http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/2006/12/10/its-cool-to-be-cool/ A common response to hearing discussions such as this is to be dismissive – “It’s just geeks being clever. We need to adopt a user-focused approach to development, and we must deploy formal user needs analysis. And we should be dispassionate about the services we’re developing – so the ‘cool’ word is banned! ” Although there is a need to take a user-focused approach to development, I would argue that there’s also a need to encourage a ‘cool’ approach to development, especially at a time of rapid technological development that we are currently seeing. I think encouraging “cool” stuff […]
Contributors Michael Stephens
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Via The Church of the Customer Blog comes a link to an essay by Jeff Barr about presenting in Second Life: http://www.jeff-barr.com/?p=707 We might also use it as a guide for getting comfortable in SL as more librarians come into the environment: Spend time in world Attend some events Master the basics Dress the part (This include some useful links, including a links to SL Clothing sites. I think my black shirt, jeans and flip flops are getting tired.)
A BIG congrats to my friend Aaron Schmidt on his new position as director of the North Plains Public Library.
The mayor of Cybrary City, Paul Miller of Talis, will officially welcome Cybrary City residents and other interested librarians on Wed, December 6 at 2:30 pm sl time, 4:30 central, and 5:30 Eastern to welcome everyone. The welcome will be held on the plaza in front of the new conference center. Second Life Blog A few of the Dominican faculty gathered and we projected my Mac running SL up on the screen in a library training room yesterday for this event. Afterward, we toured some areas of the island and SL in general. My avatar got stuck in a sitting […]
You have new Picture Mail! Originally uploaded by The Shifted Librarian. I can’t wait to get my copy! Have you ordered yours? http://www.techsource.ala.org/ltr/gaming-and-libraries-intersection-of-services.html If you are any type of librarian and you are curious about all this talk about gaming, gamers, library services, learning and literacy, then this is certainly a publication to checkout. Even if I didn’t present with Jenny and write with her at TechSource, I’d still point you all to this resource!
Via Michael Casey: I appreciate Director Charles Brown’s encouraging remarks and Helene Blower’s enthusiasm. I feel honored to have helped kick off this learning initiative with Michael Casey back in August. A great shout out to the folks at PLCMC! And don’t miss the PLCMC Orientation Video for new staff, another innovative use of YouTube!
Via AL Direct comes this news story about Plainfield Library in Illinois, where instead of trying to block access, they are embracing their young users and diving into social networking: http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/158984,4_1_JO04_MYSPACE_S1.article Young Adult Librarian Joe Marcantonio noticed this summer that nearly every teenager on a computer terminal had their MySpace.com Web site pulled up the entire time. For some, it was the only reason they ventured into the library. Librarians decided to join them in the world of social cyber-networking and put up their own MySpace site, www.myspace.com/plainfieldpubliclibrary. There, they post bulletins about programs and pictures from events, and can […]
Wandering Eyre points to a Job 2.0 http://ac2.aclin.org/item.cfm?code=joblinei&mid=4939 Librarian 2.0, Wilkinson Public Library, Telluride (Open Until Filled) Librarian to deliver techno-savvy reference to an educated, enlightened resort community in SW Colorado. Must have MLS, strong general reference skills, and be an enthusiastic team player. Interest in blogging, RSS, wikis and IM reference essential. Strong Spanish skills a plus.
Thanks to Brenda Chawner, School of Information Management, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand for having me back on Thursday to present to folks at the library at VUW. It amazes me how easy it is with a mic, headphones and some software to reach across the (flattening) globe and across the date line to discuss social technologies with librarians! We tested the connection from my office at Dominican today and it worked great! Update: Oops! Just got word from Brenda we are rescheduling to February. Oh well. The world may be a bit more flat by then anyway!
David King & Michael Porter Originally uploaded by davidking. These two fine fellows just announced they will be writing the Internet Spotlight column in 2007! Well done! I look forward to their articles. If they are anything like the incredible essays and insights at LibraryMan and David Lee King – watch out! Congrats Gents! http://www.davidleeking.com/2006/12/05/david-king-and-michael-porter-make-an-announcement/ http://www.libraryman.com/blog/2006/12/05/public-libraries-magazine-david-lee-king-libraryman-internety/