Total U.S. Daily Data Consumption…01.08.10

From LifeHacker

Designing the Library’s Online Presence…01.07.10

Designing The Digital Experience

View more documents from David King.

First World “Fair Use” Day January 12…01.07.10

Service Trends in U.S. Public Libraries…01.07.09

The Institute of Museum and Library Services has published Service Trends in U.S. Public Libraries, 1997-2007.

Importance of Graphical Literacy…01.06.10

This video presentation illustrates the power of visuals and data and the importance of graphical literacy. [Advisory: language]

Internet Predictions for 2020…01.06.10

From 10 Fool-Proof Predictions for the Internet in 2020:

“…More people will use the Internet…

The Intenet will be more geographically dispersed…

The Internet will be a network of things, not computers…

The Internet will carry exabytes — perhaps zettabytes of content…

The Internet will be wireless…

More services will be in the cloud…

The Internet will be greener…

Network management will be automated…

The Internet won’t rely on-always on connectivity…

The Internet will attract more hackers…”

Libraries and The Future of Voice Searching…01.06.10

The Ubiquitous Librarian has a thought provoking post titled Libraries As Places Where Talking is Necessary?  A speculative glance at the future of voice-searching which is excerpted here:

“…There is hype around the idea of using voice for searching, writing, reading, scrolling, navigation, everything, and so on. This seems to be a trend that will only continue to gain momentum as the technology improves and spreads.

What if keyboards are on the way out? Not entirely—I mean, there is something pleasurable about sending a text or an email while you are standing on a bus or are in a crowded room. (Or even in a committee meeting!) Some discretion will always be necessary. We’ll always need a silent mode But…

I’ve seen a noticeable shift toward laptops as opposed to desktops with the younger set, so obviously mobile web (phone, tablet, laptop, whatever) is going to continue. What if they also adopt voice over typing. Still to be seen, but more possible now than ever. If the technology continues to improve then it’s going to be a huge shift for everyone.

But what about libraries? What would that mean for our databases and catalogs? Our websites? Our course management systems? Thinking beyond those tangible aspects, consider the behavior and conduct in the building? What if talking is not only permitted but is necessary?

This is the future my friends. I strongly urge all of you attending midwinter to ask reps from OCLC, EBSCOhost, Elsevier, Ex Libris, and whoever else — what is their voice-searching strategy? …”

Forrester Research Surveys Show Consumer Broadband the Workforce Technology of the Decade…01.06.10

This excerpt from a posting on the Forrester for Information & Knowledge Management Professionals makes a lot of sense:

“…From our Consumer Technographics(r) survey of over 50,000 consumers every year for the last 12 years, between 2000 and 2009, consumer broadband soared from 2% to 63% of US households. For context, home PC adoption grew from 51% to 77%.

But why is consumer broadband the workforce technology of the decade? Three main reasons:

1. Telecommuting has become a way of life for xx million information workers. We have been watching — and forecasting — the growth of telecommuting. The impact is immediate and obvious: more hours to work; more location flexibility in hiring and retaining; and more work-life control. Telecommuting in the US is dependent on cheap broadband to the home. Telecommuters will rise to include 43% of the US information workforce by 2016.

2. Broadband-enabled markets have triggered massive IT innovation. Google; Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, and LinkedIn; WebEx, ZoHo, and Smartsheets.com; Amazon EC2, Google App Engine; and Windows Azure; open source and Web 2.0. All of these and thousands of other technologies and companies are built on the back of broadband to the home. The network innovation over the last 10 years makes the Internet 1.0 era look like a pre-season warmup game.

3. Consumers master new technologies at home — and expect the same at work. This is the big one. Technology Populism — the rise of technology-enabled employees — is in full swing as empowered employees bring their own smartphones to work; use LinkedIn to prospect their customers; tap PBWorks or Smartsheets.com to collaborate across corporate boundaries; and borrow the YouTube strategy to put training videos into employees’ hands. Today, according to our most recent survey of empowered employees, almost half of US employees feel that the technology they have at home is better than what they have at work…”

FREE MakeUseOf “Guidebook to Internet Searching…01.06.10

FREE MakeUseOf Complete Guidebook to Internet Searching

New Generation Smart Phone Comparison Chart…01.06.09

Here is a useful chart from Mashable!:

EBSCO Discovery Service Now Available…01.05.10

EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) is now available.  There is a link to request a free trial at the top of the page.

Google Launches Nexus One Smart Phone…01.05.10

Google finally launched their rumored new Nexus One smart phone today - relevant as mobile technology and use rapidly expands and as a serious competitor to the iPhone.

You can take a 3-D tour.

Integrated Library Software Review Redux…01.05.09

(Image:  ihome.ust.hk/…/diploma/libauto/libauto.html)

Here is Marshall Breeding‘s 2009 summary of his latests “International Survey of Library Automation ”…regarding the perceptions of libraries toward their automation systems, the organizations that provide support, and the quality of support they receive. It also aims to gauge interest in open source library automation systems”… 

Most Positive Perceptions

Polaris emerged this year as the ILS product with the highest positive ratings in the categories of product and company satisfaction. Libraries using AGent VERSO from Auto-Graphics gave the highest rankings for customer support and loyalty to the company for future business. Library.Solution from The Library Corporation received highly positive marks from its customer libraries in all categories. Libraries using Polaris, AGent VERSO, and Library.Solution showed the least interest in open source ILS products. These three companies received extremely high satisfaction ratings from their libraries, with average scores separated by very thin margins.

Negative Perceptions

The survey results reveal high levels of dissatisfaction by libraries running legacy ILS products. Athena and Winnebago Spectrum, both systems acquired by Follett Software Company that will not receive ongoing development, received the lowest ILS satisfaction scores and indicated the least likelihood that they would purchase an ILS in the future from this company. Libraries using Dynix gave low marks regarding their satisfaction with the product (5.14) and for SirsiDynix as a company (4.81), but rated support more moderately (5.76). Horizon libraries gave SirsiDynix very low marks as a company (4.32) but registered moderate satisfaction for the product itself (5.68).

The number of negative comments provided on the survey forms overwhelmingly exceeded positive ones.

ILS Satisfaction

Polaris ranked as the product that received the highest score in response to the question probing satisfaction with the library’s Integrated Library System with a median rating of 7.73. Fifty-one libraries using Polaris responded to this question. Last year a total of 59 responders rated Polaris 7.78, reflecting remarkable consistency across the two years. AGent VERSO earned second highest marks in this category (7.26), with Library.Solution from The Library Corporation only a fraction lower (7.20). Millennium from Innovative Interfaces, Inc. also attracted highly positive ratings (7.09).

Company Satisfaction

Polaris Library Systems also won the highest score for company satisfaction (7.76) with Auto-Graphics (7.68) and The Library Corporation (7.33) only slightly less favored. Libraries using Millennium gave Innovative Interfaces solidly positive ratings (6.44), though a notch below the top three companies. Libraries using legacy products not surprisingly noted their vendors as least satisfactory, including those using Athena (3.92), Horizon (4.32), Winnebago Spectrum (4.52), and Dynix (4.81). The middle tier of company satisfaction included those using Koha supported by LibLime (5.84), Virtua from VTLS (5.79), Voyager (5.59) and ALEPH 500 (5.20) from Ex Libris, and Unicorn from SirsiDynix (5.05).

Satisfaction with Customer Support

Libraries using AGent VERSO rated Auto-Graphics as the company providing the most satisfactory support (7.81). Polaris (7.41) and The Library Corporation (7.07) also earned highly positive ratings for customer support, just below that of Auto-Graphics. Innovative received strong marks in this category (6.46), though again just a notch below the top tier. Users of Athena (3.63) and Winnebago Spectrum (4.57) gave Follett low ratings for support.

Company Loyalty

In response to the question probing the likelihood that the library would purchase future ILS products from their current vendor, Auto-Graphics received the highest marks for customer loyalty (7.64) only slightly edging above The Library Corporation (7.50) and Polaris Library Systems (7.33). Libraries using Millennium gave mixed results, but overall indicated strong loyalty to Innovative Interfaces, Inc. (6.54). Libraries using Athena (4.32), Winnebago Spectrum (3.95), and Horizon (4.37) seem on average not inclined to purchase their next system from their incumbent vendors.

Open Source Perceptions

It’s not surprising that the libraries already using an open source ILS registered the strongest interest in future consideration of an open source ILS, with Koha as supported by LibLime toping the list (8.05). Other than these open source true believers, libraries running proprietary systems submitted responses reflecting much lower interest, with even those most dissatisfied with their current product such as Winnebago Spectrum (4.95) indicated relatively weak interest. We also observe that libraries most satisfied with their current situation, including Polaris (2.29), AGent VERSO (2.63), Library.Solution (3.00) showed little interest in open source alternatives…”

Skiff E-Reader & Reading Service…01.05.09

“…Skiff Service to Deliver Newspapers, Magazines & Books to e-Reader with Thinnest Form Factor, Largest e-Paper Display and Full Touchscreen, via Sprint 3G Wireless Network

Device Is First to Feature ‘Metal Foil’ e-Paper Technology from LG Display, Enhancing Durability by Eliminating the Fragility of a Glass Display…”

Cacoo – FREE Online, Real-time Collaborative Diagramming & Design Tool…01.05.10

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right…01.04.10

Using Drupal in Libraries…01.04.09

Are Local Libraries Disappearing in the UK?…01.03.04

UK Channel 4 video report

Channel 4: “As the government promises new legislation to reflect the changing nature of libraries campaigners fight to save their much-loved service. 2010 is set to be a year of mixed fortune for local libraries. While dozens of grand new buildings are underway, many smaller community services and older libraries are under threat as they are potential targets for cash-strapped councils. Now the government is reviewing this billion pound service, promising new legislation to reflect its changing nature – with the influence of the internet, e-books, and constant access online. At the same time, campaigners are fighting hard to keep a much-loved service”

Adoption Strategy for Social Technology…01.03.10

The above is from a good post by Jeremiah Owyang titled Matrix: Social Technology Adoption Curve Benefits – and Downsides.  Besides the nice chart of the benefits and downsides to adoption strategy, Mr. Owyang point out that we should be deliberate and

“…Examine your organizations adoption patterns. First, define how quickly your organization responds and adopts to technologies, and factor into your considerations.

Be a Category Ahead Of Your Company. If you’re responsible for new technologies at your company, your personal adoption should be a level or two ahead of the organizations adoption, as you cannot effectively deploy for your company if you don’t personally understand the impacts of the new technologies.

Track The Category Ahead Of You. Find an individual that’s above your adoption category (the early adopter watches the innovator) and be sure to watch their behaviors and learn from them. Adopters are often blazing their own trail, and may not ever follow anyone…”

Learning and the Real Time Web…01.02.10

OPAL LIS Online Career Fair January 12…01.02.10

From  OPAL:

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 beginning at 11:00 a.m. Eastern, 10:00 Central, 9:00 Mountain, 8:00 Pacific, and 4:00 p.m. GMT:

LIS Online Career Fair 

Are you a recent graduate of a library school, or perhaps mid-career and looking for a change? Please join us for the day-long first annual LIS Online Career Fair. Learn from and discuss with colleagues how to start your career or revitalize it in these tough economic times. 

Rachel Singer Gordon, the webmaster of LISjobs.com, will give the opening keynote address, “Career Building in a Down Economy.” Other confirmed speakers include Christi Confetti Higgins from Sun Microsystems, Marianne Steadley from the U. of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Kitty Pope from the Alliance Library System, Cindy Hill from Hill Information Consulting, Morgan Cadwalader from Alliance Library System, and Tom Peters from TAP Information Systems. 

Registration Fees: $39 for individual, $79 for groups, and $29 for LIS graduate students 

Sponsors: Alliance Library System and TAP Information Services 

Conference Website: LIScareerfair.org

Mashable! Links on How to Do Almost Anything…01.02.10

Here are some of the links from Mashable!‘s HOW TO: Do Almost Anything:

HOW TO: Implement a Social Media Business StrategyHOW TO: Measure Social Media ROI

HOW TO: Track Social Media Analytics

HOW TO: Build the Ultimate Social Media Resume

HOW TO: Launch Your Own Indie Journalism Site

HOW TO: Plan and Promote Events With Social Media

HOW TO: Make Social Media Work for Non-Consumer Brands

HOW TO: Use Wikis for Business Projects

HOW TO: Use Social Media in Your PR Pitch Plan

HOW TO: Use Social Media to Retain Customers

HOW TO: Write a Novel Using the Web

HOW TO: Choose a Smartphone for Your Small Business

HOW TO: Choose a News Reader for Keeping Tabs on Your Industry

HOW TO: Build Your Personal Brand on LinkedIn

HOW TO: Use Facebook for Professional Networking

Top 5 Business Blogging Mistakes and How to Avoid Them…

The Twitter Guidebook  

HOW TO: Use Twitter Lists

HOW TO: Use Twitter’s New Retweet Feature

HOW TO: Get Retweeted on Twitter

HOW TO: Create Custom Twitter Backgrounds

HOW TO: Find a Job on Twitter

HOW TO: Get the Most Out of Twitter #Hashtags

HOW TO: Use Twitter Hashtags for Business

HOW TO: Build Your Personal Brand on Twitter

HOW TO: Organize a Successful Tweetup

HOW TO: Use Twitter for Customer Service

HOW TO: Live Inside Twitter and Still Stay Productive

HOW TO: Start a Petition on Twitter

Trends of the New Decade: Choosing Change or Frustration…01.01.10

Here is an exceprt from Seth Godin on the next 10 years that is relevant to librarians, and particularly those of us considered “Boomers”:

“…two most important trends of the decade we’re just starting:

1. Change: The infrastructure of massive connection is now real. People around the world have cell phones. The first internet generation is old enough to spend money, go to work and build companies. Industries are being built every day (and old ones are fading). The revolution is in full swing, and an entire generation is eager to change everything because of it. Hint: it won’t look like the last one with a few bells and whistles added.
2. Frustration: Baby boomers are getting old. Dreams are fading, and so is health. Boomers love to whine and we love to imagine that we’ll live forever and accomplish everything. This is the decade that reality kicks in. And, to top it off, savings are thin and resource availability isn’t what it used to be. A lot of people ate their emergency rations during the last decade. Look for this frustration to be acted out in public, and often…”

How Libraries Are Using Social Media…01.01.10

Social Media Time Management…01.01.10