What makes some customers tick (and others talk)?

Ottawa House Workshop / Lloyd Smith Solutions
Friday November 14th, 2008

The presenter Aaron Dus is a very smart, very young (under 30), very well traveled dude. He has a masters degree in Anthroplogy, and has studied ethno-stuff, and all sorts of other interesting things, like getting design ideas from nature.

He talked about interpersonal relationships / building context / discovering stories...and translating those things in to information and then in to insight...so you need to understand a community of people, learn from them, then design for them -- design something they need, but that they don't even know they need.

He emphasized that you need to be curious / always questioning...never be comfortable...obsess about everything...in order spot the next big thing.

So...sort of reinforced the feeling I have that I'm always searching for "the answer" re what the peeps want...good that I don't feel like I know, maybe, although that can be frustrating too!

Lots of food for thought.

Paro Workshop: Partnersips and Technology

http://www.actew.org/
http://techtipsandtools.blogspot.com/

Constellaton

• can post events -- posted some library upcoming events
• not much for N. Ontario now, but they're hoping for more
• keep an eye on it and where they're are lots, add a RSS feed to library web site -- easy and instant updating of business / training type events
• very slick
• post computer classes and general interest programs
• funded by Trilllium for now
• formal partners can customize feeds

Google Aps

http://www.slideshare.net/ACTEW/actew-workshop-on-e-marketing-and-web-20-tools/

• googledocs useful for collaboration...consider using for next Big Project
• googlecalendars good for family bday calendars

web 2.0 emarketing boot camp

• fab name (consider adopting for my Small Biz Week pres!)
• "google-fu"...todo: google-fu library web site!
• consider adding FaceBook/Del.icio.us etc widgets to tbpl site
• tools are free, but costs you in time

Todo: ...in conjunction with web 2.0 updating / policy project...include backing up...back stuff up off-line...don't have stuff only in one place

http://www.netsquared.org/ ...ideas for how to use blogs

...become a member of technocrati and register our blogs

...I added a video bar too YacAttack (let RHD know)

Featured Lists for the Non-Programmer with Bob Duncan, Systems Librarian, Lafayette College

slides are here

duncanr@lafayette.edu

very happy to help out

code and instructions in slides

see results of what he's talking about here

the RSS feed builder from III is NOT req'd for this

Making Noise in the Library: Dinah Sanders (Rock Star -- Senior Product Manager) and Sarah Hickman (Product Manager) III

My Mill Patron Empowerment

• forgot your PIN? (to do: check this out!!!...make it happen) ...in R2007
• update patron info (done!)
• place holds etc.

My Mill features

• no need to start from scratch
• iterate and improve: you don't have to do it all at once
• constant improvements
• new: patron alias (coming in R2007)...can use for self-pickup of hold slips)...talk to BP re this...we can add this option to Change Your Info in My Mill

Express Lane

• new and improved Graphical Self Check
• can also renew and manage holds
• looks cool
• pay fines (with credit card swiper)
• touch-screen option / or keyboard / monitor / card swip

Online Patron Registration (Product)...which we didn't get when we got e*vents due to timing (it wasn't ready in time)

• combined with instant online patron reg / linked to patron dbase and events show up in search results (happy accidents)
  
• can create lists on data -- ie. attendance reports
• London PL is getting ready to launch this week
• (idea: put links to scoped programs in e*vents on FaceBook -- eg. teen ones on YAC page, adult / films / etc. on main page...or even separate them out...puppet shows / crafts / book clubs etc.)

Reaching more users:

• portable devices etc...WiFi everywhere
• get people aware of the lib -- put your search box out where the peeps are (*put it on our FaceBook!)...see discussion in the list + code for how to
• put the search box on every library web page
• make the lib more part of peoples' web lives
• FAQ re persistent search urls on CSDirect (check that this is what I use wrt Adv Searches)
• what do you need to show in BriefCit?...what do people need?...too much clutter/noise?
• change labels for subject headings and call # fields in records to say something like:
• "find similar"
• or "more like this"
• or "next on shelf"
• R2006 example set has nifty touches to package info for users CHECK IT OUT!
• Feed Builder
• get the info out there
• stay relevant and connected in a time of great change...good Marshall Breeding quote on slide
• My Mill knowledge management...
• know what we can do NOW!
• good ALA Midwinter 2006 Presentation on making the most of what you have...check it out on CSDirect "presentations"
• eg: preferred search alerts
• reading history
• my lists
• my databases
• discovery services
• I asked if there is an easy way to get stats on #s of preferred search emails that go out -- no :( submit as an enha. request (check first to see if it's there) + star ratings...we want to know how much this 2.0 stuff is being used
• MyLists: new feature...can name lots of lists nice...look for it
• leverage library knowhow and new technology...bring the intelligence of the reference interview in to the online environments -- ENCORE!
• WebPacPRO example set
• went up on Friday last week
• "refresher service" available...can save a lot of staff time
• Encore Services: new model for support (see slides for Dinah's next session)
  

MilStats 102: Corey Seeman

ppt is here

• ppt will be updated as Corey gets new examples / ideas, so take a peek periodically
• The Universe of Stats in Millennium
• transaction-based (circ / WebPac / WAM / financial
• requires action to appen
• counting things that are there
• don't forget stats have to be good for the lib / serve a need...don't let the stats control you!
• user manual = the road map
• this presentation = the travel guide!
• General hints:
• fixed fields and call numbers
• use system as central repository (not mish mash of misc things on different PCs and formats)
• every record has a "created" and "updated" date (updated changes with each circ) *maybe use this for my report on use of the business collection...consider / contemplate / and play with it
• can "view query" of all pre-done searches and see all the criteria / dates / initials...can re-run periodically -- "extract query"
• "millennium scheduler" is a "product"
  

What should we do...Part 2

What can we do about it?

• outsource redesign (webPAC refresher service -- $$ from III)
• hide the WebPAC (behind a "discovery layer" -- like Encore / BiblioComm / WorldCat Local (first two libs to try were III libs)
  
• enhance the WebPAC
• Scriblio:
• open source wrapper
• Plymouth State University (Casey Bisson)
• uses a word press blog
• no separation btw lib web site and opac...interesting...hidden (or *seamless* opac -- open source)
• Solrpac: Miami Univ
• Solar (indexing) + Drupl (cms)
• exports bibs from iii to new interface
• facets
• King County Library System
• Aquabrowser (from Bowker)
• hip skin for WebPac
• facets
• Encore
• WebPac as Cyrano de Bergerac!!!
• takes your records and displays them in a different way
• more intimate relationsihp with OPAC than 3rd party options (no sync / uploads needed)
• Enhancements overview
• iii enhancements
• InnReach (like WorldCat local)
• WebBridge
• Pathfinder Pro (like WebBridge for the opac)...links out to web based onyour bibs (eg. set certain call numbers to highlight literary databases / subject guides)
• ERM as a database pathfinder in the webPac...good idea -- how much?
• eg: Bowling Green State University (BGSU)...
• Virtual Coll inegrated in to the cat...also can add the A-Z journal title list
  
• MetaData builder and media management (iii product to store digital images...think about using this for NWO History stuff????)
• spellcheck (one of Karen Schneider's OPAC suck-isms)
• patron reviews
• reading history / preferred searches (DONE!!! :) )
• RSS Cat feeds ("product" but easy to do on your own...see notes for Bob Duncan presentation) (feeds for eg. for new books and patron info)
  
• 3rd party enhancements
• Library Thing for Libraries (San Fransisco State Univ Lib did)
• tapping in to tags / recommendations / read-a-likes of LThing users
• tag browser -- adding collective wisdom to webPAC (similar philosophy to google search results -- popularity contest!)
• Syndetics (Got it!)
• LibX
  
• adding WebPAC to the browser...patrons would have to install (Virginia Tech did it)...also adds your cat to amazon
  
• home made enhancements
  

What should we do with our WebPAC? Can we make it relevant in a 2.0 World?

John Wenzler, Electronic Resources Coordinator, San Fransisco State University

• link to presentation in program...on IUG site...will be updated next week (TODO add link)
  
• jwenzler@sfsu.edu
• previously worked at III, working on the opac
• lots of change recently in opac philosophy / ideas...wanted to keep tabs on
• why John thinks things are changing...history:
• card catalogue...digitized card cat...same info / indexes / purpose
• responsibilities for webpac / card cat similar: help people use it easily
• anxiety of freedom!
• tons of design choices with webpacPRO..."paradox of choice" book (check it out)...more choices = less satisfaction with your choice...you wonder about the other options you didn't choose
• libs also social environment -- group process to decide how it's going to look...personal opinions...conflict w/in library
• "opac sucks" meme...(to do, check out opac sucks YouTube video!)
• look at annoyedlibrarian's take on opac sucks
• David Walker's "OPAC sucks" demo (link in handout)
• specific complaints:
• it's not as good as the old card cat!
• digital immigrant
• lack of context (esp if searching from home)
• less access to experts (ie libs)
• interface manages expectations...if it looks hard, probably will be and you'll need help
• "deceptively non-intimidating user interface"
• it's not as good as amazoogle!
• relevancy ranking ineffective
• too many complex search options
• poor integration with online virtual collection
• no suggestions / recommendations
  
• lacks user-generated content
  
  

Enhancements Forum

• reuse, recycle, roll-over
• all are reconsidered / periodically re-evaluated
• new for '09 cycle...Inn-reach will be incorporated...also schedule in-line with IUG conference
• "mantis" software used to manage the enhancement requests.....check it out
• always check to see if your idea is already there -- can add notes...really helps the FEs (aka Functional Experts)
• FEs meet with product developers at IUG
• Betsy from III:
• their cycle of upgrades is not regular -- but still will always look at enhancement requests...might be brand new or a bit old
• release cycle will be quicker / smaller chunks
• also input from sales reps / trainers etc.
• CSDirect is being re-designed...hope to have a new place to submit enhancements (similar to calls)
• in mantis, new "instruction" button
• can filter / search by kwd (@ bottom)
• to do: check to see if demerits in to good merits are there...if not, add!
  

Editing the WebPacPRO Example Set

Sue Boggs, Cataloguing and Library Technician
University of Puget Sounds

slides are here (need IUG un and pw)

• you don't have to use the example set when you go pro
• took about 9 months for their whole redesign process
• the "example set" is a SET of files which work together
• DOCUMENT all the changes / tweaks you make
• check out the FireFox FireBug tool -- free download ...lets you see hidden code
• WebPAC tutorial on CSDirect is good
• mailing list archives fab too on this subject
• steal from others!...use http://catalogueurl/screens/
• webpub.def
• styles.css...etc (on slide)
• remember FireFox and IE display differently...advice = design for FireFox and tweak for IE
• stylesheets:
• backbone of new look
• 3 style sheets:
• prostyles: can't edit, but can view w. firebug tool
• styles.css: can edit
• iestyles.css: for IE differences
• look at googleanalytics (for our opac) and see what browsers people are using -- also screen res vip when designing / screen size too
• fab link to tab presentation from European IUG
• tokens: short-hand for larger chunks of code
• when you look at page source you see code, not tokens...have to use iii urls to see tokens
• Index vs. Record browse: vip to understand the diff
• index = list of headings, and controlled by wwwoptions
• record browse = list of records, contorlled by brief_cit.html
• lost of aspirin and chocolate required!
• editing wwwoptions:
• add new, make existing in-active (in case you need to revert back)
• can in-activate icon_bookcart and get tick boxes instead of the "bookcart" icon...this eliminates the behaviour that some of our patrons have complained about re when you mark something for the book cart it jumps you to the top of the list...especially annoying with webpacPRO 50 items in the list: TODO...make this change in Staging and run it by the OPAC Task Force group...see if they like it...will the tick boxes be clear enough to folks that this means you're marking the records for email / holds / etc?
• check our AVS adjacency search setting...see presentation re what it *should* bet set to for WebPacPRO!
• webpub.def
• defines which marc fields are displayed for which field tabs, which order and what field label
• good hints in manual at page 106019 and 106853 and Webpac tutorial
• new example set came out last week...new release coming out next week...good to know!
• feed reader free with r2006...change weather to your city (is set to Emeryville, CA, by default!)...look in to it and see if/how it could work for us
  

A View From The Top: Thoughts from Senior Innvative Staff on the State of Things in General

slides are here (IUG un and pw needed)

Betsy Grahm, Vice President Product Management

• what we want
• right time to release
• successful digital experience diagram good (have seen on Stephen's Lighthouse, I think)
• useful / usable etc...
• doing stuff that's worth doing

Martha McEvoy, Senior Vice President, Software Engineering

• product development / code
• management philosophy of "agile development" -- short list of features worked on at a time / test/review/test/review etc.

Doug Randall, Vice President, Product Technology

• "Gartner Hype Cycle"...nifty slide
  

Tell us what you want, what you really really want: Using Community Feedback to Spice Up your Catalogue

Kirsta Graham, Web Services Team Leader and
Lauren Campbell, Senior Honours Student
from Central Michigan University

• slides will be posted on IUG site
• Lauren did usability study for her Honour Project (is going to Lib school in the fall, and worked in the lib)
• step 1: talk to users (including, for them: students / faculty / staff)
• showed focus group other III opacs, to demo features / styles / the possibilities out there they were considering
• projected these, and their then-current opac on a screen, for discussion
• had 8 students in focus group, lured by extra credit, pizza and brownies
• "I just wanna search"
• choose advanced keyword search as first screen -- were surprised students wanted the anti-googlesque paradigm -- however, they have had the advanced search screen as default on all their databases for a number of years, and worked hard to train students to use them
• students wanted clear directions for other search options (eg. type author's name with last name first...)
• every search screen has a "My Centra" (ie: My Library Card) log-in box (which would address OUR common comments re too many clicks to get to My lib Card)
• combined 'wants' of students with prof judgment / balanced with comments / opinions of faculty..."make them eat their veg" idea
  
• neat list of features (good slide) similar to what we're looking at eg spell check seen as a no-brainer vs. nah, we're not going to write reviews
• Usability study:
• tasks based on new design features / elements
• used situations rather than just questions
• they have an OPAC group/committee that meets regularly...nice!...but also have lots of staff!
• spent a year...took time for user feedback
• planning to do it again before 10 years go by...will continue to solicit user feedback

Using Google Analytics in the OPAC with Rebekah Kilzer (Ohio State Univ Lib)

• overview of how it works
• slides will be on IUG site
• idea: check our GA and see if we can hook patron rating stats (unique url when s/one rates?)
• check GA privacy policy...Rebekah mentioned a requirement to post / maybe covered by existing privacy policy?
• todo: email Rebeka re our security warning issues that arose wrt mixing http and https...changed url for GA to https and seems to have fixed...(just in EI)
• site overlay does drop-down boxes
• urls with searcha seracht etc for type of search...can filter by these
• can set up monthly email reports (do this!)
• compare milstats on opac to GA stats...Rebekah has this on her 'todo' list too!...email her in a while and compare notes
  

random notes

• asked Maruta about changing date format on date due slips (at self-check demo)...suggested we call Help Desk...they'll know if and how
• Barbara is going to mail me some IUG t-shirts...had wrong date of ECIUG printed on them...can use for shelf reading prizes
  

MilStats 101 with Corey Seeman

slides are on his blog here

• Milstats job = counting what's there
• name it, grab it, filter it, view it
• wild card for record number is "a"
• *good idea to try milstats for my work on profile of biz collection ...
• can "grab it" with an index search...which can be larger than a review file
• best way to learn is to go in and play
  

Opening Session: Larry Irving

• coined term "digital divide"
• 7 years as "Assistant Secrtary of Commerce for Communications and Information"
• work with the Pew Internet Project
• lawyer / technologist
• community access points: public libs
• digital divide is shifting to mobile devices...from land lines / desk tops etc...*wifi vip
• wikipedia good eg. of democratizing of info
• people need libraries: intellectual / digital / media literacy
• industrial revolution etc...now INFO revolution....libs needed
• public media / TV / arts...public media "space" pulling it all together...including libraries...public + academic
• "don't get too attached" to the current state of things...they will change soon!
  

Opening Session: Be Innovative Awards

Presented by Betsy Graham, VP Product Development

• to people for creative use and promotion of III products
• list of winners in program...notables:
• Ryerson University: for FaceBook app -- re exporting OPAC seardch results...check it out...
• West Palm Beach PL: use of WiKi for staff competencies program (wrt software as well as Millie modules
• LasVegas Clark County: use of concierge for staff to trouble-shoot...check it out
  
• Mid-Hudson Library system: KidsCat (new one...check it out!)
  

Opening Session: Jerry Kline (the big cheese)

Jerry Kline, CEO of III spoke about how III has been focusing on R&D rather than mergers and corporate takeovers, as a lot of the other ILS vendors seem to have been doing. Also mentioned Encore V. 2 is coming out in the next few weeks...constant R&D, and not waiting until things are *perfect* to release them...two steps forward, one step back mentality. Also noted a high percentage of III staff / management have MLIS.

Innovative Users Group (IUG*16): Washington DC

Just back from dinner with Barbara H. our III sales rep, and a lively group of her Canadian customers. LPL asked about e-comm -- they're thinking about using it for donations...let them know how many online donations we get (not via ecomm on our end, but CanadaHelps.org

Met Kathy Duchack who worked at TBPL with Bev and co. back in the 70s and 80s! She's now at the BC Institute of Technology.

Met Rebeccca B from Greater Sud PL..."Virtual Librarian" position has been at GSPL for six years, Bex has been in the job for two. Similar challenges...FAB to meet irl!

Looking forward to volunteering on Reg. desk tomorrow morning, and what the rest of the day will bring.

OLA08 Session #1805: Learning 2.0

Stephen Abram and Jane Dysart

• slides are online here

Stephen:

• cant' ignore change (at any level in an organization
• TODO: print off SA's nifty world view map of the online world
• information becomes knowledge through learning

Jane:

• traditional learning:
• reading / browsing, especially outside of your field (TODO, Check out these books:)
• Wikinomics
• Work-Based Learning
• Everything is Miscellaneous
• Harvard Business Review (can sign upfor Quote of the Day)
• ALA Lib Tech reprot
• making conference choices:
• annual conference plan...team
• international / sharing / diverstiy
• start with a needs-assessment tied to strategic goals...identify what I need to learn, and how to get it
• diff types of conferences -- single issues vs broad
• www.infotodayblog.com follow link during CIL and IL...all conf bvlogers and writers here* TODO
• SLA Keynotes are webcast
• ...lots of opportunities to participate online for FREE!
• library school videos of guest speakers on YouTube + lectures

Free/Low Cost Learning

• use to build in-house program
• SirsiDynix Institute (free + archived)
• Education Institute (what we're using for Learning 2.0)
• vendor training events
• Podscope and PodZinger = search engines for pod casts...kewl!...get an mp3 player and play + w. eAudiobooks TODO
• Invite speakers in -- have your own conference
• SLA's CLICK University: Continuous Learning Improves Career Knowledge
• wow! Free to SLA members
• U of T, FIS, PLC
• distance / web learning
• Executive Learning: SLA, U of T, Queens

Other learning experiences:

• blogs
• elearning tip of the day
• Internet Can Change Your Life
• Master of 500 Hats
• TechBytes
• 15 mins a day
• susposed to be fun!
• not every day needed
• don't get all AR/OC about it!
• led to 23 Things movement
• need a sense of fun / change / play to change culture
• know your learning style and recognize there are differences + work styles (individual / group)
• 43things.com
• track your learning / goals / don't forget about your goals

Learning 2.0 Best Practices:

• LEARNING > training
• you LEARN yourself
• life-long vs. event
• design program for late bloomers...peer pressure works
• let participants blog anonymously...reflection is essential
• use 1.0 methods to communicate
• discover/challenges...make it a game
• encourage staff to work together...break down barriers
• failure is an option
• practice transparency and enable radical trust...model the behaviour...be the change you want to see
• continually encourage staff to play
• consider rewards
• eg: Library Genius t-shirt with buttons (for completing each task)...also had Board and Patrons learn too!...Allen County PL
• remember your culture and how you want it to change
• watch for positive change
• TODO: involve top management...CEO learning too
• TODO: consider involving / inviting board and patrons
• TODO: consider /check out Librarian Trading Cards...can add stats with number of question answered / # of puppet shows done / books checked out etc!
• TODO: use Wikis to replace "frickin' paper manuals"...start with VLS! SH has been doing this...chat with GLF re this idea
• customize 23 Things
• to use tools / stuff your lib is doing
• you can pay your fines in L$ for SirsiDynix systems!
• list of Learning 2.0 libs on slide...now moving to Learning 2.1 (on Ning and Wiki...TODO check it out)
• build a technology petting zoo incl. gaming systems and play!
• go2web20.net
• for the newest thing
• 15 mins a day inspiration
• TheInternetCanChangeYourLife...nifty blog
• it's all about playing in the sandbox
• don't be anal
• don't "blamestorm"
• be open
• know yourself

Make "PLAY" your new years resolution!

OLA08 Session #1700: Top Tech Trends

Meredith Farkas, Distance Learning Librarian, Norwich University
Casey Bisson, Information Architect, Plymouth State University
David Fiander, Digital Services Librarian, University of Western Ontario

Meredith's slides are on her blog here

• the library is everywhere
• recasting the lib as a creative technology lab
• tech and education to do cool stuff like:
• podcasts
• video trailers for books
• letting patrons connect online through the web

David:

• open source ILSs like:
• Evergreen (David is working on this)
• Scriblio
• Koha (most popular)
• Dublin, Ireland, has a nifty portal with lots of moduals which peeps can use (eg like iGoogle) TODO: check it out
• ProQuest has a widget builder
• ***mentioned TBPL's AirPac!

Casey:

• slides are online here
• sophistication (of devices)
• look at Flickr's colour picker (can find pics with a certain colour in them)
• contextualization
• googlemaps + more
• booklists: connect with bookstores
• disintermedication
• more peeps creating
• shorter distance between creator and consumer
• identity and reputation
• deep integration /mass distribution
• comments and contribution

David: from UWO...ProQuest support research that found students thought of FaceBook as a study break, not a study room...but...it is working as a study room at other libraries...you need to KNOW WHO YOUR USERS are, and WHAT THEY WANT, and WHERE they are

Casey: users don't give a damn about you...they have a question and want an answer, or for you to solve their problem

...recurring theme here at OLA08...echoed in BiblioCommons...ME/MY/MINE

OLA08 Session #1329: OPAC 2.0: What Works Already?

Casey Bisson, Information Architect, Plymouth State University
Slides are here.
Casey's blog: maisonbisson

• OPAC 2.0...challenges:
• usability
• findability
• remixability
• Scriblio:
• a social library system
• faceted search and browsing system
• extensible platform
• built on WordPress (free, experienced labour)
  
• open source and free
• ToDo: subscribe to Casey's Blog, and check our Scriblio
• OPAC: our one chance to prove we're not stupid
• search boxes are for questions...we need to integrate the cat with other things that can give answers (eg. resources that we have...databases / lists etc.)
• we need to deliver better answers
• raised an issue that's a problem with III: you can't use the url from an item in the opac...however, you can create a list and export it...but why do we force peeps to learn how to do stuff differently in our opacs?...YouTube etc. make sharing very easy...why don't libs?
• valid, clean, semantic markup
• clean markup is better for all: search engines, accessibility, users
• sites that allow comments value their users
• Cook Memorial Library, Tamworth, NH
  
• Squiblio library
• small community, tons of comments
• Lamson Library (Casey's)...
• Squiblio = thin opac + web site...nifty to combine
• Scriblio = plug-in inside wordpress

OLA08 Session #1228: Social Netowrking: Innovation and Research

Susan Barnes, Lab for Social Computing, Rochester Institute for Technology (ppt is here)

• online learning research
• link to ppt on this page (look for session #1228, at 2:10 pm)
• Jounral of Computer-Mediated Communication...recent issue on social networks...TODO look it up
  
• "First Monday"...another journal to check out TODO
• Susan has done lots of research around learning in SecondLife, especially with a focus on marketing
• onlinemag.net has an article on libraries in SL TODO: check it out
• SNADS: Social Network Advertising
• individuals become brands...in soc networking...choose your look/image/clothes etc.
• opportunities in SL for students...work simulations, prepare for work
• STEM education: Science, Technology, Engineering, Math
• Research methods:
• programmed computers to capture data
• examined discussion logs
• surveys
• Questions for librarians to study:
  
• how can the new tch extend the classroom?
• will students seek out experts and outside help using the new tools?
• how can libs be more involved in the social classroom?
• how do these new technologies change the roel of libraries?
  
• very academically-focussed, but interesting

OLA08 CBC Digital Archives Lunch

• cbc.ca/archives wow! FAB FREE resources...TODO: check to see if it's in our internet links
• Shireen (Communications Officer...happy to answer emails)
• site launched in '02
• part of Canadian Culture Online program
• audio/video + text (to provide context for clips)
• direct streaming video (not downloadable -- yet)
• >300 topics, >12,000 clips
• from 70 years of CBC programming
• bilingual, FREE!
• reliable source of info...fab for projects...news + context / background/history
• also "on this day" feature (FAB for Library Det. ideas!)
• "For Teachers"...lesson plans, projects and more
• personal bookmarks
• nifty search tools
• quiz / RSS / virtual tour (TODO check it out)/ newlstter
• accessible option
• phase 2 of site coming soon (redesign)...will be more interactive
• TODO...LINK to this fab site, and promo with staff
  

OLA08 Session#1020: Moving your Library to 2.0 and Beyond

Amanda Etches-Johnson (McMaster)
Gail Richardson, Oakville (Manager, On-line Services)
Beckie MacDonald, Oakville (seconded to lead staff 2.0 training program)

(ppt is here)

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg PL = model of staff development
• Oakville followed their lead
• 12 things to keep in mind:

1. know your culture (at YOUR lib)
2. get buy-in from admin
3. determine budget
4. buy-in from management team
5. start the buzz, pay attention to timing
6. poll staff (if appropriate)
7. determine scope
8. which tools / competencies for your learning 2.0 sessions
9. volunteer or mandatory?
10. training delivery...5Ws....
11. incentives / acknowledgement / certificate (to emphasize the importance of the education)
12. feed back and post-communication...use 2.0 tools to teach them...blogs/Facebook group etc...share feedback

Notes to self re our Learning 2.0 sessions:

• extended invitation to supply staff...email notices of upcoming session to them...talk to JC re supply/training budget for this
• keep attendance lists for our 2.0 sessions

Beckie: CSI Oakville (Computer Savvy Instruction)

• used the yellow tape and everything!
• looked at 23 Things, and 5 Weeks to a Social Library...chose to present like this:
• Session 1 (3 hours)
  
• blogs
• rss (recognizing buttons and what to do)
  
• bloglines (feed reader)
  
• social bookmarks (SiteJot...like del.icio.us)
  
• Session 2 (3 hours)
  
• Wikis (including Wikipedia...used CommonCraft Show video)
• IM
• Social Networking (FaceBook, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr)
  
• mandatory for all Information Desk Staff
• included audio / video / hands-on training
• included exercises (eg. Leave a comment on a blog)
• set up "Beckie's Tech Talk Blog" for participants
• "play time" very important...freedom to play / learn your way / ask for help
• used SurveyMonkey for evaluation
• now doing CSI refresher...combo of 1&2, review + new exercises...expanding to other Depts and Areas

Amanda Etches-Johnson (McMaster)..5 w3eeks to a social library

• voluntary (peer pressure kicked in!)
• incentives (MP3 player for all staff who completed)
• self-directed via blog
• online LEARNING > training...freedom to learn and play
• idea from Charlotte-Mecklenburg: set context with podcasts / articles on life-long learning
• put staff in teams with team leader (aka Cheerleader)
• "Emerging Technologies Group" at mac...members = the team leaders
• TODO: check out macetg.wordpress.com
• mac has a gaming librarian!
• topics covered (different from Oakville)
  
• browsing tools
• gaming and virtual worlds
• lessons learned:
• it takes a village...(committee)...for troubleshooting / hand-holding
• build in TIME to explore / catch up (ie. 2 week "break" in middle of 5 weeks)
• had Michael Stephens for big rally / kick-off
• don't reinvent the wheel...use what's available out there
• TODO: check out learning2.0libraries tag in del.icio.us
• idea: have a contest: best idea for how we can use 2.0 tools
• TODO: consider setting up a wiki for the 2008 service audit
• 1st meeting in Training Lab...do a demo
• how to use / why it's fab
• keep everyone up to date / minutes / comments / revisions etc.
• think about ongoing training for NEW staff...if online like McMaster, could point to content...core competencies...chat with JC re adding this piece to new staff orientation
  

OLA08 Breakfast with Overdrive

• Claudia Weisman
• Canadian customers include London, Toronto, Manitoba (provincial initiative), and more
• suggestion to put "Download Free AudioBooks" on home page...TODO: consider
• a new Adobe e-book reader was releasted in Nov 07...getting more interactive...dev'p in partnership with OverDrive
• ContentWire Canada...OverDrive newsletter...can sign up for it
• OverDrive media console...comes with OverDrive...vs. Windows Media Player (for NetLib)

OLA08 Session #614: Second Life: Pick-Up Team or Major League?

(ppt is here)

• Krista (SL name Danu Dahlstrom) spear-headed McMaster's 2nd Life presence (her blog)
  
• Donna Bourne-Tyson co-presenter
• Georgia State Univ. is setting up a Best Practices Island...todo: check it out
• Librarian 2.0 manifesto was revised last week...TODO: check it out...be USEFUL to your users where they are
• MSVU used for small group discussions / meetings...paid $100 for a "storefront" for one year
• important to give people "play" time during work hours
• avoid SL on Wednesdays...Linden does maintenance work then! (good to know!)
• consider volunteering in SL TODO

My Poster Presentation

The OLA Web Site Poll Wants YOU!
Joanna Aegard, Thunder Bay Public Library; Donna Bourne-Tyson, Mount St. Vincent University; Deborah Wills, Wilfrid Laurier University; Lisa Weaver, Toronto District School Board.

The OLA Web Site Ad Hoc Poll Committee (aka "The Poll Peeps") is made up of Librarians from across the country. They take turns posting questions on the OLA Web site, to take the pulse of members on a wide variety of library-related issues. The OLA Web site Poll takes the pulse of the organization. The Poll Peeps want YOUR input! Visit their poster presentation to see the results of past polls, submit your ideas for questions and learn how easy it is to get involved.

OLA08 Session #411: How to Jumpstart your 2.0 Strategy

Peter Rowley, Director of Information Systems, York University; Kathy Scardellato, Executive Director, Ontario Council of University Libraries.

(ppt is here)

• old school participation = radio "talk back" lines, letters to the Editor, town hall meetings...with 2.0 technology and tools we have equity of participation
• ensure there is a rationalle for your 2.0 work...GOALS:
• what do you need on your blog?...time / comments (moderated? visual?) / identity or anonymity
  
• "joy of use"...time / identity / "fun-ness"...sens of play
  
• O'Reilly (2004) cited...def'n of 2.0
• "zygotic social networking"
• articles cited
• social networks built around genetics: "GeneTree"...you pay to join, then send in a DNA sample, and get connected with others who have the same / similar DNA...gross!...also "dnaAncestry" (related to Ancestry.com)
• Peter and Kathy had a set of "clickers" from York U., which the audience got to try out...fun to use, anonymous responses to questions...immediate results...fun-factor

OLA08: Session #316: Engaging Users in the Web Design Process

Terry Costantino..."Usability Matters" company...see pdf of slides here

(ppt for whole thing here)

• lib history / information architect
• content / tools and environment that are useful and usable
• what roles will users play in your lib / web site?
• undifferentiated users
• audience segments
• research respondents
• co-design / creators
• content providers / creators
• tool developer
• decision-makers
• types of user involvement:
• ongoing
• periodic
• one-off
• providing multiple ways to be involved:
• phone
• face-to-face
• online
• multiple research methods:
• interviews
• surveys
• town-halls
• focus groups
• usability testing
• contextual inquiry
• different levels of commitment / effort / anonymity

Tools:

• taking consultation online
• 2.0 sites / tools...engaging users...ongoing dialogues
• + 1.0 technology:
• forums
• live chat
• surveys
• polls
• internet conferencing
• improving ongoing involvement
• capture unsolicited comments (eg. at the desk / in the stacks)...collect and study
• provide forums for discussion
• consider recruiting users for longer-term involvement
• Why involve users?
• work with them...build understading of them

• make results widely available within your organization
• reflect on results....research

Melanie Rodney (Macadamian Usability) ...see slides here

• how to involve users
• pull together all info you have...TODO: for usability study...use online survey / observational study results / customer comments / counting opinions comments / Google Analytics / E&S stats ...brainstorm with Task Force for more / how to collect informal from staff
• context of use...user groups by WHAT they do, not WHO they are
• usability goals...what do you expect? (good question:...TODO: answer it!)...eg. 100% use with no help?
• outcome = usage scenarios...descriptions of how people use
• "ehtnographic research"...user-shadowing...*my observational study!
• consider using "personas"...TODO: chat this up with task force + see Stephen Abram's persona notes / sites in my del.icio.us / his blog
• *know your users* know their tasks*

Toronto Public Library, User Experience Project Manager (wow!)...Patricia Eastman slides are here

• SMART objectives:
• Specific
  
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• TODO: be SMART w. task force (and all!) work...embroider this on a pillow!
• new TPL web site to come this spring...keep an eye out for it
• good wording on her "Vision Becomes Strategy" slide...TODO: contemplate using for task force work
• who is your site for?
• keep in mind that people who respond to online surveys are a certain "persona"
• personas can be used for more than just web sites (chat this up with Tina..TODO)
• usage scenarios
• "always in beta"..."quest for the Holy Grail"...
• peastman@torontopubliclibrary.ca
• personas include non-users
• your personas will change over time / need to be developed
• Tim Ireland from Waterloo (sitting near me)...interested in hooking up with other libs doing usability...FaceBook group set up!...FAB!
  

OLA08: Pre-Conference Workshop on BiblioCommons

General info / overview:

• http://bibliocommons.com/ is self-described as "neglected"...but hopefully will have more useful info soon
• just emailled to ask for slides / more info / maybe webinar to share with TBPL's OPAC 2.0 Task Force
• BC = BiblioCommons!
• BC is being used in BC now
• Oakville PL is a Beta site in Canada
• Queens U. is on board
• my opac sucks + 2.0 = BC
• not a lot of patron-participation in library-generated 2.0 presence (see libdetective blog...people are reading it, but not commenting)...probably because 2.0 stuff is OUTSIDE the opac...BC brings it in
• social network used as a filter
• "Human Computation" (Luis Von Ahn)...views and opinions of others...shared...patrons use external sites (like amazon and chapters) to discover interesting titles, then go their library to find stuff
• TODO: check out "The paradox of less: Why more is less" Barry Schwarts
• TODO: look at our opac search logs for insight in to how patrons are searching...I need to know this
• TODO: check out "Mahalo" site...pulls out top searches from google...curating resources, like a lib...part of the amateurizaiton of librarianship...the "best" resources are those most relevant to ME...all about ME!
• TODO: ask Oakville for a BiblioCommons account, to get the inside scoop
• BC is starting work with III...good to know
• BC is looking at federated searching...talked about lack of "good" results...looking at adding librarian-recommended stuff from other virtual resources to results lists
• migrating lists on web pages to opac..."My lists"
• lunch chat:...learned that UWO and LPL are going with Encore

How BC is set up:

• data dump / mapping / install thin client on ils server / nightly sync of holdings / search algorithm....

KidsOPAC (I asked about this...if there would be a separate interface)

• have done some research...leaning towards common interface, but different results...kids can't filter results as well as adults...maybe choice of "skin" in the future

Karen Coyle...WOW!

• cataloging in the age of social networks
• networking / connections / no dead ends...info seeking as a "chain of activity"
• TODO: look at WorldCat identities...author info etc...
• there is tons of info out there, and we need to bring it together
• collectively libraries have lots of info we're not capitalizing on
• FRBR...bibliographic relationshiops...basics of networking...semantic web
• RDA...Resource Description and Access...cat rules for the FRBR generation...working in relationships / within and without the cat
• FOBC: future of bibliographic control
• Things we have to do:
• move from text-based to more machine-usable / web-based standards
• need to recognize there is a computer and network between the library catalogue and user
• linking / discovering / rich experience

Gale Richardson, Direction of E-Services at Oakville Public Library (Beta site)

• champion of BC...
• "quest for the Holy Grail"...that keeps moving
• lists / can add urls to e-resources + others....wiki-fied lists...collaboration and annotate-able
• widgets...for eg. messages to specific user groups...+ users will be able to customize how their interace looks
• discover / connections / annon. Readers' Advisory
• "Why search when you can find?" (on a billboard for the Yellow Pages!)
• "using the collection to build connections" (Gail)

Technology (Gary)...

• John Blyberg is helping BC work in an III environment
• BC is an ILS wrapper...new interface
• nightly update of Bib record changes...real time item status
• patron authentication / account info retrieval...
• REPLACES the opac
• are working on:
• authentication to databases
• accessibility (including non-graphical interface)
• search-related traffic goes through BC servers / pipe, not the Library's
• needs an open port
• need Java 1.5 J2EE compliant servlet container (eg. Tomcat, JBoss, WebLogic, WebShpere)
• uses jruby (java + Ruby on Rails)
• Canadian based
• 24 hour security / co-locations / very safe / generator / 2 pipes

John Blyberg (via webinar / audio conf due to weather)

• blyberg.net/files...his slides (+other interesting info TODO: explore more) are here

Legal Stuff (Patrick)

• the KO agreement includes more than a standard contract would...single contract for all libs w/in ON
• includes:
• individual library agreement
• library requirements and data quality
• privacy statement
• terms of use
• community standards and safety
• privacy: choice / control / transparency
• TODO: see if we can find # of patrons who have opted in to My Reading History

Legal (continued) with David on the phone from Halifax:

• privacy lawyer / expert
• having control over one's personal info is vip
• people have widely divergent privacy thresholds...expet to be able to delete content they create
• david.fraser@mcinnescooper.com

FAQ link on KnowledgeOn site / ConnectON...here

Can arrange for a follow-up session...see my email from Beth re webinar or visit to TBay (if other local libs want to learn as well)...

OLA 2008

Fresh back from OLA 2008...Wow!

This was my third time at SuperConference, and they just keep getting better!
I met lots of interesting folk -- including a former TBPL CEO (from the 70s!), a prof from UWO who had taken a former TBPL CEO out drinking in Halifax, and several FaceBook friends.

Will work on translating my messy notes in to useful blog posts / to-do lists / things to think about.