Figure 1).
- In FY 2007, total nationwide circulation of public library materials was 2.2 billion, or 7.4 materials circulated per capita; these were slight increases from the 2.1 billion total materials and 7.3 materials per capita that were circulated during FY 2006.
- Internet terminals available for public use in public libraries nationwide numbered 208,000, or 3.6 per 5,000 people. These were increases from the previous year’s figures of 196,000 total terminals and 3.4 terminals per 5,000 people.
- Nationwide circulation of children’s materials was 739.7 million, or 34 percent of total circulation during FY 2007. Attendance at children’s programs was 59.0 million in FY 2007, up from 57.6 million the prior year.
The FY 2007 survey is the 20th in the series. On October 1, 2007 responsibility for the PLS was transferred from to IMLS from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), along with the State Library Agencies Survey. The U.S. Census Bureau collects the data under a contract with IMLS. The survey’s extraordinary response rate results from the cooperative effort between the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, IMLS, and the Census Bureau."
For more information on library statistics, visit http://www.imls.gov/statistics.
The report is available in PDF format. http://harvester.census.gov/imls/pubs/pls/index.asp
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 9:45 PM | Comments (1)
Those Multitasking Teens
TechCrunch is reporting on a new report from Nielsen that tries to debunk the generalization that all teens are blogging, facebooking and twittering fools.
Apparently they're doing much the same as the rest of us - except possibly it's the rest of us who caught up to the early adopters.
Here are some of the US teen things reported by Nielsen:
1. Social networks play an increasingly important roles in the lives of teens
2. Teens consume a lot of non-connected media too, such as TV, radio and even newspapers. Of course, watching the kids I know, this might be all doe at the same time!
3. "According to Nielsen, teenagers are far from abandoning TV for so-called new media. In fact, television viewing rates among U.S. teens have actually gone up 6% in the last five years. Sure, they browse the Web a lot, but far less than you do. The average time spent browsing for an adult person in the United States comes down to about 29 hours and 15 minutes per month. While I reach that average almost on a daily basis, teens are said to browse the Web a lot less than that: 11 hours and 32 minutes per month on average."
TechCrunch asked why teens spend less time online than adults. I'd suggest that the disconnected state of high school classrooms and the connected nature of most adult jobs easily accounts for this.
4. "if you’re between 25 and 34 years old, you watch online videos about 35% more than teens do (and they don’t have to go to the office every weekday)
5. Teenagers enjoy video games, but they don’t necessarily carry a particular interest in ones that are violent of nature
6. Teens who recall advertising are 44% more likely to say they liked the ads than adults (ok now I’m scared)
7. 1 out of 4 teens reads newspapers daily
8. one last takeaway from the report is that teens evidently have their favorite TV shows, websites and genre preferences … only they’re almost exactly the same as their parents."
You can download the report over at NielsenWire, or consult the embedded file at the bottom of the TechCrunch post.
I think the Nielsen report shows that it's no longer about teens and the new normal is fully here. What's next?
For a start I'd watch for:
a. Significantly more mobile search in North America (the Jackson death created a huge mobile search spike).
b. Extra special features being added to the social networks to take them to the next level.
c. Interactive TV now that the TV broadcast system is totally digital and able to accept two-way communication. Watch for the Fall network sweeps weeks to be interactivity on steroids. I don't just mean reality TV or the dancing and singing competitin shows. In a couple of years we'll be choosing plotlines.
Next station arriving on the web. No one can get off this time.
Stephen
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 9:33 AM | Comments (2)
E-Government Needs Public Libraries
Now more than ever public libraries must promote the role they play in the fabric of society. As government services and communications go increasingly more web based the role of the public library as a point of contact for all, especially those in the digital divide, needs to be clearly known.
ALA is there for everyone again.
U.S. Public Libraries and E-Government Services [PDF] is a new issue brief from the American Libraries Association (ALA). From the press release announcement:
Roles of public library technology in supporting E-government highlighted in new issues brief
“Public libraries often are the only organizations within a community that can help individuals interact with government agencies and access e-government services,” said ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels. “As more and more government information and services are becoming only available online, there is an urgent need for governments to collaborate with public libraries to provide e-government services that best meet community needs.”
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 9:27 AM | Comments (0)
Unselfish Communication
As we approach this long weekend for Canada Day in Canada and July 4th in the US, take a look at the conversations you will have around the BBQ and try to remember them.
They're often the perfect mix of conversations with family, close friends, new friends and acquaintances.
Read this Bivings posting first:
Demystifying the Social Medianess – Unselfish Communication
What makes us social?
Bivings suggests that when we are social, we talk, communicate, share ideas, give advice, help, listen, swap recipes, share sports scores, tell stories, etc.
Now think about your social presence on the digital world and your identity there. Is there any relationship at all? I find mine is pretty close. My friends in real life are often friends on my social sites. My family is there, mostly. And there are quite a few colleagues and other acquaintances.
Anyway, I always enjoy the Summer long weekends. It's fun to see how things are moving closer together.
What are you sharing at the Summer BBQ that your share around the water cooler and also online?
Has it changed over the last five years with the emergence of social networking sites? At least Facebook doesn't remember your toilet training disasters or high school disappontments like family does! My advice, try to hide the family pictures before they show up there... (grin).
Have a great weekend.
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 8:43 AM | Comments (0)
Documenting the Digital Generation
Henry Jenkins points to a great new project on his blog, Confessions of an Aca-Fan.
"The George Lucas Educational Foundation recently launched an exciting new website -- Digital Generation -- which offers a wealth of videos which will be relevant to anyone who wants to better understand the new media literacies, participatory culture, and young people's online lives, themes which recur here with great frequency."
Watch the videos. I was enthralled.
Cool researcher interviews like the MacArthur Foundation's Digital Media and Learning initiatives, including Katie Salen, Howard Gardner, Sasha Barab, John Palfrey, James Paul Gee, Henry Jenkins, and Mimi Ito.
Then there are the kids - It's like watching a focus group behind the two-way mirror. Voyeuristic research.
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 8:17 AM | Comments (0)
June 29, 2009
Alliance Library System Trends Report
SirsiDynix client, ALS (the Alliance Library System) in Illinois is a multitype consortia that includes nearly every kind of library and it's one of our most innovative! You might have visited them in Second Life.
Anyway, some library systems do annual reports and there have been some great innovations there too. However, ALS has gone one step further and published the ALS Trends Report. It's on their website and they've done a presentation to their boards and funders.
2009 ALS Trends Report Released
"Annually, the Alliance staff write a report highlighting the main socioeconomic and demographic trends that impact libraries. It includes the major trends, changes in the Illinois’ demography and the very popular Watch List that points to the 26 most interesting libraries in North America."
(29 page PDF)
I recommend reading it for the content as well as an example of something that educates your communities about the role and challenges facing libraries today.
Congratulations on a great report to Kitty Pope and her team. Thanks for sharing.
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 11:14 AM | Comments (0)
NEFLIN
I had a nice trip to Jacksonville Florida to do the luncheon keynote at the NEFLIN Technology Day.
Here's the PowerPoints:
Innovation in Libraries: NOW more than ever
I had some great conversations with SirsiDynix clients and others about our mutual future.
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 10:54 AM | Comments (0)
Moving Ads in Kansas
I found this via LIS News. Congratulations to Johnson County Library System for being creative.
The full story is here:
Library trucks bear literary ads
"If delivery trucks driving around Johnson County emblazoned with ads for peculiar businesses prompt some double-takes, they’re doing their job.
Benjamin Button’s Diaper Service?
Kafka’s Pest Control?
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’s Pharmacy?
No, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are not entering the CVS-Walgreens War.
Four literary themed trucks are part of a new ad campaign for the Johnson County Library. Officials hope the trucks will spark interest and bring even more readers to their doors."
What are your best ideas for engaging library ads on your vehicles, book drops, bus shelters, etc.?
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 8:12 AM | Comments (0)
June 28, 2009
Google Books, Scholar and Good Enough
Steve Arnold, one of my favourite industry iconoclasts and the author of several books about Google, gave the keynote at NFAIS on June 26th. I wish I'd been there but he has put his speaking notes up on his blog, Beyond Search. In this speech he speculates about what Google's endgame is. They're worth a read.
Google Books, Scholar and Good Enough
Here are his conclusions as a teaser. Read the whole speech.
"In closing, will there be a sequel to this epic battle between Google and its challengers? I have no idea. I can offer three closing observations:
First, Google has a system that works a bit like Lego blocks. Services, even information, can be snapped together. It is, therefore, imperative that those who want to understand Google look beyond advertising, Web search, and the squabble over Google Books. The company can morph without warning. This makes Google a very formidable competitor. How long would it take Google to become a publisher and resolve copyright by asking me to “publish” my next study for Google, for distribution by Google, and for monetization by Google. In my case, not long at all. My traditional publishers are struggling and their woes impact my financial future. Maslow’s hierarchy comes into play, not a love of tradition.
Second, those fighting Google have to recognize that Google is not a small company. Forget the lava lamps. Google can be a dominant force in certain battles. Without resources, fighting Google can be a difficult proposition. Viacom has been chasing Google for years. What’s the status? Stalled by legal maneuvers. This is an arena for those with considerable funds, lawyers, and stamina. European legal challenges may be contentious. Google Books is not deep linking. Google Books is a large dataspace.
Third, I am pragmatic. For years, I have been urging publishers to surf on Google. Now “wave” has another meaning. Google’s newest technology can engulf some organizations. For some, Google presents an opportunity for a thrilling ride. For libraries faced with funding pressures, Google offers one way to obtain digital instances. For scholars, something good enough may have to do. For others, Google represents a powerful force that can change landscapes. Like some natural forces, Google operates slowly. Are we discerning what is truly significant about Google Books? Are we watching a minor feature, not the major thrust of the activity? I am trying to get the right perspective. Are you?"
Steve always looks beyond what's happening now and sees the potential consequences and scenarios. He's always interesting.
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 12:54 PM | Comments (0)
Using the Social Web to Promote Ideas
Gary Hayes has offered up a wonderful photo grap[hically arraying key Web 2.0 social networking sites to promote ideas to the world. This version is copyright Gary Hayes under Creative Commons licensing:
"By Gary Hayes and Laurel Papworth - From a presentation I gave at SPAA Fringe on Saturday 25 Oct 2008 in Sydney. Concepts behind this covered in the slides embedded on www.personalizemedia.com/the-future-of-social-media-enter.
* INVOLVE - live the social web, understand it, this cannot be faked
* CREATE - make relevant content for communities of interest
* DISCUSS - no conversation around it, then the content may as well not exist
* PROMOTE - actively, respectfully, promote the content with the networks
* MEASURE - monitor, iteratively develop and respond or be damned!"
Use this photo as a discussion starter about how your library will promote the idea of the library!
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 9:35 AM | Comments (0)
June 27, 2009
Geek The Library
Have you reviewed the Geek The Library site yet?
The ‘Geek the Library’ campaign, was made possible by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and built by OCLC. It highlights what people are passionate about and how libraries can support them, in an effort to heighten awareness about the critical funding issues public libraries face.
Here are some teasers from the site but it is really worth a visit for the visuals, celebrities and resources:
"It's All About You. Turn your passions into support.
No matter who you are, there are things you are passionate about—things you geek. Maybe you geek engineering or hip hop. Maybe you are passionate about composting, schooners or vampires. Or maybe you just geek the weather.
Whatever you geek, serious or fun, the public library supports you.
The Geek the Library project is a community-based public awareness campaign aimed at spreading the word about the vital and growing role of your public library, and to raise awareness about the critical funding issues many U.S. public libraries face.
The Goal
The campaign hopes to inspire a conversation about our incredible public libraries and their urgent need for increased support. We hope you tell people what you geek, how the public library supports you and your community, and that everyone in your community benefits from the services your local library provides.
The campaign is sponsored by OCLC, a nonprofit library cooperative that has provided services to help libraries deliver more to their users for four decades. Supported by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, OCLC partnered with Chicago-based marketing communications agency Leo Burnett USA to create the campaign."
Encourage your users to join the campaign and get the e-mails. It's a good site. [Unfortunately it's restricted to US residents only. (Hint - to get the newsletter, just make up a zip code. It's too bad international companies, like everyone involved in this site, are being chauvinisitic. Web scale used to mean international.)]
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 9:07 PM | Comments (0)
June 26, 2009
Book Launch 2.0
You gotta love this YouTube Video that addresses how to promote books. This one is about promoting a new book as an author or publisher but there's lots to learn from it for libraries to.
And it's very funny too.
Stephen
Posted by stephen at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)