Out of the Box

Seth Godin's description of Curiosity reminds me of the 1983 book "A whack on the side of the head : how to unlock your mind for innovation" by Roger von Oech. Godin is emphasising the intentional aspect of ones consciousness, and von Oech attempts to map out a process to facilitate curiosity. This could make one curious about the relational aspects of their approaches.

In 1959 Thomas Kuhn, studying the history of physics, developed an historical model for the nature of scientific revolutions. Kuhn described great shifts (such as Newton's gravitational model of 1687) in physics as paradigm shifts. Soon, paradigms became a "hot" terms for all manner of changes in thinking. Joel Barker picked up the phrase and applied it to business phenomena. Despite the fuzzy nature of the term paradigm, and its overuse, Godin and Web 2.0 represent a paradigmatic shift in ones thinking.

Godin would have marketing be offered to customers who are willing to "subscribe" to the items proffered. He would offer information only to the CURIOUS (as opposed to bludgeoning one with advertisements as standard, licensed, TV mainsteam TV functions). For our ProjectPlay training, this means that we need to have AT THE READY various approaches to library products. The curious customer should be able to "click" to Web 2.0 tools that provide the customer access to library services. Thus, as with Bloglines, a customer can opt for library feeds and annoucenments to fit the customer's own needs.

Therefore, the curious librarian, needs ProjectPlay language to relate to the Web 2.0 customer. As with language learning, the curious librarian can continue to peruse the changes in Web 2.0 and use ever changing tools to market (if requested) library products. As with language learning, this takes time; and a bit of time each day is probably the best way to learn languages. Then, the curious can talk to others who are curious; a conversation on which tools of Web 2.0 to utilize is possible.

Recently, C/net news noted that Yahoo, Google, and MySpace have formed a non-profit "Open Social Foundation;" gives the curious pause, doesn't it?

Finally, a thank you to the ProjectPlay gurus for guiding us into the new paradigm. I shall continue to peruse Web2.0 products and add RSS feeds for suggested sites such as "Shifted librarian," "librarian in black," and "Tame the web;" as suggested by the gurus. Then, at 3a.m., when worrying (curiously of course) about how to promote a new library collection or service; ProjectPlay tools might float into the head. Eureka! Stay tuned!

Mashups

Adding a favorite restaurant to the ProjectPlay sandbox at mapbuilder was interesting. Although, I did have a bit of trouble with the Save versus Add buttons. I was also confused when the Bellwood PA address remained at the top of the screen. I finally noticed this address is perpetual. As with all new learning, however, such confusion is to be expected.

Our library has 9 locations; a mashup of the catalogue of items to the locations wherein the item is in library would be fantastic. Customers could click and find the branch location on the map wherein the item was in stock. Although much work would be needed for the entire catalogue, perhaps "niche items" could be mapped from a list to the branch location. For example, if the system owns 50 DVDs in French, a mashup to the branch locations would help customers decide which branch to go to to find the most French language items.

Customer data could be very usefully "mashed up" to aid in adding items to the various library locations. Census districts or ZIP code districts combined with demographic data currently directs progarms and collection development; a mashup might make this easier. Where should Spanish language materials be emphasized, where is the need greatest for parenting materials, and many other collection ideas could be aided by a good mashup.

Promotion of items is also important, and as the "Hot Titles Carousel" in Ontario, Canada demonstrates libraries can mix it up for presentations.

I still like Robert Frost

Frost isn't just a nice, down home poet of iambic tetrameter (here's an interesting YouTube version of "Mending Wall.:"



As to YouTube in libraries: well it is very interesting to have video clips such as the above of Frost's own voice. As video librarian, I note that students often want the JFK "Ask not what . . ." speech or Nixon's "Checker's speech." This can save money by not buying such content on DVDs, or supplement the DVDs (what if the DVDs are checked out?).

The myriad library YouTube postings for this assignment show how creative libraries can be in marketing services through libraries. I enjoyed the Zombies marketing winner and the Allen County tour on a cart promo.

Our library buys many films previously selected for the Wisconsin Film Festival, a YouTube promo of this fact would be very useful. I also like the idea of training posts such as Common Craft Videos for library training. Security training has become important at our library location; and a posting of tactics might be useful to others in the library community.

re SCREENCASTS

Much of my job is development of a video/DVD collection. With screencasts it would be interesting to have the studio rights to previews of movies. Several of our branch locations subscribe to licenses in order to show full movies at the library; perhaps the studios would grant previews for such showings. Themes are often chosen for the branch showings. Anime clubs show films at two locations, and another branch chooses a yearly theme such as screen legends, or great film duos to show.

Also, it would be interesting if screen casts of previews of less popular, but important films and documentaries could be previewed. "Have you seen?"

The Screencasts at U of Calgary and Central Michigan are quite interesting. Just as we have learned from the broadcasts from Project Play, users of these websites can obtain training on by clicking on the tool bar. I especially liked the U of Calgary explanation of ProQuest's Dissertations retrieval. The commentary helped to clarify the Byzantine nature of document retrieval. Thus, when a library buys a service such as ProQuest, a Screencast can help users get past barriers to use of the product. In this way, the library doesn't look "stupid" about products provided to the public.

Further, Screencasts are a powerful learning tool for library users. The moving image is best for many learners. Thus, supplementing text only approaches is very, very useful for libraries. Yet another tool in the mixed media of computers and library tradition.