Farewell LIS768

Another library science class has ended for me.  Normally I’m jumping up and down, but as I left class yesterday, I felt kind of empty.  Certainly not from lack of knowledge.  I learned lots about certain technologies, staying connected and keeping up with emerging trends.  Maybe it was because we had spent 3 entire weekends together, kept in touch regularly through our blogs or our fun gaming session on Saturday.  Whatever it was, I’m really happy to have taken the class becaused I learned a ton by DOING.  I now have an aggregator that I check reasonably often, I know how to make a podcast, I’m familiar with ways libraries can incorporate new technologies without re-doing the entire system and I’m always thinking of things to do in the library I’m working in now.  Between this class and 23 Things on a Stick, I’ve been able to assist  coworkers with our Flickr site and get the idea out there to put instructional videos on YouTube.  Thanks Michael, for teaching this class and forcing us to try new things, even if they don’t work, and for making sure we’re aware of the many issues in the library world.  And thanks to all my other classmates for being supportive of my disasterous Guitar Hero skills.  Good luck with the rest of school!

Podcasting

Since we’re supposed to blog about our project and time is running out, I figured I’d better throw something up here.  I already wrote about the 2.0 technology we used when working on our project, but not much about our project itself which is podcasting in libraries.  I think that before any library starts a podcast of their own, they should listen to other podcasts out there to see what works.  Podcasts are pretty easy to make, but it doesn’t mean they’re going to be interesting to listen to.  I think the hardest part is to update them so often, a staff really needs to be dedicated and try new formats before finding podcasts that work.  One cannot simply throw up some podcasts and sit back.  One has to monitor the podcasts, decide what works and keep things new.  Doing booktalks is simple enough, but a new one should be done every other week at least.  Also the age groups for podcasting is important.  Most podcasts won’t necessarily have broad appeal, so to have podcasts for different age ranges is probably something a library should consider.  I’m not going to talk too much more about this since we’re presenting tomorrow, but I want to add one more thing.  Making the podcasts using GarageBand was SUPERFUN!!!!  Layering tracks and choosing music was really cool, intuitive and sounded pretty decent.  Makes me want a Mac to play around with.  I downloaded Audacity, but it was definitely not as easy to use.  Oh by the way, if anyone from Audacity is reading my blog, don’t take offense.  Your open source software idea is really good and you should continue to promote your product.  It’s just not for me.  I’d still suggest your services since they’re free.   Well I should wrap this up.  See everyone for our last class tomorrow!

All About My Paper

So of course I wait until the last minute to post on my paper.  Sorry.  Spring fever is getting to me and I took a nice long walk after class today.  Perfect weather, happy people.  What a difference a week can make!  But anyway, my paper.  My paper was about gaming in libraries which fit really well with our class this afternoon.  Our discussion of the trends we noticed while gaming held very true with what I found in my paper.  People helping each other and being really supportive of each other’s successes.  I’m not going to lie, I suck at Guitar Hero.  But when I finished my first song (even though it was set to Easy) people clapped for me which was pretty awesome.  A St. Kate’s student walked by and asked with a smile “what class is this?”  I told her it was for the library program and she looked totally surprised.  I’m not sure she believed me or if she thought we were a bunch of degenerates who broke into the room to use the equipment.  But clearly a room like that would be perfect for weekend gaming at the college.  I also walked out into the hall.  It was a little noisy, but not out of control.  Yes, people can be loud while gaming, but it was all shouts of excitement and cheering our classmates on, not wrenching the guitar out of someone’s hands or pushing a person off the DDR danceboard.  If anything, gaming can teach respect and manners.  Hehe.

So yeah, my PAPER.  I keep ignoring that.  I was pleased to see in class that I referenced all the names mentioned in the power point (whew).  I liked the associations I found with gaming and library as Third Place.  My paper discussed gaming in public and academic libraries.  In fact, I have to mention the article that was mostly about gaming in an academic library.  A bunch of people were networked so 16 people could play the same game of Halo which was pretty cool.  But one dude hauled in his DESKTOP computer and plopped down in the middle of it all.  He could’ve done that in his dorm room, but he came to the library instead to be part of the event.  Being in the library with a community of gamers appealed to him, and that was interesting to see.  Even though people have access to these things at home, joining with others has more appeal.  So libraries can really play up this community gathering aspect to gaming.  Anyway, it was great to play all the games in class after writing a paper about it.  Keep the gaming in the class schedule! 

Here Come the Blog Police

Something happened yesterday that put me in a rage.  And it didn’t even happen to me, it happened to a coworker.  The library I work at, like many of your libraries, is participating in 23 Things on a Stick.  One of my coworkers was attempting to do the virtual communities section.  She has dial-up internet and was unable to download Second Life to her home computer.  She made the comment in her blog that she doubted the IT deparment would allow the library download Second Life on our computers.  Seems like a relatively benign comment to me, and let’s face, pretty much true.  She got two e-mails from members of the IT department wanting to know who wrote such blasphemy on their blog (ok, those are MY words, but still).  As far as I know, they did not ask her to edit the blog post, but they were upset that the name of the institution was mentioned elsewhere in the blog so everyone knew what IT department this coworker was talking about.  She discovered that our IT deparment had a tool that tracks the web for mention of our institution in blogs.  I guess I knew such things existed, but I work for a non-profit, not the CIA. 

This whole thing has put me in a foul mood.  I understand people need to watch what they say on their blog regarding personal information, underage drinking parties, or company secrets.  And bashing the institution you work for is not advisable.  But this comment was just in passing and to see the reaction my institution had really worries me.  I know people police blogs, but for something like this?  23 Things on a Stick blogs facilitate discussions amongst librarians and let us experience tools we may otherwise not have used.  Part of 23 Things is dealing with hiccups and letting us decide which tools may or may not work for our libraries.  Do any of you have experience like this with 23 Things in your workplace?  Sorry for my rant.  See everyone this weekend!

Using 2.0 Tools for our Projects

Gar.  Ok, so if any of you save a document and then publish it, make sure the whole thing loads before you hit publish.  I managed to delete my entry except for the heading and am retyping it as you see here.  So anyway, the point of this entry was to plug the use of 2.0 technologies while doing projects.  Our group just had a meeting.  We didn’t go to St. Kate’s or a coffeeshop.  We met on Meebo using our accounts from class.  It was great.  I was in my pajamas and folding my laundry while we talked about our project.  It made multi-tasking so easy.  It was also great since the weather was absolute crap and none of us had to drive anywhere.  In addition to Meebo, we kept an outline in Google Docs while we chatted.  All of us were able to edit it while talking.  The experience was definitely a positive one.  Apparently Meebo also keeps a record of your conversation so you can look at it later if need be, which was definitely good for us.

 I think using these 2.0 technologies in libraries can expand beyond online reference.  For instance, if librarians from various branches or consortia need to meet, they can use a Meebo chat room instead.  It works well for distance, bad weather etc. and you can eat/watch tv/rock out to music while chatting.  Plus having a record of your conversation is convenient, especially if you meet regularly.  No one has to take minutes and you have documentation of the meeting.  Overall using these tools for our project was a positive experience and I think it should be encouraged as a way to meet if your group members are comfortable with online chatting and open source software.

Libraries Using Netflix

My boyfriend was telling me he read about libraries using Netflix to get titles that they don’t own.  I was trying to remember if we discussed this in class or not (perhaps it was another class, too).  I think it’s a pretty good idea.  It’s cheaper than buying a title if it’s specialized or a documentary (some of those can be somewhat pricey).  I typed it in Google and several stories came up, so it appears to be a widespread trend.  I had plenty of questions, though. 

If a library can only get 3 dvds at a time, they probably can’t offer the service too broadly, or it may take awhile to get the dvd.  How does the librarian decide whether to get the dvd via Netflix or to order it for the permanent collection?  Do you hold the patron responsible for losing a dvd?  They may have possession of the dvd, but the library itself is the account holder.  I’d also be curious to see how the library would set this up to begin with.  There’d need to be a database of some kind so that the library could track who wants which dvd.  I assume it could be worked into the regular catalog somehow, but it wouldn’t likely be a barcoded item.  Many things to think about. 

Overall I think it’s a great idea.  Many people already use the library to get dvds for free, but selection can be limited.  If a library had access to Netflix to temporarily bolster its collection, people may be more inclined to come in the library to use its services.  In theory it’s a common-sense solution, but if implemented, should be marketed carefully.

Gamers in Libraries

Since I’m doing my paper on gaming in libraries, I thought I’d write out some of my thoughts before I do the bulk of the research.  Inevitably the topic of gaming in public (and some academic) libraries is mentioned, at least in passing, in nearly every course I’ve taken so far.  While most of my fellow students seem to support it, we do discuss the viewpoint that is shared by many…that libraries are no place for gaming.  Libraries are for education and enrichment.  Blah blah.  Rather than simply take the viewpoint that gaming gets people in the library (it does) or that playing games can be education (proven by some studies), I thought it would be interesting to think about other “educational” institutions. 

 I immediately thought of museums.  Like libraries, museums have changed over the years.  In the past, museums were spaces with objects mounted on walls, in display cases, or within dioramas.  Some of them still are.  But emphasis is made on the importance of making museums and museum exhibits interactive to better illustrate concepts.  Like interactive exhibits, gaming gets people involved in something through action, which I think tends to stay with people over a longer period of time.  I know I certainly enjoy myself when I get to participate in an exhibit rather than simply looking at it.  Education and engagement require more than just reading or looking at a book or a picture of the first satellite. 

That said, I’m a huge proponent of balance.  Don’t forget the importance of other library materials (books, periodicals, cds and dvds etc).  Use the extra attention the library may get from gaming to promote other services. 

Flickr in Libraries

I think I mentioned Flickr in one of my previous postings, but I wanted to mention it again because the Library 2.0 committee at my library (of which I am a member) is going to create a Flickr site for our library.  Since I work at a special library with lots of rules (and consequently, lots of signage worthy of its own Flickr page), it was decided to do a tour of the library using Flickr. 

One of the most important things we are considering is including people/action shots in all of the photos.  A tour of an empty library may show you were everything is, but what are you supposed to do when you’re there.  We have a copy center at our library because patrons are not allowed to make their own photocopies due to the fragility of some of the items and because of copyright issues.  Our photos of the copy center include shots of people filling out the necessary forms, flagging boxes to be copied and exchanging money with the workers at the copy center.  We think it’s important for viewers of the Flickr site to associate specific actions or behaviors with certain areas of the library.  Also, photos with people in them can make things interesting.  We are also using the comment section to explain things about library procedures, and plan on categorizing the photos according to geographic areas of the library.

It would probably be a good idea for other libraries to edit their Flickr sites if they are simply photos of areas of the library.  Including people engaging in library behavior appropriate for a specific area would grab a viewers attention more.  Like including a photo of story time in the children’s area.  Anyway, I’m glad our library is considering using Flickr to publicize itself.  I’m also in charge of the page as well, so it’s pretty fun!

Second Life and Libraries Don’t Mesh

So I kinda mixed up the order of topics we’re supposed to discuss.  Hope that’s ok for all you readers.  I was thinking about Second Life and why it’s not the place for libraries.  I skimmed/read several of the articles about it.  I should say I’ve never done anything on Second Life.  I’ve witnessed a few “tutorials” but I’ve never been impressed.  Perhaps because it usually involves a trip to Information Island which is always empty. Unlike the Sims2 or World of Warcraft, Second Life (in my opinion) has no objectives.  You don’t have a job, you don’t complete quests.  And all these games/programs are about power.  How much money can you have, how much stuff can you acquire?  Going to visit the library in-game cannot be high on anyone’s list.  By the time you travel there, walk up to the librarian and figure out how to talk, you could’ve called your local reference desk.  And once you’re there, then what?  You may have a question, but you probably don’t have the library page open anyway. 

Advertising on a billboard on Second Life seems useless too.  Unless your library has a national scope, how would you guarantee that anyone seeing the billboard could even visit your library.  I was also surprised to learn that there are limits on how many people can be in one place at one time.  That makes sense, since MMOs usually need several servers and it’s quite possible to only see a handful of people who actually play the game.  But if you’re trying to hold an event (”book signing” or library meeting) people may not be able to show up anyway even if they want to.  It seems to me that Second Life should exist for entertainment purposes and that libraries should use other forms of Web2.0 to help their presence.

Social Networking

I confess to dabbling in Social Networking.  I had a MySpace account for awhile, but never really used it.  Now I have Facebook which I find to be more useful and more fun, though it definitely doesn’t consume me as it would if I were 16 again.  My college didn’t have Facebook until the year after I graduated, so at the time, almost none of my friend used a social networking site.  Now that we’re in our mid-twenties, we definitely use them more, but there is a large group of my friends who don’t. 

 Because of this, I think social networking used by libraries will only be a big deal for younger users.  I think in a 2.0 world there is a lot of pressure for a library to create an account on MySpace or Facebook in order to connect to users.  If libraries choose to do that, I would suggest they cater their sites to younger users almost exclusively, or even to a smaller subset like a book club.  It would be easier to update and actually have people posting to it if there’s a book to discuss.  Putting events like baby lap reads and senior citizen computer classes would not be necessary. 

Another nice feature, at least with Facebook, is that you automatically get mini-feeds from all your friends.  So if you are friends with the library, and the library changes something on their Facebook account, you’ll know about it when you first log in.  Social networking should be used in some libraries, but more specialized libraries with an older user base and not a lot of time probably wouldn’t benefit from having one.