Computers in Libraries 2009 Conference: April 2009

Over and Out- My Conclusion of this Experience

I loved it!

What a great way to spend the day, learning about computers, mobile tools and all kinds of new tech stuff.

I am so grateful for being able to come to this conference. Thanks so much Judith and Louise for allowing and supporting this.

Thank you all for commenting and actually reading all of this information :)

I'll try to get some goodies from the Exhibit Hall.

I'll see you all Friday.

Over and out.

Last Blog of the Day!!!!!!!!

From Computers in Libraries 2009 Conference

~Alicia

Session 5- Dynamic Learning Spaces & Places

This session was about using the SPACE in the library both physically and virtually. I liked this session because it made me think about our library lounge. Good stuff...take a looksee!

Dynamic Learning Spaces & Places
Speakers: May Chang, Librarian, UMBC

Physical Spaces
Learning Spaces @ UMBC Libraries

Variety of Needs
- Workstations
- Study Rooms
- Labs
- Presentation Areas
- More 24/7 space, safe, comfortable
- Technology-enabled
- Access to assistance for research, computing and tutorial needs
- Proximity to information
- Support student retention and success

Support you will need:
- Technical
- Facilities
- PR!!! Keep students interested in library functions and services

UMBC Learning Spaces Marketing and Promotion Page

From Computers in Libraries 2009 Conference

Link to UMBC Learning Spaces website
Click here to see UMBC Learning Spaces Awesome Flash Page

Part II- Virtual Spaces
Kristina Devoe and Derik Badman, Temple University Librarians

Temple's Library Express
Temple's library had no real estate on Blackboard. So.....

They decided to use Blackboard as outreach, because:
- 99.4% of students use Blackboard (at this particular school).
- Often times library staff have no knowledge of Blackboard.

What they wanted to do:
- Making customized simple course pages for faculty to get to students
Using PHP, HTML, AJAX
- Search boxes
- Links to Guides
- Links to Course Reserves
- RefWorks
- ILL
- Do-It-Yourself Instructions

The Way It Goes, if you want to try it:
1. Library fills out a form in Blackboard.
2. Creates an HTML page
3. Faculty puts the page in their course page
4. Students use with ease.

Blackboard Meets Library A screen shot of Temple University's Library Express via BlackBoard

From Computers in Libraries 2009 Conference

They Branded this service, wrapped it up like a gift and presented it to faculty.
- Named it “Library Express”
- Marketed through ListServ
- E-Vites
- Posters, Flyers
- Web Flyers/Ads on Homepage
- Offered a workshop to Faculty to show uses and reasons to use.

Considerations
Make the course guides savable and editable.
Assessment is a problem, no analytic software as of yet.
Visual content
Instructional content alternatives (podcast, video, etc.)

Session 4- Real Librarians in Virtual Worlds

FLORENCE, THIS IS FOR YOU!!

Real Librarians in Virtual Worlds

Alliance Virtual Library- Second Life

A volunteer collaboration offering library services and resources to residents, educators and students in virtual worlds.

Librarians/Avatars (a couple of them, she showed us several)

Rhonda Trueman (Reference Librarian, Johnson & Wales University, Authors Virtual Worlds, Real Libraries (aka Abbey Zenith in Second Life

Bill Sowers (Kansas Documents and Cataloging Librarian, State Library of Kansas) aka Rocky Vallejo in Second Life

Samantha Thompson (Senior Librarian, NY Public Library) aka Hypatia Dejavu in Second Life

What are libraries doing in Virtual Worlds?
- Reference
- Book discussions
- Collections
- Programs
- Designing information experiences

What is different in Virtual Worlds?
- Collaboration (on Steroids)
- Geography
- Immersive Education

Over 130 libraries in Second Life

Everyone can fly in the Alliance Virtual Library. The librarians help over 180 patrons a day. (2008)

From Computers in Libraries 2009 Conference

Students can have research and reference questions answered through Second Life.

After the session, the Second Life librarians that were in attendance had a group debate about the importance of Second Life.

The debate was interesting. Some people were very passionate about Second Life being beneficial to the Real Library. Some people were NOT convinced that Second Life is relevant to Librarianship and real world library services.

It was interesting.

Session 3- Mobile Library Apps

This session was very interesting. I think these were the neatest things I've seen here so far.

Speakers: Chris Tonjes and Aaron Schmidt from DC Public Library and Ben Smith and Sheryl Bai of UConn Health Center Library

The UConn Health Center library started a PDA program for their users. They told us how the implemented it and how it is used.

The DC Public Library system has created there own app for the iPhone. It's so neat.
Speakers:

Here are some of the notes:

Mobile Library Apps

UConn Health Center Library started a PDA program
- Purchased PDAs for staff
- Offered first PDA class in 2002
- Still offered to student, faculty and staff

Current PDA Initiative (UConn Health Center Library)
1. PDA Requirement
2. Meet with Faculty
3. Test Handhelds
4. Create Instructions
5. Letters to Students
6. PDA Champions- Training sessions for students
7. PDA Clinics- Training sessions to install services on PDA
8. Demo Databases- Session of demos of how to use Databases with PDA
9. Orientation

Pocket PC Software Utilities
- Aurorisoft dot Pocket
- DeepFreeze
- Microsoft ActiveSync
- Microsoft Remote Display Control
- My Mobiler
- Windows Mobile Device Center

DCPL Mobile Library Apps

Goals for Initiative
- Data integration
- Alternative of delivery for online catalog
- First foray into Mobile World
- Unhappy with current OPAC

App Store is great for marketing library app
Starting of Blackberry version of app

Trivia about DCPL (DC Public Library) iPhone Application
- Downloads to date- 2199, downloaded in 17 countries 85 people in last week to place holds of items
- Works with SirsiDynix enterprise portal search tool
- Plug-in web service
- Total effort- 100 hours

Code available for download http://dclibrarylabs.org for other libraries
(available 1st week of April 2009)

DCPL SMS Text Msg
- Reach out to communicate with patrons and demographic group has changed to txt instead of voice calls
- Notices, and announcements- holds, fines, overdue, cancellation notices, PIN number change and setup
- Opt-In for existing patrons
- Free of charge by library, service fees from provider may apply
- No cost to library for SMS notices

What a cool session! The speakers were very informative about the IT part of all of this as well. Seems like a lot of work, but worth it.

Here is an example of the DC Public Library's App for the iPhone. This is there catalog.

From Computers in Libraries 2009 Conference

Session 2- Learning Anytime Anywhere Web 2.0

Learning Anytime Anywhere: Web 2.0

This session was about becoming extremely creative with instruction techniques. The speakers Chad Boeninger (Ohio University Libraries), Joe Murphy(Yale University) and Madeline Kriescher (U.S. Courts Library, 10th Circuit)were all very persuasive about using a combination of voice, video and web tools to instruct.

Here are some of the notes:

Q: Where does research and training happen?
A: Anywhere
Q: How librarians teach?
A: 1 shot instruction sessions, One-on-one patron service

New Life of a Librarian
Librarians need to become LIVE-Brarians
Look beyond libraries for new ways to service patrons
Keep up with 2.0 technology

Blogs & Wikis
- Separate blogs for subjects (we already do that)
- Blog with PICS – very important
- WordPress plug-in with polls and surveys
- IM chat Digsby or Meebo
- Skype (used in a kiosk is a good way to reach patrons)

Reach out with your voice
- Podcast or screencast
(they’ve done a 52 minutes series) 1 minute a day)
- OdeoStudio free service
- Wink is a screencast open source program
- VIDEO is AWESOME way to reach out
- Youtube overkill, try other open source technology
- Flip cameras are great
- Blip.tv (can create a group of videos)
- Quick media converter
- 12 seconds video site (ties into twitter account)
- Eyejot (email video program)
- Vyew (meeting software)
- Twitter

Incorporate a mobile page on your website for easier use

Using FlickR for library instructions
- Convert Powerpoint slides into jpeg files
- Upload slides individually in reverse order into Flickr
- Enter metadata for each slide, or batch
- Create a set
- Students can use Flickr app on phone

Expanding instruction using Flickr

Why Flickr?
Image based asynchronous instruction
Hosting PPTs saved as images
Marketing

Considerations
- Use metadata tags
- Clear images
- Printable images

This session was cool because the speakers have created different ways to reach patrons. I thought it was neat.

Chad Boeninger of Ohio University Libraries
Click the picture to see how he services patrons through video using Blip.tv.

Session 1- Mobile Practices & Search: What's Hot!

Mobile Practices & Search: What’s Hot

This session made my head spin! There is so much stuff out there for mobile users. The speaker Megan Fox, Associate Director of Technology and Special Projects, Simmons College was very knowledgeable about all of this stuff.

Here is some of the notes I was able to jot down:

General facts
- iPod has over 30,000 apps
- Text/SMS 2:1 ratio (more people text than call)
- By 2011 all “smartphones” will have access to apps via mobile web

Mobile Search
- Customized searches provided by ChaCha (answer anything)
- Google Mobile phone lets you do a Voice Search (never have to type to search)

Mobile Search Engines
• Google Mobile Local
* Google SMS
* 4info - SMS search services
* Synfonic - Also offers SMS search services
* Vazu - Allows you to copy & paste text and send it as a SMS search
* YP - Offers yellow pages and white pages look up. Also, you can reverse phone and address look up, including neighbor lookup
* Yahoo Mobile
* MSN Mobile
* AOL Mobile
* Infospace Mobile
Plenty more….