Ok, I am now officially hooked on the NPR show, On The Media. This week had, yet again, a story that referenced one of our lecture topics made it's way onto the show.
This week they discussed how law firms are now targeting individuals who download illegal movies and information via BitTorrent Clients.
The idea made in this story was that law firms are actually using this to create revenue, as opposed to the original reason for these lawsuits, which was education.
http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2010/06/25/05
Give it a listen, hopefully the transcript will be posted soon!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Social Software in Libraries
I listened to the Social Software in Libraries podcast from Library Gang 2.0 last week. What I found helpful was the point made that all social software options are not helpful for all libraries. Finding the social media device that fits the needs of a library is something that each individual library needs to make for itself.
We have a particularly technology enthusiastic librarian in our system who insists on using every social media option available. Sometimes I feel that if she focused on which items were actually working, and focusing her time on those, she would find more success.
I tried the blog to promote programs in the library, and found it difficult to keep up with, and tough to get the non-blogger to check out for upcoming information. I did find however, that creating a fan page on facebook has created a great way to communicate upcoming events to potential attendees, and as more people "fan" the program information is reaching more and more individuals.
My blog was not completely left to fade off into oblivion. I found that it was incredibly useful as a tool to stay in contact with the 18 member libraries that I help plan programming for.
Often, my e-mails are lost in the day to day hubbub because library directors don't have programming on their daily radar. But if I post information on a blog, and they subscribe to it, or have it bookmarked, they reach out to it once a week, once a month, or however often they focus on programming.
The response from the directors has increased significantly by implementing this social software.
What social software experiments have you tried? Find anything unique that worked?
Has anyone actually succeeded with Twitter? I just can't get into it!
We have a particularly technology enthusiastic librarian in our system who insists on using every social media option available. Sometimes I feel that if she focused on which items were actually working, and focusing her time on those, she would find more success.
I tried the blog to promote programs in the library, and found it difficult to keep up with, and tough to get the non-blogger to check out for upcoming information. I did find however, that creating a fan page on facebook has created a great way to communicate upcoming events to potential attendees, and as more people "fan" the program information is reaching more and more individuals.
My blog was not completely left to fade off into oblivion. I found that it was incredibly useful as a tool to stay in contact with the 18 member libraries that I help plan programming for.
Often, my e-mails are lost in the day to day hubbub because library directors don't have programming on their daily radar. But if I post information on a blog, and they subscribe to it, or have it bookmarked, they reach out to it once a week, once a month, or however often they focus on programming.
The response from the directors has increased significantly by implementing this social software.
What social software experiments have you tried? Find anything unique that worked?
Has anyone actually succeeded with Twitter? I just can't get into it!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Interview from On The Media on the Cost of Information
This was an interesting interview I caught this weekend from On the Media. I'll need to track down this month's Atlantic to read the whole article!
We've been talking a lot about Open Access in our classes, and I think this is an interesting look at the other side of things, where the evolution of Apps,are moving groups towards charging for their information.
Enjoy!
We've been talking a lot about Open Access in our classes, and I think this is an interesting look at the other side of things, where the evolution of Apps,are moving groups towards charging for their information.
Enjoy!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Library first in state to launch 'free music' program - San Jose Mercury News
Library first in state to launch 'free music' program - San Jose Mercury News
I'm curious to see how quickly this will catch on as a feature in other libraries!
I'm curious to see how quickly this will catch on as a feature in other libraries!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Oddly titled articles make me read them!
How e-Books are Like Disposable Razors
The title of this article caught my eye while scanning through this week's ALA newsletter.
Basically the author talks about how the evolution of e-books have unbundled the "package" of a book.
Nothing life changing, but worth giving a quick look too.
The title of this article caught my eye while scanning through this week's ALA newsletter.
Basically the author talks about how the evolution of e-books have unbundled the "package" of a book.
Nothing life changing, but worth giving a quick look too.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Google Apps
Just got done reading the Google Apps Manual. There are tons of little tips and tricks that I didn't realize I needed.
I'm intrigued by iGoogle and playing with Google Sites to create a page. I recently interviewed for a position at a very small library, and I could see many of the Google Apps being useful in the day to day running of the library. Especially with communication messages to library employees without sending them 50 e-mails per day. Creating a Google Sites page that perhaps only employees could view would be a great alternative.
I look forward to figuring out other ways I can use these goodies.
I'm intrigued by iGoogle and playing with Google Sites to create a page. I recently interviewed for a position at a very small library, and I could see many of the Google Apps being useful in the day to day running of the library. Especially with communication messages to library employees without sending them 50 e-mails per day. Creating a Google Sites page that perhaps only employees could view would be a great alternative.
I look forward to figuring out other ways I can use these goodies.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
On The Media Debate regarding AT&T's new data plans
Driving into work this afternoon I enjoyed a great debate from On The Media on AT&T's announcement that they will no longer offer an unlimited data plan to their customers. With the release of the new iPhone, I am curious how this will effect sales for new iPhone users and what it will mean for how we access and create digital media through our portable devices.
Click the link below to listen to the debate.
Click the link below to listen to the debate.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Studying is for the dogs
So I have this really awesome dog. We adopted him last September, and he is officially one of the family. He's a great dog because he sleeps 20 out of 24 hours a day.
I mean, he did sleep 20 hours a day until I started classes! Now I'm entertained by this show every time I sit down to study.
This particular video was taken about 40 minutes into his rope attack.
Love my pup, but I had to start closing the door on him during study time.
As for studying, I think I'm doing well. Listening to this week's class presentation made me feel a little bit more confident about how to prepare for the exam. I get really anxious about computer jargon and terminology. I understand what's going on, I just don't always remember what things are called, or the proper way to describe things. Hopefully the preparation will get me through.
I started toying around with Omeka this afternoon. I'll definitely need to set aside a good 2 hours to really figure this program out. I added 1 ebook item to my list... only 14 more to go!
I mean, he did sleep 20 hours a day until I started classes! Now I'm entertained by this show every time I sit down to study.
This particular video was taken about 40 minutes into his rope attack.
Love my pup, but I had to start closing the door on him during study time.
As for studying, I think I'm doing well. Listening to this week's class presentation made me feel a little bit more confident about how to prepare for the exam. I get really anxious about computer jargon and terminology. I understand what's going on, I just don't always remember what things are called, or the proper way to describe things. Hopefully the preparation will get me through.
I started toying around with Omeka this afternoon. I'll definitely need to set aside a good 2 hours to really figure this program out. I added 1 ebook item to my list... only 14 more to go!
Monday, June 7, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Open Source discovery!
It's so interesting how as soon as I read about something in class, or complete a project, what I learned pops up in my work.
This week we had a meeting and the executive director of the library gave a brief presentation on vufind, a library resource portal. AccessPA is testing it out and go figure.... it's Open Source!
It uses the Evergreen System and I guess vufind kinda pops on top of it.
Click around and check out the test site.
It pulls in reviews from Amazon.com and Biographical information from Wikipedia, all free resources.
I don't work in circulation or in the cataloguing department in my library, but just as a customer, trying to utilize the Millenium Catalog is a pain in the butt sometimes. Vufind won't be solving all of the issues, but it's certainly a really big step in the right direction!
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