Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Exercise #6: Delicious
Please feel free to watch my first endeavor in screencasting. In my screencast I take viewers through the basics of saving a new bookmark to their Delicious account. I used the free version of Jing to make the screencast & the finished product is hosted at Screencast.com
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Anonymous Users & Lurkers
What do you think about anonymous users in an online community? What about lurkers?
As long as anonymous posters can follow community policies regarding posting and other types of participation I do not see the harm of participating anonymously or with a pseudonym. In terms of lurking, I do not think it really carries the negative connotation the name suggests. That may be because I tend to lurk myself; specifically with the LiveJournal community Oh No They Didn't!.
In my case, I am actually an unregistered lurker as I have no affiliation with the community aside from reading the freely accessible posts. Registered users of this community can post celebrity gossip/news as well as comment on others' posts. Most users operate under pseudonyms. Although I as an unregistered visitor cannot post or comment I not only enjoy catching up on the latest gossip but also reading community members' comments. The comments are actually the best & most entertaining aspect of the community. Perhaps if the community was small & sorely in need of members my invisible participation might be somewhat unfavorable. However, with 57,669 registered users I do not think my lurking makes any real difference.
As long as anonymous posters can follow community policies regarding posting and other types of participation I do not see the harm of participating anonymously or with a pseudonym. In terms of lurking, I do not think it really carries the negative connotation the name suggests. That may be because I tend to lurk myself; specifically with the LiveJournal community Oh No They Didn't!.
In my case, I am actually an unregistered lurker as I have no affiliation with the community aside from reading the freely accessible posts. Registered users of this community can post celebrity gossip/news as well as comment on others' posts. Most users operate under pseudonyms. Although I as an unregistered visitor cannot post or comment I not only enjoy catching up on the latest gossip but also reading community members' comments. The comments are actually the best & most entertaining aspect of the community. Perhaps if the community was small & sorely in need of members my invisible participation might be somewhat unfavorable. However, with 57,669 registered users I do not think my lurking makes any real difference.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Barriers to Internal Collaboration in the Workplace
I think the greatest barrier to internal collaboration via social software in the workplace is employees not wanting to forfeit the established and comfortable way of doing something. Changing the way things are done in the workplace can be a considerable struggle. Although some would deem the tactic of getting rid of all other alternatives to internal communication and collaboration (i.e. e-mail) authoritarian, as discussed in Enterprise 2.0: Culture is as Culture Does, I think it would certainly make such a barrier null. However, many employees would still be unwilling and uncomfortable in their participation as they would only be participating because they were forced to do so. Unfortunately, I think that this is a possibility no matter what social software is being implemented, no matter how it's implemented, and no matter the constitution of the overarching culture. No matter how open-minded and adventurous the workforce is as a whole there will likely be a dissident in one form or another.
Some might also take issue with their communications seemingly becoming more "public." Perceiving that one's coworkers can see and judge any ill-fated ideas and notions can easily fill one with trepidation. However, having a somewhat inclusive social collaborative resource such as a wiki that is only accessible to those working on a specific project really is not all that different from e-mail threads going back and forth between a select few.
All things considered, though it might be agonizing for some or even all at first it can be assumed that eventually the new way of doing things will soon be the norm and preferred way until something else comes along, of course.
Some might also take issue with their communications seemingly becoming more "public." Perceiving that one's coworkers can see and judge any ill-fated ideas and notions can easily fill one with trepidation. However, having a somewhat inclusive social collaborative resource such as a wiki that is only accessible to those working on a specific project really is not all that different from e-mail threads going back and forth between a select few.
All things considered, though it might be agonizing for some or even all at first it can be assumed that eventually the new way of doing things will soon be the norm and preferred way until something else comes along, of course.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
del.icio.us
The primary tags used in the three resources I selected to start off this exercise were essentially "social media", "tagging", "socialbookmarking" (as one tag as well as two separate tags), "Web 2.0", "enterprise" (also, "enterprise 2.0"), "folksonomy", and "collaboration." I, unfortunately, only used the tags of "bell246" and "Exercise5" and did not feel right going back & adding new tags as I had undoubtedly already been influenced by the tags that others used. Oops.
For the next part of the exercise I selected "tagging" from one of the first three resources &, in doing so, came across a resource about organizing iTunes. I'm relatively unaware of most of the options I have with iTunes so it seemed as good a resource as any & joined my bookmark library.
In browsing through the tags of another user I felt like I was somehow snooping but quickly got over that feeling as the whole point of del.icio.us is to find & bookmark resources that are relevant to my information needs & a good majority of that process involves seeing what others have bookmarked as well as the tags they've used to classify their resources.
I came across a couple of classmates' bookmarks during the exercise & selected a resource about using Microsoft Office & Google Docs together. I use both of these resources yet, just as with iTunes, know that I am largely unaware of all that I can do with these tools so it too joined my ever-increasing collection.
Using popular tags & other peoples' tags to find additional resources clearly enables users to discover many useful & interesting resources that they might have very well otherwise missed. Ridiculous that it is, I personally enjoy seeing how many other users have bookmarked the same resources I've selected & tend to feel somewhat disappointed if my bookmarks lean towards the less popular. As a result of this exercise I've also decided that I'm going to start adding additional tags to the weekly resources I select as up to this point I've only been using the required tags. Time to delve a little deeper into del.icio.us.
For the next part of the exercise I selected "tagging" from one of the first three resources &, in doing so, came across a resource about organizing iTunes. I'm relatively unaware of most of the options I have with iTunes so it seemed as good a resource as any & joined my bookmark library.
In browsing through the tags of another user I felt like I was somehow snooping but quickly got over that feeling as the whole point of del.icio.us is to find & bookmark resources that are relevant to my information needs & a good majority of that process involves seeing what others have bookmarked as well as the tags they've used to classify their resources.
I came across a couple of classmates' bookmarks during the exercise & selected a resource about using Microsoft Office & Google Docs together. I use both of these resources yet, just as with iTunes, know that I am largely unaware of all that I can do with these tools so it too joined my ever-increasing collection.
Using popular tags & other peoples' tags to find additional resources clearly enables users to discover many useful & interesting resources that they might have very well otherwise missed. Ridiculous that it is, I personally enjoy seeing how many other users have bookmarked the same resources I've selected & tend to feel somewhat disappointed if my bookmarks lean towards the less popular. As a result of this exercise I've also decided that I'm going to start adding additional tags to the weekly resources I select as up to this point I've only been using the required tags. Time to delve a little deeper into del.icio.us.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Libary Wikis
Which of the library wiki examples did you consider most effective & why?
Looking over the examples of library wikis in this week's folder, I was quite impressed by the versatility of the wikis. Some were rather simple & obvious in their wiki-ness while others, such as that of The University of South Carolina Aiken Gregg-Graniteville Library, looks like a standard library homepage. In fact, the only notable difference that I could see between the library's wiki & a paid for homepage or OPAC is the subtle note in the left side bar stating that it is powered by PmWiki and that it is the product of free software.
However, I thought the most effective wiki was the Antioch University New England Library Staff Training and Support Wiki. Now, that might very well be due to the fact that I would love to have a similar set-up at my library. In fact, I am downright envious of this library & its fabulous wiki. We've always passed information around by e-mail & word of mouth & I think we would function at a much higher level if we implemented something along these lines. With all of the information regarding a library's operations & procedures available in one place library staff are undoubtedly able to serve their users far better than a library where only certain staff members know the answers to certain questions ever could, regardless of how hardworking & well-meaning the staff.
Looking over the examples of library wikis in this week's folder, I was quite impressed by the versatility of the wikis. Some were rather simple & obvious in their wiki-ness while others, such as that of The University of South Carolina Aiken Gregg-Graniteville Library, looks like a standard library homepage. In fact, the only notable difference that I could see between the library's wiki & a paid for homepage or OPAC is the subtle note in the left side bar stating that it is powered by PmWiki and that it is the product of free software.
However, I thought the most effective wiki was the Antioch University New England Library Staff Training and Support Wiki. Now, that might very well be due to the fact that I would love to have a similar set-up at my library. In fact, I am downright envious of this library & its fabulous wiki. We've always passed information around by e-mail & word of mouth & I think we would function at a much higher level if we implemented something along these lines. With all of the information regarding a library's operations & procedures available in one place library staff are undoubtedly able to serve their users far better than a library where only certain staff members know the answers to certain questions ever could, regardless of how hardworking & well-meaning the staff.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
Established in 1895 through the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is still going strong today but is finding itself ever more reliant upon the philanthropy of its community. Today, it has 19 branches located around the greater Pittsburgh area. The library system prides itself on being a leader in the field as well as a prized resource to the city and its residents. One of the library’s many claims to fame is their children’s department as it is widely recognized as the first legitimately established department of its kind in the United States, founded in 1899. In 1979, the system’s Main branch was recognized as a landmark by the National Register of Historic Places. However, the library cannot depend on these distinctions alone to validate its relevance and worth.
The library has quite a visible online presence and appears to be making great strides in terms of reaching out to its user constituents. From the library’s homepage, users can talk to a librarian via text, e-mail, or chat. Those looking for services and resources specifically for children and teens can opt to visit the sites within the overarching site custom-made for these audiences. Additionally, users can follow the library through Facebook and Twitter. However, some of the more remarkable facets of the library’s online self are the wide array of options in terms of blogs and RSS feeds.
There are three blogs offered by the library: Eleventh Stack, the general blog for all audiences, CLP Teensburgh, the blog for young adults, and, last but not least, Story Pockets, the blog tailored especially for children and their parents. In all of these blogs users can find the latest acquisitions, events, and resources, readers’ advisories, and recipes among other topics. Although the breadth of these blogs are indeed impressive the scope of the RSS feeds is much more so. Users can not only subscribe to the above blogs they can also subscribe to library events by location (branch), by region, by event type, and by audience.
The library’s Facebook page boasts 2,500 “likes” and includes posts by library personnel and patrons alike. One of the more recent posts is from a patron asking about HarperCollins’ new ebook license policy; the patron mentions that she has already written a letter voicing her objection and asks what else she can do. Patrons also make purchase suggestions as well as ask questions regarding the how-to’s of library resources. There is also an offshoot of the general library page specifically for teens.
The library’s Twitter account appears to be less active though not stagnant by any means. However, the library follows more than it is followed. Recently, the library created a Twitter account aimed at teens. With only 18 followers since its first tweet on March 4, it was announced that any followers that get at least three friends to follow the account will be rewarded with a giftcard to Target, Barnes & Noble, or local restaurant chain Eat’n Park.
Along with its social networking accounts, blogs, and RSS feeds, the library also utilizes media technologies such as video and audio podcasting. Here, users can listen to the library’s radio spots and watch short videos of teens talking about their relationships with the library as part of Teen Advocacy Day, hosted by the Teen Advocacy Group. It is quite evident that the library is valued by its user constituents and it is equally evident that the library does not take this esteem lightly.
The library’s efforts at marketing testify to the strong relationship it has with its users. In 2010, the library held three sets of community workshops called “Community Conversation”. According to the library’s website more than 1,400 community members participated in these workshops, both in-person and online. Community members were treated as equal stakeholders with as much say in the operations of the library as those with a more official status. In the “Summary of Feedback Received”, it is noted that participants adamantly suggested that similar workshops and forums be held each year.
In the Strategic Plan for the years 2007-2011 it is maintained under the “Partnerships/Collaborations” section that the library will proactively pursue partnerships with other organizations as such partnerships are crucial to building a referral network to help meet customer needs and requests that cannot be fulfilled by the library itself. This plan of action is commendable in that the library admits its shortcomings at the same time as it strengthens its relationship with other stakeholders in the community. As the library refers patrons to other organizations for certain services it can be expected that such referrals will be paid back in kind.
Although the library’s marketing efforts for the most part are well thought out and implemented there are a few glitches. Specifically, the links between the various social networks are inconsistent and largely unnoticeable. While the general library Facebook account provides links to both the library homepage and the Twitter account in the information section there does not appear to be any link to the Facebook account from the library’s Twitter account. However, there is a link directing followers to the library homepage. The same goes for the library’s teen Twitter account as it only links back to the teen site within the overarching library site. While the teen Facebook account provides a link for the teen blog, there is no such link for the Twitter account. When visiting the teen blog teens will likely overlook the library’s attempt at drawing attention to the teen Facebook account as it is very indistinct and makes no mention of “Facebook.” Rather, it is a link in the right-hand sidebar titled, “Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Teen Services.” Only upon selecting the link will any user realize that he or she is being directed to the Facebook profile. The library would likely make more of an impact in these social networks if they provided consistent and discernible links between its various accounts.
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh understands that its community holds the sway in the library-user reciprocal relationship. The library system has gone to great lengths to draw and retain users to both the physical and virtual libraries. At the same time, the library does not seem satisfied with the status quo and, rather, is constantly implementing new ways to market the library’s worth as well as the worth of its users.
The library has quite a visible online presence and appears to be making great strides in terms of reaching out to its user constituents. From the library’s homepage, users can talk to a librarian via text, e-mail, or chat. Those looking for services and resources specifically for children and teens can opt to visit the sites within the overarching site custom-made for these audiences. Additionally, users can follow the library through Facebook and Twitter. However, some of the more remarkable facets of the library’s online self are the wide array of options in terms of blogs and RSS feeds.
There are three blogs offered by the library: Eleventh Stack, the general blog for all audiences, CLP Teensburgh, the blog for young adults, and, last but not least, Story Pockets, the blog tailored especially for children and their parents. In all of these blogs users can find the latest acquisitions, events, and resources, readers’ advisories, and recipes among other topics. Although the breadth of these blogs are indeed impressive the scope of the RSS feeds is much more so. Users can not only subscribe to the above blogs they can also subscribe to library events by location (branch), by region, by event type, and by audience.
The library’s Facebook page boasts 2,500 “likes” and includes posts by library personnel and patrons alike. One of the more recent posts is from a patron asking about HarperCollins’ new ebook license policy; the patron mentions that she has already written a letter voicing her objection and asks what else she can do. Patrons also make purchase suggestions as well as ask questions regarding the how-to’s of library resources. There is also an offshoot of the general library page specifically for teens.
The library’s Twitter account appears to be less active though not stagnant by any means. However, the library follows more than it is followed. Recently, the library created a Twitter account aimed at teens. With only 18 followers since its first tweet on March 4, it was announced that any followers that get at least three friends to follow the account will be rewarded with a giftcard to Target, Barnes & Noble, or local restaurant chain Eat’n Park.
Along with its social networking accounts, blogs, and RSS feeds, the library also utilizes media technologies such as video and audio podcasting. Here, users can listen to the library’s radio spots and watch short videos of teens talking about their relationships with the library as part of Teen Advocacy Day, hosted by the Teen Advocacy Group. It is quite evident that the library is valued by its user constituents and it is equally evident that the library does not take this esteem lightly.
The library’s efforts at marketing testify to the strong relationship it has with its users. In 2010, the library held three sets of community workshops called “Community Conversation”. According to the library’s website more than 1,400 community members participated in these workshops, both in-person and online. Community members were treated as equal stakeholders with as much say in the operations of the library as those with a more official status. In the “Summary of Feedback Received”, it is noted that participants adamantly suggested that similar workshops and forums be held each year.
In the Strategic Plan for the years 2007-2011 it is maintained under the “Partnerships/Collaborations” section that the library will proactively pursue partnerships with other organizations as such partnerships are crucial to building a referral network to help meet customer needs and requests that cannot be fulfilled by the library itself. This plan of action is commendable in that the library admits its shortcomings at the same time as it strengthens its relationship with other stakeholders in the community. As the library refers patrons to other organizations for certain services it can be expected that such referrals will be paid back in kind.
Although the library’s marketing efforts for the most part are well thought out and implemented there are a few glitches. Specifically, the links between the various social networks are inconsistent and largely unnoticeable. While the general library Facebook account provides links to both the library homepage and the Twitter account in the information section there does not appear to be any link to the Facebook account from the library’s Twitter account. However, there is a link directing followers to the library homepage. The same goes for the library’s teen Twitter account as it only links back to the teen site within the overarching library site. While the teen Facebook account provides a link for the teen blog, there is no such link for the Twitter account. When visiting the teen blog teens will likely overlook the library’s attempt at drawing attention to the teen Facebook account as it is very indistinct and makes no mention of “Facebook.” Rather, it is a link in the right-hand sidebar titled, “Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh-Teen Services.” Only upon selecting the link will any user realize that he or she is being directed to the Facebook profile. The library would likely make more of an impact in these social networks if they provided consistent and discernible links between its various accounts.
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh understands that its community holds the sway in the library-user reciprocal relationship. The library system has gone to great lengths to draw and retain users to both the physical and virtual libraries. At the same time, the library does not seem satisfied with the status quo and, rather, is constantly implementing new ways to market the library’s worth as well as the worth of its users.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
"The Facebook"
What do you think of libraries proactively reaching out to students in online spaces?
I do not think there is really a clear-cut answer to this question. While I think libraries should absolutely make an effort to go where their patrons are I think that libraries making first contact could be off-putting to many patrons. Yet, merely creating a Facebook page for the organization runs the risk of only drawing the attention of those patrons that are already aware of a library's goings-on essentially defeating the purpose of reaching out to those that do not yet know what their local library can offer. Nonetheless, contacting individuals directly could be a real hit or miss.
Upon being contacted by a librarian some patrons will surely be appreciative and will feel that the library is invested in their interests and needs and will conversely become more invested in the library. However, other patrons will likely feel that some sort of boundary has been crossed. Throughout my SLIS studies I have read countless articles discussing patrons' perceptions of librarians. Much of the literature argues that librarians are often viewed as figures of authority with a penchant for discipline. Working in the Circulation department and interacting with patrons on a daily basis I can definitely confirm that, unfortunately, this is often the case. Working in Public Services has taught me many a thing about customer/user service and I am grateful for it but the experience of being the "bad guy" of the library has definitely also had a sour effect on me. Patrons coming away from the library with a similar sour feeling might not be thrilled at being contacted outside of the library, by the library. On the other hand, the extra effort might make a positive impression that will negate any previous unfavorable experiences.
All in all, I think that libraries should go ahead and make first contact through Facebook or a similar social network but should recognize that such an action could likely alienate some individuals while others will eagerly take advantage of this new channel of communication.
I do not think there is really a clear-cut answer to this question. While I think libraries should absolutely make an effort to go where their patrons are I think that libraries making first contact could be off-putting to many patrons. Yet, merely creating a Facebook page for the organization runs the risk of only drawing the attention of those patrons that are already aware of a library's goings-on essentially defeating the purpose of reaching out to those that do not yet know what their local library can offer. Nonetheless, contacting individuals directly could be a real hit or miss.
Upon being contacted by a librarian some patrons will surely be appreciative and will feel that the library is invested in their interests and needs and will conversely become more invested in the library. However, other patrons will likely feel that some sort of boundary has been crossed. Throughout my SLIS studies I have read countless articles discussing patrons' perceptions of librarians. Much of the literature argues that librarians are often viewed as figures of authority with a penchant for discipline. Working in the Circulation department and interacting with patrons on a daily basis I can definitely confirm that, unfortunately, this is often the case. Working in Public Services has taught me many a thing about customer/user service and I am grateful for it but the experience of being the "bad guy" of the library has definitely also had a sour effect on me. Patrons coming away from the library with a similar sour feeling might not be thrilled at being contacted outside of the library, by the library. On the other hand, the extra effort might make a positive impression that will negate any previous unfavorable experiences.
All in all, I think that libraries should go ahead and make first contact through Facebook or a similar social network but should recognize that such an action could likely alienate some individuals while others will eagerly take advantage of this new channel of communication.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Reflections: Twitter
Delving into the world of Twitter has definitely been interesting. Although it's touted as being rather low-tech and accessible I found it somewhat difficult to figure out how to do what was needed to fulfill this week's requirements. All I can say is thank goodness for the course discussion board where my fellow classmates walked some of us through the steps of adding a hashtag to a retweet. :) That was pretty frustrating for me. I retweeted, deleted the retweet, retweeted again, deleted again, and so on before I finally was able to do it correctly.
I also struggled with the 140 character limit. It took me forever to respond to a tweet from someone outside of the class because I could not for the life of me get my tweet within the limit. What can I say, I'm quite verbose and my initial experience with Twitter has convinced me that I need to work on this point. Tweeting should not be so difficult. I was putting way too much thought into my tweeting and it was stressing me out.
I also think the emphasis on followers as well as the requirement of following several individuals outside of the class was intimidating to me. While we all follow each others' blogs I feel like it's different with Twitter. I feel more vulnerable and out there then I do with my blog posts.
I also struggled with the 140 character limit. It took me forever to respond to a tweet from someone outside of the class because I could not for the life of me get my tweet within the limit. What can I say, I'm quite verbose and my initial experience with Twitter has convinced me that I need to work on this point. Tweeting should not be so difficult. I was putting way too much thought into my tweeting and it was stressing me out.
I also think the emphasis on followers as well as the requirement of following several individuals outside of the class was intimidating to me. While we all follow each others' blogs I feel like it's different with Twitter. I feel more vulnerable and out there then I do with my blog posts.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Libraries & RSS
In striving to maintain any and all relevance to user groups libraries have tried to impress upon them the idea that the library is a "one stop shop". As an RSS feed is the epitome of a "one stop shop" I think it makes sense for libraries to become more familiar and interactive with the tool especially since RSS feeds help users filter through the onslaught of information on the Web and librarians pride themselves in doing the same.
Working at the Circulation desk it is clear that patrons often have difficulty finding the information they need on the library's website. The information is there, they are just unable (and, oftentimes, unwilling) to follow the necessary steps to get to said information. Making the various facets of the online library RSS-able would clear much of these issues up especially in terms of upcoming events and workshops, new acquisitions, etc.
However, I feel somewhat of a hypocrite as I have yet to fully appreciate all that RSS offers me as a user. I'm kind of peculiar when it comes to visiting my favorite sites; I have all of my most visited sites bookmarked on both my work and personal computers yet I, more often than not, do not even make use of the bookmarks. I type out the actual URL(!). Peculiar, right?
Working at the Circulation desk it is clear that patrons often have difficulty finding the information they need on the library's website. The information is there, they are just unable (and, oftentimes, unwilling) to follow the necessary steps to get to said information. Making the various facets of the online library RSS-able would clear much of these issues up especially in terms of upcoming events and workshops, new acquisitions, etc.
However, I feel somewhat of a hypocrite as I have yet to fully appreciate all that RSS offers me as a user. I'm kind of peculiar when it comes to visiting my favorite sites; I have all of my most visited sites bookmarked on both my work and personal computers yet I, more often than not, do not even make use of the bookmarks. I type out the actual URL(!). Peculiar, right?
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Blogging's contribution to my education
Having to actually create & maintain a blog is far more beneficial than merely reading articles about blogs & reading others' blogs. Although these resources are undoubtedly instrumental to a well-rounded Web 2.0 education as Aristotle said, "What we have to learn, we learn by doing." (At least, the various websites I checked attribute this quote to Aristotle including the fine folks at Quotes.net.) It's definitely an eye-opening experience to apply the various lessons learned in library school to the "real" library world. Maintaining this blog as I learn helps make the transition a bit smoother.
I hope that I will become more comfortable with & excited about my blog as the semester progresses. I currently post only in order to fulfill the course requirements. However, I would eventually like to start posting for myself. Unfortunately, I have yet to come across a topic about which I feel truly enthusiastic & frenzied; or, at least, I have not yet made this realization. Stay tuned...
I hope that I will become more comfortable with & excited about my blog as the semester progresses. I currently post only in order to fulfill the course requirements. However, I would eventually like to start posting for myself. Unfortunately, I have yet to come across a topic about which I feel truly enthusiastic & frenzied; or, at least, I have not yet made this realization. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Exercise #2
1.
In the Library With the Lead Pipe
This blog is maintained by a "team of librarians" who post at both a personal & professional level. Some posts include images & are styled in a journal-like format while others take the form of scholarly written articles with bold subheadings as well as bibliographical references & recommended further readings. When reading the blog outside of Google Reader, I glanced at the "about" section where it is noted that every "article" (I'm not sure if this means every post or only those posts that take the form of a traditionally published article) is peer-reviewed by both an internal & external reader/participant. Updates to the blog are somewhat infrequent as there are only a couple of posts per month.
Librarian's Commute
This blog is maintained by an individual & the majority of the posts consist of personal experiences & lessons learned from the reference desk. The structure of the entries are more like those that are found in more casual & recreational-type blogs. Out of the five blogs discussed here I found this blog to be the most interesting & readable. That might be because it seems more simplistic in style & content (which says a lot about me).
The Distant Librarian
This blog is clearly the work of a Public Services Systems Librarian (as noted in the author's "about me" section). The posts are primarily "techy" & short; no verbose prose here. Posts mainly consist of book reviews & how-to's. Unfortunately, I found the Google ads very distracting in my perusing as they take up just as much space as the posts themselves.
Librarian by Day
I originally tried accessing this blog through ANGEL from my workplace & was unable to do so for some reason. Instead, I googled the blog's title &, interestingly enough, came up with several results. One result was the older version & URL of this blog (librarianbyday.wordpress.com); one was the correct & current blog (librarianbyday.net); finally, the third blog with this title (librarianbyday.blogspot.com) belongs to a completely different author & is made up of teen lit reviews. But, I digress...
This blog also seemed more "techy" to me but also seemed a little more coherent to the layman. The blogger makes heavy use of current social networking tools including Twitter & YouTube & at the conclusion of each post readers are encouraged to share the post via their favorite social network(s). Many of the posts also include links to posts with similar subjects & discussions.
David Lee King
Each post includes an image, text in the form of paragraphs, & text in the form of bullet points. The blogger posts on new resources & tools & also gives tips on a variety of subjects, including giving presentations. King keeps the posts brief & to the point.
2.
Personally, the blogs & posts that interest me the most are those that narrate & recount a story, specifically through the blogger's own life-experiences. I think such blogs can also touch on current issues in the field & inform readers at the same time, as evidenced by Librarian's Commute.
3.
The Librarian in Black
Along with the more "typical" posts this blog also includes videos, of presentations by the blogger as well as a television appearance on Tech News Today. The "librarian in black" discusses new & newish technological tools from both the perspective of the customer/user & the librarian. As evidenced by the blog's title & the author's streaks of blue hair (as shown during her television appearance), the title librarian is not your grandmother's librarian.
Marin County Free Library Blog
I selected this blog mainly because of the library behind it. This library is a somewhat local library & as I had once considered applying for a position there this blog, by the title alone, stood out to me more than the others. Almost daily posts inform readers of upcoming events & workshops, new acquisitions & resources, & the featured weekly download from the "always available" digital audio-book collection.
Virginia Commonwealth University Library Suggestion Blog
This blog interested me because my library made a similar but, unfortunately, ill-fated attempt. Patrons' suggestions are posted & a librarian's/blogger's answer is posted publicly so that all of the library patrons can be informed & kept in the loop regardless of whether they did the asking. My library was planning on setting up a "virtual bulletin board" where suggestions & answers would be publicly posted but due to the lack of suggestions submitted the plan was scrapped. Hmm, perhaps this is one of those "if you build it, they will come" instances...
4.
I think a unique title & concept, such as that of The Librarian in Black will grab the attention of readers more than a "boring", more run-of-the-mill title. However, that alone will not keep the readers interested. As evidenced through the Marin County Free Library Blog & as noted in many of the assigned readings to date, posting to a blog infrequently does not a successful blog make. Rather, blogs that are constantly updated with a wide array of subjects will have readers constantly checking to see what's new. If readers check the blog & see that the latest post was made weeks or months ago, the blog & the body behind it (be it an institution or an individual) will have lost a part of their user base or at least lost some points in terms of user relevance & interest. Successful blogs also need to provide a platform, not only for the blogger(s) but also for the readers. Readers should be able to comment & expect a response from the blogger(s). There should be opportunity for dialogue & discourse.
In the Library With the Lead Pipe
This blog is maintained by a "team of librarians" who post at both a personal & professional level. Some posts include images & are styled in a journal-like format while others take the form of scholarly written articles with bold subheadings as well as bibliographical references & recommended further readings. When reading the blog outside of Google Reader, I glanced at the "about" section where it is noted that every "article" (I'm not sure if this means every post or only those posts that take the form of a traditionally published article) is peer-reviewed by both an internal & external reader/participant. Updates to the blog are somewhat infrequent as there are only a couple of posts per month.
Librarian's Commute
This blog is maintained by an individual & the majority of the posts consist of personal experiences & lessons learned from the reference desk. The structure of the entries are more like those that are found in more casual & recreational-type blogs. Out of the five blogs discussed here I found this blog to be the most interesting & readable. That might be because it seems more simplistic in style & content (which says a lot about me).
The Distant Librarian
This blog is clearly the work of a Public Services Systems Librarian (as noted in the author's "about me" section). The posts are primarily "techy" & short; no verbose prose here. Posts mainly consist of book reviews & how-to's. Unfortunately, I found the Google ads very distracting in my perusing as they take up just as much space as the posts themselves.
Librarian by Day
I originally tried accessing this blog through ANGEL from my workplace & was unable to do so for some reason. Instead, I googled the blog's title &, interestingly enough, came up with several results. One result was the older version & URL of this blog (librarianbyday.wordpress.com); one was the correct & current blog (librarianbyday.net); finally, the third blog with this title (librarianbyday.blogspot.com) belongs to a completely different author & is made up of teen lit reviews. But, I digress...
This blog also seemed more "techy" to me but also seemed a little more coherent to the layman. The blogger makes heavy use of current social networking tools including Twitter & YouTube & at the conclusion of each post readers are encouraged to share the post via their favorite social network(s). Many of the posts also include links to posts with similar subjects & discussions.
David Lee King
Each post includes an image, text in the form of paragraphs, & text in the form of bullet points. The blogger posts on new resources & tools & also gives tips on a variety of subjects, including giving presentations. King keeps the posts brief & to the point.
2.
Personally, the blogs & posts that interest me the most are those that narrate & recount a story, specifically through the blogger's own life-experiences. I think such blogs can also touch on current issues in the field & inform readers at the same time, as evidenced by Librarian's Commute.
3.
The Librarian in Black
Along with the more "typical" posts this blog also includes videos, of presentations by the blogger as well as a television appearance on Tech News Today. The "librarian in black" discusses new & newish technological tools from both the perspective of the customer/user & the librarian. As evidenced by the blog's title & the author's streaks of blue hair (as shown during her television appearance), the title librarian is not your grandmother's librarian.
Marin County Free Library Blog
I selected this blog mainly because of the library behind it. This library is a somewhat local library & as I had once considered applying for a position there this blog, by the title alone, stood out to me more than the others. Almost daily posts inform readers of upcoming events & workshops, new acquisitions & resources, & the featured weekly download from the "always available" digital audio-book collection.
Virginia Commonwealth University Library Suggestion Blog
This blog interested me because my library made a similar but, unfortunately, ill-fated attempt. Patrons' suggestions are posted & a librarian's/blogger's answer is posted publicly so that all of the library patrons can be informed & kept in the loop regardless of whether they did the asking. My library was planning on setting up a "virtual bulletin board" where suggestions & answers would be publicly posted but due to the lack of suggestions submitted the plan was scrapped. Hmm, perhaps this is one of those "if you build it, they will come" instances...
4.
I think a unique title & concept, such as that of The Librarian in Black will grab the attention of readers more than a "boring", more run-of-the-mill title. However, that alone will not keep the readers interested. As evidenced through the Marin County Free Library Blog & as noted in many of the assigned readings to date, posting to a blog infrequently does not a successful blog make. Rather, blogs that are constantly updated with a wide array of subjects will have readers constantly checking to see what's new. If readers check the blog & see that the latest post was made weeks or months ago, the blog & the body behind it (be it an institution or an individual) will have lost a part of their user base or at least lost some points in terms of user relevance & interest. Successful blogs also need to provide a platform, not only for the blogger(s) but also for the readers. Readers should be able to comment & expect a response from the blogger(s). There should be opportunity for dialogue & discourse.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Personal Branding
Before this week I had always thought that the fact that a search with my name does not cull many results was a pro rather than a con. However, now I feel that my lack of online presence could make me seem apathetic and idle, inside and outside of the professional realm.
When searching by my first and last names the only search result on the first page that actually pertains to me is my LinkedIn profile which currently happens to be quite insubstantial. :/ Interestingly enough, nothing even comes up when I do a search with my name and my place of employment though I am clearly listed in the online staff directory accessible through the institution's homepage.
When searching by my name and "facebook" several Elizabeth Stuckis pop up but I am not one of them. As mentioned before, I was pleased with this lack of online presence especially since there has been a great deal of talk surrounding the frequent changes made to Facebook and the need to adjust one's privacy settings accordingly so that one's life is not splayed out for one and all to see. However, this week's readings have impressed upon me the need for me to build up my online presence. While potential employers and colleagues do not need to read about ALL of my professional and recreational activities they should be able to at least find a picture of me as well as get some sort of glimpse into me--as a library student, library assistant, and as a person, in general.
When searching by my first and last names the only search result on the first page that actually pertains to me is my LinkedIn profile which currently happens to be quite insubstantial. :/ Interestingly enough, nothing even comes up when I do a search with my name and my place of employment though I am clearly listed in the online staff directory accessible through the institution's homepage.
When searching by my name and "facebook" several Elizabeth Stuckis pop up but I am not one of them. As mentioned before, I was pleased with this lack of online presence especially since there has been a great deal of talk surrounding the frequent changes made to Facebook and the need to adjust one's privacy settings accordingly so that one's life is not splayed out for one and all to see. However, this week's readings have impressed upon me the need for me to build up my online presence. While potential employers and colleagues do not need to read about ALL of my professional and recreational activities they should be able to at least find a picture of me as well as get some sort of glimpse into me--as a library student, library assistant, and as a person, in general.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Exercise #1, Part 2: Geek Squad
As Part 1 of this exercise was the first time I have actually aired my grievances with the Geek Squad (aside from my recounting the latest developments to my coworkers, family, & friends), I wanted to see how others were faring with their services.
From what I have found online through the resources provided for Week 2, it seems that the overall consensus is split. Some praise the Geek Squad while others share my disdain. Most of the resources discuss the Geek Squad in general while Yelp was the only site where I found specific mention of the Emeryville branch. I found How Sociable? to be the most helpful & informative in my search as it provides the statistics regarding any mentions (the good, the bad, & the ugly) of the Geek Squad as well as links to the specific sites.
On the Geek Squad homepage the company encourages customers to "follow us" via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Twelpforce. In checking out these various resources I noticed that any two-sided communication between the agents & the customers mostly takes place through the Facebook page and Twelpforce. However, Twelpforce appears to be a more general Best Buy service rather than that of the Geek Squad specifically. The Geek Squad does have a Twitter account but it appears to mainly consist of advertisements & brief tidbits of information that is deemed newsworthy. Geek Squad posts a mix of videos on the YouTube account. Some of the videos are meant to amuse viewers while others consist of an agent(s) giving do-it-yourself advice on issues customers might face. The latest video has an agent named William advising customers on how to react/respond to any Gawker passwords they might have that have been compromised by hackers.
When customers posted recent questions to the Facebook page more often than not an agent with the initials of AP would respond with a word of advice in a very timely manner. Many times the advice would mainly take the form of encouraging the customer to contact or visit their local Geek Squad location. When customers would express their dissatisfaction with the level of service they had received and/or are receiving AP's timely response would include an apology as well as an e-mail request for the customer's name, phone number, purchase plan, and a service order number. AP would also say that he/she would look into it ASAP. While the "conversations" I saw on Facebook are somewhat encouraging I was disappointed but, unfortunately, not all that surprised that the communications through the other social media tools seem to be far less reciprocal & rather superficial.
From what I have found online through the resources provided for Week 2, it seems that the overall consensus is split. Some praise the Geek Squad while others share my disdain. Most of the resources discuss the Geek Squad in general while Yelp was the only site where I found specific mention of the Emeryville branch. I found How Sociable? to be the most helpful & informative in my search as it provides the statistics regarding any mentions (the good, the bad, & the ugly) of the Geek Squad as well as links to the specific sites.
On the Geek Squad homepage the company encourages customers to "follow us" via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Twelpforce. In checking out these various resources I noticed that any two-sided communication between the agents & the customers mostly takes place through the Facebook page and Twelpforce. However, Twelpforce appears to be a more general Best Buy service rather than that of the Geek Squad specifically. The Geek Squad does have a Twitter account but it appears to mainly consist of advertisements & brief tidbits of information that is deemed newsworthy. Geek Squad posts a mix of videos on the YouTube account. Some of the videos are meant to amuse viewers while others consist of an agent(s) giving do-it-yourself advice on issues customers might face. The latest video has an agent named William advising customers on how to react/respond to any Gawker passwords they might have that have been compromised by hackers.
When customers posted recent questions to the Facebook page more often than not an agent with the initials of AP would respond with a word of advice in a very timely manner. Many times the advice would mainly take the form of encouraging the customer to contact or visit their local Geek Squad location. When customers would express their dissatisfaction with the level of service they had received and/or are receiving AP's timely response would include an apology as well as an e-mail request for the customer's name, phone number, purchase plan, and a service order number. AP would also say that he/she would look into it ASAP. While the "conversations" I saw on Facebook are somewhat encouraging I was disappointed but, unfortunately, not all that surprised that the communications through the other social media tools seem to be far less reciprocal & rather superficial.
Exercise #1, Part 1: Geek Squad
For our first exercise, I've selected Geek Squad particularly because they have been the bane of my existence for the last month or so. Part 1 will mainly be the back story while Part 2 will be the actual exercise.
My story begins on January 12 when I dropped my laptop off at the Emeryville Best Buy (where I purchased the product). A few days earlier my laptop had started crashing & it had actually reached the point where I was unable to even start it in safe mode. Normally, I'd have my computer expert brother take care of it but he was out of town so I figured I'd leave it in the capable hands of the Geek Squad instead. After the agent was also unable to start it in safe mode we decided that I would pay them $130 to try and save everything on my computer but get rid of the problem & if they were unable to do so as a last resort they would erase and re-install the operating system, etc. The agent told me that it would be 5-7 days until the repairs would be completed and my laptop would be in working condition, in some form or another.
When January 19 (a week later) rolled around & I had yet to hear from them I called to check on the status. I was told that it was taking longer than expected & that it would be a few more days. Upon hearing that I had been told that the repairs would take 5-7 days I was told by the second agent that it is usually 7+ days.
On January 23, when I had still yet to hear back from them I called again. I was told that the laptop was still pulling up a black screen rather than the desktop & that within the next few hours they'd make the decision as to whether or not they would need to erase and re-install everything rather than continue attempting to save everything. However, I seriously think that they did not really even look at it let alone tinker with it until that day. A few hours later, the agent I had spoken with called me back (the one & only time I received a call from them throughout this whole ordeal). He said that it was actually an issue with the motherboard & that, with my permission, they would send it to an off-site facility & that it would be 2-4 weeks before it would be ready for pick-up. As it had already been almost 2 weeks since I had dropped it off I was not very pleased with this news but also wanted them to do whatever they needed to do to get it back in working shape.
On February 4, I was checking the status of the service order online & noticed that my laptop had supposedly arrived back at the store on the 2nd & that it had been ready for pick-up since that date. However, I had never received any notification from the Geek Squad. I immediately called the store & was informed that there were still a few finishing touches that needed to be made & that it should be ready the following day, the 5th. He also told me several times that I would receive a call from an agent letting me know that it was ready. Well, the 5th came & went & I never heard from them. On the 6th, I called AGAIN & was told that the laptop was finally ready for pick-up.
Yesterday, the 7th, I got a ride from a friend & went to pick it up. The agent brought out the laptop & had me sign some final paperwork. As I was doing this he casually mentioned that the operating system was corrupted & that I would need to re-install it. I, unfortunately, no longer have the disc that would allow me to do this so I asked if it could be done in the store. Mind you, I was pretty much stupefied that they would be giving the laptop back to me though there was still a pretty big issue with it. The agent told me that for the price of $130 they could do it for me but that it would take 5 or so more days. I explained that I had already paid $130 when I dropped it off & that there was no way that I would be doing it again. He checked their records & saw that this was so & said he'd also see if they could perhaps rush things along since I had been without the computer for so long. After talking to his cronies in the back I was told that I did not have to pay any additional costs (as I had already paid them) & that it would be done in 4 hours. He then told me that he would personally call me to let me know when it was ready. Well, this morning when I had not heard anything from him or any other agent I yet again called for an update. Today's agent told me that it is indeed ready for pick-up. I will be going tomorrow with my friend to attempt to pick it up again & will be turning it on in the presence of the Geek Squad agent to make sure that this is the end of this saga.
My story begins on January 12 when I dropped my laptop off at the Emeryville Best Buy (where I purchased the product). A few days earlier my laptop had started crashing & it had actually reached the point where I was unable to even start it in safe mode. Normally, I'd have my computer expert brother take care of it but he was out of town so I figured I'd leave it in the capable hands of the Geek Squad instead. After the agent was also unable to start it in safe mode we decided that I would pay them $130 to try and save everything on my computer but get rid of the problem & if they were unable to do so as a last resort they would erase and re-install the operating system, etc. The agent told me that it would be 5-7 days until the repairs would be completed and my laptop would be in working condition, in some form or another.
When January 19 (a week later) rolled around & I had yet to hear from them I called to check on the status. I was told that it was taking longer than expected & that it would be a few more days. Upon hearing that I had been told that the repairs would take 5-7 days I was told by the second agent that it is usually 7+ days.
On January 23, when I had still yet to hear back from them I called again. I was told that the laptop was still pulling up a black screen rather than the desktop & that within the next few hours they'd make the decision as to whether or not they would need to erase and re-install everything rather than continue attempting to save everything. However, I seriously think that they did not really even look at it let alone tinker with it until that day. A few hours later, the agent I had spoken with called me back (the one & only time I received a call from them throughout this whole ordeal). He said that it was actually an issue with the motherboard & that, with my permission, they would send it to an off-site facility & that it would be 2-4 weeks before it would be ready for pick-up. As it had already been almost 2 weeks since I had dropped it off I was not very pleased with this news but also wanted them to do whatever they needed to do to get it back in working shape.
On February 4, I was checking the status of the service order online & noticed that my laptop had supposedly arrived back at the store on the 2nd & that it had been ready for pick-up since that date. However, I had never received any notification from the Geek Squad. I immediately called the store & was informed that there were still a few finishing touches that needed to be made & that it should be ready the following day, the 5th. He also told me several times that I would receive a call from an agent letting me know that it was ready. Well, the 5th came & went & I never heard from them. On the 6th, I called AGAIN & was told that the laptop was finally ready for pick-up.
Yesterday, the 7th, I got a ride from a friend & went to pick it up. The agent brought out the laptop & had me sign some final paperwork. As I was doing this he casually mentioned that the operating system was corrupted & that I would need to re-install it. I, unfortunately, no longer have the disc that would allow me to do this so I asked if it could be done in the store. Mind you, I was pretty much stupefied that they would be giving the laptop back to me though there was still a pretty big issue with it. The agent told me that for the price of $130 they could do it for me but that it would take 5 or so more days. I explained that I had already paid $130 when I dropped it off & that there was no way that I would be doing it again. He checked their records & saw that this was so & said he'd also see if they could perhaps rush things along since I had been without the computer for so long. After talking to his cronies in the back I was told that I did not have to pay any additional costs (as I had already paid them) & that it would be done in 4 hours. He then told me that he would personally call me to let me know when it was ready. Well, this morning when I had not heard anything from him or any other agent I yet again called for an update. Today's agent told me that it is indeed ready for pick-up. I will be going tomorrow with my friend to attempt to pick it up again & will be turning it on in the presence of the Geek Squad agent to make sure that this is the end of this saga.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Library 2.0: Making the most out of the most minimal
I find the idea of Library 2.0 encouraging in that it seems to be less a matter of technology-based services and more of a mindset and way of library living. A higher-level and relevant level of service to the library's user community is very attainable, no matter the library's fiscal resources. Some may use their institution's financial state as an excuse as to why this and that service is not available to users. However, there is nothing stopping staff from using freely available tools to improve upon the quality of service rendered particularly by communicating with and involving users in library brainstorming and decision-making.
A library blog with announcements and questions for users is a seemingly simple service to set up and maintain and would most likely be appreciated by the community. Based on my own day-to-day experiences I think that libraries without any form of two-sided communication with their user constituents, aside from transactions at the reference and circulation desks, should really re-evaluate their missions and strategic plans. Even if the only additional interaction is through a print survey put out by staff and filled out by users, this is still a way in which libraries can involve their users in making the library and its services more relevant to them and their information needs. Such an effort would be Library 2.0 at it's simplest but it would still be a step towards making the library environment more collaborative, transparent, and responsive. However, the survey in itself would not be enough as library administration would need to seriously consider the users' input if they are genuine about creating a truly collaborative and participatory environment.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Who. What. Where. Why.
Welcome to my blog! I'm an SLIS student at San Jose State University & this is my penultimate semester as I will be graduating in December 2011. This semester I'm taking a Web 2.0 course (officially, 246 Information Technology Tools & Applications-Advanced). Throughout the semester I'll be blogging on a variety of topics related to this course.
My name's Elizabeth. I was born & raised in Los Angeles. I graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, in 2005 with a degree in Social & Cultural History. I currently live & work in Berkeley. I am a full-time library assistant in the Circulation department at a graduate library. I also co-manage the Interlibrary Loan department & work about 4 hours a week in the Cataloging department to help with the workload. Upon receiving my degree, I plan on making my mark in the Cataloging world.
I enrolled in this course because the emphasis on Web 2.0 seems like a way for a non-techy person like me to become more techy without being entirely intimidated or overwhelmed in the process. Social networking is not entirely new to me. I had a LiveJournal in college & I currently frequent Facebook. However, I want to learn more about other facets & tools of social networking & how they can be utilized in today's libraries, especially when faced with a tragic budget.
My name's Elizabeth. I was born & raised in Los Angeles. I graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA, in 2005 with a degree in Social & Cultural History. I currently live & work in Berkeley. I am a full-time library assistant in the Circulation department at a graduate library. I also co-manage the Interlibrary Loan department & work about 4 hours a week in the Cataloging department to help with the workload. Upon receiving my degree, I plan on making my mark in the Cataloging world.
I enrolled in this course because the emphasis on Web 2.0 seems like a way for a non-techy person like me to become more techy without being entirely intimidated or overwhelmed in the process. Social networking is not entirely new to me. I had a LiveJournal in college & I currently frequent Facebook. However, I want to learn more about other facets & tools of social networking & how they can be utilized in today's libraries, especially when faced with a tragic budget.
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