Librarian by Day

Wow I still don’t have all of my notes typed but, but I wanted to get moving so I’ll do those later. The great thing about this conference (other than the amazing people and Monterey) is all ideas I get to bring back. I have so many things I want to implement where to start, will we have the staff, the time and the resources?

Two things are on the top of my list and are already moving ahead

First is our Flickr account. I was able to get approval for a pro account just before I left for IL2007. In the next two weeks I’ll get pictures from the major events in 2006 and 2007 up. Then I’m hoping to have event pictures up within a week of the event. We have a lot of successful programs and we’re taken pictures, we need to get them out there where our patrons can see them!

Second is our library blog, I’ll be posting regularly about library news and events. I’m hoping some of the other staff will be interested in posting too. If I weren’t already excited enough about this look at the great comment we got! This is exactly the interaction and feedback we’re looking for!

The only libraries I have known before moving to Jefferson City have been big ones in Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas. My expectations were greatly exceeded upon getting my library card at MRRL. There can be no doubt that the librarians and other staff are invested in public access to books, learning, and culture. They consistantly go above and beyond the call of duty in their dedication to these goals. I did not expect arts and crafts sessions, and have been delighted to find them offered. Book clubs, the Capital Read, and day festivals are all engaging. The librarians deserve special commendation for providing lunch at book club meetings and refreshments at other public discussions!
There are times that I would love to attend an evening movie or book discussion or a weekend musical concert, but cannot. This is a complaint directed toward the City and Jefftran rather than to the library. If you would, though, when scheduling events, please consider that some of us rely on public transportation.
Many thanks for all the grand opportunities that you provide to the community!

Meredith Farkas led off this two part session with great information about her Five Weeks to a Social Library program. This was the first, free, grass roots, completely online program designed to teach Librarians about social software. It was almost completely done with open source, free software tools such as Drupal, Mediawiki and BlipTV. Her tips to help you (and me) steal this idea:

• tools can not be a barrier
• be flexible
• provide ways for people to have many different conversations
• perpetual beta

Helene Blowers presented the second half of the session.  I’d talked to her the day before, but it was just wonderful to hear her speak.  I’ve been following her for over a year and coping her Learning 2.0 program is what led to my new positions and fancy title

Most importantly dont worry about being an expert, we need to think of ourselves as players.  It’s great to hear someone like her say this!

To become a knowledge player:

• Take 15 mins a day
• Read 5 blogs a day
• create a play box – use del.icio.us
• give yourself and other permission to play

Become a discovery guide:

• its about learning, not training
• removed the classroom
• remember exposure is the first step towards learning
• learners have as much right to share as guides
• focus on fun

You can see her slides here.

Chad Boeninger presented about Adapting Library Services to the Needs of Gamers the first half of this session. I found this really interesting, even though I am a gamer I’d never really thought about the differences between gamers and non-gamers. For example:

• game encourage decision making, interaction, and imerision.
• Gamers learn by doing, if they try something and it fails they will try another way, there is no one right way to achieve your goal
• games teach problem solve skills and team work
• games are hard, perseverance pays off

So how do we reach these people?

This was a great presentation that started out with a look at Hennepin’s wonderful Bookspace, hop over and take a look at it, it’s impressive. Just some of the things that really stand out

• pictures of patrons reading
• blog
• enews sign ups
• main page index
• Featured lists – created by librarians
• What We’re Reading – created by staff
• Reader’s Lists – patrons are creating these!
• Genre pages
• New titles list
• Librarian tips and news

Who is doing all this work? There is a Bookspace Coordinator, a senior Libririan in Web Services, a bookspace worskshop and bookspace coordinators.

The interface for contribution is easy!

Staff are required to contribute content, it is part of their job, not volunteer.

Robin did a write up of this from her IT point of view and you can see the whole presentation here (scroll down).

This was a really interesting session about the on-line communities for older adults and the services Libraries are providing to them. Most on-line communities are aimed at upper middle class women and it looks like they are missing their target audience they don’t seem to have an idea of who they are trying to reach

• Seniornet
• Thirdage
• ReZoom
• Cranky
• Eldr

I need to check these out and add them to our links page.

Also what about a Wii tournament for Seniors? We’ve seen pictures of nursing homes or older adult communities doing it? Why not the Library? – Great idea I wonder if we’re allowed to take our Wii out of our Teen Space?

Chrystie R. Hill led off on this session with some great examples and facts about Librarians and Libraries in networked communities.

“Big Ups” to Michael Porter who followed with a smart and funny presentation that woke me up before my 3rd cup of coffee, something that’s pretty hard to do. He showed some example Library website and the great things they are doing. Some of the ideas he showed and my thoughts about them

• Big WiFi zone button – we have WiFi? Do we advertise it on our site? I have to check. ugh I should know this
• Featured Local Artist – hey! We have an Art Gallery in our Library and we let local artist display their work, why don’t we have this?
• Survey linked from main page in an eye catching way – Topeka Shawnee – another great idea I’d love to steal, Robin have you noticed I keep adding to your “to-do” list?
• A “Donate to your Library” Button right on the homepage -great idea!
• Some startling statistics, which I didn’t get written down except the last part, essentially use of almost all online tools has gone up considerably in the last 2 years, except Library websites, it’s dropped from 30% to 20% of people saying they use it. Uh-Oh! See Michael for the source of this stat

Lee Raine from the Pew Internet and American Life Project gave the keynote address. There was a lot of facts put out there really fast and some of it was interesting. I didn’t think it was engaging as some other people did, but we’re allowed our own opinions.