From Web Sites to Widgets

How can libraries cash in on the widget craze? A colleague of mine recently suggested an answer: using widgets to provide specific services offered by public libraries.

It’s time to start thinking less about complex web sites and focus more on widget applications that allow libraries to highlight particular services that our users want. For example, I’ve downloaded applications for Google Maps and ESPN to my BlackBerry, and I use these constantly. One benefit is that since I’m opening a smaller application and not the entire web site, the load time is quicker and I spend less time getting the information I want. Making it easier to locate information – sounds like a responsibility of librarians, right?

Here are some services offered by public libraries that could potentially be utilized by a widget:

• Online catalog (search for materials, locate where they’re checked in, place holds)
• Account login (view holds, fines, blocks; edit personal information) Events calendar (upcoming programs)
• Readers Advisory (searchable lists by topic)
• Electronic databases (newspaper, magazine, journal articles)
• Ask a Librarian (chat reference)
• Homework Help (for kids and teens)

Web sites may become the middle person that we increasingly find ourselves trying to eliminate. If we can make it easier for users to locate information, why not do it?

Manga Mania!

The good news is that teens and preteens are reading. The trick is figuring out what they're reading.

One thing they're reading is a genre of graphic novels called manga. People have been aware of this for a while, so this is not really breaking news. But I would like to offer encouragement to libraries who have been reluctant to develop a strong manga or graphic novel collection.

There are a lot of manga series (like Naruto on the left) that offer the type of ninja-oriented, action-filled plots that many adolescent boys and girls are looking for. But you can also find series like Boys Over Flowers for your teen patrons that are more lover than fighter. The most important thing is to not stereotype your readers; just put the books out there and see what circulates.

And remember: you don't have to read these to recommend them! Just know the titles and an idea of the plot. Is it action or teen romance?

If you are still reluctant to try some of these books, just take a walk through the graphic novel section at your local bookstore (especially Barnes and Nobles or Borders). This place is mobbed with kids lounging around quietly reading their favorite manga or comic book series. Wouldn't you love to have these kids at your library?

And it gets better, because these books are not limited to teenagers - other age groups love them too! Children want to see what the older kids are reading, and adults will pick them up too, as long as you don't give them the teen label.

Don't label it young adult, just call it the graphic novel section and you will not be able to keep these on the shelf.

Here are a few manga series that have circulated extremely well at my library:

• Death Note
• Naruto
• One Piece

These titles are all products of Viz Media, but there are a lot of other great manga publishers out there. Just browse for yourself the next time you're at the bookstore!

A greener library is a gooder library

Going Green is a great source of information for people interested in sustainable living practices for businesses and organizations. Essentially it's just a compilation of other web resources about greenifying. But it's nice to have it all in once place.

Give Librarians Room!

This NYT article, The Google Way: Give Engineers Room, is an example of why I love Google as a model for libraries. We’re like siblings; libraries need to get past the fear and jealously of Google and really appreciate the innovative things they’re doing. If we use Google as an organizational model there is a lot we can learn.

Bharat Mediratta, a software engineer at Google, talks about “bottom up” change and the effectiveness of pushing innovation through grassroots initiatives. It’s almost like guerrilla marketing within your own company. I’ve heard from many librarians frustrated with the obstacles and slow pace of change within the field. It’s easy to get worn out by these barriers, but librarians are passionate people with innovative ideas – they just need to be unleashed!

Is Your Library USB-ready?

There was an article in The New York Times on Monday, “In Some Schools, iPods Are Required Listening” that I think gives a good indication of where libraries should be going. My experiences with circulating equipment have not been pleasant. We currently have a stack of broken laptops in my library that were loaned out to patrons at one point. So given the budgets of public libraries I don’t think we’re ready to circulate iPods. But I do think that patrons should be able to use their own peripherals (mp3 players, digital cameras, and handheld video games devices) to interact with the computers in public libraries.

“How do I download music?”

“How do I email the photos on my camera?”

I’ve heard these question countless times. My response is usually “you don’t”, followed by some sort of embarrassed expression. Part of the problem is software. Maybe public libraries need to look at generic Open Source software that would allow patrons to utilize their devices on public computers, regardless of model, manufacturer, etc. I don’t know what the answer is, but I think we certainly need to be asking the question.

It’s fair to say that the computers in our public libraries are currently USB-functional. Many patrons are now entering libraries flash drive in hand. I’ve seen teenagers in the library viewing files on the PCs that they saved to their Playstation Portable (PSP). But there are still problems with using other devices, so I would argue that we need to become more USB-ready.

Today libraries are a place to use public computers, but tomorrow we may be a place to use other technologies. And if we’re not, then people will probably find somewhere else to go.

Emerging Technology Podcasts

Gaming (GLLS2007)

Lawley, Liz. Closing Keynote from GLLS2007. Presented July 24, 2007.

Neiburger, Eli. Tournament Games for Any Occasion: Choosing the Right Games for Your Audience. Presented July 23, 2007.

House, Martin and Mark Engelbrecht. Gaming for Adults. Presented July 24, 2007.

Source: ALA TechSource

Web 2.0

Udell, Jon. The Disruptive Nature of Technology. Presented August 3, 2007.

Source: Educause

O’Neal, Chris. Tapping into MySpace Minds (School 2.0, Part 5). Recorded January 11, 2007.

Warlick, David. Ed Tech is Exciting Again (School 2.0, Part 8). Recorded February 9, 2007.

Source: EdTechLIVE

Web 2.0 Learning Tools

Many public libraries offer free computer classes to patrons of all ages. As an instructor for such classes I’m constantly thinking about different ways to educate adult learners. Recently I started thinking about the benefits of using social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook to help adults improve basic computing skills.

To adults who grew up in a world where black and white television was considered an advanced technology, the thought of learning to use a computer can be daunting. We need to help adults think of PCs as fun tools instead of scary tools. Social networking sites could offer them the opportunity to improve computing skills, including:

• typing
• using a mouse
• formatting text
• creating a blog
• uploading images
• and even learning basic HTML
  

Such a class would not be appropriate for beginners but might be a fun way to help intermediate students build on their skills.