ULiveandLearn Free Live Webcasts…08.12.08

Although not all of the webcasts from ULiveandLearn are necessarily of interest or relevant, this free service provides yet one more option for continuing education/professional development.  The first one discussing Second Life sound interesting at the moment.

“…You may register for the August/September webcasts at
http://www.uliveandlearn.com/PortalInnovate/
. Webcasts will be archived and available in the webcast section of the article and in the Innovate-Live portal archive shortly after the webcast. All times are Eastern Time (New York). You may use the world clock at
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
to coordinate with your time zone.

We open with an article by Nancy Evans, Thalia M. Mulvihill, and Nancy J. Brooks who argue that Second Life and similar multiuser virtual environments can provide a sense of presence and community that satisfies these needs while offering all of the benefits of online education. [See
http://www.innovateonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=537&action=article
] Their webcast is scheduled for September 17th at 1:00 PM ET…”

Check out the schedule for other webcasts of interest/relevance!  You do have to register on the site, however, to view the schedule.

Library Return on Investment Considerations…08.12.08

There was an interesting post today from Constance Ard which reported on Stephen Arnold (“search expert”) discussing the formulation of library ROI.  She wrote:

“…Stephen Arnold has posted an interesting essay that discusses library ROI. Probably the most profound point made is that the costs used to calculate ROI often do not incorporate the true comprehensive costs.

Library budgets suffer due to the budget that is based upon ‘ignored costs’ and thus in the crunch time library customers suffer.

Librarians have to be more attuned to the costs associated with their knowledge and skills. Pricing the effort put into choosing an information product to be used by the system, time associated with staff training, bibliographic instruction and reference direction to the correct sources must be included in the expenses of a library’s budget. This reaches beyond salaries, it requires valuing the librarian for highly due to their skills and knowledge.

Librarians are uniquely qualified in blending technical and reference skills. We understand how the search systems work (at least enough to be an asset rather than a hazard) and how our customers use the information. We can translate user needs to technical consultants that are charged with ‘setting the system’ up. This isnt a free service.

This knowledge and skill set is our meat and potatoes and prices are rising everywhere. It is time for librarians to calculate the worth of their knowledge and skills realistically so that in down times, our budgets remain strong and we arent forced to make hard choices about what services or products to cut in order to make budget. A librarys ROI must include a realistic estimate of a librarians cost beyond salary and truly calculate the service and knowledge employed for the benefit of the institution.”

Kindle–I’m Almost Persuaded…08.12.08

Although I don’t have the extra cash, I usually don’t buy my reading material, and because I’ve always had an aversion to electronic books on the web or using the various readers available, I have been very curious about Amazon’s Kindle and everything I have read about it and what users have been saying.  Today’s Wired News reported:

“…It was a good day for Amazon.com with shares rising more than 8% after a report by Citigroup analyst Mark Mahaney doubling his previous predicted sales for the e-book reader.

Mahoney didn’t disclose any actual sales information, however, but cited a “collection of data points” in his optimistic outlook.

From Reuters:

‘Mahaney estimates Amazon will sell up to 380,000 Kindles in 2008, up from a previous forecast of 190,000, noting that adoption rate would be similar to the first year of sales for Apple’s media-playing iPod. He sees Amazon selling up to 150,000 Kindles in the fourth quarter alone.’

‘Turns out the Kindle is becoming the iPod of the book world,’ he says in the report.

He also says he considers the potential for it to become a hot commodity along with the iPhone 3G this holiday season, based on a ‘earth of “gadget” gifts in Q4.’…”

Weekend Hiking…08.11.08

What I did this past weeked:  Fort Worth Nature Center

“…Over 3600 acres, the FWNC&R is one of the largest city-owned nature centers in the United States and offers residents and visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the natural history of north central Texas . Over 20 miles of hiking trails provide easy access to a myriad of natural wonders to be found on the Refuge…”

See FWNC map w/ trails here:
http://74.54.176.162/~fwnc/docs/map/Trail_Map.pdf

The Influence Pyramid…08.08.08

The “Influence Pyramid” by Ed Batista [
http://www.edbatista.com/2008/02/influence.html
] :

My last post on the nature of interpersonal power coincided with some thinking I’ve been doing on influence (which, of course, isn’t quite the same thing.)  That work resulted in the model shown here, which is an attempt to understand not the conceptual basis of influence, a la Robert Cialdini, but a larger process that begins with a decision to influence, concludes with an actual attempt to influence, and is layered throughout with Argyris-style learning loops.

---

I. Foundations of Influence

The ability to influence 1) starts with a choice to be powerful, 2) builds upon an awareness of our strengths, weaknesses and capacity to change, 3) relies upon an understanding of conceptual models of influence 4) which we translate into specific tools and techniques that 5) must be tested empirically and repeatedly:

---

II. Influence Learning Loops

Practical experience leads to learning at ever-deeper levels: 1) refined execution of tools and techniques; 2) strategic application of conceptual models; 3) a more accurate sense of self via feedback and reflection; and ultimately 4) a belief structure that supports our choice to be powerful:

---

Here’s a 3-slide PowerPoint file of the graphics above (49 KB).  This model is a rough work-in-progress, to be sure, and I’d be grateful for any feedback and critiques.  That said, I do like the way it integrates A) a deeper sense of personal empowerment (or lack thereof) and beliefs about power that support or inhibit our efforts to be influential with B) a more cognitive awareness of our interpersonal impact and the concepts, tools and techniques that underlay contemporary “theories of influence.”

See Also:  “The Influence Pyramid 2.0″–Librarians and Others Can Choose to Be Powerful…01.19.09  and More Thoughts on the Solo Librarian and the Influence Pyramid…03.02.09

BHM Library Resource Update…08.08.08

I thought since 08.08.08 is a pretty interesting date, the Olympics “hoo-ha” has begun in earnest today, and because it’s Friday (TGIF), I would post an update on BHM library resources management. Official updates used to be distributed to upper management weekly (although probably unnoticed) but since the workload above has increased significantly, formal reporting has tapered off to once every several weeks unless there is some major accomplishment or notable progress is made in moving forward in a library-related area for which I am responsible.  It’s obvious there is no time or interest on high in reading such mundane reports in light of the urgent daily department projects and their time constraints.

We are regularly adding to our collections but still have made no progress in getting some of the thousands of yet non-cataloged items in our videotape archive shipped here for processing.  Persistence, however, will remain the one tool used to nudge this project along even if ever so slightly.

Due to a renewed and increasing interest by upper management in product development, product reviewing has become an important and more time-consuming activity.  Additionally, the task of keeping our electronic files organized and accessible is absorbing more time and effort.

Always lurking in the shadows of my job description is the possibility/potential to have to incorporate into our collections the private library of the organization’s principle leader who resides in another state.  Inventorying, preserving, and cataloging this additional collection would entail scaling some formidable obstacles and maneuvering around several potential occupational pitfalls which cannot be elaborated here and now.

Maintaining this blog helps me deal with the frustration that arises from lack of progress on the library front when so much could be accomplished and when the perceived, relative value of these activities in comparison to other more temporal and fleeting activities is evident. Of course, dealing with all this comes down to temperance or “self-control” regardless of the circumstances and seeing beyond the current annoyances to the long-term perspective.

Considering SLA Membership and Virtual Attendance at 2009 Centennial Conference…08.08.08

Mmmmm… I seem to be gleaning a lot from SLA members and activities by lurking on the edges of parts of Libraryland.  If the cost is not prohibitive, I may consider joining up in the relatively near future.  If so, we’ll see if “membership has its privileges” as American Express used to say.  The SLA 2009 Annual Conference & INFO-EXPO next June 14-17 will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.  Although there is almost no chance I could attend physically, there are increasing virtual opportunities to participate.

Thoughts on Reading Decline Relative to Libararianship…08.08.08

In going through my aggregator’s 135 RSS feeds today about libraries and librarianshp, I came across an interesting July 28 post from Karen Calhoun entitled “Reading Isn’t What It Was–But Library Cataloging Is” [
http://community.oclc.org/metalogue/archives/2008/07/reading-isnt-what-it-wasbut-li.html
] which I feel is an important and relevant observation on the changing state of most readers, at least in North America

Here is an excerpt:

“…Libraries cannot win if they do not play in the idiom of the Web. More deeply understanding end users’ reading styles and preferences could help libraries know what practices to hold onto and what to give up or cut back. Like the standard tests of reading skill, library cataloging practices evolved in keeping with a reading style that is offline, linear, solitary and passive, extended in time, often text-only (few visuals), and single layered (that is, offers one point of view).  How much of library cataloging practice reflects the predominant reading style of the last few hundred years?  What still works about traditional cataloging practice, and what no longer suits the end user behavior and preferences associated with online reading, or with selecting what to read offline? 

It occurs to me that what we tend to chatter about on our lists and blogs — how much bibliographic data here, encoded in what way in our systems, with how many fields and what type of controlled subject access, and whether the whole qualifies as full, minimal, abbreviated or whatever — could stand to be assessed in light of the changing world of reading.  I am wondering how library cataloging and metadata professionals might begin to identify those practices that are likely to attract and sustain more attention to library collections, given the new age of reading that appears to dawning, at least among certain segments of the end user communities that libraries serve.”

Aurora Parts 2 & 3 Now Online…08.07.08

I posted this week about the first installment of the Aurora video presentation.  Parts 2 [

] & 3 [

] are now available for viewing.  “Aurora is a concept video exploring one possible future user experience for the Web, created by Adaptive Path as part of the Mozilla Labs concept series. For more, visit adaptivepath.com/aurora“

Next Free SiriDynix Institute Webinar with Michael Stephens…08.07.08

I plan on catching the next SirsiDynix Institute August 26th.  The information follows below:

Anyone can sign up for free here.

Taming Technolust: Planning in a Hyperlinked World Date : Aug 26, 2008
Start Time : 11 a.m. Eastern
Length : 1 hour

Michael Stephens offers ten steps for technology planning in our fast changing, ever-evolving information world. From “Letting Go of Control” to evaluation, this institute will offer ten practical tips for taming your organization’s techno-problems.

Michael StephensPh.D. —Assistant Professor, Library and Information Science at Dominican University in Illinois

Metadata Book Companion Website…08.06.08

I plan on reviewing the companion website [
http://www.metadataetc.org/book-website/
] to the 2008 book Metadata (ISBN: 9781555706357) by Marcia Lei Zeng and Jian Qin when time permits.  The publication is described as: “… comprehensive primer for advanced undergraduate, graduate, or continuing education courses in information organization, information technology, cataloging, digital libraries, electronic archives, and, of course, metadata. Instructors seeking a text that covers the theory as well as the how-to’s of application design, implementation, and evaluation will find it here. An outcome-based approach lets learners with different orientations adapt their new knowledge and skills to any domain. Examples and practice problems focus on tasks typical to all metadata application projects. Other useful features include sample problems with solutions, quizzes, hands-on tutorials, and a recommended reading list at the end of each chapter…”

I’m sure I won’t plunk down the $65 price for the book but the companion website has a lot of information and maybe I can ILL the book a some point in the future. 

“Street-Wise” Advice When Layoff Rumors Arise…08.06.08

The Wall Street Journal article “Layoff Rumors? Get Ready to Get Busy!” 
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121787282129810587.html?mod=hpp_us_leisure
 reports, “…Auto makers, brokerages, retailers, airlines, home builders, newspapers and countless other ailing industries are slashing staff. Your job could disappear tomorrow. ‘If the rumors are swirling, you should spend a minimum of two hours a day getting ready for your next career move,’ recommends Dee Soder, managing partner of CEO Perspective Group, an executive-advisory firm in New York.

Your highest priority should be an updated résumé, focused on your most marketable skills. Transfer your latest performance review, summary of achievements, work samples and laudatory customer letters to a jump drive — a portable computer-storage device — so you can retrieve them from outside the office…”

In today’s economic atmosphere, I would say get busy BEFORE there are rumors just in case.  Not only will you be ready should the dreaded day come when your job goes away but it also motivates you to stay on top of your game.  Of course, the truth is that no matter how educated, talented, skilled, experienced or connected you may be there are no guarantees for a successful job search.  Prepare nevertheless!

Keep in mind, however, Solomon’s ancient observation:

“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.”–Ecclesiastes 9:11 KJV

 

Video Demonstration of “Aurora”—the Future of the Web?…08.05.08

Check out this Lifehacker post today showing a video demonstration of Aurora from Adaptive Path: 
http://lifehacker.com/399880/aurora-concept-video-proposes-the-future-of-the-web
  Lifehacker says, “…What will browsing the web be like a decade from now? Leading design and UI company Adaptive Path offers one possible answer in a new concept video series called Aurora. Jesse James Garrett (the guy who coined the term AJAX), designed and narrated part one of a video series demonstrating what the future of the web might look like…”

Listening to Your Library Community Using Traditional and “Shiny” New Methods…08.05.08

David Lee King’s post today [
http://www.davidleeking.com/2008/08/05/the-social-web-and-libraries-listening-to-your-community/
] ”The Social Web and Libraries: Listening to Your Community” discusses the importance of listening to our library patrons regardless of library type and the means to do so using old and new tools.  His post is excerpted here:

“…Traditional Listening Tools:

• email: providing an email link and/or an email address on each page of the site, usually in the footer
• An Ask Us page – can go to email, can also be the ask a librarian service point
• a digital comment box (this was fancy back then!)

I’m calling them “traditional listening tools” because there are many more interesting ways to listen now. Check these out …

Shiny New Listening Tools:

• Google Alerts – finds blog posts, newspaper articles, local media mentions, etc.
• Technorati alerts – finds blog posts about you
• Twitter searches (was Summize) – captures twitter conversations (more on Summize/twitter search in the next post)
• Youtube alerts – do a search, then subscribe to the corresponding RSS feed.
• Flickr alerts – subscribe to a tag related to your library
• Subscribe to local blogs and local twitter feeds. This captures conversation in your community, by your patrons…”

“…Traditional Listening Tools pick up specific conversation that is purposefully directed at you – via email. Someone has a question or comment, and sends that comment to you.

Shiny New Listening Tools help you discover actual conversations taking place. Those conversations are not necessarily directed at you – but they can certainly be about you…”

“…Does all this listening take a long time? No – not really. The set-up (doing the searches and subscribing to the feeds) takes the longest amount of time. But once your feeds are set up, it really doesn’t take much time to quickly scan through the results, looking quickly for questions, praises, suggestions, and conversation…”

“The Hyperlinked Society…”Available for Reading Online…08.05.08

“The Hyperlinked Society: Questioning Connections in the Digital Age” from editors  Joseph Turow and Lokman Tsui is available to read online.  When time permits, I want to peruse the table of contents:

Contents

Introduction: On Not Taking the Hyperlink for Granted Joseph Turow  Part 1: Hyperlinks and the Organization of Attention  Preface to Part 1  Structuring a Marketplace of Attention James G. Webster  The Hyperlink as Organizing Principle Alexander Halavais  Hyperlinking and the Forces of “Massification” Philip M. Napoli  The Hyperlink in Newspapers and Blogs Lokman Tsui  The Role of Expertise in Navigating Links of Influence Eszter Hargittai  Google, Links, and Popularity versus Authority Seth Finkelstein  Part 2: Hyperlinks and the Business of Media  Preface to Part 2  The Hyperlinked News Organization Martin Nisenholtz  How Hyperlinks Ought to Change the Advertising Business Tom Hespos  Hyperlinks and Marketing Insight Stacey Lynn Schulman  Hyperlinking and Advertising Strategy Eric Picard  From Hyperlinks to Hyperties Marc A. Smith  Part 3: Hyperlinks, the Individual and the Social  Preface to Part 3  The Morality of Links David Weinberger  Linked Geographies: Maps as Mediators of Reality Stefaan G. Verhulst  Will Peasants Map? Hyperlinks, Map Mashups, and the Future of Information Jeremy W. Crampton  The Social Hyperlink Lada A. Adamic  Are Hyperlinks “Weak Ties”? Markus Prior  What Is the Online Public Sphere Good For? Matthew Hindman  Selected Bibliography  About the Authors  Index

Published by digitalculturebooks, a joint publication of the University of Michigan Press
and the Scholarly Publishing Office of the University of Michigan Library.
Please send corrections and comments to digital-culture@umich.edu
Powered by DLXS.

University of Michigan Press and University of Michigan Library, © 2008

You can go to the website here:
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=nmw;;idno=5680986.0001.001

WebJunction Launches New Website Today…08.04.08

WebJuntion [
http://webjunction.org/1
] describes the launch of its new website:

“…The new site, which launches today, primarily improves on your WebJunction experience by allowing the following:

-in-line contribution, after login, to any existing topic area. if you have documents, content, worksheets, presentations, videos, or images that may be helpful to your colleagues in Libraryland, you can join us and share them here.

-on-site, personalized representation of your professional interests and activities through your public profile) that you can use to track and communicate your professional achievements to colleagues and the library field.

-personalized “My WebJunction” page that allows you to easily get to the areas of the service that are most relevant to you, based on your role, your interests, or your participation around the space.

-realizing that sometimes people are the most efficient way to solve problems, answer question, or generate innovations – in the new site it’s easier than ever to see, connect, and communicate with people *as well as* access documents, articles, courses, and other resources.

There’s more, but I’ll let you explore for yourselves…”

WebJunction’s “Represent Yourself Online As a Library Professional”..08.04.08

The WebJunction blog posted the following Friday about their coming new librarian networking efforts:

“Imagine a place online where you could represent yourself as a library professional…
To other library professionals…
All the while connecting with your colleagues based on your professional interests, activities, geography, or….anything!
Soon you’ll be able to put your best foot forward in Libraryland with your new WebJunction Profile Page.
You can control very specifically who sees your information.
And you will be able to connect with others library staffers around the globe.
All based on your shared interests, type of work, geography, associations or…..
Anything professional!

There has never been a more exciting time to work with libraries and information.
And your Profile Page on the new WebJunction is just one of the many exciting and unique ways to thrive professionally in these exciting times.
Get more done, build valuable professional relationship and have fun doing it!
It all starts by building your Profile Page on the new WebJunction site.

It’s coming soon. Very, VERY soon!”

“Resurrecting Reference” Webinar Archived…08.01.08

I would recommend the time it takes to view the archived webinar “Resurrecting Reference” yesterday from George Needham and Joan Frye Williams which is now available on the Infopeople website.  This is particularly relevant in light of the fact that reference questions in academic and reference has continued to decline sharply. The archived webinar is here: [
http://infoblog.infopeople.org/2008/07/resurrecting_reference_the_con.php
]

Idea Generation for the BHM Library…08.01.08

I am running dry on ideas for which to promote library resources effectively to my department and organization as a whole without going beyond the bounds of current unspoken protocol.  A plateau or ceiling of awareness has been reached.  It seems as though some outside influence, incident(s), or person will have to be the impetus to recognition of the importance of our library resources and their management.  That’s okay but I will still be looking for ways and opportunities to increase awareness.