Domo arigato Mr. Roboto

Posted on February 13th, 2008 by Brenda

I promise this blog post is not just an excuse to quote Styx lyrics….. It is, in fact, an excuse to talk about Legos. Have you explored Legos lately? These are not your mother’s Legos. Check out, for example, the Lego Mindstorms Robotics Invention System. Wow! It’s the kind of toy that has dramatic teaching potential, but might be too expensive for a lot of families. The Plainsboro Public Library in New Jersey has created an innovative and exciting program using Lego NXT Robotics. Local engineers are involved with mentoring the student participants. Imagine the possibilities! Wheels are turning… or should I say gears are moving.

(Thanks to Henry’s dad for the heads up about this cool project!)

Library Camp Kansas

Posted on February 8th, 2008 by Brenda

Ready to participate in a new type of conference?

Think some of the most valuable and most productive sessions at conferences are the hallway and dinner conversations?

Want to get to know some of your forward-thinking Kansas library colleagues better?

Join us at Library Camp Kansas: the first Un-conference for people interested in customer-friendly libraries, library 2.0 and thinking about how we can all improve our services and organizations to meet the needs of our communities.

This is not a conference with experts behind a podium. It is an opportunity for dialogue and conversation. Sound good to you? Join us on Wednesday, March 19, at K-State’s Hale Library!

Details:
Wednesday, March 19, 2008, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Registration starts at 9 a.m.)
Hale Library, Hemisphere Room
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS

A complete agenda and links to lunch options, directions and parking information are available on the unconference wiki at: http://librarycampks.wetpaint.com/page/Unconference+Details.

Topics:
The participants of Library Camp Kansas choose the topics to be discussed the day of the conference. Potential topics can be posted ahead of time to the wiki: http://librarycampks.wetpaint.com/page/Discussion+Topics.

Registration is free. Visit the “Invitation to Participate page” to register online:
http://librarycampks.wetpaint.com/page/Invitation+to+Participate

If you need a parking permit, you must register by Friday, March 7.

Due to space limitations, overall registration is capped at 100 participants.

What’s provided:
Free wi-fi. Some laptops are available for those who can’t bring their own. Flip charts and meeting supplies will be provided as well. Snacks and drinks thanks to K-LIRT. Parking permits thanks to NEKLS.

What you should bring:
Great ideas, great questions, an interest in collaboration, laptop with wi-fi (if possible), and money for lunch.

For more information, check out the Kansas Library Camp wiki: http://librarycampks.wetpaint.com/

To see how other library camps and unconferences have worked out in other states, see http://www.blyberg.net/?s=unconference&submit=GO
and http://librarycampnyc.wikispaces.com/Program.

Questions? Please contact:
Brenda Hough
Technology Consultant, NEKLS
bhough@nekls.org ~ (785) 838-4090
Hope to see you there!

Free technology cookbooks available

Posted on February 6th, 2008 by Brenda

Many of you may be familiar w/the first Cookbook released by TechSoup’s
MaintainIT Project. Well, now they have released another! It includes practical
tips and techniques and stories from libraries around the country.

Download the FREE Joy of Computing: Recipes for a 5-Star Library here: http://maintainitproject.org/cookbooks

Find out what libraries and library supporters had to say about wireless, time
and print management, and laptop checkout programs. Kudos to the following Kansan contributors, whose experiences were included to help make this Cookbook a practical and handy resource:

Sharon Moreland, Tonganoxie Public Library

Kim Priest, Mary Cotton Public Library

Ken Werne, Johnson County Library

Jamie Kelley, Marysville Public Library

The MaintainIT Project will continue to create guides focused on supporting public computers. You can share your challenges and successes so libraries can learn from *your* experiences, too. Remember, what may be, “that’s nothing!” to you, may be an “aha” to someone else! Email my friends Sarah, Chris, and the rest of the team if you’re interested in being involved: maintainit@techsoup.org.