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.

PODS now available

I successfully added "Uncontrolled vocabulary" to the RSS feeds on this blog. It was interesting to retrace the steps from Semester I week 3 and to be once again confused by the relationship between bloglines and blogger (and google reader for that matter). [So many similar, fuzzy concepts; so little time. For early onset baby boomers it's like keeping the Gabor sisters straight.] Yet, "uncontrolled vocabulary" is right there on the RSS side of this blogger.com blog; and it works. Though the sound was poor on on podcast; I need earphones I think. The topics, of course, are germain to the field. The number of PODcasts overwhelming.

PODcasts are ubiquitous; our libary used MP3 files to make a 4 session lecture series available to the public--wonderful idea. As with YouTube personas, for PODcasting, the sky's the limit (TSTL--to propose a text message epithet.) A carnival barker PODcast avatar comes to mind--"Step right up library folks now starring at your library!" A radio script modelled on old time radio might be clever. An assistant to library webczar would be useful to pull together the marketing strategies for PODcasting and YOUtubing, etc., etc., etc..

Space, my

The use of MySpace by WI libraries is interesting. AT LaCrosse, I found the black on green background rather difficult to read; and at first I was slightly bewildered by the boxes of formatting. The style reminded me of paste ups for newspapers or yearbooks. After viewing other library sites it became obvious that this is due to the MySpace format; similar to the layouts of blogger.
For Oshkosh, I enjoyed the photo of the Lion in Winter/holiday wreath and the listings of authors as Friends. In fact, in general, authors and books as friends is a great conceit.
Winnie Fox wins my heart, however, for the posting of Winnie Fox as mascot and as the avatar for the MySpace is quite enjoyable. Go mascot/avatar.
In sum, I enjoyed all of the sites. I wonder how regular customers of MySpace use such sites. I would guess that stumbling across a library rather than a person is at first a bit confusing; but then, one would know where to go to find events, hours, etc at the library. Not much different from going to a library web page or contacting a friend for info. Also, many libraries have friends groups, and MySpace is perfect for friends. For niches in library service singular avatars could be created. A library could create myriad MySpace personas for children, or perhaps for top new arrivals. Unless one can prove that users of MySpace are annoyed by such a presence, it's almost a necessity for libraries to create a MySpace site (or sites).

Listing

The "Remember the Milk," and Jott sites are interesting. I couldn't find the Login for "RTM" at first, it's way up in the top right corner. I tried to edit my initial task at "RTM," but it didn't seem to work. After clicking on the Tasks tab I didn't see a list of what to do; and after clicking on my previously posted task I later found an editing window way down in the lower right hand corner.
All of which is to say, it wasn't intuitively obvious to me how to use "RTM" as an end user. BUT, as with any of these myriad Tools, time should tell, I'm sure this is useful for task management. I shall set up a personal account to see. Usage is a bit like the new remote on a new television; it can take a while to figure out the procedures and/or to just find the buttons.
As to Jott; a great barrier was not wanting to leave another voice mail in the universe. I'm sure it works just fine and is fun for many folks. So it goes.

Sharing

The Google Docs document was confusing to me. Also, as I tried to add a comment a message popped up which implied that someone had already left such a message. As with all new vehicles for information I would posit that this is merely part of learning the new system.
I added a slide, "sorta." I learned how to add text to an empty frame, but did not take the time to download, cut and paste a picture.
As to the garden, someone beat me to the ordering of fencing; I'm used to trying to keep rabbits out of the flowers. These days I emphasize with Elmer Fudd more than in the past.
We have used the software "Bootcamp" at our library for committee documents. This too can be a useful work tool. I wonder how it would have helped Jefferson in drafting the Declaration.

Yes again yes, IM

So, with Meebo beta and two sharp colleagues in the department I've learned to chat amongst ourselves. First, one registers for Yahoo Messenger and then one registers for Meebo beta web based IM. Then chat at Meebo; chat with Yahoo Messenger doesn't seem to work on all office machines. Interesting.

The Meebo widget can be added to one's blog also, but it isn't functional. Good practise, however.

There has been some problem with Yahoo Messenger chat and the actual key strokes. Although, we don't know the full syntax, sometimes the space bar seems to lock up the computer when trying Yahoo Messenger. Messages without punctuation may work better. Also, one sends a message with the Enter key (which requires tacit knowledge; one looks for a Send button to click in vain). This is confusing. When customers log on to library computers on LINKcat the OPPOSITE is required. That is, using the Enter key doesn't work; one must click on the Send button. So it goes.

IM and some confusion

Several office colleagues have decided to choose IM through Yahoo messenger with Meebo. It is confusing to continously create account IDs and passwords; but, of course necessary. The placement of Meebo would seem to require a webpage or blog, but the relation of IM choice to Meebo is unclear. Fortunately, the more saavy collegues will probably enlighten me. Again, tricks of the trade are necessary.

It is interesting that IM can allow one to be contacted immediately. This would allow workers to work at home. Whereas, workers often ask one another questions, these could be IMd at point of need--even to a home based worker. Also, workers can contact one another from one library building to another. Interesting. With cell phones one might even be "on call" for advice during off hours (paid per call, of course).

Semester I wrap up

To SCLS gurus, thanks. Often it is difficult to get the news from PlayAway; but non-players fade every day for lack of what is found there. (with apologies to William Carlos Williams). I'd suggest keeping the instructions as they are; for one needs to learn these technologies by doing. Wrestling with sites as they are on the web is informative; and SCLS teachers do help when queried.

The movie for this wrap-up "Information Revolution" moves too fast for my central nervous system. I became a bit sea sick, literally. Not enough time at sea, perhaps.

When discussing authority files vis-a-vis tags, it is interesting to note that authority control terms can be readily added as tags to entry; whereas the converse is not true. One can cut and past any old authority file one likes. In fact, it would be interesting to consider domains of tags. One could, for example, ask for a set of tags applied by oceanographers to a topic as opposed to say tags applied by travellers on cruise ships. These sets of tags would be represented as different tag clouds; a bit like stratified random sampling.

As to the material culture of the web, one always wonders just where is the web? It is actually held on several large storage computers somewhere. (Old missle silos in Kansas? Who knows?) As for libraries, we do need physical space for the equipment and data storage. This alone is a different physical conception than the old catalogue files; but it is physical.

A dizzying set of concepts: humbling and awesome.

Looking towards Semester II and hoping to play while dropping the nagging awareness that I am playing.

Good sized city saves work

Madison WAS listed at Wikipedia, thus giving Lesson 9 an easy out. But I was interested in the Wikipedia explanation of their incoming data process. And, if time allows, I'd like to peruse the ProjectPlay sandbox wiki.

Also, I'd like to reviews the first 8 lessons to strenghten any memory cells that are up to it.

Thanks again to the mentors of ProjectPlay hurtling us into the Social Sphere 2.0.

Eureka!

Wednesday a library customer asked if we "had a list" of volunteers to help catalogue a small collection. I was able to suggest LibraryThing to the customer. Knowledge is out most important product! Thanks to PlayAway

del.icio.us Popular tags

Finally for this week I looked at the del.icio.us site (in lieu of creating yet another account; as I'm weary of accounts). But a look at the Popular tags on del.icio.us was interesting (as is learning re social networking). I tried history, and found a link to a NY Times article re The Manhattan Project of WWII and how it got its name. A family member of mine had worked on the project in Chicago, but the article described how the name was taken from Army Engineer offices at 270 Broadway in New York, which was the first headquarters for the project. The name was developed from the standard bureaucratic method then in use and was simply named for the location (Manhattan Engineer District -- later shortened). Thus, no secret spy name; just administrative naming.
Interestingly, while using the back button the link didn't appear again; that is, the link to the del.icio.us subscriber. Clicking the Tag Cloud brings up different links at different times. I think. Alas, it's a continually morphing world.

Delicious Tags

Have added labels to previous posts; labels are the equivalent of tags. Editing the layout for the blog, I preferred to post the labels list below outside sources.

Libraries can use social tagging much as the example libraries given in the instructions for this week. For my particular niche, I have been thinking of the Madison Community Grant Foundation DVDs at Lakeview. This collection is for film studies; and film studies in the myriad senses that such studies can be conducted. Tagging/Labeling is a "prime suspect" for how to do such in the public sphere. Users of the collection could comment at a library blog or del.icio.us site and form a Tag Cloud that maps out the collection as conceived by the users. This is quite different from a strict, formalized structure (say only watching films in chronological order) that a syllabus might provide.

Concerns: Would customers respond to such a process; and if so, what is the meaning of their tags? As with WIKIs, must we beware the chronic overuser, who might load tags on the site (perhaps silly, or nonsense tags)? As with GOOGLE hits, which can be loaded with advertising vocabulary, how do we limit responses to the Tag Cloud?

Week 7 learnings

The widget at LibraryThing for creating a link to this blog was certainly a "thin description" of what to do. I guessed that the (to paraphrase) copy and past this HTML was the clue. Then in the blog I found a place to paste the HTML. Interesting, LibraryThing instructions assume that users would somehow know that copying the HTML would allow users to paste it somewhere on the blog. Even knowing that HTML probably stands for hyper text markup language I was only guessing when creating the link. I also, found LibraryThing not as useful for a DVD collection as I would like (what about e-books on a Sony book reader?). Interesting.

HTML from LibraryThing

Lakeview Madison Community Foundation Grant

The Lakeview branch will have a special collction of DVDs and books devoted to film history and film studies ( in its myriad definitions). LibraryThing offers the possibility of linking a set therein to this blog. I've listed five of the special DVDs ordered for the collection and hope to see how it would work with a LibraryThing file.
Tags chosen so far are: Lakeview, DVD, film studies, and Criterion.
Books will include studies of film (such as books by renowned UW professor David Bordwell); and the special film genre of Bollywood will also be part of the collection.
The goal is to have a special and unique collection for the branch.

Lakeview Madison Community Foundation Grant

Created a five item list at LibraryThing for five of the Criterion DVDs ordered for the new grant at Lakeview. The topic of film studies (including film history [perhaps in all its possible ramifications {i.e. tags}] is the goal of this grant. Along with Bollywood titles, original Criterion editions (all of which are important to film studies) will be added to the collection. The focus is to have a collection at the location that is very, very special. Books on the topic have also been ordered (such as books by UW renowned film scholar David Bordwell).

Perhaps the LibraryThing concept can be used to feature this collection. I need to try to link it now to this blog.

Tags chosen so far are: Lakeview, DVD, film studies, and Criterion

Week6

Learning for week 6 reminded me that ProjectPlay informs us regarding the frustrations that library patrons often encounter in this e-age. It also recalled to me the learning of irregular foreign verb conjugations. This week I had to learn how to register at Yahoo/Flickr in order to post a Flickr photo to my blog. I'm tired of registering, and I'm running out of passwords. (Athough, it was interesting to find photos from my grandfather's "piece of the old sod" to post.) All of which reminds me also of the frustrations with virus protection, spyware software, and firewalls that I've encountered with home computing.

Is this play? Perhaps. But it reminds me of playing with my older brother (an explanation of which I leave to imagination and more personal blogging.)