Stephen's Lighthouse: March 2007 Archives

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March 26, 2007

SirsiDynix Institute Second Quarter Webinar Schedule for 2007

SirsiDynix Institute Announces Second Quarter Webinar Schedule for 2007

Topics include Second Life, podcasting and workforce transformation in the library industry

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., March 26, 2007 – The SirsiDynix Institute, a forum for professional development in the library community, announced today its webinar schedule for the second quarter of 2007. All webinars offered by the SirsiDynix Institute are free.

The first event for the second quarter will be April 3, and will feature Michael Sauers, technology innovation librarian with the Nebraska Library Commission. Sauers will discuss the Info Island Project on Second Life, introducing attendees to both the world of Second Life and to the Second Life Library 2.0 project and the services it offers. An online, 3D virtual world, Second Life, has more than 1.5 million residents, all potentially needing the services that a library can provide. Sauers will discuss taking the library to the user through Second Life.

Sauers has served as the Internet trainer for the Bibliographical Center for Research, as a public library trustee and as a bookstore manager for a library friends group. He is the author of eight books on technology for librarians and has written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines.

On May 1, Donna Scheeder, director of Law Library Services for the Law Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., will address the topic, “Succession Planning and Workforce Transformation: Keys to Future Success,” while asking the question: “Are you and your organization positioned for the future?” She will define succession planning and workforce transformation, important tools for guaranteeing that individuals and organizations have the skills and competencies to ensure their future success.

Scheeder has conducted many successful and informative SirsiDynix Institute events. In her current position, she is a leader in providing a wide range of information and collection services for the U.S. Congress, the courts, the executive branch agencies and the public. She serves on numerous boards and has received several awards related to her library work.

The May 22 presentation will feature Kelly Czarnecki, technology education librarian for teens and youth at ImaginOn, the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County in Charlotte, N.C. She will lead a discussion of the Teen Grid on Second Life and how this immersive space can help keep library services relevant to teens. The presenter will describe and demonstrate some of the tools and techniques on Second Life, including flight, clothing design, moviemaking, house building, music streaming and more.

Czarnecki has worked in a public library as a young adult librarian and in an academic library. She is the coleader of Eye4You Alliance Island, a project to offer library services in the 3D environment of Second Life for teens. She works to engage teens at her library in gaining new knowledge that will give them competitive skills in school and, eventually, in the work environment. She has been invited to present at several library conferences, and her projects and writings have appeared in major library publications.

On June 5, David Free, public services librarian for the Decatur Campus Library of Georgia Perimeter College, will present “What’s New in Podcasting?” Free will examine developments in the library podcasting landscape over the past year, including a look at new podcasts created by and for the library community. The presentation will cover tips for considering, planning, creating, evaluating and sustaining a podcasting program at a library. Free produces the Georgia Perimeter College’s library podcasts and is the podcast editor of “The Chattanooga Review” literary quarterly.

Stephen Abram, chief strategist of the SirsiDynix Institute, said, “One of the most important missions of the SirsiDynix Institute is to advance the work of librarians around the world. We are excited to be able to offer such relevant, thought-provoking webinars through the Institute as part of our mission.”

Additional upcoming SirsiDynix Institute events for 2007 are posted on the SirsiDynix Institute Web site, www.sirsidynixinstitute.com. SirsiDynix Institute events are held on the first Tuesday of each month; in addition, special events, including international ones, will be announced throughout the year.

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About the SirsiDynix Institute

The SirsiDynix institute was founded in 2003 and is funded by SirsiDynix, the global leader in strategic technology solutions. The SirsiDynix Institute is a forum for professional development in the library community. Monthly webinars, the SirsiDynix Institute Executive Conference and other events provide librarians with access to industry leaders and a forum to keep up to date on relevant issues and trends impacting libraries. The mission of the SirsiDynix Institute is to
support librarianship and advance the work of librarians around the world. The focus of the SirsiDynix Institute is on library issues, not products. More information on the SirsiDynix Institute is available at www.sirsidynixinstitute.com.

Posted by stephen at 7:24 PM | Comments (1)

Coming Soon to a TV Near You

The humble suburban library takes on a whole new meaning in the ABC TV's new comedy-drama The Librarians, which starts production in Melbourne on March 5.

A co-production between ABC TV and Gristmill Pty Ltd, The Librarians is the brainchild of actors/writers Robyn Butler and Wayne Hope. Married in real life, Butler and Hope will also star in the production.

The six-part series centres on the trials and tribulations of Frances O'Brien, a devout Catholic and head librarian. Her life unravels when she is forced to employ her ex-best friend, Christine Grimwood - now a drug dealer - as the children's librarian. Frances must do all she can to contain her menacing past and concentrate on the biggest event of the library calendar - Book Week.

The Librarians will also star Roz Hammond (The Micallef Programme, Welcher & Welcher), Bob Franklin (BoyTown, The Extra, The Craic), Kim Gyngell (The Comedy Company, Love and Other Catastrophes), Kate Kendall (Stingers), Heidi Arena (Thank God You're Here, Blue Heelers), Stephen Ballantyne (Corpse Bride) and newcomers Josh Lawson (BoyTown, Blue Heelers) and Keith Brockett.

Butler and Hope joined forces in 2004 to write and produce 13 short films called Stories from the Golf for SBS. Butler, who will play the lead character Frances, has starred in feature films including BoyTown and Crackerjack, as well as numerous television series. Most recently she teamed with Mick Molloy on the Triple M's successful ToughLove program.

"We are thrilled to be making The Librarians. With 25,000 books on set we have fabricated the perfect excuse to extend our summer reading, added to which, the children's library is very handy for cheap childcare, " said Robyn.

Hope, who will direct all six episodes, is a seasoned performer with feature films such as BoyTown and many television roles including Stupid Stupid Man, Crashburn and TheMicallef rogramme to his credit.

ABC TV's Executive Producer for Drama Miranda Dear added: "It's great to be working with such a dynamic comic team. With this series they bring their acute eye for social satire to bear on the world of the library in the most surprising ways. Borrowing a book may never seem as safe again."

Finally a TV set I can get into. Between this and Noah Wyle's show, we're heading for the big times as long as we can keep our sense of humour.

Hmmmmm

Stephen

Posted by stephen at 1:33 PM | Comments (2)

Finding Time Video

http://www.theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2007/03/25/finding_time_at_penn_state.html

Must see video by Ellysa Stern Cahoy from Penn State U showed during the Next Gen Librarians panel at last week's CIC Conference.

It shows the barriers our end users face when we don't look at the entire end-to-end experience.

Good job!

Stephen

Posted by stephen at 1:30 PM | Comments (1)

Blogging

OK - my family was over last night for my mother-in-law's birthday. It was quite fun. I especially like seeing my neices and nephews - my Facebook buddies who are so millennial. However, you know you're in trouble when your brother (Hi Jim) comments on your blogging. "You're not blogging as well lately." "You're pointing too much and not commenting enough." "You seem to blog in batches instead of more regularly." You have to understand, my brother is in the oil business not the libraryland! he doesn't blog as far as I know. I'll try to find him on MyFace.

Anyway. I promise to get more regular over the coming weeks. I have a bunch of postings ready to go and I'll ship them out soon.

Anyway, blame Jim Abram if you're deluged. Grin.

Stephen

Posted by stephen at 1:21 PM | Comments (3)

March 19, 2007

Students Comment on MyFace

Via Steven Bell - "What Do Students Think About Facebook And MySpace"

As part of the research conducted for the story Yada Yada Nada? that appears in the March issue of University Business , Students were asked about Facebook.

Many interesting insights in each article. Read both.

LJ's Movers & Shakers

Congratulations to the class of 2007 from a member of the class of 2004!

I lve this year's 'crop'. So many friends and colleagues and people I know. And quite a few SirsiDynix clients too. And, of course the usual coort of Canadians and bloggers. Nicely rounded list - as usual! Congrats to the LJ judging team too. This can't be easy...

Check out the list here.

Stephen

Posted by stephen at 4:15 PM | Comments (0)

Heat Maps

If you're a regular reader of this blog you know I am a fan of eye tracking and heat maps. I just love my thermals! We've published many of these in the Kent State University / SirsiDynix school usability studies.

Anyway, here's a link to a good and succinct explanation of heat maps.

Stephen

Posted by stephen at 4:12 PM | Comments (1)

Teen Reading

Is it the Harry Potter halo? Can Libraries claim a little credit for this? (summer reading programs et al) Or is this just a smart generation that seeks experiences of all types?

Teens buying books at fastest rate in decades:
New 'golden age of young adult literature' declared

By CECELIA GOODNOW

March 7, 2007 Seattle Post-Intelligencer

It's cool either way.

Stephen

Posted by stephen at 4:07 PM | Comments (2)

Less than a month left to nominate for the Building Better Communities Awards

Building Better Communities Awards

By the way, now is the time to move ahead with your nomination. The deadline is April 16, 2007. This year the eligibility has expanded to include any SirsiDynix library worldwide and the awards have increased to six recipients, each receiving US$10,000 – chosen by an independent, global panel of library leaders. Recipients will be announced at the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., this June.

Through this awards program, SirsiDynix seeks to recognize library organizations that create better places to live, work, and learn, while encouraging libraries everywhere to follow the examples of these outstanding institutions. To make a nomination or for more details, go to: http://www.sirsidynix.com/awards.

Stephen

Posted by stephen at 4:05 PM | Comments (0)

Next SirsiDynix Institute (Free)

The Info Island Project on Second Life

Presented by
Michael Sauers, Technology Innovation Librarian,
Nebraska Library Commission

Tuesday, April 3, 2007, 11 a.m. – noon Eastern, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Pacific

“Go Where Your Users Are – Virtually”

One of the central tenants of Library 2.0 is "go to where the users are." The online, 3D virtual world, Second Life, has more than 1.5 million residents, all potentially needing the services that a library can provide. This session, presented by Michael Sauers of the Nebraska Library Commission, will introduce attendees to both the world of Second Life and to the Second Life Library 2.0 project and the services that it offers.

Due to the bandwidth requirements of Second Life and those of the SirsiDynix Institute, attendees will not have a live Second Life experience during the session.

Michael Sauers is the Technology Innovation librarian for the Nebraska Library Commission in Lincoln, Neb. For nine years prior to moving to Nebraska, Michael was the Internet trainer for the Bibliographical Center for Research. He has been a public library trustee and a bookstore manager for a library friends group, and he has worked for both the New York State Library and the New York State Assembly. He is also the Webmaster for the Greece, N.Y., Historical Society and for the science fiction and fantasy author, L.E. Modesitt, Jr. He earned his MLS from the University at Albany's School of Information Science and Policy in 1995, and has a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from SUNY Brockport. Michael is the author of eight books on technology for librarians and has written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines. In his spare time, he reads approximately 130 books per year.

https://events.livemeeting.com/SirsiDynix040307Reg.htm

If you have missed previous SirsiDynix Institute events, or are unable to make this one, we have an extensive archive posted at http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/archive.php. You can check them out at any time.

More 2007 SirsiDynix Institute events are being posted each week at http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/

Enjoy

Stephen

Posted by stephen at 4:02 PM | Comments (0)

Back from the dead

OK, I am feeling a little better today. Whatever this illness that's making the rounds is, it's awful!

I managed to see parts of Denmark (Roskilde, Copenhagen) at the EUSIDIC conference and then get snowed in in Harrisburg PA for an extra 24 hours. I gave my talks but was sooooo sick.

Anyway, after a good two nights sleep at home I am heading to California and then back home through DC.

A few blog postings to come and more later.

Spring arrives soon and hopefully the winter bugs go away!

Stephen

Posted by stephen at 3:57 PM | Comments (3)

March 6, 2007

Gaming in the Library and Jenny Levine

YAY! Jenny is coming to the SirsiDynix Institute. It'll be awsome.

Stephen

Gaming in the Library

Presented by
Jenny Levine, Internet Development Specialist and Strategy Guide, American Library Association

March 13, 2007, 11 a.m. – noon Eastern, 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. Pacific

Much is happening in the world of gaming right now, and it's not just a lot of teenage boys sitting in the basement staring at a screen for hours on end. No, gaming has tremendous potential for libraries to reach out to new users, offer new services, and help complement efforts in community building, information literacy, and other areas. Don't know much about gaming, but want to know how it can benefit libraries? Not sure what kinds of services your library could offer (especially on a limited budget)? Are you an avid gamer who would like to offer services, but you need help convincing others? Just want to hear what other libraries are doing? We'll cover all of these topics and more in just one hour. Get the scoop that helps you clarify your thinking about gaming and libraries.

Register now to take part in a FREE webinar that is sure to further your understanding of how to use gaming in your library.

Jenny Levine is the Internet development specialist and strategy guide at the American Library Association, where she splits her time between the Information Technology and Publishing departments. As part of her job, she blogs, creates wikis, bugs her colleagues to instant message, tests podcasting and vodcasting, teaches RSS, posts pictures on Flickr, explores Second Life, and does similar work with emerging technologies and tools in general. She is currently organizing the 2007 ALA TechSource Gaming, Learning, and Libraries Symposium, which will take place on July 22-24, 2007, in Chicago. Last year, Jenny had the pleasure of traveling around the United States and Europe to give more than 30 presentations. She is also the author of The Shifted Librarian blog, http://theshiftedlibrarian.com, a site that helps librarians understand the coming impact of ubiquitous, always-on Internet (and hence ubiquitous, always-on information) on our profession. She wrote the September/October 2006 issue of "Library Technology Reports," titled "Gaming in Libraries: Intersection of Services," and is an avid proponent of gaming services in libraries.

If you have missed previous SirsiDynix Institute events or are unable to make this one, we have an extensive archive posted at http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/archive.php. You can check out past webinars at any time.
See the 2007 SirsiDynix Institute schedule at http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/.

Be there or be square.

Stephen

Posted by stephen at 8:36 AM | Comments (0)