Time for Reflection...

Lavender
Originally uploaded by Iakobos.

Today's photo shows lavender in bloom...wishing I could reflect camped in the middle of a lavender field!

I've been thrilled to participate in this entire learning process. It is the best training I have received at KCLS by far. It has opened the doors to new portals on the web some of which I had only heard about and others I never had.

It's been easy to get comfortable in the email/instant message world and not want to grow much beyond that. I've been somewhat amazed at my reticence; maybe I just don't want the world to change this much this fast.

Having said that, I admit to being so pleasantly surprised by this entire journey. This is by far the best training I've experienced at KCLS. I feel empowered even knowing a wee bit about places like del.ico.us and Flickr and finding wikis not so scary after all. I think this 27 things format would be a great way to continue to provide training as new technologies emerge. I think it's imperative that all KCLS staff are at least somewhat conversant with everything from MySpace to YouTube to RSS feeds, etc. I don't know why this program was strictly voluntary; I do hope new _xx_ things will be required for all employees.

Lastly, if I could suggest a "28th thing" to learn about it would be how to create our own podcast.

Thank you KCLS for putting this training together...and to the Foundation who is providing a new mp3 player!

podcasts

100_2656
Originally uploaded by Virany.

I added "The Library Channel" to my blogroll. It was easy to use Bloglines to get it set up.

I like something I read on a library marketing website. The idea was that libraries need to think about "how we can facilitate" as opposed "how we can communicate." In the case of the latter, it presupposes a one-way communication i.e. the "old" model.

In this sense, I see podcasts being a great way to 'market' our libraries. Having a list of FAQs in podcasts might be a good way to start. Another idea would be podcasts that promote an upcoming library program event.

While I like the idea of using podcasts, they can be too long to wade through before getting to the information I'd actually like to hear. Maybe one day they'll be more like dvds in 'tracking' so one can jump around easily from one topic to another (?)

YouTube

The post preceding this one shows I had a successful venture going into YouTube and posting a video to my blog. Enjoy the kitten so aptly named "Cotton."

YouTube was easy to navigate. I'm sure I'll be spending more time there at home in the future. I think it's a great place for families/friends to share videos.

Unfortunately, though, there is questionable content on the site. It would be nice if YouTube didn't automatically display slides of the latest postings because this is where I saw the questionable content.

MEET COTTON THE KITTEN

This is my first try at posting a video from YouTube. Is there anything on earth cuter than a kitten????

Web 2.0

Boat and Sunset
Originally uploaded by LE Eyes.

The water looks so serene I can almost hear the soft waves touch the shore....(yet another MASSIVE HUGE SIGH!) Alas, one day...

I went to Web 2.0 Award Nominees and selected 'peanut butter wiki'. It says it's an "easy to use webpage that multiple people can edit." There was a quick podcast that described the benefits of using such a service mainly that people can build ideas together as a group as opposed to the blog model.

I set up a test wiki there at http://bassetbudi.pbwiki.com I used a recipe template and typed in one for a favorite recipe given to me years and years ago by a dear friend (Scottish Shortbread...yum!)

They call it pbwiki because "it's easy as making a peanut butter sandwich." It defiitely was easy to do...very user friendly...and free! More advanced features can be purchased a la subscription service.

As I mentioned in my post about wikis in general a few weeks ago, I can see using a wiki to have an easily searchable and editable procedures manual for the Order Dept. I will be investigating that possibility. It is definitely more cumbersome to have multitudes of documents posted on a CMS server to mull through to find the information one needs.

Google Labs

Sleepy nose
Originally uploaded by DevilDoggie.

Today's pic shows the utter serenity of a basset hound asleep. Bassets have the "total relaxation" thing down like few other creatures. I like this photo because I feel like I can reach out and touch this hound's velvety ears.

Google rules! (I guess they already know that, eh? :-)

I checked out the Google Trends. I see a lot of potential for business owners to fine tune their marketing using this tool. It shows the locations of any search i.e. where the search originated from.

I REALLY liked "Google Voice Local Search." It searches for local businesses by name or category by simply saying what you're looking for into your phone. I called the toll-free number 800-466.4411 and it asked me for the town I wanted to search then what I wanted to search. I said "bookstores" and voila! It clearly listed local bookstores, provided addresses and the ability to be connected at the touch of a button. All of this is free of charge (if phoning from a cell phone it may incur airtime fees per one's individual calling plan.)

The idea of "perpetual beta" is good because things are simply changing so fast. The old models of providing a product, selling it, then providing a "new release" (e.g. Millenium) are just that: old. Today's technological world is one of ever-evolving newness from day to day...hour to hour...second to second.

No wonder it feels like time itself is accelerating! But I'll let the physicists among you wrestle with that idea :-)

Scotland - Inveraray Castle

Scotland - Inveraray Castle
Originally uploaded by vtveen.

(Massive huge SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHH) What a beautiful place! Wish I could teleport myself there right now....

Alas, on to the topic for today: Google Docs and Zoho.

I had no idea there was free document/spreadsheet/slide production (etc.etc.) programs on the web. This is incredibly cool! It's very true I don't use even a 10th of what powerful programs like Word and Excel can do. Google Docs and Zoho were really easy to use. I love the ability to collaborate in real time and it being accessible from any internet connection. This lesson has opened a whole new world for me. :-)

Library 2.0

I read through the "OCLC Next Space Newsletter" article named "Where will the next generation Web take libraries?" My overall opinion is that it's an interesting (mostly) philosophical statement on where libraries have been, where they are now and where they need to be going. Like many things in my lifetime, there has been a radical shift in defining what a traditional informational (or recreational) setting would be like. I remember being in elementary school and being told that by 1980, computers would be a part of everyday living. Then, when I saw it starting to happen, I found it intriguing and scary at the same time. Now with the internet, I've seen our lives transformed in something akin to what happened after the Industrial Revolution. So, the question for me is, "how do I negotiate all the rapid transitions required in order to assimilate the constant barrage of 'newness' in my life?" And, the question for libraries is, "how do we collectively negotiate the transitions necessary in order to bring our services to all of our patrons without disengaging patrons who have varying degrees of ability to cope with all that change?"

Now, back to today's post...

1. The following is a quote directly from the OCLC article mentioned above:

<< Another key lesson that O’Reilly emphasizes is the notion that “users add value.” For OCLC and its member libraries, this means expanding our definition of “collective intelligence” beyond the library professional to faculty, researchers, library patrons and others by building into our systems services that encourage these users contribute their expertise to the cooperative. OCLC’s work in this area to date has included a pilot program that allows anyone using Open WorldCat to contribute and share tables of contents, notes and reviews. This of course is just a beginning; over the next year we are planning to offer a variety of “social” services to allow non-cataloging library professionals, library patrons and others to contribute to and use WorldCat. Services under consideration include including tagging, list creation and sharing, citation management, personal cataloging, and the like. >>>

The idea that "user's add value" is something I'm (finally) beginning to understand as it relates to online information. The admonition "don't believe everything you read" is always in the back of my mind. I haven't been able to fully embrace the idea of how collaborative editing is completely useful. My problem stems from validation of the sources doing the editing. For example, while Wikipedia interests me, I still can't embrace it in the same way I do "World Book Encyclopedia" because in the latter's case, I know validation of sources is done and they have a consistent history of providing authentic information.

As I think about the possibilities with WorldCat in the quote above, I see how the collaborative environment could really enhance OCLC's services. I'm reminded of how often I scroll down in Amazon to read what people have to say about the item I'm interested in...and those opinions do affect my buying choices.

2.

<< The range of fulfillment options libraries present their users should extend beyond the options managed and under the control of individual institutions or consortiums. User-initiated services like renewal, recalls, and interlibrary loan requests should be complemented by views into the campus bookstore’s inventory, options to purchase from an online bookseller, displays of availability in any geographically proximate library, opportunities to see and select terms for expedited delivery, etc. User convenience warrants the provision of a comprehensive menu of choices in a single place.>>>

These ideas make a lot of sense to me. It's really akin to the Google model: everything in one easy to understand search box. People want 'one stop shopping' where all the choices are presented. This is where the custom search engines would be especially helpful. It will be interesting to see how KCLS is able to work these ideas into the web interface in the future.

Great Customer Service

I found this article on "Library Marketing: Thinking Outside the Book." I think it shows just how important excellent customer service is...absolutely delighting the customer. Even though the example here features a restaurant experience, there is still much to be gleaned here for KCLS.


The good of customer service

Custom Google Searches

Couldn't resist this bevy of bassets! :-)

I created a Basset Hound custom search engine and added it to my blog. Fun! I also added the KCLS 27 Things Search Engine.

One great idea for search engine use in the library comes from Diana in the Order Dept. She's working on setting up a search roll with a list of vendors to search all the sites at once instead of having to go into each vendor website. I've seen her draft version and am encouraged by her results. This could really help an essential part of our acquisitions workflow.

Search Rolls

Hand-Dyed Sock Yarn
Originally uploaded by helloyarn.

As always, I hunt for a cool pic on Flickr before I post here. Since I don't have a digital camera, I don't have a lot of my own photos to work with. I do have some on cd and will *try* to remember to get some of my own pics uploaded here.

Yep...I'm a knitter. This pic reminded me of what I'm working on now: socks made with 2 circular needles instead of 5 double-pointed needed. Love the hand-dyed colors here...especially the upper left frame.

Today's Learning 2.0 lesson asked me to take a good look around Rollyo. I went to: http://rollyo.com/kcls27things/kcls_neighbors and searched "collections."

What struck me off the bat was the number of sponsored links that aren't clearly diffentiated from the real links I might be interested in.

Then I went to Google's version http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=007655418999623294614%3A3ioesbwugmu and did the same search "collections" I liked this interface much better as I didn't see all the advertising I didn't need. I also found the clean look of Google much better. Google is a site I use a fair amount so my eyes were already used to that kind of interface.

More tomorrow after I create a search roll of my own and post it on this blog...

Generator-Themed Sites

coffee
Originally uploaded by hkvam.

Besides the leprechaun name generator, I played with other sites listed on the "Generator Blog." Most of what I saw made me think some folks have wayyyyyy too much time on their hands!

I created a motivational poster, a baseball card and the mirrored "bassetbudi" you can see at the end of my blog. I looked at some of the others like 'create a weird word', etc.

Back to work and my coffee...

Leprechaun Name

Well, I asked for it! Cabbage lips indeed mon petite chioux chioux :-)

Leprechaun Name Your Leprechaun Name is Cabbage Lips O'Reilly Get Your Leprechaun Name at Quizopolis.com

Wikis

Lambs in New Zealand
Originally uploaded by jcolman.

'Tis the season for lamb-ies! Too cute...

As with most Learning 2.0 subjects, I find myself meeting internal resistance to the latest 'trend.' In trying to absorb the idea of wikis and asking myself when/how would I ever use it, I came up with very little. That's due, though, to my dependency on email and my comfort with email. I can't fully wrap my head around the idea of wikis.

One idea I heard that would be used in one department at KCLS is to establish a wiki as a department procedures manual. The idea of wikis having the ability to be edited by everyone and the idea of collaborative content is what appeals to this department.

I thought about this idea for my own department. Currently, I have assigned each staff person several topics to write about. Then, as supervisor, I edit the documents as needed and post them to a shared internal-user-only server. The downside of this method is that each topic would have to be opened in a separate document; in a wiki, it would all be accessible in one continuous
document' and more easily updatable...and accessible.

In looking at the ALA Midwinter wiki, I could see how it would be valuable to have the most current information posted in one updatable place. My 'internal resistance' comes up again because I wonder how easy it would be for a lot of non-relative content to be posted there. However, I understand the 'wiki community' is supposed to quickly revise the wikis because the community is 'lively and active' and wishes to maintain the wiki in a creative...but editable way. Wikis are described as 'community policed forums.'

Wikis put website creators and non-tech-folks on somewhat equal footing. Librarians who don't know how to create websites can become equal partners of a wiki community simply by knowing how to access the wiki and type. www.libsuccess.org is a "one-stop-shop for great ideas for librarians" that provides easy access to helpful hints from librarians far and wide.

Since I tend to 'process' ideas through writing, I find that I've turned a corner even by writing this blogpost: I definitely want to try out a wiki model for our department procedures manual. :-)

Baseball,Technorati and Library Thing

Safeco Field
Originally uploaded by hobbes8calvin.

I can hardly wait for opening day! Last year was the first year without my beloved Boonie on the team so I didn't start the year with a belief that the Mariners were going to do much that season. I eventually made Richie Sexson my new 'main man' and can hardly wait for this season to begin! Luckily, FSN has started broadcasting some of the Cactus League games. It's still a dream of mine to be a snowbird one day and spend at least a week in Phoenix to catch some spring training games. :-)

I haven't formed a real opinion yet about Technorati. On the surface, I think it could be useful if one thinks blogposts are useful sources of information in general. I need to experiment more with it by doing some searches that could be relevant for me to see if I'd ever really use the site.

I signed up on LibraryThing and added 5 of my favorite books to 'my library' http://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?view=bassetbudi

I found the blog post that compares tagging on LibraryThing vs. Amazon pretty interesting, though: http://www.librarything.com/thingology/2007/02/when-tags-works-and-when-they-dont.php I've never understood some folks loathing of Amazon since I've always found exactly what I needed there and plenty of other options with very simple searches. As the blogposting above points out, Amazon is a business and wants to sell thing; while they offer customers an opportunity to provide tags for products few customers have opted to do so. On the other hand, LibraryThing has tons of tagged entries making it much more useful for potentially coming up with more items on a tagged search. It must be noted that customers on Amazon don't really have any incentive to add tags because it is perceived as not directly benefitting them...but another customer...so why do "work" for Amazon for free?

GO MARINERS!!!

Sun flower Good Mornin'

Sun flower Good Mornin'
Originally uploaded by Quah YC (Ji Yan).

Could this photo be any more perfect? I adore sunflowers and the contrast of the sunny yellow in this picture with the lapis blue sky is exquisite. It is a dream of mine to someday see acres upon acres of sunflowers all in bloom.

MySpace, Facebook and Spring

Daffodils - III
Originally uploaded by gehat.

I still find MySpace a confusing display of provocative advertising and admit I'm still fearful of putting myself "out there". I see 21 people have viewed my profile there (I haven't added any profile information, photos, nada.)

Facebook is much more user-friendly for me. It's visually easier to navigate and has a more "grown-up" feel.

We have daffodils popping up all over town. This photo from Flickr was taken in Victoria, B.C. but provides a lovely representation of what is happening where I live.

MySpace...should libraries care?

Hello again, gentle readers--
I actually created a MySpace account a few months ago. My daughter was missing (again) and I was trying all avenues to find her. One of her friends sent me a link to her MySpace page. I sent her an email through there. She had posted to her page that very day so I knew she had some internet access. I never heard back from her via MySpace but she did eventually show up in person.

What I found on her page was very disturbing. Interestingly, after I told her I had a MySpace account and read her pages all the *disturbing* stuff magically disappeared! (Guess she cares what I think after all :-) And the *friends* and photos she had either on her page or links to her friend's pages and photos were a maze of darkness...as I interpreted them.

So, I have MySpace account but I haven't made it my own by adding any information about me. I've only received a few emails...all spam and advertisements.
I am looking forward to my exploration of the site via 27 Things but I really see use of MySpace as primarily a "teen thing." I think the kids view it that way, too. That's why when I read the links on 27 Things #9, I couldn't help but have the same gut reaction as one librarian wrote:

<<

To my mind, many kids using Myspace or similar sites would see libarians as authority figures, same as teachers or parents. They might very well not want us there. Isn't part of being a teenager developing your own space, with your peers, away from adults?>>>

I clicked the link to the Denver Public Library MySpace page and was pleasantly surprised with some good music (Switchfoot) and what looked at first glance to be a single user's page. It looked very inviting for a teen audience. Maybe it does help to have a presence in their "electronic world."

It seems to me that it's not a bad thing for KCLS to try it and see if/how it works. I wonder, though, about issues like the following:

1) Do the youth really want us in their 'space'?
2) What happens if someone writes/posts innappropriate or personal remarks/information on the library's page?
3) While touring around MySpace, it was a vision more of chaos to me and not a place of sure information nor sure identity. Good reason abounds to retaining some caution about it.
4) With MySpace's popularity has come some other sites, most notably "Facebook". What I see as chaotic on MySpace seems more streamlined at Facebook.
5) I really don't like all the ads on MySpace...especially all the flashing ads.

over and out,

kathleen

Basset mama-n-pups

Puppies in general are hard to resist but basset pups? Oh myyyyyyy...they're usually tripping over their ears and big feet. :-)

This is one of my favorite paintings. I love how Vermeer was able to 'create' light. Yes, I did read the book and saw the movie "Girl with a Pearl Earring"...both good.

I found the photo through a kcls database, downloaded it to my PC then uploaded it to my blog.