Meeting Academic Library User Needs

Two Pilot projects at S.I. Newhouse School for Publishing:
1) Pilot project (02/2007-04/2007)
3 months time frame
Interview questions:
Resources and tools
describe typical course assignment for you and student
how do faculty stay current in field
and how do they collaborate outside of school

Data Processing and Analysis:
Will recordings be transcribed?
If not, what doco will be used as found. for analysis?
Group analysis through “co-viewing or co-listening?”
Develop and test protocol early in the process

Methods:
“You may not know this, but people who teach journalism often suggest that the worst possible thing is to tape it,…”
“I don’t quite understand the process here… having two of you talking to one of me is awfully labor intensive and I don’t know what we’ve gained from it.”
-recommendation for interviewer training.
“I am huge believer in using the library… so much so that I am evangelical about it.”
“Collect a lot of data, see what’s happening elsewhere.” -journalistic research.
“I don’t see it as my place to teach them how to [do research].”

Further questions:
What does research mean to librarians and then to the school?
What does library mean?
Are we talking the same lanaguage?
Is the library “culture” in sync with other academic cultures on campus?

Project 2: Patterns of Culture: Re-aligning library culture to meet user needs.

Methods:
Add students to mix
Conduct observations in addition to interviews
Appply same ethnological methods to the library (staff and culture)
Distill the data in ways that allow for comparison

Research with human participants:
If your project qualifies as “Research” and involves human subjects, it may be subject to review by an institutional review baord.
-Exempt research?
-Expedited review?
-?

What we learned: before and after:
Before:
No training
No testing of instruments
No IRB interview
3 month time frame
little group analysis
little forethought on analysis and documentation

After-
trainging
(opposite)

Questions to ask:
Method relev. for research q’s?
Is admin and project team in agreement about goals and outcomes?
Do you have time and reseources?

POSTED ON web site.

How Graduate Students Work on their Dissertations (GRANT at U. of Rochester).

Backgrouns and past satudies
methodolgiues
initial findings
outcomes

Studying Users
New webmaster hired (Xerox PARC researcher) Brought methodogies from there.
Discover real, rather than perceived, needs of users
Hired anthropologist (thru grant funding)
3 phases of study
1st study faculty
2nd study undergrad students
3rd study grad students

Phase 1:
1 year ILMS grant
Study faculty work practices
Focus on digital tools used by faculty in order to
Align institutional repository with the user expectations- easier to change technology than people). create authoring doc mgmt. system.
D-Lib mag, Jan 2005.

Phase 2:
2 year library-funded study
Writing papers black box (that exists between assignment and handing in of a student’s paper)
Holistic view of studetn life, to find info on what’s in the black box
Align services, facilites and web preseence to this black box activity. Students input heavily on re-design of bldg., massive web re-design underway
ACRL book- Studying Students

Phase 3:
2 year IMLS grant
Based on first IMLS study
Holistic view od disseration research and authoring
Align servoces, build tools
Porject in process, finish September 2008.

Nancy Foster:
These methodolgies are appl. to public libs too.

Process:
(see slide)

( Examples of data gathered from comm.)

Video: Work Practices, Versioning,

Results of braingstorming: What grad students are doing
getting help from peers via aim email
convert from word to pdf
save old stuff and go back to it
use tech to stay connected
thinking about future careet in terms of preparing portfoilo
…
plus 90 others!

Brainstorming as a good project development tool.

Prelim findings:
need doc mgmt system
lots of co-authoring with facutly supervisors
overloaded with pdfs paper articles, citations
problems synving documents from on computer ot another
struggling to learn literature in their fields- not confident that they have always found every imp. article.

Outocomes:
Autoring tools-
version ctrl
co-authoring
citation mgmt.
“publishing”
web-based
Shifting role of the library
Open source product, due Sept. 2008
Changes to library services
need for grad student orientation (profs assume students have these skills already)
better marketing of existing resources
refworks
librarian expertise
alert systems, rss feeds
Info about grad students
wrappingup interviews and surveys over next few months
observations conclusions etc will be avail. in spring

Studying Students:
http://tinyurl.com/2lhazt
http://tinyurl.com/2hrmzr

Grad Project
http://tinyurl.com/yt25ln

Forming Community Partnerships

Link to conference powerpoint: http://www.nelib.org/conference/2007/p/formingcommunity-powerpoint.pdf

Collaboration between Keene State and Keene Public Libraries in Keene NH.

Can an Academic and Public library work together?

A tale of 2 libraries (in walking distance of each other).

Keene State:
est. 1929, 180,000 titles, 5,235 students.

Keene Pub.:
est. 1828, 121,500 titles, approx. 22,500 residents

What is a library partnership?
Consortium model- multiple libraries work together
Joint-use library model- 2 libs sharing space
Academic library & public library model- one-on-one relationship

Consulted Librarian’s Guide to Partnerships.
Collaboration between community college and public libraries (joint use model) do exist.

Academic/public relationships are rarer, this is not a joint use case.

Examples of Academic & Public Library Partnerships (Joint-Use)
2001: first private/public library partnership (Nova Southeastern Univ. and Broward County
Board of County Commissioners)

2003: 1st large state/major metropolitan public library partnership (San Jose State Univ. and San Jose Public Library)

Academic & Public Library Partnerships (separate buildings)
Pioneer Library Consortium (Oregon) : seventy libraries (academic, public, school/community colleges)

Cedar Valley Library Consortium (Iowa)- four libraries

Middlebury College and Middlebury Public Library (Vermont)- 2 libraries

Automate the Catalog!
1988, Keene State and Pub. faced this same task with big price tag
Public lib to join with state lib, but money ran out.

At same time, city of Keene began downtown revitalization project:
more attractive downtown
more incentives for commerce
local businesses formed a special committee
public library is in this area of revitalization

College Town Woes (Town/Gown issues):
Disruptive students
loud parties
police and fire dept. must handle false alarms and ruckus
complaints from community members
A library partnership helps town/gown relations

Turning a corner:
KSC & KPL become partners in a joint automation project
KSC hires systems lib who works at KPL
Applied for grant to automate

Process:
system selection involved both librarys’ staffs and admins, city council members, college president and dean.
selected Triple I- because it handles 2 classification systems, and easy to use OPAC (patrons, students)

Financing:
KSC=400K
KPL=626K
JOINT=733K
KSC paid 2/3 cost, towards good will for town.

Concerns:
diff. overdue fines, loan periods, classifcation systems, overall cost.
high school students checking out entire subj. areas (imposed 3 item limit for each library, now abolished)
commnity members soured on college’s overuse of town services

Promotion:
lib directors attend town metgs
articles in college and town newspapers
when city could not pay, college covered for cost.

Keene-link established:
Libraries inKeene linking together
online iun spring 1991

Benefits for each partner:
College-
access to pop works, fiction, child lit,
staff and facutly can check out kpl itmes even if they live out of keene
retun at aiehter loc.
public-access to scholarly research, dvds/vids

Staff benefits:
cooperation
collegiality btwn staffs
broadened perspective and understanding of each library’s needs
re-evaluate procedures and policies
overcome differences and resolve issues

More benefits:
now have 2 systems librarian (dual back up coverage)
regular ongoing mtgs betwen 2 depts. in each libraries
colleagues in your area with expertise

Challenges:
Each lib’s work affects the other
Issues from III system to resolve
Different missions and patrons with different needs

Examples of challenges (cataloging):
Agree on which MARC fields to load from new bib records, and regular review of III load tables
Sharing of Create list review files
running a review file (can step on other library’s toes!)

Examples of challenges (circ):
book jacket image OPAC feature (KPL wanted it)
10 digit phone number in patron records
patron fines-KSC purges patorns, can’t with KPL fines on them (under $5 can pruge)
holds feature- special settings from iii to allow kpl to do holds but ksc to not do it. turned on holds feature at ksc, were not overwhelmed by holds contrary to expectations

Other partnership ideas:
work with local non-profits like Vigo County Public Library (IN).
-project to create and maintain websites for nonprofits in community

Mountain Area Information Network (NC)
-community network provides low cost email, web sites, tech support and training, chat rooms.

More ideas:
comm outreach programs
info literacy projects
grant collaboration
-partners for Monadnock History project
shared bibliography creation
joint programming
joint program advertising
promote local businesses and arts

Summarizing KSC/KPL partnership:
improved town/gown relationship
great potential for ongoing future projects
commitment to work together for better or worse
brings together the community, the college, the patrons and staffs of both libraries

See also articles:

Creating and Capitalizing on the Town/Gown Relationship: An Academic Library and a Public Library Form a Community Partnership
The Journal of Academic Librarianship, Volume 32, Issue 6, November 2006, Pages 624-629
Kathleen Halverson and Jean Plotas

A Further Perspective on Joint Partnerships: A Commentary on Creating and Capitalizing on the Town/Gown Relationship
The Journal of Academic Librarianship, Volume 32, Issue 6, November 2006, Pages 630-631
Veronica Smith

Discussion Group: Get Involved with NELA

NETCRL- Teen and Children’s Librarian round table.

NETSL- sponsors conference at Holy Cross every spring. November will see another conference co-sponsored by NELINET, focused towards cataloging, but something for everyone.

ITS- Information Technology section. New chair of ITS section present, Rick Taplin. He was also the founder of this section. The IT section originally dealt with topics related to A/V issues, but now the scope has expanded to include many technological topics. Meets bimonthly, typically in Shrewsbury. Spring program yearly. Held an open source program (successful) this past spring. Programs at Annual yearly as well. Looking for new members interested in involvement at any capacity! Good to meet people from other states and see what they’re doing.

This last statement holds true for all sections, for exchange of ideas.

Kris Jacobi, president-elect of NELA, introduced.

NELSSA- Support staff section,VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

HQ76.3- LGBT library employees.

Membership committee (Ann Connolly)- lots of email, bimonthly board meeting attendance, needs new ideas for recruiting new NELA members, things that would be beneficial to NELA members. In touch with new members and thank them, in touch with members to renew. NOT A LOT OF DATA ENTRY!

Public relations committee- need chair, help. Open for submissions for chair. Contests, brochures, booths/tables at NELA and other conferences.

Educational assistance committee- Grants and scholarships to MLS students, continuing education. Meetings flexible.

Conference committee- plan annual NELA conference, open exchange of ideas to plan program. Pooling of shared resources of speakers, etc. Includes inviting authors, etc. Cmte. works with other comtes. as well to development program.

Intellectual freedom committee- John Barrett was past chair, need new chair. Keeping up with news on issues with intel. freedom.

Publications section- collaborates on newsletter and website- new initiative to make both synchronous.

Nominating committee- pulls slate together for elections

Bylaws committee- chaired by Joanne Palko.

Joining a group can be a path to becoming an officer in NELA.

6 state reps in NELA- represent each state interests. Sometimes reflects political climate of state.

Please contact Ann Connolly if you have any questions about NELA or join any of the sections of NELA.

New members brochure, sections info on www.nelib.org.

NELA Executive board has treasurer, secretary, senior and junior director (junior director advances to senior director).

There are 800+ members of NELA.

Suggestion: run NELA membership drives at same time as state membership drives.

NELA sponsors 1 program at each state association conference, NELA President attends every state conference.

NELA also holds bi-annual NELLS (New England Libraries Leadership Section) conference. Four day conference on leadership and planning,. Besty Bray and Cheryl Bryan are co-chairs of NELLS. Communication via NELA listserv, virtual meetings. No live meetings as of yet, but it may come.

Suggestions: Possible permanent job board online? Need to pump up mentoring program, job sharing, posting, etc. Mentoring committee!

Wants: reinvigorate NELSSA, more activity with HQ76.3

Conference planning committee is comprised of both independent people who only serve on that committee and also representatives from other committees.

Tip Top Tech Training

Laura Blake (NETSL) introduced Dodie Gaudet.

Experience as supervisors, dept. head, contract cataloger, aerobics instructor- lots of training experience (rec’d and giving).

Trainging is an integral part of lib’s job (our REAL job).

Emphasis on preparation.

PREPARATION:
wHAT DO YOU want to accompl. with traingin?
demo?
train?
train the trainer?

know situation, audience, environment:
who are listeners?
why are they here?
training staff to use the latest vers of software?
train patrons to use databse?

plan for time to practice training program!!!!! 2-3 hours- 1 hour of traing, then rest for practice.

Plan for breaks! esp for long sessions.

Know your material:
Make sure you know what you’re doing before you try to teach someone else (research more than you actually need so you are fully prepared).
helps build interest in topic
” confidence in you own knowledge of topic
good foundation for qa
allows you to choose best/strongest material

3 parts of presentation:
Opening- tell them what you’re going to tell them
Body: Tell them
Closing: Tell them what you’ve told them

Opening:
Get listener’s attention
Est. credentials
Give listeners a reason for listening
Involve audience (introduce selves- small group)

Body:
Cover info/steps from the very beginning
don’t assume the aud. has a background in the subj., if not sure, ask
Review any relevant history
if you think some of the people already know some of what you’re covering, and don’t want to insult them by expl. from scratch, ask “Who knows about?”
Rather than saying: Of course you already know that, try saying “You may already know…”
Include every step
things that are obvious to an experienced person are not always obvious to a new learner
be clear
reduce jargon (or define it)
paint a picture with words
prepare specific examples
use them to illustrate var. aspects of software
prepare examples of most common mistakes
show what happens when the mistake is make
show how to get out of it
speak to the listener’s wants and needs
be relevant
use gimmicks with caution- be releveant!
diff. people have diff. visual learning styles
auditory, visual, kinesthetic**
conceptual vs. detail (go thru every step)
give 2 diff. examples expl. the same thing (no more than three ex.)
give non-computer examples/draw parallels with everyday life
if someone doesn’t understand explain it in a diff. way (don’t repeat what you’ve just said)
ask other trainees who do understand to explain

Closing:
end on time
quickly review/summarize material
end with conviction, have a clear ending
get immediate feedback to incorporate into the next training
certificate of completion helps give closure

Prepare handouts:
Incl. screen shots if possible (useful if internet/computer is down)
Include step-by-step details
Include info about how quickly or slowly the next screen will appear
Don’t put too much info on one page
Leave lots of white space for notes
give them at BEGINNING of presentation

Practice:
Use the same computers that trainees will be using
practice with all a/v aids or props you will use, incl. setting up and moving around
remember the places you had diffic. when you were learning
notice where you tend to make mistakes (others will likely do the same)
modify presentation if necessary
review handouts for possible revisions
rehearse aloud (4 times if possible)
rehearse with people you know and get feedback
if you are wokring with other trainers, coordinate your parts and stay within you allotted time

We then took a quiz (I htink I only got one right!!!!), which illustrated the point that if you look for feedback from your audience, make sure it’s stuff you’ve just shared with them, and not random stuff that they should know but don’t.

The Presentation:

Est. rapport with the trainees, be approachable
be friendly, smile
introduce yourself
have them into themselves
tell a personal story related to the traingin
review agenda- always let people know what to expect

Be attentive to your audience and their needs
review handouts with trainees
cover material at a slow enough pace so ppl. can absorb
cover same material with a different excercise
allow ample opportunity for people to ask questions
watch computer screens to keep people from getting lost- if there are many people have proctors to help

Watch audience for signals
if they look restless, change your pres. style, take a quick stretch break, or get them involved by asking questions
(web sites provided in handout)

We did a stretching excericise here- hands on small of back and lean back, finger on chin and push back to prevent leaning forward, pull back on fingers of each hand, touch thumbs to fingers, rotate hands, rotate feet.

We memorized a rhyme in parts, to stress the importance of breaking concepts into parts to learn more easily (handout provided).

Create an atmosphere conducive to learning:
-enthusiastic
-patient and non judging
-break things into small steps
-provide for success (praise, encouragement)
-inspire confid. be reassuring
-encourage experimenting
-make learning fun
-use humor
-encourage questions
if a questions is too detailed or out of the scope of this training, give a simpler answer and offer to go into more depth at the break
if the question is something you planned to cover later, say so. make sure you cover it later.
IMPORTANT TO HAVE TEST ENVIRONMENT, and encourage “play”- you can’t break this!
-for beginners who need help using a mouse, visit (website)

NEVER IMPLY THAT A TRAINEE IS STUPID B/C HE/SHE DOSEN’T ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO THIS.

At regualr intervals during pres., sum up what has been covered and what is still to be covered.

Use a pointing stick or laser pointer instead of your hand

Don’t apologize to listeners, never say you’re not prepared

Acknowledge any problems that happen and continue.

Voice:
pay attn to vol, diction, pitch, speed
use vocal variety
pause for effect just before and after important points
elim. ahs, ums, likes, verbal tics - have someone count your tics when practicing
take care of yourself:
drink water and stay hydrated- talking is a dehyrdrating activity
avoid milk products before speaking
avoid overeating just before speaking
avoid caffeine and alchohol just before speaking
be well reasted- plan training for am if monring person, afternoon if not, etc.
stay in good physical and mental condition

attend workshops, etc. and remember what it’s like to learn something new
pay attn. to presenter/instructor
eval. presentation
always be preparing to give your next workshop

QUESTION: what do you do when nothing is going right? Acknowledge problem, try to solve as a groiup, then carry on.

QUESTION: how do you deal with people who show up late? keep going and catch them up later? this is usually the way to go. sometimes starting with intros (self, others) delays start of actual material and accounts for stragglers. late people can catch up with other trainees, over breaks, etc.

QUESITON: what doyou do with diff. learning speeds? Handouts are helpful for speddier people to work alone while you can help others who are having a harder time. Having a proctor/helper to go around helps.

Excercise: Explain how to build a snowman. We get 3-4 min to explain.

1) if it’s a snowy, go outside and gather a handful of snow. Cup boths hands and clap the hand without snow in it on top of the hand with snow. You may want to wear gloves. If the snow “packs” well, menaing if it consolidates enough to become significantly firmer, then the snow outside is appropriate for building a snowperson. If the snow sort of flies out of your hand or remains loose and fluffy, it is not good snow for making a snowperson and you should go inside and have some tea.
Example of good snow: http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1421367/2/istockphoto_1421367_snowball_in_hand.jpg

2) gather decorative materials: eyes, nose, apparael, , etc. stuff you don’t care about because it will be out in the elements for several days.
3)start by making 3 snowballs, by repeating step 1. pack more and more snow onto the each ball

place according to aesthetic desirres in snowperson by attaching via snow.

The Hollywood Librarian Showing

On Monday night, NELA sponsored a showing of the new movie, The Hollywood Librarian. About 70 librarians came to the showing, and were fairly vocal during the movie - lots of laughs, and many gasps of surprise.

The movie essentially chronicles the way librarians have been represented by Hollywood in film, from black-and-white movies to present day blockbusters. These library-related clips were interspersed amongst interviews with authors and librarians from across the country, giving their own views on the field and how we are viewed by the wider world.

A second theme that develops later in the movie follows the plight of the Salinas Public Library, in Salinas, CA (home of John Steinbeck). Faced with a shrinking budget, the town failed to pass tax measures that would keep the library and other vital services operating. The situation became national news, and following a local grassroots campaign, the voters approved funding to restore normal hours the next year.

The movie itself rambled and intertwined the interviews, film clips, and coverage of Salinas, which prompted some discussion afterwards. Most everyone enjoyed the movie, but felt that it was building to a climax or core theme that never materialized. It was both a humorous and sobering look at the place of libraries in society, and some felt that these two extremes weren’t meshed well enough to convey a single message, or appeal to anyone who isn’t a librarian.

Another goal of the movie seemed to be to combat the traditional stereotype of a librarian being a nose-in-a-book, shushing, middle-aged white woman. The movie did a great job of showing that modern librarians do much more than pass out books, and that libraries are no longer stiff, academic places of absolute silent independent research. However, with most of the librarians interviewed being middle-aged white women, that idea might be less of a stereotype and more of a reality. But also interviewed were male librarians, librarians of color, and a young library student, so the makeup of the field was indeed accurately portrayed.

The Hollywood Librarian is certainly worth seeing if it is playing in your area. Each of the movie clips were cited, and I for one was scribbling down titles I want to check out of my library. The coverage of the Salinas Library is also important viewing for any librarian, as in these days of uncertain budgets, we should all be prepared to face a similar situation. But the bottom line is that this movie makes you feel good to be a librarian, and reminds you that you’ve chosen a worthwhile and noble profession.

More information on The Hollywood Librarian

• Official Film Website
• Official Film Weblog
• Film Trailer on YouTube
• Film information on IMDb
• Other blog postings about the film
• Salinas Public Library website

The Way Ahead: A Report from the Library of Congress Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control

Presentation sponsored by NETSL, introduction from Margaret Lourie.

Website for the group: http://www.loc.gov/bibliographic-future/

Report of working group was supposed to be out by this time (10/16/2007), but is still being written, discussed and debated. A draft of the report should go public in the next couple of weeks.

Why was the working group created?

1. Series decision of LC: the negative reaction of community prompted response to try and address this
2. LC’s Objectives:
   1. Adjust to changing environment of discovery and materials,
   2. Match investment made in bibliographic services to need for bibliographic services,
   3. Re-examine LC’s role played in relation to other organizations in country and what they should be addressing in light of that.

Members of working group:

Who we are:
Organizational members (ALA, ARL, etc.)
At-large members (OCLC, Microsoft, Google- LC did not pick all members)
LC was an initial organizer of group, but then took a more minimal role and let group do its work

Our Charge:
(from website)
The charge of the Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic control is to:

• Present findings on how bibliographic control and other descriptive practices can effectively support management of and access to library materials in the evolving information and technology environment
• Recommend ways in which the library community can collectively move toward achieving this vision
• Advise the Library of Congress on its role and priorities

What we’ve done:
Changed group’s process by opening up to public (meeting schedule)
First WG meeting held Nov. 2006

3 regional public meetings held- Topics were “Users and Uses,” “Structures and Standards,” and “Economics and Organization.” The group encouraged wide discussion at these meetings.

The WG collected written testimony of attendees, solicited generally and from individuals.

Final WG meeting held August 2007.

What’s coming:
Finalizing recommendations
Release draft for public review
Submit report to LC on Nov. 13 2007

What we heard:

1. Users and Uses:

- “And one man in his time plays many parts”
(Presentation by Swarthmore college facutly member on dispelling the myth of “the user”) The user is not a monolith; there are many types at many levels with many needs. There may be value in adding “values” to information, which we as purveyors of information, do not now do.
- Librarians are users too.
- So are computers. We should be thinking about ways systems use data differently, and how that should be managed and improved.

What we do in cataloging should incorporate more things other than discoverability.

Standards are…
Good
Hard (to keep consistent and update quickly)
Slow
Interdependent
Developed in isolation
Ambiguous and inconsistent

MARC is evil
Too complex
Too much redundancy
Not flexible enough- for different materials, for user-contributed data (tags, etc.), as a container (reviews, book covers, etc.)

Don’t forget us:
Public libraries- importance of CIP, “public doesn’t mean simple,” lifecycle of circ’ed materials is much shorter
Consortsia- need to provide service across their catalogs, deduping, diff. local policies
Special libraries- Nt’l Geo. Society
Small libraries- Don’t have access to OCLC, etc., relying on CIP
Abstracting and Indexing- becoming more concerned with auth. ctrl

Economics of metadata
Get metadata ASAP from sources, do as little with it as you can
Get it cheap
Leave it to machines
Don’t fuss with it
Make it available
You can never have too much info in MD
Get it right- create incentives/compensation for ppl. who do
Leave it to experts
Make it worth my while

Metadata life cycle:
“And ..in its time plays its many parts.”
Life span of the resource
Put out to pasture… or reborn?
Keeping up with the times- Google books: looking for “abortion”; in full text in 19th cent books will not get you any results. Additional metadata can bridge this gap.

The Charge revisited: Need to redefine some terms!
“BIBLIOGRAPHIC CONTROL”
This term still includes traditional cataloging (AACR2, LCSH)
Needs to be broader
- in terms of content- articles, images, archiveds, digi coll
- in terms of context- extended OPAC, metasearch, courseware, open web (where will the data appear on the web?)
- in terms of purpose- evaluating, managing, connecting

“LIBRARY COMMUNITY”
Traditionally, this meant United States librarians and library associations
anglo-american cataloging community?
oclc community?
global library community?
system vendors?
publishers, content suppliers?
search engines, software suppliers?

The WG wants to make recommendations that can be realized (example: no point in recommending standards, etc. to publishers because they just won’t follow them)

What role is LC in this discussion?
as record supplier to the nation
in setting standards for quality
in standards development
in providing leadership

LC is not a national library in the European sense, they do not get special funding, or mandates to be the national library and all that entails.

Revisit what we do now:
simplify processes, not product
focus on FRBR
rethink economics of supply

Revisit extending impact of what we do:
reaching beyond catalog
expanding the way name authorities can work
leveraging controlled vocabularies
building services via identifiers

Revisiting how to think about these ideas:
building an evidence base (this has not been done very often in previous years)
education and re-education

Outcomes from report:

• Negative
  widespread dissatisfaction
  selective reading
  skepticism about feasibility

• Positive:
  reinforcement of values
  opportunities for impact
  sense of long-term directions

QUESTIONS: Will there be dissents published when the report comes out?
A: No.

QUESTIONS: How will recommendations be implemented after going public?
A: Some recommendations may have implementation suggestions with them, and there may be a method recommended for sustaining this work over time as well. LC will review about how-to accomplish the recommendations as well.

QUESTIONS: Are LC staff interested in work of the Group?
A: Yes, definitely. The LC Staff Association has sumbitted issues/comments to group, and will attend meetings soon.

QUESTIONS: How do we get the report ASAP?
A: Go to group’s web site.

QUESTIONS: Can you say more about the evaluative piece of adding to metadata?
A: We tend to separate librarians from users when they are the same thing. To what extent can catalogers be surrogates for expert users? We need to interconnect the evaluative stuff to the the objective catalog (tags, reviews, etc.)

When to call a Systems Librarian

Tuesday, 10:30-12:00

Description
Margaret Donovan from the Cary Memorial Library in Lexington, MA, Edward McDermott of Goddard Library at Clark University, Don Richardson from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Laurie Welling, Assumption College Library, all in Worcester, MA, discuss their experiences, good and bad, taking on the positions of System Librarian at public and academic libraries. Find out how they deal with the many day-to-day varied situations of their jobs, and who they need to involve to keep the systems functioning smoothly.

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Everything is technology, so SysLibs end up working with all departments and all tools

Everyone (staff, Trustees, patrons), etc., like to see evident results – new tools, statistics, and working computers

Technology Culture is important in the library – staff should understand available tools. Libraries also have staff-only tools (mp3 players, digital cameras, etc.), to borrow, use and learn. The best way to create a technology culture is to rewrite job descriptions to include tech skills, and make sure new employees are qualified and comfortable in all aspects of librarianship.

What software do you use for statistics?
Voyager ILSs’ software into MSAccess database, database stats from vendors (trying to migrate to the “counter” standard with vendors – there is also the “sushi” standard, which is an automated stat system that gets pushed to you)

What about tracking PC maintenance

• Most PCs are on a regular replacement cycle (3-4 year cycle), with funding coming from Town (they have to know how much this costs and that is important)
• Use a spreadsheet to keep service records and IP address and service phone numbers, to make service calls easier
• Use a spreadsheet to keep track during the year of all stats (usage, circ, etc) to make compiling at the end of the year easier

How do you manage unfreezing to do updates?
DeepFreeze and CleanSlate are both used. All computer stay on all night, and updates are scheduled for night (DeepFreeze is great for automating)
DeepFreeze should work on Vista no problem

Do you create and update websites?

• WPI: Originally we created websites (in the 1990s), but maintenance and updating is shared throughout the library staff (4-5 people). But soon WPI is going to a CMS (Red Dot), so all existing models will change
• Assuption: work more with OPAC than website – Electronic Resources Librarian does website
• CML: There is a web team (2 people) who do most of the content, but there is supposed to be more. I do mostly thr tech support.

How is a good number for a web team?
WPI: We found 9 is too many, so pared it back to 6. Everyone knows basic HTML and has different areas of the site they maintain.

Do you implement technology competencies?
CML: We had a checklist, which made people nervous because they saw it as a test. Most people are getting better, and some have strengths in areas where others don’t (also use less-tech savvy people to troubleshoot and proofread handouts, because if they can do it, anyone can do it)

How about patron training at different skill levels?
CML: We do schedule classes in our training room, but there hasn’t been a lot of interest. Mostly it is on-the-spot, one-on-one

How does network tech support work with individual libraries?
CML: We learn a lot from each other (Minuteman), and they are great for responding

What about tech support coverage when you’re not there, and how many hours a week are you open?
CML: We have almost complete coverage, but there is always plan B: hang an “out of order” sign, and it can wait until tomorrow. But we do get calls/emails at home.
Hours: CML: 68 hours/week, WPI: 105 hours/week, Assumption: 100 hours/week

Do you circ laptops?
WPI: It is popular, and we check them out as normal but with a special “laptop use” agreement
Assumption: We use a lojack on the laptops

What about your professional development?
Assumption: Lots of on the job training, but have taken classes or self-taught: Oracle, php, MySQL
WPI: Haven’t learned as much as I’d like to, but comfortable with learning new things
CML: Was sent to Microsoft Server school, but since then it is just learning as software evolves (no one else in the library has to learn so much as quickly)

How do you document your job for your replacement?
CML: A collection of binders with manuals, etc. Also keep a “day book” of daily tasks and problems (which I also use to refer back on myself)
Assumption: Our documentation is out of date
WPI: We document the Voyager ILS well, and regularly update job descriptions, but we could do a better job with the details

Do you have digital microfilm equipment (scan to pdf, email, etc)?
CML: We had one, but it got stolen, and then we found that people were happy just printing right from the microfilm. You never know what the public wants until they start to use things
Assumption: We have assistive technologies, but not all staff can know everything. We want them to be familiar, but not experts, and let patrons (the users) be the experts

Best and Worst Experiences
WPI: Best – after 25 years, I got my own office. Worst – can’t think of one
Assumption: Best – tape backups don’t run on weekends because no one is there to change the tapes. I wrote an export script that ftp the backup to an external server. It took months, but it was worth it. Worst – not having an office, because I can’t concentrate
CML: Still waiting for best and worst. Bad – two different floods (which both came from the ceiling, not from below). Good – you always know you’re helping to make the whole library work

How much time do you spend helping patrons with computer questions?
CML: Maybe six times a week. Staff is good at calling me only in real emergencies. Also have to manage expectations, and not go above and beyond in every single situation.

What elevel of access do staff have to their machines?
CML: Most are powerusers (web people are local admins), and no one knows admin passwords on public computers. To do this, you need authority from above, and also the credibility for staff and patrons to believe you. We crack down a bit on non-work use (changing wallpaper, online shopping, etc), because these aren’t the staffs personal computers, they are the library’s computer (those are the people that usually end up with spyware and slow computers).
WPI: Staff have admin rights on the PC they use, and they are responsible for it
Assumption: Mostly same as WPI, because staff is busy and work hard, so it is important for them to stay connected (especially for those that work extra)

Scriblio: Web 2.SO? – Why it matters to Libraries

Tuesday, 8:30-10:00

Description
Scriblio is a program to help libraries create a stronger online presence developed by Casey Bisson of Plymouth State University and Lichen Rancourt of the Manchester (NH) Public Library. Lichen demonstrates why this just may be a new model for future OPACs. It provides keyword searching, faceted searching and browsing, persistent URLs for easy linking and full integration of website and catalog content and… it’s open source and can be used for free.

Slides available at http://remainingrelevant.net/remaining/236

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What is a library?
A collection that is cared for and made available to the public

• A collection: is not just books, but information resources – audio books, DVDs, internet resources
• Cared for: librarians manage these materials and assist in their location and use
• The public: the people we serve; our town, our consortium, anyone who uses our website or comes into the building (not limited to geography)

Enter Web 2.0
Libraries are no longer just destinations, but are a platform for information exchange (library to patron and patron to patron). This is also what Web 2.0 does – lets people share information with each other easily.

Geography is becoming less and less important, because some interaction happens online.

Three characteristics of Web 2.0

• Usability: Traditional library tools are built to be used by experts. Web 2.0 tools are built to be used easily by anyone (2.0 = do it yourself)
• Remixability: How easy is it to use content from our source and use it in another (embedding YouTube videos or flickr pictures into a blog, etc)
• Findability: How are these tools found online? Patrons can’t find library books through google because traditional ILSs are “closed systems.” Web 2.0 tools are open to external searches and links

If libraries are about serving communities and Web 2.0 is about building communities, then Web 2.0 needs library service. Because, what do libraries have that Web 2.0 tools don’t have? Librarians to help.

Enter Catalog 2.0
This allows ILSs to serve patrons however they are searching online (the library website is just one avenue to the collection).

Traditional ILSs don’t like to share their data – even with librarians. New options are:

• Koha and other open source solutions (there are 200,000 developers working on wordpress
• LibraryThing for Libraries brings social data into an existing catalog
• Ann Arbor District Library built their own

Scriblio
Scriblio meets all of the above criteria – easy to use by non-experts, but provides expert information in an open and shared way.

It’s a small plug-in for a wordpress blog

Tamworth Library website: http://www.tamworthlibrary.org

• Sidebars has calendars with upcoming events and library hours (based on Google calendars (one location for data is represented in multiple locations, instead of having to update multiple locations)
• Sidebar also has a flickr badge, showing the latest uploaded photos (of programs, resources, etc)
• Blog posts serve as announcements, in the center of the homepage
• Pages are for more static content, which exist within the website’s navigation
• Catalog data is also treated as “live” data, so they show up as new books on the homepage (like a blog post) – having data in this format makes is very easy for patrons to browse new books. Catalog records use all existing library controlled data, as well as incorporates user tagging data (patron-generated data is not stored in the ILS – it is stored in Scriblio)
• All three data types are searchable from one search box
• Drawbacks: data is not live (uploaded manually in batches), so circ status is not completely accurate, and holds cannot be place. YET – this is open source and always in development
• Some data provided by amazon – images, reviews, etc. – in return for a link back
• RSS feeds are available through Scriblio automatically – for anything you want, based on the way you tag/categorize records
• Patrons are adding comments and book reviews
  • this data is also included in the search
  • this is how Tamworth is currently handling reserves – they are sent as emails to staff (and this comment is not published)
  • All comments are moderated (patrons can choose “private” so that librarians see it but other patrons don’t)
  • Patrons also suggest things to do/purchase
  • Makes homebound patrons feel welcome

Jay Rancourt, Director, Cook Memorial Library

• Implementing this makes the Board of Trustees nervous – be ready for this, but push forward. The Board likes it, but are worried about privacy
• Posting policies for privacy issues: library incorporates web posting into their policy: get permission in writing from program presenters, and get verbal permission from parents (and try to avoid taking recognizable pictures of kids faces)
• Managing information is less work than the old site – all web-based, so it can even be done from home (think snow days)
• Knowing how people get to the website is a favorite thing – people coming from search engines is now equal to people who go there directly (it means the library data is findable to the world)
• Kids and Teens love this, and get interested in posting
• Use this to promote local history resources (much better than a vertical file). Best of all, patrons who know this local history can contribute
• This is a great way to open a new channel to patrons – we already do in-person, phone, fax, email, etc… now we do IM and respond to comments

Back-end (WordPress)

• Try setting up a free blog at wordpress.com to see how it works and how easy it is
• New posts are easy forms to fill in
• Changing the look of the website is just choosing a theme
• Different permission levels for different users (staff can each have their own login and level of rights
• Plug-ins are easy to add and turn on/off
• Scriblio is a plu-in, with it’s own admin screen. Easy form to upload new catalog records
• See working.remainingrelevant.net for a working example of a “fresh” Scriblio install

Questions:
Is this tied in with LibraryThing?
Tagging is separate from LibraryThing tagging

Is it really just two people doing this?
Yes (Casey Bission does code, Lichen interacts with libraries, both develop ideas), with Jessamyn West helping with documentation.

Do you work with other Open Source projects?
Not directly, but the OS community is very open and friendly

How much time do you spend doing this?
Maybe 2-3 hours a week; the interfaces are so good that it’s easy and fun to use – especially since results are immediate

Is this moving the idea of a community center online? ie, are you helping community patrons start and use flickr accounts, etc., so they can contribute, too?
We hadn’t thought of it, but that’s a great idea. It’s also a great idea for programs. However, we do post information from patrons – one Trustee posted a video to YouTube of the 4th of July parade, and the library embedded that in a blog post.

When will this be ready for us?
Soon – maybe summer 2008. Contact Lichen for more information.

Aged to Perfection, Part II: Libraries and the Senior Marketplace

Remember the essentials of Marketing:
Delivering what the people want to the people who want it in the way they want it

Why are there children’s specialists, market segmentation (infants are treated differently from toddlers) and special programming effort for children, but not for seniors? When hiring, we should look for people with prior experience and aptitude in this area.

A responsive and supportive senior community can have a tremendous impact on the library.

Growing senior population challenges

• Reallocation of staff and funding to include seniors, and must be able to support the tools they need (and adapt as their needs change)
• Reassessment of facilities and collection (need to be ADA-compliant, seniors may have trouble with oversized books or high/low shelves, provide adaptive technologies, etc)
• Libraries need to provide more personal assistance, including serving those who can’t come to the library (van/mobile services, programs outside the library)

Opportunities for the Library

• Enrich the lives of long-time community members (and an important voting block). It’s also good to recognize long-time patrons (cardholder for 50 years, etc.
• Seniors are great community resources themselves, and are valuable volunteers
• Grants are available specifically for these types of services
• There is a potential to launch a “planned giving” program, in anticipation of the shift of wealth to older generations. We need to make these people aware of the library as a recipient of donations, trusts, and grants (it is especially important for Trustees to get involved)
• Seniors control 70% of disposable income in the US (and usually the decision-maker is female)

Seniors use the library for many reasons

• Pleasure reading, travel information, health information (it is dangerous to self-diagnose), hobby information, starting new careers, lifelong learning, share their love of reading with grandchildren, doing genealogy research (which is also a great way to introduce seniors to databases and online computing
• Information available at the library is free. Seniors are thrifty and often vote against tax increases, but usually are willing to support a library that they use

What the library can offer seniors

• Free recreational reading (from other libraries via ILL, too)
• Professional, friendly and knowledgeable service catered to their needs and their pace
• A place to socialize with other members of the community (not just other seniors)
• Volunteer opportunities to give back and feel needed
• Timely information about larger social issues, community events, government services
• One-on-one attention with a high level of service (seniors can remember a time when service was important, and they notice when they get it)
• Access to the internet and internet training

The “Silver Market Test” - Does the library have…

• …leadership committed to serving seniors?
• …strategic initiatives geared towards seniors?
• …programming and collection materials that meet the needs and requirements of seniors?
• …a budget line-item to support senior programs?
• …established customer service guidelines (and staff trained to these guidelines)?
• …a facility (the building, your website, in-library technology, signage, everything) that meets all accessibility needs? See http://seniorspaces.blogspot.com and http://www.flickr.com/photos/seniorspaces
• …a senior advisory board?

How to reach seniors?

• Seniors read, so reach them through the library newsletter, other forms of direct mail, church bulletins, the newspaper
• Freebies and promotions, grouped and branded for seniors
• Community events and flyers/posters around town
• Word of mouth is very important, and negative impressions circulate just as fast as positive impressions
• Eliminate all library jargon
• Don’t surprise them – if you promise something, do it.

Ideas that Work

• Program around Older Adults Month (May)
• 1/2 off fines and fees on senior days
• Collection of materials for caregivers
• Lunch with a Book for seniors
• Program Ideas
  • How to downsize/relocate
  • Planning a family reunion
  • Getting started in genealogy
  • Intro to tech gadgets
  • Take pictures of your grandkids with a digital camera
  • Creating writing classes, scrapbooking
  • Container gardening
  • Display of family photos/mementos
  • Oral history programs with schools

OS Follies - Windows Vista, Linux GNU/Ubuntu and Mac OS X

This presentation covers three popular operating systems: Windows Vista, Linux GNU/Ubuntu and Mac OS X.

Vista: Barbara Andrews

• Comes with a lot more drivers so fewer things need to be installed
• Service Pack is coming out in the first park of 2008 (support for XP will go through 2014)
• Vista is more Mac-like, graphics-wise. Much more visual cues and helpers, such as a variety of desktop “gadets” (like Mac widgets)
• Start menu is pretty much the same, exept “start button” have been replace with Windows icon
• Built-in computer search, which is also useful for locating programs
• No more fly-out menus – everything is dropdown
• Windows explorer has search box. They’re trying to eliminate menu bars so tools and features are not hidden.
• New: Snipping Tool – allows easy screen capturing to convert any section of screen to jpg and email. It also allows annotating these images
• New: User Account Control – alerts user when some non-user-initiated process begins. Pops up whenever something unusual is happening, to warn you of viruses. But it can be annoying
• New: Photo Organizer – similar to Mac’s iPhoto, it easily puts photos in folders and allows basic function, such as redeye reduction, size reduction, cropping, etc., and also has various print options (multiple images per page)
• Task bar shows thumbnail of minimized program
• Alt-tab has new Windows-tab 3D program scroll feature
• New: Built-in Parental Controls – inside user accounts, you can create a “child” account, and then set things like website filtering, time limits, block programs/games based on ratings or other criteria
• New: Allows USB Flash Drives to be used as additional RAM (”speed up my system” auto-detection). This portion of the flash drive then becomes dedicated computer memory, and can’t be used for data storage
• Windows Defender firewall comes standard
• Question: How much RAM?: Presenter using 1GB, so 2GB (which has been recommended) is not necessary

GNU/Linux (Ubuntu) Wes Hamilton

• Reliable: Linux is known to be reliable, and is increasely becoming a realistic alternative to Windows
• Powerful: Linux gets more out of a computer, so older computers get new life
• Freedom to Choose: Open Source means lots of different developers working on lots of different projects, so there is a lot of available options (good projects rise to the top, and bad projects fall away)
• Ubuntu: Secure, Simple: Made for people to use, and doesn’t have virus like Windows. For root-level changes, it prompts you for admin password (like Vista, but doesn’t prompt you every single time)
• Computer settings are divided between “preferences” and “administration” – administrator settings requires password
• Afforable: It is free
• Does not force applications at you like Windows (who sell desktop space for new installs)
• Allows for switching between different “workspaces” instead of minimizing programs.
• Comes pre-packaged with software: games, Firefox, Open Office software, photo editing, an dmore – doesn’t require additional installations
• Default view is a desktop, but also has a built in terminal program
• File storage is slightly different than Windows – everything can be found from desktop menus
• Niche for libraries: give new life to old WinX computers – for free
• Can Windows be undone to add Linux to an existing system? Yes, but it’s involved, because Windows wants to take up all available space. Windows partition can be shrunk to make room for Ubuntu, and then ask on bootup which OS to boot into
• Question: Is there anti-virus for Linux? Luckily, not many viruses written for Linux. There are some worms, but patches come out quickly. The anti-virus is called Clam (ClanWin for Windows). Doesn’t run in background like Windows programs, but is more of an on-demand scanner
• Question: What about wireless? It actually depends on the hardware of your wireless card. Broadcom is kind of hostile to open source, so their equipment doesn’t work very well
• What about Overdrive and DRM? Depends on vendor and how they feel about open source – web-based programs work better. Also an idea is to run a Windows-emulator within Ubuntu (VMWare) and run the Windows programs that way

Mac OS X Scott Kehoe

• Pronounced “O.S. ten”
• Links available on Scott’s del.icio.us/bibliotechy/osx
• Once you go Mac you can’t go back” – it’s true, because Macs make computing fun again
• How different is Mac from Windows? Right-click still works, file formats and peripherals (mice, USB drives, CDs, DVDs) all work the same, almost as much freeware and most windows programs have Mac-versions, and now Macs use a lot of the same hardware
• OSX and libraries: work just fine with printers and other peripherals, no virus, spyware or bloatware, built-in firewall with “invisible” wifi (easy to set up in Mac), comes with secure mode (like Deep Freeze), has built-in PDF support (don’t need Adobe Reader and keep up with updates), Firefox works the same, many kids get familiar with Macs in school, and using Macs make the library look tech-savvy
• Current version is OS X 10.4 Tiger. Next is 10.5 Leopard due in 10/2007 (kind of the equivalent of Windows XP’s Service Pack 2). Has a new built-in feature called “Time Machine” that is a backup system – backups all versions of all files
• Apple Stores are a great resource – free wifi, classes, hands-on experience, and tech support at the “genius bar.” store finder
• Macs are keyboard-oriented, so lots of shortcut keys. F9 displays all open windows in miniature. System search (”Spotlight”) works really well to find documents, programs and even email messages
• Office 2008 is due in late January 2008 (Mac’s version of Office 2007)