Let’s be honest:  it’s a major pain in the rear to login to multiple, different social media services every time you want to make a post.  I often used to think, “It takes more time to login to Twitter than it does to make a 140-character status update!”  (At least it seemed that way to me.)  If your library maintains more than one profile in social media, then you’re probably keenly aware of how annoying this is–particularly if you want to make the same posting in two different places.

There are now  tools that can take a great deal of pain out of maintaining multiple social media accounts.  One of these (and my personal favorite) is Tweetdeck.  This is a piece of desktop software (although it also has versions for the iPhone and iPad) that you install, and it functions as a master dashboard for all of your social media accounts.  Through Tweetdeck, I personally manage 5 different Twitter accounts, my Facebook account and my LinkedIn account with this tool.  A library could easily manage both its Twitter and Facebook accounts.  Tweetdeck also supports MySpace, Google Buzz and Foursquare.

Tweetdeck has a very long list of features, and is always adding more.  They recently added the ability to post in the future (much like Twuffer) and to view YouTube videos directly inside Tweetdeck.

What does this mean to me, Laura?

• Other great features include the ability to auto-shorten long URLs and to add columns to monitor keywords or hastags.   Want to keep up with #saveohiolibraries?  Tweetdeck can do that for you.  Same for any search for any keyword/hashtag.  Monitor multiple search terms.
• If your library maintains more than one Twitter account (e.g., one main one and one for local history information), then this tool is going to save you a lot of time and effort.
• If your library wants to post the same message to Twitter and also to Facebook and/or MySpace, Tweetdeck allows you to do this easily.  Just type in your status message, and then click the buttons for those accounts, then submit.  Done.
• Tweetdeck is available for Windows, Mac and Linux machines.  (Note that you will need Adobe Air to run it.)

Do you use Tweetdeck?  Or another multi-account management tool?  What do you think?

More »

I spend a lot of time talking to library staff about ways to make Twitter work for their libraries.  One of those ways is to post status updates consistently.  This doesn’t tweeting several, one right after the other, first thing in the morning and then doing nothing else for the rest of the day.  When I see libraries using this method, I usually unfollow them.  As far as I’m concerned, they’re spamming me and that’s not what I’m looking for when I follow an organization.   But, what if the library doesn’t have time to do tweets intermittently throughout the day?  That’s where tools like Twuffer come in.

Twuffer is a free, easy tool that has a very simple interface.  It allows you to schedule tweets for future posting, coming from your own Twitter account.  I use it somewhat extensively for the several different Twitter accounts that I manage.  It makes things much easier, as I can do much of my tweet statuses ahead of time and then simply forget them.  Twuffer does the actual work of posting them when specified.

What does this mean to me, Laura?

• You login to Twuffer using your Twitter account login.
• The service is currently in beta, but I, myself, have never noticed any issues with it (which seems to be somewhat par for the course with anything labeled “beta” anymore, doesn’t it?).
• You can specify the day and time, but the time only on the hour, not the half-hour.
• Twuffer does track sent tweets, so you can check for duplicates.
• There does not seem to be a limit on how many tweets or how far ahead you can schedule them.
• When you’re scheduling tweets, remember that the prime time for social media messages in the U.S. is between 7:30 am – 10:00 am.  That’s because checking Twitter/Facebook/etc. has replaced the morning paper for many people at the breakfast table.  That doesn’t mean that you should only schedule tweets for these hours; rather, save your most important ones for this time slot.

More »

For some time, I’ve been wracking my brain (what’s left of it, granted) for a clever tagline for this very blog.  Suffice it to say, my brain wasn’t obliging and my tagline sat empty.  Then I caught wind of a new beta site called Fiverr.  The tagline for this site is “The place for people to share things they’re willing to do for $5.”  It’s a fairly simple concept:

1. People list jobs they’re willing to do for a mere five bucks.
2. You go shopping.
3. You decide on one of the listings to fit your need.
4. You purchase the job and pay $5 via either PayPal or a credit card.
5. The seller contacts you for details.  You provide them.
6. The seller sends you the completed work.
7. You leave feedback.

In many senses, it’s like eBay (and perhaps just as addictive) in the sense that the transaction is between you and another person, and the site simply acts as the mechanism to make it happen.

In my case, I decided to purchase this job.  I put my five dollars down and waited for the seller to contact me.  It took several days for him/her to email me (I suspect that they’re pretty busy with such a deal for such a low rate) and I honestly forgot about it after a a couple of days.  I figured, “Eh, I lost $5.”  The seller did actually email me several days after my purchase however, and, as promised in their listing, he/she had completed the job in less than 24 hours–with a choice of 3 taglines to choose from.  I loved the first one (which now resides on the top left of this site) and rated the seller favorably.  After all, for only five bucks, I can be pretty patient!

What does this mean to me, Laura?

• The variety of jobs available to choose from is truly astounding.  Want someone to draw a floorplan of your library?  Come up with an ad campaign theme?  Need a virtual assistant?  Get a professional logo?  New things are added all the time, and the variety is very good.
• Yes, they ALL cost $5.00 USD.
• Since they all cost $5, if one doesn’t work out, it’s easy (and very inexpensive!) to try another seller.

I’ve since recommended Fiverr to a friend to get his resume’ reviewed, and even to a library that didn’t have a tagline either (and wanted one).  What could your library get for five dollars?

More »

Many of you are probably familiar with Skype, which allows you to have voice and/or video chats with another person.  TokBox is kind of like Skype on steroids:  you can have chats with p to 20 people.  It’s the party line for the 21st century.  There is no download to worry about (it’s all web-based).  You can also send video messages to people, not just do live chats.   Tokbox also can automatically connect to your IM buddies on most major networks, making integrations mostly seamless.  You can invite your IM contacts to a video chat directly, without them having to also sign up for an IM account.

What does this mean to me, Laura?

• At first glimpse, the thought that may be going through your mind is “Oh boy!  Author chats!  Online programs!” and the like.  I recommend restraint when it comes to using Tokbox for patron-related activities.  Firstly, the participant limit (20) is enough to probably scare most libraries off this track.  Secondly, if you want the ability to actually moderate the online gathering, you’re going to have to pony up a monthly fee ($9.95/month).  Thirdly, this service is very much like Skype–which means that video/audio quality for each participant can vary–a lot.  All it takes is a few chat members complaining that the sound is cutting in and out to take a chunk of fun out of the program.  Such problems are almost always on the participant’s end, but it can still be disruptive as people attempt to help them iron out issues in the middle of a session.
• So, what is Tokbox good for?  We, here at OPLIN, have used Tokbox at least a couple of times for meetings of people who are in remote locations.  If you’re a member of a group, division, committee or whatnot, and your members have difficulty finding time to get together or travel, you may find that Tokbox is an ideal solution.  Yes, each member is going to need a webcam, but those can be bought fairly inexpensively–often for less than a tank of gas these days.
• Tokbox can also save video chats/messages, so being able to archive a live, online meeting is a neat function you can take advantage of.

UPDATE:  Talk about timing!   Just today (5/14/10), Skype announced that they are introducing a group chat beta.  However, this will be a premium feature (price not yet announced), not free like Tokbox.  Just putting it out there.

More »

You know those sites that have a name that is in no way related to what it does?  Lunch.com is one of those.

Lunch.com is a reviews site, with the goal of changing the way people think about each other.  You rate things (books, games, movies, etc), and the site will tell you how similar you are to other people on the site.  Cute, but not a whole lot of practical going on.  However, it’s the newest feature, “Communities,” that really might make people sit up and take notice.  This ability allows users to create their own niche review sites.  There are already communities based on reviewing strollers, gluten-free products, obscure movies, college fashion, haunted locations and many more.  Certainly, the possibilities are endless.  There are major player review sites like Yelp that rate local businesses; this site has found its part of the Long Tail and is catering to interests that may have no other review outlets.

What does this mean to me, Laura?

• As librarians, it’s likely the first thought to strike us about Lunch.com might be “Book reviews!”  However, I strongly caution against actually trying this.  There are already several large, successful sites that do this well:  for example, Goodreads, Shelfari and LibraryThing.  These sites have a critical mass that Lunch.com is unlikely to ever duplicate.  People want to go where their friends are online.  Lunch.com will likely succeed with niche interest groups, not mainstream ones.  This could be a handy tool for a library’s book discussion group, but not as a widespread one for every patron.
• Lunch.com is not well-known and is still, technically, in beta.  If you decide to start a new community, you will need to promote it heavily outside of Lunch.com in order to attract an audience.
• The site gives users the option to connect with their Facebook login (Facebook Connect), which is very handy.
• Reviews can be of two different lengths–full length reviews, which allow for uploaded pictures as well, and micro reviews, which are very brief.

More »

• Pixlr–has a fairly simple interface and yet includes more advanced functionality like layers and masks.  Also has a neat browser extension you can install, called Grabber, that allows you to right-click a web image and have it open up automatically in Pixlr.
• Splashup–Allows for editing multiple images at once and integrates very well with photo sharing sites like Flickr, Picasa and Facebook.  Advanced functionality is somewhat more limited than Pixlr.
• Picnik–Picnik has a free version and a premium version.  It’s primarily a tool for editing photos,rather than creating anything from scratch. The free version may be enough for simple tasks such as resizing, rotating or removing redeye from existing photographs.  One annoying thing about this tool is that it shows you options for unique features such as stickers, only to tell you that they are only available with the premium subscription if you try to use them.
• Aviary–This is a whole suite of tools (all of them have bird-related names) that are best suited for creating new images rather than photo editing.  Tools include Phoenix (the base image editor), Raven (a vector editor) and even Myna, which is for editing audio.  Up until a month ago, Aviary had a premium and a free version.  Due to an influx of venture capital, they now offer all tools and feature for free.
• Photoshop.com–wait, what?  Yes, it’s true; Photoshop itself has a free, online edition–but it’s only distantly related to the full package.  It’s more of a pure photo editing and organizing tool than an image editor. You’ll need to sign up for a free account to upload your photos.  It does allow you to import photos from other sharing sites (more even than Splashup) and it also does some video editing.  It also has apps for both iPhone and Android.

What does this mean to me, Laura?

• Most image editors have similar interfaces, even if they don’t all have the same features.  Learning to use one often means that using others will be simple.  If you already know how to use full-scale programs like Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, then all of these will likely be a walk in the proverbial park.
• Some of these have a limit on how much you can store on their servers.   Photoshop.com, for example, has a 2 gig limit for free accounts (upgrading your account primarily gets you more storage for your photo albums, not more functionality).

Any web-based image editors you’re fond of (or not)?  Let us know in the comments!

More »

I admit it; I’ve put off writing about Second Life for a while. Mostly because I’ve gotten very tired of uninformed people making judgements about it based on the hype, rather than the reality. Last year, an ignorant speaker at Computers in Libraries declared Second Life to be “dead.” The only thing that has died is some of the hype…finally. Second Life is actually thriving in many ways. Virtual meetings and educational opportunities abound. So do librarians.

Let’s start defining Second Life (SL) by first defining what it is not; it is not a game. Games have rules, goals, objectives, points and so on. These kinds of parameters do not exist for SL. Rather, SL is a 3D virtual environment or virtual world. What people do in that environment is as varied as the human beings who populate it.

So what can one do in Second Life?

Almost anything one can do in real life (RL), one can do in SL. Activities include (but are far from limited to) concerts, lectures, classes, dancing, shopping, socializing, traveling, historical role play, book discussions, contests, theater and many, many more. If you get bored in SL, it’s only because you’re not looking for anything.

What makes Second Life unique?

Second Life is perhaps one of the oldest virtual worlds (there are hundreds of them!), and it is certainly one of the largest. What truly differentiates SL from many others is the philosophy about intellectual property rights. When one creates something in SL, that person owns it. That means they also have the right to sell it. There is a thriving, real economy in SL. A rare few can make real life livings selling and/or creating custom virtual items, but most do it for fun. Second Life is also a very diverse community; 60% of the residents are not from the U.S. This gives an interesting, international flavor to many areas of SL and gives SL users a chance to interact with people from around the world.

What are libraries doing in Second Life?

A lot! Most libraries/librarians in SL collaborate within the Community Virtual Library (CVL). This project is huge and has many volunteers from all over the globe. Activities run the gamut; lectures, art galleries, book discussions and training are all popular. The CVL maintains a reference desk as well to answer questions from SL residents. The CVL encompasses partner organizations as well, including many college and university libraries and library-related organizations, such as TechSoup, the American Library Association, and OPLIN.

Where can I learn more about Second Life?

OPLIN offers free, inworld classes on Second Life. You can learn more at http://www.oplin.org/secondlife, or feel free to contact Laura Solomon at OPLIN (laura@oplin.org ), also known as Lebachai Vesta in SL. The official Second Life web site is at http://www.secondlife.com and the site of CVL is at http://www.infoisland.org.

More »

So, what do you need to do to make this happen?  Not much, as it turns out:

1. Smartphone that can run the Qik app (supported phone list here)
2. Qik app, downloaded and installed to said smartphone and
3. A free Qik account (which will create a broadcast channel for you).

I’ve done a couple of public videos you can check out, to get an idea of the quality of the video; you can see them at my Qik channel, http://www.qik.com/laurasolomon.

What does this mean to me, Laura?

• This could be a quick and dirty way to capture and broadcast library programs and/or meetings.  Keep in mind, however, that there can be some delay between what you are broadcasting and it being captured on the Qik channel. (I noticed about 3-5 seconds of lag during my most recent test.)
• You can’t edit the video before it is broadcast or captured, so make sure that you’re comfortable broadcasting whatever it is before you start.
• You can make certain videos private and others public.
• The Qik site also has some social media features; videos can be tweeted directly, and people can also comment and discuss individual videos.  Live chat is also available, so if you’re broadcasting live, you can also see chat feedback in real time.
• You can also add a map (location) to the video, to let people know where it took place.
• Yes, you can embed Qik videos in a website, much like YouTube videos.
• Conveniently, you can also sign in with your Facebook account.

More »

From Wikipedia:

Foursquare is a location-based social networking website, software for mobile devices, and game. Users “check-in” at venues using text messaging or a device specific application.  They are then awarded points and sometimes “badges.”

In other words, every time I check in any public place (using my iPhone or Droid and the Foursquare app), I am participating in a game.  The more times I check in, the more points and badges I can get.  There are a few things that make this really interesting:

• Foursquare users can create tips for other Foursquare users that check in to a particular venue, making Foursquare also, at least partially, a recommendation engine;
• You can friend other users, much like Facebook, and get notifications of where your friends are in real time;
• If you check in to a location (on separate days) more than any other user, you become the “Mayor” of that location.  In doing so, you may potentially unseat the current “Mayor.”  This can lead to fierce competition.

What does this mean to me, Laura?

• Right now, the Foursquare app is only available to iPhone and Droid smartphone users.  Palm Pre and Blackberry versions are quickly forthcoming (both are currently in beta testing).  However, check-ins can also be done via any browser or by texting.
• Your library should keep an eye on what tips users are posting about your library.  Don’t have your library get an account and check in daily, though–that’s not fair, since your library would always be Mayor of the library!  The point is to encourage others to want that coveted title.
• Speaking of Mayors, this is where many businesses have gotten on the Foursquare cluetrain.  Many businesses now offer discounts to the Mayor of the location; such as a coffee shop offering a free beverage to the Mayor of the place that day.  Could a library do this?  Absolutely!  Your library could offer to erase the fines of  the library’s Mayor.  Or give them an extra amount of computer time.  Anything you can think of that concretely rewards someone for frequenting your building.  Make sure to advertise this.  If people often take cell calls out to your library’s lobby, that would be an ideal place for a sign.
• There is a caveat–Foursquare does not count check-ins during what they call “normal work hours” (8am to 4pm, weekdays).  However, the first time someone checks into a new location, they always get a five-point “discovery” bonus, regardless of the time or day.

More »

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!

More »