Take a look at this thoughtful post at a Blog About Libraries: http://blogaboutlibraries.com/2006/08/which-culture-of-is-your-workplace.html Do you work within the “Culture of No”? If you are a leader, do you foster a “Culture of Maybe?” Continuing to wonder why it was that all libraries in the country have not started IM reference led me to start looking at organizational cultures. I came across some interesting stuff that I am certain applies to many libraries. Every innovator in libraries has probably dealt with “NO”, or “Death by a thousand cuts”. There is a subtle difference between the two, the former being (obviously) an […]
Contributors Michael Stephens
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So…are folks at Sony really getting the “This is where we live” Web 2.0 vibe or what? http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,71559-0.html Hoping to tap into the growth of wireless networks across college campuses, other public spaces and within homes, Sony is introducing a new pocket-sized gadget for instant messaging and other internet-based communications. The Sony mylo, slated for availability in September at a retail price of about $350, is a first-of-its-kind product that uses Wi-Fi networks, analysts say. It is not a cellular phone and thus doesn’t carry monthly service fees. And though it could handle web-based e-mail services, it doesn’t support corporate […]
Have you seen all the folks blogging via PLCMC’s learning 2.0 initiative? Wowza!
http://www.socialcustomer.com/2006/08/the_one_where_j.html Most cool post at the Social Customer Manifesto — including this bit that I couldn’t have said better myself: What does this mean? This means that now, organizations now have these social tools to put the humanity back into business to solve the trust problem. In other words, the organizations that will win are the ones that most easily enable customers to build relationships and communities with people they trust.
Tacoma & RSS Originally uploaded by davidking. I really appreciate what Tacoma is doing. Thanks to David King and Jenny Levine for posting!
In just a couple of weeks, Jenny Levine and I head to The Netherlands for the Tilburg Innovation Centre for Electronic Resources institute!Here’s some info for participants in my session: Where Our Users Are: Instant Messaging for Libraries – Michael Stephens (Module 2: Hands-on: Library 2.0 Technologies to Reach out to the Customer) This workshop explores and explains instant messaging in the library setting, including software, training and policy. Ample hands on exercises will give participants a true feel of what launching an IM Reference service at their libraries involves. We’ll discuss implementation strategies, best practices and the possible pitfalls […]
This month, Rachel and I cowrote a piece on sites where you can get help with technology, including PayITForward: Born out of Ann Arbor (Mich.) District Library’s recent Library 2.0 “Library Camp,” Pay “IT” Forward is the brainchild of Scan Robinson, IT manager at the Allen County (Ind.) Public Library. The wiki-based site, built from Web pages that any registered member can edit with just a few simple commands, lists a clearinghouse of public library IT professionals who offer their expertise in all things IT. (As of this writing, the site is still in beta, but is taking shape each […]
Trendwatching? Checkout: http://nomansblog.typepad.com/no_mans_blog/2006/07/youtube_trends_.html To start with some figures, the all times #1 has been viewed 28,643,691 times to date. Closing this list #100 has been viewed 1,543,402 times. 28 million views!!! A few thoughs: Let’s make sure we are offering access and instruction on how to get user content up to this most thriving community. Let’s get some library content up there as well!
http://libraryjournal.com/article/CA6349047.html: How much better it will be, then, to make cell phones and related tools work for the library, rather than making librarians rush around like the zealous shushers of yestercentury, trying to keep this new tool off of our turf. Let’s shift this conversation. Though I suspect we’ll be shushing our users for a long time to come, the conversation should not be about whether to outlaw cell phone devices but how best to put the library into and onto these phones. After all, banning the cell phone will one day seem as silly as trying to ban the […]
Remember this? A TTW reader just sent this: http://newsletter.logoworks.com/index.php/top-ten-reasons-why-people-quit-their-jobs/07/31/2006/ Top Ten Reasons Why People Quit Their Jobs Includes: Management promotes someone who lacks training and/or necessary experience to supervisor, alienating staff and driving away good employees. Management doesn’t allow the rank and file to make decisions or allow them pride of ownership. A visitor to my website E-mailed me a message that said, “Forget about the “professional” decisions—how about when you can’t even select the company’s holiday card without the President rejecting it for one of his own taste?” I can’t help think of the Teen Librarians at ImaginOn at […]