November, 2007

I just read a terrific post on a blog called Library Chicken. This particular librarian was using the public computers for "2.0 learning" and learned more than she bargained for...

Jamie Markus, a contributor to the MaintainIT Cookbook, along with his colleagues from the Wyoming State Library, facilitated an informative webinar today on advocacy at your library.

Wyoming is quite an innovator in out-of-the-box advocacy for its libraries, and these three representatives shared quite a bit about how to inspire "everyday advocacy.”

That's a direct quote from Faye Hover from the lovely Smith-Welch Memorial Library in Hearne, Texas. Faye is a contributor to the MaintainIT Project and has shared her experiences in the Cookbooks, in a Feature (download the pdf), and now... in the new MaintainIT Project WebJunction forum!

When I visited Plumas County Library, I had an opportunity to sit down with the staff and learn how they keep their public computers running. Everyone had different ideas to share, and one idea in particular has stayed with me.

If your technology plan could use updating, or you haven't gotten around to developing a plan yet, you can do so with a cohort of colleagues, under the guidance of library tech guru Lori Ayre. InfoPeople is offering a 4-week online course , beginning Tuesday, Nov. 13. Included in the topics covered are:

• Planning for upgrades, maintenance, and support
• Expressing service goals in terms of user experience
• How to estimate costs of equipment and services

I've been thinking a lot about time. And when I think about time, I hear Mick Jagger singing in my head, "tiiiiiime is on our side..."
But how does Mick's promise work in libraries? Finding time to complete daily tasks, help patrons, react to the myriad of unscheduled issues tossed your way, and then, keep up with technology? Really? Are you sure time is on your side?
Lately, a few people have shared their views on this topic, and all are connected by their desire to learn, and their creative solutions. Read on...

If you don't have one, get one here! Once you've downloaded what you need--or the whole thing--take a picture of yourself with your new Cookbook, and join the MaintainIT Cookbook Flickr group!

It's easy, fun, and, well, FUN! Check out photos of libraries and contributors to the project, and please join in.

I bet you didn't know that for the past 5 years, TechSoup has inaugurated November as Stop Spam Today month!

What can you do to reduce the amount of junk you receive in your in box, or even--as I just learned from the TechSoup blog--your MP3 player?

A colleague sent me this link about a 'library's clever answer to network filtering,' and what's more interesting to me, is not so much the sign, but the comments to the post, below it.

Commenters debate computers in public libraries, filtering, even how much "actual research" is going on at libraries. Those of us ardent supporters and users of libraries have plenty of opinions on these topics, but isn't it interesting to hear them aired in such an open and public forum? Check it out!