1st Annual Evergreen Conference Wednesday, May 27 2009 

Library , , lfloydlib 4:28 pm

Interesting what happens when you get a bunch of techie librarians and other tech folks together at a conference.  Sometimes things happens, like the new Acquisition module for the Evergreen ILS gets hacked out.  You learn about cool new toys like Libstats, Munin, and Splunk. 

Problems facing the use of Open source software in a library environment are discussed, everyone of us agreed something needs to be done about it, But what??  As most of us are slowly migrating to Open source platforms and programs.  Now if we can just start spreading the word. 

Data Migration is the name of the game for some of the conference.  This really interest me as we are migrating to Evergreen with the SCLends Consortium in December.  Data Cleanup is my nemesis right now. 

Serials in Evergreen is comming along.  Nice new tools are coming out to help, until a full serials module is finished. Yeah.  Great explanation on MFHD by David Fiander, now, to explain it to my Serials staff.  Now if Evergreen can predict the future using MFHD.

Nice explanation of OpenSRF by Mike Rylander,  thought about building an CMS based on OpenSRF.  Just a thought. 

Templates, toolkits, and auto-widgets were the focus of one session, what do I need that Evergreen does not offer?  Maybe in my spare time I can build it.  To do this, I will need to build that test system, after all.

 

Public libraries are engines of economic growth, studies show Thursday, Apr 17 2008 

Library , lfloydlib 9:25 am

State of American Libraries

 

Check out the report of the “State of American Libraries”  at http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/presscentera/piopresskits/2008statereport/2008statehome.cfm

 

 

 

Library as Place Monday, Dec 3 2007 

Library , lfloydlib 2:39 pm

Check out what these library students are saying about designing a library, either signage, policies, physical place, or atomosphere.

 

Powdersville Branch Library Opens. Monday, Nov 26 2007 

Library , , , lfloydlib 4:21 pm

On November 18, 2007 a crowed gathered outside the new Daniel T. Cooper Building in Powdersville, SC for the opening of the Powdersville Branch Library.  This Library has 18 Internet computers, 4 children’s game computers, and WiFi (802.11n) access.  The internet computers have USB drive access, CD-RW’s, MS Office Pro to name a few the the features.  Since it has opened, the locals have enjoyed the new space.  The Powdersville Library went from a space on around 1200 sq. ft. to 12,000 sq. ft.  Check out the new Powdersville Library and its opening on the Anderson County Library’s Flickr account.

 

SC State Library has Games Consoles to check out Wednesday, Nov 7 2007 

Gaming and Library , , lfloydlib 12:29 pm

The South Carolina State Library has taking an initiative in the world of gaming.  They have several game consoles (PS2, Wii, Nintendo DS Lite)  that public libraries can check out.  DDR, Guitar Hero, Call of Duty 3, and several other games are available.  Looking forward to what we can do with these.  Check out the News release from the State Library.

 

A Blue Sky Conversation: Snippets & Thoughts Tuesday, Nov 6 2007 

Library and SCLA and SCLA2007 , lfloydlib 6:25 pm

Helen Bowers and Michael Casey were the keynote speakers for the closing General Session and Award Brunch.  They shared with us a group of slides of Snippets and Thoughts by Lynette Webb.  The discussion was interesting and thought provoking.  The audience was brought in on the discussion.  It was an interesting way for the last session to end.   As the conference was on Library 2.0 Helen and Michael both brought the idea to the session.  Bring in the audience and get their opinion.  The slides can be found at http://www.librarybytes.com/2007/11/scla-keynote-w-michael-casey.html. 

Also several awards were given at the Finial Session, congratulation to Mr. Carl Stone for his lifetime achievement Award.  As he was on a cruise in the Caribbean, I accepted the reward on his behalf. 
 

Originally uploaded by crr29061

 

User-Centered Librarianship: Library 2.0 in 3 Sectors Thursday, Nov 1 2007 

Library and SCLA and SCLA2007 , , lfloydlib 5:47 pm

Adam Haigh, Dennis Adams, and Felicia Vereen discussed how their libraries are using the ideas of Library 2.0.

Adam Haigh from Lander University discussed how they have implemented IM Reference at Lander University.

Dennis Adams showed how the Beaufort County Library has embraced all aspects of Library 2.0 technologies, including using Meebe, Vodcast, Flickr, and blogs.  Check out their website at http://www.beaufortcountylibrary.org.  Dennis compared Library 2.0 to the Sun God Ra.  Library 2.0 has 2 I’s, Implementation and Instructions.  Both I’s need to exist for Library 2.0 to work.

 Felicia Vereen with the State Library reminded us that the technology is only one part of the Library 2.0 world,  This is user-centered.  Libraries have to plan services, formats, access, building, and staff training for a Library to be 2.0.  We need to find ways to creates and implement policies that focus on Library 2.0 ideas.  We need to find new ways to serve our users.  The State Library has recently purchased a DDR, Guitar Hero, Wii and PS3 for public library to check out and use and demonstrate that it will bring in the user if we had one.  This is great for those just trying to get the teens back into the library.

 

Second General Session Keynote Thursday, Nov 1 2007 

Library and SCLA and SCLA2007 , , , , lfloydlib 5:32 pm

Kwame Alexander spoke about the effect the libraries have had on his life, and still have on his life.  From an uncool boy in Brooklyn to the Cool Poet he is today.  Libraries are the place where the collected memory of humanity lives.  Who listens? Libraries listen to what the patrons and users want.  Libraries have to connect to readers, and connect readers to readers.  Libraries want to be cool. 

 Library are a place to be:

  • Wonderful
  • for love
  • to be free
  • sell the dreams
  • be happy
  • be unhappy
  • be quick and smart

Libraries are pages and pages of hope!

 

South Carolina Electronic Resources Roundup Thursday, Nov 1 2007 

DISCUS and Library and SCLA and SCLA2007 , , , , lfloydlib 5:24 pm

Updates on PASCAL where given and what PASCAL is doing in the Academic Library environment.

Amy Duernberger of DISCUS show what is going on with DISCUS.  Over 4.5 Million items were retrieved in DISCUS across the State last year.  DISCUS saved the state around 30 Million dollars in cost for these wonderful online databases.  Thanks to a partnership with PASCAL, DISCUS was able to add AccessScience this year.  DISCUS looked at each database and what each had to offer, also compared them to other Database offerings that are available this year.  Determined that the databases in use offer the people of SC the best bang for their buck. DSCF0161

 Amy also introduced several new databases that will be added next year including, Science Resource Center, Opposing Viewpoints, and many others when the contract negotiation with Gale took place. 

 Gordon Cochrane showed how Clemson is adding information in Google Scholar. 

 

Using Freely Available Resources to Enhance Your Library Web Pages Thursday, Nov 1 2007 

Library and SCLA and SCLA2007 , , , lfloydlib 5:00 pm

This session was a panel discussion on using various technologies to enhance the websites and Online Catalogs using some of the free sources that are available. 

DSCF0137 Shawn Carroway from Midlands Technical College showed us how they were integrating RSS feeds into their Online Catalogs, using the feeds from the Periodical publishers, and adding that information in to the catalog. 

Paul Lewis from USC-Aiken discussed how they are using PmWiki to manage their website. 

Gordon Cochrane at Clemson showed how Clemson’s Library is using IM, a Wiki, and their staff intranet is a changing to be blogs.  In the Spring of 2007 4.5% of Clemson’s reference questions came from their IM reference.  Gordon also talked about what did not work at Clemson. 

Laural Baker at USC discussed how they were using AJAX to enhance the user experience.

They all suggested to try it even if it fails.  You never know.

 

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