We all Start singing Billy Ocean. Well, after putting forward my idea's for the web 2.0 idea's, it seems it was a no go. A few idea's are being implemented but not as fast as I would hope. Well, as Michael Casey says in his book you always get doubters. I just got to try harder at the next meeting.
Anyway, I had my graduation and 40th birthday over the last few days. Milestones in my life. Although I was upset about not getting more stuff implemented, meeting with old friends soon put it into perspective.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Richard Wallis talking with JISC/SCONUL
Richard Wallis from Talis was talking on a recent podcast with Rachel Bruce of JISC and Anne Bell of SCONUL discuss the recently published JISC & SCONUL Library Management Systems Study - An Evaluation and horizon scan of the current library management systems and related systems landscape for UK higher education.
The point I found interesting was when Wallis discussed user generated content being used by Academic libraries in the UK. Wallis pointed out a similar point that Karen Schneider discussed last week, that you need a large quantity people of users/taggers to make the system efficient. Both Anne and Rachel felt that this should be used on a world wide basis. This would be an interesting idea, and they pointed out the Flickr Commons, in which :-
Back in June of 2007, we began our first collaboration with a civic institution to facilitate giving people a voice in describing the content of a publicly-held photography collection, The Library of Congress. The pilot project we created together launched on January 16, 2008.
This sounds an interesting idea for putting forward for the meeting on friday.
The point I found interesting was when Wallis discussed user generated content being used by Academic libraries in the UK. Wallis pointed out a similar point that Karen Schneider discussed last week, that you need a large quantity people of users/taggers to make the system efficient. Both Anne and Rachel felt that this should be used on a world wide basis. This would be an interesting idea, and they pointed out the Flickr Commons, in which :-
Back in June of 2007, we began our first collaboration with a civic institution to facilitate giving people a voice in describing the content of a publicly-held photography collection, The Library of Congress. The pilot project we created together launched on January 16, 2008.
This sounds an interesting idea for putting forward for the meeting on friday.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Google Maps, Web 2.0 and the number 42
As my many readers will know, I have a meeting on friday a meeting/discussion about web 2.0 in the library. Therefore, over the weekend I set myself the task using Google Maps, having to set up a small project of linking to all the Schools of advanced studies. Two hours later this is the result. The meaning of life is Google maps.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Bookjetty.....oh no, not another one
Phil Bradley pointed me in the direction of Bookjetty, another social cataloguing. Ummmm, I covered this area TWO YEARS AGO, and companies are still trying to beat Librarything. You'll have to do better than that Bookjetty.
The tagging meme
After Tim Spaldings interest view on how Ann Coulters book book was being tagged by Amazon, It was with interest I read Karen Schneider's article entitled Tagging in workflow context. In her article she feels that only the 'most determined cranks and pranksters might actually use' tagging in libraries. Indeed, to get a participation from one's patrions may be difficult.
She points out:-
'If I’m not going to tag when I find a book (why would I, if I haven’t read it, Amazon notwithstanding), and I’m not going to tag when I check out a book (an unrelated physical activity), and I’m not going to tag after I read a book (because that would mean the sole reason I’m returning to the catalog is to tag an item, which feels low-gain), and I’m not going to tag when I return a book (can you see me at the circ desk, reciting tags I want added to an item — or perhaps shouting tags into a book drop? Or I guess I could write them on a p-slip)…
Seems to me that tagging workflow in a catalog should be “gamed” so that the next time I visit the catalog to find something, the catalog entices me to tag.'
I was wondering what would 'entice' users to tag?
She points out:-
'If I’m not going to tag when I find a book (why would I, if I haven’t read it, Amazon notwithstanding), and I’m not going to tag when I check out a book (an unrelated physical activity), and I’m not going to tag after I read a book (because that would mean the sole reason I’m returning to the catalog is to tag an item, which feels low-gain), and I’m not going to tag when I return a book (can you see me at the circ desk, reciting tags I want added to an item — or perhaps shouting tags into a book drop? Or I guess I could write them on a p-slip)…
Seems to me that tagging workflow in a catalog should be “gamed” so that the next time I visit the catalog to find something, the catalog entices me to tag.'
I was wondering what would 'entice' users to tag?
Monday, May 12, 2008
Web 2.0 idea's to be put forward
I'm hoping to get some feedback on this, so here is a blog where I would appreciate some feedback. I was recently asked to go a work meeting along with a few others about some web 2.0 the library could introduce. I've come up with the 11 below. But does anyone else have any idea what could be added?
Idea 1.
YOUTUBE used as a learning tool. An example of this can be seen in this link, in which users are shown how to use a self issue system.
Youtube video’s would assist library users, as many don't always use the training schemes either because of time or space (for example part-time students or live outside London respectively). Therefore, they do not know how to use the catalogue, bliss, periodicals. Youtube can answer this by hosting 15 minute videos on these areas. These could be embedded on the website.
They could also be used as training tools (Bliss training especially).
Idea 2.
BLOG used as a news tool. To inform patrons of upcoming events, new exhibitions, new sources added. Advantages are immediacy of the newsletter. There is also already a blog used in senate house (I think its bib service, but I need to check that). RSS. could be used to update patrons of all news immediately. Feedback of what THEY want.
PROBLEMS :- Comments. If you close them off it kills off the conversation with the user. Defamation and threats can be used on blog comments.
Idea. 3
FLICKR (an image/video hosting website, web services). Use photos of the library. What floor houses what (5th floor English etc). What our photo copy cards look like.
Could be used to indicate new staff etc. People will now other staff names. Flickr catalogue could use
Problems:-
New staff may not want open access to there photo's.
Web 2.0 problems. Once information is put up it is no longer under YOUR ownership. People will use (and on occasions) abuse it.
Idea .4
An instant messaging service for each department. Most users are connected and use IM. Therefore a resource that will already appeal to them and cost nothing.
Idea 5
Text messaging fines to user, rather than email. Most students have a mobile. Many complaints have been made about emails entering junk filters or incorrect email addresses. Millennium has this resource to text clients immediately.
Idea 6.
A section about the advantages and disadvantages of web 2.0/ the read write web/ social media.
For example how some students in Canada used facebook as a research tool and received no marks from there examiners as it was seen as plagiarism. How wikipedia is not a totally good resource tool (and some USA colleges will not accept it as a legitimate place to quote. The use of Google scholar, connotea, citeulike, delicious. Teach the user how he/she can improve there research. The idea here is to educate rather than preach to the end user.
Idea.7
Allowing users to access there own records. Many users never remember what they borrowed and are unable to know on there records (neither are we). The user should be able to enter a password to get this.
Idea.8
A facebook page. Can be updated with events etc. Most popular social media site and used by patrons.
Idea.9
Tagging ‘A tag is a (relevant) keyword or term associated with or assigned to a piece of information (a picture, a geographic map, a blog entry, a video clip etc.), thus describing the item and enabling keyword-based classification and search of information.’
An example would be to use librarything , which tags books and shows similar items to the book someone might need. This would assist in serendipitous searching.
Idea.10
Podcasts
To be used for blind user for instructions on the system. Podcast could be used for presentations given by the university or used for training. The problem with podcasts is that popular ones would mean bandwidth being taken from the system and requires more bandwidth to be paid for.
idea 11
A Twitter account so people could see any new news etc.
thanks all.
Idea 1.
YOUTUBE used as a learning tool. An example of this can be seen in this link, in which users are shown how to use a self issue system.
Youtube video’s would assist library users, as many don't always use the training schemes either because of time or space (for example part-time students or live outside London respectively). Therefore, they do not know how to use the catalogue, bliss, periodicals. Youtube can answer this by hosting 15 minute videos on these areas. These could be embedded on the website.
They could also be used as training tools (Bliss training especially).
Idea 2.
BLOG used as a news tool. To inform patrons of upcoming events, new exhibitions, new sources added. Advantages are immediacy of the newsletter. There is also already a blog used in senate house (I think its bib service, but I need to check that). RSS. could be used to update patrons of all news immediately. Feedback of what THEY want.
PROBLEMS :- Comments. If you close them off it kills off the conversation with the user. Defamation and threats can be used on blog comments.
Idea. 3
FLICKR (an image/video hosting website, web services). Use photos of the library. What floor houses what (5th floor English etc). What our photo copy cards look like.
Could be used to indicate new staff etc. People will now other staff names. Flickr catalogue could use
Problems:-
New staff may not want open access to there photo's.
Web 2.0 problems. Once information is put up it is no longer under YOUR ownership. People will use (and on occasions) abuse it.
Idea .4
An instant messaging service for each department. Most users are connected and use IM. Therefore a resource that will already appeal to them and cost nothing.
Idea 5
Text messaging fines to user, rather than email. Most students have a mobile. Many complaints have been made about emails entering junk filters or incorrect email addresses. Millennium has this resource to text clients immediately.
Idea 6.
A section about the advantages and disadvantages of web 2.0/ the read write web/ social media.
For example how some students in Canada used facebook as a research tool and received no marks from there examiners as it was seen as plagiarism. How wikipedia is not a totally good resource tool (and some USA colleges will not accept it as a legitimate place to quote. The use of Google scholar, connotea, citeulike, delicious. Teach the user how he/she can improve there research. The idea here is to educate rather than preach to the end user.
Idea.7
Allowing users to access there own records. Many users never remember what they borrowed and are unable to know on there records (neither are we). The user should be able to enter a password to get this.
Idea.8
A facebook page. Can be updated with events etc. Most popular social media site and used by patrons.
Idea.9
Tagging ‘A tag is a (relevant) keyword or term associated with or assigned to a piece of information (a picture, a geographic map, a blog entry, a video clip etc.), thus describing the item and enabling keyword-based classification and search of information.’
An example would be to use librarything , which tags books and shows similar items to the book someone might need. This would assist in serendipitous searching.
Idea.10
Podcasts
To be used for blind user for instructions on the system. Podcast could be used for presentations given by the university or used for training. The problem with podcasts is that popular ones would mean bandwidth being taken from the system and requires more bandwidth to be paid for.
idea 11
A Twitter account so people could see any new news etc.
thanks all.
Oh dear, I joined twitter
Well, after over a year of berating Twitter i finally joined it. As any regular readers may have noted i've not really been regular in this field (the blogging field), as of new job, house, girlfriend, starting a chartership etc. But twitter allows for a quick entry, and feels like i'm in the blogosphere (even if i only have 4 friends).
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Chartership begins......
I have recently decided to start my Library Chartership, which means more studying and more writing (which means less blogging I assume).
Friday, May 02, 2008
Reading and mooching
I'm a member of the book swapping website Bookmooch and spoken many time about it before (1,2,3). Having virtually read all web 2.0 books, I needed something lighter to read. Therefore it was good news when my 200th book book from bookmooch was Salt. I'd read Cod, and was very impressed.Anyhow, work awaits.
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