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

 

Photos from SCLA 2007. Friday, Nov 2 2007 

SCLA and SCLA2007 , lfloydlib 12:01 am

These are some pictures of SCLA 2007.

 

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.

 

SCLA Opening Keynote Address Wednesday, Oct 31 2007 

Library and SCLA and SCLA2007 , , , , , , lfloydlib 10:10 pm

“People are the Heart of it All” said Keith Michael Fiels, Executive Director of the American Library Association at the opening keynote address at SCLA Conference.    Mr. Fiels talked about the different challenges that face libraries in today’s world.  Some of them we have always faced, other are new challenges that we face with the changing economy and Internet usage of today.

 What libraries need to do to keep up with the challenges are

  1. Serve ALL
  2. Lead the way in Diversity
  3. Preserve First Amendment Rights of Patrons
  4. Fight to Keep information Free
  5. Lead the World

He also talked about some of the programs ALA is doing including the ILoveLibraries.org site, thier Advocacy Institute, which will teach library leaders advocacy techniques. 

 Can libraries survive?  That is the question that we will be needing to discus in the upcoming future.  Finding the funding, staff, and fighters for libraries is what we need and what we will have to maintain and cultivate.

Congratulations to Dr. Curtis Rogers on becoming the President of SCLA next year.  We look forward to see what you will bring to the organization.  Also, Congratulations to all the other incoming officers. 

Congratulation to the Diversity in Librarianship Scholarship winner, Annie Young Patrick.

 

SCLA Thursday, Oct 25 2007 

Library and SCLA and SCLA2007 lfloydlib 1:48 pm

I will be attending the South Carolina Library Association Conference in Columbia, SC Oct.31 – Nov. 2, 2007.  I will post information about the conference here.  What I am planning on attending, and what is discussed in the sessions I attend.