Web 3.0 and beyond

I am a member of ALA’s New Members Round Table and every month we have an online discussion forum.  This month’s topic was technology (how it has transformed libraries and how it will continue to evolve).  Since librarians of all varieties from all over the country are involved, the discussion was quite interesting to read.

Some people in library land are already talking about Web 3.0 and if you Google the phrase, you can see Web 3.0 is already alive and kicking.  Basically, Web 3.0 is about the Internet anticipating what you want/need (kind of like having the Internet as your personal assistant).  While Web 2.0 uses the Internet to make connections between people, Web 3.0 will use the Internet to make connections between people and information.

I think that Web 3.0 is more applicable to libraries than Web 2.0.  Personal connections are a survival mechanism for libraries and Web 2.0 certainly makes that easier for us.  However, it seems like Web 2.0 is more about entertainment.  Web 3.0 seems to build on the progress that’s been made with Web 2.0 as well begin to make sense of all of the information that is available.

Since Web 3.0 is so new, I feel like librarians and information specialists could potentially play a major role in shaping it by participating in 3.0 conferences, workshops, etc and of course by working in 3.0.

To read more about Web 3.0 check out this paper by Saw and Todd, Library 3.0: What are our skills?

You had me. Then you lost me.

Ugh.  I just spent a bunch of time making screencasts with Jing only to learn you can’t upload them to wetpaint.  Wetpaint doesn’t support jing or screencast.com as a widget.  You can upload You Tube videos but you can’t upload your jing screencast to you tube unless you have jing pro.  If I had an extra $15 hanging around I would just pay it and be done with this but I don’t (pretty sad, huh).

So the lesson I’ve learned here is that you really have to understand the capabilities and compatibilities of the applications you are using before you invest a lot of time only to find out that they don’t jive.  I was foolish to think that everything would be interchangeable.  Bleh, lesson learned.  The hard way

New ALA Stuff on Twitter

I absolutely prefer getting new ALA news on Twitter because I just don’t have time to get bogged down with long emails and web postings.  Here’s a smattering of new ALA offerings on Twitter.

 

Follow the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/oif <http://www.twitter.com/oif> … for the latest on
banned & challenged books (including Banned Books Week
<http://www.ala.org/bbooks>), intellectual freedom programs and
trainings, and general intellectual freedom happenings

 

 

 

Follow the Freedom to Read Foundation on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ftrf
<http://www.twitter.com/ftrf> … for updates on FTRF
<http://www.ftrf.org/> court cases and other activities

 

Follow ALA’s Privacy Revolution at www.twitter.com/privacyala
<http://www.twitter.com/privacyala> … for information on Choose
Privacy Week <http://www.privacyrevolution.org/> (May 2-8, 2010!) and
privacy news from around the nation and the world

Future of the library webcast from Library Journal

Library Journal is one of my favorite professional publications.  I know this is kind of short notice but luckily this will be archived. Today at 12pm EST thy are having an hour long webcast with three industry notables (including someone from Serials Solutions and OCLC) discussing web 3.0 (we’re up to 3 already?!) and its application in the library.  I will prob watch the archive and talk about it later today.  Registration is free and I posted the “official” description below:

http://echo3.bluehornet.com/ct/3608362:5239057943:m:1:160173933:C1E2D752B504B81BC952418C7DACFE64

Libraries are continuing to evolve and are using new technologies to expand their presence as virtual knowledge centers for information sharing communities. Patrons conducting research remotely are increasingly using mobile devices and accessing resources in multiple languages.

Librarians as 21st century knowledge technologists as well as electronic information experts need to offer easily accessible library-specific solutions tailored to the unique data and information needs of their users. Technology solution providers are working with publishers and are moving towards more sharing of data, interoperability standards and electronic workflow required to meet these needs.

Listen to three industry notables share their view of how the industry is responding and changing to meet these evolving needs of the library ecosystem using today’s emerging technologies to meet the needs of patrons today and for the future.

Nails on the chalkboard

I’ve been thinking about our course software and honestly, I don’t love it.  Obviously, there is a need for a Blackboard type of program but I’m not sure Blackboard itself is the be all and end all. 

One of my main problems with Blackboard is there isn’t really a way to set content to push as opposed to pull.  It seems like a giant waste of time for students to have to go to every course’s (multiple) discussion boards and read all of the new posts, comment where they see fit, and then repeat from start to finish.  And you have to check constantly to see if there is new content or not because catching up when you’ve been away for a few days is a nightmare. 

How come RSS isn’t incorporated into Blackboard?  It’s not a new technology so fixing this should be fairly simple.  And how hard would it be to enable email functionality in the discussion boards?  We could probably have a better discussion using Google Groups and it would be equally easy for professors to monitor.  I’ll bet they get the same headache I do using Blackboard. 

Of course, there are advantages to using Blackboard so I can’t say that it’s terrible, horrible software.  It’s a great place for storing content and assignments that can be accessed by students and professors 24/7.  The professor does not need to know HTML or web design software to build a courses webpage and it customizable to a certain degree.

I grew up in an extremely thrifty family so I am always looking for ways to cut corners and save money.  Presumably, St. John’s paid money for Blackboard (probably tons of it, actually) but I think the old school way of making a course webpage with the syllabus, assignments, and all the fun stuff on there is equal if not superior to Blackboard.  And I really feel that we are not well served by using Blackboard as a discussion medium.  A Google Group for each subgroup in a class would lead to better discussion among students rather than a pull only discussion board.

Come to library school but don’t expect a job

I’ve always thought of higher education as 75% legitimate and 25% money making scheme.  Today I was looking  at LJ’s 2009 Placements and Salary report and now I’m leaning more toward 50-50. 

A common question I’m asked when I tell people I’m working toward my Master’s in library science is “Oh, you need to go to college for that?”.  Yes, you certainly do.  And after you’ve shelled out money for your undergrad (which may or may not be relevant to LIS) you have to come up with another 30+K.  There are a number of professions that require in depth study of complex material that only require bachelor’s degrees (nursing).  In fact, wouldn’t it be beneficial to allow future librarians 4 years of learning instead of cramming everything into 2 and then still have to learn out in the field?  Or perhaps allow for a “general studies” LIS undergrad degree and make a concentration a master’s (like MLS in Academic Librarianship)?

It all goes back to the money.  Heaven forbid if you want to work in an academic library and need a second master’s.  You’ll be paying it back for the rest of your life.

But back to LJ’s report.  Reading it, I get mad and you should too. 7,300 people graduated with an MLS last year. You know how many new librarians got jobs last year?  1,187.  You do the math.

 Library schools (there are about 60 of them in the U.S.) accept and graduate an obscene number of students each year (the administration probably gets $$ in their eyes) but there are so few jobs.  Libraries are closing their doors because of the economic downturn.  And if you believe that if and when the economy recovers the doors to those libraries will suddenly thrust open welcoming patrons and staff back , you’re dreaming.   So now we have experienced librarians flooding the job market and new graduates are supposed to compete with them for the limited number of positions available. 

Guess what, we lose.

Even more alarming is the trend toward part time librarians.  You can pay them less in salary and offer them limited benefits.  Throw in the ever present vague threats to libraries and librarianship (e-books, Google, etc) and we have one hell of an uncertain future. 

That’s not to say that I am unhappy with my graduate education. I’ve learned so much and I really enjoy my classes, professors, and fellow students.  It’s just a little scary.  What if I am one of the 5000 people who can’t find a job in the field?  Did I just borrow a bunch of money for nothing?  And how come no one else seems all that concerned?

Using Web 2.0 to get the word out

I am a big fan of mail, in particular library newsletters. I have many a fond memory of summers off from school eagerly anticipating the library’s newsletter which would bring all sorts of fun programming and new service announcements. It’s still fun and quite effective to get the library newsletter by mail but with the cost of postage and printing being so high, perhaps libraries should think about switching to an electronic newsletter. Of course, this wouldn’t be for all patrons but similar to many corporations which are now offering “paperless” billing and statements, the library could (assuming the logistics can be worked out) offer their newsletter via email.

There are a couple of great applications that library’s could use to accomplish this goal. First is LetterPop.  This website offers lots and lots of customizable templates which is great because you can change the look of the newsletter depending on the season or if there is a particular theme going on for a specific month at your library. You can also make your own templates if you like to get creative.  You can email your newsletter and you can also host your newsletter online which is really neat.  As an individual you can use LetterPop for free (there are paid individual plans that allow you more email contacts, sends, photos, etc) and a business membership will cost you about $25 a month which I think is fairly reasonable.

MadMimi is like LetterPop in steroids.  It has all of the previously mentioned features plus it gives you the ability to track your newsletters, integrate Google analytics, compare newsletter campaigns, and export all of these fun statistics to Excel.  And if you ever need help with MadMimi, they have a customer service line where you can get real people to assist you (and they live in America and speak unaccented English, bonus!).  For $8 a month you get 500 email contacts and unlimited emails (the price for 10,000 contacts is $36, still a good deal) and that makes MadMimi more cost effective than LetterPop.

Is there really  market for an electronic library newsletter?  I think so.  Especially when it comes to programming.  I think if libraries had targeted email lists (like I want to be informed about all performing arts programs) we could get more patrons in the door.  I would totally sign up (my email comes directly to my phone so no more waiting for snail mail hooray!).  Would you?

When the kids at work talk

I listen.  I am fortunate to work with people representing a wide range of ages.  I always pay special attention to what “my kids” (the 16, 17, 18 year old set) are talking about.  This week, it’s ooVoo.

ooVoo is a video conferencing application that allows up to 6 people to video chat.  It looks a lot different than Skype (for the better, I think).  The interface is black and gray, the video screens are the same size and side by side, and the video quality is excellent.  The free version has a lot of ads, I hear the paid version doesn’t.

I see potential for using oovoo more to collaborate with other librarians more so than for connecting with patrons.  From what I understand there is a lot of committee work and meetings that goes on out in the field and oovoo may lessen the burden of having to assemble a bunch of people in the same place at the same time.  It’s more personal than a conference call or web chat which may scare some of the more self conscious among us, but I think it’s pretty neat.

The video below is from my oovoo day which is a marketing tool for oovoo but its cute and catchy and you can get a good feel for what the application is all about. But like Lamar Burton always used to say on Reading Rainbow “You don’t have to take my word for it”. Go check out oovoo for yourself.

Pan Fried Asparagus

Until about 3 months ago, I had never tried asparagus.  Once I did, I was hooked.  This recipe is really quick and easy and it takes asparagus to a whole new level.  Be warned, you should prepare in mass quantities because it will be eaten up very quickly!

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 medium shallot minced
• 1 bunch fresh asparagus spears (trim the tough ends off)
• Juice from 1/4 lime
• Salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions

Heat oil in a large sized skiller over medium heat.  Stir in garlic and shallot, and cook for two minutes.  Stir in asparagus spears; cook until bright green and tender, about 5 to 7 minutes.  Squeeze lime juice over hot asparagus and season with salt and pepper.  Transfer to a serving plate and if you want to get fancy, garnish with lime wedges.

*Instead of pan frying, you could roast the asparagus, garlic, and shallot in olive oil in a 450 degree oven for 15 minutes*

I hate Second Life

I’m not apologizing for it either.

I like online communities but Second Life just doesn’t do anything for me.  There are no goals to Second Life and it’s very difficult to understand and start to use.  You create an avatar and are just thrown into a virtual world with no tutorial.  They should assign new Second Life users parents so they can teach us all about our new “life”.  Also, it seems like in order to have any type of real fun in Second Life, you need to spend real life money.  Sure, you can do things without money but none of them are too interesting.  Why spend money in a virtual world when you don’t get anything tangible?  And why do you have to type the chat?  Why can’t I talk to other players?

Yes, I’ve heard that some libraries use Second Life but I don’t understand why anyone would want to drag (or fly, yes, of course they could fly) their avatar to their local public virtual library. I can’t think of any social, educational, or organizational function that can be improved by using Second Life.  It’s totally impractical because just the amount of time you’d have to spend to master the functions of naviagting you avatar is an incredible waste of time.

  Don’t think any employer is going to pay you top dollar to sit at a computer terminal and futz around on Second Life.  It’s not going to happen. 

But don’t let me ruin your fun or anything.