Colorful Cluster o' flowers

Colorful Cluster o' flowers
Originally uploaded by kgscils598s07

This is a beautiful photo taken by my professor.

We all need a Re-education (sang in Pink Floyd rhythm)

Brown's Re-education

• We need more than a degree; we need practical experience.
• Online courses vs. in-person classes
• Universities need to prep the entering college freshman and offer job training.
• The reputation of a school is only as good as the students who gets jobs once they leave.
  
  
  
  
  
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LibraryThing vs. Shelfari

In comparing LibraryThing and Shelfari, LibraryThing reminds me more of a public library. It offers a personal collection of catalogued and organized books with the opportunity to share those books and make recommendations, similar to a librarian's book display cart. The Book Suggester reminds me of my own book list, "If you enjoy Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then check out these titles...." The LibraryThing Groups are similar to book clubs that meet every Wednesday at the library. Science Fiction fans having the opportunity to meet and discuss the latest title. On first glance, I thought LibraryThing would be first and foremost a great tool to organize my library, which is unorganized and stacked on book shelves. I also have trouble remembering what I have read. Secondary, would be its social aspect.

Shelfari, on the other hand, reminds me more of a Barnes and Noble dotted with book displays of staff recommendations. It seems more about the social aspect first, cataloging and organizing second. For example, on the homepage, Shelfari encourages you to "show off your shelf." Whereas, LibraryThing's homepage advertises you to "catalog your library online." For me that is two very different aspects. Shelfari also lets its users know that it receives revenue from Amazon when a user buys a book based on recommendations from that site. LibraryThing allows free use up to 200 books, then a cost of $10 a year to add more. (LibraryThing also uses Amazon.)

To determine which site is best for you, think about what your primary reason is for joining: you want your own public library or a book club at the Starbucks in Barnes and Noble.

Ideas for YA Blogs

Check out the Alternative Teen Services blog for helpful strategies in starting your own YA blog.

Wiki Wiki

Check out Group 6's Wiki!

Libraries as Knowledge Centers

• Bienvenidos to the library -- knowledge center!
• Meet the librarian who will help you set up that blog, podcast, and website for your personal and professional needs.
• Sign up for technology training courses free of charge! You just need to be a patron of the library!
• Welcome to the future.

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My First Podcast

Podcast script

Click To Play

I'm not going anywhere!

To anyone who thinks the library profession is on its way out, please understand that this is my last class in library school, and I am not going anywhere until I pay off these loans.

As Mary Fran from looking (it) up posted:

I'm not sure if it's just me, but since I started library school, people just keep coming out of the woodwork. A woman at my salon tells me librarians won't even be needed in a few years, "because of computers." A guy at a party says all books are going to be online soon, and asks me why I would train for a job that will be obsolete in a few years.

I also get asked, "So you need a Master's degree to become a librarian? Why?" And then I go on and on about all the things librarians do, and eventually I see the person look away in disinterest. Then I realize that these people haven't been in a library in God-knows-how-long. Now, I don't work adult reference, but when I am up there, I am always being asked for help with the computers and not just from digital immigrants, but from natives as well. The other day it was as simple as figuring out how to log on using the library card number and pin. Or putting a hold on a bestseller. If people need guidance on the little things, then you better believe they need detailed instruction on setting up wikis, blogs, etc.

Sungji wrote:

I don’t think the very need for libraries will ever be “disaggregated” or “despacialized”, but the expectations users have on libraries and the forms of service will probably change. We already see some changes, for example, some people want to contact librarians remotely through the Internet to ask questions, and young people would like to get their answers text messaged to their cell phones.

Libraries need to be up-to-date on technology. If the library is using cutting-edge technology, then peoples' perceptions will change. The library then doesn't just have resources, it becomes a resource. You can't become obsolete, if you are always one step ahead.

Lessons in Love (of technology)

One of the lessons libraries can learn from Brown's Limits to Information is to become an institution of training. Most patrons are overloaded with information and overwhelmed with the constant technological changes, as described in Moore's Law. The majority of people can't keep up with the newest innovations and rather than get frustrated, it would be beneficial for libraries to establish training centers and seminars to teach the technology for business, personal needs, or education. For example, a patron wanting to facilitate the planning of a family reunion, could use a wiki, if only they knew how. A patron interested in creating a website for a start-up consulting business could learn how to at a library computer center. This is where libraries really become necessary. In addition, patrons need to feel grounded. Therefore, libraries have to remember to instruct patrons in new technology but not make them feel alienated from what they know: copiers, faxes, and paper and pen. As Brown noted, copiers, faxes, and pens will not necessarily become outdated. To keep people from getting overwhelmed, librarians could offer introductory courses, follow-up classes, and enrichment programs -- something for everyone, since the Internet has everything for someone.

Atlantic City Free Public Library hits blog jackpot!

I attended a lecture at the 2007 NJLA Conference given by Robert P. Rynkiewicz, of the Atlantic City Free Public Library, on content management systems. He showed us his city's website which he created using Joomla. Just yesterday I was showing a coworker the website as an example of what our library needs to do to make improvements to its existing web content.

The ACFPL website is an extensive information center with podcasts, feeds, and blogging. The homepage is well organized with tabs in the header and drop down menus so patrons can easily browse without having to click onto unnecessary pages. The banner uses flash to display classic Atlantic City postcards. On the homepage are links for popular menu items, posts for future and recent library events in blog form, and graphics. For each posting, you can Digg it, Reddit it, and add it to del.icio.us or Google bookmarks. Patrons also have an option to print or PDF the posts. On the right side of the homepage, patrons have options to subscribe to the podcast, search the catalog, subscribe to newsletters, browse or search local maps, read comments, login, or add the RSS feeds to a homepage.

The Atlantic City Kids Page is a separate webpage and blog. The site is colorful, kid-friendly, and also allows for kids to add comments. Unfortunately no one has posted a comment. I love how patrons can recommend an article posted on the blog and kids can subscribe to the RSS feeds as well. Just like the library's homepage, the tabs on the header are well-defined and easy to use. On the left-hand side, patrons can access the library catalog, homepage, or links.

The Atlantic City Free Public Library has an awesome website/blog, unfortunately patrons have yet to take advantage of posting comments. Regardless, the site is a great example of Web 2.0 integration.

Bienvenidos a mi Blog!!

Welcome to my blog!