this week in libraryland

Posted on by jessamyn

There is a lot going on this week. I will be participating in some of it so I may not be commenting on the rest of it. Computers in Libraries (wiki) is going on in DC. Blogwithout a library has a good post outlining how to follow along at home. Many people asked me if I was going. I’m not, though I would like to, because I’ll be at PLA in Boston, blogging for PLA. This was an excuse to check out what I’ve heard is a great conference, rendezvous with friends and family, and do a little conference blogging which I haven’t done much of before.

I was going to post this earlier but the entire ALA/PLA set of websites has been up and down for hours. When ALA.org briefly came back up, I noticed a new thing on the ALA website, buttons called “blogs” and “wikis”, right next to the RSS feeds. I don’t know if they have multiple wikis since both links don’t work right now (ALA seems to not have a staging area for their website) and I’m still unclear of the value of having an “official” ALA wiki when the unofficial ones worked so well, but it looks like someone, slowly, is trying to do the right thing and for that I am happy. Update: the ALA Blogs, RSS Feeds, and Wikis page is up. Apparently all three images on the ALA main page link to that page, which I hope will have a short URL soon. I sent them a friendly note suggesting that Firefox be capitalized properly and that they hyperlink the feeds as well as the blog URLs. They claim “New blogs and wikis are being added almost every day!” which I assume is weird marketing speak, but maybe they have big plans for that page which I think would be delightful.

Also new from ALA is their library careers website which helps answer a lot of “How do I become a librarian or library worker?” questions without all the empty hype about the job shortage. It’s nice and easy to navigate and except for the dreadful URL — librarycareers.org redirects to www.ala.org/ala/hrdr/librarycareerssite/. Which URL will people bookmark? The one in their browser window! Why can’t ALA fix this? — and is one more indication that someone there knows how the web works.

library 2.0, bang for buck

Posted on by jessamyn

As I’ve said before, I don’t have much of a desire to become a library 2.0 pundit. I don’t have a strong opinion on the loose idea and I like the players on both sides of the argument. What I care about is the libraries I work with and how technology and the “outside world” affects them and how I can help them deal with that. Michael Golrick is a library administrator in Bridgeport, Connecticut which has its share of have-not patrons and he has a thoughtful post on how the Library 2.0 idea trickles down to patrons like his (and, by extension, like mine).

Michael is also running for Council, don’t forget, and has written the most amazing beginner’s guide to the American Library Association. Meredith Farkas has split out all the individual posts into one set, and I’m reprinting that list here:
ALA 101 Introduction
Part 1: Overview
Part 2: Divisions
Part 3: Round Tables
Part 4: Offices
Part 5: Committees
Part 6: Buildings and Conferences
Part 7: Governance (this means ALA Council)

plinkit: scalable solutions to library tech rollouts

Posted on by jessamyn

One of the problems that library consortiums have frequently solved is technology centralization. While I am not denying that consortiums have caused other problems, having one central go-to technology platform, software set, team of trainers and help desk has made many non-tech savvy librarians able to provide a higher level of service to their customers. For tech savvy librarians, this has sometimes come with a downside of lack of control of their own technology, or dumbed down interfaces to robust tools. We’ve been looking for a happy medium solution.

Two newish projects have been getting talked about lately in the states of Iowa and Oregon. Oregon is using Plinkit, a web authoring tool that is built on an open source CMS called Plone. This tool allows libraries to create nice looking professional websites with some standard modules (calendar, lists of links, links to electronic resources) and some standards compliance. Here is a list of libraries using it. Iowa got money from the Gates Foundation and is using it to provide web hosting for libraries along with an email hosting service (please don’t let it be an Exchange server) and a helpdesk person available by email and phone (and I bet chat by the end of the grant period) for all state libraries. One of the best things the Vermont Department of Libraries has done is to make sure every library in Vermont has a fixed and memorable email address that either forwards or links to an easy to use webmail interface. They have had this for years and it’s done a lot to help libraries stay connected and feel like part of the larger library system, even when they’re up a mountain serving 600 people. I’m not usually one to jump on the “technology builds community” bandwagon, because I think there are certain irreplacable virtues to face to face interactions. However when done properly and effectively, technology can help support communities that are already built, and help them put their best face forward.

ALA Election Time

Posted on by jessamyn

I’m not certain if I selected a paper ballot or an electronic ballot this year. I seem to recall that in the last two years I’ve opted for a paper ballot, which did not get properly forwarded to my home address (my permanent address is not the same as my current address) and I had to get some last minute paper ballot. This year it’s going to be easier because whenever I get my ballot, I’ll have a list of candidates ready. These are the people I am voting for, and you can vote for whomever you want. Some of these people are relative newcomers to the field who impressed me with their moxie when I met them at Midwinter and others are people I’ve known for a long time. Please take a good long time with the candidate bios, it’s always a fascinating look at parts of the profession you may not personally be involved with. Thanks to everyone for running. I look forward to watching you from the sidelines.

hi – 17mar

Posted on by jessamyn

I have a few family members who are into genealogy who send me fun updates from time to time. This one is loosely library related so I’ll share it with you here.

Your Great Great Grandfather, James Brown Martin and his wife Jane Moore Martin were born in Belfast, Ireland. Lived in the Bronx for many years! He fought in the Civil war and then returned to NYC to work as a stone mason on the NYC Library, City Hall and other public buildings.

James Brown Martin
      Norman Martin – Jean Wilson Terry – Maude (Nana) Martin (my great grandmother)
            Jean Martin West
                  Jean Terry West (my aunt)
                  Joseph Thomas West (my dad)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Posted in hi