Archive for September, 2008
Sometimes, URLs can be insanely long. For example:
http://www.llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch.com/
Or:
Yes, both real. Both annoying. And, if you try to email these, they will not display properly in some email clients. Some people won’t be able to click them at all. But, never fear…URL shortening services are here!
There are many free URL shortening services that you can easily use online. One well known one is TinyURL.com. You just copy and paste your long URL into a box and, with the click of a button, you have a new, short and valid URL. The first long URL, above, becomes:
Works exactly like the long one, without breaking anyone’s email client.
What does this mean to me, Laura?
- There are many URL shortening services. Pick the one you like best.
- If you need to send a URL via SMS, this is also very handy.
- Sometimes, your browser might refuse to display a page from a shortened URL. This is usually due to the security settings being too high on the browser.
- If you are a Firefox user, you can a handy extension to make creating tiny URLs much simpler.
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Perhaps when you hear the word “Bluetooth,” the first image to spring to mind is that of a Bluetooth headset? You know, one of those little devices you see hanging off people’s ears (and it seems like they’re talking to themselves)? Bluetooth isn’t the name brand of the device, but rather the name of the technology that allows the headset to communicate with the person’s cell phone, which is usually located in the person’s pocket or bag.
Simply put, Bluetooth is a technology that replaces the wire between headset and phone. Bluetooth is made possible by a very inexpensive radio chip (around $5 USD) that also consumes little power and a receiver. Bluetooth is common way for devices to connect wirelessly to each other. Not just cellphones, but just about any kind of gadget. You can sync your PDA with your computer, offload camera pics or even connect to a printer.
Will this replace library wifi for internet access? Not any time soon. Bluetooth has a much more limited range than most wifi setups (it maxes out at around only 32 feet). Bluetooth is intended mainly to connect differing devices in a standardized way.
(Note: Bluetooth is named after King Harald Bluetooth of Denmark, who in the 930s consolidated warring factions of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. )
What does this mean to me, Laura?
- Bluetooth is intended primarily to connect one gadget to another, not to replace your wireless network.
- Because it is relatively inexpensive for manufacturers to implement, we’ll likely be seeing it in more and more items. Not long from now you’ll be seeing household appliances that are Bluetooth enabled. For instance, a fridge that can signal your phone when you’re out of milk. (Frankly, I’d prefer a fridge that knew I had nothing planned for dinner and could call for delivery.)
Do you like to use online forums or comment on blogs? If you do, chances are you’ve seen, or perhaps even have, a small icon or picture that often sits to the left of a commenter’s name. These are called avatars (the Weblin service, which I blogged about a bit ago, uses the same concept, except Weblins are interactive). These give people a visual cue about who you are and/or what kinds of things you are interested in.
The problem, however, has been that you often have to upload or specify your avatar for each web site you want to participate in. This can be a real hassle. Wouldn’t it be easier if you could just specify one avatar in one place, and then web sites could just pull it in as needed when you visit?
Enter gravatars.
Gravatars (Globally Recognized Avatars) do exactly that. You sign up with just an email address (and you can associate multiple email addresses with your gravatar, which is really handy) and upload your image. That’s it.
No, really, that’s it. Honest.
Well, ok. There is a catch. Signing up for a gravatar is just as easy as I said…the problem is, not every site is (yet) gravatar-enabled. But the concept is spreading rapidly, as more and more platforms adopt it. Most major blogging engines now support it with plugins of some kind. And there are ways to do it with different scripting languages (see previous link) for those sites that don’t have plugins. So the burden is on the web site, rather than on the user.
What does this mean to me, Laura?
- If you like to comment on any blogs or web sites, this is a handy service that makes avatars much more convenient.
- If your library has a blog or site that allows comments, this is a nice service to provide for those users who have a gravatar. Even if users don’t have one, you can specify a default image that appears next to their name (note that comments in this blog now sport a default OPLIN logo…so this is another branding opportunity as well).
- Implementing this on your library’s blog/site is not (in my limited experience) as intuitive as one might hope for. But it’s probably not rocket science, either…for an experienced developer. ( If you’re looking for a little help with getting gravatars implemented with WordPress, however, I can probably give you a clue.)
- Is this something for your library’s “must do” list? Probably not yet. If your library has someone on board who can do this though, I recommend that you do. It never hurts to make things more convenient, right?
I think that one of the most difficult hiring decisions a public library has to make is that of a tech.1
Although the systems that enable all of the digital resources of the library are truly mission-critical, they represent one realm that most library staff are likely the least comfortable with. How does a hiring manager pick someone who can adequately support that which they don’t necessarily understand themselves?
I asked some questions to the tech folks on the OPLINTECH listserv2 and received some well-thought out responses. Here’s a summary of what they had to say:
What qualities do you MOST seek in a tech candidate?
Someone who knows how to solve a problem more than they know what the answer actually is. Good techs can tell you the method by which they solved a sticky issue, and what resources they consulted to get to a resolution. A prospective tech should be able to remain calm under pressure. Adaptability is a must. Technology changes all the time, and techs must keep up. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow. This means you need a tech who is both self-motivated and curious.
What quality/qualities are immediate turn offs?
Almost universally, the “know-it-all” tech seems to be reviled by both library staff and other techs. Additional turn-offs include techs who don’t know how to communicate without jargon or with eye contact. People who are evangelists for only one operating system (e.g., Windows, Linux, Mac) were also cited several times. The feeling among the respondents was that this may mean less flexibility and less willingness to learn new technologies that may not use their platform of choice. One respondent wrote,
Consider looking for people who have experience with more than one operating system since they will more than likely have a better understanding of the underlying concepts of OSes [operating systems] and applications. This allows them to better troubleshoot at a deeper level than someone who is only familiar with the surface of the most popular products.
Does your library prefer/require candidates with degrees in computer science (or a job-related degree)?
Overwhelmingly, the responses were “no.” Although most did not require or even prefer a computer science or related degree, several did stipulate that some kind of degree was mandatory. Overall, the survey respondents felt that a degree was not as important as ability.
Does your library prefer/require candidates with at least one professional certification (e.g., A+, MCSE, CIW, etc)
The feelings about this question were almost identical to those about the previous question concerning degrees. Only one library required/preferred candidates with some sort of certification.
Does your library require applicants to pass a written job skills exam as part of the hiring process?
This question resulted in much more of a mixed bag. Interestingly, some of the responders, even though their library does not currently test tech applicants, felt that it would be useful to do so. Written tests were cited as a good way to immediately sort serious candidates from those who don’t possess enough rudimentary knowledge to get to the next hiring stage.
Which avenues/web sites does your library use to advertise tech job openings?
Newspapers, regional library system job sites, library web sites, local trade magazines, word of mouth and local tech colleges were cited. An interesting followup question for the future might be: “Which of these has proved most successful?”
What is the hardest thing about hiring a tech?
Most responses indicated that the lack of adequate salaries for IT professionals is an ongoing problem with hiring techs. They acknowledged that many qualified candidates can get much better elsewhere. The other most-cited issue is that of knowing if your candidate is really qualified. Several responding techs recommended hiring a consultant to help with this task. One says:
To weed out the “impostors”, have the short-list applicants talk to a trusted _real_ IT tech (even if you have to hire your IT consultant for a few hours). “Impostors” will easily snow a non-tech director or hiring manager, but will usually quickly fail a “real” tech’s smell-test.
What advice would you give to another library trying to hire a good tech?
Some of the comments:
- Don’t hire the first person who seems to know more than you do (unless you’re an IT expert).
-
Be realistic in wants & needs vs. pay and benefits you offer. You might be hard-pressed to find a super-tech willing to work real cheap.
- Mentor. Look for talent and potential that you can feed. Know that if you’re successful, you’ll lose this person in a couple years — lose them because you’ve helped them grow into bigger and better things, not because you’ve drained them of the will to live.
- Always find out what they do on their own time. The more they enjoy working on stuff at home, the more likely they will be able to bring those skills to work.
- Take your time; your computer upgrade can wait. A poor IT person will do much more damage than you can possibly imagine and it can set you back years and many more times his/her salary in getting back up to speed. This is orders of magnitude more true if the IT person you’re hiring is the only IT person for your organization.
Thanks to all of the IT people from OPLINTECH who helped out by responding to my questions!
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1 By tech, I mean someone who’s primary responsibilities (but not necessarily all of their responsibilities) relate to caring for the library’s network and/or computers and/or web site development.
2 This is an OPLIN listserv for discussing tech-related topics. If you’d like to subscribe, go to http://oplin.org/content/oplintech.
