Jonesboro Public Library Director of Technology Benjamin Bizzle demystifies the mechanics and merit of Facebook ad campaigns, while Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library Digital Services Director David Lee King explains how to build a library Facebook page, how to extend its visibility and in turn the visibility of the library, right down to what to post, when, and how.

Topics include the development and implementation of the EPA’s national library network; collaboration, shared viewing, and remote desktop control, and the increasingly online-based nature of reference; partnering to develop a mobile app for a public library system (and how it works for patrons); and both the impetus/history and technical details of developing an app for just-in-time reference desk staffing for a regional university library.

From “lazy consensus” to management style flexibility, Jill Sodt of Blackhawk College and Laura Botts of Mercer University offer remedies for the difficulties attendant to technological sea changes, shifting expectations, and interdepartmental communication issues that academic and institutional librarians contend with on an ongoing basis.

Marshall Breeding discusses trends and analysis in library automation in this $1.8 billion industry, based on his ongoing research on the topic, reflected in his annual “Library Automation Marketplace” industry report for Library Journal and the Library Technology Guides website that he’s managed since 1997.

John Blyberg of Darien Library discusses the rise and fall (or at least modest decline) of LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP) in the library web technology ecosystem as a new generation of technologies like JavaScript using node.js have begun their ascendancy.

Speaking to web developers and managers of web developers, project managers, and others interested in emerging technologies poised to define the future of the web and the way professionals interact within it, Blyberg said, “LAMP has served us very well … but I’m going to introduce you to some technologies that you can add to your toolkit and use going forward, because the nature of the web is changing dramatically. Right now, we’re on the cusp of another leap forward in terms of moving from the read/write web to the active web. Some of these technologies that I’ll talk about today are going to address how we get ther and why we’re able to do the things that we do now.”

Mary Ellen Bates, president and founder of Bates Information Services and super-searcher extraordinaire, kicked off the tracks at Computers in Libraries 2013 with her perennial favorite, “Super Searcher Secrets,” updating attendees on the very latest and greatest tips and techniques of professional web research.

“We need to remember that we need to surprise and delight our clients,” Bates says. “If people in your library are constantly having the experience of, ‘Oh my gosh, they found me something I didn’t know I could even ask for’ … they come back for more … For the rest of the conference, you’re going to be hearing about a lot of different search tools and resources, so what I’ve pulled together for today are the things that I hope will be, number one, unknown to you, and number two, will show you a way to use these resources to add value, to do something that your clients didn’t even know they could ask you to do.”

Online Searcher editor and a panel of top search experts discuss advanced search engine navigation and making the most of the latest information resources in this spirited session from Computers in Libraries 2013.

Marydee Ojala, editor of Information Today’s newest magazine for librarians, Online Searcher, directs an all-star cast of search experts in this informative session from Computers in Libraries 2013. Joining her are Montana State University Reference Team Leader and CiL and Enterprise Search mainstay Greg Notess; Gary Price, co-founder, INFODocket and FullTextReports; and Ran Hock, author of the Internet Handbook tackle strategies and advanced techniques for working with a range of search engines and navigating the morass of information available online. Be sure to watch for an early look at Online Searcher and what it brings to the industry.

And so we come to the end of another CIL conference.  Lots of good information was shared, and much learning took place.  The unusually warm Washington weather (around 90) made outside activities pleasant and brought the cherry blossoms into full bloom.

Be sure and mark your calendars now and save the dates for CIL 2014, which will be back in the Washington Hilton on April 7-9.

Save the Dates for CIL 2014

Don Hawkins
CIL 2013 Blog Coordinator

Candice Kail, Colleen Major, John Coogan, Li Fu

This session featured presentations by librarians from University of Maryland University College (UMUC) and Columbia University discussing changes in their services as a result of the introduction of discovery systems and other e-resource products. Li Fu and John Coogan from UMUC began by noting that the changes are wide-ranging and evolutionary, affecting many areas of the library. They are using EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS), which they have branded as UMUC OneSearch. After they installed EDS, they went through every option in the administrative module and set up connections to as many additional vebdirs as possible (including JSTOR, ProQuest, and Lexis-Nexis). They also implemented subject searching for special areas of high concentration, put an EDS widget and links to help pages and tutorials on the library home page, and made EDS available to mobile users. In general, resources are embedded rather than simply linked to.

A UMUC digital repository has been established which has required additional processing of submitted files, cataloging (using Dublin Core), and securing author agreements.

Library users were formerly authenticated using a separate library ID.  In the future they will use their university ID to authenticate, but this has caused problems because if a problem arises it cannot be resolved at the library; the user must resolve it at the university’s centralized help facility.

The reference staff is now receiving many technical questions such as “how do I…”, and in response has developed technical support pages on its website to help students deal with browser problems, firewall issues, and procedures such as “How to download an e-book”.  Systems librarians monitor e-mails and respond to technical questions and vendor malfunction issues.

In the past, librarians had no idea what users were doing on their website; now thanks to Google Analytics for EDS, they have lots of data including search statements, what platforms and browser they are using, etc.  The librarians’ core values are unchanged, but their mindset and skill sets are evolving.  They must be able to adapt to new workflows.

Candice Kail and Colleen Major described the e-resources in use at Columbia University Libraries, which include Serials Solutions and ExLibris. Database pages and e-resource order forms have been developed locally.  An OpenURL results screen directs users to the catalog when a locally held item has been found by the discovery service; mobile users are redirected to vendors’ mobile interfaces.

Columbia has entered into a partnership with Cornell University, 2CUL, to pool resources and provide content, expertise, and services that are impossible to accomplish acting alone. Vendor platforms and services will be reviewed, and joint subscriptions will be obtained.  The challenge has been to determine which services should be included in the joint service.

Group decision making, though sometimes hard to resolve, frequently offers the best solutions to problems.  Some staff members have felt untrusted by the formation of group committeed, and they have had to be motivated to take advantage of the decisions made.  Theoretically the work can be divided, but distributed projects can be a challenge: some results have been very positive, others have been mixed. Some projects would have never been taken on without the advantages of the group.  E-resources are managed by multiple groups, which has been very challenging. When people move on to new jobs, maintaining continuity in the group can be a problem.

Wikis, email, and shared Google Docs have been used for communication.  Because this has not always been part of staff workflows, communication with other parts of the organization has had mixed success.  Determining what to communicate broadly has not been defined, so it has been done on an ad hoc basis.  There is a delicate balance between making staff feel entrusted and empowered with the responsibilities of group processes.

Don Hawkins
CIL 2013 Blog Coordinator

Becoming TechCentral

The Cleveland Public Library’s TechCentral concept grew out of an “innovation team” that was charged with redesigning library services.  Originally the library had 60 public computers in 2 buildings with 9 locations and 2 signup stations, which was chaotic for users and a huge inconvenience. There was a need to consolidate, but also a strong desire to inspire and make TechCentral the most flexible space in the library. A process approach to the redesign of the space was taken to respond to community needs.  Raised flooring was installed in the space for maximum flexibility because the staff knew that it would change, and they wanted change!

TechCentral now occupies 7,000 square feet in the main library.  Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz, CJ Lynce, and Olivia Hoge (see the previous post on myCloud for their photo) discussed some of the considerations in the design of the space and its current features.

TechCentral Floor Plan

TechCentral is divided into 5 zones as shown above, according to usage:

1. Learning space where people can get help.  Learners and teachers are on equal footing next to each other at a table.

2. Play.  An exhibit of devices for users to play with.  This area lets people experience an iPad, Kindle, etc.  Staff are stationed there to help.

3. Connect.  A place for people to get help with their new devices.

4. Create.  An area where people can set up new devices, etc.

5. Get things done.  Space and computer for people to work.

Over 1/3 of visitors coming to the library go directly to TechCentral  It started with 1 professional and 3 part time assistants.  TechCentral is more than just a computer lab; it provides new technology that patrons may not have access to, offers technology classes for staff and public, and provides a maker lab.  TechCentral staff must be creative, curious, resourceful, and have good thinking skills and a fundamental understanding of technology.  TechCentral is now staffed by a manager and 10 assistants.

A TechToyBox lending device program began by allowing patrons to have access to new technology.  Patrons could check out devices so they could learn how to set them up, try them out on their own, and experience what it would be like to own them.  They were only permitted to be checked out at the main desk, and identification and a phone number was required.  The loan period was 1 week, and there was a $3/day overdue charge.  After the device was a week overdue, it was considered lost and patron was billed.  The devices were not reservable, which led to the staff receiving many phone calls to see if an item was in.  Some people even came into the library and waited for them to get returned. But eventually all the devices went missing!  Even requiring patrons to sign contracts agreeing to return the devices failed to prevent losses, so the ToyBox service has been put on hold.  However, this effort showed that there is a widespread need for people to be able to try out devices before purchasing them.

The same program, called TechToolBox, was instituted for staff.  In that case, the library bought devices for staff to check out.

The library’s myCloud service was developed by TechCentral (click here to read a posting about it).

Other services offered by TechCentral incude:

• 3-D printing to produce models.  This photo shows the printer and some models.
  

  3-D Printer and Models

  This service is priced on amount of plastic used, most models cost $1-3 to print.  It is not an easy process to design models for printing; ThingIVerse software to create models works well. Here is a photo of a model produced using it

  

  Model produced using ThingVerse

• Maker kits allow people to be creative.  Connect Kits use hubs and spokes to create structures.  Users can snap electronic circuits components together and learn how they work
• Maker labs offer a tutorial how to to a process.  Custom 3D cutters were created using CookieCaster.  Staff often demonstrates how to do something then guides patrons in doing it on their own.  One staff member can help 20 people because everyone helps the others.  Labs on other subjects, such as panoramic images, video slide shows, digital kaleidoscope abstarct art, and font making are also offered.  Anyone can participate; no special skills needed.
• A digital “graffiti wall” was installed with a laptop, projector, web camera, and laser pointer. This wall allows users to create graffiti with digital “spray paint”.

TechCentral is an ongoing idea that is always changing.  Future plans and hopes include:

• An improved version of the TechToyBox program with at-home checkouts.
• An electronics soldering lab will be offered this summer in conjunction with a program using Raspberry Pi to learn how to create a mini-computer.
• Dedicated space for all create programs.
• A/V recording with musical instruments provided by TechCentral.
• Expansion of myCloud to all branches
• Adding mini-TechCentral space in some branches to include 3-D printing etc.

TechCentral is a mantra and an example to libraries for developing and offering innovative spaces and services for patrons.

Don Hawkins
CIL 2013 Blog Coordinator