Announcing the Big Talk From Small Libraries online conference

January 20, 2012 Posted by Michael

We’ve been listening!  A comment we’ve heard pretty often is that so many presentations at conferences seem to be by and for librarians from larger libraries.  Well, Big Talk From Small Libraries will change that.

This free one-day online conference is aimed at librarians from small libraries; the smaller the better.  Each of our speakers is from a small library or directly works with small libraries.

Topics range from technology (new tech and old tech) to programming to partnering with your community. Speakers will cover eight topics—one each hour.  Come for the programs on what you’re dealing with now or maybe try something new.

Everyone is welcome to register and attend, regardless of how big or small their library is, but if your library serves a few thousand people, or a few hundred, this is the day for you.

More details, including speaker bios, session descriptions, technical information and registration can be found @ http://nlcblogs.nebraska.gov/bigtalk/.

This conference was organized and is hosted by Michael Sauers and Laura Johnson of the Nebraska Library Commission and is co-sponsored by the Association for Small & Rural Libraries and Library Renewal.

Big Talk From Small Libraries
February 28, 2012
8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (CT)

Preliminary Schedule:
8:45am            Log-in, Welcome, Housekeeping – Michael Sauers & Laura Johnson, Nebraska Library Commission
9:00am            Helping Your Patrons E-Read – Karen Mier, Plattsmouth Public Library (NE)
10:00am          Community Partnerships – Karla Bieber, A.H. Brown Library & Diane Althoff, Gregory Public Library (SD)
11:00am          The Fayetteville Free Library Fab Lab – Lauren Smedley, Fayetteville Free Library (NY)
12:00pm          TBA
1:00pm            Training the Public – Jessamyn West, Librarian.net (VT)
2:00pm            Working in the Cloud – Jezymnne Dene, Portneuf District Library (ID)
3:00pm            Gaming and Game Collection Development – Diane Trinkle, Nortonville Public Library (KS)
4:00pm            TBA

QR Codes on Alzatraz

January 19, 2012 Posted by Michael

I was watching episode 2 of J.J. Abrams’ Alcatraz last night and I noticed a QR code:

Alcatraz QR Code

I was unable to get a good enough freeze frame to scan it but according to the one location online that mentioned this, someone claimed it resolved to “F82F3”. After some searching I was able to determine that it’s an invalid unicode character

Anyone have any ideas?

Defend our freedom to share (or why SOPA is a bad idea)

January 18, 2012 Posted by Michael

2011 Reading Report

December 30, 2011 Posted by Michael

take off with a good book.It’s time for my annual reading report. So, the numbers for 2011 are:

Total number of books: 103
Total number of pages: 30,434*
Fiction: 67.5**
Non-Fiction: 35.5
Print titles: 86
Of which were graphic novels: 12
eBooks: 14***
Audiobooks: 2
Male authors: 110
Female authors: 17

* Page count based on the print edition I was reading or the equivalent print edition to the e-version.

** One book contained both a novella and an essay.

*** When it comes to print & eBooks, in a few cases I read part of a book in print and part electronically. However, the numbers ended up working out as whole numbers.

Cory Doctorow: The coming war on general computation

December 29, 2011 Posted by Michael

Two videos of The Librarian in Black

December 29, 2011 Posted by Michael

This first one is my interview with her on NCompass Live. The second is her recent appearance on Social Jumpstart a "local cable TV show on social media and technology".

The most interesting talk about piracy I’ve heard in years

December 19, 2011 Posted by Michael

The first 40 minutes of episode #332 of This Week in Tech features a debate between Leo Laporte and Nilay Patel regarding SOPA in specific and piracy in general. Like the title of this post says, it was the most interesting discussion/debate of the topic I’ve heard in years. Please take the time to watch if you have any interest in this topic. (The rest of the episode is also worth a watch as always.)

Semantic Web Technologies and Social Searching for Librarians

December 18, 2011 Posted by Michael

My next book, co-authored with Robin Fay, has been officially listed on the Neal-Schuman site and is scheduled to be released in the spring of 2012. It’s titled “Semantic Web Technologies and Social Searching for Librarians” and is book number #20 in Neal-Schuman’s second Tech Set. Below is details on the new Tech Set followed by details on out title.

THE TECH SET® #11-20 Edited by Ellyssa Kroski

1151-the-tech-set-11-to-20-gallery-2-240x350"These books will become well-thumbed, dog-eared references for anyone charged with determining or implementing the next generation of patron services."
- Library Journal on TECH SET® #1-#10 (winner of the ALA award for the best book in library literature)

Now TECH SET® series editor Ellyssa Kroski brings you the field’s hottest tech gurus as they provide practical instructions and advice on everything from planning and development to marketing and metrics. Each title in the series is a one-stop passport to an emerging technology. If you’re ready to start creating, collaborating, connecting, and communicating through cutting-edge tools and techniques, you’ll want to get primed by the next ten books in the TECH SET®.

New tech skills for you spell new services for your patrons:
• Use the latest, cutting-edge technologies.
• Plan new library services for these popular applications.
• Navigate the social mechanics involved with gaining buy-in for these forward-thinking initiatives.
• Utilize the social marketing techniques used by info pros.
• Assess the benefits of these new technologies to maintain your success.
• Follow best practices already established by innovators and libraries using these technologies.
  Find out more about THE TECH SET®  titles 11-20 by clicking on the links below:

11. Cloud Computing for Libraries
12. Building Mobile Library Applications
13. Location-Aware Services and QR Codes for Libraries
14. Drupal in Libraries
15. Strategic Planning for Social Media in Libraries
16. Next-Gen Library Resdesign
17. Screencasting for Libraries
18. User Experience (UX) Design for Libraries
19. IM and SMS Reference Services for Libraries
20. Semantic Web Technologies and Social Searching for Librarians

Semantic Web Technologies and Social Searching for Librarians By Robin Fay and Michael Sauers

1129-semantic-web-technologies-and-social-searching-for-librarians-gallery-2-240x350There are trillions of bytes of information within the web, all of it driven by behind-the-scenes data. Vast quantities of information make it hard to find what’s really important. Here’s a practical guide to the future of web-based technology, especially search. It provides the knowledge and skills necessary to implement semantic web technology. You’ll learn how to start and track trends using social media, find hidden content online, and search for reusable online content, crucial skills for those looking to be better searchers. The authors explain how to explore data and statistics through WolframAlpha, create searchable metadata in Flickr, and give meaning to data and information on the web with Google’s Rich Snippets. Let Robin Fay and Michael Sauers show you how to use tools that will awe your users with your new searching skills. 

Information Today, Inc. Blowout Sale

December 13, 2011 Posted by Michael

 

Information Today, Inc. Blowout Sale —
40% Off All In-Stock Books When You Order Online

Information Today, Inc. is offering a one-time discount to all of our customers, friends, and family. From now through Monday, January 16, 2012, receive 40% off all book purchases made through the Information Today, Inc. website. The discount is good on an unlimited number of orders placed during the sale period—and with more than 150 titles available on our website, there’s something for everyone.

SAVE 40% off ALL BOOKS Now!

Ordering from the ITI website is
secure and easy, and the discount applies to all in-stock titles
featured at the ITI bookstore.


When you check out at our online store, use the promo code ITIHOLIDAY

Important: This discount offer applies to the regular retail cover price of each book and cannot be combined with any other discount offer. Directories and periodicals are excluded from this offer as are titles distributed but not published by ITI. Standard shipping rates apply. For international orders, please email our customer service department at custserv@infotoday.com for shipping costs. New Jersey residents please add 7% state sales tax.

©2011 Information Today, Inc. all rights
reserved. 143 Old Marlton Pike Medford, NJ 08055

The Doors Sing ‘Reading Rainbow’ Theme

December 3, 2011 Posted by Michael

  • Follow me on Google+

    In 0 people's circles

  • Contact info

  • Archives

  • Visitors

  • RSS Bookmarks

Rss Feed Tweeter button Facebook button Myspace button Linkedin button Delicious button Digg button Flickr button Youtube button