Here’s a couple of visual representations of the responses to yesterday’s survey on patron computer tasks. Click on each image to see the full-size graphic. The graphics were created using the free website Wordle.
Original List (not standardized)
Cleaned Up List (standardized)
Finalized Graphic (with more standardization)
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Liz & I are investigating possibly using nettops/netbooks in our libraries. One of the things we’re looking into is trying to determine what patrons are actually using patron computers for, as nettops/netbooks aren’t as power-hungry or hardware-intensive as a regular desktop. We theorize, that in reality, 95% of what people are using library computers for are basic tasks, which is what nettops/netbooks are built for! To test our theory, Liz initially threw out a question to our Twitter friends, asking “twitter game: top 5 things your patrons do on library computers. Go”. I re-tweeted the question to my friends, and then asked the question on two other social networks I’m on.
We’ve received several responses already through the various social networks; the responses are listed below, and we’ll add to the list if more come in (will be sending this out on various library listservs, too). Let us know in the comments the top 5 things your patrons use library computers for. Thanks to all who responded already!
The List So Far:
New stuff is cool. New stuff is exciting. But what about all of the other stuff you have that’s not so new?
Heard about an interesting idea brought about by discussions of the movie “Objectified” – and of course the movie is addressing *consumer* conspicuous consumption – a campaign to advertise the benefits of enjoying the things you already own, instead of just purchasing a new one.
I know, you’re thinking… but this is a technology weblog, where oh where is your technolust?
Believe me, I have plenty of technolust (hello, iPhone user, netbook owner, Wii player, etc), but there is value in all of our old stuff, both personally or as libraries. All libraries have stuff around that is only languishing because people don’t know you have it, what ideas do you have for marketing your lesser utilized technologies and materials?
Interesting thread over at Lifehacker about the things that we used to pay for or do in an analog fashion, but that we now do on the ‘net (or with Open Source software) for free.
Examples:
“I used to go to the library to get books… Now I just log into the library’s website and load them on my portable reader! -ditto for audiobooks”
“I used to pay for long-distance calls, but now I use Skype.”
“I used to buy stamps to mail my bills, but now I’ve discovered online bill pay at my bank’s web site. I still can’t believe that they mail out the check for me, to anyone in the US!”
“I once thought of paying for satellite radio (Sirius, XM), but now just listen to Pandora.”
“I used to buy blank CD’s to back up my data, but now I use the 2GB free storage/backup system at Mozy.”
“I used to haul around files on thumbdrives, but now I use Dropbox.”
Do you have library related examples of things you used to do in an analog fashion but now do better/easier/faster/cheaper online? Let’s hear it!
Internet Computer – the $400 computer that can mount on the back of a LCD screen
Info about the MSI Nettop computer
Link to presentation on Slidehare
What is Cloud Computing? – See the video we had problems with… it turns out some of the voices were on one channel instead of both and the sound system in our room was only one channel (the wrong one).
Presenters: Liz Rea, Heather Braum and Sharon (the quiet one)
Q&A
Dropbox – file storage in the cloud, free up to 2GB
Bandwidth allocation – how do you manage in member libraries?
Tags: #klampla
