Library News

Cool Clouds

SPLAT Blog - Wed, 10/28/2009 - 3:33pm

It displays using “nodes”… http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/nodes.html   

Categories: Library news

Complete Guide To Twitter via @ALA_CRO

SPLAT Blog - Fri, 10/23/2009 - 3:17pm

Check this out!  For those of you who want to know "what's so great about twitter anyway" here is your guide! Also includes: how to use twitter, who uses twitter, what we call people who use twitter (twitterers, tweeters, or twits?).Complete Guide to Twitter http://tinyurl.com/ylf6k4l  

Categories: Library news

phones, iPhones, and other technology in the classroom (or library!)!

SPLAT Blog - Tue, 10/20/2009 - 10:48am

Abiline Christian University in Texas started a project two years ago to give iPhones and iPod Touches to their students. The results are that the students felt more positive and maintained better relationships with their faculty: http://www.acu.edu/technology/mobilelearning/index.html

It's a cool idea to do, but what about for classrooms where the students have cell phones already? Mobile learning is an interesting new trend. If you attending Idaho Library Association's conference in Burley this year and saw Chris Haskell's presentation on mobile devices in the classroom you already know that students can use twitter and cell phones for learning, compiling data, recording data, searching for information, and communicating with their professors/teachers. Check out all of their resources posted at coolteachers.org: http://coolteachers.org/

Check out this one below about SlideRocket and Twitter in the classroom!

 

 

 

 

Categories: Library news

Innovation knows no age

SPLAT Blog - Tue, 10/06/2009 - 1:47pm

Two things I love: innovation and the NextGen column in Library Journal. NextGen in Library Journal has a great short article about how innovation knows no age limit and cites an academic library that is redefining library services for students and faculty: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6695145.html?q=it%27s+not+genera...

Categories: Library news

What do we want from an OPAC?

SPLAT Blog - Mon, 09/28/2009 - 2:27pm

There's an article in today's Chronicle of Higher Education online that talks about how academic libraries are struggling to get OPACs supply what their users need.  If Google can do it ...  (But, Google doesn't struggle with a complex "integrated" system and perennial budget cuts!)In any case, it's an interesting read:  http://chronicle.com/article/After-Losing-Users-in/48588/?sid=wc&utm_sou...

Categories: Library news

Ignite ILA is coming

SPLAT Blog - Mon, 09/21/2009 - 11:53am

I am so excited to be part of SPLAT and to be presenting at ILA this year in Burley!
One of my favorite things is presenting new and fun ideas--and I will be presenting on booktalking in social networks--specifically highlighting Twitter.  5 minutes and 20 slides--can I do it?  Keep your fingers crossed!
Here are some Ignite Boise videos you could watch to get an idea about what we'll be doing:

Categories: Library news

Hjorring Public Library in Denmark

SPLAT Blog - Wed, 09/09/2009 - 2:49pm

This library incorporates some incredibly cool ideas for a public library. If nothing else, the design is fantastic. The red "ribbon" is eye-catching, and who doesn't love a library that has a slide? My favorite part, though, is the pre-shelving area where patrons check in their own items and pre-shelve them, thus giving them some knowledge of and stake in their library while also allowing them (and other patrons) to browse what other people are reading. Check out the cool pictures and other info at: http://karmatrendz.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/hj%C3%B8rring-library-by-bosch-fjord/

Categories: Library news

Think About The Library Like An Alien

SPLAT Blog - Tue, 09/08/2009 - 6:34am

I was reading this LiefHack post called How to Think What No One Else Thinks and correlating it to libraries. So often we become a part of group think. I don't think any one field is immune to this way of working together. This is how the group behaves and then we follow along.

One key quote in this article is from the inventor/founder of Vitamin C, " Genius is seeing what everyone else sees and thinking what no-one else has thought."

 

The question is, how can we do that every day? And LifeHack offers some ideas! And they are easy!

 

* Take a different view of a situation

 

* Look at the scene from the perspective of an alien, a customer, an inanimate object, someone who doesn't speak English, a comedian, etc.

 

* Challenge all of the common assumptions

 

* Look for what no one else is looking for - if someone is looking for the richest region try looking for the wettest

 

* "If everyone else is facing the bar then turn your back on it."

 

Categories: Library news

Innovation is (sometimes) Very Low Tech

SPLAT Blog - Mon, 08/31/2009 - 3:15pm

Ok, so you pull up to go into the library, but the library is packed and there is no parking to get inside. What do you do? Wish you rode your bike? Curse the people who won't leave the library? Dream of a larger parking lot?Imagine this! A library book delivery service to your car as you cruise by the library! When notified by e-mail that the items are ready for pickup, users simply cruise to the library, cell phone a librarian and supply library card numbers, the names of items desired and descriptions of their cars.  http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6594373.html 

Categories: Library news

Still "surfing the web"? Time for an update!

SPLAT Blog - Wed, 08/26/2009 - 2:49pm

Just in case I'm not the only one with an outdated vocabulary ...  here's some guidance on avoiding formerly-high-tech terms that no longer resonate!http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/107602/12-words-you-can-never-say-in-the-office.html 

Categories: Library news

Ice cream makes everything better!

SPLAT Blog - Wed, 08/12/2009 - 8:40am

Another great video from the folks at commoncraft on the value of social media:

 

Technical innovation has made word of mouth [or word of web] and user experience a much louder and important voice than advertising's soulless megaphone.

Categories: Library news

Wed, 12/31/1969 - 5:00pm