Entries in "My Experiences" ( for this category only)

Wikis and Collaboration Models for Active Learning

Case held this session on May 8, 2008. I was asked to participate and helped to organize this session, but was already scheduled to deliver a Plenary at another conference. I was glad to see the session was a success and left the participants with many things to consider.

Collaborative Technology and Engaging the Campus 2008
Track 4: Blogs and Wikis
Session: Wikis and Collaboration Models for Active Learning
Panelists: Ben Schechter, Bill Barrow, Bill Claspy, Brian Gray, Roger Zender

It was a discussion on how to use Wiki software in order to create an interface which provides an opportunity for collaboration among users.

Check out the others session from Collaborative Technology and Engaging the Campus 2008, which include sessions on blogging, virtual worlds like Second Life, mobile devices, VOIP, and many other topics:

Increasing the Value of Our History with the Web

I am a little behind on my blogging. Now that I have taken a breather, I am looking to jump start things.

On May 8, 2008, I was invited to deliver the Plenary session for the Society of Ohio Archivists at their Spring Program. I was asked to bring my knowledge of web 2.0 to a group that sees the possible advantages but often is very early in implementation. It is exciting to speak at a meeting that I would not normally attend. Even though I was asked to share and set the tone for the meeting in terms of what web 2.0 offers for libraries, archives, historians, etc., I found I left the meeting with a list of sites and tools to explore myself.

From the File of Where Else Did They Look

I found this video about Gmail discussed in a Walking Paper blog entry. In general the video is Gmail engineers reading emails they receive from happy users. The last one in the video was a freshman chemical engineering student who was working on a group project and the answer the group needed appeared in the targeted Gmail ads. The Google engineer said "this person was able to use gmail ads to find something she couldn’t find anywhere else".

Really? I did a similar project on photoremediation during my undergraduate degree in chemical engineering and I found all the necessary information from the library.

I have two concerns with this video and the suggestions made. First, I question where else did these students look. Second, Google is doing some wonderful things but they are not the only source. It leads me to challenge are libraries doing enough to be in front of the users eyes.

Amazon Kindle - Academic Uses

Since I work in an academic library, I want to discuss how I think Amazon's Kindle has opportunities to explore in academia.

Textbooks
I get students all the time that want the opportunity to download electronic versions of their textbooks to their laptop or other device. The size and sometimes the number of textbooks in a given semester makes them practical in a dorm room, but not in the classroom. Students often already carry laptops or other materials and
do not want to lug books as well. If they could include all their text books on a Kindle for in the classroom usage or studying when away from their dorms, it can be a great market to pursue.

Textbooks in the Library
Many libraries do not buy textbooks for their collections. There is an expectation that students purchase their needed books. Textbooks become dated too quick and would gather dust on library shelves that could be used for other materials. To be fair a library would be forced to keep textbooks on reserve so they are always available for usage. Keeping hundreds of textbooks on reserve causes many space concerns. What if libraries had a few Kindles available that contain the current e-versions of the school's textbooks?

Best Sellers, Leisure Books, or Other Rarely Used Materials
Many academic libraries provided limited access to best sellers or other leisure reading materials. Students are often forced to locate the local public library or purchase online from companies like Amazon. What if libraries had Kindles available and the library staff purchased patron-requested items? Many libraries already spend money on interlibrary loan, so would this be any different?

Departmental Training Tool
Many departments circulate books or journals for their staff to read as a professional development or awareness tool. Could a Kindle serve a similar role?

Laboratory or Clinical Usage
Would researchers use a Kindle with all their reference manuals, books, and data loaded on it?

Roving Reference
We have seen many libraries that now offer "roving reference" where the librarians come to the user rather than sitting behind a desk. Would a Kindle with the standard reference books be used to support this type of service?

Amazon Kindle - User Experience

I was able to get my hands on a Amazon Kindle for a few days. I will write at least a couple of posts on what I think. First, I will write on the user's experience and than my thoughts on the Kindle in academia.

I was very impressed with the overall usability. The text reads just like traditional print text. It has none of the glare or backlighting of other electronic devices. The size is that of an average book, and the weight is only slightly more.

Positives:

• Readability - Reads likes traditional printed media.
  
• Portability - Has built-in memory, plus can uses SD memory cards.
  
• Extras: Plays MP3s from built-in speaker or headphone jack.
  
• Does not require wifi access points as it uses Sprint's network at no additional cost to the user.
  
• Includes QWERTY keyboard that can be used for searching within text, annotations, and other uses.
  
• Adjustable text size should be a strong selling point for those with eye problems that may have trouble getting access to other print materials.
  
• Purchase books, magazines, and newspapers.

Negatives:

• Price: $400 - Do I need to say more?
  
• Carrying case - Designed to imitate a book cover, but I do not think it will last long. It does press on the keys and I think over time the Kindle will start to slide out.
  
• Only back and white text, no color.
  
• Scroll wheel and the menu system assumes everyone is familiar with an iPod-like system. I showed it to a small group of people in a meeting and only 2 of the 6 instinctively understood how to use it.
  
• Requires two hands to hold, unless you have fairly large hands.
  
• Only uses a single cellular network for online access - Sprint. How good is Sprint's coverage in all areas? I do not know personally.
  
• Limited to Amazon's selections for purchases with rights restrictions in place.
  
• Charged to read blogs and there are only specific ones available.
  
• 10 cents to send files to your Kindle and I have heard that not all file formats cooperate.

Unknowns:

• Construction - Will it hold up over long-term use?
  
• Availability - Amazon constantly lists it as sold out.

I do think it has a future. As the prices falls over time, it will gain popularity. I think it can be a strong sell in certain user markets, such as travelers, people that do not purchase books for their own collection, and techies. At $400, I will not be buying one anytime soon.

ALA Midwinter 2008

I will be heading to Philadelphia for ALA Midwinter in January. I will post my plans and updates here.

Anyone else going?

Blog Named Top 100 Education Site for Entrepreneurs

In a blog post called Hidden Gems: The 100 .edu sites every Entrepreneur Should Read by Jessica Hupp, my blog was listed with others in the Knowledge & Information category.

At the root of every institution of learning is information. These libraries, defenders of free knowledge, and business training sites have a lot of information to offer entrepreneurs.

The Bootstrapper blog is a resource for any small business owner operating on a shoestring budget, and provides tips on financing, cash flow, low-cost marketing and small business loans.

Presentation at ALAO Annual

I survived the ALAO Annual Conference. I was on the planning committee, and specifically arranged the vendor area. Here is my presentation on Second Life that I gave at the Conference.

What is Web 2.0? - A Potpourri of Examples

The Case Libraries is kicking of its 2007 Brown Bag Lunch Series on Wednesday, September 19, 2007, at 11:30am-1:00pm in the Kelvin Smith Library's Dampeer Room. Brian C. Gray (Engineering, Statistics and Mathematics Library at KSL) will present "What is Web 2.0? - A Potpourri of Examples". Bring your lunch as beverages and dessert will be available. RSVP to Gail Reese (egr@case.edu) or KSL Administration at 368-2992.

The Brown Bag Lunch Series are lunchtime presentations with featured speakers and informal discussion about a particular topic. These presentations are one hour long. All library staff, as well as the Case and UCI community are invited.

What is Second Life Best At?

I have done many talk on how libraries are using web 2.0 technologies to supplement and/or provide new services and resources. I often mention Second Life as a possibility that many libraries and librarians are exploring. The common question is "what can it offer that we do not already do". In my personal experience, SL is best for collaboration and programming. It offers another mechanism to offer presentations, discussions, and education opportunities. It works best if you can go beyond the real world physical environments we already react in.

I challenge people to create things in SL that we do not or cannot do in real life. At that point, it becomes valuable.

SL is great for 3-D modeling, recreation of historical events, or other themed environments. These types of educational activities would be very expensive to recreate on a life-size scale and to bring together all the experts needed.

Here is a nice example of a unique activity that can be accomplished in virtual environments, not just SL. Have you ever imagined walking through the environment created in artworks, movie, or TV?

If you want to see how this would made, visit the blog entry describing Robbie Dingo's SL machinima.

TechConnections 8

I presented at TechConnections 8 in June of 2007. I posted my presentation in the past and shared some insight from Michael Stephens and his presentation. TechConnections 8 has posted other presentations as well, including:

• Windows Vista: Is Your Library Ready?
• What Does Windows Vista Mean for Directors?
• Microsoft Office 2007: A Quick Look
• How to Hack Your Director
• The Synaptic Library
• Google Tools for a Great Web Site
• PC Sign-up Systems

Resources, Data, or Tools

Are libraries offering resources, data, or tools to support instruction? Is the difference in the actual terms used just word play? Do libraries not market tools for instruction and only focus on research? Are library tools not good enough?

The Wired Campus (Chronicle of Higher Education, August 8, 2007) highlights a project asking educators their top ten lists of learning TOOLS. It has caused a ripple in the library profession communication channels as NOT one library tool once mentioned by the first 88 learning professional to respond.

Some have proposed that there is a difference between information resources and learning tools. Libraries do advertise and promote many of the learning tools mentioned but none of the subscription-based or library-design resources made the list.

I think all might be true.

First, surveys should define the meanings of words. But another view is that libraries have a reputation of developing our own terminology. Does that terminology make sense to users? Maybe library patrons do not fully grasp the words "database" or "resource". Maybe the simpler word "tool" is easier to grasp.

Second, libraries have always been good at marketing to people in the physical buildings, but marketing to more and more online patrons can be tough. Online competition is severe.

Finally, maybe we are not focused enough on instruction as a reason to use the library resources. I openly promote a database called Knovel as an instruction tool. I would not take credit for that stance though. One of my professors shared with me how he uses it for in the classroom activities. He feels it is a strong method to demonstrate chemical engineering calculations and develop real understanding. It is closer to how graduates would conduct such calculations in the real world.

Going Gothic with other SL Librarians

Librarians within Second Life get together for various social events to talk, share stories, and interact. The Second Life Library 2.0 dance party was on July 6, 2007. The theme was gothic and I won the award for best male costume.

Ohioans in Second Life

A few weeks ago I received a phone call from Robert Wang, a writer for the Canton Repository. He had found a blog entry I had done about Second Life and Case Western Reserve University. He was looking for local perspectives from those that use Second Life for different purposes. Of course, we talked about education and libraries.

Read the published story called Ohioans explore virtual world of Second Life, a new world on computers.

From D.C.

I hope to learn plenty at ALA Annual and I will share as much as possible.

Laura Solomon on Second Life

As I mentioned before I attended TechConnectons 8, the other day. I attended a session by Laura Solomon (Lebachai Vesta in SL) on Second Life. It was perfect timing for me as I was preparing my own presentation on Second Life.

There was a couple stats or ideas she shared that I wish the same thing could be said about our libraries:

• Doubling Rate is every 7 months
  
• Approxmately 10% of the participants spend 80+ hours per week in SL
  
• Second Life was named one of the most influential sites for the 2008 election

Could you imagine if libraries could say the same thing?

TechConnections 8 and Michael Stephens

I was also lucky enough to attend two sessions by Michael Stephens at TechConnections 8. Even more valuable was the time we spent away from the conference discussing libraries, education, future goals, and everything else under the sun over lunch at a local Dublin, Ohio restaurant.

1. Hyperlinked Library: Trends, Tools and Technologies (Michael Stephens)
2. Technology Trends (Michael Stephens)

See his bibliography for these talks.

Some new things I picked up and need to explore:

• BookSwim - the Netflix of books
  
• Book called Got Game
  
• Travels with the State Librarian (Kansas) blog
  
• Bookspace.org
  
• Gail Borden Public Library videos
  
• Ohio University Library podcast tours
  

• Lackman Library Virtual tour on Flickr
  
  
• Cuyahoga County Public Library's use of text messaging
  
  
• Netvibes
  
  
• fd's Flickr Toys
  
  
• Last.fm
  
  
• Image Chef
  
  
• Music Tonic
  
  
• Church of the Customer blog
  
  
• Book called Wikinomics
  

• castr, Westerville Public Library's podcast delivery system

Presentation on Second Life

I gave my first presentation focused solely on Second Life yesterday. I was talking to the Distance Learning Interest Group of the Academic Library Association of Ohio (ALAO). It was a 2-hour long session that I ran very openly and accepted questions throughout. The discussion was great about how Second Life can be used by librarians and educators. what works or does not work, and where virtual environments may take education in the future.

Presented Web 2.0 at TechConnections 8

I presented on web 2.0 at TechConnections 8 on June 11, 2007. It was a wonderful experience. I have presented on web 2.0 previously, but never to a group of public librarians and administrators. They had great questions. And as always, I walked away with some new contacts and some new web/library 2.0 tools to explore.

I will do a separate post on my learnings and experience as soon as I go through all my notes.

Few Posts Lately - Been Busy

I have been quite busy with various personal projects, and my library has been doing special summer projects lately.

Let me share some happenings...

I recently gave a presentation for NOTSL (Northern Ohio Technical Services Librarians) on May 24, 2007.

Russ Crabtree of Holy Cow Consulting gave a presentation on perceptions. It was quite interesting. He had the group participate in several exercises that showed how our personal perceptions and bias can skew our interactions. It was funny how our minds can make us believe something that does not really exist.

Rick Rubin, the Director of the Kent State University School of Library & Information Science, gave his thoughts on how he saw the profession, especially technical services, changing in the future. He also addressed library school education. He expressed how challenging it was to cover everything necessary in library school, when librarians are finding all kinds of unique jobs and organizations to work for.

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

More on New Workshop

As I mentioned before, I am teaching a new workshop for the Kent State University School of Library & Information Science.

I have used a couple of the existing web 2.0 tools to share my workshop content. Check out the Squidoo page to see what readings and tools we used. On SlideShare, I posted the introductory slides I used before we moved on to our hands-on assignments.

New Workshop - Using Web 2.0 Principles to Become Librarian 2.0

I am getting ready to teach a new workshop at Kent State University School of Library & Information Science. The response for the first offering was amazing - 24 at the Main campus and another 9 at Ohio State (distance location of the Kent program). I am really looking for the chance for a large group to "play" with all these tools.

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. In addition, students will look at how users are creating tools to supplement and/or replace their experience with libraries.
Check out the Squidoo page I set up for the workshop. If you have any suggestions or feedback, please share.

The students for their final project will practice by using blogs, wikis, or other tools to create a web 2.0 environment for one of three scenarios - an existing or fictional library, employee training, or a virtual environment for a specific class or employer project. They will have a chance to keep it private on a library school run server or use one of the many free web-based applications. I am giving them the choice. If any of them decide to go public, I will share the results here.

Meebo Shows Love for Librarians

Meebo recently shared that librarians were an expected user group that has been driving its growth. It appears some of the usage was from librarians that had tight restrictions for computer applications from within their organizations.

On November 15th, I announced the roll out MeeboMe on this blog and my other blog. I have been very pleased with the results. I already used instant messaging to stay in touch with friends, relatives, and close colleagues. Now with MeeboMe, I get direct and immediate interactions with people as they read my blog entries. Some people are not willing to post comments, but anonymous conversations provide a new option.

The Meebo staff is great as well. Within hours of me posting the MeeboMe widgets on both blogs, they contacted me to see if I had any problems. I talked with one of their employees about how I plan on using Meebo and what improvements I might imagine.

LEADS from LAMA - Official Launch

I have hinted several times in the past that LAMA was trying to become Web 2.0 friendly. Here is the announcement for one of the first attempts. I have helped to develop LEADS from LAMA blog, which will replace the email-delivered LEADS from LAMA newsletter.

LEADS will feature the same content that appeared in the e-newsletter:
LAMA news and information about ALA and other organizations of interest to LAMA members; including awards, conferences, important dates and deadlines and other resources. The blog format will permit news to be published more rapidly and to be available through RSS feeds. Readers may comment on entries, and submit items for posting.

Look for more Web 2.0 goodies from ALA LAMA in the near future. (HINT: We are looking to collect stories, pictures, and comments about the first 50 years of LAMA. Just imagine the Web 2.0 tools we might utilize in this undertaking.)

World Usability Day 2006

What did you do for World Usability Day on November 14, 2006?

I attended a session consisting of roundtable discussions on Web Accessibility, Web 2.0, User Research, Remote Usability Testing, Eye Tracking, Internal Usability Testing, Art and Usability, and Landing Page Usability with representatives from KeyBank, Intuit, Progressive Insurance, Ernst & Young, eMergent Marketing, Brulant, Kent State University (IAKM) and other northeast Ohio companies and universities.

It was hosted at the Cleveland Museum of Art, sponsored by KeyBank, and facilitated by the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Usability Professionals Association (NEOUPA).

It was nice to explore what others were doing and have a combination of corporations, academics, and non-profits share in these discussions. KeyBank demonstrated their portable usability system that they use to record employee responses when using various web applications. Ernst & Young demonstrated how they use web conferencing software to allow employees from all over the world to participate in their usability studies. Someone demonstrated how using eye tracking software you can record where people look and how long they look at specific locations on your website. A speaker from Progressive discussed how Web 2.0 is changing expectations in usability and making attempts for standardization tougher. Another speaker explored designing websites with accessibility for those with disabilities. Kent State demonstrated their usability lab and related research.

My 2.0 Developments

At the last ALA Annual, I accepted the responsibility of serving as the Web Coordinator for ALA LAMA. I coordinate efforts with various other content organizers by making sure templates are used correctly, that training is provided as needed, and acting as a sounding board as needed. I also have been challenged with helping LAMA's leadership utilize Web 2.0 technologies and principles to meet the needs of users.

While not officially announced yet, the new services are being developed. Take a peak at the ALA blogs to see the future of LAMA on the web. Both blogs are still being developed, so watch for a formal announcement in the near future.

Following ALA Library 2.0, I developed the teaching bug. This fall semester I have been teaching LIBS100 (Introduction to Information Literacy and Research) at Bryant & Stratton College in downtown Cleveland. The curriculum committee at Kent State University School of Library & Information Science has accepted my proposal to teach a Web 2.0 in Libraries 2-day workshop. I will post more details here as the details are finalized. I am very excited that my alma mater recognizes the need to prepare the newest librarians in this area.

Exploring Libraries (...and our Users) in the Web 2.0 Realm - Follow Up

I hope you had a chance to check out my recent presentation. Since I did not record it, as I thought about it too late, let me share some comments.

I shared all the Web 2.0 tools for several reasons:

• Librarians can benefit from their use.
• Librarians need to recognize the names and terminology, in case a user approaches them.
• Libraries can benefit from or utilize these tools.
• Users may be using these tools in order to improve their library experience.
• Users may be using these tools instead of the library.
• Users are searching for answers using these tools, and is your library "advertised" in the data they discover.
• Users are creating data and tools that might be better than library resources.
• Users are creating data and tools that might benefit libraries.

I did not want to scare the audience, since I did not know everyone's technology knowledge. In order to relate to everyone, I focused on our USERS. We all have library users, no matter the level of technology. If a technology is intimidating, think about how it might help your user to replace or supplement a library service or resource. It gives you a strong base to start your exploration.

How Do You Prepare For The Future

A commenter asked me if I had "any suggestions regarding how to prepare our future librarians to work in the traditional, digital, and the new Lib 2.0 environment".

Some people suggest that Web 2.0 will make the future "easier". I believe just the opposite is and will occur. Web 2.0 technology can make our lives more efficient, but it can also overwhelm us with more information than we have time to absorb. More data just means more discussion and questions. I look at it like this. Our online resources are increasing in numbers, and the number of reference questions are not decreasing. They are also getting more difficult in nature though.

I think for new (and current librarians) the key is to learn the traditional resources and methods, and all the new technologies at the same time. Even with all the tools in the world, search methods and (for now) print resources are still critical.

Some suggestions:

• Let others sort through all the information for you. With blogs, wikis, forums, books reviews, and discussion lists, people are constantly summarizing or suggesting key sources. We cannot read everything, so what are others suggesting.
• Use RSS feeds to stay current. I can go through hundreds or even thousands of items in my RSS reader in one-hour. RSS feeds are much easier to sort and find the best information, unlike full emails or random Internet browsing.
• Work as a team. Another librarian and I formed a reading group in our library that has 10-12 members from our staff. One month we read a novel for fun and the next we read articles around a given topic. For example, one month we read various articles about IM, but no one was required to read all the articles (unless they wanted to). The discussion was one-hour over lunch and everyone learned a lot.
• PLAY! That is my motto. I always try new things. Even if you do not plan on continually using a new technology in the future, one of your users might be. Will you recognize their question when they approach you?
• Use the same tools we suggest for our patrons: citation managers and database alerts.

Exploring Libraries (...and our Users) in the Web 2.0 Realm

Last night, I was the guest speaker for the the Northern Ohio Chapter of the American Society for Information Science and Technology (NORASIST). The networking before dinner and the discussion related to my presentation was wonderful. The comments and questions have given me some new areas for exploration.

In the next few days, I will answer a couple questions that were proposed to me that I did not have a full response for. Watch my blog for follow-up.

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NORASIST Annual Meeting
Tuesday, October 24th, 2006
Exploring Libraries (...and our Users) in the Web 2.0 Realm
The information world is becoming more user-driven and "social" in scope. As information professionals, we must understand this new wave of Internet customization and collaboration. Our users are developing new expectations in information delivery and interaction, but are we meeting or exceeding their needs? Some libraries and information providers are exploring and utilizing the same principles and technologies that have driven the Web 2.0 movement.Libraries are using tools, such as blogs, RSS feeds, wikis, social communities, podcasts, and various "mash-ups", to give library users increased ownership in their library experiences.

---

Presentation Bibliography (PDF)
Presentation (PDF)

Presentation - Exploring Libraries (...and our Users) in the Web 2.0 Realm

NORASIST Annual Meeting
Tuesday, October 24th, 2006
Exploring Libraries (...and our Users) in the Web 2.0 Realm
Brian C. Gray, MLIS
Librarian - Engineering, Math, & Statistics
Case Western Reserve University
Kelvin Smith Library
Blog: http://blog.case.edu/bcg8/

Synopsis
The information world is becoming more user-driven and "social" in scope. As information professionals, we must understand this new wave of Internet customization and collaboration. Our users are developing new expectations in information delivery and interaction, but are we meeting or exceeding their needs? Some libraries and information providers are exploring and utilizing the same principles and technologies that have driven the Web 2.0 movement. Libraries are using tools, such as blogs, RSS feeds, wikis, social communities, podcasts, and various "mash-ups", to give library users increased ownership in their library experiences. More information from NORASIST News.

Blog Rebirth - On a Personal Level

I have not posted in a couple months following the end of the ALA Library 2.0 collaboration, but my Web 2.0 experiences have not ended though. I have volunteered to be the Library Administration & Management Association (ALA LAMA) web coordinator and am working closely with Lorraine Olley, Executive Director of LAMA and another ALA Library 2.0 participant, to bring Web 2.0 concepts and tools to LAMA's membership. Expect some announcements in the very near future, especially as we celebrate LAMA's 50th anniversary.

The Northern Ohio Chapter of the American Society for Information Science and Technology has asked me to present at their October meeting about Web 2.0/Library 2.0. Details to follow.

I am also working on a workshop for the Kent State University of School of Library and Information Science on Web 2.0 in libraries. The 2-day workshop will focus on what libraries are already doing and what our users are doing that we should be aware of. More details will be offered soon, as I am trying to get the information submitted to be on the Spring workshop schedule.

I plan to use this blog to continue my exploration into Web 2.0 and libraries.

Closing Session or Just the Beginning

This is my first time to attempt to blog an activity while a session is in progress. Well here it goes...

I was glad to hear others have similar thoughts as me at today's Closing Session - OK lets get started! I am not suggesting that we did not work hard already, but the group has really learned a lot and are eager to look to the future now.

I was amazed how much beyond a "workshop" that this ALA Library 2.0 Bootcamp developed. Beyond just looking at the technology from a hands-on playground, the group flushed out much more about user expectations, organizational implementation, online/social implementation, etc.

The work products of the ten teams were amazing for "virtually" working on the topics, while potentially many of the participants were exploring these 2.0 technologies for the first times themselves.

I think we only can see the tip of the iceberg right now after our 6-weeks of collaboration, but ALA cannot avoid the collision with Web 2.0 that we have created. There comes a time when people must realize that we do not always need to avoid every collision, because the past principles and the future technologies can blend to meet the needs of today. ALA and all libraries can be great leaders in pushing not just the technology of Web 2.0 but the principles of collaboration, social interaction, and the user's control of their experience.

One thing I hope this exploration demonstrated to ALA and the membership is how much work can be accomplished outside the traditional face-to-face meetings of conferences. It appears from the discussions and team projects that we can be seeing an amazing transformation in ALA and libraries in general in how business is conducted, how users are reached, and how ALL people can contribute to an organization's success and resources.

I look forward to continue growing the relationships I developed, and helping in anyway I can to continue this wonderful process.

Team 1 Project Summary - Public Commenting

This document provide a summary and some additional information to our videocast. We have offered it in either Word or PDF format for your convenience.

PDF Download

Word Download

ALA L2: Team One - Final Project

Join us in the exploration of the best practices for utilizing public comments on an organization's blog or website.

We will be issuing a summary document shortly with more details.

Comments on Brian Mathews Podcast

I finally got to listen to Brian Mathew's podcast that was created for the participants of ALA Library 2.0 (ALAL2). He did make comments that hit the spot since I work in an academic library.

He described Academic Library 2.0 in various terms:

He highlighted a couple of 2.0 services that he was aware of, such as PennTags. Mathews also described who he monitored students blogs by setting up keyword searches for words like "library" or "research". He could than offer advice or additional information to their discussions.

My university does offer a blog system to faculty, staff, and students. All entries are fed into a single RSS feed (Planet Case) that I do monitor. I have corresponded with several of the posters by highlighting a library or Internet resource that could help them in their research or other explorations. By interacting in this manner, I have received back several suggestions for other resource that I could highlight on my blog or other library web pages. If our blog system ever grows larger, I might have to rely on Mathews keyword search suggestion.

UPDATE: I had to delete some links to sources that no longer exist.