More on Tech Day

Posted on August 28th, 2006 by Brenda

It has been 2 1/2 weeks since NEKLS Tech Day 2006, so I feel like I have had some distance and space to think about things and start to plan for next year. It has been thrilling to see the response from some of the attendees. We had eval forms and got some good feedback on those, but even more telling has been the response in the “blogosphere.”

• For example, From a KC Librarian created an audioblog entry while at the gas station on his way home!
• It’s all about connections! At Tech Day, A The Book of Nature was able to meet The Goblin in the Library….
• Erica and others from Johnson County brainstormed possibilities and applications in their community.
• We think that David liked us so much he decided to become a Kansas librarian

Thank you everyone for being there and for sharing your ideas and excitement on your blogs! If you have ideas for next year’s Tech Day, please share them with us. Liz and I will both be going to the Internet Librarian conference in October and we’ll be scouting out potential keynote speakers there.

Ah, spam.

Posted on August 25th, 2006 by Liz

Yep, we got one. Gonna have to figure out why, but stay tuned!

Unlock work internet or risk losing staff: Microsoft

Posted on August 23rd, 2006 by Liz

The gist here is that according to recent surveys, people don’t want to work where they can’t have all the access to the internet they want. Security measures at corporations have become so stringent that people are having a hard time getting WORK done, much less having a pleasant and productive work environment (i.e. one where the occasional IM conversation isn’t frowned upon).

Imagine then, how discouraging it might be to your patrons if you have a “secure to the point of useless” computing environment. Or policies that prohibit IM or chat. They can’t do it at work… they can’t do it at the library… suddenly 1000 bucks for a PC and 20 bucks a month for high speed internet access doesn’t look so bad. And hey, why am I paying for the library again?

APC Unlock work internet or risk losing staff: Microsoft

CNN.com – Microsoft: MMO games face security risk – Aug 15, 2006

Posted on August 15th, 2006 by Liz

This article relates to World of Warcraft, but could concieveably apply to games like Runescape as well. Organized cyber criminals have their eye on our digital embodiments in games as a way to make money. As always, use firefox, use your antivirus, and do your windows updates.

CNN.com – Microsoft: MMO games face security risk – Aug 15, 2006

We want this guy in our library!

Posted on August 12th, 2006 by Liz

Here is a YouTube link to a grumpy old fellow video blogging for the first time.

What better way to prove that this is what people want from the Internet, and who are we to stop them?

What a charming man! I hope he does many, many more video blogs.

Now… imagine if he could have done this from the creation station at your library? How awesome would that be?

Tech Day 2006 – Michael Stevens

Posted on August 10th, 2006 by Liz

A few things that we talked about:

- Flickr – NEKLS Photos
- Digital Creation Stations (give people a place to create digital content)
- iTunes Music Store
- Blogs, Podcasts, Video Blogs, and user created content
- Millennials want to connect– Example: I have a myspace page… yes, that’s my cat.
- IM Reference – screw those big companies, just use the free ones. Really. It’s ok.
- Training is key
- Don’t be afraid to fail. Really.
- Don’t be afraid to dream. Where do you think great ideas come from?
- 43 places Are they talking about your library?
- Force those Automation vendors to give you what you want… or create something that works for you, like Lamson Library
Things we might do at NEKLS (if Liz gets her way)
- A podcasting studio for our librarians
- A Gadget Garage (Oooo!)
- The technology sandbox… both online and at the office
- Revisit the technology wiki.
- You do have Liz, Brenda, and all of the NEKLS staff on your IM, right? Right?

More on this later, but please, feel free to comment and add your impressions… our brain is bigger when we all contribute!