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.