Yearly Archives: 2009

294 posts

Trendspotting Questions

I teach trendspotting in my LIS701 and LIS768 courses. This post is very helpful for understanding the process: http://www.trendwatching.com/trends/top15questions/ How do I become a better trendwatcher? First of all, make sure you acquire a point of view about the world around you. The more trends you spot and track, and the more skilled you are at putting these trends in a context, the more guidance you’ll have. Crucial to broadening your point of view: be curious and be open minded. Not an easy thing to do. We’re all set in our ways, we all have our strict beliefs about what is right and […]

Beyond 2.0: Playful Teamwork

        http://beyond2point0.blogspot.com/ From February 23 to May 4, 2009, the Virginia Beach Public Library will offer Beyond 2.0 – Playful Teamwork, a life-long learning and team collaboration experience for library staff. The program is designed to: enhance business practices through the use of technology to improve internal operations and communications and enhance services to citizens contribute to a fun, playful workplace that inspires collaboration among library staff members expand library staff’s knowledge base foster implementation of web 2.0 skills The Beyond 2.0 program is be comprised of two parts: A learning based blog A staff collaboration opportunity […]

The Transparent Library: Dear Library Directors

… As people find information “on the fly” or “just in time,” how can we still play a role? We’re excited to see new ways libraries are offering reference: texting, Meebo, and outreach to places like Panera Bread. It’s not time to stop those innovations. Could your reference staffers be doing their jobs in other channels? In other spaces? We were impressed by Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH, and others that have changed imposing reference desks to friendlier stations where staff and users stand beside one another. The reference interview these days should be all about collaboration and context. But remember […]

Pew on Twitter

As of December 2008, 11% of online American adults said they used a service like Twitter or another service that allowed them to share updates about themselves or to see the updates of others. Twitter and similar services have been most avidly embraced by young adults. Nearly one in five (19%) online adults ages 18 and 24 have ever used Twitter and its ilk, as have 20% of online adults 25 to 34. Use of these services drops off steadily after age 35 with 10% of 35 to 44 year olds and 5% of 45 to 54 year olds using […]

Dear Library Directors

By Michael Casey & Michael Stephens We appreciate your feedback, positive and negative. As we move into 2009, even as you grapple with budget challenges, keep in mind that these Five Things We Just Can’t Ignore in Libraries require moxie more than money. Privacy: We really need to rethink our privacy concerns, offer varying levels of opt-in, and educate our users about a networked world in which our life streams are saved through social networks and servers in the “cloud.” We believe the default should be privacy, but if patrons want to share, we should let them. Rethink your library […]

News from Australia

Katy Watson shared this comment on this post. I wanted to send it out via the blog feed: The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) is shocked by the destruction the Victorian bushfires have caused to lives, townships and communities. We thank all the Australians and Australian libraries that are supporting these devastated areas and encourage everyone to donate time and money to assist those affected. Donations can be made to the Red Cross bushfires appeal. The information below has been kindly supplied by John Murrell – Public Libraries Victoria Network President. Victoria’s Devastating Bushfires The horrific bushfires across Victoria over the weekend have devastated the lives of […]