Archive for December, 2009
At the end of every year, lots of media outlets and assorted gurus make predictions about what is going to be happening in the next 365-odd days. But how often do libraries stop to think about what those predictions might mean for the services they offer? I’ve taken a selection of technology-related predictions and offered up my own library-centric interpretations. Feel free to re-interpret, clarify or dispute in the comments.
The prediction: The real-time web hits the mainstream. More information will become INSTANTLY available.
My thoughts: Reference librarians that aren’t familiar with Twitter are going to get thrown for a lot of loops. Many news outlets already post news stories on Twitter first (or at least simultaneously) with their stories on traditional media, and this practice is only going to increase. Librarians will likely need to follow some reputable local and national news outlets on Twitter to get a better grasp on current events. I remember when it was advised for librarians to read a newspaper to keep up; now, you might be better off to start by checking your Twitter feed in the morning.
The prediction: The advent of 3D television.
My thoughts: Actually, that’s not really a prediction: it’s a fact. Both Sky and Panasonic have confirmed 3D sets coming out next year. However, this is just a beginning, and only early adopters are going to jump on what will undoubtedly be a very expensive bandwagon, intially. I think libraries will have at least 3-4 years of grace before they have to worry about people asking for the 3D versions of movies. Libraries need to keep an eye on this, though; it will likely mean yet another format to purchase down the road.
The prediction: Augmented reality in information and games.
My thoughts: Already, those folks with advanced smartphones (e.g., iPhones, Droids) are using augmented reality in real life. These phones provide all kinds of interesting additional layers of information based on location, such as where my friends are, what restaurants or gas stations are nearby, and much more. We’re going to see this explode as people discover just how useful (and not just geeky) these kinds of applications are. Libraries need to consider what it means when someone with Layar installed on their phone comes into the building; what additional value are they getting from the library through this kind of information layer? Wouldn’t it be great if they could easily be pointed to the bathrooms, DVD or reference assistance?
The prediction: Near-field communications will allow people to start paying for things using their mobile devices.
My thoughts: This is already in use in many countries (but, alas, not the U.S. yet). It’s a matter of time before Americans catch on to the idea that their phone can also be their wallet. It probably won’t happen in 2010 though. For libraries, this raises some big questions. Most libraries still haven’t managed to accept fine payments online. What happens when people want to pay via their phones?
The prediction: Internet Explorer 6 support will be dropped by up to 90% of websites.
My thoughts: Again, this is something that is already happening. Many developers even charge extra now to create sites that render clearly in Internet Explorer 6, because IE is already on version 8 and so 6 is essentially legacy software. Even Microsoft is encouraging people to upgrade to newer versions of their browser. If your library still uses Internet Explorer 6, it will become increasingly difficult for your library’s patrons to view the Web in 2010. Resolve to upgrade the browsing experience for your patrons in 2010.
What does this mean to me, Laura?
- Don’t panic. We all know change will happen, and it will happen faster than we can really absorb it. However, major shifts tend to happen a little more gradually. The problem is that libraries tend to be more reactive than proactive; the kinds of shifts I mention, above, really require some thinking ahead. Don’t wait until the last minute to learn more about these technologies.
- Upgrade your Internet Explorer browser. NOW. IE6 is just evil and must die. Not that I’m biased or anything.
Happy New Year!
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It’s the week before Christmas. Let’s be honest here…most of us are not thinking about work. If Twitter and Facebook are any indication, most people I know are physically at work, but mentally they’re caroling and gulping eggnog. (I plead the Fifth, myself.)
So, today I asked folks what they wasted time on, online (not necessarily at work). I was curious about some things:
- What specific things they choose to do online, and
- What things they (perhaps unwittingly) classified as “wastes of time?”
- What fun things might I possibly be missing?
Without further ado, here are most of the responses:
- “Gaming”
- “Trolling”
- “The fun stuff at HuffingtonPost.com“
- “Looking for recipes and giving $$ to Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Addictive, all of them”
- “Facebook, Slashdot, and Toy-a-day . Although the last one has more of an offline component”
- “Twitter , blog reading”
- “I really hate to admit it, but I play Mafia Wars on Facebook. Such a guilty pleasure…”
- “Facebook, Facebook, Facebook. Gotta see how my friends are celebrating/what they’re getting for xmas while I’m w/ my own fam”
- “Twitter!”
- “Facebook. I’ve let many of my apps go…will probably revive the farm, and the fish. Definitely play some scrabble!”
(It’s only fair that I throw my own in there, so I’ll list my own time-waster: Bejeweled. A simple puzzle game that I can play for seemingly endless amounts of time. And live Scramble on Facebook. Please don’t look at how many games of that I’ve played. It’s frightening.)
What does this mean to me, Laura?
I was a little surprised not to see more Facebook apps appear in the list, especially considering that’s where the majority of the responses came from. Aside from that, perhaps I’ll have to investigate Toy-A-Day. Not too much in the way of analysis today…there’s not much room in my brain, considering that the elves are filling the place up with garland and I can’t get “Frosty the Snowman” out of my head.
I hope your holidays are grand and full of opportunities to waste time.
I’ve had the experience in the past several months of being both a regular presenter and regular attendee of webinars. I’ve learned quite a bit, being on both ends, and I would like to share what I’ve learned here for those who may want to present webinars of their own. Add your own guidelines in the comments!
Aside from technological considerations, presenting via the web can be more challenging than face-to-face, from a presenter’s perspective. To help you, I’ve provided some guidelines that will aid you in knowing what to expect and how to prepare for this type of presentation.
- Webinars require you to be more engaging. Webinars have been compared to radio; the more exciting you are, the more likely your listeners are to pay attention. Maintain a high energy level. Remember, it’s very, very simple for your attendees to jump ship if they’re bored…and they will.
- Slides have to be even simpler. If you’re accustomed to using lots of bulletpoints and/or charts with small print, you will need to significantly change your approach. Keep visuals clear and as simple as possible.
- Webinars move faster. The rule is that a presenter should plan to talk no more than 45-60 seconds on any given slide. Otherwise, you are likely to lose listeners.
- Don’t use clip art. Find photos or create your own infographic, but beware of the standard Microsoft clip art, which will likely brand your work as unprofessional and uncreative.
- If you’re on video (not just audio): Don’t fidget. Think about how people on TV look. They’re not playing with their hair or twirling the mic.
- Turn off your phones, IM, whatever. (This includes locking your howling cat out of the room. Yes, I have to do this.)
- Be prepared to answer questions. Just like in a face-to-face session, expect to have a Q&A period of 5-10 minutes at the end.
- Understand that you will need to multitask, somewhat. In many cases, waiting until the very end to answer ALL questions just isn’t practical. It can be more useful (and more engaging for your attendees) to answer the question in context. So keep one eye on the ongoing text chat. If you don’t think you can monitor and speak, have someone else with you to monitor the chat and signal when there are comments or questions.
- When you answer questions or respond to comments, REPEAT it first! Not everyone is watching the chat like you are or knows who said what. More importantly, if the session is being recorded, the chat log will not likely be a part of the archive. So say something like “Susan asks: what will this cost a small library?” Then answer the question.
- Include your contact information on the last slide. You can’t have a stack of business cards or handouts, so be sure people can contact you via email and/or social networks and that information is posted here so people can find it.
- Tell people where to find the slides after the presentation. No handouts in a webinar! If you don’t have a place to host your slides, I heartily recommend getting a Slideshare account and posting them there.
Today’s guest post is by Bobbi Galvin, Customer Relations and Support at OPLIN.
The Global Language Monitor has released its list of Top Words 2009. Coming in at #10 is TRANSPARENCY.
Transparency in this instance means putting all you do (at least all of the interesting stuff) out for users to see…then welcoming the comments, and the criticisms, and the advice from people who think they know how to run your library.
But THEN come the comments that you’ve been waiting for…the ones that tell you what your customers want from you. Comments from regular users that start something like, “I wish the library…” and comments from people who wouldn’t feel comfortable offering suggestions in person. (Perhaps Mommyof3, now under the shadow of anonymity, may be able to tell you why story time doesn’t work for her at 7 PM.)
Why are public agencies, including libraries, afraid to let their guard down in public? We’re not hiding anything. We’re one of the good guys. Let’s prove it!
Providing a free-flowing, transparent view into your library by providing real-time information allows your patrons to be involved. But how do you do it?
- Make things simple and seamless, so much so that the end-user doesn’t even notice that the technology itself doesn’t get in the way. This way, they are more able to adapt to and use the service and get the answers they need. For example, give your website an easy to use interface and don’t require special software (ie: .pdf) to retrieve results.
- Use the social media services regularly such as wikis, podcasts, blogs, mashups, online videos, and social media sites.
- Listen and respond. Post meaningful responses to all questions to let people know you’re hearing them. For those users who don’t use the social media sites, post the conversations near your suggestion box.
- Use Wordle (or other visuals) to show your website users at a glance what you and other users are talking about. Link it to your Twitter or Facebook account.
- Don’t just advertise, tell people what you are doing. Make it personal to them. Say things like, “Cutting out cute things for story time. Want to come and help?” or “Reference question of the day…” or even, “WOW! 22 people signed up for our quilting class so far! Join us!”
What does this mean to me, Bobbi?
Transparency answers questions that people don’t even know to ask. Reducing confusion and creating an open channel of two-way communication increases trust and removes all doubt about your intentions and your services. It lets people know you are listening and are willing to respond to their needs. Happy patrons = a well-supported library.
