Sunday, November 25, 2007
#18 (Second try) The end - a message from the Ministry of Happiness
The Ministry of Happiness declares the Cultural (Information) Revolution open and in full swing.
Image 1: The Age of smiling
Image 2: Youthful dance steps
Post program, I feel young, I feel free, I feel hip, I feel now!
#17 On Library 2.0 etc
Read most of the entries. Really enjoyed them; felt like a library student again. Really loved what John J. Riener says about metadata in "To better bibliographic services".
Web based applications will be revolutionary for libraries in the future - and it looks like they already are for some. I was thinking about managing non-book material - material that is often neglected by book and reference libraries. Uncatalogued material is often only listed in contents lists. Zoho writer could be good here, so the word documents can be added as a link to a catalogue record. The SLV is pretty much committed to EAD for managing and presenting this sort of material, which I suppose is better in terms of searchability, speed and security. EAD is expensive because its adoption requires lots of backroom work with the collections, software commitments, and then IT support for its uploading, so it would not be feasible for a smaller library with small non-book collections. But Zoho writer could be used to attach lists of posters, pictures, local history files, and toys (not normally given individual records in local libraries) to library group catalogue records. And very doable by your garden variety librarian.
Next post is my last. I will end with a whimper.
Web based applications will be revolutionary for libraries in the future - and it looks like they already are for some. I was thinking about managing non-book material - material that is often neglected by book and reference libraries. Uncatalogued material is often only listed in contents lists. Zoho writer could be good here, so the word documents can be added as a link to a catalogue record. The SLV is pretty much committed to EAD for managing and presenting this sort of material, which I suppose is better in terms of searchability, speed and security. EAD is expensive because its adoption requires lots of backroom work with the collections, software commitments, and then IT support for its uploading, so it would not be feasible for a smaller library with small non-book collections. But Zoho writer could be used to attach lists of posters, pictures, local history files, and toys (not normally given individual records in local libraries) to library group catalogue records. And very doable by your garden variety librarian.
Next post is my last. I will end with a whimper.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
#16 Podcasts
Yahoo was not offering the tutorial. I just searched it a little.
Podcastalley was OK. I found something great from the Victoria and Albert Museum. SLV could do that - have specialists talk about significant publications, objects and pictures from the collection. A sort of audio treasures thing.
SLV does podcasting. That's a use made by libraries.
SLV Chat and Ask Now operators could search these directories for clients, though they're slow and not necessarily authoritative. But we'd use our judgment as we go.
Podcastalley was OK. I found something great from the Victoria and Albert Museum. SLV could do that - have specialists talk about significant publications, objects and pictures from the collection. A sort of audio treasures thing.
SLV does podcasting. That's a use made by libraries.
SLV Chat and Ask Now operators could search these directories for clients, though they're slow and not necessarily authoritative. But we'd use our judgment as we go.
#15 Video sharing
Favorite line from favorite band:
"I'm not lost, but I don't know where I am"
...................................
You Tube: First up, I've got to say: IT"S SO SLOW!!!!
I use YouTube at home. I love looking up old films and music clips; keeps me diverted for ages. Categories section is lame though. I tried to search stuff that might relate or be useful for my work, and as usual, I couldn't think of anything. So I searched my blog name - just as a word - and found a Smashing Pumpkins song. Wow!
'Most Viewed' front page reveals You Tube for what it is, in essence: tabloid web - sleaze and macho sport.
Teacher Tube would be good for SLV Chat and Ask Now operators. Science Hack too.
#14 Discovering more Web 2.0 tools
I use Pandora (music sharing site) at home. I see now it's no longer available to non-US residents. They are "deeply, deeply sorry". So am I.
Looked at heading for 'visual arts'. Interesting sites for colour work.
Used Picnik to edit a picture. Really easy to use and free.
Lots of these applications are useful for private individuals and suburban libraies (who may not have a large IT department to support their work), but here at the SLV I suppose the best we can do is point our patrons to them, and try and offer some 'user education' and support where we can.
In terms of managing our business and collections, I can't see any uses.
Looked at heading for 'visual arts'. Interesting sites for colour work.
Used Picnik to edit a picture. Really easy to use and free.
Lots of these applications are useful for private individuals and suburban libraies (who may not have a large IT department to support their work), but here at the SLV I suppose the best we can do is point our patrons to them, and try and offer some 'user education' and support where we can.
In terms of managing our business and collections, I can't see any uses.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
#13 Blog about technology
This is the sort of essay question one sets students when you want them occupied and out of your hair for ages. I feel like I can't apply myself to a sincere, well thought-out response. So I'll just babble for 100-150 words.....
I don't know anyone who resists technology; people just pick and choose what they like to use. I worked with someone (quite recently) who refused to use email! I sort of found the very existence of him frightening. Nothing I could say to him - even offering to train him - would bring him around. It was an ideological thing, like who you vote for. Yet he used a computer, and all sorts of applications to manage his vast collection of books and pictures.
I like knowing about what's out there. I'm pressed for time, and that makes me grumpy sometimes. I'm glad we've had the chance to work though some of these things so far. Like I say to my little girl: you don't have to eat it, but you do have to try it.
I don't know anyone who resists technology; people just pick and choose what they like to use. I worked with someone (quite recently) who refused to use email! I sort of found the very existence of him frightening. Nothing I could say to him - even offering to train him - would bring him around. It was an ideological thing, like who you vote for. Yet he used a computer, and all sorts of applications to manage his vast collection of books and pictures.
I like knowing about what's out there. I'm pressed for time, and that makes me grumpy sometimes. I'm glad we've had the chance to work though some of these things so far. Like I say to my little girl: you don't have to eat it, but you do have to try it.
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