post #6 - what we're all about

I started off the semester labeling myself as technologically "brave", although I was open to the possibility that I may want to tuck my tail and cower away before the semester was over.

At this point, my only “fear” of technology is the “waste of time” factor. When I think about libraries developing podcasts, blogs, wikis, YouTube videos, Facebook accounts, etc, etc, I can’t help but wonder if it's worth the time and effort.

I guess my biggest concern has been that many of these technologies are not the informative, research-rich tools we are used to developing in libraries. They seem to focus more on the flashy, socially-oriented side of things.

What’s the purpose of all this glitz and glam? Is it really vital to the mission of the Library?

That’s the keyword… mission… What are we all about? And what does the technology that we are using have to do with it?

I was leaning more towards the “waste of time” attitude until I thought about one of my biggest struggles at my library. I lead a team of undergraduate students who just so happen to be working at the circulation desk. That’s seriously how they view it. I desperately want them to understand the purpose and mission of the library and to be excited about it, but I have found this SO hard to do. When I get questions from my students like… You have to go to school to be a librarian?... I am confounded that these bright (really, they are) young adults WORK HERE and we haven’t been able to communicate what we do. How on earth will the patrons understand and appreciate what the library can do for them?

This is where those glitzy little technologies are working their way into my heart. Although Facebook accounts and YouTube videos may not be the best format for disseminating scholarly research, they are flashy… flashy things are interesting and attract attention… and therefore can be used to communicate ideas that may be hard to communicate otherwise… see where I’m going with this?

I think one of the greatest strengths of integrating some of these technologies into the library is their ability to give a personality to the library. This personality enables us to communicate what is important to us and what we have to offer. Even just the fact that we are using popular technologies communicates that we are cutting edge and want to be accessible to the users.

Part of my plan for next year with my student workers is to better educate them about the mission of the library by having them help create some of these technologies to incorporate into the library website. The bigger part they play in the library, the more they will be in touch with what we are all about. And if they can help us bring that mission to light for the rest of the student body… that sounds just about wonderful! (Surprisingly, in a survey I took this week, almost 50% of my student employees said that they would ENJOY working on extra project instead of just “sitting at the desk”…) Thus begins my summer of figuring out how on earth to coordinate something like this. Success or failure, the experience will only increase their understanding of the library’s mission… and that could only be a good thing.

post #5 - I didn't know we had that...

As a librarian, my job is to promote resources and services at my library. Therefore, I am always amazed when I discover new things that we have to offer.

I’ve heard about RSS features within the different electronic databases, but I really never took the time to explore them. I knew you could subscribe to search results and receive relevant articles on that topic as they are published. I never got too excited about this feature since I feel it usually takes multiple steps to locate relevant articles on many topics.

Lately, however, I stumbled upon a more attractive use of these RSS feeds within the databases. I like to browse through certain paper journals as they arrive at the library. Recently, I learned that I can subscribe to journal titles through some of our electronic databases. When a new issue becomes available, the articles are sent to my feed reader. I can them browse through the titles and abstracts and save the articles that I’m interested in reading. I love this option! Not only does this provide me with access to journals that we don’t have a paper subscription to, but it also makes it much more convenient to stay on top of the latest research and save articles that are of interest to me.

There’s nothing like discovering something that you already own. I guess it’s kind of like finding $5.00 in your pocket that you didn’t know was there!

post #4- the simple things

Although portable CD players and walkmans have been around for quite some time, MP3 players and ipods seem so revolutionary to me. There's so much freedom in being able to carry around your entire music collection in your pocket wherever you go. I have taken advantage of toting around audiobooks, lectures, podcasts and sermons, as well. Marvelous.

This week I learned about a new technology that has probably been around for awhile without grabbing my attention. I believe the technology is referred to as text-to-speech. There are lots of free programs out there that turn text into an audio file that can be stored on an MP3 player. This means you can basically turn any digitized book into an audiobook and turn any electronic article into a lecture.

The biggest downside is the mechanized voice, although some advertise their “natural voice.” I need to experiment a little more to see if I agree, but regardless, this seems like an excellent tool for auditory learners (and any busy student, really). I know this isn’t revolutionary, but sometimes it’s the simple things…

Anyone had experiences (good or bad) with TTS (text to speech)?

post #3- Google books

Very recently, I have started handling the difficult interlibrary loan requests at work. We've had an influx of students requesting books from the 1700 and 1800's.

Obviously, no libraries are willing to loan out these materials, and the best we can typically get is a reel of microfilm. When I started looking into these requests, I realized that over 50% of them have been digitized by Google.

I was thrilled!

It seems like a win-win situation for the patrons and the library. The benefits go on and on...
great image quality (for the most part)
immediate access
no cost
no due dates
text is fully searchable!
PDF download available
available anytime, anywhere

So... why don't I feel like I have discovered the best resource of the century!?!

People just aren't the excited about what I've “discovered. “ Sure, the students are. But when I tell them about Google books I sense the attitude of "okay, but you won't tell my professor I'm doing this, will you?”

What's wrong with Google books???

I am aware that there are certain copyright issues with Google, so let just focus on the old public domain works such as the ones that my students are in need of. No copyright issues. Just sheer ease of access to quality information... for free! Isn't that what we are all about!

No librarian or professor has directly denounced Google books, but one professor did emphasize the fact that she really wants to "get her students into the library." Whenever I send her students links to Google books, I feel I have to word everything in such a way that her student will still feel dependent on the physical library. I feel like a traitor.

When I first asked my librarian colleagues about directing these ILL requests to Google books, I got the feeling of "well… If that’s what we've got to do." Since when has preservation and universal access become a last resort? I guess since it got the name Google attached to it.

I’m sure you can tell I’m just venting at this point. Has anyone experienced a similar attitude towards utilizing books digitized by Google (that’s how I refer to them now, sounds less threatening than calling them Google Books)? Can anyone help me understand the lack of acceptance of Google’s efforts to digitize works in the public domain?

post #2 - cracking the code

My biggest technical exploration since my last post has been… HTML and CSS… (shiver)

I’ve always enjoyed being on the end-user side of technology, and now, after my first glimpse of the other side, I can say that I am extremely grateful to those who have developed the coding and programming that keeps this world running. I promise to no longer take websites, programs, and applications for granted. I promise to complain less about poorly designed websites, programs that don’t quite meet my needs, and having to wait for ages for the next update. (Oh, that almost sounds like I’m complaining again… I’ll work on it… I promise).

My recent introduction to web development has been exciting; don’t get me wrong. I am just a bit overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of what goes on behind the scenes when I check my email or buy something from Amazon. My measly little personal webpage that I am creating even seems overwhelming at times.

Although I am sure that the majority of my technological endeavors will continue to stay on this side of the fence, I know that this exposure to HTML will enable me to tweak and manipulate different tools to help them better suit my needs. This type of control is very exciting to me.

I wonder if some day, everyone will need to have the ability to create a webpage or understand basic coding language. Up to this point, I’ve felt that being able to create a webpage was a very esteemed, valued, and enviable ability- similar to speaking a foreign language. Now that I’m joining the ranks, I’m wondering what will come next. What’s after XHTML? Will I be left in the dark again? Of course, as long as there is Amazon.com, there will always be “Learn [insert new technology] the Quick and Easy Way!” just a few clicks away.

post #1 - modest beginnings

Although I am always very enthusiastic about new technology, wikis have managed to remain rather elusive to me until this week. In the past, I've taken a training course on using wikis in higher education. I've even created one just to play around with. But up to this point, something hasn't clicked. I understood the functionality of wikis but I didn't understand their applications. I guess it's the old rule: Don't use technology just for the sake of technology. I was trying to find wikis. I needed to just let wikis find me.

My first successful experience with wikis (besides the ever-helpful wikipedia.com) was one week ago (to the day) adding my blog address to our course wiki. That small step was the first lifting of the fog. It made sense...

My classmates and I post our blog addresses on the wiki and if I decide that http://reflectionsonlibrarysystems.blogspot.com is way too long and way too boring, I can just change it...on my own, at any time, from anywhere.

It worked. Something started to click.

Just a few days later I was sitting in my office at work trying to figure out how to organize a carry-in lunch for the library staff. I was attempting to organize the sign up sheet the best technological way I knew how: by email. After logistically thinking that through, I decided it would be better to just post a sign-up sheet in the staff lounge. Suddenly, the sun burst through the remaining fog. It started as disjunct thoughts...

... sign up sheet... techology...
virtual ... efficient... sign up sheet...
virtual ... virtual sign up sheet!....
That's it! I can use a wiki!

Imagine my delight as I logged right back in to wikispaces and created my very own wiki! I quickly created the components I needed, typed clear directions, and sent the link to my colleagues. The Souper Bowl Staff party wiki was created. See it for yourself!

Modest beginnings no doubt. However, this single-paged wiki opened my mind to all sorts of possibilities for effiecient communication and collaboration.

This week I was also introduced to Shareill the Interlibrary Loan wiki. This site hosts critical ILL materials, policies, and resources that are maintained solely by individual users. I can't think of a better way to have useful and current information available to professionals.

So, you can call this the week of the wiki for me. I hope there will be many, many more...