tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9685758482224346302023-11-16T06:10:01.078-06:00MNLFI BlogA place for the members of the MN Library Futures Initiative and the MN library community to share ideas and discuss the future of MN libraries. For updates on the work of the MN Library Futures Initiative, please go to <a href="https://sites.google.com/site/mnlfi2025/">https://sites.google.com/site/mnlfi2025/</a>karenjoy113http://www.blogger.com/profile/15686647885882277262noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-47176845371305694342012-06-08T14:41:00.001-05:002012-06-08T14:41:35.099-05:001 in 3 have no InternetNice video from the Gate's Foundation:
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7cwsrgMOcLA" width="560">&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Nicd&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;</iframe>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-37353008944945118752012-06-06T09:31:00.003-05:002012-06-06T09:31:55.350-05:00Of Interest to Academic LibrariansCheck out the
<i><a href="http://crln.acrl.org/content/73/6/311.full">2012 Top Ten Trends in Academic Libraries: A Review of the Trends and Issues Affecting Academic Libraries in Higher Education</a></i>.
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://rlv.zcache.com/worlds_hottest_academic_librarian_mug-p168525806467876249z89we_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://rlv.zcache.com/worlds_hottest_academic_librarian_mug-p168525806467876249z89we_400.jpg" width="200" /></a>Saint Mary's TC Library started doing patron-driven acquisition (PDA) for print materials last year. I must say it has been an awesome success thus far. Students love it--we alert them each time we purchase their book, and (anecdotally) I think it has built more community in and out of the library. We are on the cusp of entering into the eBook foray; in my research all the plans we're considering give the PDA eBook option.<br />
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We're certainly working on communicating our value to SMU both internally and externally. Our director is meeting more frequently with program directors, we're being intentional about highlighting services we offer, we're entrenched in the new online programs launched this Spring at Saint Mary's (more so than we've ever been with traditional programs--we're even helping with course design), and we're working with our Marketing Department to brand and share ourselves. First steps included easy stuff like having a wiki where we all add positive feedback we receive. That can be used in promotional materials later.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I agree with the trends listed here. For those of you tight on time, highlights of the longer article are available at <a href="http://ref-notes.blogspot.com/2012/06/acrl-news-2012-top-ten-trends-in.html">http://ref-notes.blogspot.com/2012/06/acrl-news-2012-top-ten-trends-in.html</a>Jane @ SMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841828641605238132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-33294160965189912992012-05-30T08:32:00.000-05:002012-05-30T08:32:06.372-05:00Scenarios for the Future of the Book<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LCNRj7mUC_XkEHwGhllkNEYhk2QwElJ9SP19z0y9aM5zfUbqKQ0imTdw1BAJyDvgvFvR8Z7rcv4IfS4AzrSDAsU88Xi6Kp3mFJWj_jnbdMyJfhNKGi_yv7u61sB8veSNrMWOolYj3uZY/s1600/futuresthinking_book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LCNRj7mUC_XkEHwGhllkNEYhk2QwElJ9SP19z0y9aM5zfUbqKQ0imTdw1BAJyDvgvFvR8Z7rcv4IfS4AzrSDAsU88Xi6Kp3mFJWj_jnbdMyJfhNKGi_yv7u61sB8veSNrMWOolYj3uZY/s1600/futuresthinking_book.jpg" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">"ACRL has released a new report, "</span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001N399A2tUBIy8-Dpe5owXc9ZBkY4iENKQjQyNxzENPGfzksRvh3jbNoeo-4TtLXpkBlGdyVi7xIYq3hi-DnzTnarRceDs3fH7gg-C5lHCZg5P6UktckI_ZJwjAWZn34OQOTu-aw7hpsIQjP60mALs1lAdg2FmkSWTC7awwTaLBkc=" shape="rect" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">Futures Thinking for Academic Librarians: Scenarios for the Future of the Book</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">," to help librarians reexamine their assumptions, which may be grounded in the current e-book zeitgeist. Authored by David J. Staley, director of the Harvey Goldberg Center for Excellence in Teaching in the History Department of Ohio State University, the report is a companion to the 2010 report Staley co-authored for ACRL, "</span><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001N399A2tUBIxPf7uUBmmvGsWJnq3yU2wbZQBU_gGfJGg8L2ublQDJregQP5NWXLpKPKEkojhoNzckc0whOof4n-eM3O99YY5Af8DyZVIUt88la86DtRjciU1cypcASqtgg2fhO_12Mia79vIXzPgwQb3yeS8PvyDJXJGYZNNm_W0=" shape="rect" style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" target="_blank">Futures Thinking for Academic Librarians: Higher Education in 2025</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">." This new report presents four scenarios, based in part on feedback from academic library directors. It includes scenarios which intentionally favor the continued existence of the printed book as a viable technology, so that academic and research librarians may expand their thinking about the future to include a richer set of environmental conditions."</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The report is freely available: </span><a href="http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/value/scenarios2012.pdf" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/value/scenarios2012.pdf</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-63698240822987837122012-05-11T11:58:00.000-05:002012-05-11T11:58:26.536-05:00Free Webinar: Made in a Library<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Vn01g8R2aIaYKAU8WTvWeT4cncbFpsqlofXlEWeQBtHYqc78u51rFb0JlWP6Drw4blkmRkOzIVsijkIGoIq0SriTD0l33n4Oxh-6CSV8okFsbmpPGEaQcW1bNFm0jl5oWqNQv5NZD4JK/s1600/makerlibrary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Vn01g8R2aIaYKAU8WTvWeT4cncbFpsqlofXlEWeQBtHYqc78u51rFb0JlWP6Drw4blkmRkOzIVsijkIGoIq0SriTD0l33n4Oxh-6CSV8okFsbmpPGEaQcW1bNFm0jl5oWqNQv5NZD4JK/s1600/makerlibrary.jpg" /></a></div>
"What happens when you take a place that has traditionally been about learning and transform it into a place of doing and making? Find out, when we look at how librarians, teachers, students, faculty and communities are turning their focus to creation—whether providing digital tools for game makers, programmers, musicians and authors, or makerspaces for 3-D printing and other “real-life” projects."<br />
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May 15 from 12-2 (central)<br />
<br />
Register:<br />
<a href="http://www.oclc.org/innovation/?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=OCLC%20Abstracts&utm_campaign=OCLC%20Abstracts">http://www.oclc.org/innovation/?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=OCLC%20Abstracts&utm_campaign=OCLC%20Abstracts</a>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-64213028849818467392012-05-07T09:03:00.001-05:002012-05-07T09:03:28.011-05:00Upcoming Webinar: Libraries and the Era of the Learner: A Vision for the Future<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pfhm8_Kn_Gr9rsSsy_wabJ8ne8XZeHT4CJRuUsIdPV2jEGN72tIQSv9kPouPMoWqIIDCY2iBH4MK43cSDZI9FbSR8ITKOYdAz5Rz1ToWdSjUW_6sJrpz3_wp1-1CRI0uKvzeWwIuZIWr/s1600/webjunction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pfhm8_Kn_Gr9rsSsy_wabJ8ne8XZeHT4CJRuUsIdPV2jEGN72tIQSv9kPouPMoWqIIDCY2iBH4MK43cSDZI9FbSR8ITKOYdAz5Rz1ToWdSjUW_6sJrpz3_wp1-1CRI0uKvzeWwIuZIWr/s1600/webjunction.jpg" /></a></div>
"Join us for a discussion exploring lifelong learning as an economic driver in the 21st century and the expanding role of libraries in this "era of the learner." Building on discussions about 21st century skills and workforce development, we’ll hear from futurist Garry Golden on the changing workforce and the role that public libraries can play. We’re excited to take a glimpse into the future and to hear how libraries can identify changes, explore implications and pave the way for learners in the 21st century. This session will build on discussions from a face-to-face convening to be held in April, but will benefit and be of interest to all working in libraries."<br />Register: <a href="http://www.webjunction.org/content/webjunction/events/wj/Libraries_and_the_Era_of_the_Learner.html">http://www.webjunction.org/content/webjunction/events/wj/Libraries_and_the_Era_of_the_Learner.html</a><br /><br />Presented by: Garry Golden, Futurist, Forward Elements<br />
May 16, 2012<br />Start time: 2:00 Eastern / 11:00 Pacific<br />
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<br />
<br />For a preview, see <a href="http://www.webjunction.org/content/webjunction/news/wj/A_Visitor_From_the_Future.html">A Visitor From the Future</a>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-80025564152804927972012-04-25T09:21:00.002-05:002012-04-25T09:21:34.806-05:00Facing the Future...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs4XI6n70QE4OfImcaY5xxEALceJK5SVtEKBsXiHJnBDq1VnGdOsN6z6cp4PqK-_JnvEW577ZJ5wRT4YsJVGHASPJC3kzpVfKlLrbJJQGDwx4xMXq814nlhC0Ir9NktdhD8rQRs948NkI/s1600/facingthefuture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs4XI6n70QE4OfImcaY5xxEALceJK5SVtEKBsXiHJnBDq1VnGdOsN6z6cp4PqK-_JnvEW577ZJ5wRT4YsJVGHASPJC3kzpVfKlLrbJJQGDwx4xMXq814nlhC0Ir9NktdhD8rQRs948NkI/s1600/facingthefuture.jpg" /></a></div>
Two readings of interest: <br />
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1. <a href="http://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/18649">Think Like A Startup: a white paper to inspire library entrepreneurialism</a> by Associate Dean Brian Mathews at Virginia Tech. He self published this work (including hiring a graphic designer) and it received 10,000 downloads in the first two weeks. <br />
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"In concise terms: startups are organizations dedicated to creating something new under conditions of extreme uncertainty. This sounds exactly like an academic library to me. Not only are we trying to survive, but we’re also trying to transform our organizations into a viable service for 21st century scholars and learners."<br />
<br />
2. <a href="http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2012/04/10-changes-to-expect-from-the-library-of-the-future/">10 Changes to Expect from the Library of the Future</a><br />Not much new here but an interesting distillation of what might be in the air...or at least what the "staff writers" think about libraries.<br />
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Have you read either of these? Any thoughts? Do they help us with the future? <br />
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<br />Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-89526967395328405512012-04-23T15:58:00.004-05:002012-04-23T15:58:59.620-05:00Libraries: Creating a Culture of Learning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7Ic_VeIWhuNTkhFCfCGi2kVUbY4ot8bG99p1KSNnzsJcPU9SYdKxmkI9MY7rMLxGh-30HU-Ec4axCNLup3VBW-qjQMhqs8xN3Fkwr83Fjv4HKOi3arogo_rocI_Wxf1twv00revCAF2s/s1600/vision2020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7Ic_VeIWhuNTkhFCfCGi2kVUbY4ot8bG99p1KSNnzsJcPU9SYdKxmkI9MY7rMLxGh-30HU-Ec4axCNLup3VBW-qjQMhqs8xN3Fkwr83Fjv4HKOi3arogo_rocI_Wxf1twv00revCAF2s/s320/vision2020.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">"<span style="color: #4a4a4a; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">When a student struggles in school, it’s often assumed that the teachers, school system and/or student are responsible. However, through our research at CEHD we’ve discovered that family and community are primary factors in ensuring success and creating a culture of learning."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">"The most effective way to encourage students to succeed in school is to build a strong foundation and culture of learning<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><em style="border-width: 0px; color: #4a4a4a; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">outside</em><span style="color: #4a4a4a; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>of the school, which starts by instilling a love of learning within parents."</span><span style="color: #4a4a4a; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">"We engage libraries, employment centers, community colleges, businesses, and other institutions, to form a local network of learning between families and communities."</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #4a4a4a; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">-from </span><a href="http://cehdvision2020.umn.edu/cehd-blog/learning-dreams/">http://cehdvision2020.umn.edu/cehd-blog/learning-dreams/</a><span style="color: #4a4a4a; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4a4a4a; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-family: Verdana,Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Learn more: <a href="http://www.learningdreams.org/">http://www.learningdreams.org/</a></span> </span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-38659381448596977082012-04-12T14:22:00.001-05:002012-04-12T14:23:48.473-05:00Cutting Hospitals in a Plague<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprKxcTad2ZZYmOtMJHxhEkA-ZsnuvPnInUvKcwK3NKxbQg9vMVyY0vjJ6e0UoxiWgFtFNToGt1Yk6UZzaxahDgRuZFL6hv9n2rfXhzJuWFkM3eGGvwFWnLMYp-DWpE55rChKvtGH7Hxvb/s1600/cuttinglibraries.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 185px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprKxcTad2ZZYmOtMJHxhEkA-ZsnuvPnInUvKcwK3NKxbQg9vMVyY0vjJ6e0UoxiWgFtFNToGt1Yk6UZzaxahDgRuZFL6hv9n2rfXhzJuWFkM3eGGvwFWnLMYp-DWpE55rChKvtGH7Hxvb/s320/cuttinglibraries.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730596894462857970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Just wanted to share this which I saw posted on facebook during National Library Week.Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-40261946610388870802012-04-05T10:41:00.003-05:002012-04-05T10:48:21.289-05:00Building Bridges: Collaboration<div>Several recent readings, discussions, and events have had me thinking about collaboration a bit more than usual - which is saying something, since I am a librarian at <a id="" shape="rect" href="http://www.mnpals.org/" target="_blank">PALS</a> and spend a good deal of time working with collaborative ventures. The most recent catalyst for my mental tangent was Charles Henry and Brad Wheeler's article <a id="" shape="rect" href="http://bit.ly/H95i1r" target="_blank">"The Game Has Changed"</a> in the March/April 2012 edition of <em>EDUCAUSE Review Magazine</em>. In this article, Henry and Wheeler encourage academic institutions to move away from "institution as an island" mentalities and work towards interdependence. They point out that while corporations have consolidated to take advantage of the power size can bring, academic institutions have dismissed economies of scale in favor of independence.</div> <div><br clear="none"></div> <div>It seems as though the topic of collaboration is getting increasing library press coverage...and for good reason. The current landscape promotes and necessitates collaboration: we cannot accommodate shrinking budgets, increasing user expectations, and advancing technological needs without taking advantage of the communication infrastructure that enables us to work together at a distance at relatively low costs, when compared to travel costs and time spent away from daily work. As my work with the Minnesota Library Futures Initiative has made evident, libraries - like academic institutions - share many of the same struggles. While it is true we must balance collaborative efforts with individual needs, we all can benefit from reducing redundancies and increasing our interdependence.</div> <div><br clear="none"></div> <div>In a recent conversation, I mentioned that while negotiating journal licensing with vendors, we could talk to fellow librarians to gather feedback on practices that have worked for them. One of the people I was talking to noted that a good part of licensing is confidential information. I don't think my response to this reminder was as adequate as it could have been at the time, but let me take this opportunity to say that sharing or collaborating doesn't necessarily have to be a "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours" relationship. Simply talking about experiences in general can provide valuable information to colleagues, such as which vendors are more rigid with their policies, who is hard to reach, and what kind of bribes are effective..oh, wait... In addition, sharing our experiences may help us get on the same page as a profession: what are our expectations from vendors? What can we tolerate; what is intolerable? In addition, having these conversations could eventually lead to more shared purchases, allowing us to leverage the power of an economy of scale. While Minnesota already has a great start at this shared purchasing model through <a href="http://www.minitex.umn.edu/">Minitex</a> and consortia like <a href="http://www.mnpals.org/content/consortium-mnpals-libraries-0">MnPALS</a> and <a href="http://www.clic.edu/">CLIC</a>, further collaboration will only make these groups stronger.</div> <div><br clear="none"></div> <div>At a large university this sharing of knowledge and purchasing power may not be as obviously beneficial, but for librarians at smaller institutions, those newer to the profession, or those taking on new roles within the profession, collaboration is key. And even though large universities may not see as many obvious benefits, they will gain prestige, karma, and the opportunity to refine their practices. I often notice where a practice could be improved when I explain it to others and allow them opportunities to question how or why the process is the way it is.</div> <div><br clear="none"></div> <div>As noted by Henry and Wheeler, we need to move off our islands - or at least build bridges between them.</div> <div><br clear="none"></div>Jenny T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16963893118569243290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-1682585641425783202012-02-24T09:32:00.004-06:002012-02-24T09:37:06.680-06:00Google Glasses<a href="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/02/23/googleglasses.jpg?t=1330009579&s=3"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 462px; height: 346px;" src="http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2012/02/23/googleglasses.jpg?t=1330009579&s=3" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;"><br /></span></span></div><span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Here's a trending new Future-y story read on NPR this morning. We've talked about the "what ifs" of this sort of fun stuff at our Futurist gatherings, but more through the lens (no pun intended) of education.</span></span><div><div><span><a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/02/23/147284699/google-glasses-frightening-or-fantastic">http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/02/23/147284699/google-glasses-frightening-or-fantastic</a></span></div></div>Jane @ SMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841828641605238132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-5667860124458579462012-02-17T09:23:00.002-06:002012-02-17T09:30:21.524-06:00Library Annual Report on Youtube<h1 id="watch-headline-title" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 1.8333em; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); font-weight: bold; height: 1.1363em; max-height: 1.1363em; line-height: 1.1363em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><span id="eow-title" class="long-title" dir="ltr" title="2011 Annual Report for the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; font-size: 0.9166em; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; letter-spacing: -0.5px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; ">2011 Annual Report for the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library</span></h1><br />-I love the idea for "neighborhoods" of collections on topics folks want...cooking, pets, weddings, home.<br />-Interesting data to "prove" value of summer reading<br />-Ebooks you can try out<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pY9rkHZCIdI" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-79708476423634434922012-02-15T08:59:00.002-06:002012-02-15T09:05:06.116-06:00The Futurist Interviews Librarian Futurist David Lankes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RtaDLgfRQ-w0EeCZYohiwio0Bn28-hZu6L-vSD6cKSikXCtHa6usQpn4Jn3GOuJa1Ndt3v4RDgueO82uCZ0XvLV6cp0HrUA-E5wxCtcLPOTGiRm3IhqchrYAt-vwAWhfQlXTMs0oRZcg/s1600/atlas.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-RtaDLgfRQ-w0EeCZYohiwio0Bn28-hZu6L-vSD6cKSikXCtHa6usQpn4Jn3GOuJa1Ndt3v4RDgueO82uCZ0XvLV6cp0HrUA-E5wxCtcLPOTGiRm3IhqchrYAt-vwAWhfQlXTMs0oRZcg/s320/atlas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709378430858699714" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.wfs.org/content/futurist-interviews-librarian-futurist-david-lankes">http://www.wfs.org/content/futurist-interviews-librarian-futurist-david-lankes</a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><span style="font-size:85%;">As </span><span style="font-size:85%;">more information moves online, traditional libraries are losing relevance, but librarians are becoming more important than ever. This is according to R. David Lankes, author of</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><i style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The Atlas of New Librarianship</i></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif;font-size:85%;" >(MIT Press, 2011).</span><br /><p style="margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><b>Lankes:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Let me give you a thought experiment. Imagine if every time you bought an e-book-like device, they charged you 10 bucks more than whatever the cost they were going to charge, and that 10 dollars goes into a big pool. And for your 10 dollars, you can download any book you want from the beginning of time. Would it be a good thing or bad thing for libraries? If you look at libraries as a physical collection of stuff, it’s a horrible thing. They’re out of business.</p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,'Bitstream Vera Sans',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">On the other hand, if you look at libraries’ mission as to increase the knowledge of their communities, it’s a wonderful thing. If your ideal scenario is knowledge building, then the more information that’s available in more modes, the better.</p><p style="margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><b>Lankes:</b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There is still a role for libraries to coordinate knowledge. Microfiche is still the most permanent form we have for documents. That said, things are available in digital, and digital has a lot to say.</p><p style="margin: 1em 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial,Helvetica,'Bitstream Vera Sans',sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 19px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">There are studies about when you look at an object, how separable are the information aspects of it? You wouldn’t buy a house online. You need to walk through the house. There will always be some things where the physical object matters. As a society, as a community, we need to decide which ones these are, and that’s an ongoing conversation.</p>Learn more about the book: <a href="http://www.newlibrarianship.org/wordpress/">http://www.newlibrarianship.org/wordpress/</a>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-68264839394867698662012-01-12T13:13:00.002-06:002012-01-12T13:38:19.456-06:00Creativity = Commodity<a href="http://rsrc.psychologytoday.com/files/imagecache/article-inline-half/blogs/65246/2011/12/81188-71767.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 230px;" src="http://rsrc.psychologytoday.com/files/imagecache/article-inline-half/blogs/65246/2011/12/81188-71767.jpg" border="0" alt="Image from Psychology Today" /></a><i>Pssst.</i> Hey, you. Yeah, you. You're creative, you know.<div><br /></div><div>In order to be successful in the future, creativity <strike>will be</strike> is a hot commodity useful in distinguishing oneself from a sea of other smart, capable people. Anyone can be trained, but not everyone can think creatively and inventively. As librarians, we need to practice our creative thinking skills and apply them to our professional work in order to help keep libraries relevant, promote innovative change, and be worthwhile citizens.</div><div><br /><div><i>Psychology Today</i> has a quick, easy article listing some 12 characteristics of creative thinking that we often forget about. Skim over this and start practicing.</div><div>Michalko, M. (2011, Dec. 02). <i>Twelve things you were not taught in school about creative thinking.</i> Retrieved from <a href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creative-thinkering/201112/twelve-things-you-were-not-taught-in-school-about-creative-thinking">http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creative-thinkering/201112/twelve-things-you-were-not-taught-in-school-about-creative-thinking</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>It occurs to me--how <i>would</i> you practice thinking creatively? Well, I usually ask myself questions, like "what could reference services be like in the future?" or "what other uses are there for my earbuds?" or "what if we had ears on our hands?" All require creativity, and in my little mind, the weirdest idea wins because it stretches my creative thinking the most. Doing this as a group is also fun. Try it at your next soul-sucking staff meeting.</div><div><br /></div><div>What ideas do you have to help you practice thinking creatively?</div>Jane @ SMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841828641605238132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-63457233026369980582011-12-22T10:19:00.006-06:002011-12-22T10:42:52.693-06:00Libraries at WebscaleMy lovely and future-thinking coworker Rebecca turned me on to this document. <div><ul><li><b>Libraries at Webscale. OCLC. 2011. Available at <a href="http://www.oclc.org/reports/webscale/libraries-at-webscale.pdf">http://www.oclc.org/reports/webscale/libraries-at-webscale.pdf</a></b></li></ul></div><div>In essence this document is meant to spark a discussion (sound familiar, Futurists?) around the theme of libraries and the opportunities afforded by thinking globally and acting locally--thinking in webscale. Increase and decrease capacity. Personalize, yet globalize. The ideas raised in this document are asked through the lens of webscale and are similar to many we've been throwing around.</div><div><ul><li>How can libraries provide services that meet the personalized me-me-me expectations that the Web has created for our users?</li><li>What is a universal library? What could it look like?</li><li>How can libraries identify and pursue meaningful innovation? Collaboration? Partnerships? How do we build the future together?</li></ul>OCLC then describes some of their initiatives to prepare for libraries operating at webscale.</div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Holidays, all!</div>Jane @ SMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841828641605238132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-75696035159496995282011-11-29T16:46:00.004-06:002011-11-29T16:53:27.666-06:00Limitless LibrariesHere's yet another article related to MNLFI themes. This one is from <a href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111121/NEWS04/311210025/Novel-idea-unleashes-surge-Limitless-Libraries-usage">The Tennessean</a>.<br /><br />November 21, 2011<br />Written by Nancy DeVille<br /><br /><h1><span style="font-size:130%;">Novel idea unleashes surge in Limitless Libraries usage</span></h1><div class="content-wrap" style="float: none;"> <div class="gel-content"> <div class="gel-pane gpagediv"> <p>Before the school day begins, Brandon Munoz is already in the library.</p><p>The Goodlettsville Middle School sixth-grader is averaging about 20 books a week. His favorites are graphic novels such as the <i>Bone</i> series, or popular fiction titles such as <i>Diary of the Wimpy Kid</i> or <i>Darth Paper Strikes Back.</i></p><p>Just last school year, he mostly visited the library out of obligation, but an agreement between the school district and <a href="http://www.library.nashville.org/">Nashville Public Library</a> — called Limitless Libraries — is making things a little more interesting. Metro middle and high schoolers can use their home or school computers to check out books, DVDs and <a style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; text-decoration: underline; border-bottom: 0.075em solid darkgreen; padding-bottom: 1px; color: darkgreen; background-color: transparent;" class="itxtrst itxtrsta itxthook" href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111121/NEWS04/311210025/Novel-idea-unleashes-surge-Limitless-Libraries-usage#" id="itxthook0" rel="nofollow"><span id="itxthook0w0" class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: darkgreen;">CDs</span></a> from the Nashville Public Library and have them delivered to their schools.</p><p>Library officials in New York City, Boston and St. Paul, Minn., have called Metro in recent months, interested in implementing similar initiatives.</p><p>The program also includes updating school libraries. In the past few months, 31,730 titles have been removed from middle and high schools — some with copyrights dating back to the 1970s, including science books with Pluto included as a planet. New books include <a style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; text-decoration: underline; border-bottom: 0.075em solid darkgreen; padding-bottom: 1px; color: darkgreen; background-color: transparent;" class="itxtrst itxtrsta itxthook" href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111121/NEWS04/311210025/Novel-idea-unleashes-surge-Limitless-Libraries-usage#" id="itxthook1" rel="nofollow"><span id="itxthook1w0" class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: darkgreen;">Advanced</span></a> Placement prep volumes and popular fiction titles such as <i>The Hunger Games</i> and the <i>Twilight</i> saga.</p><p>“It’s <a style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; text-decoration: underline; border-bottom: 0.075em solid darkgreen; padding-bottom: 1px; color: darkgreen; background-color: transparent;" class="itxtrst itxtrsta itxthook" href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111121/NEWS04/311210025/Novel-idea-unleashes-surge-Limitless-Libraries-usage#" id="itxthook2" rel="nofollow"><span id="itxthook2w0" class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: darkgreen;">fun</span></a> to read as it just takes you to another place and boosts your imagination,” said Brandon, 11. “I’m raising my reading grades since Limited Libraries has started.”</p><p>The program launched as a pilot in 2009 in four Metro high schools. The program expanded to all high schools in 2010 and to middle schools this year.</p><p>Limitless Libraries is sending more than 7,000 items a month to Metro schools, similar to the circulation at some library branches. Circulation has increased in schools, some as high as 140 percent, library officials say.</p><p>“We are seeing overwhelming successes,” said Tricia Bengel, interim director at Nashville Public Library. “Kids are borrowing more books than they have ever borrowed, and they have access to different types of materials than they have even had before. It’s a good problem to have, but we are struggling a little bit to keep up with the increase in circulation.</p><p>“It benefits the library because we’ve added 15,000 patrons that we didn’t have before. We are building our patrons of tomorrow.”</p><h3>'A model for others'</h3> <p>Students use their student ID as their library card and log onto the Limitless Libraries system to request materials be delivered to their school. They have access not only to their school collections but also to more than 1.5 million items from the Nashville Public Library. More than 23,952 students are participating — 15,000 of them as new library cardholders.</p><p>Students new to this country or with poor English skills check out required reading in audio book format to help them learn the language.</p><p>Mayor Karl Dean was instrumental in forging the partnership between Metro Schools and the Nashville Public Library. It was at a time when only 14 of the district’s 16 high schools had the volumes required per student to meet state Department of Education standards, and much of the material was outdated, he said.</p><p>“This takes advantage of a great library system and helps us <a style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; text-decoration: underline; border-bottom: 0.075em solid darkgreen; padding-bottom: 1px; color: darkgreen; background-color: transparent;" class="itxtrst itxtrsta itxthook" href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111121/NEWS04/311210025/Novel-idea-unleashes-surge-Limitless-Libraries-usage#" id="itxthook3" rel="nofollow"><span id="itxthook3w0" class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: darkgreen;">improve</span></a> the library systems that our kids in schools have access to,” Dean said. “It’s a model for others in how we should be organizing ... libraries.</p><p>“It’s a compliment to our libraries and schools that other cities want to adopt this program.”</p><p>For the 2012 fiscal year, $1.196 million have been placed in the budget for the Limitless Libraries program. Library officials hope to expand it to elementary schools next year.</p><h3>Obstacle overcome</h3> <p>Allison Barney, librarian at Wright Middle School, said the program helps eliminate one of the main barriers students have in accessing items from the public library — transportation.</p><p>Since the program started at Goodlettsville Middle School in September, an average of 60 kids use the library daily, outside of time required by their teachers. Alison Maliszewski, the school’s first-year librarian, is bombarded daily with kids asking the same question: “Are my books here yet?” She says she can get new releases as quickly as the public library can.</p><p>Popular titles are always the first to go, along with Playaways, preloaded mini mp3 audio books.</p><p>“For a new librarian, I feel like I have so much more to offer them,” said Maliszewski, who previously taught fifth grade at the school.</p><p>“I’ve seen a lot of kids that were not typical readers that are now coming in here. Anytime they are reading, it’s going to increase their scores. Our collection has expanded one hundredfold.”</p><p>Many of her students are checking books out for siblings and parents.</p><p>“I’m now the librarian in my house,” Brandon said. “Every time I get a chance to get on the <a style="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; text-decoration: underline; border-bottom: 0.075em solid darkgreen; padding-bottom: 1px; color: darkgreen; background-color: transparent;" class="itxtrst itxtrsta itxthook" href="http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111121/NEWS04/311210025/Novel-idea-unleashes-surge-Limitless-Libraries-usage#" id="itxthook4" rel="nofollow"><span id="itxthook4w0" class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit; color: darkgreen;">computer</span></a>, my little brothers keep asking me to get on Limitless Libraries.”</p> </div> </div> </div><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 1.19; font-family: lucida grande; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; color: rgb(44, 44, 44); position: relative; left: 0px;"></span>Jenny T.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16963893118569243290noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-52464476971717763782011-11-21T17:02:00.002-06:002011-11-21T17:10:15.423-06:00Florida Library Makes 34,000 Ebooks Available at International AirportSharing an <a href="http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2011/11/ebooks/florida-library-makes-34000-ebooks-available-at-international-airport/">article</a> from <a href="http://www.thedigitalshift.com/">The Digital Shift</a> that details an embodiment of an idea we'd kicked around earlier this year.<br /><br />November 8, 2011<br />By <a title="Posts by Michael Kelley" href="http://www.thedigitalshift.com/author/mkelley/" rel="author">Michael Kelley</a><br /><br />Travelers at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport can now download free ebooks from the Broward County Library while they wait to claim their luggage.<br /><br />The partnership between the library and the airport began during the summer but only recently has begun to attract notice. The airport all together has 36 LCD screens that are reserved for advertisements or public service announcements.<br /><br />Twelve screens near the baggage claim now also display a QR code that the traveler can scan with a QR code reader app on their smartphone or electronic reading device, and then they can access over <a href="http://broward.lib.overdrive.com/55AC1E5E-EF05-4F9E-8258-624B5827CB78/10/437/en/PublicDomainCollection.htm" jquery161042407872586079026="10">34,000 public domain titles</a> via the library’s OverDrive platform. No library card is required and the titles never expire.<br /><br />“The library did all the heavy lifting and we just provided them the venue,” said Greg Meyer, the airport’s public information officer. “The airport’s position is that it’s one more customer convenience that we can provide to make the experience better. We have free WiFi and when something comes along like this, where there’s only positive impact for the passengers, why not,” he said.<br /><br />Meyer said the only caveat was that the airport had to make sure that the service would not take money away from airport concessions.<br /><br />“We had to be careful not to compete with vendors selling hard bound books,” he said. “The library ensured us that it was older books that would not compete with more current titles being sold,” he said.<br /><br />Catherine McElrath, the library’s publications specialist manager, approached Meyer about the project.<br /><br />“Working with the airport was a real pleasure. They were really open to the idea,” McElrath said. “It’s a wonderful way to bring library services to people everywhere,” she said.<br />There is no charge for displaying the QR code since the airport regards it as a public service announcement.<br /><br />Stephen Grubb, the library’s e-services manager, said the program is averaging about 20 to 30 downloads a month, but he is expecting that number will grow as people learn about the program.<br /><br />“People think about books when they think of the library, but they haven’t really made the connection between the library and ebooks yet. This raises their awareness,” he said.<br /><br />He also said using the QR codes was a quick and easy way to get people to the library’s website and also to appeal to a younger demographic who may not be using the library.<br /><br />The library is planning to expand the program at the airport and also is working with Broward County Transit to display the QR codes at bus stations and also possibly at Port Everglades, which serves all of south Florida.<br /><br />“These ebooks are things people could go out and find elsewhere, but what libraries do best is bring information to people, like answering a reference question,” Grubb said. “That’s what we do best and this program is an example of that,” he said.<br /><br />The library is making a concentrated effort to highlight all its e-services in a program called <a href="http://www.broward.org/Library/BCLWOW/Pages/Default.aspx" target="_blank" jquery161042407872586079026="11">BCL.WOW</a>, or a library without walls, which will include a mobile app that is scheduled to become available in December.<br /><br />“We want to broaden the perception of library service,” Grubb said.János McGhiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823686503188187386noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-36873014083057724312011-11-16T09:35:00.010-06:002011-11-16T09:53:03.813-06:00ALA + Tea Party = Unusual Coalition<div><a href="http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/battle-over-sopa-heats"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKUDX5HQ3pwFtzvb2jHoJUKl-cf5wUxh7YEkxFZdrkwNNoLg60x0tBX-jlac6-f8MjrnrUFX2cUjfJGtdp19mdQ3uZ3ZDLLGnWgK2-eN2E_VqOsJ2HySADth1ZL_wyiYEDJr3pns7c8s/s1600/smooth.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 210px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKUDX5HQ3pwFtzvb2jHoJUKl-cf5wUxh7YEkxFZdrkwNNoLg60x0tBX-jlac6-f8MjrnrUFX2cUjfJGtdp19mdQ3uZ3ZDLLGnWgK2-eN2E_VqOsJ2HySADth1ZL_wyiYEDJr3pns7c8s/s320/smooth.png" border="0" alt="Libraries may become Smooth Criminal's by linking to illegally shared content, oh noes!!!111one" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675621223352026242" /></a>Here's an interesting developing story heard this Wednesday morning on American Public Media's <a href="http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/battle-over-sopa-heats">Marketplace Tech Report</a>. This story, as it unfolds, will affect everyone who uses the Internet.<div><ul><li>"The House Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing today concerning the Stop Online Piracy Act, or <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-57325134-281/google-facebook-zynga-oppose-new-sopa-copyright-bill/">SOPA</a>. It's a bill recently introduced by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) that would block access to websites that distribute unlicensed content or facil<br />itate the distribution of that content."</li></ul><div>We're not talking about tasty soup here, folks. We're talking about giving someone authority to blacklist and block access to websites. The big problem is the vague language in the bill. </div><div><ul><li>"The bill uses a bunch of different terms to try to define these sites, some of which come from the case law the courts have been using, but it also has other terms that are less clearly defined in copyright law, like 'facilitate.' Does YouTube facilitate downloading?"</li></ul></div><div>Consider which sites might be blocked beyond the obvious ones like torrent sites or those streaming illegal live TV. Could it be YouTube? Imagine if that whole site was blocked. How about this blog? How about your library website? Are you linking to a site that could be sharing unlicensed material (that you're not aware of), because if so, then your library website is a law-breaking criminal.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Wondering about the title of this post? Well, "opposing the bill are the A.C.L.U., the Tea Party Patriots, the American Library Association and Facebook."</div><div><br /></div><div>Read or listen to this very interesting and developing story on Marketplace's website: <a href="http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/battle-over-sopa-heats"><b>http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/battle-over-sopa-heats</b></a></div></div>Jane @ SMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841828641605238132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-20179093705566380702011-11-07T15:54:00.003-06:002011-11-07T16:08:09.277-06:00How worried should we be by California?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTrp8hYUthjXNuHh-2Dk2gu1xkEgefspPZ3OpdKGOYU5iSFCPx6akUaxUEar6GdzRfdBWS7dWZjPWWktKlLikP-UNSAB7mSLsLsdWgCXIzZmvI9H7u6oa09y85iTjsSRHaeR28INWWlt2/s1600/Library_image.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 97px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcTrp8hYUthjXNuHh-2Dk2gu1xkEgefspPZ3OpdKGOYU5iSFCPx6akUaxUEar6GdzRfdBWS7dWZjPWWktKlLikP-UNSAB7mSLsLsdWgCXIzZmvI9H7u6oa09y85iTjsSRHaeR28INWWlt2/s200/Library_image.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672378822631537618" border="0" /></a>LA Times OpEd<br /><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-powers-librarians-20111026,0,3265383.story"><span style="font-size:130%;">California must value librarians; libraries can't run themselves</span></a><br /><br />Librarians are more than book finders, shelf arrangers, computer technicians and shush-ers. In a society overwhelmed by data, they are the gatekeepers and organizers of high-quality information.<br /><ul><li>"Other states employ an average of one public librarian to 6,250 patrons. As of last year, 3,432 full-time librarians served 37,253,956 Californians. In other words, California librarians were each expected to serve 10,854 patrons. We also employ fewer school librarians than any other state, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Here, there is one school librarian for every 5,965 students; the national average is one librarian to 865 students."</li><li>"Still, the idea of shutting down a library is unpalatable to most officials. So they lay off librarians to keep the buildings open, supporting the illusion that libraries can simply run themselves."</li><li>"As one resident wrote in a letter of protest to the mayor of Anaheim, "Libraries without librarians are like hospitals without doctors." California cannot afford to lose any more librarians without risking the quality of what is left of our libraries as well."<br /></li></ul>And a response: <a href="http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2011/11/saving-libraries-but-not-librarians-blowback.html">Saving libraries but not librarians</a>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-42809726306506622382011-11-04T22:17:00.002-05:002011-11-04T22:50:53.323-05:00Johns Hopkins Medical Library ClosingOn January 1, 2012, the Welch Medical Library at Johns Hopkins University <a href="http://www.thedigitalshift.com/2011/10/research/major-medical-library-closing-its-doors-to-patrons-and-moving-to-digital-model/">will close its physical building</a> to users and shift all operations to an online environment. Citing a decline in on-site visitors and explosive growth of online journal usage, the decision was made to re-purpose the 81 year-old library's space and deliver all services electronically. Librarians will continue to provide support for the teaching and research missions at Johns Hopkins as "embedded informationists," found in the work-flow of clinicians, investigators and instructors. <br /><br />An interesting point covered by the article from the Digital Shift is that the Welch Medical Library currently allocates 95% of its acquisitions budget to electronic journal and database subscriptions. According to the library director, Nancy Roderer, savings from closing the library will be redirected back to the collections budget, resulting in a collection that is 95% digital. Roughly translated, this means that 95% of the Welch acquisitions budget will be invested in licensed content rather than owned material. Eighty one-years of collection development and 400,000 volumes later, the Welch Medical Library is mortgaging its future as an information provider on a radically different acquisitions model.David Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12012934149199449653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-57868646707064930982011-10-20T13:55:00.004-05:002011-10-20T14:21:38.799-05:00Hey, What's the Big Idea?This recent talk by R. David Lankes offers some novel thoughts on innovation and ideas (the bigger the better). Dr. Lankes traces how many big ideas (democracy, culture, entrepreneurial innovation) connect with librarianship as a profession, stressing how librarians - defined as <i>anyone </i>working in a library - have a pivotal role in improving the experience of all members of a library community.<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/29936079?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/29936079">Killing Librarianship</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/rdlankes">R. David Lankes</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><br />What do you think of this reasoning? Is librarianship a cutting edge profession, capable of innovating in ways both large and small in ways that "improve society through facilitating knowledge creation?"</div>David Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12012934149199449653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-27816244678424030712011-10-19T13:46:00.006-05:002011-10-19T14:00:11.672-05:00SLA's FutureReady365<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://futureready365.sla.org/wp-content/themes/sla-theme-v1.0/thumb.php?src=wp-content/uploads/pastfuture.jpg&w=250&h=180&zc=1&q=90"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 180px;" src="http://futureready365.sla.org/wp-content/themes/sla-theme-v1.0/thumb.php?src=wp-content/uploads/pastfuture.jpg&w=250&h=180&zc=1&q=90" alt="" border="0" /></a>If you are not already aware of SLA's FutureReady365 blog, check it out. <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://futureready365.sla.org/">http://futureready365.sla.org/</a><br />I'm bouncing in my chair at Internet Librarian 2011 right now, listening to Cindy Romaine--current SLA President--and Meryl Cole talk about the project. 365 in the name = a blog post a day related to being "future ready." I can't wait to start reading through the posts. Sounds like a lot of their thinking and dreams parallel a lot of MNFLI's thinking and dreams. I like seeing that. I like that they balance between being smart professionals and being playful and personal in their blog. I'm also embarrassed I wasn't aware of this project until 47 minutes ago.<br />Here's an excerpt from their about page to get your interest piqued:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is Future Ready?</span><br /><ul><li>It’s an attitude of being more adaptable, flexible, and confident in utilizing the skills of the information & knowledge professional.</li><li>It’s a strategic shift toward being more effective at aligning with emerging and robust opportunities in the information industry and beyond.</li><li>It’s a focus on preparing ourselves for emerging opportunities in the information industry through:<ul><li>Collaboration to accelerate the availability of useful information</li><li>An adaptable skill set that anticipates and responds to the evolving marketplace</li><li>Alignment with the language and values of the community you serve</li><li>Building a community that connects stakeholders in mutually beneficial relationships</li></ul></li></ul></blockquote>Jane @ SMUhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09841828641605238132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-17813114941821649542011-10-18T13:56:00.002-05:002011-10-18T13:58:49.934-05:00A place like no other...An interesting mix of corporate feel and lots of kids shot. They certainly emphasize value and not books! Do they have cooking classes? Love it!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/phypScTE8zE" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-17623334952294805612011-10-11T12:49:00.002-05:002011-10-11T12:52:25.261-05:00Come see us at MLA Annual Conference 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhestVBlxGYtfKWs_3QSL53vL9UujXCVrsNJpigFey0uRnC_k8ruTda3ojOp0BbNaOkT15TWqWvt4rYm8Smli1zIDLnpU7U1cHgTSxs1CBeUa-3drGNMLYlxkTE_BRwUjKyckFOlfLMeX5y/s1600/MLA_Conference2011.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhestVBlxGYtfKWs_3QSL53vL9UujXCVrsNJpigFey0uRnC_k8ruTda3ojOp0BbNaOkT15TWqWvt4rYm8Smli1zIDLnpU7U1cHgTSxs1CBeUa-3drGNMLYlxkTE_BRwUjKyckFOlfLMeX5y/s200/MLA_Conference2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662293787449837394" border="0" /></a>Session Title: Minnesota Library Futures Initiative<br />Tracks: Administration & Leadership<br /><br />When: Friday, Oct. 14 from 9:30 to 10:30<br /><br />Presenters: Members of the Minnesota Library Futures Initiative<br /><br />Description: In October 2010, a group of 24 early career librarians from all library types met for the first time to start envisioning the year 2025. Since that time, the Futurists have investigated<br />potential economic, social, technological, and other trends<br />to craft an idea of what libraries—and library patrons—will<br />look like in the next 15 years. Join the Futurists for a brief overview of their work and a preview of what’s in store for Minnesota’s libraries in 2025. During the session, the Futurists hope to help library staff start thinking about what might be done to prepare for the changes to come. In line<br />with how the Futurists have approached their task, this presentation will be philosophical in nature rather than focused on the latest gadgets and fads.Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-33643609510957839882011-10-11T12:37:00.003-05:002011-10-11T12:47:24.112-05:00Yum! Design.The Design section of the New York Times is featuring the Children’s Library Discovery Center in the Queens Central Library in downtown Jamaica.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DZuoWEQTPzFgQmPwSathI2-7QD5rqlOAzeYo2KSWwproqSwAiKmzydXhyi4xB1A7b2Qg95yvCsCIdrEWn6g7hkhSgFe-Bn3IJjFKlFLDPicK5c7WI5gGbmcBdkqLb2m5Gu8FqR2FARlQ/s1600/discover_children%2527sLibrary.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DZuoWEQTPzFgQmPwSathI2-7QD5rqlOAzeYo2KSWwproqSwAiKmzydXhyi4xB1A7b2Qg95yvCsCIdrEWn6g7hkhSgFe-Bn3IJjFKlFLDPicK5c7WI5gGbmcBdkqLb2m5Gu8FqR2FARlQ/s200/discover_children%2527sLibrary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662291015883119650" border="0" /></a>"Today libraries double as centers for the elderly and toddler playrooms. They’re safe after-school havens for teenagers of working parents, with rooms set aside that are stocked with computers and, at a few branches, like the Rockaways, even with recording studios."<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7X_rMAHbb_0ZK8DFegvSlc7M0r0004M1J3MdFzP1mjL1FwGXij3NOIgKJ0qVNzF9UWFPySvV-rglSMsiQeUKWFwPVcrCaoxUhm6oh41CK76Ix7sNMH9VvLYzFOBrULzXMGR6BnNEc6Dj/s1600/Children_computers.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_7X_rMAHbb_0ZK8DFegvSlc7M0r0004M1J3MdFzP1mjL1FwGXij3NOIgKJ0qVNzF9UWFPySvV-rglSMsiQeUKWFwPVcrCaoxUhm6oh41CK76Ix7sNMH9VvLYzFOBrULzXMGR6BnNEc6Dj/s200/Children_computers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662292317382753538" border="0" /></a>"Libraries have also learned from retailers like Starbucks and Barnes & Noble about what people expect when they leave their homes to go someplace public to sit and read. Libraries have become modern town squares and gathering places; they offer millions of New Yorkers employment counseling, English-language classes and, crucially, Internet access. Quiet rooms, like those Carnegie built, tend to be smaller and set aside these days, almost like smoking sections in airports."<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetWTeUwZTmvdRQQjelIRiEyxfXfwd1YWOsLbYZo2BzUDqsY5YKc9drCZYFPbBhJxSxDgjQM51hl3p5HbosquaQ_oyS_1KwcnGpRV9U7M6lFiGPAZT56QhG9ONb94PKfsvOQiH-gIqWZBE/s1600/Library_Fish.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 136px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetWTeUwZTmvdRQQjelIRiEyxfXfwd1YWOsLbYZo2BzUDqsY5YKc9drCZYFPbBhJxSxDgjQM51hl3p5HbosquaQ_oyS_1KwcnGpRV9U7M6lFiGPAZT56QhG9ONb94PKfsvOQiH-gIqWZBE/s200/Library_Fish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662292460805801458" border="0" /></a>"Is that a bad thing? Times change. Research libraries still survive. To imagine that libraries could remain as they were half a century ago would entail wishing away the Web and the demands of old people, immigrants, the unemployed, schoolchildren and parents who want constructive places to keep their young children occupied at a time when public resources and political good will are in increasingly short supply."<br /><br />Read more at <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/arts/design/new-yorks-public-architecture-gets-a-facelift.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/11/arts/design/new-yorks-public-architecture-gets-a-facelift.html</a>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-968575848222434630.post-67092043871888991342011-08-24T15:43:00.003-05:002011-08-24T15:47:16.280-05:00What students don't know<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctRTZ-MMaxunoX4yuulKr-I0M05LJ_Ligsfy7fZAbb1fQPMug6hZBl1uecU0z31EmG3aL3Dkzksp5DwI2CIw2BpJ9_oPPFg8iRoTN4P6ObP9CphrGzoUcx29YwrBTPu7lRJVCt-gCbNAz/s1600/research.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgctRTZ-MMaxunoX4yuulKr-I0M05LJ_Ligsfy7fZAbb1fQPMug6hZBl1uecU0z31EmG3aL3Dkzksp5DwI2CIw2BpJ9_oPPFg8iRoTN4P6ObP9CphrGzoUcx29YwrBTPu7lRJVCt-gCbNAz/s320/research.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5644526618957280338" border="0" /></a>This has been making the rounds in the higher ed circles. One of my colleagues mentioned that a faculty member contacted her as a result of reading this...if only we could all be so lucky.
<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/08/22/erial_study_of_student_research_habits_at_illinois_university_libraries_reveals_alarmingly_poor_information_literacy_and_skills">What students don't know: study of student research habits</a>
<br />
<br />"...have learned over the course of a two-year, five-campus ethnographic study examining how students view and use their campus libraries: students rarely ask librarians for help, even when they need it. The idea of a librarian as an academic expert who is available to talk about assignments and hold their hands through the research process is, in fact, foreign to most students. Those who even have the word “librarian” in their vocabularies often think library staff are only good for pointing to different sections of the stacks."
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<br />"At Illinois Wesleyan University, “The majority of students -- of all levels -- exhibited significant difficulties that ranged across nearly every aspect of the search process,” according to researchers there. They tended to overuse Google and misuse scholarly databases. They preferred simple database searches to other methods of discovery, but generally exhibited “a lack of understanding of search logic” that often foiled their attempts to find good sources."Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003090971179144490noreply@blogger.com2