Tame The Web

Everyone have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Nicole writes:

This is an interesting interview:

Great stuff! I’ll be sharing these helpful presentations with my students:
I had a good time presenting at the Arizona Libraries Summer Institute, despite the fact that I was rather ill while presenting (darn food poisoning).  I had a number of very informative and energizing discussions with the staff who attended, and I want to especially thank Jaime Ball for making my entire experience a nice one (again, sans food poisoning). 

I did promise to post my presentations, so here they are!

• Methods for Staying Current (PDF)
• Tools for Staying Current (PDF)

Fred Stutzman writes:http://chimprawk.blogspot.com

For the past two semesters, I’ve taught a course on Online Social Networks at UNC’s School of Information and Library Science. It has been a great experience, and I’ve had an incredible bunch of students. This course has also been an experiment, both in subject matter and instructional technologies. Using Facebook, Del.icio.us,YouTube and a wiki, we created courseware from Web 2.0 tools. Now that the course is over, I’ve had some time to reflect on the challenges, pros and cons of integrating these types of tools into instruction. Integrating Web 2.0 Technologies in the Instructional Process (download PDF) is an early manuscript documenting and reflecting on the process.

The manuscript is a case study of the integration; it combines a survey with analysis of some of the benefits, risks and challenges. I’ll be submitting the manuscript, but I wanted to post a draft here for other instructors. If you’re thinking about integrating Facebook into your course, or you’ve been paying attention to products like Blackboard Sync, this manuscript may be worth your time. This paper focuses on the contextual privacy issues of moving instruction into student spaces of sociality - a complex issue indeed.

I’m planning for two sections of LIS768 this fall. This draft article will be a great help in making sure I’m integrating the most useful technologies. Last semester I learned a lot about using del.icio.us to share/network — it didn’t work as well as I thought.

What did work were the student blogs. The occurrence of commenting and actual conversation was higher than it had ever been before. The caliber of posting was incredible.

I’m impressed as well with the high caliber of research coming out of the scholarly community around Web 2.0 and social networks.

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6556146.html

With the help of Dominican GSLIS student Sarah Dribin, I blogged John Berry’s talk at Dom this spring. He, in turn, picked up on the post for an LJ column on experience:

I think it was Dribin who asked me after the talk what I thought about “experience” as a qualification for a library job. My response to the question “resonated” with her. “Experience is possibly the most overrated asset that an individual can possess,” I had said.

My own students complain bitterly when they find “experience” that they haven’t yet been able to gain listed as a preferred attribute of candidates for entry-level library positions. My comment results from decades watching those in possession of that experience. Some are the great librarians of my era; others, however, have used experience to impede library progress in a host of situations.

I know this must ring discordantly, coming from someone with nearly 50 years of the stuff. But experience isn’t just overrated. It is frequently, too often, a quick and easy way to block change. While change isn’t always positive, it is wrong to use experience to prevent experimentation to see if a change might improve library service—and more common than it should be. Experience has stopped librarian reassignment, clogged upward mobility for the young, stifled new ideas and innovations, and stalled new services and approaches. “We tried that, and it didn’t work,” has put an end to more good ideas than all the budget cuts in library history.

I made the last sentence bold because it’s oh so true. Over lunch today with a dear colleague, we bemoaned the fact that so many innovations and people get stifled while the same old same old continues up above. I applaud the libraries that take chances on new hires, “not so experienced” but oh so eager employees and new ways of thinking.

http://clifflandis.net/2008/04/30/passion-quilt-meme/

The best experiences you’ll ever have are the ones where you’re completely aware, if only for a moment. Look up. Look around. Look within. Be aware of it all.

Last night I talked about the passion quilt as part of our final class in LIS701. I told them about the meme and what I wanted for them as students to bring into the profession. It will be very nice to use these sentiments again in future classes.

Also, don’t miss the pool at Flickr:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/771948@N22/pool/

Created by Steve “Do it now” Lawson

As part of Dominican GSLIS Emerging Library Leaders series, we had Kathryn Deiss, ACRL Content Strategist, in to present on Leadership. I captured some of her points but it was so interesting I stopped typing to listen. Her slides were beautiful — filled with lovely images of nature and flowers.

Some thought provoking statements/questions:

Multiple communication channels are available now for social interaction. How do we lead in this environment? How do we innovate? Some libraries are innovating like crazy: Users vist the Delft DOK library get an automatic text: “Welcome to the world’s most modern library!”

It’s got to be fun. The library has got to be a fun place, no matter what kind of library.

Kathryn asked the crowd:

How do you know a leader when you see one? What are they doing?

Inspiring
Listening
Forecasting
Guiding
Imagining/Visioning
Positive
Proactive
Confident
Curious
Laughing

Seven Views of Leadership: Genetics, Learned, Heroic, Top-Only, Social Script, Position, Calling.

Building Leadership Competence:

Understand the operation
Do the quotidian work of managing
Seek teacher and mentors
Teach and mentor others

Discover your purpose and voice:

Why are you where you are?
What are your personal values?
What do you think and why?
How do you express yourself?

Balancing Managing & Leading

Awareness of your environment - Understand the organization, keep eyes on the horizon, identify opportunities and act
Balance plans with improvisation
Balance the strategic and the operational
Practice self-awareness and social-awareness (two components of emotional intelligence)

An engaging night for sure. Thanks for coming to Dominican Kathryn!

 

Our University librarian Inez Ringland is retiring after 23 years of service. Yesterday, after the last faculty meeting of the semester, we gathered for a toast and a photo opp.

Cheers to Inez!

Photo by Sharon Tobin

One of my goals for the summer is to get a handle on Drupal. I’d like to incorporate it into LIS753 Internet Fundamentals and Design at Dominican. I’d like to assign workgroups the task of creating a library Web site with the OSS app. How’s the learning curve folks?

I missed this presentation, but luckily Ellyssa Kroski, who just got a great review for her book in LJ, put up “Drupal & Libraries” from CIL2008 at Slideshare - complete with audio track:

http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/2008/drupal-and-libraries-at-cil2008/

To get started, I’ll be listening and watching tomorrow in my office. Then, I’ll ask Blake for a sandbox. 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6moTG6uudQ

This group create a plan for designing and recording tutorials for library databases

Google presentation slides here.

A couple of weeks ago, my LIS701: Introduction to libraries and Information Science class had an incredible treat. Marshall Shore, from the Maricopa County Library, was coming to Chicago and agreed to talk to my class about innovation and design thinking in libraries.

You may have read about him here.

Or listened to him here.

Or viewed him here.

Marshall talked about cool things the folks at his library have done with designing spaces and systems for users, including the Deweyless library. He also engaged the class with some ideas about taping into user wants, user behaviors and emerging trends. How can we design the best libraries to fit the needs of the community? The discussion was great and I hated for it to end.

We meet at Chicago Public Library and we’re a small group: only 8 students. So having Marshall stop by and share some of his thinking and stories was a perfect thing for this small but excited group. THANKS Marshall.

This group created a program around Apple’s garageband and detailed how they would run a contest. We had a demo of using the program as well.

YOUR Public Library is hosting a GarageBand Battle. The deadline to post creations will be July 31st. Prior to the deadline lab time will be made available Wednesday from 10am to 12pm and 6pm to 8pm. Bring in a copy of your entry on a CD to be uploaded to http://yourlibrary.podOmatic.com/  along with the signed waiver.  Have your freinds, families and foes listen to your music creation to make comments. The entry with the most comments wins Rock Band for PSP or Wii.

Wordpress:  Open source blogging/CMS.

Blogging for a Good Book: Sample Wordpress site (hosted).

LibraryThing: Catalog your whole library online.

Scriblio: Open source OPAC/CMS.

Lamson Library: Sample Scriblio site.

Drupal: An engine suitable to setup or build a content driven or community driven website. Modular design allows flexibility in design.

Franklin Park Public Library: Sample Drupal site.

Fish4Info: a next generation social alternative library portal. (See this for more info.)

 

Rickrolled in LIS753

Originally uploaded by mstephens7

My students creativity during downtime and breaks in LIS753 knows no bounds.

This group prototyped a program for library users and developed a test YouTube video promoting a library. I think this video took a definite “art house” turn.

 

This group developed a podcast presence for a fictional Minnesota library. Here are the links to the podcast group’s blog:

Twin City Public Podcast Blog: http://lis768.blogspot.com/

The Twin Cities Public Library system has created a Podcast Blog to keep members of the community (and all interested parties) informed of events in the library, introduce patrons to new books and music, listen to storytime, share podcasts made here in the library, and provide another service to all community members. Please subscribe to our RSS feed and give your input regarding the types of podcasts you want to hear.

The group also experimented with Wordpress to embed the podcasts in the posts. 

http://wkeillor.wordpress.com/podcasts/

Don’t miss the original children’s story!

 

Dewey or Don’t We

This group took on exploring the creation of the Deweyless library. Check out the results in their video and watch for ultra-cool Marshall Shore at the end.

Dominican GSLIS hosted a presentation a few weeks ago by Library Journal’s John Berry, as part of our Emerging Library Leaders series. John spoke about having a voice and participating in the profession. I thoroughly enjoyed his talk, even though it was one day after getting back from Australia. I captured a couple of his points through my jet lag:

On becoming a well-rounded practitioner: Your professional development time will be more important than the time spent on your job.

On writing/blogging: Don’t be afraid of controversy.

On Blogging and putting yourself out there: For every error you make, you get the gratification of hundreds or sometimes thousands correcting you.

Luckily, one of my students was a few rows in front of me, typing away on her Mac. I asked her if she might distill her notes into a paragraph for TTW. Sarah agreed:

While attending John Berry’s lecture was insightful on many levels, one thing he said rose like cream above the whole milk of his message, “Experience is possibly the most overrated asset that an individual possess.” As a proto-librarian on the cusp of a career culture clash, these words resonated, mostly because I do have limited experience in the field, and I also happen to have a glut of ideas, theories, and methodologies I’m anxious…yearning (zealous!) to put into practice. While experience is important, as Mr. Berry conceded shortly calling it overrated, is it something that is gained through observation, experimentation, growth, and the subsequent accumulation of wisdom. These elemental steps can only occur when we, as fledglings to the field, abandon our reverence for the way things have been done and blaze a new trail we are eager to see reinvented by those that come after us.

Thanks Sarah! And thanks to John Berry!

Via Karen Schneider on Twitter comes this link to a job description at San Jose State University:

The Associate Dean for Digital Futures, Information Technology and Technical Services will provide leadership for the development of San José State University Library’s digital initiatives & the utilization of emerging technologies to better serve students and faculty.

The Associate Dean may be in charge of the Library in the Dean’s absence and work as a member of the Dean’s Senior Management Team. The Associate Dean will exhibit leadership, solid management skills, effectiveness in resource management, and the ability to build partnerships within the University, throughout the California State University system and with the community.

A little farther down are the requirements of the position:

Critical Success Factors
The successful candidate will have:

• Vision for the library of the future
• Ability to lead change
• Demonstrated effectiveness in planning and assessing technology-based projects
• Demonstrated effectiveness in organizational leadership within a highly participatory team-based
workplace environment
• Awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a diverse population
• Excellent presentation skills
• Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Successful experience in administering budget allocations
• Academic library experience is preferred

I agree with Karen: it’s a neat job. I also see the list of skills as a roadmap, a justification and a set of standards for LIS education.Planning, and not just technology planning, is important as is leadership in a participatory environment. Also, presentation skills and the holy trinity or oral, written and interpersonal skills. That’s why I urge my students to practice their writing, to take every opportunity they can to speak in class and give presentations, and to be mindful of how they interact with each other, with faculty and with their future colleagues.

Now, how do I make the dreaded group project a useful experience?

GSLIS speaker series attendees

Originally uploaded by The Shifted Librarian

As part of the Emerging Library Leaders series, Jenny Levine spoke to a group of students, faculty and staff last Monday night. I was thrilled to be there and hear her full length Gaming in Libraries talk. The students — many gamers themselves - had some great questions. I am tickled that Jenny got to speak at our school.

Her presentation is here:

http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/presentations/2008/20080204DominicanGaming.pdf

Emerging Library Leaders for the 21st Century Seminar Series
February 4, 2008, 4-6 pm
“Gaming and Libraries: Intersection of Services” presented by Jenny Levine, “Shifted Librarian” blogger and Internet Development Specialist and Strategy Guide, American Library Association.

February 18, 2008, 4-6 pm
“Grant-writing for Beginners: Everything You Need to Know About the Aim, the Pitch and the Score ” presented by Tracie D. Hall, Assistant Dean, Graduate School of Library and Information Science (GSLIS), Dominican University.

March 17, 2008, 4-6 pm
“Get a Voice: Why Writing, Blogging and Speaking Out are Crucial to Advancing Your LIS Career” presented by John Berry, III, Editor-at-Large, Library Journal.

March 31, 2008, 4-6 pm
“Libraries: What It Takes to Lead–An Interactive Workshop for Managers and Aspiring Managers” presented by Kathryn J. Deiss, Content Strategist, Association of College and Research Libraries.

April 14, 2008, 4-6 pm
“Libraries, Advocacy, and the Power of Personal Connection” presented by Emily Sheketoff, Associate Executive Director of the American Library Association (ALA), and Manager of the Washington Office.

All ELL-21 Lectures will take place in the Springer Suites, located on the lower level of the Rebecca Crown Library, 7900 West Division Street, River Forest, Illinois, 60305.  Call (708) 524-6845 or gslis@dom.edu to RSVP your attendance.

I’m attending a meeting this afternoon on campus as part of a discussion of emerging technologies and teaching. A few of us were given ten minutes to talk about what emerging technologies we use in our classes. I’ll be highlighting blogs and RSS (and a few other social technologies) for my segment. I’ll be using this post for the brief “show and tell.”

Blogs in the Classroom:

In 2004, Merriam Webster online announced the most-searched word of the year was blog and noted that one of the most talked about online innovations of Web 2.0 was the use of blog software to create easily updated, content-rich Web sites. The early definition the site provided offers insight into blogs’ genesis as a personal journaling tool:

Blog noun [short for Weblog] (1999): a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer.

Now blogs are used by institutions and university to disseminate information, encourage communication and conversation and enhance learning experiences.

Blogs for My Classes:

LIS701 Class Syllabus & Discussion Blog

LIS753 Class Syllabus & AnnouncementsBlog

LIS768 Class Syllabus (Under Construction for St Kate’s Spring 2008)

LIS768 Library School Toolbar Project

LIS768 University Library Social Network (Using Ning) (includes user blogs & feeds)

Student Blogs:

Blog as Information Tool for School Library

Blog as Student Reflection Tool Blog as presentation Tool (with embedded Powerpoint)

Other Dominican Blogs:

OChemOnline: Dr. Brent Friesen

Crown Library Blog

All of these blogs use an open source software hosted application called WordPress. Editing a blog is done simply via a Web interface. For storing documents, WordPress offers 3GB of space free!

RSS Feeds, Portals & Aggregators

RSS is defined as XML-based metadata content from a blog or other source. Web content is created or published in one place to be displayed in other places, such as in RSS aggregators (also called “readers”).

Many students used Netvibes or GoogleReader to read class blogs and monitor other information sources.

Netvibes Screenshot

Google Reader Screenshot

Del.icio.us:

Using the social bookmarking site’s feeds, all students in LIS768 could contribute articles, Web sites and more to a group tag space: http://del.icio.us/tag/LIS768

A feed of this tag was placed on the class blog with a WordPress widget.

Other Tools Used in GSLIS:

Adobe Connect: “Scalable, interactive web conferencing and multiple personal meeting rooms for everyone across the enterprise.” Video, voice and more in chat environments can extend the online teaching experience.

Other Interesting Links:

University of Minnesota Library UThink: UThink blogs are available to the faculty, staff, and students of the University of Minnesota, and are intended to support teaching and learning, scholarly communication, and individual expression for the U of M community.

Lectures on iPods: Insightful post about students and class lectures on iPod.

YouTube Professors:”Web video opens a new form of public intellectualism to scholars looking to participate in an increasingly visual culture.”

Lecturer Bans Google: “How is that encouraging them to research and analyse? Quite frankly the idea of an academic banning anything is pretty poor in my book, and from the report, she clearly has little grasp on the situation. Surely it would be far better to encourage students to compare resources, to work with them to actually gain this ability to research and analyse?”

Laptop ownership increases among college students: “A new report from EDUCAUSE finds that nearly every college student in the US owns both a computer and a phone; 36 percent of students own two computers.”

Dominican Commencement, January 12, 2008

Originally uploaded by mstephens7

An overdue post! Congrats to all of our winter graduates at Dominican University!

This semester I am working with a student at The College of St. Catherine (Dominican has partnered with the school for a few years) on an independent study examining the information needs and information-seeking behaviors of Second Life Users. Check it out:

http://librariandreamer.wordpress.com/ 

I constructed this research project because I desperately want to know more about people who use virtual worlds. Knowing more about the users can help librarians who are experimenting with how to provide library services and information there.

Virtual worlds present a unique opportunity for librarians to creatively apply the mandate they have to serve user communities. A better understanding of user traits, preferences, needs & behaviors can help design the best services and resources for, and in collaboration with, the denizens of virtual worlds like SL.

This post links to a PDF of the proposal. I am looking forward to working with Margaret this semester. If you’re curious, please monitor her blog for more.

Group project night again! The wiki group is up:

http://crios.info/2007/12/05/wikis/

Their presentation is stored at Google Presentations: http://docs.google.com/TeamPresent?docid=dgprrk86_13fctm4z

The Dominican Graduate School of Social Work Wiki: http://dominicangssw.pbwiki.com/