Uncategorized

Obsolete Librarians?

Uncategorized

Peta, over at Innovate has a great post today summarising all the good reasons why it’s great to be a librarian and why we will one day rule the world, Rumours of our imminent demise are greatly exaggerated.

I guess that Rod Serling couldn’t have known that when he wrote “The Obsolete Man“, which aired as a Twilight Zone episode in 1961. It was Library Link of the Day for 1 February.

Here’s the link to the episode at google video.

obsolete.jpg


No spoiler alert, you’ll just have to watch it. Although I must say that I thought it prophetic when the obsolete librarian told the state that it now had everything “categorized, organized and tagged”. Maybe del.icio.us WILL result in our “liquidation”?

penguin_03_small.jpg

If you’re wondering where you’ve seen Wordsworth before, look no further than Batman. Burgess Meredith was a much more manic and disturbing Penguin. I know which character I’d rather be locked with in a small book-lined room.

No-one knows you are a dog…or a library…

Uncategorized

Back in 1993, after Peter Steiner’s “on the internet no-one knows you’re a dog” cartoon was published in The New Yorker (pg 61 of July 5, 1993), everyone seemed to have it up on their wall. I remember falling over myself laughing at it, because we were all coming to terms with online identities and their general slipperiness.

idog.jpg

Recently there have been lots of discussion of libraries who set up their own MySpace account. For example, here, here, here and here. The recipe seems to be: “Go to where your users are (MySpace), get an account, add some information, and maybe a catalogue search box, get some friends and voila! an extra service point”. I wonder whether this is only an American trend, as I don’t know of any Australian libraries doing it…. although the Second Life Libraries have.

I know it is touted as A Good Thing, but my gut feeling when I see it is

“Nooooo it’s just for people…making real social contact, however banal…..leave them alone and don’t stick your nose in”.

The fine line between marketing and social contact is so very jumbled today, that I know it’s a naive response. Some corporations do try to find a way into online social space to market their wares, but I believe that most libraries are there because they want to be part of the conversation and to offer users better service.

In our physical spaces, social contact is definitely one of our roles – chatting with staff behind the counter as you check your books out each week is a very important part of many people’s lives. Even when we offer self-checkout stations, people will pop over to the counter after checking the books to say hello.

But last night, something occured to me that I find even more disturbing. What if avatars in Second Life stop only representing people? Already some individuals have an “alt”, or alter avatar. I suspect some SL librarians have their “professional self” avatar..and then the naughty one who rushes around buying expensive strap on appendages for a different kind of SL experience. This is a “one person/many identities” setup.

How about the “many people/one identity arrangement? What if a library set itslef up as an avatar? Let’s call her “Ima Library”. Instead of going to a building to a reference service point, you could just IM Ima. Ima could come along to distance learning classes and teach information literacy. Same principle as libraries in MySpace, but one which somehow messes more with my mind.

And then..what if a blog took on an avatar. What if LibrariansMatter DingDong offered you friendship? How about NewModelHonda Esperanz , would you chat with her? Would you feel that a cynical marketing ploy was being pulled on you?

Back in the good old days of 1993, people were just people and libraries were just libraries and we all knew who was who…except, of course, those of us who were dogs.

Information Online 2007 – Part 2

Uncategorized

I’m not there, but Michelle McClean from the Connecting Librarian is.

She’s made several detailed posts summarising the first day’s sessions. Worth checking out.

I love her list of things she’s resolving to do as a result of attending the conference. And this is just after the first day……

  • I want a USB stick with an MP3 player and FM tuner in the same piece of hardware.
  • I need to look up the e-government strategy and find out any implications for my library.
  • I need to have another look at the www.australia.gov.au website and link to it on my library’s website.
  • I need to have another look at the AGIMO website, for what’s new/changed.
  • I will investigate what the mobile web will mean for our electronic services and will have that as a criteria for our new website design.
  • Say in touch with the development of the semantic web.
  • Look up more on the governments’ water plan and get more info up on our website on water and the water crisis in Australia.
  • Investigate our policy on choosing between hardcopy and electronic resources and if we don’t have one, get one!
  • Use James Robertsons advice to avoid as many pitfalls as possible as we begin work on our intranet proper.
  • Check out the StepTwo website for relevant articles.
  • Look more at staff skills audits, particularly at the type of IT skills our staff need.
  • Investigate ways in which our new ILMS can tap into Web 2.0 type initiatives – ie. comments, and/or find others way to provide this type of interaction.
  • Don’t be afraid to experiment and fail – try and learn, try and learn.
  • Seek potential for external partnerships.
  • Keep aware of search engine trends.
  • Help our staff development move from training to life long learning – use Learning 2.0 programs.
  • Get usability testing as part of our new website design.

Information Online 2007

Uncategorized

The kids start a new school on Wednesday, so I won’t be flying across the continent to attend the Information Online 2007 conference, which runs from Tuesday 30 January to Thursday 1 February.

Instead, I’m looking at the Conference Planner and picking my ideal program.

infoonline20071.jpg

Like everyone, I like to think of myself as open to new ideas. The papers I found most interesting, however, were those by people I already know. Maybe I’m just interested in the same things as them, or just maybe a personal connection is a BIG influence when choosing papers to attend. Does this mean that if you want to get lots of people to your presentaion next year you should try and hang out with as many people as possible during the cocktail party this year? Only if they like you and remember you, I guess.

Papers which I’m particularly missing are:

I’m also not meeting up with the rest of the LINT crew, most of whom will be in Sydney at the time. So I won’t be wearing something lint covered so they can identify me, won’t be going out for drinks and won’t be finally meeting the bunch whose ideas I’ve enjoyed so much in the last six months. I’ve previously met CW, Peta and Bronwyn, and will meet up with Fiona next month. Michelle, and the testosterone-y ones – snail, Morgan and Corey – I’m yet to meet. But I’m sure those who are there will blog long and hard about the conference on LINT. (Or enjoy themselves so much that they forget all about blogging the conference – either option sounds good to me)

Informaton Online 2007 has a conference blog, but for some reason it has no RSS feed, only a link to an online form with 11 separate boxes to fill in for an email update. Hmmmmm…I’d leave them a comment about it, but they are not enabled. Hmmmmm….

Australian but not library….

Uncategorized

It’s Australia Day, so I’m getting my head out of my library and waving the flag a bit with some news about an Australian export that has me ecstatic.

Crowded House are reforming, releasing a new album and going to tour again.

There is a new site at Frenz (of the Enz) and the Farewell to the World site has a video of Neil Finn explaining why.

neifinnl.jpg
A photo I took of Neil Finn during the Split Enz tour, Perth, June 2006.

Yesterday, before I heard the news, I watched the DVD of their “Farewell to the World” concert held on the steps of the Sydney opera house back in 1996. I was mesmerised by the crystalline and intelligent lyrics, the understated way they all worked together to produce a fantastic live sound and the generous interplay with the audience. It made me feel…well…very glad to see my husband once the kids had gone to bed.

Two things stuck in my mind from the “making of the concert” accompanying doco. Instead of announcing the band’s breakup as planned at their last English gig, Neil just said something about “looking forward to the future”. And…the show was originally planned for the day before, but was totally rained out. For the soundcheck on the rainy day, instead of playing just one or two songs, they played the entire set, thrilling those fans who couldn’t make it the next day.

I’m not even going to speculate the reception they are likely to get now Neil and Nick are 20 years older and Paul Hester is no longer alive. I do know that the audience at the Spllit Enz reunion concert last year was full of cashed up 40-somethings who had a wow of a time despite the dance police trying to keep us in our seats. And that we have bred a whole new generation of fans.

The closest we’ve been to a Crowded House live gig was seeing the tribute band Crowded Enz a couple of years ago. Tomorrow night, we go to a free event featuring two other tribute bands – ABBR and Queen Bohemien Rhadsody. How about it Bjorn, or Brian…are you going to jump on the same bandwagon and reform?

TODAY’S HIPPPIE CARD: Be Open

Me too..Odeo me too…

Uncategorized

I just made a post to VLINT about Timothy Greig’s slides on Flickr about MMOs and digital libraries, found via Tame the Web.

I wanted to ask him to expand it in a post for VLINT if he was interested, so I went to his home page. I saw the nice, shiny “record voicemail” button and just had to have one of my own.

odeosirexkat.jpg

It uses Odeo to record. I’d already been playing around with Odeo, but like last time, it didn’t always play back the recorded mesage – even when I gave it time to download. I suspect it keeps timing out, but not indicating this. I don’t really believe it when it says “That totally worked”… but at least it doesn’t also address me as “dude”.

To set up a voicemail option for my blog, I looked under the profile option in my Odeo account, selected the “put this on your site” link next to “Contact me”, and Bob was my uncle..there was some html to add to my contact page.

Now if you click under the contact tab under the banner photo, you have my email address, an option to voicemail me or you can fill in a form.

But, if you want to play too….and I’d love someone to do so…. you can switch on that mike right now and:

Send Me A Message

Please explain…market researcher and librarianship.

Uncategorized

I should be so happy…so why am I rather uneasy?

I’m not looking for another job…but I’ve been watching to see when Australian Libraries will start incorporating full time Library 2.0 positions. Now it looks like the University of New South Wales Library has restructured, with an eye to possible future library services, and is recruiting for some interesting positions. Finally there is a full time position advertised in Australia for someone to look at emerging technologies and suggest ways that a library can use them…hooray….but….

It’s time to play “what’s wrong here”. Here’s some extracts from the job description for the Information Service Industry Researcher. The first bit sounds really exciting…although the dry and obsfucating management-speak did have me wondering a bit…..

The Service Innovation Unit of the UNSW Library Information Services Department is an innovative response to the changing environment in which the Library operates. Through the integration of market intelligence and data analysis, the Unit investigates emerging trends in technology and specifies Library service innovations and enhancements which demonstrate best practice in support of research and learning & teaching.

JOB PURPOSE
Provide input to the specification of novel and innovative UNSW Library services by sourcing, analysing and evaluating high quality market intelligence and best practice exemplars relevant to the development of world class information services in an academic environment.

DUTIES

    • Working in a small team of experts, provide input to the development of detailed proposals for innovative information service provision.
    • Consider a range of market intelligence to contribute to the identification of the most appropriate information services (current or potential) to be offered by UNSW Library.
    • Communicate nationally and internationally with other libraries, consortia and commercial service providers in order to gather relevant information and benchmarking data.
    • Contribute expertise and knowledge to UNSW Library planning processes.
    • Proactively provide current and trend data to facilitate planning and resource allocation.
    • Take part in the UNSW Workplace Planning and Career Development Scheme.
    • Other duties as required appropriate to the level of this position.

    …
    REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
    This is one of two positions reporting to the Manager, Service Innovation, the other being
    1 x Statistical Analyst (HEW 6)

OK..so even if it’s a bit dry..I think they are asking for someone to keep up with new trends, make some suggestions about new technology, do some collaborating and communicating with other librarians and help plan new services. Sounds like they need the type of librarian I’d like to be.

So….if Iwas interested, where would I flash my Librarianship qualifications?…..hold on…let’s read more….

SELECTION CRITERIA
Essential criteria
Degree in market research with relevant experience, or an equivalent level of knowledge gained through any other combination of education training and/or experience.
Proven ability to effectively analyse, evaluate and report on market intelligence, and qualitative data and to relate it to the needs of stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to understand statistical information and statistical concepts
Excellent communication skills and an ability to communicate with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
Demonstrated ability to successfully explain complex concepts to non-experts.
Proven ability to work in a small team of experts to deliver concrete outcomes
Demonstrated ability to seek and evaluate a range of innovative service options
Proven ability to contribute effectively to policy and planning
Capacity and willingness to take part in the UNSW Workplace Planning and Career Development Scheme
Knowledge of OHS responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant OHS training.
Knowledge of EEO/AA principles.

I’m sure you spotted the M word there instead of the L word. Even without this, I’m really disturbed by the tone and wording of the advertisement. It looks like they are trying to justify funding from library administrators, rather than attract applications from switched on, enthusiastic, knowledgable librarians.

I see a request for “experience with market intelligence”, but not a passion for serving clients or the interest and skills in new technologies. Libraries are now seeking to be more user driven, so maybe this is one way of finding out what users want without existing biases from practitioners getting in the way.

Maybe they will ask that the supervisor, the “Manager, Service Innovation”, has the passion and the library experience. I can’t see it coming from the other member of the unit, the “Statistical Analyst”. Maybe they have a super-duper fantastic person already in mind, and they wrote the job descrition to fit that person’s specific skill set.

So…is there anyone out there with a friend of a friend at the University of New South Wales Library (where I will probably now never be able to get a job) who can enlighten me about where this positon fits with the other changes happening in library services …and where it fits into the new social nature of libraries ?

Grow your own OPAC…but save those kittens.

Uncategorized

MPOW recently switched on a function on our III Opac which allows users to add a star rating to items in the catalogue. In one of those late night conversations in Second Life, I showed it to Dave Pattern, who was motivated by the green tinge he felt to code his own version and pop it over his Dynix installation. Gee I wish I had the skills to code that.

Today he’s casually mentioned that the University of Huddersfield will go live with user comments on the OPAC in the next week. Gee I wish I had the skills to code that.

But..Dave, in turn, has said “Gee I wish I had time to do that”….about….

John Blyberg…..

….. who has created a “social OPAC” interface which sits over Ann Arbor’s III Innopac library management system. It allows user rating, tagging and reviews. He’s released the code as well. And made a screencast to show how to use it.

Dave would “kill a box of cute kittens with my bare hands to be able to take on a project like this“. Well, John and Dave, I’d care for a box of cute kittens until they were grown (infinitely more of a sacrifice) to have the coding skills to do what you guys are doing.

Keep it up. Please keep sharing…and those of us with lesser skills promise to try to persuade those higher up in the food chain at our workplaces that guys like you need time and support to do what you do. We’ll even try to change things so we can care for any “free as in kittens” services you produce.

Free kittens for your IT department?

Uncategorized

Sometimes I read things so sensible and so useful that I want to print them out and staple them to the forehead of every librarian I know…and add two copies to mine.

Karen G. Schneider has written a beautifully grounded, good humoured piece about what it’s like to be at the receiving end of IT requests from librarians – IT and Sympathy – in ALA Techsource. It has a very clear message about chanelling technolust to what is achievable, and considering what the usually smart and well intentioned, but very overloaded, IT department may already be doing.

She includes some strategies for IT planning by non-IT departments. A very brief summary below:

  1. Find out what’s already on your IT department’s plate
  2. Plan for your department. Write a timeline including the most basic needs and your blue sky dreams
  3. Work out what’s “free as in beer”, and what’s “free as in kittens”. If it’s the latter, who’s changing the sandbox?
  4. Share your plans with IT.

Will her post stop me from jumping up and down and wanting everything shiny “now, now, now”?. Don’t know. Hope so. Maybe now I’ll add in “when, when, when” and “how,how,how” and “please,please,please” for good measure.

SL mirrors RL mirrors SL mirrors….

Uncategorized

I’m after a new look for my Second Life avatar. She’s going to be showing a few folks around, so I want her to look good. In Second Life, I can buy an entire new face, body shape, skin and hair. It means I’ve given the Linden Labs my credit card number, so I’m cashed up with Linden dollars for the first time. As Mr9 would say, “the money’s burning a hole in my head”.

My first purchase was a too-dark skin, with a face that reminds me of a vapid cow. Seemed OK when I tried it on in the shop.

toodark_001.jpg

With a location search on “skin”, I can get to the Centrefold shop and the Hot ‘n’ Sexy shop. I asked someone where I’d find the “attractive and intelligent and interesting shop”…but strangely, he didn’t know. I bet that if I opened a branch of that near Info Island, I’d do a roaring trade to librarians.

In Second Life, most people are young, attractive and can fly. I thought I’d never see that in Real Life. But, today I took the kids to see “Aureo”, a very stylish and sophisticatedly lit performance by aerealists from Western Australia’s electronic circus company Skadada. They were breathtaking and reminded me that with determination and practice, people can do wonders.

aureo_2.jpg

To a kid with a hammer everything looks like a nail, but today wasn’t the only time Second Life has spilled into Real Life. Thursdays are Laughter Yoga days. We spend an hour trying to laugh as much as possible to coax our bodies to release endorphins. Last week we did an exercise where you pretend your boss has just given you an impossible job, due in half an hour. We look up from our typing and laugh uproariously and say “you want it when??”.

So, there I was, in a circle of people walking around with all of us typing on our imaginary keyboards in front of us. This is the exact position your Second Life avatar takes when you are typing in the chat window, so the yoga exercise wasn’t the only reason I was staring at the others and LMAO.