Here is my long overdue but hopefully useful summary of the Computers in Libraries 2008 conference in Washington D.C. Overall, I found this conference to be cutting edge and very applicable to our library and instruction team's activities. I have included many links to open source software and to the presenters' information.
1. Monday - Session: Going
Local in the Library: Web 2.0, Library 2.0, Local 2.0Link to slideshow:
http://www.slideshare.net/BizBrary/local-library-presentation-computers-in-libraries-2008Presented by Charles Lyons, Business Librarian, University at Buffalo
Internet is not as local as you might think. Local web is the joining of the virtual world and the real world. It is about the community you live in and you and your library are a part of it. Ways to advertise library in local virtual world.
Examples:
Local Search Engines allow you to create more of sense of community in the virtual world:
Many more local search engines on C. Lyons slideshow,
http://www.slideshare.net/BizBrary/local-library-presentation-computers-in-libraries-2008 ,slide # 13.
2. Monday - Session: Library Web
Presence: Engaging the AudiencePresented by Ellysa Stern Cahoy, Information Literacy Librarian,
Pennsylvania State University, Emily Rimland, Information Literacy
Librarian, Pennsylvania State University, Binky Lush, Web Developer,
Pennsylvania State University, Kristina DeVoe, English &
Communications Librarian, Temple University, Derik Badman, Digital Services Librarian,
Temple University
They talked about tools to improve web services and make them
more 2.0 or interactive. Using customizable widgets to make library
services more portable and allow users to put library created widget
anywhere they want.
Librarians did this at Penn State: Made downloadable widgets to
search library catalog, search research guides, and for library
quick links. Very cool! http://www.libraries.psu.edu/instruction/jumpstart.htm
They used: Widgetbox
http://www.widgetbox.com/ lets you make your own widgets!
Librarians at Temple University purchased LibGuides. Link
to their slideshow: http://madinkbeard.com/library/SubjectGuides.ppt
Customizable research guide pages with interactive functions.
Research or subject guides can be connected by the tabs with course
guides or class outlines be connected with Example:
http://www.libraries.psu.edu/instruction/jumpstart.htm
Has meebo chat window
Calendar for apts on research
guide
Uses tabs
Uses RSS for up to date news
and research articles from popular subject journals
Can add polls
Users can rate the guide
Users can comment on content or
co-edit, “community building”, conversation from
university community. This gives chance for faculty collaboration
Can imbed video
Search boxes directly on page
for faster searching
Other tools like LibGuides and in addition to are:
My Library
http://mylibrary.library.nd.edu/demo-implementations/
-- Open Source or Freeware for organizing library resources,
research guides, course guides, etc.
Google webmaster tools
https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/docs/en/about.html
-- for tracking site statistics and supporting changes.
Subjects Plus - http://ithacalibrary.com/subsplus/
-- Open source tool for organizing library resources, research
guides, course guides, etc.
LibData - http://libdata.sourceforge.net/
-- Interface for subject guides, course guides, Open Source
ResearchGuide
- http://researchguide.sourceforge.net/
-- Web-based management of subject guides for academic libraries. An
example from the University of Michigan, Harlan Library, Darlene
Nichols’ Resources on Sociology Subject Guide
http://www.lib.umich.edu/grad/guide/guide.php?id=4
LIbCB -
http://sourceforge.net/projects/libcb/
-- Open source tool for organizing library resources, an example at
the University of Rochester, Earth Science subject guide by Katie
Clark http://www.library.rochester.edu/index.cfm?PAGE=160
Monday - Session: Fast and Easy site
tune-ups by Jeff Wisniewski, Web Services Librarian, University
of Pittsburgh
Update copyright date
Add photos to contacts/names
Replace instances of “click
here” with the real content. “Click here for
current articles” should be “Current articles are
available here.”
Create and read microformats.
Firefox has an add-on called tails
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2240. Or Operator
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4106
- Both let you connect with the semantic web. Allows you to collect electronic
business cards and connect with other websites like Flickr or Google
Calender. For more info about Microformats go to
http://microformats.org
Use 3 question surveys:
1.What is purpose of your visit to our site today?
2. Were you able to complete your task today?
3. If not, why?
4. Ask for their email address.
- Add forward slash to href
directory links (?)
4. Monday - Session Learning Commons: The “In” in the CIL
presented by Tom Impri, Head of Media & Computer Services,
University of Nevada at Las Vegas
link to slideshow: http://www.slideshare.net/Tombrarian/learning-commons-the-in-in-cil
- 2nd Life is compliment to physical space
- More Laptops!
- Group Study Rooms
- Movable furniture
- Rich application suite (Open Source?)
- White Boards
- Smart Boards
- Multi-media production editing
- Vending machines
- Practice presentation room
REALLY IMPORTANT FEATURES!
- Students define the space
- Variety of spaces (indoor, outdoor, cafe)
- Comfort
- Engaging environment
- Human centered design
- De-centered-ness
- Positive emotional experience leads to better learning!
Other important ideas to keep in mind:
- Active construction of knowledge by the learner - Constructivist/Cognitive theorists
- GROUP WORK - sharing and learning from each other
- Space facilitates or hinders learning
- They leave if not comfortable
- Need seamless work environments
- access
- manage
- produce info
- all @ same workstation
Check out The ECAR Study of Undergraduate Students
and Information Technology, (Sept) 2007
5.
Tuesday - Session: Mashups for the Nontechies by Jody Fagan, DigitalServices Librarian, James Madison University
slideshow link http://cil2008.pbwiki.com/f/Mashups+for+the+Nontechies_Final.ppt- FURL – social bookmarking site like delicious where you can also create a feed of your bookmarked sites so others can subscribe to your feed and stay up-to-date with your bookmarks.
6. Tuesday - Session: The Library Sandbox: Testing Innovative Ideas by Barbara Tierney, Science Reference Librarian,University of North Carolina
She basically read from her book
Transforming Library Service Through Information Commons :Case Studies for the Digital Age, D.
Russell Bailey and Barbara Gunter Tierney, ALA Editions
Academic, public, and school librarians who
are considering an IC or are looking for ways to improve their IC will find a
wealth of information here. More
Case Studies she mentioned:- 20 case studies are listed in the book.
Points to keep in mind when planning a learning commons:
- Learning commons as classroom – this is a very simple view, I think
- Evolution from users needs creates tech changes
- Study spaces into LC conductive to group work, coffee shops, comfort, modular furnishings
(I really like this idea, point)
7. Tuesday - Session: Libraries as Laboratories for Innovation by Matt Gullett, Emerging Technology Manager, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County
8. Tuesday - Session: Video, You Tube, & Libraries by Karen McBride, Web services
librarian, Des Plaines Public Library and Nick Baker, Reference & Web services
librarian, Williams College Libraries
Basically they presented how to do simple screencasting and upload to youTube. Pretty simple
presentation.
I find the fuzzyness of UTube videos for displaying screenshots
of the library’s website unacceptable.
9.
Wednesday
- Session:
ELearning: IL Instruction & Out-of-the-Box Software by
Robert Monge, University of South Dakota; Steve Borrelli, Washington State University; Julie Cavender, Jones Knowledge e-Global Library
Analysis>Design>Develop>ImplementPublish
in flash or HTMLSoftware for creating tutorials Free or up to $6000 :
Books they discussed:
1.
Wednesday - Session: Open Source Solutions to Offer Superior Service by Amy De Groff, Head of Library Technology Services, Howard County Public Library, Ching-hsien Wang, Manager, Library & Archives System Support, Smithsonian Institution, George Bowman, System Adminstrator, Smithosnian Insitution Resea, Smithsonian Institution, Eric Atkinson, Information Systems Department Head, Orange County Library System, Kimberly Babcock Mashek, Information Literacy Librarian, Wartburg College
Link to slideshow http://www.slideshare.net/mlibrarianus/computers-in-libraries-2008-open-source-solutions-to-offer-superior-service
· Open Office.org
· Google Docs
· Opera Desk Now
· Joomia
· Koha
· Finetune.com
· SIRIS Image server
· SOLR Interface Application
11. Wednesday - Session: Integrating Second Life (SL): Courses & Collections by
Craig Anderson, Reference Librarian, Kean University, Krista Godfrey, Liaison Librarian, McMaster University, Troy Swanson, Teaching & Learning Librarian, Moraine Valley Community College, Larry Sloma, Adjunct Librarian, Moraine Valley Community College
- Integrating
- Second Life & Google Maps
- One of them says 3D exhibit is not easy to design
- For exhibit – intro area is good to orient people that are new to SL
- Computer on a desk that can link to gallery webpage
:
Screencasting 101: Creating Online Tutorials in Less than 30 minutes by Greg R. Notess
Online tutorials are better for many reasons:
- self-paced
- video and audio make it interesting
Points Notess made:
- Should not record full screen - don't need to see what other programs you were running when you filmed
- smaller screen size better (640X480)
- to produce video choose Adobe Flash - get more flexibility and features in this format - Flash is streaming format/larger audience acceptance
- Sometimes it is more efficient to redo entire tutorial rather than edit
- can get statistics
- save as a file to server
- can link sttraight to .swf file and it will play
- embed video in a web page (Video code embed generator )
- make tutorials for databases that have little tips that need to be explained
- Could use dreamweaver to imbed flash or other video file format
- don't go full screen
- don't start off talking a lot - no long intro - boring
- Could use music trac too - then use call outs or bubbles
Some software Notess talked about:
