The Usable Library…04.08.10

From The Usable Library – WORTH A VISIT!!!!!!!

doesn’t make people feel stupid ›

Freeze-n-Read 4 Libraries… 4.17.10 @ 4pm everywhere…04.08.10

Support libraries!  Participate in Freeze-n-Read 4 Libraries

You can also read the Cool and CHILLING facts

For-Profit College Enrollment Booms…04.07.10

From Inside Higher Education:

History of Location Technology…04.07.10

Celebrate National Library Week April 11-17…04.07.10

The Internet…04.07.10

Interesting graphic by MrGluSniffer

Online Tools Your Library Needs Now & Why…04.06.10

Great excerpt from the Scott Douglas blog post about Online Tools Your Library Needs Now & Why:

“…Text a Librarian

Facts About Text Messages

• 74% of all cell phone users use the text message feature; 100% of all teens text; 85% of all college students text
• Last year, over 1 Trillion text messages were sent
• On average, Americans text twice as much as they call

Libraries with Text a Librarian Services

• Seattle PL, New York PL, Newark PL, and hundreds of others

How the Library Benefits from Texting

• Many people now prefer texting for simple questions that don’t need immediate answers (i.e. do you have a book, what time do you close, where can I get tax forms)
• Texting allows librarians to manage their time more efficiently; patrons are more patient waiting for replies then they would be on the phone.

Cost

• The cheapest solution would be to subscribe to an unlimited “Qwert” plan for $19.99 a month (plus one time setup fee of $9.99). There is no contract, and plan can be cancelled at anytime. Library needs to provide cell phone (preferably one with a QWERTY keypad, which can be bought secondhand for $50 dollars); Qwert works on any phone that takes a SIM card.
• Most large libraries use a service by Mosio; this service sends a text to software on a computer. Plans start at $65 a month and go to $100.

Facebook

Facts about Facebook

• In March 2010, more people visited Facebook then Google—making it the most visited site in the United States
• Over 400 million people use Facebook
• On any given day 200 million people login to Facebook
• 3 billion photos are uploaded to Facebook each month
• 1.5 million businesses now have Facebook pages.

Libraries on Facebook

• Kansas City Public Library (1,400 Fans)
• San Francisco Public Library (3,700 Fans)
• New York Public Library (14,000 Fans)
• Los Angeles Public Library (1,400 Fans)
• Hundreds of others…

How Libraries Benefit from Facebook

• It puts a friendly face on the library and encourages patrons to stop by and see more
• It exposes programs regular patrons don’t know about
• It keeps patrons connected
• Easy (and free) way to share event photos and videos
• Let patrons easily share information about upcoming library events with family and friends who might also be interested.
• Facebook fan pages are visited more often than regular homepages
• Facebook is easier to build and manage than a regular homepage.

Time Needed to Maintain

• 1 to 2 hours a week

Facts About YouTube

• YouTube is the third most visited site on the Internet (behind only Google and Facebook
• 70% of YouTube users are from the U.S.
• The average teen spends over 2hours a week on YouTube

Libraries with YouTube channels

• Toronto PL, New York PL, Flint PL, Kalamazoo PL, Prescott PL, Topeka PL, and dozens of others

How the Library Benefits from YouTube

• Easy and free way to show storytimes and computer classes, so patrons can see what they are missing out
• Provide instructional videos on getting email, hunting for jobs, creating a resume, etc.
• Videos can be watched on a wide array of devices (not just computers)

Time Needed to Maintain

• 30 minutes to edit each video

Podcasting

What is Podcasting?

• Podcasting is audio feeds of different topics that users listen to on their MP3 player

How the Library Benefits from Podcating

• Library can provide informative information that patrons can listen to while they drive or exercise.
• Public libraries who have successfully implemented podcasting regularly publish book talks, book readings, storytimes, and monthly book news/book recommendation

Time Needed to Maintain

• 1 hour to record and publish podcast—plus the time to prepare what will be recorded.

iPhone App

What is an iPhone App?

iPhone apps, are mobile applications that users with an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad can download. The applications are meant to mobilize the Internet and provide them with easy access to their favorite content.

Facts About the iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad

• Over 30 million people own an iPhone in the United States
• Over 25 million people own an iPod Touch
• iPad completely sold out before its April release
• 3 Billion apps have been downloaded
• Most public libraries have not invested in developing apps because they can be costly and time consuming; new developments, however, have almost eliminated time and cost factors from the picture.

Libraries with iPhone Apps

• Washington DC Public Library is the Only public library with an iPhone

How the Library Benefits from Mobile Apps

• Mobile apps are one of the largest growth sectors
• It’s an opportunity to do something few libraries have ever did and be cutting edge
• It is one of the best ways to promote other virtual reference the library will offer
  (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
• It literally puts the library at patrons fingertips, and gives them the convenience of
  finding out about the library anywhere they are at.

Time Needed to Maintain

• 15 to 20 hours are need to develop the initial application
• 1 to 2 hours weekly is needed to keep the page updated
• 5 hours of additional time invested would be enough to develop the same application on the
  Google Android phone…”

Rings of Influence…04.06.20

Excerpted from marketing specialist Jeremiah Owyang:

“…As brand embrace the larger circles, the greater opportunity for reach, trust  –and risk.  Ihope you use this graphic in your planning docs and presentations, it’s licensed under creative commons as Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike Creative Common.  Graphic assistance by Christine Tran, @christineptran

[Click on chart for larger view]

…This single graphic represents an entire presentation I’m developing for internal client workshops or keynote presentations at marketing and business conferences..”

New Infographic: “Facebook vs. The United States”…04.06.10

From Mashable!

Evernote for iPad and E-Readers on iPad…04.06.10

FREE Webinar Tomorrow: Social Marketing Strategies for 2010…04.05.10

Social Marketing Strategies for 2010

Tuesday, April 6, 2010 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM EDT

“…In this live 60-70 minute webinar  we will teach you some of the latest and most important tips for exploding your business using Social Media.

Here’s a snippet of what we will cover.

-How to drive Massive Traffic to your site on Twitter and LinkedIn

-How to save time with Social Marketing and get maximum results in ten minutes a day.

-How to find targeted followers and get them to interact with you daily

-How to sell more products using LinkedIn groups

-How to find hundreds of job opportunities on LinkedIn

-How to get on the front page of Google using YouTube – The EASY way

-Why Facebook might be the most under utilized medium and how YOU can capitalize on it…”

General “Skill Sets for the New World”…04.05.10

” …Skill Sets for the New World

1.) Social media and Web 2.0 know how:

To understand how social media and Web 2.0 are changing industries gives you a deeper level of understanding on the new economy. It will be a competitive edge as you think through challenges and opportunities in your marketplace.

2.) The ability to write effectively:

The need to be a good writer is increasing every year. We write more email, send more text messages, and write more blog posts than ever before. Good writing skills help you to communicate your thoughts and blogging can help you reach your goals faster.

3.) Ability to create relationships virtually and physically:

Nobody can do it alone; you are going to need a lot of help along the way. Opportunities come to individuals that have taken the time to create their social network both virtually and physically. It has never been easier to have a wide social network. Start connecting.

4.) Knowing how to leverage your network

Knowing how to approach those in your network so they can help bring you opportunities is an art form. Start getting in the habit of expressing your ideas to influencers in your niche. Some will work, some won’t, but the one’s that work will push you down the path to success.

5.) Knowing how to get to to influencers:

Learn how to get to influencers using social media, email, and yes, even the good old telephone. The more you start to reach out to others to connect with them the more influential connections you will have. Half the battle is just trying, you will be surprised what happens when you try.

6.) The ability to sell yourself:

Get really good at expressing your interests and what makes you different. Have fun with it and just be yourself. This is not about being a walking blow horn, but knowing how to take advantage of the opportunity when it is staring at you in the face. These 30 seconds can make or break you.

7.) Having a platform:

You need to have a home base that can be indexed by Google. You need a place where you have complete editorial control. The easiest way to do this is with a blog. Blogs can launch you into some very exciting and interesting work. You need a platform…”

The Information Gap Theory…04.04.10

This Week in Libraries…04.04.10

“…I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.”

The true meaning of Easter – Celebrating the living Christ who makes everything glorious!

“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.”

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

The Smithsonian Commons…04.03.10

Unique Book2Net Scanner Used at the Library of Congress Serials Reading Room…04.03.10

From the Library of Congress Blog:

“…This week Mark Sweeney, chief of the Serial and Government Publications Division, along with assistant chief Teri Sierra, showed me a cool new scanner that is available for use by readers.  According to book2net, the company that makes the scanner, it is the first and only one of its kind in the United States (and so far the only one here at the Library). There are others in Canada at two other locations.

The machine, originally designed for use in the reading rooms of the British Library, was manufactured in Germany.  It can capture a JPEG image of an entire newspaper page (or comic book, folio, book, bound volume, etc.) in 0.3 seconds, and it needs only 1.9 seconds of cycling time to scan another page.

The scanner has a touchscreen that allows a person to view details close-up, and all it takes to scan a page is a touch of a single button.  Full-color images can then be easily saved to a USB flash drive.  Teri said it’s so simple that it would take only a couple of minutes to show a patron how to use it, but in my opinion, it was so intuitive that it might require only a few seconds!…”

“The Joy of Tech”…04.03.10

Directions In Metadata…04.03.10

Designing the Digital Experience for Libraries…04.02.10

iPad Revealed…04.02.10

The Future of Libraries?…04.02.10

It’s All in the Cards…04.01.10

New Pew Research Report – The Impact of the Internet on Institutions in the Future…04.01.10

Click on image to read the new Pew Report.

OCLC Report: How Libraries Stack Up in 2010…04.01.10

TED Talks – The Long News…04.01.10