Pod People

Posted on October 24th, 2006 by Brenda

As Liz said, we’re in Monterey at the Internet Librarian Conference. It’s great to be here and to see and talk to the people who write the blogs and articles that inspire me regularly. I attended a great session this afternoon on podcasting and videocasting. Topeka and Shawnee County Library’s digital branch manager David King was one of the panel speakers.

I am thinking about podcasting as a training tool. What if we had monthly or even weekly podcasts on a technology topic? More and more library staff members have MP3 players now and could use them to listen to these podcasts.

I’m not sure that I’m ready for videocasting, but I do like to think about the use of videos for training, too. I like the idea of creating short video tutorials on technology topics. These tutorials could be used and viewed independently or as a follow-up to face-to-face training. The tutorials could be created to meet the needs of NEKLS libraries. Hmm… maybe I’ll soon be sending out a casting call notice for some technology video actors??!!

Learning 2.0

Posted on October 23rd, 2006 by Liz

Howdy from Internet Librarian 2006! Things are going well here, the weather is lovely and the sessions are so far ok. Just got out of my first session on emerging technologies… and even though they didn’t say anything about any technologies that I would consider “emerging” (Because, lets face it, blogs/wikis/online user collaboration… this is not emerging technology anymore… this is mainstream technology).

Michael Stevens said the same things he always does, so that was ehh… Jenny Levine was banging her same gong as well, so I was a little underwhelmed but I do appreciate their enthusiasm.

BUT… this lovely trainer from the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County had a GENIUS idea for technology training… make it like summer reading for technology training! Give librarians exercises, links to the tools, not a lot of direction, encourage PLAY with the tools (hey, how do you think I learned how to do this stuff… from the manual? HA!), and dangle a carrot (she gave away MP3 players and is going to have a drawing for a LAPTOP! Way, super, extra cool). She has a 1.0 meeting about the week’s exercises (we could do Opal sessions) and gives people a chance to show off. All of this takes place over an 8 week (!) period, just like summer reading. The idea is to get people into the habit of PLAYING with technology instead of fearing it or thinking that they need someone to “tell them how to do it with a handout.”

NEKLS could SO do this. We SHOULD do this. I’ve been disgruntled lately that traditional training just doesn’t seem to be cutting it for most of our librarians… they keep wanting more but claim that they don’t have time to extend their learning once they get home after the training. Well, I think this might be the answer.

Here’s the link to the blog they are using as the basis for their training. Great, great stuff.
Learning 2.0 – Main

Final Internet Explorer 7 released

Posted on October 20th, 2006 by Liz

Not yet for the faint of heart, Internet Explorer 7 was released this week. Those of you with hearty constitutions and a penchant for braving the unknown can get it from Microsoft’s website. I’m installing it now and no bad effects yet. Of course, we all know that I’ll use it once every… 2 weeks or so since I use a Mac.

They claim it’ll have better security and more resistance to spyware. I’ll believe it when I see it (which means I may not ever believe it).

IE 7 Released

Social Skills

Posted on October 4th, 2006 by Brenda

Here’s something that I have been reading about that some of you may find relevant….
If you want to learn more about
* Blogs
* RSS
* Wikis
* Social Networking Software and SecondLife
* Flickr
* Social Bookmarking Software
* Selling Social Software @ Your Library
then consider applying for an upcoming free course, offered entirely online: Five Weeks to a Social Library. This is the first time this has been offered, but I have a feeling this is going to be a course with a lot of impact. The creators of the course are currently some of the most exciting thinkers in the world of library technology use.

The class will be limited to 40 participants and the intended audience is “those librarians who have the most to gain from learning about social software and who would not otherwise have access to conferences or continuing education.” The participant applications are due December 1st and you will find out by January 1st whether or not you have been selected to participate.

If any NEKLS library members apply and complete the course, I’d love to know, so I can hear all about it and also so I can interview you about the experience for a NEKLS newsletter article. Go for it!

Tame The Web: Libraries and Technology: TTW Mailbox: No Extended Web Surfing

Posted on October 3rd, 2006 by Liz

Congratulations to Sarah at Johnson County Public Library for getting something on Tame the Web.

TTW Mailbox: No Extended Web Surfing