The Distant Librarian

RenewBot vs Library Elf

Fight!  (I looked, but couldn't find a picture of a robot fighting an elf)  I just discovered RenewBot, which will automatically renew your library books X # of days before they come due, where X is set by you.  First two months are free, then if you want to continue it'll cost $2.99 per year for each library card you run through the system.  How many days would your book have to be overdue to pay for that?!?  I was impressed at how quickly they added Calgary Public Library and the University of Calgary to their system after I requested those additions (less than 24 hours).  Turns out RenewBot also does pretty much everything my longtime fav Library Elf does too; after logging in you can see which books are checked out on that card, and which holds are still in the queue.  Here's the RenewBot privacy policy, and here's the policy for Library Elf.

LJ Webcast Archives

I haven't had a chance to listen to/watch them myself, and am bookmarking them here as much for my use as yours, but two recent webcasts in the Returning the Researcher to the Library series are now archived at the LJ website:

• Webcast: Returning the Researcher to the Library: Building ROI through Discovery
• Webcast: Returning the Researcher to the Library: Understanding the Next Gen user

Looks like this is scheduled to be a 4-part series.

ACRL/DLS Haworth Press Distance Learning Librarian Conference Sponsorship Award

If you're going to ALA in Chicago this year, here's a session you may want to attend:

ACRL Distance Learning Section
ALA Annual Conference Meeting Invitation

Please join us in Chicago for the presentation of the ACRL/DLS Haworth Press Distance Learning Librarian Conference Sponsorship Award to this year's recipient Jack Fritts, immediately followed by a lively open discussion on Future Distance Learning Section Programs, Poster Sessions and Research

Date:           Sunday, July 12, 2009
Time:          10:00 am - Noon
Location:       Hilton, Northwest 2

TechSmith launches an Education Community Blog and Site

TechSmith, makers of Snagit, Camtasia Studio and Jing, has launched a new blog aimed at the education market.  Dave McCollom, Education Evangelist, writes that "The primary goal for this blog is to provide a home for stories and examples of how educators are using TechSmith products." He also points to the new Techsmith Education Community, where you'll find information on using TechSmith products in the classroom (Introduction to screen capture in education, Make a video for when you or students are absent, etc...)  Should prove to be a valuable site as it grows.

IM widgets on academic library subject guides

From Danielle Dennie at Concordia University:

I will be repeating a study I did last year. The aim of the study is to learn about and compare usage of IM widgets on online subject/research guides from different North American academic libraries. I would like to see the types of users that use IM widgets on a librarians subject guide and the type of questions that are asked. The survey is short (it should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete).

Here is the link to the survey:http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Lk5nkzDRP_2bUOh2NEdgU2YQ_3d_3d

If you (or someone you know) have an IM widget on your subject guide, I would appreciate it if you could take the time to fill out the short survey.

Understanding the Next-Gen User - Free Webcast

Library Journal is hosting a series of free webcasts on Returning the Researcher to the Library.  The first runs this Thursday from Noon - 1PM EDT - you can register online.

Title: Returning the Researcher to the Library: A Series in Four Parts

Part 1 – Understanding the Next-Gen User

Sponsored by Serials Solutions

Live event: Thursday, June 4, 2009 – 12:00 pm (noon) Eastern Daylight Time – 60 minutes

Users' expectations of information search changed dramatically in the wake of Google and continue to evolve. Some studies point to a slow, but steady disintermediation of the library from the research process. Yet, libraries have a powerful competitive advantage in the quality, breadth and authority of their content – an advantage recognized and valued by users, especially in the academic library. This four-part series explores how libraries are taking back their role as the starting point for research by focusing on the user experience and supporting it with innovative technology. The opening learning session in the series – Understanding the Next-Gen User – brings together Joan Lippincott and Alison Head, leaders in research on next-gen research habits, for an insightful exploration into the needs and expectations of students and how libraries can respond in ways they respect and understand.

Panelists:

Joan Lippincott, Associate Executive Director of the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI) and an authority on learning, engagement and technology

Alison Head, acclaimed researcher on user experience, currently leading Project Information Literacy

Moderator: John Law, Vice President, Discovery Services, Serials Solutions

Register now for the inaugural Understanding the Next-Gen Webcast, sponsored by Serials Solutions, Thursday, June 4, 12:00 PM (noon) Eastern Daylight Time. If you can't join us on June 4, register now and we'll send you an email when the archive is ready to be viewed, at your convenience.

Crappy Experience at the Calgary Apple Store

My brother-in-law is a long-time Windows user.  He and his wife have several iPods, so he appreciates some Apple design, but he's now much less likely to ever consider purchasing any other Apple product thanks to a couple of really crappy experiences he had this week at our local Market Mall Apple Store.  Here's his story, with a few sanitizations, as told to a number of friends and family via email. 

Day One:

A while back, I heard from someone that you could make an appointment at the Apple Store, what a great idea.

So, today I was in the area of an Apple Store I decided to “drop-in” to address an issue with my wife’s iPod.  What I did not know what that the Apple Store had become such elitist b*st#rds that they do not accept drop-in’s.  I was made aware of this by a 65 year old sales person who took great pride in delivering, with a smug look, this information to me – handing me a card where I could go book an appointment.  Unfortunately when I left, I forgot to ask her if I need to go to the doctors to get a note for a specialist as I might need one to fix the problem.

Great customer server – heaven forbid you want to drop-in and buy something from those elitist b*st#rds.

A not so frustrated PC user.

The Next Day:

Hi Guys,

I arrived at the Apple store last night for my 5:00 appointment at about 5:05.  I met a lady and I told her I had an appointment.  She went onto the computer (or do these smug people call them Mac’s, I don’t know these days) and she stumble through the reservation system.  Unable to find me, she called her colleague over.  The young bright wiper snapper was able to find me in the system where the snot nosed little s*** had the audacity to mark me as late – right in from of me!

Then, the two of them scurried off like I had the Swine Flu only to have the now brilliant little s*** return to inform me that I had booked the wrong type of reservation.  I had booked a “Personal Shopping” reservation instead of a “Genius Bar” reservation.

Now you geniuses among us tell me, how the hell is a happy Windows user EVER going to figure out that “Genius Bar” equates to “Technical Support”?

Now my wife is having to deal with the arrogant pr***s as I refuse to set foot in their store again!!!!

And they wonder why they have not penetrated the world market in greater numbers.

A still satisfied Windows User.

 

 In response to a family member who wondered why he didn't complain, "The problem is I tried to complain last night, but I need an APPOINTMENT to talk with the manager!!!"

Really sad to hear about this.  Personally, I go to WestWorld Computers, where I've always gotten excellent service.

Shame on you, Market Mall Apple Store!

The Not-So-Distant Librarian: Online Library Instruction to Engage Students and Faculty

The Not-So-Distant Librarian: Online Library Instruction to Engage Students and Faculty

Friday, July 10, 2009
1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Chicago, Illinois
*****************************************

Hone your online instruction skills in a preconference conducted by experts. The University of Maryland University College (UMUC) is a leader in distance education, and its librarians play an active and innovative role in the school’s online classes. In this half-day preconference, UMUC librarians will share practical tips and tools for designing and implementing online library instruction that addresses a variety of learning styles and engages students through active learning exercises, and fosters faculty buy-in. Participants will then work to draft an active learning exercise that meets the learning outcomes of their instruction session.

Learning outcomes:

• Design an online library instruction session that meets the needs of various learning styles.  Participants will review and discuss instruction material used by UMUC librarians.  Participants will begin drafting or revising instruction content and determine delivery methods.
• Design an active learning exercise that engages students and teaches information literacy and critical thinking skills. After viewing and discussing models used by UMUC librarians, participants will work in groups to draft an active-learning exercise.
• Discover tips and techniques to promote information literacy to faculty and administrators. UMUC librarians will share their experiences conducting outreach to faculty, increasing the library’s visibility and advancing information literacy within the curriculum

Presenters:
Barbara Mann, Assistant Director for Public Services, Information and Library Services, University of Maryland;
Megan Davis, Regional Services Librarian, University of Maryland University College;
Joe Rawson, 24 x 7 Services Coordinator, University of Maryland University College

Registration fees: ACRL member - $195; ALA member - $245; Nonmember - $285; Student - $95.  May 22, 2009 is the advance registration deadline.  Registration materials are available online at http://www.acrl.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/events/notsodistantlibrarian.cfm.

Visit http://www.acrl.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/events/notsodistantlibrarian.cfm for complete details.  Direct questions to Margot Conahan at 312-280-2522 or e-mail mconahan@ala.org.

###

ACRL is a division of the American Library Association, representing more than 13,000 academic and research librarians and interested individuals. ACRL is the only individual membership organization in North America that develops programs, products and services to meet the unique needs of academic and research librarians.  Its initiatives enable the higher education community to understand the role that academic libraries play in the teaching, learning and research environments.

Calgary Public Library's Living Library

I've heard of other libraries "circulating" people as living books, but now it's here in Calgary, at least as a one-day gig.  This group of "books" is sponsored by Diversity Services, and includes titles such as Person in a Wheelchair, Sikh, Hajab Wearing Muslim Woman, Animal Rights Activist, French Canadian, and many more.  Neat.

Integrating library resources into course sites at Harvard

Educause points to a 27-slide ppt outlining how librarians at Harvard are integrating their resources into iSites, their institutional CMS.

Unified Discovery Services

As we continue to charge towards the Taylor Family Digital Library here at the U of Calgary, the idea of unified discovery services is suddenly popping up frequently in casual (work) conversations and meetings.  This is especially relevant at the UofC as our umbrella organizational structure is called Libraries and Cultural Resources (LCR) and consists of the Library, Archives, Museum, and University Press.  We desperately want to be able to allow our users to search across all our collections, not just bibliographic. 

One of the products we're interested in is Summon, by Serials Solutions.  I just watched a 5-minute marketing video, and liked what I saw (though of course that's the purpose of a marketing video, eh?).  Primo is another example of this newish type of beast, and just earlier this week at the Code4Lib conference Bess Sadler of UVa presented Blacklight as a unified discovery platform (slides in PDF).  Holy cow, I just stumbled across Blacklight when trying to come up with any more examples for this post, and I think I'm in love! 

<post hijack>http://blacklight.rubyforge.org/

Blacklight is an open source OPAC (online public access catalog). That means libraries (or anyone else) can use it to allow people to search and browse their collections online. Blacklight uses Solr to index and search, and it has a highly configurable Ruby on Rails front-end. Currently, Blacklight can index, search, and provide faceted browsing for MaRC records and several kinds of XML documents, including TEI, EAD, and GDMS. Blacklight was developed at the University of Virginia Library and is made public under an Apache 2.0 license.

Try using Blacklight in a UVA Library experimental interface. Download the source code. And join the mailing list to stay updated on new developments and releases.</post hijack>

Ok, where was I going...  Crap, I got so sidetracked by Blacklight that I completely forgot where I was going with this post.

Well, I guess stay tuned.  There are some starter links for you to explore.  Are you guys coming along for this ride, or do you only care/need to search bibliographic records?

Wowbrary Notifies You of New Library Books, Movies or Music

Lifehacker points to a service called Wowbrary, which,

regularly informs you by email and/or RSS about your chosen public
library’s newest books, movies and music. We make it easy for you to
browse through the latest additions and place a hold on a new title.
This is a free user service supported by grants, donations,
sponsorships, book sale commissions and volunteers.

It's free to the end user, but not to libraries, which must sponsor Wowbrary.  Only available in the US, and geared towards Public Libraries.  Are any of you using this?

Dalhousie LibCasts - what you want to learn, when and where you want it

Wow, check out the Dalhouse University LibCasts page!  Too many to count, most available in multiple formats, with an RSS feed and a dedicated search engine.  Very nicely done!  Camtasia Studio seems to be the screencasting tool of choice.

Is 2009 the year of the m-library?

I'm going out on a limb to say it's so.  Here are my observations so far this year:

1. DC Public Library launch of the first library iPhone application.
2. 2nd m-libraries conference coming up later this year.
3. The just-released 2009 Horizon Report suggests that mobile devices are the biggest thing to pay attention to first, with a time-to-adoption horizon of one year or less.  (hope to have more thoughts on the whole report at a later date)
4. OCLC's just-launched WorldCat Mobile pilot.

What am I doing to prepare?

1. I started an m-libraries page on the libsuccess wiki to track developments and examples of m-library applications.  It's very bare bones - please help!
2. I'll be attending the m-libraries conference in Vancouver
3. By the start of Fall 2009 our website will be  optimized for mobile devices
4. I hope to have an iPhone app to search our catalogue by the end of 2009
5. I've created a new category for m-library blog posts (if that's not proof I don't know what is! ;-)

There was, of course, movement in this direction in 2008, and probably even earlier, but from what I'm seeing, this is the year I think your patrons will begin to expect you to be accessible from their mobile devices. 

Let's make it so Apple has to create a separate category in the iTunes App store just for library applications! 

Where's my SIRSI mobile-optimized interface, Stephen?  Where are the commercial database mobile-optimized interfaces?  Who's gonna be first?

DC Public Library launches iPhone app for their catalog

Aaron Schmidt blogs that the DC Public Library iPhone app is now available for download.  So I downloaded it and gave it a quick run through.  No bells and whistles, but it gets the job done.  Seems to only allow keyword searching at the moment - can't search by author, etc.  You can place holds though, which is great.  I would love to have something like this for the Calgary Public Library, and hope to take a stab at developing something similar over the summer for the UofC.

Nice work Aaron! (and way to sneak the bike onto the labs page). 

Here's a series of screenshots showing what's available.  I wonder if the interface sets a limit on searches though, as when I went back in to grab a shot of the holds page I kept getting a "no results" message even on searches I had previously run.

Near as I can tell from the iTunes store, this is the first library application available.  Oh, and now I see Aaron's confirmed that on his personal blog as well.