Library Voice

Tubetorial has some screencasts that cover the 7 Essential WordPress Hacks.

This series highlights 7 of the most important tweaks and plugins that any WordPress user should know about:

• Episode 1: How to Get More Search Engine Traffic With One Simple Tweak
• Episode 2: How to Make More Money With AdSense
• Episode 3: Feedvertising: Make Money With Your RSS Feed
• Episode 4: More Feedback, Less Spam: WordPress Contact Form Plugin
• Episode 5: How to Increase Comments and Page Views With One Quick and Easy Plugin
• Episode 6: How to Stop Comment Spam in its Tracks With Akismet  (forthcoming)
• Episode 7: Back Up Your Blog or Risk Losing it All (forthcoming)

It seems like these days the “Greatest Games” list are a dime a dozen.  However, that did not stop Simon Byron and Ste Curran  from writing a book about it. The book,  published this week, is called  ‘Game On! From Pong to Oblivion: the 50 Greatest Games Of All
Time’.  Next Gen Biz has a little information about the book here, and you can find the list of games here.  The authors have a website at http://www.greatestgames.co.uk/, and it will even include a discussion page where gamers can argue whether Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4 was better than 3.

I got back safe and sound from Monterey at about 12:45 this morning. I had a great time at the conference, and am ready to try some of the things that I learned. I had a blast meeting lots of new folks and catching up with old friends. Thanks for a great conference, and I hope to see you all at Computers in Libraries in the spring.

Technorati Tag: IL2006

The RSS and JavaScript Cookbook

Meredith Farkas and Paul Pival

paulandmeredith.pbwiki.com

Paul says every single tool they will show us will be usable by librarians.

Using the traditional subject page as an example of how to generate dynamic content
Most subject guides are not often updated
Not easy to add content if you don’t know HTML

Dynamic Content
-lives elsewhere, but pulled into a page

RSS
RSS is a format for syndicating on the web

What is javascript?
A simple scripting language that can interact with HTML source code, enabling web authors to spice up their sties with dynamic content

What sort of content might be on a subject page?
useful databases
useful journals
useful books

What you can do with RSS on a subject page?
Blog posts on the sidebar
database search feeds on specific subjects
–pubmed
–Ebsco
–ProQuest
some catalog search feeds
Collect journal RSS feeds
RSS for new books feed
RSS from social bookmarking sites
Syndicate podcasts, screencasts, videocasts

Simple RSS Tools
Feed2JS–probably the most popular service
-you can install the js on your own server

Paul demonstrated how this could be used within blackboard. This would be a cool way to let users know of resources that are specific to their topic.

FeedBlendr
-blends multiple feeds

R-Mail.org
use to send RSS to email

RSS calendar
-put events and stuff into
–rsscalendar.com

Technorati Tag: IL2006

MySpace and Facebook

MySpace is not the best website ever.  It can be hard to use, it can give a bad user experience.  Nevertheless, people still use it because of the social experience.  

Aaron got a teenager to update the Thomas Ford MySpace page.

————

Cliff Landis

What is the nature of the beast?
Profiles as Identity Performance
-Dynamic and Static
-user can change profile and picture and information regularly
Social Networking
-Connections between individuals creat a network
Groups and Identity

Using Facebook to benefit students
Reference
-consultations
-groups
Marketing
-photos
-flyers
-events
Instruction
-groups
-links to traditional resources

Innovatie services
Acquisitions
-asking students on their own turf
Ubiquitous librarianship
–using a student’s public profile to assist them

The user-centric approach
-Karen Schneider’s “The User is Not Broken”
-meet the people where they are, not where you want them to be
–point of need service

Cliff created an ASK-A-Librarian group in Facebook
-librarians should represent themselves as an individual–create a group

Technorati Tag: IL2006

Shari Thurow
Web Presence for Internet Librarians

Shari is the Webmaster/Marketing directory at Grantastic Designs
She says she loves librarians.
She’s working on a PHD in Library Science
She says that librarians will be the heroes of the web

Goals of this presentation:
Define a search engine friendly web site design
Search engine optimization essentials
Other design considerations

Search engine friendly design:
-is not a design that increases Google ranks
-rather, it si a user-friendly design that can be easily found on both crawler-based and human-based search engine
Search engines are the “third browser”

5 basic rules of easy desing
-easy to read
-easy to navigate
–people should know where they are at at all times
-easy to find
-consistent in layout and design
-quick to download
–the majority of the web page needs to download in less than 30 seconds on a 56k modem

FAQ page
You put the question at the top of the page, which then links to the answer below (with and anchor tag)

Search engines:
they index text
they follow links
they measure popularity

If you make a flash-based site, your site will not get rankings in search engines
-search engines don’t like to index javascript based links

Do your words or phrases on your page match what your target audiences type into search engines?
Do you provide easy access to keyword focused text that spiders can easily follow?

successful search optimization depends on:
text component (index text)
–giving lots of keywords on page
–average search query is 2.3 words
–every web page should have a unique title tag
–breadcrumbs links on page
–use hyphens not underscores
link component (follow links)

If you need to figure out what text the search engines are indexing, select all on the web page, then paste into NotePad.

Link Component
Site & Page Architecture

Link component essentials include:
-site navigatgion scheme
-cross lining

types of site navigation
-text links
-navigation buttons
-image maps
-menus (form and DHTML)
-flash
these are ordered from most search engine friendly to the least friendly

Search engines do not fill out forms, so they do not index drop-down menus

Shari stresses that you need to design for your users, not for the search engines.  If your users want flash (for example, the entertainment industry) then use flash
–always have two forms of navigation on your web site
–combination of graphic images and graphic links

Most important rule in marketing
MPABS
“Most People Are Basically Stupid”

Site map should not be a bandaid
–if the search engines can only access your site via a site map, then your site needs a redesign

Informational pages
–contain information your target audience is interested in
–do not contain a lot of sales hype or industry (library) jargon
–often have a simpler layout

15-20% of search queries have location qualifiers

Cross-linking is very important
Cross linking communicates that you think a page is important

Technorati Tag: IL2006

Podcasting and videocasting

Greg gives an overview of podcasting

Podcasting is not slapping mp3 files on the web.  To be a podcast,  there has to be an RSS feed.

Podcasting is not a one-time deal.  You have to keep putting content out there for your users to get new content.

Podcasting takes time

Things to podcast
Programming
Upcoming events and library news
bibliographic instruction
content for the visually impaired

9 steps to podcasting
1.  Determine content and format
2.  Assemble equipment and people
3.  Record
4.  Edit and export mp3
5.  Listen!
6.  Upload file to server
7.  Generate RSS feed
8.
9.  Repeat the process

—————————-

Jeff Humphrey
INCOLSA Interactive Media Specialist

INCOLSA is a state library consortium in Indiana

Video Podcasting as INCOLSA

Why we are doing it
Because we can
Natural progression of existing services

Currently converting existing content, stored on their web server
Jeff writes the RSS from scratch

Jeff says that he is going to convert to a blog format with WordPress

Production Tips
Have a reason to include video
Invest in a good microphone
Frame shots properly
Enhance production with graphics

————————————-
David Free
Georgia Perimeter College
creator and editor of Listen Up!

8 things I learned about podcasting
1.  Make sure it feeds!
2.  Promote.  Then promote some more.  (sending out email, etc)
3.  Keep it short.  Dave recommends going no longer than 10 minutes
4.  Use music sparingly  (listen to NPR as a good example)
5.  Multiple voices rock.  Interviews make good content
6.  Podcast events. Events are the most popular that David does.
7.  Consider your web
8.  Listen to your listeners.

What David uses
USB mic
Audacity
encodes at 96 kBits/ MP3
liberated syndication
Feedburner

The Future

————————————-

Off the rack

When looking at instructional technologies, Sean tries to look at multiple factors.
Engagement
-provides alternate, enriched, content perpectives
Interaction
-provides anytime, anywhere flexibility, user creativity
Reflection
-podcasts allow time to reflect

Sean points to Chris Kretz’s “Learning to Speak” presentation on HigherEdBlogCon

How libraries can use podcast
Build community on student experiences
Promote the library through podcasts
Podcasts as professional development tool

Sean shows us a lot of examples from places

————————————-

David King

shows us his cool camera

David show us his Sidewalk Art video

Introduction to videoblogging

Examples of videoblog
davidleeking.com/etc
rocketboom (very famous, one of the most well known) get over 400,000 views per day

Terminology
Videopodcats
vlog
videoblog
vodcast

Videoblogging is video on a blog

Why is it getting big?
storage and bandwidth is getting cheaper
cheap easy mobile video
video ipods

How do you watch them?
Just click on one
need a computer with broadband
Need a video player
-windows media player
-quicktime
-flash
A video aggregator would be nice

Coolest way to watch
Get an iPod
or a clone
or a PSP
watch at your convenience

How do you create them
need a computer
need a video camera
video editing software (Windows Movie Maker or iMovie)
a blog
formats –most blogger use quicktime or flash
an idea

Storage
One–store it yourself
Two–let someone else store them

YouTube
very popular right now
they’ll store your video
they’ll keep stats
they won’t allow people to download the video

What can libraries do with videoblogging?
-book talk
-bibliographic instruction & tutorials
-film your events

More intersting ideas:
Cultural memory project–video history rather than oral history
Collaborative–kids (or other users) making video
Behind the scenes thing–what goes on at the library

Slightly whacked out ideas
Travel
-videoblog local attractions
-get library staff to video vacations
Political
-invite local candidates to discuss something
Hobbies and lifestyles

Need more Info
books on videoblogging in Amazon
Yahoo videoblogging group

Technorati Tag: IL2006

Second Life Library 2.0

Lori Bell, Michael Sauers, and Tom Peters

Begin the session by showing a 3 minute video tour of Info Island
available on Youtube–search for SL Library

SL Library is truly a collaborative effort
every continent is represented except for Antartica and Africa

currently over a million residents in SL
It’s really important that libraries be there

the crowd is laughing,
Lori says you can do anything in SL.  “If you want to gamble, you can gampble.  If you want to have sex, you can have sex.”

Most employers don’t quite understand it yet, so most are doing it on their own time.

Why are SL avatars are pursuing info-related activities
“many are tired of the sex and gambling” in SL
Increasingly used by univeristies

Amazon has a full time presence there.

Doing lots of experimentation
what kinds of collections will they have, what kind of services will they offer

Lori says they are opening a fourth island that she “is going to leave us in suspense over”

Instead of everyone building their own library, she suggests that folks need to collaborate to save time.

————–
Michael Sauers

wants to give a reality check

Tech specs:  Minimum vs. Recommended requirements to

Reality check #1
you do need a nice machine

Reality check #2
if you can’t follow several conversations and are easily annoyed by typos

Reality check #3
You don’t have to spend real money, but it helps

Reality check #4
The more people at an event/location, the greater the lag will be

Reality check #5
Your boss and co-workers will probably not view this as work

Reality check #6
The more fun you’re having, the more time you’ll watnt to spend on the grid

Reality check #7
People are generally polite but they still fall on your head

Reality check #8
Don’t keep track of who’s who based on appearances

Reality check #9
Updates, updates, updates

Reality check #10
Grey goo
purchased items disappearing
system promblems

Reality check #11
Sometimes it just doesn’t work

SL is cool, but sometimes is does not work like it’s supposed to.

———————-
Tom Peters

avatars often say they are so glad that the library does not have sex and gambling

What are we learning:
will they have collections
what services will they have
events are big draws
exhibits are pretty interesting

SL has been a release of pent-up librarian created energy

What types of library services do SL avatars want, need, and expect?
What types of library buildings and locations are needed?
Are collections needed?

They are finding people like to be outdoors
You only have inclement weather if someone wills it

Challenges
self-inflicted burnout
external funding
expertise funding
Implementing Library 2.0 concepts
Rapidly evolving environment and human understanding of that environment

Predictions
Library services to avatars will thrive
architecture will evolve away from real-world architecture
libraries will include elements from museums, them parks
exhibits and events will be more useful than traditional collections
immersive, experiential learning experiences

Librarians have fun in SL

Technorati Tag: IL2006

The Basics of Web-Based Experience Planning

David King
Digital Branch and Services Manager
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library

Examples of bad experiences

Goal is to introduce experience planning

User Experience Design
Jessee James Garrett–The Elements of User Experience

5 elements
1.  Strategy
2.  Scope
3.  Structure
4.  Skeleton
5.  Surface

Strategy= planning
Scope= figuring out what’s needed and who will do the work
Structure= fill in the details
Skeleton= an outline of the site
Surface= visual design

Experience economy
-called a lot of things right now
-experience planning, experience architecting, digital experience planning

Cold Stone Creamery does not sell ice cream
They sell the ice cream experience

Build a bear does not sell bears
They sell the continuing experience with the bear

How?
1. ask–what experiences do you want the user to have
2.  save the user extra steps
3.  find trigger points–one or two things that are really important to the user
4.  improve the dinosaurs–find something that has not changed in a long time and make it different
5.  map a journey–get in the customer’s head
6.  merit badging–people are collecting experiences rather than things
7.  focusesd design

Ask you patrons:
what types of info they want
what sites they visit regularly
what do you like and not like on our website

Ask staff:
what do they want to see changed
what is not there that need to be there
be aware that some staff will use the site differently than library customers

No extra steps:
What extra steps exist on your website?
references book “Don’t make me think?”
library services:  library card applications, ILL forms, catalog searching

Trigger points
ask customers what ticks you off about our site

Find stuff that hasn’t changed
“we’ve always done it that way”

Map a journey
Does the journey start at the door of the library?
Does the journey start at the main page of a website?

Merit Badging
make a game?  extra credit opportunities?

Focused design
Remove distrations
consistent look and feel

PRETEND YOU ARE A PATRON

Technorati Tag: IL2006

Cultivating Tech-Saavy Library Staff

Sarah Houghton-Jan
David King

Sarah Houghton-Jan
San Mateo County Library
LibrarianInBlack.net

Technology Competencies: A path to training

tech competencies are a list of things that staff should know in order to do their jobs

You don’t need competencies if:
-every staff member is an expert in every technology you are currently using
- or if staff are willing to self-educate

You do need tech compentencies if:
–some are more skilled than others

How will competencies help?
–job descriptions
–evaluations
–reveal training needs
–address feelings of inequity
–help staff adjust and handle change

if everyone is basically skilled, then those experts will not be overworked to make up for others’ insecurities with tech

Create a purpose statement to get started
–guides planning
–explains process to all staff members

Two types of competencies
–Descriptive–kind of vague
–Task-based –more concrete, more action
may want to include some of both

before starting
1. Who does the lead work
2. Who identifies the competencies
3. Tech competencies or expanding to other general competencies
4. Core or extensive list
5 Do you have a timeline in mind
6. What constitutes technology?
7. Specific to the hardware and software now, or do you make the competencies more general (so it can evolve)?
8. Essential skills and extended skills?
9. Base on classification, position, location, or pay step?
10. Base on full-time/part-time/substitute, or desire for promotion/bonus?

Competency cycle
Brainstorming>Creation>>Assessment>>Training>>Reassessmment

Getting Staff Buy In
Need buy in at all levels
ask staff for input and use it
keep everyone informed at all steps
have a purpose statement
reassure staff that they don’t have all competencies now
train managers first
managers must allow staff to attend training

Brainstorming for the leaders
literature search
existing position descriptions
prof. association requirements
library’s strategic goals
What do your customers need to know

Brainstorming for everyone else
Elicit input from staff through
-brainstorming session
-email discussion group
–blog or wiki
-committees
Seek input from others
–consultants
–patrons

Where will you competencies live?
Text or web?
A web version can list the cometencies with links to how-to’s

Competency Tips
–beware subject adjectives
–if using self-assessments have three choices: yes, no, mayber
–provide a technology terms glossary
–all new hires should complete the assessment

Assessment
–Objective assessment
–subjective assessment
Who reviews the results

Slides will be available on librarianinblack.net

————————————–

David King
10 Ways to Keep Techies Happy

1. Techies are part of the team
-include techies in planning groups
-let them research the techie parts of a project
-no-techie figures out the end result–techie figures ourt how to get there
-collaboration is key

2. Toys, gadgets, and server playgrounds
–many techies consider their job to be playing with toys
–let the techie test drive new things first(PDA, PC, etc)
–create a server playground
–create time to play - Google gives employees time to play

3. Do your part
–don’t automatically it’s a techie task just because it’s on the computer
–learn the basics
–don’t waste

4. Healthy Workplace
–fighting between 2 people vs departmental power struggles
–work on change management
–it starts with you

5. Training them and you
–Conferences, seminars, classes
–budget for books, white papers, etc
–train everyone
–anything your customers ask, you should know. If a lot of them ask

6. Adequate staffing/project balance
–branch staffing vs. web staffing
–1 person to how many PCs
–1 person to how many staff members
–how many techies vs. how many projects, vs time each project takes

7. Tell them when you don’t get it
–don’t pretend or be a know it all
–don’t let your lack of knowledge be a scapegoat

8. Pay them well
–actual pay
–time off for overtime
–some have re-worked payscales

9. Budget appropriately
–new techy projects cost
–budget those tings
–figure out the end result, how to get there, how to pay for it

10. Admit that we are all geeks
We are all experts in the part of the library that we operate in. Everyone has different strengths.

Technorati Tag: IL2006