Library Stuff

An interesting piece in USA Today via the CSM about Web 2.0. Some quotes to think about:

“The ideas may not be new, but the technical ability to carry them out is. And now, most Americans have a broadband Internet connection. It’s always on and can display videos easily. The cost of storing files such as photos and video online has dropped dramatically.”

The idea of Web 2.0 as the community-driven Web reflects something fundamental and enduring about human nature, Werbach says. “People want to collaborate and share information and ideas with their friends and be part of communities,” he says. Web 2.0 helps them do so.”

And libraries, the places where information should not only be collected but created, can be at the center, if we play our cards right. Keep inventing…

Glenn Peterson has always impressed me with his work at the Hennepin County Library System. His tools have been on the receiving end of many accolades from patrons and colleagues alike, one which I posted about one year ago tonight.

With Engaged Patrons, Glenn sees a need in the field and fills it (well, time will tell if the service takes off). I not only wish him well, but hope that libraries who are skeptical about certain technology options will use Glenn as a jumping off point.

I personally think that the library events and custom Web-enabled databases features will be used the most and I’ve asked Glenn to keep up up to date with use and case studies. He’s agreed to do so.

In the meantime, subscribe to the blog.

The Johnson County Library (Kansas) recently sponsored a teen poetry night. I have a Q&A with the teen specialist in charge of the event at the PLA Blog

I’ve been so excited about the new wave of librarian bloggers coming our way. Whether it’s from Jenny and Michael’s class or from the new conceptual movements being thrown around, it’s really making me giddy.

Lately, it’s been Steve Lawson who has been rocking my world with his blogging. Sure, he’s taking a week off, but subscribe to his blog and read every word he writes when he gets back (or look through the archives). I hope that our paths will cross one day (I’m not traveling around the country much anymore – personal choice) and when they do, I’m going to buy him a beer.

I know, we learn by doing, but I just don’t have the time right now, so I’m just learning by reading. And, today, I learned two things from Nathan Johnson (who works at the Internet Scout Project):

On Library 2.0 – ” I believe that to effectively utilize the full potential of these applications into Library 2.0 it is important to use APIs and partake in these tools. By doing this, the library presence is still noticeable, yet the full integration of the tool is available for end users. By utilizing the APIs, users have more entry points to the same material, which is a good thing.”

OK, this makes sense to me. Use tools that have APIs and bring into already existing library tools: The library catalog, the library databases, etc. The user never leaves the “library”, which is what should happen if they are using library services. Got it. Works for me. What about existing library services? How many library web services do you know that have APIs? There are a few, but not ones that are currently being used by the majority of our libraries. Hopefully, in the future, this won’t be the case. Hey ILS’s. Hey fee-based database providers. Here’s your chance. Release some APIs or you might get left out in the dust. Let our programmers play with your stuff.

Whew. Nathan also has a post about Second Library:

“It may also be a great way to keep updated on different library related events that are happening around the country. This game makes communicating with librarians around the world personable, and easy.”

Keep updated? Communicating with librarians? I can theoretically wrap my arms around that concept. Keeping up and communicating with online tools has always been a passion of mine. But what does Second Library do that blogs, wikis, IM, and other social tools don’t? What’s the advantage of being virtual? Do “Second Librarians” show emotion (so important in communication), which would be step above the tools mentioned above? What makes Second Library better than the First Library?

Of course, I’ll have to try it out and play with it to answer these questions. Sure, I’m being skeptical and asking questions. That’s a good thing. I teach people about technologies that, to you and me, are no brainers, but to them, it’s a struggle to “get it”. With some of this new stuff, I need to “get it”. I need that “ah-hah” moment.

Remember when you used an aggregator for the first time? Remember when you saw the shiny happy orange XML button in the first library catalog? Remember when you first realized how blogs will change the library profession? To all of the above, I can answer yes.

So, I need to read more. I need to take part in Second Library. I need more convincing. So, convince me, teach me, educate me. I’m ready to learn, with an open mind. That means, keep writing and getting excited about it. I’ll be reading.