I spent a day and a half at the conference in Hyannis, soaking up information and ideas from speakers and colleagues. Also came away with a free signed copy of Harriet Reisen's Louisa May Alcott book, and some free pens! There were several times when I wished I could be two places at once, there were so many juicy topics being addressed at the same time. Here are some highlights of my conference.
Massachusetts goes Evergreen:http://www.evergreen-ils.org/
I got to this one a little late, after driving down from Waltham. Three Mass. library networks are taking the leap from separate contracts with integrated library system vendors like Minuteman's with III, and forming the Massachusetts Library Network Cooperative. They will use an open-source system called Evergreen to run their catalog, checkout, and inventory control functions.
Open source means it's not owned by anyone, and the software code is available for free - it's available for anyone to improve and change to create a version that suits them better. This saves a lot in the cost of software! Instead, open source requires a good deal of time and expertise to be a part of such a labor-intensive and collaborative enterprise.
The biggest advantage is that libraries are able to create the system according to user wishes and needs -- no more begging a big impersonal company to listen to your requests. If you want to marking a fine paid to be a reversible command (for those times when the patron realizes they don't have any cash after all), you can do the programming (or pay someone to do it for you). If you want to have the registration form fill in the city and state for you automatically when you fill in the zip code, it's in your hands. Merrimack Valley Library Consortium plans to go live with their new system in the spring of 2011.
Free and Easy-to-Use Tech Ideas for your Library
Alison K. Cody, The Loyola/Notre Dame Library, Baltimore, MD; Cindy Fisher, University of Texas - Austin, Perry Castaneda Library; Michael Spelman, Boston Public Library, Honan-Allston Branch.
There was so much to show and so little time that I can't say I fully understand how each of these tools works, but they all looked worth investigating further.
Productivity tools:
LibX - an add-on to your Internet Browser that allows users to search the library catalog from anyplace on the Web. Links to the library from anywhere: Amazon, wikipedia, etc.
GoogleDocs docs.google.com - this is one I've used, so I know it's handy for accessing and sharing documents from any computer anywhere. It doesn't matter if I'm at home, on a City computer, or an MLN PC, I can get to the same GoogleDocs. I can share them with others if I choose, and we can all view and edit. I can download them into Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
similar tools: Zoho, Open Office
GoogleCalendar calendar.google.com - color coordinate different events to organize, share and invite others.
similar tools; 30 boxes, Yahoo calendar
GoogleDocs docs.google.com - this is one I've used, so I know it's handy for accessing and sharing documents from any computer anywhere. It doesn't matter if I'm at home, on a City computer, or an MLN PC, I can get to the same GoogleDocs. I can share them with others if I choose, and we can all view and edit. I can download them into Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
similar tools: Zoho, Open Office
GoogleCalendar calendar.google.com - color coordinate different events to organize, share and invite others.
similar tools; 30 boxes, Yahoo calendar
Tools for Creativity:
Gimp, www.gimp.org - edit and manipulate images, photographs, and text; has many features of the very expensive Photoshop!
similar tools: Picnik, Paint
Jing, www.jingproject.com - create visual how-tos by quickly and easily recording your on-screen movements. Use visuals to express complex ideas or processes. Louise took a class on this, so she can explain!
Similar tools: Wink, Camtasia, Captivate
similar tools: Picnik, Paint
Jing, www.jingproject.com - create visual how-tos by quickly and easily recording your on-screen movements. Use visuals to express complex ideas or processes. Louise took a class on this, so she can explain!
Similar tools: Wink, Camtasia, Captivate
Tools for Reference
Zoho Creator, www.zoho.com - not sure -- they didn't get to this one...something to do with collecting data and creating online forms...
similar tools: Google Forms
Libraryh3lp, libraryh3lp.blogspot.com - instant messaging designed for libraries to communicate with patrons. Multiple librarians can be signed on at once to handle questions as they come in; can embed widgets throughout library web page and some subscription sites.
similar tools: Meebo
Zotero, www.zotero.org - a Firefox add-on that captures citations from catalogs, databases, and web pages without taking you away from your research. Makes creating a bibliography easy peasy!
similar tools: Endnote Web.
similar tools: Google Forms
Libraryh3lp, libraryh3lp.blogspot.com - instant messaging designed for libraries to communicate with patrons. Multiple librarians can be signed on at once to handle questions as they come in; can embed widgets throughout library web page and some subscription sites.
similar tools: Meebo
Zotero, www.zotero.org - a Firefox add-on that captures citations from catalogs, databases, and web pages without taking you away from your research. Makes creating a bibliography easy peasy!
similar tools: Endnote Web.
This was a panel featuring an amazing array of experts who rapidly skimmed through tech trends to watch.
Megan Fox, Jobs for the Future: in 2009, people used their mobile phones more for data access than for phone calls. This trend will only grow.
Elizabeth Thomsen, NOBLE: Wakefield PL's "Then and Now" photo contest; Picasa's facial recognition software for identifying people in old photos; Historical Markers database
Scot Colford, BPL: cool OPACs, like Oakville PL in Ontario, which has all kinds of interactive features, great search results like Google and Amazon, and allows user to "browse" the shelves virtually.
Rosalyn Metz, Wheaton College: encouraged us to learn about project management, to plan for technology, using tools such as basecamp, manymoon and redmine. Also encouraged exploration of data.gov, linkdata.org, data.gov.uk, and socrata (check these out, reference librarians!)
Scott Kehoe, Northeast Mass. Regional Lib. System: very pessimistic about the fact that ebook publishers' current business models do not take libraries into account; also concerned about losing content when our subscription database vendor loses the bids for exclusive contracts for magazines & journals we want to offer.
Rick Levine, Central Mass. Regional Lib. System: excited about wireless USBs, which will mean cable-free monitors, projectors, etc.
Tom Corbett, Cushing Academy: Cushing is the school that made it into the news a few months ago when it unveiled its new library featuring an espresso machine but no printed books. Tom Corbett is the director; he defends the new strategy, and explains that they support research via laptops and reading via handheld devices, such as Kindles and Nooks. He argues that ebooks are superior in many ways to printed books - yes, he has used them on the beach - and the user can adjust print size, get a consistently high quality copy every time. He argues that we need to focus on supporting reading, without being too attached to the delivery vehicle.
Massachusetts Book Awards: http://www.massbook.org/massbooks2010.htmlRosalyn Metz, Wheaton College: encouraged us to learn about project management, to plan for technology, using tools such as basecamp, manymoon and redmine. Also encouraged exploration of data.gov, linkdata.org, data.gov.uk, and socrata (check these out, reference librarians!)
Scott Kehoe, Northeast Mass. Regional Lib. System: very pessimistic about the fact that ebook publishers' current business models do not take libraries into account; also concerned about losing content when our subscription database vendor loses the bids for exclusive contracts for magazines & journals we want to offer.
Rick Levine, Central Mass. Regional Lib. System: excited about wireless USBs, which will mean cable-free monitors, projectors, etc.
Tom Corbett, Cushing Academy: Cushing is the school that made it into the news a few months ago when it unveiled its new library featuring an espresso machine but no printed books. Tom Corbett is the director; he defends the new strategy, and explains that they support research via laptops and reading via handheld devices, such as Kindles and Nooks. He argues that ebooks are superior in many ways to printed books - yes, he has used them on the beach - and the user can adjust print size, get a consistently high quality copy every time. He argues that we need to focus on supporting reading, without being too attached to the delivery vehicle.
Innovative Patron Services
Margaret Lourie of Lyrasis reviewed a number of current trends in patron services. She proposed looking at the library from a patron's point of view: patrons want easy self-service options, exceptional service, and the ability to connect with the library anywhere. They want very simple online searching, like Google.
Lourie encouraged us to think about our own experiences in stores and other places we go for service - negative and positive experiences, and what we can learn from them as service providers.
Trends:
Eliminating the reference desk, getting out from behind desks, roaming, looking for perplexed people, offering help. One library has a timer that flashes at the reference librarian every so often to remind them to get up and walk around.
Patron-driven acquisitions, in which a large number of records are loaded into the catalog without having copies purchased by the library -- patrons see records in catalog, along with button to request purchase. Purchases are made in response to patron demand, not just in anticipation of it.
Home delivery - some libraries are doing home delivery to anyone who wants it, like Netflix. Catalog has a button, Deliver to me at Home; item is mailed or otherwise delivered. Flat fee, no overdue fine.
Library presence on mobile devices - see MIT and BC apps; Seattle Public Library mobile site, OCLN links to mobile database interfaces. See also Waltham Public Library's mobile site: waltham.lib.ma.us/m
Facebook, Twitter, etc - have Tweets go automatically to FB; see DavidLeeKing.com on humanizing your web page
Better catalogs that include ALL library's offerings, not just print and non-print - see Bibliocommons, HELIN - Encore, SOPAC; Methuen is getting Novelist Select, which builds readers advisory terms into the catalog.
Messing with Dewey - see Darien CT, Anythink - Rangeview, Cambridge MA for experiments in grouping items by larger topics, then Dewey within that. So items on parenting from 300s, 600's, all come together. More like a bookstore organization (but better)
Patron-driven acquisitions, in which a large number of records are loaded into the catalog without having copies purchased by the library -- patrons see records in catalog, along with button to request purchase. Purchases are made in response to patron demand, not just in anticipation of it.
Home delivery - some libraries are doing home delivery to anyone who wants it, like Netflix. Catalog has a button, Deliver to me at Home; item is mailed or otherwise delivered. Flat fee, no overdue fine.
Library presence on mobile devices - see MIT and BC apps; Seattle Public Library mobile site, OCLN links to mobile database interfaces. See also Waltham Public Library's mobile site: waltham.lib.ma.us/m
Facebook, Twitter, etc - have Tweets go automatically to FB; see DavidLeeKing.com on humanizing your web page
Better catalogs that include ALL library's offerings, not just print and non-print - see Bibliocommons, HELIN - Encore, SOPAC; Methuen is getting Novelist Select, which builds readers advisory terms into the catalog.
Messing with Dewey - see Darien CT, Anythink - Rangeview, Cambridge MA for experiments in grouping items by larger topics, then Dewey within that. So items on parenting from 300s, 600's, all come together. More like a bookstore organization (but better)
Fantastic Talk - Physical Meets Digital: User Centered Design at the New York Public Library by Michael Lascarides. Will have to write about this one tomorrow.
