Monthly Archives: February 2008

50 posts

SJSU Associate Dean for Digital Futures, IT & Tech Services

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 […]

Ten Things… about Academic Libraries

TTW readers know I love a good “Ten Things” post! Run, do not walk to: http://infonatives.wordpress.com/ Ten great things an online academic library can do: Communicate with the academic community Get proper subject librarians who know their stuff to generate the content for the library website! Provide high-quality, easy to use tools to put the content the users created online in various formats (see 4) Keep the content updated Provide consistent interfaces, preferably a single consistent interface where possible Present users with the resources they use, making things one click away Structure information, making it customizable where this is appropriate […]

Put Virtual Reference in the User’s Pocket

Some say that IM is on the verge of extinction and that forging into such territory for virtual reference so late in the game is a waste of a library’s energy. You can surely count me as one of those who agrees with that statement. I predict, as do many others, that virtual reference needs to fit in users’ pockets – in their cell phone. We need to look at the trends happening now (according to PEW, 2006): -47% can’t live without their cell phones -35% use SMS and 13% would like it added to their features The preceding stats […]

Want your own Mii & Wii? Read On!

Jenny Levine and I are joining forces to run a fundraiser for good ole LISHost. Jenny just posted about it at TSL: If you’re a regular online, you probably know or know of Blake Carver. Even if you’ve never met him, you know his work. He’s been running and maintaining the incredible LISNews hub since 1999. This contribution alone is why many of us admire him for his dedication and vision. In 2002, Blake started LISHost, an affordable website hosting service for libraries and libraries. On the very rare occasion the LISHost server goes down, you can tell something’s amiss […]

Do You Trust your Staff? – A TTW Guest Post from Darien Library’s Alan Gray

Maybe most libraries think about it differently, but Darien Library is sending more staff members to Los Angeles for BookExpo America, the majority of whom will be Circulation staff, two of them part-time, than to any other conference this year. It’s a major commitment on our part, but for nearly all our staff, this is the most important event of the year. They love it! Now I wouldn’t expect many east coast libraries to follow suit, but how many libraries out there will be sending part-time OR even full-time Circ staff to BookExpo, and when it comes east next year, […]

Flickr on my AppleTV

Flickr on my AppleTV |Originally uploaded by mstephens7 The AppleTV update dropped today. There’s a lot of new features I’m trying out but I was immediately drawn to the inclusion of Flickr as one of the photo options. I added myself as a contact and suddenly my entire Flickr collection is available. In the photo, you’ll see my recent favorites scrolling by in classic Apple reflection on a slant way. Checkout: Searching for content Search results for Loreena McKennit Previewing a track for purchase. Rent a Movie (with HD option) And look at all the Stevie Nicks! As I finish […]

TTW Guest Post: Cell Phone Sign at Loyola

Dominican GSLS Student Katharine Johnson writes: Last weekend I had the pleasure of joining LISSA (Dominican University’s library student group) for a tour of Loyola University’s new Information Commons located on their Lake Shore Campus.  In short, the place is incredible.  A bookless extension of their library, whoa!  Three floors of computer terminals, many of which are located on long tables to encourage group study and/or spreading out all your books.  Tall ceilings, bright work spaces, fully wired, completely green, and a breathtaking frozen-lake view. The first two floors encourage discussion among students, the third floor is considered the quiet […]