Nette's Conference Blog

Next Generation Library Interfaces

2008-04-08T07:32:00.000-07:00

Marshall Breeding, Director for Innovative Technologies and Research, Vanderbilt University

(PPT presentation link)

Our current interfaces to library resources are too varied, too confusing for average end user. Breeding thinks that it is too much to expect of the end user to understand the difference between the different types of resources the library now has to offer, and the varied ways that one must use to access these resources. Example: A student will need to navigate resources through the catalog, internet, and databases, and understand the differences between the three, including how to access them. The user needs a library card for some and not others, and this is confusing.

We need to integrate the catalog (and other electronic resources) so that users only have to use one access point, one log-in. Libraries also need to enhance searching, navigation, provide tools to refine searches and results for the average user. Search should be more intuitive, like e-commerce, so they don't need to be concerned with how the interface works, or use different behaviors to access these different resources. Let the interface do all the work seamlessly behind the scenes.

Breeding's position is that librarieies should model ourselves after the commercial world by making our information systems more intuitive, graphic, and integrated. Commercial sites' goal is to get the customer's credit car number; get them to buy. Our ultimate goal should be to get the information into the customers hands, rather than train them to get to the varied resources. That's our job.

Fast & Easy Site Tune-Ups

2008-04-07T08:32:00.000-07:00

Jeff Wisniewski presented "35 1-minute ways to speed up, clean up, and optimize your site with minimal effort." Since we are all busy, and money is always an issue, his suggestions can provide stopgap measures for sites that need updating.

Link to slides will be posted on Conference website in a week...
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Here are some highlights:

Update your copyright statement, even if your website is old (provided that your content is still fresh). Customers will look at the date and see that someone is minding the store. Include "Last Updated" statements for each page as it is updated.

Use hCard tools (??) to add metadata specific to your library about blocks of text.

"Harness the Awesome Power of the 3 Question Survey" Survey your users to gauge the effectiveness of your website as it is, and respond to their needs.

Questions to use: 1. What is the pourpose of your visit to ourwebsite today? 2.Were you able to complete your task today? 3. If you were not able to complete your task today, why not?

Don't make the Server think.
add /'s to the end of your a href statements in html. speeds things up. (If your URL ends in "/", use it, so that the server doesn't have to try and figure it out, thereby wasting the patron's time (and patience) searching).

Logos - nice and clear, using small chunks of large sans-serif type

Web2.0 Stylr will create logos for you, including cute little "beta" images.

Be an Icon icon

Crystal Clear: downloadable icons to use on website, all public domain.

Need for Speed: If your site seems slow, find out how slow and why. Install Firebug and Yslow in Firefox. Test your webpage and will make suggestions as to how to improve the speed of the particular page.
--
Cache: Exploit the users cache to speed up use of your site.
Why does cache matter? Empty cache =more http requests=slower. Full cache=fewer http requests=faster.

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Images:
Combine small images into Image map commbining multiple smaller images into a single image speeds downloads due to fewer http requests.

Eliminate Inline Scripts :
-In most cases calling scripts from external files to speed page download time, especially if these items are cached.

Exception: Your library's homepage.
-Inline scripts for your homepage
-Making http requests is much more expensive than the size of the data coming down.

Spring Cleaning
Use W3C Markup Validationservice. This validator checks the markup validity of Web documents in HTML, XHTML, SMIL, MathML, etc. If you wish to validate specific content such as RSS/Atom feeds or CSS stylesheets or to find broken links, there are other validators and tools available. Will tell you what's wrong with your page, and fix the errors for you. Takes about a minute.

Is your CSS bloated?
CLeanCSS - CSS Formatter and Optimiserwill clean up and compress your CSS file - cleaner is faster, more efficient for end-user.

Move important information "out of the blindness zone." (showed areas of webpage that are not focused on by end users, exploit the areas that most users focus on).

SEO - Search Engine Optimization: Page titles: must be present AND informative to optimize site.

Google Webmaster Tools
Site Link - diagnostic tools. Title Tag Analysis

Global find and replace...rewrite page titles with the follwing format:
Document titleSection NameLibrary/site name (makes easier for search engines to find you)

Add labels to your forms
Accessibility User friendly

How: (handout)More on Forms

Use radio buttons and check boxes appropriately: Radio buttons for a list of mutually exclusive options, only one choice. Use check boxes when there is more than one option.

Add social Bookmarks links: Social bookmark creator http://www.toprangblog.com/tools/social=bookmarks

Web 2.0 Services for Smaller, Underfunded Libraries

2008-04-07T07:37:00.000-07:00

As we all know by now, the web redesign is in the works. Although we are not exactly a tiny, underfunded library system, I thought it would be a good idea to attend this session, because part of the description read that it would "provide information about dozens of quick and free services that any library can add to its website to reach the customers."

So, here are some tips that were provided that I considered to be particularly useful for our system:

1. Communication Tips
Instant Messaging - chat with the customers, online reference.

Meebo Me Widget - make yourself visible, even when you are offline. Sort of a mini Ask-Us-Now.

Text Messaging - talk to and assist patrons via text as they are using the site.

VOIP - voice-chat with patrons over the computer as they are using the site.

Video Chat - talk to and assist patrons over the computer as they are using the site with a visual of the librarian.

Example: San Jose Public Library uses IMing. One of their common questions: "Are you a robot?" Expect that, and just answer that you are not. They want to know that they are engaged with a real person.

2. Don't pay for images (try these for searchable public domain images):

Classroomclipart.com
Image*After
Openclipart.org
openphoto.net
stock.xchng
Flickr Creative Commons Search
Wikipedia's Public Domain Image Search.

3. Offer Tools and Mashups: Use or promote the use of these tools to enhance the user's experience at your site:

Library Elf - library account tracking
Library Lookup - bookmarklet that looks up any webpage information in your library's catalog
LibX Toolbar - like google toolbar for your library. Patron installs it into her personal browser.

4. Making Dynamic Lists - don't make booklists in Word anymore. So Long to the .doc book lists.

5. Use Blogs or Wikis (Website Redesign Committee Note: Ann Arbor Library was presented as an example!)

Recommended movies, music, books
Encourage full staff participation (all levels)
Use an entry template, tags, categories
Welcome customer comments (they are commenting on us in other places anyway)

6. Give your Library a Face Using Flickr or other photo site. Create Flickr accounts and make links to these accounts known to customers by providing them on the web page.

Show library's interior and exterior (photo tour)
Staff
Customers
Anything is possible
To advertise new services

Do more - use tools provided on Flickr and other photo sites to create flair (items with library logo on them) to distribute and replace free pencils with library logos, and so forth.

Moo: calling cards
HP: Posters, books, photo cubes
Qoop: calendars keychains, etc
Zazzle: shirts bags mousepads, mugs and more
Imagekind: print photos on canvas

7. Provide audio content
Podcasts from library website can be done easily and cheaply. You need:

People who can talk and or sing
Digital microphones cheap/free
Audacity (free hosting site)
Blogger blog

Other helpful audio tools (google them to find out more):
Everyzing $ turns audio into text
TextAloud $ turns text into audio
Odiogo (Free) turns text into audio files, create a listen button for blogs

8. Provide video content

Vidocasting=

People who aren't camera shy
Digital video camera
Avidemux editing software (free)
Blogger Blog (free)

9. Ideas for video casts

Manchester public library does teen book reviews.
DOK Library videocasts community events reports.
Worthington Libraries presents classes and events.
Curtin University library videocasts classes and lectures.

Also, put your content on YouTube! It's where the patrons already hang out.

8: Exploit the blog as a format

Don't call it a blog - may leave some people cold.
Encourage customer comments - you can always edit them if they are inappropriate.
Reuse content across blogs, social networks.
Repeat important posts over time to maximum number of people who see/hear it.
Use Wordpress and Blogger: free, easy, feature-rich

9. Make RSS your BFF

10. Help your catalog; it needs it. Don't rely on catalog software that really doesn't work for you or your customers! Check out:

Open source options:

Koha
Evergreen
Scriblio
Libraryfind
Librarything for libraries
Aquabrowser

11. Be Present in Social Networks - show the customer that the library is part of the real world, not the stuffy, inaccessable place that people sometimes still associate with libraries.
be present
be real
be reliable, consistent

12. Try a Wiki: with multiple authors, ongoing creation.
An example of a wiki application would be Subject guides (pathfinders) made available to the public.

13. Use Engaged Patrons.org - a free and low cost web 2.0 service for libraries run by Glenn Peterson, Hennepin County Library. Provides lots of resources that libraries can plug into their websites/catalogs to make site more 2.0 and patron-friendly.

Library events calendar with online regitration
Library blogs --
Much more

14. Use design tools

15. Use other free tools

16. Exploit image generators

17. Recommend websites easily (del.icio.us)

18. Microblog with twitter

19. Keep everything current

Nette Does CIL!

2008-04-06T20:42:00.000-07:00

My colleage, the "Almost-Bald-Technical-Trainer" and I set off today for the Computers in Libraries Conference in Alexandria, Virginia. The conference is being held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel.

Last year, our library system (Harford County Public Library), held a Technology Fair to introduce some major Library 2.0 concepts to our entire staff. We felt that the fair was such a useful tool for introducing staff to Library 2.0 that we sent out a couple proposals to present what we did to other librarians. Surprise, surprise, both of our proposals were accepted!

So - here we are at the first of the two conferences to present our library as a case study in creative ways to train adult staff. Our bit was intended to supplement a morning pre-conference session (I'll elaborate in a later edit).

Our first presentation, the longest one, was today. We had 24 attendees from all over the country, most of whom were trainers or administrators who were looking for some good ideas to get their staff on board with using newer technologies. We had the "Librarian In Black," Sarah Houghton-Jan with us, and who presented her own case study on developing technology-oriented competencies for library staff. Her training dovetailed VERY nicely with ours.

I suppose that I shouldn't have been surprised to learn that people were REALLY excited and interested in our case study. The Tech Fair was a major undertaking, and our system worked major magic, from our administrators, who supported us all the way, to all the supporting trainers, on down to every single participant. We got so many positive comments from the attendees of our presentation today. Ranging from a simple personal "thank you" for the presentation, to a hearty: "I want to do this in MY system!" We had questions for about 20 minutes after the session ended!

Now, there are at least 24 librarians who will at least share our experiences with their systems. Icing on the cake: Right after our presentation, Information Today hosted a "Gaming and Gadgets Petting Zoo" right next door to where our session took place. The intent was to provide a place to unwind and socialize. It was a wild time. "Guitar Hero" in one corner. "Rock Band" in another (this game is way cool - you sing and play drums or guitar for points). A Wii was in another corner, where people bowled and boxed with one another. Librarians BOXING! In the back of the room, people watched or played board games.

Maurice (Almost Bald...etc), has a video of me playing the drums. I am in SO much trouble... unless I can get that darn camera back from him! Here is what he has to say about our first presentation.

I have pictures, too - you'll have to wait until tomorrow, though. I'm bushed!

Mea Culpa!

2007-09-07T11:48:00.001-07:00

I would like to apologize for the appearance of the blog entry entitled: Ryoku Matsuhara, which has been here for quite some time, unbeknownst to me. This was an example of "when 2.0 goes wrong," I suppose. Somehow, "Animoto," the site through which I created the mini slide presentation, sent it to this site. Twice. I'm pretty sure that I gave the correct location when I created the darn thing, but somehow it appeared both here and on the blog where I wanted it to appear. The presentation did not appear on any of the other blogs on my dashboard, though, so I suppose it had to be an error of some kind on my part.
akg

Pub Quiz!

2007-05-05T08:11:00.000-07:00

On Thursday night, MLA President Michael Gannon emceed a Pub Quiz. Imagine, if you will, a room full of about 150 librarians - and a cash bar. The quiz was conducted in rounds. For each round, the teams of six (or so - we had about nine) were given identical lists of trivia questions. The rounds lasted about 10 or 15 minutes each. The team that could answer the most questions on the page got to pick a goofy prize (or a beer).

I cannot, for the life of me, recall the questions - must have been the beer.

Update: I was kidding about the beer! Here are a few examples:
1. Name the seven wonders of the ancient world. (like the Egyptian pyramids)
2. Who (of a an unlikely list of three) was actually a librarian (one was Cassanova - they actually ALL were librarians.
3. What is an ailurophile? (cat lover)

In the case of a tie, the teams that tied were given a tiebreaker.

I am proud to say that our team, "The Wild Wallflowers" (we were sitting against the wall), won one prize, and tied twice. I am the proud owner of one sheet of 3-dimensional Spongebob stickers.

Michael - as usual - had us all in stitches throughout the evening. We had difficulty hearing through all the beer, I guess, so he was courteous enough to repeat the questions really slowly for us. Of course, we had to pay a price for that courtesy, by being renamed "The Wallpapers." Anyway, a great time was had by all, even the slow, the dim-witted, the Wallpapers...

Blogging and Podcasting for Everyone

2007-05-05T07:14:00.000-07:00

This three-hour session was presented by Michael Shochet and Andrea Bartelstein.

Michael Shochet is the Systems/Reference Librarian at the Langsdale Library at University of Baltimore. His portion of this seminar presented the benefits and some basic how-tos of blogging. Blogging is easy, and I think that after hearing his talk, anyone would agree with that idea.

Shocut provided a list of resources both within his lecture and as a handout. Here is an even more up-to-date list of blogging resources. One of the many valuable ideas that Mr. Shochet expressed was how easy it really is to keep abreast of the blogs that you read by using an RSS reader and subscribing to the blogs. This elimiates the need to navigate to all of "your" blogs by placing all of the new content from the blogs you like to read in one place. You simply need to subscribe to a blog, and when you have the time, you can read everything that is new, mark those articles as read, and get on with your life. No more hunting around and guessing. I've been using an RSS reader that seems not to work - I'm excited about trying one of the ones that Mr. Shochet recommended, and getting more efficient at blog-reading. Also - I'm totally sold on tagging - you get to be your own personal cataloger of your own content.
______________________________________
Andrea Bartelstein is currently the Instructional Services Coordinator and Librarian for Education and Counseling at the Sheridan Libraries, Johns Hopkins University. She has recently relocated (Vermont, I believe), and is a telecommuter for the moment while JHU is replacing her. Ms. Bartelstein came all the way back to Maryland to share her podcasting project with us!

Podcasting is when an audio or visual file is produced and presented via the Internet, which can be downloaded to a computer or portable device, and viewed at will by the end user. Ms. Bartelstein defines podcasting further as something that is done on an episodic basis (regularly presented at intervals, rather than a one-time event)

Podcasts can be subscribed to just as easily as blogs. There are many possible applications for podcasting technology. Several ideas for how to use podcasting were suggested unit of library instruction, or a tour of a library museum. Some museums now actually provide podcasts of tours that can be downloaded to one's MP3 player, and used later in the museum, rather than forcing visitors to rent one of those little recorders, or strain their ears to hear the docent.

Podcasting is really easy. Ms. Bartelstein explained exactly how she did it for her project, and it turns out to be far easier than I expected. This is because there are special codes that are used in blogs or as part of regular html that do a lot of the work for you. Here is a page of the Sheridan Libraries Podcasts.

A list of resources was also provided for podcasting. Also, please click here for more information: Podcasting - Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki.

Here is a podcast file - one participant's comments after attending this session - which I borrowed from the MLA Conference Wiki:
http://library.carr.org:3455/mla2007wiki/admin/download.html?attachid=52219

akg

Navigating the Cereal Aisle of Life - Irmgarde Brown

2007-05-04T05:16:00.000-07:00

I didn't get to blog this yesterday: Harford County's own Irmgarde Brown provided a rigorous training session; Navigating the Cereal Aisle of Life: How to Build a Personal Mission Statement.

Irmgarde explored the paradox of "too many choices, and explained how the overabundance of choice in today's society makes it more and more difficult for people to decide what they are about and to develop a mission statement that suits their own lives.

She then explained developing some sort of personal mission statement is essential to have a meaningful life, make our lives more productive, and give you more control over your own life, among several other benefits.

The workshop consisted of a series of exercises designed to get us to think about who we think we are, based our gifts, talents, passions, and core values. Finally, we had to work out who or what cause we would choose to serve in life. These probably sound like really whopper concepts and ideas. They ARE.

One of the key benefits of this workshop was that Irmgarde provided WORD LISTS of possibilities, with similar types of possibilites all provided in one place. (At first, I was reminded of playing "Mad Lib" - remember Mad Libs, where you fill in the blanks and get a goofy statement at the end?) But no - these lists were provided some help to someone like yours truly. I didn't get overwhelmed because "the-possibilites-were-endless-but-I couldn't-think-of-a-single-one." I had examples right in front of me, and I could use those examples, or think of similar related ideas of my own to use.

The workshop was 2.5 hours. Naturally, something like a personal mission statement couldn't possibly come together in this amount of time. Irmgarde provided us with a good solid start and imparted some pretty healthy thoughts and tools to get us moving along the road towards developing our mission statements.

I don't know if Irmgarde plans to do this workshop again in the future, but if she does, I recommend it highly!
akg

Division of Library Development and Services 2007 Update

2007-05-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

After introducing their members and offering a description of their responsibilities and mission statement, DLDS gave a presentation of their current and upcoming projects.

Irene Padilla, the current Assistant State Superintendent for Libraries (head of DLDS) was once the director of Harford County Public Library.

DLDS is actually a division of the Maryland State Department of Education. Did you know that DLDS is responsible for administering the Federal LSTA Grant Program? This means that federal grants to libraries must be requested through DLDS, and the grants are distributed from DLDS. Every year, library associates from all over the state attend LATI - yet another program governed by DLDS.

Did you also know that the training programs that many of us attend, such as "Leading From Any Position" are coordinated by DLDS? Maryland AskUsNow, is another program that DLDS oversees. Some of the staff from my library system attended the Spanish Language Outreach Trainings.

Some exciting activities are coming down the pike, too. The Gates Grant computers that many libraries received over the past few years are getting old, and now there are plans to sustain these computers by upgrading hardware so that access does not decline. The Maryland Learning Libraries 2.0 - 23 things project is already underway, and will be fully supported by DLDS. Summer Reading programs will be going national - but don't worry, "Sneaks" is still alive and well.

akg

General Session - The Long Tail - Chris Anderson

2007-05-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

Chris Anderson is Wired Magazine's editor in chief. He came to speak with us today about his concept of "The Long Tail."

The concept of the "long tail" describes statistically that while only a few examples of media (like blockbuster movies) draw the majority of interest, the rest of everything else that is "out there" garner the interest of a few people each, but collectively, garner the interest of just as many people.

Example: Movie theatres usually try to show all of the top hits - the movies which will gross the highest amount of ticket sales. However, there are many more independent films that may never be seen, because it isn't "worth it" to market a film that relatively few people will want to see. But if all those independent films could be shown at no cost, just as many people would view those independent films collectively as those who would view the few hot movies.

Traditionally, the commercial world has done what is economically more sound by providing products that are one-size-fits-all. Fewer choices have been marketed to us, because our commerce is driven by how much space is actually available to house products. We can't possibly house every possible book in any one library, for example.

The Internet, and other technologies make it easier to cater to the "long tail," which represents the interests of the many who are interested in the less popular content collectively. Bloggers and users who review products and services provide free advertising and recommendations. Digitized information that can be downloaded and read, printed, or viewed, or otherwise requested on demand reduce overhead to zero.

Anderson's address provided several eye-opening examples that illustrated the concepts quite nicely.

akg

MLA Conference 2007 - Wave of the Future!

2007-04-30T18:57:00.000-07:00

I have been asked to be one of the bloggers for the MLA 2007 Annual conference this year. So, during May 3-4, I will post my experiences at the various sessions that I plan to attend. Watch this spot!