TechSoup for Libraries blogs

FBML: Facebook My Library?

Stephanie Gerding — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:12:34 +0000

Yesterday's webinar on Facebook was FAN-tastic. Social media consultant John Haydon had great tips and practical advice for libraries and any group or organization starting a page and building a fan base. I couldn't really imagine what a beginner to FB would need to know, but this webinar really taught me a lot about the customization available.

FBML really stands for Facebook Mark-up Language, and allows you to make your page look unique with options like customized tabs. There were also lessons shared on getting more FB fans, and lots of great ideas on how to keep them engaged. View the archive here.

Our library's Kindle

Matt Beckstrom — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:46:32 +0000

Due to the rise of e-book readers lately, we have decided to purchase and play with an Amazon Kindle. I chose the Kindle since it is the apparent leader in the e-book market right now, but it looks like things might be changing with the increasing number of e-book readers entering the market. With the recent announcement of the Apple iPad, things are going to get interesting.

My idea with the purchase of the Kindle is to try it out, pass it around our staff and try to determine if there was a need we can Amazon Kindle: Photo credit: Brian J. Matis, Flickrmeet with it. So far, staff seems to like it. Some of the ideas we are considering are purchasing magazine subscriptions for it or newspaper subscriptions. Or course, we have also considered the possibility of putting the latest bestseller on it. Unfortunately, all these options create their own problems. The magazine and newspaper subscriptions require wireless access (which is not an issue with the Kindle 2 in Montana, the only e-book reader that works wirelessly in Montana), and is only valid for one Kindle at a time. There are also some issues with Amazon's terms of use. The agreement states that purchased items cannot be distributed to a third party. This has not stopped some libraries from lending them out with purchased books on them.

I queried some libraries on their use of the Kindle or other e-book readers, and most of the responses I got back were that they had one or were getting one, but did not really know what to do with it. A couple of libraries were putting public domain titles on them for students and were reporting success with them.

I do not know what we will end up doing with the one that we have and I do not know if we will try any other brands or types. I think that with all the new devices coming and how many features they have, we will have to keep our eyes on them.

I can say that I do enjoy reading on the Kindle. The screen is very easy on the eyes, the battery life (a couple of weeks with the wireless turned off) is extremely nice and I had very little problems finding public domain books for it and loading them on the device. I found a nice little open source application called calibre (calibre-ebook.com) that converts title for me and loads them on a variety of devices.

I will continue to post about our Kindle. Until then, anyone else using a Kindle or other e-book reader? Any successes or failures?

Matt Beckstrom
Network Services Manager
Lewis & Clark Library, Helena, MT

Upcoming Webinar: Around the Twitter World in 60 Minutes

Stephanie Gerding — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:27:53 +0000

March 16, 2010, 11 a.m. Pacific time
Register: online

Twitter has claimed its place on the short list of communications tools for nonprofits and libraries to consider when designing online strategies. This webinar will survey the Twitter landscape, explaining core concepts, enumerating best practices, and describing the tools and tactics that exist to leverage Twitter's strengths.

Kami Griffiths will interview Allen Gunn, Executive Director of Aspiration, who will offer a balanced perspective, assessing both the pros and cons of Twitter and helping you understand how best to use it. This webinar is ideal for anyone interested in getting started using Twitter. It's especially relevant if you're unsure about the terminology or where to begin. Sign up for this one soon, as it is popular!

See all upcoming TechSoup webinars plus other free technology webinars at: http://techsoupforlibraries.org/events . All webinars are archived.

What is Cloud Computing and How will it Affect Libraries?

Chris Peters — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:13:06 +0000

As with many questions about the future of technology, I’m afraid that the only completely honest answer to the questions in the title of this post is probably “I don’t know and neither does anyone else”. So pardon me while I make a provisional attempt to answer this unanswerable question.

If you’ve used any of the popular Web 2.0 services over the past few years (e.g. Gmail, Wikipedia, Flickr or Twitter), you already have some experience with cloud computing, since most of these applications are hosted in the large online data centers that are the hallmark of cloud computing.

I think the utility analogy is helpful for someone who’s trying to get a handle on the nature and potential impact of cloud computing. Like water and electricity, a computing cloud is a communally-shared resource that you lease on a metered basis, paying for as little or as much as you need, when you need it. As this animation makes clear, you pay a limited amount when traffic to your web site is low, but the cloud responds quickly and increases the amount of bandwidth and other resources available to you as demand for your site increases. In other words, you aren’t paying for a basement full of servers waiting for the one day a month when your web traffic peaks.

As Charles Leadbeater points out, another helpful analogy is embedded in the phrase “cloud computing” itself. Real clouds are Photo by BasicGov; Creative Commons share-alike licenseall made from the same fundamental component (i.e. water droplets), and these atmospheric clouds morph continuously from one type (e.g. cirrus) to another (e.g. stratus or cumulus). Similarly, shared online computing resources are the fundamental common component most modern networked applications and communities run on the same basic mix of IT infrastructure. The flexibility and scalability of cloud computing means that virtual clouds can form and dissipate as often as real clouds, depending on the interests and demands of end users.

Eventually, one of more of the following effects of cloud computing will probably impact libraries and other small-to-mid-sized organizations:

Cost savings

In an era of shrinking budgets, it gets harder with each passing year to justify the purchase and maintenance of servers that aren’t in use almost all the time. Cloud computing offers price savings due to economies of scale and the fact that you’re only paying for the resources you actually use.

Flexibility and innovation

Organizations of all sizes can take more risks when it comes to creative, innovative technology ideas when the new application will run on someone else’s infrastructure. Libraries don’t have to decide between devoting their limited server resources to the OPAC’s overflow traffic and a new mobile web application that one of your colleagues wants to develop. If they’re both hosted in the cloud, the resources devoted to each will shrink and expand as traffic rises and drops. Furthermore, creating and configuring new virtual server instances is fast and easy in the cloud. On the other hand, in this interview, Whitfield Diffie points out that in the long run the cloud might be more restricted and rule-bound than traditional IT. He compares the cloud to public transportation providers such as airlines which rely more on rules and fixed schedules than privately-owned planes.

Broad, general IT skills vs. deep, specialized skills

Cloud computing increases the pressure on IT professionals to become well-rounded employees with highly-developed managerial skills. Knowing how to configure and network a server isn’t enough. Systems librarians have to manage complex projects and evaluate competing vendors on a variety of criteria. Holding vendors accountable is especially important when they manage a significant chunk of your online data and IT infrastructure. Therefore, as long as cloud security remains a significant concern, techies may be called upon to help write binding, enforceable contracts that hold vendors to certain standards with regards to reliability and security of their services. Furthermore, techies will likely be part of the teams that periodically audit cloud vendors and ensure they’re performing up to the contracted standards.

Cloud OPAC and Cloud ILS

Over the past year, more and more ILS vendors have started offering cloud-hosted versions of their products. As these posts from Richard Wallis and Marshall Breeding explain, OCLC joined several other vendors last year when they began offering a cloud-based ILS tools that complement their existing cataloging tools (e.g. WorldCat and FirstSearch). As individuals and members of organizations, we’re already choosing between desktop applications and cloud applications when it comes to e-mail, RSS, file storage, word processing and other simple applications. Sooner or later we’ll have to make this choice for mission-critical enterprise applications too.

Private clouds, hybrid clouds and community clouds

Libraries may soon be building and managing their own data centers. In addition to all the hype and optimism surrounding cloud computing, there are still significant fears and doubts Industry Challenges points out. In particular, the major cloud computing vendors haven’t yet fully addressed concerns about security, privacy and reliability. These concerns are leading some companies to build their own private or hybrid clouds. A hybrid cloud is primarily based in a privately-owned and operated data center, but it can shift some of its traffic and data processing requests to public cloud vendors such as Amazon or Rackspace on an as needed basis. This hybrid model would let libraries maintain more control over the applications and data stores that contain sensitive, private information about patrons. Moreover, libraries can continually adjust and fine-tune the balance between the tight control of a private IT infrastructure, and the flexibility and savings of cloud-hosted infrastructure. If reliability or security of one vendor becomes a concern, you’re not committed to one company or one model of computing services. Moreover, if the thought of “building and managing your own data center” sends chills down your spine, you might consider a community cloud. As this GovTech article explains, Google plans to launch a government-only cloud this year to address government concerns about security and privacy. Just as libraries presently cooperate with one another to buy IT equipment, bandwidth and the services of IT professionals, libraries may soon cooperate in the building and management of data centers. Alternately, if enough libraries express interest, a company such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft or another cloud vendor might create a Library Cloud similar to Google’s Government Cloud. Or, a library vendor with deep IT resources (e.g. OCLC or SirsiDynix) might build library-centric cloud services on top of cloud infrastructure leased from one of the more established players.

The human cheat code: librarians

Sarah Washburn — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:35:16 +0000

I just read a thoughtful article on gaming in libraries from Government Technology Magazine's February edition. It's no surprise to most that gaming has entered libraries in a big way, but still, I continue to hear murmurings of how gaming isn't a proper use of a library, or of a librarian's skills.

That's why I so enjoyed the theme of "Libraries Level Up" (pdf): how libraries are a place to play AND learn, in forms both low- and high-tech, including reader's advisory, research, and games, both computerized and cardboard-ized. Games offer a litany of learning opportunities: story-telling, teamwork, memorization, information literacy, critical thinking, the list goes on. And don't forget the fun-factor: learning can be fun!

The benefits of gaming programs don't start and end with learning. Just last week, I heard Kieran Hixon from the John C. Fremont Library (CO) talk about gaming in his library during a BCR webinar. He talked about how succesful their first gaming tournament was, and how much of the technology was borrowed from patrons. What a great way to truly connect the community to the library, while aiming to keep costs low. No doubt the community members who offered their gaming technology felt invested in the library's programs, and proud that they were able to help out. Photo from pdf article on govtech.com

And don't forget about board games! With all of this talk about computerized games, remember that board games are still relevant, and they're relatively iinexpensive, easy to learn, and a snap to maintain--broken board? Duct tape to the rescue!

Lastly, the article's author considered how the goals of gamers and of patrons are linked in a library:

"When gamers get stuck on a level, many seek help by reading a walkthrough guide online or plugging in a cheat code. At libraries, when browsers get lost, they also get help from someone who knows where to go and how to get there: a librarian, or as Levine says, “the human cheat code.”

For more information about gaming in libraries, read an article in the MaintainIT Cookbook: http://techsoupforlibraries.org/cookbook-3/innovation/gaming-in-librarie...

Share your thoughts on the Future of Museums and Libraries Wiki

Stephanie Gerding — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:20:38 +0000

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) invites you to help invent the future of museums and libraries through your participation in UpNext: The Future of Museums and Libraries Wiki. IMLS’s first-ever wiki is a platform where individuals inside and outside of museums, libraries, and related fields can discuss, dissect, expand, and inform the issues outlined in the Future of Museums and Libraries: A Discussion Guide. IMLS will use the knowledge shared in the wiki to help shape the agency’s strategic plan, research directions, publications, convenings, and grant making. The wiki officially launched today, March 3 and will be accepting comments until May 12th, 2010.

The Goals for this wiki:

Share ideas, resources and projects that help libraries and museums plan for the future and take action;
Encourage cross disciplinary conversation and engage experts as well as emerging professionals;
Use a 2.0 communications strategy to engage citizens in government;
Provide IMLS with input to consider for its strategic plan and to inform future IMLS research, publications, convening and grantmaking.

TechSoup Talks Webinar: Creating a Successful Computer Refurbishing Program

Stephanie Gerding — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:39:58 +0000

Register online for a TechSoup webinar and learn how to start a program at your library or nonprofit to refurbish computers. Find out how to get good refurbishable equipment donations and how to economically set up an operation that is suitable to your budget and the space you have.

TechSoup’s Kami Griffiths will interview Pat Furr from Computers for Classrooms and Bruce Buckelew from Oakland Technology Exchange West (OTX West). Pat and Bruce both started their own refurbishment programs and have run them successfully and at minimal cost over several years. This event will cover material from start-up manuals that they have both written, including:
•      How to set up a small refurbishment space, what materials are needed, and how to staff it
•      How to triage or quickly separate useful donations from e-waste, and also how to locate a reputable end-of-life recycler to take e-waste at minimal cost
•      How to test IT equipment, wipe hard drives, and install the right operating systems and other software
•      Some essential computer repair troubleshooting techniques to get you started
•      How to connect up with your community to ensure ongoing sustainability of your refurbishment program

This webinar on March 4th, from 11:00am - 12:00pm Pacific will cover basic to intermediate-level topics and is most appropriate for decision-makers, IT staff, and “accidental techies” who may be entrusted to make strategic technology decisions at your organization. This is an intro-level webinar and won’t go in-depth on topics about how to refurbish computers at a larger scale or develop an existing refurbishment program.

No trees were harmed in the making of this conference

Tena Hanson — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:20:47 +0000

For those of you who have never visited (or heard of) a virtual conference, let me set the scene: hundreds of librarians huddle in front of PCs in their homes and small libraries across Iowa on a particularly freezing January day with coffee in hand. All are about to take part in a conference, without going anywhere. Keynoters Sarah Houghton-Jan and George Needham bookend the day while breakout sessions, poster sessions and even a virtual exhibit hall give every attendee the full conference experience – all without travel, or cost.

2010 marks the third year that the Iowa Small Libraries Online Conference (ISLOC) has been offered by the people, for the people (the people of small libraries, that is). The ISLOC team (http://www.swilsa.lib.ia.us/isloc/team.htm) consists of Library Service Area staff, a trustee, a State Library representative, and the very people it aims to serve: individuals who work in Iowa’s small public libraries.

Selling a free service

The online conference is all about accessibility. The idea is to provide those from the smallest rural libraries the opportunity to have the full conference experience without the barriers of travel and cost. This is a hard idea to get across to potential exhibitors (You mean my booth will be free? Is this for real? Will anyone actually be there?). With over 200 registered to attend the day-long online conference, the few enterprising exhibitors that survive the introduction of this radical new way of connecting with conference-goers are guaranteed some quality exposure. What have they got to lose? There is no charge to exhibitors or participants, and only an hour-and-fifteen-minute time commitment the day of the conference.

Deadlines and other figments of the imagination

After “selling the free service” it becomes necessary to help (especially the first-timers) through the follow-through. Ideally, the commitment to participate would come about a month prior to the conference (with the added incentive of the listings in the hall going in order of date of commitment), the logos and catchy taglines should be submitted three weeks prior, the hall built two weeks prior and all links submitted / added / tested one week prior.

In reality, many exhibitors make this harder than it actually is. There is no need to reinvent the wheel, or to buy or create expensive or time-consuming software. Just follow the bouncing ball! If you can sign up for a hotmail account, chances are you can sign up for meebo. www.Meebo.com has become our go-to suggestion for first time exhibitors. It’s free, it’s easy, and the widget can be added to a site by even the most timid & non-techie.

Because all of this is online and does not require the scheduling of table space or extension cords, I have generally been able to work with exhibitors who are having a hard time getting set up. I have been known to edit the exhibit hall page the morning of the conference for those who are not quite sure they’ve got the ideal wording in their space. The ability to be flexible is part of the beauty of being online. I’ve also been known to give a few pep-talks: “You can do this! You’re a pioneer in your field! We are great practice – more requests like this are surely coming your way!”

Interactivity – It’s all relative

The catch for the exhibitors is the “interactivity requirement.” Simply having a website is not enough. We want the conference participants to find a friendly face (or VOIP or chat space) waiting at each exhibit booth, just as they would at a live conference. As mentioned above, several exhibitors use meebo widgets added to their websites to provide live chat to participants. Others have used Webex presentations, self-made webinars, Adobe Connect (which was also the classroom environment for 2010 ISLOC sessions), or streaming videos with a toll-free number and someone standing by to answer questions. Whatever method is chosen, the interactivity requirement makes for a more realistic conference experience and makes the visit to the hall worthwhile for participants.

No trees were harmed in the making of this conference

We did not even use trees to print money! Free resources were utilized at every level – the hall was created as a google site, a wiki was used for team planning, and meebo widgets were used as communication tools for the host and several exhibitors. No business cards, funky notepads/pens/trinkets were printed for distribution to participants. How much more green does it get?!

Here's the ISLOC team in person.

Will there be chocolate?

Okay, so at the online conference you won’t get to go trolling for chocolate at all the exhibitor’s booths, but there are plenty of reasons to visit anyway! CE credit was offered by the State Library of Iowa for visits to the exhibit hall for the first time in 2010. Exhibitors include everything from automation companies to Summer Reading Program performers – something for everyone! Participants gain free access to real live exhibitors from the comfort of home, and exhibitors gain free access to real live potential customers without having to pay for a booth or travel to it!

The survey says…

93% of participants were easily able to navigate the Virtual Exhibit Hall.
“I think the vendors did a good job of having information ready to go, with plenty of information available on demand.”
“An easy way to visit things of interest.”
“This is great for showcasing sites of interest to librarians…This was time well spent.”
“Enjoyed doing this from my office computer in my own library.”
From an exhibitor: “Very convenient. I love the concept of being able to work at the office AND attend a tradeshow at the same time.”

Further info:

Sarah Houghton-Jan (Librarian in Black) blogs about her experience as an ISLOC keynote speaker: http://librarianinblack.net/librarianinblack/2010/01/toughtimes.html
ISLOC Exhibit Hall page (please note that not all links will remain live, as the conference has concluded).
Archived conference sessions
Meredith Farkas (2009 keynote) blogs about ISLOC: http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2009/02/15/online-conferences-the-future-is-now/
Become a fan of ISLOC on Facebook (search Iowa Small Libraries Online Conference)

Tena Hanson, Director
Milford Memorial Library, Milford, IA
www.facebook.com/tena.hanson
www.facebook.com/milfordlibrary

Top Public Libraries on Twitter

Stephanie Gerding — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:03:58 +0000

I'm learning to tweet as part of my work with TS for Libraries...we are TechSoup4Libs, if you'd like to follow us! I love that libraries are using this tool to market their services and reach out to their community members. As reported by NFI Research, these are the top public libraries active on twitter who regularly communicate with their community and have a proportionate number of followers to following. Interesting that there aren't many listed on the West Coast.

17,000+ Followers
1 New York Public Library, New York, NY

4,000+ Followers
2 Houston Public Library, Houston, TX

2,000+ Followers
3 Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, MO
4 Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus, OH
5 Hennepin City Library, Minneapolis, MN
6 Cincinnati Library, Cincinnati, OH

1,500+ Followers
7 Austin Public Library, Austin, TX
8 Grand Rapids Public Library, Grand Rapids, MI
9 Boerne Library, Boerne, TX
10 Mark & Emily Turner Memorial Library, Presque Isle, ME
11 Birmingham Public Library, Birmingham, AL
12 Cleveland Public Library, Cleveland, OH
13 District of Colombia Public Library, Washington, DC
14 Free Library of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
15 Nashville Public Library, Nashville, TN
16 Queens Library, Queens, NY
17 Newberry Library, Chicago, IL

See the rest here. And hope to see you on twitter!

Libraries and the Democratization of Manufacturing

Chris Peters — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 19:48:26 +0000

Chris Anderson's (Wired Magazine’s editor-in-chief and author of The Long Tail) articles are always worth reading, but his latest: “In the Next Industrial Revolution, Atoms Are the New Bits," is especially interesting in its implications for libraries and librarians.

For centuries, libraries have been committed to democratizing access to information (a.k.a. bits to use Anderson’s metaphor). Along with schools, libraries were arguably the only such institutions before the advent of the Internet. For the most part though, libraries prudently avoided staking out a position on the appropriate distribution of physical goods (i.e. atoms to continue Anderson’s metaphor). Trying to democratize the “means of production” would have landed us in hot water politically, and, besides, we didn’t have access to the resources necessary to take on such an ambitious project at a significant scale. However, libraries have been facilitating access to computers as well as other tools and machines on a limited scale for several decades now, so the ideas below aren’t entirely new.

As Anderson makes clear, trends in technology and business might make Marx’s dreams of equal access to manufacturing technologies a reality without the need for violent revolution. Frustrated tinkerers and entrepreneurs now have an outlet for their creativity if they have a computer, Internet access and time to teach themselves free 3D modeling software such as Google SketchUp or CadSoft Eagle. If you can create a digital rendition of an idea, there are now hundreds of factories in the U.S. and abroad willing to turn your model into a product and ship it back to you and your customers. These factories charge a price of course, but it’s much cheaper than buying your own equipment, housing it, running it and maintaining it. However, if you do want control over the entire process, the prices of 3d printers, milling machines and other high-end manufacturing machines tools have been declining quickly in recent years, so you could buy your own tools or rent access to them at a facility such as TechShop.

Where do libraries fit in?

While the costs of manufacturing in small quantities are dropping, they’re still significant. To build a prototype and fill orders, a would-be entrepreneur needs a computer, Internet access, and access to manufacturing equipment (or money to buy access to someone else’s equipment).

Libraries could further reduce start-up costs for small manufacturers by:

Creating regional coalitions dedicated to building community manufacturing centers (or enticing a local branch of an existing company such as TechShop).
Libraries can install the necessary 3D modeling software on library computers and offer classes on their use if there’s enough demand.
Librarians can work with local foundations and funding agencies to find or create entrepreneurial micro-grants that defray the initial prototyping, marketing, training and legal costs, as well as the other expenses encountered by new businesses.

TechSoup for Libraries blogs

FBML: Facebook My Library?

Our library's Kindle

Upcoming Webinar: Around the Twitter World in 60 Minutes

What is Cloud Computing and How will it Affect Libraries?

Cost savings

Flexibility and innovation

Broad, general IT skills vs. deep, specialized skills

Cloud OPAC and Cloud ILS

Private clouds, hybrid clouds and community clouds

Further Reading

The human cheat code: librarians

Share your thoughts on the Future of Museums and Libraries Wiki

TechSoup Talks Webinar: Creating a Successful Computer Refurbishing Program

No trees were harmed in the making of this conference

Selling a free service

Deadlines and other figments of the imagination

Interactivity – It’s all relative

No trees were harmed in the making of this conference

Will there be chocolate?

The survey says…

Top Public Libraries on Twitter

Libraries and the Democratization of Manufacturing