Tame The Web » Librarians, Libraries & the Profession

EVERYThing will Change

Michael — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:41:45 +0000

LogoColors, a photo by widgetsandstone on Flickr.

Via one of my students, just discovered this campaign:

http://www.widgetsandstone.com/CustomContentRetrieve.aspx?ID=3999890

Various fluorescent colors of the campaign logo.

This was part of a marketing campaign to draw citizens to a visioning event to give their ideas on how the Chattanooga library system could be reinvented.

Other parts of the street marketing campaign were stickers, coasters and coffee cup sleeves — all done with the initial “Nothing Will Change” message, then followed by the altered “Everything Will Change” message. Ads direct mailers and web page were also part of the overall campaign.

The end result was a success, with over 200 people attending the visioning event (exceeding the 50 expected by the library consultants leading the event).

Overcoming e-book ‘stagnation’ by Åke Nygren

Michael — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:21:55 +0000

Don’t miss this article by Åke Nygren at InformationToday Europe:

http://www.InfoToday.eu/Articles/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=80411&PageNum=2

Åke explores how Stockholm Libraries are responding to e-book stagnation:

Since 2010 the Stockholm Public Libraries have been working hard at coming to grips with the conflict between a growing public demand for e-books and the devastatingly low percentage of e-books available in their stacks. The overall conclusion: instead of waiting for a print oriented publishing market, paralysed by its anxieties for possible loss of market shares, let’s get the job done ourselves!

Later:

The third step will be to explore the potential with EPUB 3, an open format that has the potential to move e-reading from a disclosed and lonely activity towards an open, creative and social experience.

In brief, Stockholm Public Libraries response to e-book stagnation is to:

Cooperate: we can’t do it on our own, let’s find strategic partnerships, for e-book openness and innovation.
Digitise: let’s not just sit and wait. If nobody else seems keen on digitising, well, then we do it ourselves.
Integrate: making literature accessible for everybody in 2012 is not just about digitisation, it’s also a question of packaging and integration of the content in user friendly and flexible user interfaces.
Engage: let’s explore the potential of co-creating new content together with the users of today: the prosumers.

Make Something … at Portland Public Library

Michael — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:25:04 +0000

Don’t miss:

http://www.libraryasincubatorproject.org/?p=2045

TTW Contributor Justin Hoenke answers some questions about the library as a creation space for teens:

How do artists use your library?

Every day after school we get anywhere from 30-60 teens using our teen library space. I see the teens making music, art, and videos on their laptops everyday. A lot of them also sit around and doodle, and the almost always give me their finished products. I’ve got quite a compilation of teen artwork created in the library that someday I hope to put together and feature in the library!

This image gallery is a collection of pieces that teens completed in the Portland Public Library as part of the Searching For ME program, where teens designed their own story in their image. The program was a collaboration with The Telling Room and The Maine College of Art. All photos are courtesy of Justin Hoenke.

Petition for School Libraries

Michael — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:49:14 +0000

Please, TTW Readers, follow this link and sign the petition:

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/!/petition/ensure-every-child-america-has-access-effective-school-library-program/tmlbRqfF?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl

Every child in America deserves access to an effective school library program. We ask that the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provide dedicated funding to help support effective school library programs. Such action will ensure more students have access to the resources and tools that constitute a 21st century learning environment. Reductions in school library programs are creating an ‘access gap’ between schools in wealthier communities versus those where there are high levels of poverty. All students should have an equal opportunity to acquire the skills necessary to learn, to participate, and to compete in today’s world.

StoryTubes 2012

Michael — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:40:43 +0000

Don’t miss:

http://www.storytubes.info

StoryTubes 2012, the two-minute or shorter, ”my favorite book” video contest is open as of J

anuary 20, 2012 and accepting English speaking entrants from throughout the world. It is open for kids in grades K – 12.

Congrats to Luis Herrera, LJ’s 2012 Librarian of the Year

Michael — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:56:44 +0000

http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2012/01/managing-libraries/luis-herrera-ljs-2012-librarian-of-the-year/

“I have a great team. My mentors all said, ‘Surround yourself with good people,’ and I did,” says Herrera.

Such humility and kindness is key to Herrera’s success in San Francisco and to winning this award. In short, he got voters to extend SFPL support for 15 years. He employed his participatory management style to create a rare alliance between management and union. He invoked an ability to build strong and effective partnerships with other city departments, while his unusual brand of courage let staff teams make major management and organizational changes and decisions. Herrera is LJ’s 2012 Librarian of the Year because of his joyous spirit and infectious optimism about libraries and his willingness to communicate that optimism to all those involved, especially the citizens of San Francisco.

I was very luck to meet Luis at the Salzburg Global Seminar (where we celebrated his birthday!). I am very glad to see him honored for his out standing work.

Please Help TWIL

Michael — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:22:37 +0000

Folks – Please follow these links and read about the grass roots effort to help our colleagues and friends at “This Week in Libraries.”

http://www.facebook.com/helptwil

http://helptwil.tumblr.com/post/15878761386/help-twil-it-is-time-to-lend-a-hand

This Week In Libraries has done so much for developing libraries worldwide. The show shares the stories of library innovations and best practices from all over the world.

Now it’s our chance to help out. Our favorite hosts Erik and Jaap need our help. We want to do some crowd-funding for them. We are committed to raising enough money to keep TWIL on the air for its third season in 2012. Our goal is $10,000 US / €7,800 EU.The good news is that you can help. By supporting the “Help TWIL” campaign, you can keep the cameras rolling. Everyone who donates can have their name and country listed on an episode of TWIL as a public Thank You! Anonymous donations is also possible.

All you need to do is click the donation button on the top of this page and donate via the PayPal accounts that have been set up for this special initiative. It is quick and easy.

If you love This Week In Libraries, the first-ever global library internet TV show, and want to keep it on the air, please make a donation today and go to our facebook page for updates and extras. Please pass this along to your colleagues!

Thank you for your support for Help TWIL.

If you have in any way been touched by these wonderful fellows – Erik & Jaap – please consider donating to help them keep doing TWIL.

6 minutes to print a book, Espresso Book Machine, Darien Library

Michael — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 15:53:20 +0000

Via Kathryn Greenhill.

Library on Wheels – Blogging Gold from Char Booth

Michael — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 18:56:03 +0000

Please do not miss:

http://infomational.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/project-curve-part-five-library-on-wheels/

Just a snippet demonstrates Char Booth’s evidence-based, grounded approach to library outreach and technology:

the mobile shift: not exactly news

Now, down to project business. Mobile platforms and services have become one of the most handily bandied-about concepts in libraryland over the last few years, and for very good reason. Recent research from ECAR, PIL (pdf), and Pew (among others) documents a mobile shift in personal and academic connectivity, communication, and access among learners. My own research for the Council of Chief Librarians of California Community Colleges in 2011 examined in part the receptivity of participants to mobile library functionality, which resoundingly confirmed mobile trends. Figure 27 shows mobile library interest among smartphone/web-enabled mobile device owners, which represented 56% (N=1,453) of our five-campus survey population (CCL LTES Final Report, p. 36).

In all categories, a majority of respondents indicated they were very or fairly likely to use mobile library content, research, and support options from their device, significantly higher than other technology applications such as location-based services and social media (with the exception of a Facebook and YouTube). See Figure 26 (ibid., p 34).

Young Whipper Snapper No More – A TTW Guest Post by Dr. Troy Swanson

Michael — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:19:48 +0000

A few weeks ago, I was doing one of my weekly reference shifts. I went to our lower level to see if students using computers down there needed any help. As I was walking along, I thought to myself that it was great that we had these computers. They were added to help ease the demand for machines. I thought, these students should feel so fortunate that we worked this out with campus IT. What a great service improvement! Every computer was in use. Success!

Then, it occurred to me that we added these machines five years ago, and the machines were not exactly new then. Now, they crawl along straining to perform simple tasks like surfing the web and providing basic word processing. Students use them because they are the only option left. They are better than the old type writer we have on reserve. We have scheduled these computers to be replaced for the spring semester, so we will receive a needed upgrade. But, I can remember back to a time when we didn’t have any computer on our lower level at all.

When I reflect on this, I recognize that I’m no longer the young whipper snapper right out of library school. I am starting to feel like one of the old timers. I remember when I walked into this library over a decade ago, and I quickly compiled a list of needs to address and some antiquated processes to update. I remember working with my senior colleagues. I couldn’t understand why they didn’t see things through my eyes.

Now, if you ask my colleagues, they’ll tell you that I am constantly pushing for improvements and driving for change. I want us to be as great as we can be, but I also recognize that I am not immune to remembering the bad-old-days. I remember the 1970s-era library that I entered as I look at our “freshly” remodeled library, even though the remodel took place in 2004. I look at our website, and I think of the two major usability studies and redesigns we conducted. I look at that the shelves of old microfilm, and I think of the weeding we did while fighting to get online access to historical databases. I remember how groundbreaking it felt to institute email reference in 2000. When I think about library instruction, I think how we have tripled our sessions over the last decade.

There is a lesson here for me, but also a lesson that today’s new, freshly graduated librarians should keep in mind.

For the new crop of young whipper snappers coming out of library school, remember that where you see needs, your senior colleagues see improvements. This isn’t to say that if you are new in a library that you should not be an advocate for change. In fact, those of us who have joined the ranks of the old timers need you. We need your fresh eyes and your drive for the future. Don’t be afraid to speak up, but also don’t forget that we don’t necessarily see things with the same eyes. It is easy when you are new, to see the need but not recognize the slow grind of progress.

Of course, I also recognize the lesson for myself in all of this. As I am moving from young whipper snapper into the realm of old timer, I need to remember that users should never feel fortunate about anything. They need to be successful, and it is our job to do our best to help. Improvements should not get in the way of success. I am reminded that it is okay to show off our improvements, but I should never feel satisfied that we are improved.

Troy A. Swanson is Department Chair & Teaching & Learning Librarian at Moraine Valley Community College. You can follow him on Twitter at @t_swanson.

New CEO for Queensland State Library

Michael — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:34:18 +0000

Note from Michael: I worked with Janette on the CAVAL Visiting Scholar Project. We had a wonderful afternoon visiting the good folks at the Yarra Plenty Library while I was in Melbourne. Congrats Janette!

Famous for being a place to expand your mind and change your life, State Library of Queensland will welcome its new CEO and State Librarian in February 2012.

State Library has built a reputation for successfully re-imagining libraries for the 21st century, and new CEO Ms Janette Wright will build on this tradition.

Announcing her appointment, Library Board of Queensland Chairman Professor Roly Sussex said Ms Wright was ideally qualified to lead State Library. He said she was an experienced library professional with an astute business mind.

“Her previous roles in library management and library supply show her to be a new technology innovator with a strong commitment to the future of libraries to support social change and equity. As director of an Australian online publisher she led the development of new content such as “TV-News”, providing on-line access to full video content of Australian broadcast news and current affairs programs under licence for education use. Ms Wright has served at senior levels in the public service and on the council of the National Film and Sound Archive where she convened the Indigenous Materials Collection Committee, working with the archive staff and representatives of indigenous communities to establish policies for the management of sensitive archival materials.” he said.

“Ms Wright’s broad experience of new and traditional environments will strengthen the new world of connections and opportunities which State Library now offers the community, especially in State Library’s new frontier, The Edge.”

“The role of State Librarian attracted a high quality field of applicants, including international candidates, and I am confident we’ve made an outstanding choice in selecting Ms Wright for the position.

“As a CEO and Managing Director, Ms Wright has had an impressive record of success in fostering and promoting leaders in the constantly challenging and changing circumstances of the modern library.

”This is an exciting time for Queenslanders and for State Library.

“We will continue to pursue our ambitious agenda of enriching the lives of all Queenslanders and of being a 21st century pace setter for the rest of the world.

“We look forward to welcoming Ms Wright in the new year and hope all Queenslanders will join us for new ways of seeing the world, connecting with others, and creating and shaping the future of our great state.”

Shhh…

Michael — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:29:15 +0000

Appreciate Inquiry

Michael — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 20:24:30 +0000

Great video from ACPL’s Sean Robinson.

TTW Nominated for Edublogs

Michael — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:58:54 +0000

I am honored that Tame the Web has been nominated for Best library / librarian blog 2011 at The Edublog Awards site. The other nominees are some stellar blogs within our field and I’m knocked out to be among them.

However – I must note that TTW is much more now than just me, it’s also our TTW Contributors and TTW Guest Authors. You may have recently read posts by TTW Contributor Justin Hoenke or guest contributor Dr. Troy Swanson that generated a lot of discussion and interest. As I mentioned on the recent podcast, Jessamyn Wests’s sage advice to “use your blog powers for good” is one of the driving forces behind everything we do here at TTW. Sending out the voices of our contributors and guests is important to me.

If you enjoy the content and conversation here, I would really appreciate it if you would consider voting for TTW this year.

Podcast: Welcome to the New Normal

Michael — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 01:15:06 +0000

I was honored to be invited to chat on this podcast:

http://dquarium.com/bibliotech/bibliotech9

Download Audio

Bibliotech show #9 for Monday November 14, 2011

Welcome to the New Normal

Hosts: Kayhan B., Erin Anderson and Doug Mirams

Guests: Michael Stephens

Topics: Dr. Michael Stephens, Assistant Professor at the School of Library and Information Science at San Jose State University and creator of Tame the Web, a well known library blog, discusses general trends with regards to libraries and technology, Library 2.0, the “New Normal” and much more.