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Rebecca Jones posted this in Lib, IM, KM on March 7th, 2012 Last August I wrote about a “WTH?” moment at a public library that doesn’t allow people to use library computers on Sundays. (I figure that “wth” isn’t as offensive as “wtf”, but you get my drift.) The saga continues.
For those of you with family or friends battling mental illness, you know how often those individuals are without identification or a “permanent” address. ID is lost, stolen, left in a knapsack at a shelter – whatever. You also know that most social services are accessible only through the web. Many of these individuals don’t have phones and a payphone is hard to find these days, as is are the coins or phone cards to make them work. So, quite often we equip our family members with an old laptop for them to use at the public library to access social services, email, etc. Elated to have the laptop so that they are not “kicked off” the public library computer after their allotted time, the individual attempts to access the public library wifi. Alas — no identification of a permanent address? Well then, no wifi.
WTH?
Many public libraries have updated their policies regarding this, and to those libraries I say “congratulations and thank you for recognizing your role in making a positive difference in someone’s life.” To those public libraries that still require identification of permanent address to access your library’s wifi I say “wifi is a tool with which to access resources; it can’t be stolen or damaged.”
How sad that
Continue reading “WTH” Moments Continue: Policies vs. Mission
Rebecca Jones posted this in Lib, IM, KM on March 7th, 2012 I plan to keep this infographic by my desk — a good reminder when writing blog posts, reports and, most importantly, promotional materials.
Rebecca Jones posted this in Lib, IM, KM on March 7th, 2012 Now THIS is exciting. Yeah yeah, they are announcing a new iPad 3 today – which many people can’t afford. That’s exciting to some people, but what’s REALLY exciting is this: Online Newstand Project: an application that brings the incredible content in those databases for which public libraries pay hundreds (ok, thousands) of dollars to the surface for people to “see”. As we know, most people don’t understand what the heck a database is and as soon as we tell them there are “100′s of journals” in that “paid-for website a.k.a. ‘database”, their eyes glaze over. Thanks to “Steve Butzel, a website and database developer whose real job is serving as the assistant director at the Portsmouth Public Library in Portsmouth” for developing this tool to provide “easy, enjoyable access to popular and scholarly magazine articles by providing dynamically generated persistent links to feature length articles in each of the magazines included in the Newsstand. To read an article, all a patron has to do is click on the article they want, login at the next screen with their library barcode or student ID, and bam, they are connected directly to the article. Patrons don’t have to know what a database is or how to search one.” Eureka!!
Have a look at this – and imagine the possibilities. No, better yet, enable people to “see” the possibilities!
Rebecca Jones posted this in Lib, IM, KM, Tech & Tools on February 11th, 2012 Heeding the advice I passed along a few days ago in ”Ways to Bring a Conference Back to Work,” I’m blogging the Halton Hills Public Library’s session at OLA 2012 Superconference (session 422 “Technology Made Simple! Moving Beyond Basic Computer Instruction” with Beverly King, Clare Hanman and Darlene Green of Halton Hills PL) The session – and the experience they shared with the audience – was solid.
Here’s my notes on how they are making the library the place for people to learn to apply and exploit personal technology devices:
they have 2 branches – both under reno or being rebuilt during the development & piloting of this service creating new spaces for all age groups including seniors they liked a program Old Bridge Public Library in New Jersey had developed a Senior Spaces Initiative with Seniors on Fridays, and learned from it they looked too at New Horizons for Seniors Program, a federal grants program for projects led or inspired by seniors, and worked to secure a $25,000 grant the TMS or Technology Made Simple program started out for seniors but it evolved to a program for all they purchased 5 e-readers, playbook, ipod touch, digital camera, 2 camcorders, 2 ipads, 8 laptops, plus patrons brought their own devices in also purchased cleaning cloths, storage bags, tote boxes & carts, extension cords ,bower bar, adapters, brewing system for coffee!! quickly realized that some devices can’t be used while being powered; people often didn’t realize that the device wasn’t powered off, but rather “sleeping”, so the battery would run down, and then not be usable for the next session
Continue reading How to “Make Technology Simple” for your Community
As libraries continue to push the boundaries on their role and their impact on communities, campuses & organizations, they need to look at other types of institutions & programs for inspiration. Like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s new 13,400 square foot, $15 million Visitors Center complex in Seattle. Thanks to CIO.com for a slideshow of the opening, and this description: “The center includes a number of interactive sections like the Innovation & Inspiration Gallery, where folks can take a “Find Your Skills” quiz or create their own inventions out of Tinker toys and all manner of other objects. Visitors are encouraged to take digital photos of their “ideas” and post them online.“
The press release for the Center explains that once people have completed the “Find Your Skills” quiz to help them identify their own strengths and passions, they proceed to “explore various stations aligned to their strengths that ask them to solve real-world problems and share their solutions with family and friends.
Newsday also highlights the Center’s opening, “In one of the first galleries, a wall of wooden blocks with dates on them can all be flipped to reveal photographs and bits of information. A large wooden globe is fun to spin, but it also works like a computer mouse to sail through a map of the world. Kids could also bypass the interactive displays and go straight to the fun room at the end of the walkway by the windows. There they’ll find games and toys and other hands-on
Continue reading Gates’ Foundation’s Interactive Center: An Inspiration for Libraries?
Jane Dysart posted this in Conferences, Learning, Lib, IM, KM on February 6th, 2012 Knowledge, creating it and sharing, it is at the core of what I have been involved in throughout my career — in libraries, in corporations, at conferences, on the web, with friends and colleagues. I like the post this morning from Nina Platt, which included the following:
Those of us working in knowledge management (KM) have long said that we need KM more in troubled economic times than any other time. Why? Because using KM as a strategy for getting or staying ahead of competitors makes sense. KM can drive consistency, consistency drives quality, and quality work brings in repeat customers. While this is true, why did we see so many layoffs of KM staff as the economy turned south? Apparently, hiring KM staff picking up again or it may be that it is being outsourced? As a KM consultant, Nick Milton reports that his business is growing. Read more in If knowledge management is dead, why does it have such a strong pulse?
I am very excited about KMWorld 2012, October 16-19 in DC which will include Taxonomy Boot Camp (Oct 16-17), Enterprise Search Summit (Oct 17-19), and SharePoint Symposium (oct 18-19). The call for speakers for KMWorld 2012 is online and I hope you will consider sharing your experiences and knowledge with your colleagues at this key event for those in the KM field. The theme of this year’s event is Knowledge Sharing & Learning: Communication, Collaboration & Innovation . I’ll be sharing more information about new initiatives and keynote
Continue reading Knowledge, KM & Success
Rebecca Jones posted this in Learning, Lib, IM, KM on January 31st, 2012 Designing an Academic Library Learning Commons: Students Have Their Say Sue Reynolds @ University of Toronto Scarborough Library
Come talk with Sue about their research study with students on Thursday February 2, 2012 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm, Lower Lobby of the MTCC
This research study is a user needs analysis of the views and comments of potential student users as to what should be included in a learning commons, how the space should be designed and what services should be provided. Focus groups conducted with undergraduate student users of the existing Informatics Commons at the University of Toronto Scarborough Library showed that students appreciated convenient access to desktop computers and to staff help. In a future learning commons, students need spaces for quiet individual computer use, collaborative group computer use, and social activities. Service needs include improved technical, research and writing support.
Rebecca Jones posted this in Conferences, Lib, IM, KM on January 30th, 2012 Come hear Wellington County Public Library’s experience at the OLA Poster Session on Thursday February 2, Lower Lobby of the Convention Centre, Noon – 2:00 p.m.
Reinvesting in the Carnegie Legacy: Small Public Libraries, Big Community Impact
Danielle Arial
Wellington County Library
Throughout the last decade, the County of Wellington has exemplified a commitment to community investment. In that time, nine of their fourteen branches have been renovated or reconstructed, with the five others to be completed over the next six years. Reinvestment in the County’s five original Carnegie libraries substantiates the very real return on investment Andrew Carnegie imagined. These innovative building projects create healthy, vibrant communities: barrier-free accessibility combined with environmentally sustainable construction standards lay the foundation for significant community impact. Accessible washrooms and parking, along with assistive technologies exemplify the County’s commitment to barrier-free service. Living roofs, rainwater collection for washroom use and daylight harvesting are just a few of the initiatives incorporated into the County’s Green Legacy Building Standards. The poster session will inspire other municipalities, providing ideas as to how they can renew this worthwhile investment.
Here’s a guide to the Posters developed by 28 public, academic, corporate and agency libraries describing programs, projects and research they’ve undertaken. Come talk with them about what they’ve learned — up close and personal!
Lower Lobby of the Convention Centre, Thursday February 2nd and Friday February 3rd, from 12:00 Noon – 2:00 p.m.
OLA Poster Sessions: Feb 2 & 3 – Descriptions
Jane Dysart posted this in Conferences, Learning, Lib, IM, KM on December 1st, 2011 Just because it’s Dec 1, no that’s not Ba Humbug but rather Ba, the KM concept of a physical or virtual collaborative space where participants feel safe and exchange insights. Since collaboration and communication are key to so many positive paths, including innovation, improvement, and learning, we should be looking for more Ba environments in our organizations and communities. I should have used the Ba concept in my recent post on imaging an engaging place, what a perfect term for a teen space — the teen ba! I’m trying to envision such a Ba space for next year’s KMWorld 2012 to support the conference theme Knowledge Sharing & Learning: Communication, Collaboration & Innovation. Thanks to Bill Ives & Stan Garfield for brainstorming with me. Got suggestions? Send them along. Thanks.
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