Idaho librarians rock better than anyone. Yeah!

These aren't well done; it's dark, it's late, and we're in a noisy bar. Really they're just designed to prove the point that creating video isn't as dificult as many believe.

Thanks to Ann and Memo

Idaho Library Association Conference

I'm in Moscow, ID for the 2006 Idaho Library Association Conference. I'm here to present my Firefox Search Plugins and Tech Terms sessions and to man the BCR booth. I'll blog more as things happen but know that you can keep an eye on the flickr set that I'll be adding to over the next two days.

Idaho Library Association Annual Conference

I'll be at the Idaho Library Association Annual Conference next week. Details can be found in the BCReview Newsletter.

Fall speaking schedule

• October 4-8: Idaho Library Association, Moscow, ID
  • Tech Terms
  • Firefox Search Plugins
• October 21-26: Internet Librarian 2006, Monterey, CA
  • 22: Integrating RSS Into Your Web Site (Pre-Conference)
  • 23: The Second Life Library 2.0: Going Where the Users Are
  • 24: Flickr & Libraries
  • 25: Book Signing (Information Today, Inc. booth)
• November 9-12: Colorado Association of Libraries, Denver, CO
  • 11: Tech Terms
• November 13-15: University of Nevada, Las Vegas Law Library, Las Vegas, NV
  • 14: Web Page Creation Basics (XHTML)
  • 15: Introduction to CSS
• November 26-December 1: Nevada State Library Gates Workshops
  • 27: Computer Security (Salt Lake City)
  • 27: Setting up a WiFi Netowrk (Salt Lake City)
  • 28: Technical Support in Your Library (Salt Lake City)
  • 30: Computer Security (Moab)
  • 30: Setting up a WiFi Netowrk (Moab)
  • 01: Technical Support in Your Library (Moab)
• December 5-8: Iowa City Public Library
  • 6: Blogs (BCR Workshop)
  • 6: RSS (BCR Workshop)
  • 7: Podcasting 101 (BCR Workshop)
  • 7: Wikis (BCR Workshop)
  • 8: The Social Web (Staff in-service day)

Filling a niche

I just found MyWetStuff.com. (Get your mind out of the gutter!)

When MyWetStuff.com launches at 12:01 am (EDT) on Tuesday, September 5, 2006, travelers will for the first time be able to pre-order trial sizes of their favorite liquid-based toiletries and travel amenities, and have their personal selections waiting for them at the hotel when they check in.

I usually check my luggage but for short trips it does seem like a pain sometimes. Since the first 70,000 people who try the service will get $15 worth of free stuff I've signed up and plan on trying it for a 2.5-day trip to Idaho in early October. I promise to report the resuts of my inital test.

Live Music @ Your Library

Last night I spent the evening at the Post Falls Public Library in Post Falls, Idaho. I was encouraged to stop by by some of the staff that attended my workshop. I was going to stop by anyway to snap some photos (I'll blog about that separately) but what got me to hang around was a live show by the band Calico. They're a bunch of aging hippies (self proclaimed) who did both originals and covers ranging from The Eagles, to Merle Haggard, to Jimmy Buffett. I got lost of photos which can be found my flickr set for this trip, and grabbed some video. In the addition to the video presented below, I also got on of them performing "Feelin' Single Seein' Double" and one of an older couple (who can move better that I can) dancing to "A1 on the Jukebox".

After three of their staff attended my blogging workshop, I'm hoping they'll use an event such as this to start to tell their library's story. (Hint hint Joe ;-)

Disappointed

Today I unofficially visited the Marshall Public Library in Pocatello, ID just to take a look around and snap some photos. (All of the photos I took are in my recent Idaho flickr set.) While walking back toward the front door one sign (shown right) caught my eye. I started reading it and noticed that the library required a library card in order to use the Internet computers. This is standard procedure for most libraries so I continued reading wondering to myself what happens if you don't have a library card, as I don't. Here's the relevant passages:

A fee of six dollars ($6.00) per hour or fraction of an hour will be charged everyone who does not meet these criteria.

Why? Because the routers, connections, computers and other things involved with providing Internet services cost money. The citizens of Pocatello pay for this, and the Marshall Public Library receives no other money to cover these costs. The Marshall Public Library extends Internet and other services to patrons of those libraries which reciprocate service to Marshall Public Library patrons. It is only fair that all others pay a share of the costs involved.

As Michael Stephens blogged "...if I came in on vacation to use the internet I'd turn and flee for sure!" Michael also says he "understands the thinking" but I can say that I don't

First, yes, equipment costs money. Yes, the connection costs money. But the costs are the same no matter who is using the equipment and the connection. In fact, the cost is exactly the same if nobody is using the equipment or connection. (I'm assuming that they're not paying based on connect time or actual bandwidth usage.) If the cost is the same for a local, a visitor, and for nobody, why should the visitor be penalized.

Second, a visitor is not charged to use a book while in the library. If the library wants to charge a visitor for borrowing privileges I can understand that a little (though I still don't like it) since there is an increased chance of a non-resident walking off with materials (even inadvertently) than with someone who has a permanent residence in said community. However, a visitor is not (hopefully) taking your computer out of the library, just as they're not taking a book out of your library so why should they be changed to use a computer on the premises and not be charged to use a book on the premises. (Books cost money too.)

Third, a visitor may not be paying taxes directly to the library, but they are contributing to the economy, usually in the form of sales-tax. More visitors, more extra income for the community. Alienating those visitors with such a policy doesn't help.

Fourth, I have a problem with the "services just for our tax payers" logic whenever it comes up. Just imagine a fire truck arriving on the scene of a car accident involving a resident and a visitor. Upon finding that one of the people needing assistance is from out of state, the firemen decide not to help since they visitor doesn't pay taxes. I don't see that information needs should be treaded any differently.

Additionally, I do pay taxes to a library, just not yours. However, when I am in your town, I'm not using the services of my library. At the same time one of your tax-paying patrons may be in my home town wanting to use the services of my library. I'd say that's a wash in the end.

Hey, what about locals that aren't paying taxes that support the library. If you're a library district, you get property taxes. Do you then deny services to those residents that live in apartments?

Lastly, on the taxing issue, imagine what would happen if every single one of your tax-paying citizens suddenly demanded services from your library. My guess is that you wouldn't be able to help all of them. Admit it, not all of your tax-paying citizens use your services. So, how about spreading some good will, and letting a visitor use the services that one of the locals isn't?

(Click on this post's image to read the discussion going on in Flickr.)

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On a related note, I've started a Library signage group on flickr. Feel free to join and submit your favorite (for good reasons or for bad) library signs.

Possible Travel Trauma

I'm sure you know by now about the increased level of security at airports in both the US and the UK. Right now they're telling people at Denver International Airport (DEN) that they should arive three hours before their flight to get through security. I'm flying to Idaho on Sunday at 8:40am. I'm planning on getting to the airport by 5:40ish. I'll post about the exeprience as soon after as I can.

Bumpersticker

Spotted in Idaho Springs, CO.