http://sospl.blogspot.com/ Dear Michael: I want to tell you about my new blog. Aside from the standard issues that Librarians face here in Indiana we have a new one that has the potential for disastrous consequences for small public libraries here in Indiana. A large issue, which I feel is being played down by some, is the consolidation of all public libraries in the state. Few Librarians and taxpayers alike feel that this is going to be a beneficial change. Currently there are 238 libraries. The consolidation of public libraries would mean that there are 92. Somehow I got the bright […]
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Employee Learning Week 2007 Originally uploaded by Russ and Lori Find out more here: http://www.librarytrainer.com/index.php/2007/11/20/become-a-champion-of-learning-employee-learning-week-2007/
http://librarygarden.blogspot.com/2007/11/convenience.html This is golden: In the good old days (prior to 1994) many of our customers had to come to us. We were the only game in town. But I’m afraid that our prior near-monopoly on information services made some of us a bit too comfortable. We were able to get away with clunky systems, restrictive policies, and unfriendly staff. Customers didn’t have much of a choice. Well, those days are gone, and they’re not coming back. That doesn’t mean libraries don’t have a lot to offer, but it does mean we have to be much more aware of the […]
http://www.newsweek.com/id/70983/page/1 This week Bezos is releasing the Amazon Kindle, an electronic device that he hopes will leapfrog over previous attempts at e-readers and become the turning point in a transformation toward Book 2.0. That’s shorthand for a revolution (already in progress) that will change the way readers read, writers write and publishers publish. The Kindle represents a milestone in a time of transition, when a challenged publishing industry is competing with television, Guitar Hero and time burned on the BlackBerry; literary critics are bemoaning a possible demise of print culture, and Norman Mailer’s recent death underlined the dearth of novelists […]
In this new world, these models no longer fly: Locked-down library web sites held captive by overzealous IT departments or marketing/PR offices. Technology purchases driven by accounting departments instead of front-line staff and savvy professionals. Technology decisions and plans without staff buy-in. IT projects driven by artificial time lines instead of customer service needs. A siege mentality because of concerns about security, privacy, and safety of data. The models might be better replaced by the traits of the Transparent Library: Make decisions in public. Hold meetings and invite staff and public comment for all major projects. Create multiple avenues of […]
By Michael Casey & Michael Stephens We’re a far cry from the days when technology was solely the domain of the IT folks at the library. Now, much of what we do is linked to using, planning for, implementing, and evaluating all manner of technologies-from web site design/redesign and the rapidly growing trend of using social tools in the library all the way to finding out what hardware works best for the library and how to implement radio frequency identification (RFID). While teams and committees ponder decisions about how a technology will fit in, the big picture decisions also require […]
my Text Message reference flyer Originally uploaded by Joey Digits
Photo by Sarah Houghton-Jan (http://www.flickr.com/photos/librarianinblack/2042615406/) Thanks HLA! I’ve never given a presentation in shorts and the Pineapple Shirt before! http://www.tametheweb.com/talks07/HLATenTechIdeasStephens.pdf
NO CELL PHONE USE IN THE LIBRARY! Originally uploaded by Travelin’ Librarian This one is signed “Library Director.” (Via Michael Sauers)
Don’t miss the compendium of links related to libraries and librarians parties: http://marylaine.com/party.html We all know that librarians are not the prototypical sensible-shoes-wearing little ladies with buns, but did you have any idea how much fun we can be? Here’s a collection of news stories I’ve assembled about some image-busting librarians and the imaginative parties, programs, competitions, and stunts they’ve staged for their communities. To get an idea of what I had to say in this presentation, see my column, “Party People,” http://marylaine.com/exlibris/xlib307.html.