Wow, it took me 6 weeks to get back to this....
Thing 7 was fun to learn about. Twitter is amusing. Mostly I am now living in fear that desk jockeys all over the world are now working at a fraction of their possible productivity.....all these gadgets and gizmos and twitters would certainly add up to more that the 15 minute water cooler time wasters of days gone by.....oh, yeah, I meant collegial relationship building social networking efforts, not chatting on the job!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
ILS 2.0 Permission to dream
I had a chance to participate in a discussion about what our ILS could be today. I was advocating for dreaming big. I dreamt all the way home. I came up with a list of things I wish my ILS could do.
Sadly, it was only in minute 35 of my 40 minute drive that I got around to thinking that we should be asking our library patrons what they want our ILS to do.....
Anyway, on to MY dreams:
Obvious wants:
Cool, attractive storefront interface
"patrons who checked this book out also borrowed" feature
Queueing of requests a la netflix
customer reviews and tagging----tagging is WAy fabulouser than LCSH
automaticity for patron holds--patron can automatically be put on hold for the authors of her choice
take back the power of my darling libraryelf for ourselves
ability to pay my fines online using a credit card, so that the Horizon system is updated immediately, and I can place a MNLink request or just know that that job is done
Things I really wanted yesterday:
Ability to have more options, like adding ebooks directly into my collection, interfacing with 3rd party vendors (think Unique Management Systems) without making everyone else in the consortium have to come along, abilty to connect users to our other services directly from the search screen (think livehomework help and downloadable audiobooks buried alive on the APL homepage instead of sharing the pritine whitespace of the ILS search screen).
Let patrons choose their set of libraries and collections they want to search: only more than just Austin or everyone ie only the things APL has checked in; only things SELCO has that have items attached that are not Local Request Only; the whole kit and kaboodle.
Make it easier for me to use our ILS to directly order books--I want "a list of 2007 books owned by at least 3 of the following five libraries but not owned by Austin" kind of search.
The ability to float collections between a subset of participating libraries
A temporary location code that reverts to the permanent location code upon check in. (Display, bookmobile, BRownsdale, Just Arrived) Whatever----the location is correctly displayed, with no messy stickers and unnecessary handling---on checkin--POOF! back to the old location code for you!
Tiered levels of acceptable cataloging perfection! Who cares if the unpaged cartoon-like Holly Hobbie or Scoobie Doo paperback is correctly cataloged? Yes, there is a small minority who do---so go to it with your copy, I say, but let me do what I want. Think how many more of them I could afford to buy if I dumped them into a record that said "Assorted Scooby-doo books". I'd make 'em all non-requestable and also make the bib record staff only. It'd track the circulation--that's all I need or want on some stuff.
Here's my WOW! list:
Let patrons search a mashup of the catalog and a wholesaler. If they don't find it owned or requestable, they can make a purchase request---only even better! Give each of my patrons 5 "virtual book purchase vouchers" per year and let them put their request into a shopping cart! I review the carts, place the order, at which point their "virtual purchase voucher" is ---of course they'll be notified their request for purchase went through, without me telling them.
Even better, I'll give them the option to purchase the book for us, they actually do, using their own Amazon account, but it gets dropped into my acquisitons system hold triggered and book delived to us. Of course, my acquiistions system will help avoid those irritating duplicate orders, as well.
Abdication of collection development responsibility? I don't think so---I'm already buying 85% of what gets requested only it takes my valuable time!
Oh, and I want this: every MNLInk request automaticcally gets run past a behind the scenes dealy that says if it is available for sale from a wholesaler for less than $x, it is purchased and shipped to me rather than borrowed through MNLink! What cataloging cost? I fast add it, circ it, then decide if I want to permanently own it.
What do you want your ILS to do for you?
Sadly, it was only in minute 35 of my 40 minute drive that I got around to thinking that we should be asking our library patrons what they want our ILS to do.....
Anyway, on to MY dreams:
Obvious wants:
Cool, attractive storefront interface
"patrons who checked this book out also borrowed" feature
Queueing of requests a la netflix
customer reviews and tagging----tagging is WAy fabulouser than LCSH
automaticity for patron holds--patron can automatically be put on hold for the authors of her choice
take back the power of my darling libraryelf for ourselves
ability to pay my fines online using a credit card, so that the Horizon system is updated immediately, and I can place a MNLink request or just know that that job is done
Things I really wanted yesterday:
Ability to have more options, like adding ebooks directly into my collection, interfacing with 3rd party vendors (think Unique Management Systems) without making everyone else in the consortium have to come along, abilty to connect users to our other services directly from the search screen (think livehomework help and downloadable audiobooks buried alive on the APL homepage instead of sharing the pritine whitespace of the ILS search screen).
Let patrons choose their set of libraries and collections they want to search: only more than just Austin or everyone ie only the things APL has checked in; only things SELCO has that have items attached that are not Local Request Only; the whole kit and kaboodle.
Make it easier for me to use our ILS to directly order books--I want "a list of 2007 books owned by at least 3 of the following five libraries but not owned by Austin" kind of search.
The ability to float collections between a subset of participating libraries
A temporary location code that reverts to the permanent location code upon check in. (Display, bookmobile, BRownsdale, Just Arrived) Whatever----the location is correctly displayed, with no messy stickers and unnecessary handling---on checkin--POOF! back to the old location code for you!
Tiered levels of acceptable cataloging perfection! Who cares if the unpaged cartoon-like Holly Hobbie or Scoobie Doo paperback is correctly cataloged? Yes, there is a small minority who do---so go to it with your copy, I say, but let me do what I want. Think how many more of them I could afford to buy if I dumped them into a record that said "Assorted Scooby-doo books". I'd make 'em all non-requestable and also make the bib record staff only. It'd track the circulation--that's all I need or want on some stuff.
Here's my WOW! list:
Let patrons search a mashup of the catalog and a wholesaler. If they don't find it owned or requestable, they can make a purchase request---only even better! Give each of my patrons 5 "virtual book purchase vouchers" per year and let them put their request into a shopping cart! I review the carts, place the order, at which point their "virtual purchase voucher" is ---of course they'll be notified their request for purchase went through, without me telling them.
Even better, I'll give them the option to purchase the book for us, they actually do, using their own Amazon account, but it gets dropped into my acquisitons system hold triggered and book delived to us. Of course, my acquiistions system will help avoid those irritating duplicate orders, as well.
Abdication of collection development responsibility? I don't think so---I'm already buying 85% of what gets requested only it takes my valuable time!
Oh, and I want this: every MNLInk request automaticcally gets run past a behind the scenes dealy that says if it is available for sale from a wholesaler for less than $x, it is purchased and shipped to me rather than borrowed through MNLink! What cataloging cost? I fast add it, circ it, then decide if I want to permanently own it.
What do you want your ILS to do for you?
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Thing 2
I think public libraries exist because they are an efficient (cost-effective) and effective (demonstrable results) way to meet an important social need: providing access to information in its broadest sense for everyone in the community, especially in ways that reduce the "information gap"--whether that means story time for toddlers, a circulating collection, or access to online resources.
I think this information need extends to facilitating discussion and community; whether it be book clubs, meetings and events in real space or virtual.
I am an especial fan of giving the public the tools to do the work themselves!
So I see the need for libraries to embrace the socal web, and to allow these new tools to integrate into the library.
But I don't think that my library's adding a blog to our website is going to help my library stay relevant in the minds of users when they are deciding whether or not to subscribe to Netflix, or any other new information tool. Shoot, I subscribe to Netflix! I search Amazon to get ideas for what to read next. I never begin researching a subject from the library's catalog, I use Google. (Recipes for eggplant, directions to point x, how to plant a rosebush, pretty much everything....).
It's just easier, faster, better, and more fun, than using the library. Netflix lets me queue my requests so I'm not inundated, and keeps me in line for popular stuff (as opposed to the Selco website's local request only, and MNLink's "available later"). And it's colorful, and suggests stuff to me that I wasn't even looking for. Amazon does the same. Libraryelf.com sends me emails about my library books reminding me that they are coming due, and now gives me suggestions on other books I might like.
My patrons ask us to make the library easier and more friendly: they want a "staff picks" section of books, and copies of their book club selections brought in for their members. They want us to write comments about the books, and keep paper lists of new books. But I can't scan books into a temporary location and have them revert to their regular location in Horizon, which I need to make a Staff Picks section easy to run. I can't borrow books from other libraries in Selco before a I know who is going to check them out, which I would need for a book club display. Allow readers to comment on and tag books? Cool, bring it on. Little Austinpublic library search bar download? Cool, it can be done, I've read let's do it. But we also have to find the ways to use our technolgies better to interface with the public right in our buildings, as well as outside of them.
I am looking forward to the new generation of ILS functionality that L2 says must come. I'm not oppsed to posting pictures of unidentified children attending our storyhour on a flicker account; but it's just not the same thing as major functionality upgrades.
To me, L2 is not so much about techie edginess, or a precence in cyberspace, as it is about enabling people to use the library the way they really want to use it.
I think this information need extends to facilitating discussion and community; whether it be book clubs, meetings and events in real space or virtual.
I am an especial fan of giving the public the tools to do the work themselves!
So I see the need for libraries to embrace the socal web, and to allow these new tools to integrate into the library.
But I don't think that my library's adding a blog to our website is going to help my library stay relevant in the minds of users when they are deciding whether or not to subscribe to Netflix, or any other new information tool. Shoot, I subscribe to Netflix! I search Amazon to get ideas for what to read next. I never begin researching a subject from the library's catalog, I use Google. (Recipes for eggplant, directions to point x, how to plant a rosebush, pretty much everything....).
It's just easier, faster, better, and more fun, than using the library. Netflix lets me queue my requests so I'm not inundated, and keeps me in line for popular stuff (as opposed to the Selco website's local request only, and MNLink's "available later"). And it's colorful, and suggests stuff to me that I wasn't even looking for. Amazon does the same. Libraryelf.com sends me emails about my library books reminding me that they are coming due, and now gives me suggestions on other books I might like.
My patrons ask us to make the library easier and more friendly: they want a "staff picks" section of books, and copies of their book club selections brought in for their members. They want us to write comments about the books, and keep paper lists of new books. But I can't scan books into a temporary location and have them revert to their regular location in Horizon, which I need to make a Staff Picks section easy to run. I can't borrow books from other libraries in Selco before a I know who is going to check them out, which I would need for a book club display. Allow readers to comment on and tag books? Cool, bring it on. Little Austinpublic library search bar download? Cool, it can be done, I've read let's do it. But we also have to find the ways to use our technolgies better to interface with the public right in our buildings, as well as outside of them.
I am looking forward to the new generation of ILS functionality that L2 says must come. I'm not oppsed to posting pictures of unidentified children attending our storyhour on a flicker account; but it's just not the same thing as major functionality upgrades.
To me, L2 is not so much about techie edginess, or a precence in cyberspace, as it is about enabling people to use the library the way they really want to use it.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Fun gizmos
I've edited my page, added an avatar, added links, etc. I'm anxious to learn how to add video---that could be fun. Not sure how I get it from my video camera to the computer, though.
Big take home so far, I finally tried surveymonkey. Pretty easy!
http://www.surveymonkey.com
On to thing 2!
Big take home so far, I finally tried surveymonkey. Pretty easy!
http://www.surveymonkey.com
On to thing 2!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Trial and error
I haven't returned to my blogger account in months---I had created a blog for the book discussion for last year's Get Fit Mower COunty event.....no one posted. I got lonely. I also created a page for the City--thinking that my co-department heads would post there....no go. So I am still struggling with how, exactly, all this fun new stuff is going to interface with daily life in my community.
An example, is that nearly every non-profit in town has created an activities calendar---the Chamber, the school district, the Arts Board, the Convention and Vistor's Bureau.....and people don't really use any of them and say to themselves that it is hard to know what all is going on in town.
They just aren't easy enough to use, or post to, I think.
I am looking forward to increasing my skills and revisiting some aspects that just didn't seem "ready for prime time" last year.
An example, is that nearly every non-profit in town has created an activities calendar---the Chamber, the school district, the Arts Board, the Convention and Vistor's Bureau.....and people don't really use any of them and say to themselves that it is hard to know what all is going on in town.
They just aren't easy enough to use, or post to, I think.
I am looking forward to increasing my skills and revisiting some aspects that just didn't seem "ready for prime time" last year.
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