Entries for May 2007

May 29, 2007

Copyright Explained the Disney Way

What a great way to demonstrate and explain fair use.

May 28, 2007

Social Networks for Employment Recruiting

On my blog highlighting engineering news and resources, I just highlighted a newspaper article that discusses using social networks to accomplish employment recruiting.

Why mention it here? I have heard comments from those in the library profession say libraries "do not belong in the social networks" and "people do not want us there". Engineering companies and recruiters are highlighting their industry, educating potential future employers, and maintaining communication channels with future employees or customers. Lets learn from others!

Aerospace Industry is Graying & Recruits Virtually

According to the Akron Beacon Journal (Aerospace industry beckons, 5/28/07), 1 out of 4 in the aerospace industry will be eligible for retirement next year. Aerospace companies and recruiters are now using "virtual" tools to recruit, such as Facebook groups and chat rooms. These social tools are being used to educate potential future employers, peak interest in the industry, and maintain content with past interns.

May 22, 2007

Dexter Advances

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer (May 12, 2007), Case Western Reserve University's robotic car, Dexter, has made it to the next round of playoffs with 52 other cars. The next round is site visits in June with 30 cars advancing to the semifinals in October. At stake is a $2 million prize.

May 21, 2007

Case School of Engineering Receives Electronic Design Grant

According to the Chip Design Magazine (May 9, 2007), the Case School of Engineering at Case Western Reserve University is the recipient of a Charles Babbage Grant sponsored by both Synopsys and HP.

Through the grant, Case's Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science will receive licenses of Synopsys' comprehensive electronic design automation (EDA) software and intellectual property, along with curricula, support and professor training, and sixteen dual core HP xw4400 Workstations to outfit the new Synopsys/HP EDA Laboratory.

May 19, 2007

Patrons Building Better Libraries

I love web 2.0 and library 2.0 because patrons take ownership in their library experience. Everything a user does can add value for others!

For example, Superpatron is an example of web 2.0 qualities in action. See how he helps his library and the top ten actions he promotes to others.

May 18, 2007

Teens Rock Akron 2007

I was excited to see that my local library, Akron-Summit County Public Library, was bringing together the local teen bands (pdf).

May 10, 2007

SJSU SLIS Second Life Campus

The San Jose State University's School of Library & Information Science has created an island (SL Slurl) within Second Life. They have put a great 4-minute video together that is shared in YouTube. It addresses the reasons behind why it was designed and the educational philosophy behind its use. If you still question the educational advantages behind Second Life, this video may answer some concerns.

May 09, 2007

The Hollywood Librarian

The trailer is out for the new movie called the Hollywood Librarian. In addition, there is a related Facebook group and a formal website.

May 08, 2007

Girls Ask Alice for Programming Skills

Alice is an open source program to create 3D computer animations. Due to its ease of use, it is being used to target future programmers, especially minorities and woman that make up the smaller percentages of the field.

[VIA: What's New @ IEEE for Students, April 2007 Volume 8, Number 4]

May 04, 2007

Sharing My Presentations

I love SlideShare. In the true spirit of web 2.0, I post and share my presentations with the world.

Presentations include:

• Northern Ohio Chapter of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, October 24th, 2006, Exploring Libraries (...and our Users) in the Web 2.0 Realm (on SlideShare)
• Central Ohio Chapter of the American Society for Information Science & Technology, April 19, 2007, Web 2.0: Exploring Information Users (on SlideShare)

I am also teaching a 2-day workshop for the Kent State University School of Library & Information Science, called Using Web 2.0 Principles to Become Librarian 2.0.

Students will discover how libraries are using Web 2.0 tools, such as blogs, RSS feeds, wikis, social communities, podcasts, and various mash-ups, to give library users increased ownership in their library interactions. Students will investigate the major principles and applications, while developing an understanding of the library-specific issues. Topics of discussion may include privacy, trust or abuse of these technologies, policy considerations, factors to implementation, and optimization in the library environment.

I have included on SlideShare the introductory PowerPoints I use to introduce each hands on component. My Squidoo page has even more information about the workshop. I already taught one on the main Kent campus and at their SLIS distance location on Ohio State's campus. My next workshops will be July 20 & 21 and November 9 & 10 on Kent State's main campus.

I have several more talks scheduled in the future. If you can attend, make sure to say hello. If not, watch this blog and SlideShare for more information.

• Northern Ohio Technical Services Librarians (May 24, 2007 in Parma, Ohio) - Using Web 2.0 Principles to Become Librarian 2.0
• TechConnections 8 (June 11 & 12, 2007 in Dublin, Ohio) - Exploring Libraries (…and Our Users) in the Web 2.0 Realm
• Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO) Distance Learning Interest Group (June 15, 2007 in Huron, Ohio) - Education and Collaboration Takes on a Second Life
• Ohio Library Council's Outreach & Special Services Division Outreach Retreat (August 1, 2007 in Columbus, Ohio) - Web 2.0 Tools – Outreach & Community Building with Chad F. Boeninger

May 03, 2007

Public Library Geeks Take Web 2.0 to the Stacks

In Public Library Geeks Take Web 2.0 to the Stacks, the Learning 2.0 program by Helene Blowers is highlighted. I think it is exciting when a resource like Wired recognizes a librarian contribution to the technology arena. Great job Helene!

Video: Shift Happens

I love this video clip. It makes you really wonder what the future holds!

Research ShowCase

I would like to thank Mohan Sankaran, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, for co-submitting a poster with me. We hope it gave other educators ideas on how to use library resources as a teaching tool, rather than only a research tool. Look for the poster in Digital Case in the future.

Knovel as a Tool for Engineering Research and Education
Knovel is a virtual technical library that includes over 800 full-text engineering and scientific reference works, handbooks, and datasets. Originally purchased by the Kelvin Smith Library to supplement the traditional print reference collection, it has become an important tool in engineering classroom instruction. Knovel data can be sorted, filtered, and exported from "live tables". Equations can be solved and graphs plotted, thus allowing students to capture values from existing graphs and perform "what if" experiments on the data.

The Case Western Reserve University Research ShowCase poster winners have been listed.

The Kelvin Smith Library also announced the winner of the geohunt contest.