Nancy Pearl, Cambodian hip hop, Ray Bradbury & male librarians...this video has got it all!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Would You Like To Play A Game?
Don't worry, I'm not going to suggest "Global Thermalnuclear War."
I think games in the library are a fantastic idea! We already use them with our youngest patrons (learning puzzles & other types of games in our early literacy kits), it just goes to reason that we continue to use games as a way of reaching & teaching patrons of all ages. We want to meet people where they feel comfortable, in some situations that means taking ourselves out of our own comfort zone. We've known for a long time that people enjoy using our public computers to play games, there is nothing wrong with that. We are not here to pass judgement on what is "right," "wrong" or "worthy." We are here to provide access. Access to ideas, to open discussions, to free speech. We are not here to restrict, deny or denigrate. (Who put that soapbox here?)
My point is: people like to play games. People like to go where they can play games (in person & virtually). We like people. We like people to come to us (in person & virtually). If we can provide what people need, they will come to us. If what they NEED is to come in & blow off some steam while blowing away zombies, collecting tokens or feeding baby dragons, who are we to judge? They might just pick up a James Patterson book on the way out!
I'm not a huge fan of Second Life, I think it's heyday has come & gone. But it can't hurt to have a small presence there. Really, I think HCPL has a big need for an Inernet Services librarian, whose job is to monitor most of these technologies we're discussing & be the one creating much of the content that will be sent out. They could "staff" the Second Life library, as well as send out twitter updates & notices ("Hot out there? Come cool off @ the library!"), maintain our Facebook page, create & edit podcasts, make sure our blogs are being posted to regularly, etc. etc.
And that's all I have to say about that.
I think games in the library are a fantastic idea! We already use them with our youngest patrons (learning puzzles & other types of games in our early literacy kits), it just goes to reason that we continue to use games as a way of reaching & teaching patrons of all ages. We want to meet people where they feel comfortable, in some situations that means taking ourselves out of our own comfort zone. We've known for a long time that people enjoy using our public computers to play games, there is nothing wrong with that. We are not here to pass judgement on what is "right," "wrong" or "worthy." We are here to provide access. Access to ideas, to open discussions, to free speech. We are not here to restrict, deny or denigrate. (Who put that soapbox here?)
My point is: people like to play games. People like to go where they can play games (in person & virtually). We like people. We like people to come to us (in person & virtually). If we can provide what people need, they will come to us. If what they NEED is to come in & blow off some steam while blowing away zombies, collecting tokens or feeding baby dragons, who are we to judge? They might just pick up a James Patterson book on the way out!
I'm not a huge fan of Second Life, I think it's heyday has come & gone. But it can't hurt to have a small presence there. Really, I think HCPL has a big need for an Inernet Services librarian, whose job is to monitor most of these technologies we're discussing & be the one creating much of the content that will be sent out. They could "staff" the Second Life library, as well as send out twitter updates & notices ("Hot out there? Come cool off @ the library!"), maintain our Facebook page, create & edit podcasts, make sure our blogs are being posted to regularly, etc. etc.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Faster Pussycat Wiki! Wiki!
"Back in Nagasaki where the fellas chew tobaccy and the women wicky-wacky woo"
"Nagasaki," Harry Warren, 1928
I have to admit, although the practical aspects of wikis appeal to me, for the most part I find them dead boring. They are generally as exciting as an index at the back of a mechanical engineering textbook (no offense to mechanical engineers). They tend to all look alike, yet each will have a different way of organizing their information which is generally not intuitive & after using some I feel like my eyes have started to cross.
Wikipedia is the obvious exception to the rule, it is simple to use & I often spend a lot of time going deeper into my search & then end up on some completely unrelated tangent an hour later. They are vigilant about keeping their information accurate & repair pages as soon as possible if they have been vandalized. I was especially impressed by the way people all over the world used Wikipedia as their up-to-the-second news center during the London bombing attacks in 2005.
Don't know what I'm talking about? Check out this excellent time lapse video of the Wikipedia entry being updated over the first 24 hours after the bombings:
"Nagasaki," Harry Warren, 1928
I have to admit, although the practical aspects of wikis appeal to me, for the most part I find them dead boring. They are generally as exciting as an index at the back of a mechanical engineering textbook (no offense to mechanical engineers). They tend to all look alike, yet each will have a different way of organizing their information which is generally not intuitive & after using some I feel like my eyes have started to cross.
Wikipedia is the obvious exception to the rule, it is simple to use & I often spend a lot of time going deeper into my search & then end up on some completely unrelated tangent an hour later. They are vigilant about keeping their information accurate & repair pages as soon as possible if they have been vandalized. I was especially impressed by the way people all over the world used Wikipedia as their up-to-the-second news center during the London bombing attacks in 2005.
Don't know what I'm talking about? Check out this excellent time lapse video of the Wikipedia entry being updated over the first 24 hours after the bombings:
That validated wikis for me & made me really excited about the potential of websites with user-generated content. Why does it feel like wikis haven't come very far in 4 years?
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of compiling book reviews or subject guides this way. I also think the Policies & Procedures manual should become more wiki-like. It would be great to put Committee minutes on a wiki, where it would be easy to track follow-up actions & be (gasp) searchable. I've seen a couple co-workers mention wikis that they have created for their specific branch or committee & would be curious to see how they are being used. My mind is still open to wikis in the workplace, but so far I'm not their biggest fan.
Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of compiling book reviews or subject guides this way. I also think the Policies & Procedures manual should become more wiki-like. It would be great to put Committee minutes on a wiki, where it would be easy to track follow-up actions & be (gasp) searchable. I've seen a couple co-workers mention wikis that they have created for their specific branch or committee & would be curious to see how they are being used. My mind is still open to wikis in the workplace, but so far I'm not their biggest fan.
Have You Seen This? Thursday - ish
::cough cough:: "I think I have the black lung."
(Bonus points to the first person to name that flick.)
Coca Cola Coke Open Happiness - Library
What will those crazy kids come up with next? I'm thirsty. ::cough::
(Bonus points to the first person to name that flick.)
Coca Cola Coke Open Happiness - Library
What will those crazy kids come up with next? I'm thirsty. ::cough::
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Photosharing - aka I Heart Flickr!
Photosharing is so ubiquitous, I consider it a given that HCPL is going to adopt it any day now! Imagine all the websites you visit in a given day. Now think of any that don't include photographic or video content. Could you come up with any? I can't. From databases to retail sites, photos are an integral part of the web experience & I like it that way. I am more engaged when there are visuals & can learn faster when I can see what a person is talking about.
Seriously, this should be a no-brainer. Photos of events, people reading books/hanging out, renovations in progress, or what about a photo quiz like Library Robot's? We could make a kind of scavenger hunt using photos of books or authors as clues. Have photos of people holding their favorite book. But wait, there's more!
Right now, the Bookmobile crew is using Flickr to check out other bookmobiles & their features in anticipation of our eagerly awaited replacement vehicle. There are tons of pictures showcasing the set-up & collections of bookmobiles from around the world (Northern Europe wins for most artistic!)
This is a great way for us to compare what others have with what we envision for ourselves. And see what doesn't work so well:
Um yeah, not happening.
Bungee cords on bookmobile = Fail
Just say NO to satellite dishes.
Um yeah, not happening.
Bungee cords on bookmobile = Fail
Moment of Bookmobile Awesome
Y'know, bookmobiles are for live concerts & attractive people, too.
Y'know, bookmobiles are for live concerts & attractive people, too.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Have You Seen This? Thursday
"On Time Is the New Early" edition - now with more cowbell!
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Monday, April 6, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Have You Seen This? Thursday-ish
See? The library really is for going to live concerts!
MIKA MIKO/NO AGE in a library
HYSTT? - Now with BONUS VIDEO!!
Ok, this has nothing to do with the library overtly, but it is so great, I wanted to share. It is a great example of keeping your job fun!
MIKA MIKO/NO AGE in a library
HYSTT? - Now with BONUS VIDEO!!
Ok, this has nothing to do with the library overtly, but it is so great, I wanted to share. It is a great example of keeping your job fun!
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