Web 2.0

Explained in a 4 minute video by a professor at Kansas State University. (No, it's not boring. Watch it.)

Christmas 2006

Since several people have asked me, I realized that I've not yet blogged about my experience getting home for Christmas. Well, I ended up originally getting a flight that got me into Rochester, via Washington Dullas, at 11:00pm on Christmas night. On Saturday I went to look at my updated schedule online and didn't find it. So, I called United back (was on hold for only an hour this time) and confirmed my Monday flight. During that call the agent asked me if there was a different city I could fly in to. I mentioned Buffalo and she found me a flight that got me into Buffalo at 6:15pm Christmas Eve. I snagged that one fast. The only hitch was that it took me through Kansas City (which finally has facilities inside security!) and Washington Dullas. On Sunday I ended up getting up at 4:30am, getting to the gate at 6:30am, and leaving Denver at 8:30am. I ended up getting to Buffalo roughly on time, but for some unexplained reason my luggage stayed behind at Dullas.

The baggage clerk "found" my bag at Dullas ans said that it would be arriving in buffalo at bout 11pm. Unfortunately, I needed to get to Rochester and didn't want to impose on my parents any more than I'd already done by making them pick me up about 70 miles from home. The clerk told me he had no more drivers for the night but that he'd have my bag delivered to me in Rochester the next day, Christmas.

Christmas day was fun as the photos can attest. We were able to keep my earlier arrival from my brother and his family so that was a nice surprise for them. Around noon I started wondering where my bag was so I tried calling the automated baggage claim phone system. I wouldn't accept my claim number nor would it recognize "sauers" as a last name. I tried transferring to a human but every time I tried that I was told that the "transfer had failed" and that I could try the automated system or "call back later". It's interesting that instead of being put on hold, I was, in essence, being hung up on by the system.

About 2pm Christmas day I got the call from United confirming the delivery address for my bag and informing me that it would be on the 6pm run. Finally my bag showed up at five to midnight.

Now I'm hoping I don't get stuck in Chicago on the way back home on Saturday as I hear the snow is starting again in Denver and they're expecting another two feet of the stuff.

Staff Meeting... in Second Life

The Library Management Team of the Kansas State Library held a staff meeting in Second Life. Go Christie!

SCKLS Tech Training Day

I'm on the campus of Friends University in Wichita, KS for the South Central Kansas Library Systems Technology Training Day. This morning I gave the keynote on Library 2.0 and this afternoon I'll be teaching my three hour blogging session. Photos from the event can be found in my flickr set and there's at one video in YouTube. (My keynote slides will be made available in the next few days.)

Podcasting?

Back in January I wrote a post titled When is a Podcast not a Podcast in which I agreed with Greg Schwartz regarding folks using the term "podcast" when they're talking about linking to MP3 files on Web sites. In other words, complaining that people are misusing the term. To clarify, here's the basic definition of podcasting from Wikipedia:

"Podcasting is the method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio programs or music videos, over the Internet for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The distribution format of a podcast uses either the RSS or Atom syndication formats... Podcasters' web sites may also offer direct download or streaming of their files, however a podcast is distinguished by its ability to be automatically downloaded automatically using software capable of reading RSS or Atom feeds."

What brings me to mention this is two recent posts, one from Library Stuff and another from Travels with the State Librarian. In the first case, Steven points out that the links for the MP3 versions of the SirsiDynix Institute recordings are not podcasts and I completely agree. The second case is a little more complicated.

Christie, the state librarian of Kansas has posted her first podcast using AudioBlogger.com a free service that allows you to post audio files to your blog via your telephone. Just call the number, enter your PIN, and record your message. Minutes later a link to an MP3 version of your recording will appear as a post on your blog. Even I, in the past have called this a "quick and dirty podcast". However, giving it some more thought, and looking back at the definition of podcast, I'm forced to change my mind. This is not a podcast. Here's why.

In the case of AudioBlogger, even if you have an RSS feed for your blog's content, the MP3 file itself is not being distributed via that feed, nor can it be automatically downloaded. All that's being syndicated via the feed is a link to a MP3 file that you must manually download. For these reasons, linking to an MP3 file, regardless of the method of announcing such a link is not a podcast.

Now that I've argued the semantics I wonder if I should bother. Language changes and terms get applied differently as more people use them. Technically, you don't "go" to a Web page, the page is sent to you. However, that doesn't mean I never say "go to this or that Web page". Should I care this much about how the term podcast is being applied? Should any of us?

Another great example from PaperCuts

I can't say enough about the PaperCuts blogs out of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library in Kansas. Here's yet another great post from them regarding different books with the same title. I think we should all find more examples and submit them as comments.

People and Technology

David King, Kansas City Public Library Michael Stephens, St. Joseph County Public Library

Hiring and Keeping Techie Staff (David)

• External Hiring
• Job ad
• Get lots of applications
• Get apps from suitable candidates
• Attract, describe basic requirements, written from applicants viewpoint, use specific wording about the skills you want
• Be specific with "must have" skills
• Place the job ad where qualified people will see it
• Online for techie jobs
• ALA, LITA, Chronicle, LISJobs.com, Your Web site
• NON-MLS: Local newspaper, Monster
• Weeding candidates
• focus on basic job requirements
• preferred qualifications
• interview who's left
• Internal Hiring
• Can hire "good library employee" then train them
• Offer interally first is a good option
• Steal from other departments
• Why internally: skills, library-friendly, will work for food
• "This person should be a quick learner and enjoy technology changes"
• Hiring goals
• dedicated to the library
• enjoys service
• willingness ot learn
• already helps out with technology
• Keeping Staff
• Obvious things
• benefits, praise & recognition, pay, interperonal relationships
• If your the leader, be flexible and be willing to experiment
• Keep the involved in the library
• committees, planning, yearly goal setting for the library
• make them feel personally invested in the library
• Training
• on the job
• formal
• buy lots and lots of books
• Techies like toys! Give them some.

Ten Steps for Staff Buy-In (Michael)

Here's his blog post explaing all of them

1. Listen
2. Involve staff in planning
3. Tell stories
4. Be transparent
5. Report & Debrief
6. Do your research first
7. Manage Projects Well
8. Offer training for all technology (including the board!)
9. Let them play
10. Celebrate successes
11. Breathe & take care of yourself

Web Trends & Innovations

Glenn Peterson, Hennepin County Public Library Sarah Houghton, Marin County Free Library David King, Kansas City Public Library John Blyberg, Ann Arbor District Library

• Large Public Library Web Sites (David)
• Phoenix: Current information, online news, catalog, research, welcoming their customers, subject guides
• Seattle: interacting & introducing (action words)
• New York: programming/events, finding things
• Main focus: content, customers, communication
• Redesigning with Web Standards
• How are libraries doing it? (Glenn)
• No legions of Web developers
• 3.6FTE devoted to Web services in (6 actual people)
• 70% of reserves are being places through the Web site.
• It’s all about leverage
• Web application software
• Rapid Development Environment (Web site design specific software)
• Reference staff for content
• Learn more about XML (pull in RSS data)
• Subject Guides
• Starting points for finding information in specific topic area
• Bring together in one place all library resources on a topic
• What’s include
• Datdbases
• Websites
• Catalog links
• Events
• Blogs
• RSS feeds
• classes
• 2000 pages, Sarah’s it and get just 5 hours per week to work on the site
• Use blogging & RSS
• You don’t have to call it a blog
• Linked searches
• Simple HTML forms
• Printable PDF forms
• Reading/listening lists
• Collect patron feedback
• Lightweight virtual reference
• IM, Jybe (for library version coming soon), SMS
• An Arbor District Library (John)
• LAMP
• Linux
• Apache
• MySQL
• PHP
• Drupal CMS
• Trends (David)
• More redesings
• More connectivity (RSS, SMS)
• More video
• More patron content contribution

Big Brutus

Big Brutus
Originally uploaded by travelinlibrarian.

Big Brutus located in West Mineral, Kansas

IL04: left over from yesterday [10.30am]

Just a few more things that happened yesterday that I didn't get a chance to blog before falling asleep...

I ended up at the local Starbucks last night with Jenny, Michael, Aaron, and David King of Kansas City Public Library. He's giving the first presentation in the Web Design & Development track titled "Library Web Site Meets About.com" which is an update of a presentation he gave back at CIL on what his library's site is doing.

Earlier last evening Outlook started acting funky on my laptop and kept crashing. After one reboot, I wasn't presented with my login screen. Not only was I not asked to log in, but my account on my laptop was gone. I even took a look at the User Accounts area and found a generic admin account and the guest account. My msauers account had disappeared! Deciding to stay calm I pulled up system restore and rolled back my laptop to last Wednesday. Luckily everything came back. The original problem was a "Failed CRC" in my outlook data file. I ran a full scandisk (it took an hour to check my 60GB hard drive) and it found and fixed the problem. So, all of you folks in IA where I've been saying for the past six weeks that I've not had a bad spot on a drive in the past few years, well, I just had one.

True friend

I just got back from the bext restauraunt in Kansas City, The Majestic Steakhouse. Great food and great live Jazz. To make it even better my friend Louise came in to town to have dinner with me. Did I mention she lives in Des Moines, IA. Yes folks, Louise drove three hours for dinner, jazz, and conversation and is now on her way back home. If that isn't true friendship, I don't know what is. (And my dad once wondered how I could possibly ever consider driving two hours for a good dinner...)

Kansas city, ks

I"m here but missed my exit no fewer than three times. Let's just say that the combination of I70 and I670/ALT70 through KC is a bit confusing when all you want it I70. The fact that the rain coming down gave everyone about 10 feet of visibility didn't help.

I do have WiFi access here in KCkPL. The funny part is that when I mentioned to one staff person that I didn't need them to unsecure the trainer's computer since I was able to access their wireless service their response was "We have wireless?". Ah, I love tech departments.

Lee's summit, mo

I'm finished in Lawrence and tomorrow I'm teaching two classes at the Kansas City, KS Public Library. I'm staying, quite accidently in Lee's Summitt, MO on the SE side of KC. (Actually I don't think I bothered to look at a map when picking the hotel.) Well some things are good, the hotel has free WiFi access. I'm going to start getting used to this.

NEKLS

I'm at the offices of the North-Eastern Kansas Library System for the day. This is the first lab I've ever seen with WindowsME. Luckily for the tech support class I can use my laptop since I have no experience with ME and its security features, or lack thereof...

Koontz (not book) update

Dean's going to be at this summer's LA Times Festival of Books. Me, I'll be in Kansas.

Ask michael why he's cranky

Laura asked me to send her a copy of my schedule for the next few weeks. Here's what I camw up with...

03.22 Drive to Salina, KS
03.23 Teach in Salina, drive to Hays
03.24 Teach in Hays, drive to Colby
03.25 Teach in Colby
03.26 Teach in Colby, drive home
03.27 Home
03.28 Fly to Rochester, drive to Buffalo
03.29 Teach in Buffalo, drive to St. Bonaventure
03.30 Teach in St. Bonaventure, drive to Buffalo
03.31 Teach in Buffalo, drive to Rochester
04.01 Fly home
04.02-04.10 Home
04.11 Drive to Manhattan, KS
04.12 Teach in Manhattan
04.13 Teach in Manhattan
04.14 Drive to Hutchinson, KS
04.15 Teach in Hutchinson
04.16 Teach in Hutchinson, drive home
04.17 Home
04.18 Home
04.19 Drive to Cheyenne, WY
04.20 Teach in Cheyenne
04.21 Teach in Cheyenne
04.22 Teach in Cheyenne
04.23 Teach in Cheyenne, drive home
04.24 Home
04.25 Drive to Dodge City, KS
04.26 Teach in Dodge City
04.27 Teach in Dodge City
04.28 Drive to Lawrence, KS
04.29 Teach in Lawrence, Drive to Kansas City
04.30 Teach in Kansas City
05.01 Drive home

Day four, town three

I'm in Colby, KS now. This time doing two days of classes at Colby Community College. Nice lab. (Picture up this evening.) Be sure to keep an eye on my photo blog for pictures of all the Kansas hot spots. (Keep an eye out for a librarian driving to work on her lawn mower. ;-)

My how kansas has changed

Today was the first time I'd driven I-70 across Kansas since, I believe, 2002 so I was looking for things that had changed. I notice a few small items not worth mentioning but this one was just funny. On the Western edge of Russell, KS there is a big sign telling everyone how the town is the home of both Bob Dole and Arlen Spector. Right next to it was an even bigger sign advertising one of the several adult superstores along the highway. Ah, the free market.

A "good" filter?

Instead of buying a filter with a hidden database, the Kansas State Library has created their own.

Book sales

The Kansas State Library orderd 90 copies of the Library Software directory. That's $450 in royalities for each of us.

Red dwarf, a rolling computer, a rug and cable cable cable

Tax refund showed up. (Woo Hoo!) So got me a new house phone (I can set the ringer to any midi file I want. Now if you call me at home I'll be notified by the Red Dwarf theme,) a rolling computer bag (I'm so sick of carrying a backpack and laptop bag through airports,) a new area rug for the office, and finished off my switch over to all Monster Cables for the home entertainment system. (Now I just need to replace most of the connectors. Maybe with the proceeds from my next royalty check...) The rest of the refund money goes to a car tuneup this week (good idea before I start the great tour of Kansas next month) and repainting the bedroom. (Maybe next weekend, who knows.)

Proof!

Kansas is flatter than a pancake!

I'm back...

Just spent three days in Pittsburg, KS and just about melted. Temp was about 100F with around 90% humditiy. Next year I get to go there in May which should be much eaiser.

Side note: If you ever find yourself wanting an amazing dinner in Kansas City, MO along with great live jazz be sure to stop by The Majestic Steakhouse.

Internet filter costs may exceed penalty

According to this article the cost of installing filters on all the computers in the Kansas City Public Library system will be about $25,000. This is so they can receive $5,000 in federal funds.