So, you may be sitting in a planning meeting and an idea comes up to add or change a service at your library. One of my key points in planning for technology, and one I think applies to all types of services in libraries is to make sure you are being user-centered. For example, use this checklist to tell if you are proceeding down the wrong path: Does it place a barrier between the user and the service? Is it librarian-centered or user-centered in conception, i.e. is it born from complaints from librarians about users? Does it add more rules […]
Categories Engaging Library Users
156 posts
http://www.teachinglibrarian.org/weblog/2005/03/early-adopter-of-sms-reference.html I apoligize if this made the rounds back in March — maybe because I was at CIL I totally missed it! But this is intriguing. I wonder what their numbers are? How the librarians feel about it? And what the student perception of the library might be because of this innovative service? Take a look at their info page for the service: http://www.selu.edu/Library/ServicesDept/referenc/textalibrarian.html
This is a cross post from the Online Social Network Conference going on now: One thing that has really impressed me is the use of subject-guide categories at Kansas City Public Library. Their site is full of pages that are often updated with local information and general interest stuff as well — and many of the pages have specfiic RSS feeds. ? Take a look at: ? http://www.kclibrary.org http://www.kclibrary.org/guides/computers/index.cfm?article=read&articleID=109 It’s ingenious and I believe they hit on one of the strengths of creating an OSN for a community via the library: highlighting local information. Back in the day — 🙂 […]
Via LISNews: And Internet-connected computers are clearly bringing more people into libraries. Don’t miss today’s NYT article “Libraries Wired, and Reborn” By Steve Lohr. Lohr explores how libraries, the gates Foundation, and access have helped turn around public libraries. It renewed interest. It gave people a chance to learn and unserstand the online world. How cool! I love this line, which could be about anywhere public library: For the library, supplying patrons with access to the Internet and the Web has become central to its mission, an updating of its long tradition of providing information free to the public. A […]
CJ at Technobiblio writes about our older users and a study from The Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project. “While we often talk about the younger generation and how their expectations will/are changing how libraries provide services, remember that there is also a large base of users who, once they get online, are just as enthusiastic about technology as the younger generation.” Well said and I wholeheartedly agree! We teach a “Senior Seminar” Internet series at SJCPL and it is POPULAR!
http://www.lib.unc.edu/house/im_a_librarian.html I love this! (And I was quoted at CIL giving my opinion on Virtual Reference software so this just supports my idea that IM ref could work!) Why not get on a standard system that is deeply ingrained in our techno-culture instead of making our users wade through java-enabled Web pages and chat environements that sometimes do not work the way they should? Give em something they already know. How do we best serve our users? (the PEOPLE part)