Rapid Fire - Must Need Tools & Apps

This was a 6 person Skype meeting, which is a terrible terrible idea.

It was just an advertisement for the following toys, some of which are kinda nifty.  This is all maker-space, play and learn kind of stuff.

Little bits - we all ready have these

According to one presenter girls can get involved with electronics by decorating

Hopscotch - A program to teach kids how to program computers

http://www.gethopscotch.com/

The Finch - A robot to teach kids how to program

http://www.finchrobot.com/

The hummingbird - The Hummingbird Robotics Kit is a spin-off product of Carnegie Mellon's CREATE lab. Hummingbird is designed to enable engineering and robotics activities for ages 13 and up (10 with adult supervision) that involve the making of robots, kinetic sculptures, and animatronics built out of a combination of kit parts and crafting materials.

http://www.hummingbirdkit.com/

snap! - Sort of like Scratch, to teach kids to program computers

http://snap.berkeley.edu/

Tiggly

http://tiggly.com/

This is just a commercial.

Cubelets - Blocks that enable kids to create robots (sort of)

http://www.modrobotics.com/cubelets/

Customer Service & Service Excellence - Moe Hosseini

Link to his powerpoint : http://conferences.infotoday.com/documents/204/A204_Hosseini-Ara.pdf

You don't grab the bananas around here - DEFINITELY CHECK OUT THIS STORY http://freekvermeulen.blogspot.com/2008/08/monkey-story-experiment-involved-5.html

Why enforce something that doesn't make sense

In changing staffing - If there are no complicated questions on the reference desk then why are there librarians there?

People resist change because they feel uncomfortable, so don't let them feel incompetent.

It is no longer viewed that one must have library experience to work the reference desk.

Some competencies don't come out of library experience.  You can train anyone on library stuff.

Restrooms are part of the experience for the public.

Are we going to create rules to prevent the small percentage of infractions?

Move from transaction to interactions - Why do we have no cell phone signs but no no talking sign?

Deal with the behavior don't just put up a sign.

Explain why, don't just say it's against policy.

Rules should be able to be explained

Is Technology Changing Our Brains? - Josh Hanagarne, Salt Lake City Public Library

Speaker has Tourette's and because of that he personally focuses on attention, both his and the attention of other people.  What affects attention, how is it changing.

Wrote worlds strongest librarian

Libraries are the steward of democracy

We can't slide back into a non-digital, non-mobile device world, this is what we've got

Computers are making it hard to read, changing how we read.  We've started to scan more, not to do detailed critical reading.

T.S. Elliot's style changed when he started using a typewriter

The writing equipment that we use, takes part in the forming of our thoughts, it changes how we compose our thoughts.

Hanson writing machine

http://www.malling-hansen.org/friedrich-nietzsche-and-his-typewriter-a-malling-hansen-writing-ball.html

Moving memory from short term to long term is like moving sticky notes into the filing cabinet

Internet addiction is a real thing

Addiction is an unwillingness to be uncomfortable

Internet addiction, what would fighting it be like?

People now feel loneliness and jealousy due to social media, the brain has been changed in at least this one small way

Does tech change the way we think about ourselves?  Such as when it makes us feel stupid.  The brain is being changed.

Does it change the nature of experience?  People are no longer having experiences instead the experience is to take a photo of it

Jargon strips the emotional power from reality

If we visually scan documents they lose their power.  The specific words are less powerful, and some meaning is lost.

What does it mean to know something? -  Knowing where the answer is can feel like knowing an answer

Is something useful if it's not being used.  Are books useful if they're not being used.  Reference collection.

Making Libraries - Making Makers, CJ Lynce Internet Librarian 2014 Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Making Libraries - Making Makers, CJ Lynce Internet Librarian 2014 Wednesday, October 29, 2014

 

Link to his presentation:   http://conferences.infotoday.com/documents/204/A301_Lynce.pdf

Link to resources:  http://conferences.infotoday.com/documents/204/A301_Lynce(1).pdf

 

This was the least conceptual of the programs I saw, but was one of the better ones.  They had created a huge makerspace throughout the Cleveland Library system.  So he was going through all of the different programs they did. 

 

• 3D PRINTERS BREAK CONSTANTLY
• 3D PRINTERS REQUIRE EXTREME AMOUNTS OF STAFF TIME
• Over the course of a week 700 people in the computer lab, 6-7 in the makerspace
• Making is messy!
• Making is noisy!
• In the end, they just left most of the stuff out on the table for patrons to play with.
• “Check out a trainer”, essentially one-on-one help from someone who knows how to use the hardware.
• Tools do not make it a makerspace, the making does
• Consider it a different type of reference collection
• Laser engraver is the most used piece of equipment.  (impossible to move, requires ventilation)
• Basic office supplies are the core need and expense
• Need laptops and iPads
• Give as minimal amount of direction as possible
• You can take the toys anywhere
• Try “virtual making” and then use social media to promote, people make things on their own and then share with the library.
• The “outcomes” are the stories that the patrons tell
• 2-3 staff members cover the space full-time.  Staffing rotates every month or so.

 

Programs:

 

Abstract art program

Digital darkroom pro

Audio mixing

   Creative Commons and then remix

Sticky note speakers

Tough Wallet

Duct Tape Wallet

Kids ruby

Easy Loom Knitting

Touchscreen Compatible Gloves

3d Pet Monster

Custom Cookie Cutter

3d paper craft

Font Making

Codes and cyphers

Camera Obscura

Construction Kits

Home brewing

Paracord Bracelet

T-shirt making (with vinyl cutter)

General impressions

The three days of Internet Librarian 2014 featured some excellent information and thought-provoking speakers. As Adam mentioned in an earlier post, in a technology-focused conference it was interesting to observe the recurring theme of the possible dangers of that technology.  We received some warnings about pitfalls to avoid, along with some ideas about how libraries can use technology to expand not only programs and services but also our relevance and outreach.

Highlights for me included the museum director whose programming intentionally sought to bring diverse patrons together: Radical Transformation & Co-Created Magic!)  iBeacons were mentioned in several sessions and seem like something we could make excellent use of.  There were a lot of practical tips provided for whatever Makerspace options we decide to explore. And I'll definitely have a conversation with our IS department about ensuring our website security.

This conference featured hosted dinners at local restaurants. I attended one of these and had the chance to meet and talk with an interesting group of librarians, including a law librarian from Chicago, an oil company librarian from Texas, and public librarians from northern California and even Alaska.

Overall it was a very worthwhile conference, and we appreciated the opportunity to attend!

"Making It Happen: Getting Things Done"

Presented by Dr. Ken Haycock, former director of SJSU SLIS

Dr. Haycock's talk focused on how to persuade and influence people, based on the research that has been done on those topics.

According to studies, people tend to choose the first sufficiently satisfactory option presented to them, without necessarily spending a lot of time looking at alternatives.  Q: What problem are you trying to solve?  Ask yourself what problems do decision makers face and offer ideas that address those issues, rather than offering "a solution in search of a problem". When making a pitch, know whether decision makers prefer evidence based on numbers or stories.

What works?  You're more likely to get support if you’re seen as credible and trustworthy.  Your colleagues' view of you is critical. Librarians who are trying to be advocates don't want to be seen as whiny, offensive, disrespectful, looking out solely for ourselves. People do things for their reasons, not yours. 

Connecting agendas: what are the priorities of the person for whom you work? Speak the language of funders.  We tend to evaluate whether the activity took place, how many people attended, and whether they enjoyed it, but did the program meet its objective? For example, for a career class, politicians want to know how many people got jobs after attending your program.

Ask the person you work for: what are your objectives for the next two years, so that I can know how to help you achieve them?  This shows respect, which is very important, and builds connection.

Advocacy is like banking – you can’t make withdrawals if you’ve never made a deposit. With decision makers, talk about how what you’ve done has advanced the goals of the organization. It’s harder to cut something you know about where you know someone connected with it.

Context, timing, and culture are important factors to consider.

Don’t save the last, best project until the end – present it at the beginning. Never be confused by somebody’s attitude.  Attitudes are different than behaviors. (People can show a very positive attitude toward you but still cut your funding.)

Universal Principles:

What you need to do to initiate, build and repair a relationship: liking someone (does this person think that you like him or her?) We tend to like people who are similar to us: in age, ethnicity, educational background & position, appearance. Find ways to demonstrate liking people who are dissimilar to us. Find areas in common.  We like people who praise us, esp. when we hear it secondhand.

Reciprocity (we tend to give back to those who have given to us. The "gift" can be networking, introducing you to someone else.)

How do you get people to move in your direction, listen to your evidence?  Consensus or social proof is important.  We tend to listen to those in authority.  What is our authority or area of expertise? Do we demonstrate public commitment, consistency?

Scarcity – we value something that is viewed as scarce. Do others see us/librarians as a scarce and valuable resource?  Do we present ourselves as such? What is our unique value proposition? Many city managers are not seeing the unique value of the library. Our scarcity is the unique expertise or our staff.  Can other people do what we do? Example: in-person readers' advisory.

We tend to dislike people who criticize us behind our back. 

We have stronger connections with people whom we work with on teams. We need to be seen as cooperative. If you’ve broken a relationship with someone, seek them out and find common ground.

Reciprocity: When praised, you can say, "Thank you…I’m sure you would do the same for me."

Social proof: how do others like us think and feel before they act? Look for testimonials.

Authority: The trappings of authority are important.  Physicians, etc. put their degrees on the wall. The public sees you differently if you wear a suit (e.g. a police chief advocating literacy as a way to reduce crime). Your authority is enhanced when you’re making a pitch if you acknowledge your weakness at the outset and address those issues (shows confidence, self-awareness and disarms potential criticism), or are honest about the disadvantages of your proposal. 

The core values of people you’re addressing are critical.  Address their priorities. People who make active, public commitments are more likely to stick by their words.

Don’t make the mistake of doing all the work in a partnership, or the partner may lack commitment.

Scarcity: things are more valuable the less they’re available. What do I really add here?  Make sure it’s not the same as what everyone else adds. (Example – submitting a report with a personal note attached.)

Networking: show up when decisionmakers are present, so they have seen you and know that you considered it important to show up.  Introduce yourself and make eye contact, exchange business cards (which you should always bring with you).  Remember that 68% of job openings are never advertised.

"Marketing Plans and Tips"

Presented by BethMcGough, ProQuest

Creating a marketing plan:
- Align with your strategic plan or other initiatives
- Be strategic rather than reactive
- Determine resources needed
- Avoid last minute projects
- Transparency
- Find out what works

Elements of the marketing plan:

1. Goals – specific, measurable, audience specific, relevant & reachable, time bound (e.g. increase student usage of Makerspace by 25% before December 2015)

2. Strategies – roadmap or approach to reach your goal (increasing student awareness)

3. Tactics/Activities – specific elements of strategy, activities, action-oriented (Tweet 3x week w/photo). Evaluate tactics at least monthly. Did tactics work?  What did you learn?  How can it be applied to next time period?  Make adjustments to plan.

4. Budget

5. Evaluation

Incorporating social media into your plan: Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Linked In, and Pinterest are the top 5 sites. (For Teens: Snapchat, Tumblr.) Don't forget emerging sites, and remember your targeted audience.  Social media can be both a strategy and a tactic. 

The presenter recommends social media ads as inexpensive, able to be targeted to be audience-specific, easy to measure with analytics, and easy to change. She notes that news from pages (vs. individual users) now show up less often in Facebook than they used to.

Facebook ads: located in the right side of newsfeed or the newsfeed. Possible goals: send people to website, boost posts, promote page, increase attendance. Can target by location, university, demographics.  Images are critical (e.g. smiling faces, cats, dogs, nostalgia.) Include a call to action (can be formatted as a button) Ads can be limited to specific school, specific age range, etc.

Facebook also has a “boost post” option. 

"Making Libraries Making Makers"

Presented by C J Lynce, Cleveland Public Library

Lynce describes his 27-branch library's experience with a variety of Makerspace technology.

Their large TechCentral space has 15 staff members and one dedicated IT person, and they allow patrons to request a 1 hour one-on-one session on any topic. 

Their definition: A MakerSpace “serves as a gathering point for tools, projects, mentors and expertise. A collection of tools does not define a Makerspace. Rather, we define it by what it enables: making.  A Makerspace is a learning environment rich with possibilities.”

Below is a detailed list of some of their equipment and their total budget for each category:

Equipment:
Green screen, screen stands, studio lights, camera, tripod, accessory kit, software, portable light box, white screen ($2300 total, but there are lower cost alternatives.)

Music production:
Guitar, bass guitar, stand, drum machine, midi keyboard, microphone, cable, line audio adapter, headphones ($1,000 to $1,500).  The adapter allows them to record directly to a computer. 

Programming/wiring:
Arduino Uno, Arduino starter kit, resisters, diodes & misc parts, Raspberry Pi kit, makey-makey, soldering station ($150)

3D printing:
Printing, filament (10), painters tape rolls, putty knife or painters tool, extra-hold hair spray, software ($3,055).  He mentioned that 3D printing takes a lot of staff time, both for printing and because the printers "break constantly".

Vinyl cutting:
Vinyl cutter, starter kit, weeding tools, cutting mats, vinyl (6 rolls x 50 yd) transfer tape, blades (6), software. ($2,785) 25% of the equipment usage is by library staff for library programs, but the vinyl cutter is one of their least used machines.

Laser engraver:
Laser engraver, air compressor, exhaust pump, software, material adapters, filter unit, filters ($15,000-$30,000).

He noted that Makerspaces do not have to have equipment or large budgets. (His library can’t replicate all of the equipment at their 27 branches, and some of the equipment is not portable.)  For programming, any available space can be used, and there are many objects that can be reused and many free resources.

Online resources that he mentioned: Makeitatyourlibrary.org, www.instructables.com, spaces.makerspace.com (for equipment). 

Software: www.getpaint.net (free, more complex than Windows Paint). 123d.circuits.io (Arduino programming).

Equipment that's helpful: scissors, utility knifes, pens, pencils, markers, some laptops and iPads

Projects they've done: Abstract Art (Sumo Paint), Digital Darkroom (pixlr.com), audio mixing (Audacity, Creative Commons music).  Virtual Jam Session – iPads, Apple’s Garage Band (Good drop-in program for kids or teens).  Sticky Note Speakers (fun but the magnets a bit expensive).  Tough Wallet out of Tyvek mail envelope.  Duct Tape Wallet. Coding (Kidsruby.com) for kids & adults.  Easy Loom Knitting (they knit hats & donate to a homeless shelter. They got yarn donations but needed to buy looms.)  3D Pet Monster (for elementary-teen, 3D printer optional). Custom Cookie Cutters (www.cookiecaster.com). 3D paper craft: www.123dapp.com/make. Font Making: tinyurl.com/ILMakeFonts. Codes & Cyphers: tinyurl.com/ILMakeEnigma. Camera Obscura.
Even Homebrewing!

Construction Kits (Legos, Erector Sets, Little Bits, Snap Circuits) are a very portable and inexpensive program. ($50-$300.) They leave the kits out with a sign, “please build me.”

Important notes: Making is messy! And noisy (but this happens when people are enjoying themselve and they encourage it). They have done program outside of the library that have drawn non-library patrons in.  Fewer patrons are involved but there are many success stories shared by patrons. 

Keynote, Day 3: "Is Technology Changing Our Brains?"

Presented by Josh Hanagarne, Salt Lake City Public Library

The speaker's premise is that heavy Internet usage actually reduces people's ability to focus and concentrate, and his talk was a fascinating exploration of the possible ramifications.

Hanagarne is a librarian who has Tourette syndrome, which causes involuntary movements and vocalizations (although very few were evidenced in his talk), and he's had to work harder than most to be able to focus and have an attention span.

Hanagarne is a lifelong reader and lover of books (I lost count of the number of titles he referenced).  During the year when he completed his library science degree, he spent a great deal of time online.  Afterwards, he went back to pleasure reading but found that it was more difficult than before.  After reading about 3 paragraphs or so, he would find it difficult to concentrate.

The speaker polled the audience, some of whom had experienced the same issue.

What might this mean?  Think about what your brain does.  Every day it reconstructs your reality.  It stores your past.  It is your decision-making machine.  We’d do well to pay attention when it changes. 

He described two types of memory: Long-term memory (a filing cabinet) and working memory (sticky notes).  Good brain functioning is moving as many of sticky notes as possible to the filing cabinet.  He described the brain of an addict as hyperassociation that something makes you feel much better than it should; and unwillingness to be uncomfortable for a time; asking, what would fighting Internet addiction look like? 

Questions he posed: Are we lonely and jealous as a result of checking social media?  Does it change our habits or manners (talking to someone while texting).  Does it change the way we think?  Does it change the way we think about ourselves and our identities?  Do we view ourselves as dropdown menus, limiting ourselves to a fixed number of choices that are defined by others?  Does it change the nature of experience? (Experiencing something vs. experiencing and sharing on social media).

What is it doing to critical thinking?  Can we engage with a long page of writing where every piece of language needs to be understood and unpacked?  (He quoted Orwell that stripping away images is a way to rob something of its emotional power.) Can we figure things out for ourselves vs. having to look them up on Google? Can we engage with ideas without distractions?  Do we still have the mental ability to concentrate?

He suggested that libraries exist to make people freer, but that we're not free to answer questions that never occur to us.

Not Your Momma's Library! - Sonya True, Professor/Digital Initiatives Library Director, Vanguard University

This was a great session going into detail about how mobile devices and our hand held electronic world is affecting our thinking process and in some cases our brains themselves.  Notes would not make up for the session, but if this idea intrigues you, then we need to talk it’s too deep just for notes.  This was really one of the best sessions at this conference and maybe one of the best I've ever seen.

Other reviews are here:

http://www.libconf.com/2014/10/27/mommas-library/

One of the videos she showed is here

http://conferences.infotoday.com/documents/204/D101_True(1).mp4

• DON’T GIVE A CHILD UNDER 2 A TABLET
• Brains have neural plasticity, which means that synapses grow
• To key to growing new synapses is to get to a cortical resting state, which means, get away from the computer, this is when the brain recharges and repairs.
• In the cortical resting state the brain is not being crammed with new information, this is where the problem solving process takes place.
• People remember less if they think that they can find it elsewhere, if it’s on Google I don’t need to remember it.
• IF SOMEONE SENDS/READS IT IN AN EMAIL THEY THINK THEY DON’T HAVE TO REMEMBER IT
• The Hippocampus and the olfactory system are the only places where new neurons are created.
• This is why smells have such a strong memory response
• Due to excessive use of internet mobile devices our brains are not powering up
• Mirror neurons allow use to mirror other people’s actions and allow us to have empathy
• Excessive focus on mobile devices and disconnecting from other people prevent us from being able to grow/create mirror neurons in the hippocampus.
• Selfies drain mirror neurons and we lose empathy
• People are no longer present when given mobile devices instead they are perceiving the world through smart devices, think about people watching concerts through the small screen because they are filming them.
• Library Canine Therapy:  At some colleges they have dogs come in just to calm the people down, dogs are more responsive to the emotions of the person and can mirror them.
• Library gamification
• Neomorphic Environment-  The environment responds to the person.  Such as colors and sounds changing based upon the actions of the person in the space.
• Librarians are the most trusted professionals except for nurses and firefighters

Opening Keynote: Driving Our Own Destinies ❱ Brendan Howley

• Libraries are cultural entrepreneurs and they should center on culture.
• Center around the local culture
• Use community storytelling to make maps
• In this regard actual physical maps developed from cultural information rather than just geographic information
• Contextualize community data (beneficial to the library) in a way that controls the dialogue
• Libraries can show the why of how people congregate
• Again, utilize the cultural information of the community to show why people go to where they are
• Libraries can be the place that publishes local art
• Didn’t really explain how to do this
• Library archives of images and art and community generated creative projects can be rented to local businesses
   
• LIBRARIES ARE A PLACE OF RESPITE AND CARE

BASE Guitar?

It's taking a lot of strength not to walk out in disgust

Why I hate Apple

This is how I'm having to take notes.

Irony

I'm sitting here in this amazing speaker and I'm noticing that there seems to be an ironic theme running throughout this Internet Librarian convention, the theme is pointing out all of the negative consequences of technology.  It feels like how Oppenheimer rebelled against the atomic bomb, which was of course his creation.

Nietzsche's writing ball

Today's keynote speaker mentioned Nietzsche's typewriter.  So I had to google it to see what was special about it and it's worth checking out.

http://www.malling-hansen.org/friedrich-nietzsche-and-his-typewriter-a-malling-hansen-writing-ball.html

"The Internet of Things and what it means for librarians"

Presented by Lee Rainie, Pew Research Center Internet Project

The Internet of Things (IoT) is defined as the development of the Internet in which everyday objects have network connectivity, allowing them to send and receive data (OED definition). This allows smart machines to communicate with each other even without human intervention.

Examples he gave of current or future appliances and other "things" that can use the Internet: wearable baby monitors, smart dispenser caps for medicine, pill sensors (that detect when medicines work in your body), monitors for family members.  Smart devices can include thermostats, electrical outlets, home sensors (are repairs needed?), plant sensors (detecting when water or fertilizer is needed), and trash bins (that notify waste management when full). IoT can provide data on available parking, pollution warnings, track water, help protect wildlife, and detect mudslides.

At libraries, Rainie believes that the IoT will affect people (changing our roles), place (library space and media) and platform (the role libraries play in communities).

Rainie drew his conclusions from Pew's surveys of the future of the Internet, focusing on its social impact. Pew has been doing the surveys since 2004, and they have predicted such trends as the rise of cyber attacks. the move to mobile-preferred connectivity, degradation of traditional publishing/knowledge businesses and growing concerns about privacy.

Survey respondents (scientists and other subject experts contacted by Pew) believe that the Internet will become like electricity, less visible yet more deeply embedded in people’s lives.

Upsides: Enhanced health, convenience, productivity, safety, and vastly more useful information
Downsides: privacy challenges, over-hyped expectations, tech complexity, lagging human adaptation to new realities (things will break and we won’t know how to fix them), possibility of greater digital divide among the rich and the poor

It will affect the insurance industry: Allowing sensors to be placed in their cars may lower customers' insurance rates.  Allowing sensors to be placed in their bodies could lower people's health insurance rates. 

Rainie has ambitious hopes that in this envisioned future, library staff can become tech experts, master teachers in an age of lifelong learning, visionaries for the knowledge economy, experts in sense-making and context, and curators of most relevant and useful material. He believes that librarians will be vital in helping people deal with the cultural disruptions that IoT will bring.

He sees the library as a platform (similar language from the session on start-ups) and a community resource.  He hopes that libraries can be trusted institutions and privacy watchdogs; advocates for free and open resources and for closing digital divides; data and collections repositories; entrepreneur enablers; civic specialists and gap fillers.

"Building a 21st-Century Library"

Presented by Travis Duncan and Jeremiah Walter, Pikes Peak Library District

Their 14-branch system acquired a huge new building and subsequently started a new library that's designed to be a "3rd place" community space and which focuses on content creation as their model of service. Their programs and services include:

Tech eBate Program: $50 given to staff members to purchase tech gear or take online tech classes, provided the staff members do 10 activities related to library tech.

Video production center where library staff work with patrons to create video recordings, podcasts. 
"I love the library' photo and video contests, with submissions posted on social media, that both engage patrons and market the library in the community

Programming such as Food by the book, BBQ demonstrations, wine and chocolate pairings, Step into your imagination (green screen technology – putting yourself into an existing photo and then sharing it on social media), teaching computer programming from Scratch or using Lily Pad, allowing community experts to put on classes such as 3D printing, a mini maker fair

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Their large space allows for a cafe, significant meeting room space and an onsite copy center.  Businesses can use the meeting rooms without charge as long as they offer something free of charge to the public in return.

They have a Promethian Board in the children’s area, a 3D scanner, a sewing machine, gaming areas for adults & teens, a video studio, a training lab, and an eHelp room.

For funding, they have such things as a capital campaign going on and donor plaques (similar to the San Diego Zoo or Safari Park).

"Customer Service & Service Excellence"

Presented by Moe Hosseini-Ara, Culture Services, City of Markham

This presenter shared his experience of seeking a "customer service revolution" at his library, with "massive change" as the long-term goal.

He suggested empowered staff by having them understand the reasons for policies, to get staff engagement and buy-in. 

He mentioned the possible need to change staffing structures based on desired goals.  For example, if we ask librarians to be out in the community, are we giving them off-desk time to do so?  His institution trained all staff to answer basic questions on desk, with librarians being called out to answer more complicated queries. 

He stressed the importance of training, providing staff the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and competencies as the result of teaching practical skills and knowledge.  Staff can’t/won’t be willing to change if they don’t know how.  His library changed hiring practices from requiring library experience/degree (for front desk staff).  For example, they considered experience from improv or working in Starbucks as giving some needed skills, with training provided on others.

Touchpoints to consider in providing customer service: Where customers find you, how they interact with you, signage, website accessibility, even cleanliness of washrooms. 

He suggested that libraries avoid creating rules designed for the small % of people who abuse the system if these rules diminish customer service for many more patrons. 

They decided to take down most signs, for example dealing with behavior (loud talking) rather than posting no cell phone signs.

Their staff went through and rewrote policies to have a different focus: this is what we’ll do for you, and this is how you’ll interact with us. As an exercise, they held a Manager’s Hotseat where staff members would mention issues and managers would try to solve the problems using the new policies. This helped all staff in learning how to troubleshoot challenging situations.

They went so far as to write a Charter of Failure… “We recognize the right of all staff to fail in the name of innovation with our full support and without penalty…”  Their public taglie was Imagine – Learn – Grow, and they even modified it to an internal staff tagline of Imagine – Fail – Learn – Grow.

They use a service called Yammer, similar to Facebook but closed to public, where staff can have online discussions about new things they could try, or things happening in the world. 
He suggested creating a Stop Doing List, business-as-usual things they were doing that weren't really necessary (no one actually noticed or cared about), for example doing away with paper pathfinders and putting them online.

According to his institution's surveys, their customers are happier with these changes.

"Engaging Stories Info Blitz"

This program featured four presenters, each sharing briefly about their library's tech programming.

Gabrielle Doyle shared how Calgary Public Library used a software program called CoderDojo to teach coding to kids in 6 to 10-week sessions, with parents observing and volunteers assisting.  Some online resources for learning coding are codecademy, codeclubworld.org and Learning Labs, but they stressed the importance of the face-to-face learning.

Bonnie Lafazan from Berkeley College in New York talked about technology literacy programming for students (and staff), such as using different browsers and their tools and add-ons, free productivity websites and apps, how to share and save in the cloud, 3D printing, and eBooks.

Lauren Stokes from Las Vegas Clark County Library District gave an overview of the programs at their multiple-branch system.  The majority mentioned we have at RCLS; there were a few that we don't currently feature such as one-on-one tablet training, downloadable movies, tech art studios and a DJ @ the library studio. To promote the library to Las Vegans, they created online Digital Dashboards that show library statistics in a more visual format.

David Durante from Pierce County Library System built an interactive discovery platform for their five branches, initially to provide online activities for their teen summer reading challenge, later expanding when they received a substantial grant. For libraries considering creating this kind of service, he suggested a team of three staff members: an administrator, a creative person, and a technical person.

"Gizmo Garage: Closing the Digital Divide One Device at a Time"

Presented by Jezmynne Dene, Portneuf District Library

Dene's is a small, rural library where most patrons do not have computers or the Internet, and the library's Internet is extremely slow.  Her library had a lack of identity when she started 5 years ago, as compared to the other two area libraries: Idaho State University and another, traditional public library. They decided to change to "break the rules" and redefine services.

One new resource they used were four Gizmo Garages paid for by a grant and belonging to the state of Idaho. Each Gizmo Garage was used in a different part of the state and featured 15=20 devices such as eReaders, tablets, scanners, and mini-projectors.

Initially they checked out devices to staff for a few weeks, to take home and treat as a personal device. Staff were expected to link to library materials and return the devices with a report of the pros and cons of that device.  This increased the familiarity and confidence of staff with the devices.
Next they provided patron training, from which they learned and shared a number of lessons. "On the fly", user-driven group sessions and one-on-one training were found to work better than a structured curriculum.  They created groups such as Silver Surfers, a discussion group where patrons could bring their devices and talk or ask questions, and Lunch Time Bytes, similar discussions over lunch.  They will try teaching 45-minute classes at local businesses.

One interesting idea is that they give out a bookmark to patrons that has a list of local places with free Wi-Fi.

One concern we might consider: do we have liability if we provide hands-on help to patrons for their devices (for example, responsibility for resulting problems affecting financial data?)  They are considering having patrons sign a waiver for assistant in order to protect staff.

They also partnered with Wal-Mart and Staples to have the vendors show devices and answer questions in a petting zoo format, with library staff talking about the services they provide.

The library currently owns iPads and Android devices that they circulate. 

Don lost in Rock Paper Scissors lizard Spock

So he has to take the notes for the sessions we're in together.  Always go Spock!

Best session of the whole conference

Aaaaaaand of course the printer at biane dies and I have to deal with that.  Don probably took amazing notes though.

"Adapting Libraries to the Internet of Things"

Presented by Channing Wong, Marin County Free Library

The Internet of Things (IoT) is made up of sensors (on physical devices like appliances) that connect to a computer platform that connect to apps on portable devices. Examples from science fiction are Star Trek devices and computer, or in 2001 where one person & a computer flies a spaceship.

Real life examples are pacemakers that can access a cellular network, small businesses doing credit card processing on devices, smart trash cans that send a message to waste managers when they're full, smart appliances that make coffee, turn on lights, etc. to wake you up, and bicycle helmets that tracks
biometrics. 

iBeacons were mentioned - small, inexpensive Bluetooth transmitters that can track you and send messages (e.g. items on sale), could turn on lights as patron approach, or perhaps could become a replacement for RFID. 

Suggestions for librarians: incremental changes – stay one step ahead.  Workshops for patrons on topics like cybersecurity, creating a secure password, who owns your data in the cloud, and online privacy.

There will be the need to upgrade infrastructure (increased demands on computer networks and Wi-Fi) and security systems.

Although there was some interesting information presented, I was disappointed that this presenter only used about half of his time and did not focus much on issues specific to libraries.

Keynote: “Radical Transformation & Co-Created Magic!”

The Day 2 keynote was presented by Nina Simon, who has been the Director of Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History for 3½ years. When she started, the museum had the twin problems of money (none) and relevance (many people in community who didn’t know about the museum).  Web 2.0 is software that gets better the more people use it (e.g. Google searching).  She asked: How can our work at the museum get better the more people participate?  She used three strategies:

1. Participation, such as crafts for all ages, seeking comments, a memory jar exhibit, programming featuring patron participation facilitated by local artists or historians.

2. Social bridging. She compared bonding (social experiences with people like us) and bridging (interaction with people not like us).  The museum's programming was designed to be intentionally bridging. (For example, having a knitting expert & graffiti artist together or a musical program with both opera and hip hop musicians, bringing together unlike audiences into one program.)  Exhibits featured opportunities for strangers to interact with 2 seats at every activity.

3. Experimentation – they featured a fire artist event. They engage in prototyping, putting out a minimally viable product and learning from what happens (repeating a theme from yesterday's session on start-up thinking).

The results: attendance doubled in first year, the cash situation improved dramatically, and they received positive feedback.
Things they learned:

Note 1: A revolution is not an exercise in concentric circles. The museum's mission and audience expanded but also changed and repositioned.  A few people in the original circle (audience) left but most stayed as many new people became museum visitors. They believe that the museum is for everyone: although not everything in it will appeal to everyone, there should be something there for you. The mission change has required some changes in attitude of Museum Board members.  They've used pop-up museums: for example, a Valentine's Day program (in a bar!) where people bring an object from a failed relationship and talk about it. 

Note 2: Invite meaningful action at all levels. For example, they email museum goers with wish list of items they'd like donated (e.g. cardboard boxes, old cds).  It gives people a chance to support museum, patrons who would like to but perhaps would not otherwise know how to support it. The participatory nature of the museum's mission involves trusting people, and patrons appreciate that trust.

Note 3: Be rigorous.  Be sure you know how and why you are moving forward on your goals: a) Who is the community of interest? b) What are their needs and assets? 3) Find projects and seek collaboration. The museum's strategies are bridging and empowering, with the goal of making the community grow stronger and more connected.

Note 4: Think platforms (rather than programs).  How to include everyone in participation?  (In ways that don’t require adding staff) One example: a website called One million giraffes that invited people to create toy giraffes, take pictures, and post on Internet.  See PopUpMuseum.org for more info on pop-up museums.

Note 5: Make space (a management strategy) for other people to take risks/to do work that is most important to them and to the mission. For example, they created a program that is a partnership between history buffs and homeless people, who work together to do restoration of an old local cemetery every Monday.  The program is run by volunteers with staff check about 20 minutes per month.  They made space for motivated volunteers to lead this.

Final thoughts:
In our daily work activities, are we spending time on important problems?
Take advantage of being a local institution rather than copying the "big chains". 
Participation is not make and take, but make and share.
Working with an artist allows patron participatory works to be higher quality, something they can be proud of.

Not a fistfight

Waiting for Don to stop hogging the laptop so I can post my notes.

"Website Security FAQ", by Richard Thornchick (SJSU student & Project Manager, VMWare), Tonia San Nicolas-Rocca (SJSU professor) and Athena Hoeppner (Univ. of Central Florida Libraries)

Questions posed: Library patron privacy is important, but is privacy keeping pace with technology adoption?  How can we protect patron privacy in a 2.0 world, from both cyber criminals and government intrusion?  Privacy is not dead but online info is harder to keep private, and libraries are becoming more high tech.

Most Websites have URLs that start with either:
http – used to transfer information over Internet.  Most information sent in clear text, so everyone can read it. 
https – adding another layer to make it more secure.  Encrypting information sent over the Internet. 

Libraries deal with personally identifiable information, financial information, and information about what patrons are looking for.  Anytime patrons enter a user name and password, the page URL should start with https.

Social networks – until recently, some pages of sessions were being encrypted (using https) and other pages were not (using http).  As a result, people's social network accounts could be hacked (sidejacked).  Social networks have since changed so that the entire session uses https pages.

There are other risks involved when using public Wi-Fi networks (they didn't go into specifics).

Best practice, including for libraries, is to have all pages where patrons log in be https. Https gaps put patron privacy at risk.

The presenters mentioned two ways of testing websites to see whether they are secure:
Qualys SSL Labs: SSL Server Test (which is free and is updated periodically for new threats).
www.HTTPSNow.org, which provides a security checklist 

Thornchick's test of his own library's OPAC revealed uneven security - some pages were secure and others were not.

Implications for RCLS: Currently, the ROC is http rather than https. Hopefully this will change when the library catalog is upgraded this fiscal year. As a class exercise, we each tested the security of our own library websites.  www.cityofrc.us did not receive a good grade.  The presenter encouraged us to work with our IS department on security improvements.

"Got Data? Big Data & School Libraries" by Evelyn Schwartz, Georgetown Day School

I attended this program for insight into school-age patron assignments and to see if there were any applications for RCLS computer classes.

"Big Data" is defined by the 3 Vs of BIGness – volume, velocity, variety. It's a new way of looking at information: multipurpose, crowd sourced, accessible, participatory.

Big Data can be used to teach original research and the importance of evidence in argument by having students gathering their own data.  Two sites that were mentioned: Gapminder, designed for teachers to use in classroom, and Google Books Ngram Viewer, which tracks references in literature.

Big Data is also useful for teaching about privacy/plagiarism in their daily lives AND their school work.  Wolfram Alpha shows what information is available to Facebook apps and creates an avatar based on your Twitter posts. For plagiarism, students can consider how they'd feel if their posts on Facebook were plagiarized.

The perils of Big Data: an over-emphasis on data; forgetting that bias and context are still important; remembering stories, not just numbers.

"Polishing Up Your Website", Sonya Betz & Robyn Hall, MacEwan Univ. Library and Tabatha Farney, Univ. of Colorado

These presenters talked about the importance of user testing of websites, observing users to see how they actually navigate online content or run into problems finding the information they need.  User testing can encompass microinteractions, or single recurring tasks.

They also addressed the need to weed websites.  Here is the process they suggest: 

Phase 1 is a process of identifying low-use pages with web analytics, bounce rates (people leaving pages in less than 10 seconds), and dates the webpage was last used and last modified. 

Phase 2 of weeding is getting feedback from users of the page (via user testing) and from content creators. (Why does the page exist? “But it always has been there.”  “It makes the administrators happy.”  “Because some user may need it in the future.”) 

Phase 3 is deciding what to weed.  Some pages may be redesigned or have content from multiple pages consolidated into one page.  Seasonal pages can be hidden during "off season".

"Startup thinking at libraries" by Helen Kula, Univ. of Toronto and M. J. D'Elia, Univ. of Guelph

This session provided an interesting comparison and contrast of start-up businesses and libraries.  In the list below, the first option is what libraries typically do, and the second option is what start-ups do:

Test the product vs. test the problem (find the problem first before determining solution, and ask is it worth solving?)  Example - Library catalog – what are people trying to do or solve?  What do they use instead?

Stay in the building vs. get out of the building.  Example - User services review.  Who’s not coming in?  How are they solving information problems outside library?  Check with extreme users and with non-users.

Build it and they will come vs. build it when they come (try on small scale first to make sure there's a demand)

Build for the many vs. build for the few. Not all services need to be for everyone. Smaller groups w/shared needs are easier to define and address.

Learn then build vs. build then learn. Put up quickly then learn from mistakes, rather than doing elaborate study beforehand, building and then never adjusting afterwards.

Pilot projects vs. iterative design.  Example – streaming video service.  Startups better at killing unneeded projects than libraries.  Start with minimum viable project (MVP), which is faster to market and cheaper, and only develop services that are needed.

Collect all data vs. use key data.  Don't get lost in too much data that's not meaningfully differentiated. Dashboarding can track key metrics in a transparent fashion.

Execute the plan vs. adjust the model. Be flexible enough to make course corrections as needed.
Focus on features vs. focus on value.  Example – for instruction workshops, answer the question why should I take the workshop?

Also important to start-ups is the pitch – a concise and convincing summary which communicates value and concludes with a call to action.
- Understand the problem
- Validate the solution
- Communicate the value proposition
- Compel the listener

"Search: Social, Personal, & Everywhere" by Greg Notess, Montana State University

Notess talked about the increasing personalization of search results, and how these results could be used, or avoided, in looking for information.  Some simple ways to avoid personalized results are logging out of Google and checking Google.com/settings/ads, which has settings that will vary on different computers and even different browsers on the same computer.  Browsers also have a private mode that does not retain information

However, there are companies like Rapleaf that track U.S.-based email addresses (dashboard.rapleaf.com/see_your_info_signup) and BlueCava that tracks devices.  There are opt-out options for Google and Bing, and on networkadvertising.org to opt out of tracking on multiple websites at once.

There are also alternative search engines that don't track user information, such as DuckDuckGo.com, dontbubble.us, ix.quickn.com

Facebook allows searches such as "people who like libraries" - the search results will include filters to narrow the list of results.

If you have a shortened link (e.g. bitley/12345) and wonder what page you'll end up on if you click it, try Wheredoesthislinkgo.com, knowurl.com, clyvs.com/urlexpander

For map/geographic searches, Google & Bing Maps have street views and varying results due to different data sources and imagery dates.  There's also the option of viewing historical photos.

"Super Searcher Tools & Tips" by Mary Ellen Bates

You, too, can become a "Google-dork"! Here are the highlights in list form:

Google’s dictionary expands – dictionary cards now have word origin, translate, usage over time

Google Autocomplete - if you type the name of a product or service, type "vs", then stop typing and wait for Google to fill in a list of search suggestions, you'll see what product comparisons other Google searchers were making.

Snipr.com/gdork14 – provides link to governmental warning page, "Malicious Cyber Actors Use Advanced Search Techniques", but it also provides a list of the "dangerous" search techniques that others have tried.

If you change the order of search words, you'll get different results.
Ocean fishing acidification
Vs
Acidification fishing ocean

You'll also get significantly different results when using "natural language" queries vs. when you're not:
What is the meaning of life
The meaning of life
Meaning of life

Millionshort.com eliminates the top 100 to 1 million sites so you can see more obscure sites that match your search terms.

Google Now is a phone app that looks at your Google calendar, Gmail, search history on phone and automatically provides: Translations, currency, next appointment, time to drive to office, nearby attractions, weather - trying to predict what you will search for.

Bates asks whether librarians can provide similar information, learning about patrons and giving them what they need before they ask for it, providing helpful and meaningful information?

To find information from trusted sources:
In Wikipedia – look at the external links at the end of articles.
In Bing only, searching for LinkFromDomain:msf.org ebola retrieves pages linked-to from Doctors Without Borders (msf.org) that mention ebola. Bing also lets searchers find pages that link to a filetype: for example, search for contains:mp3, contains:xls

Gwittr.com allows searchers to learn about influencers & their influencers (subject experts – find out who they retweet, what links they share, what they hashtag, how much they share)

To find LinkedIn “hidden” updates, mouse over blue “Send a message” button, then choose “View recent activity”

Tineye.com and Bing’s Image Match allows searchers to look for similar images (to find out: Is anyone using our photos?  Did they pick up on our press release?)

Zanran looks for images on web pages and extracts text surrounding the image (a way to find graphs, etc. with statistical information)

Shothotspot.com allows searches for places to take a good picture

Thingful.net lists where people have tagged "the Internet of things"

Opening keynote: "Driving Our Own Destinies"

The conference has about 900 attendees, about evenly divided between men and women, representing 42 states and 10 countries.

Opening quotes:
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves” Shakespeare
"The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny." Albert Ellis, Psychotherapist

Opening Keynote: "Driving Our Own Destinies" by Brendan Howley, a Canadian journalist who works with a library in Hamilton, a Canadian city that is a burgeoning cultural hub.  Howley focused on the importance of stories ("data with soul") and their ability to draw people into networks, motivate them and share teachable moments.  Stories document and share experiences, and Howley suggests that librarians share our stories and that libraries take an active role as "cultural triggers that activate networks" - media, literature, art, film, local history, archives, databases.

At the Hamilton Library, he mentions an open media desk (community newsroom) and a makerspace where patrons can create pieces of media & distribute via the library.  Adam and I were both intrigued by his mention of iBeacons, $25 mobile Internet transmitters that could be used to push content at specific locations via Bluetooth to patrons who opted in.  Howley painted a picture of the library as an institution that could provide community mapping, a participatory culture hub, and even a small business development engine that could create useful interactive maps of city (this reminded me of our upcoming partnership with GIS). Overall Howley's vision is an ambitious but exciting one and a thought-provoking way to start the conference.

Things for kids

3doodler

There was some question what the 3doodler that Angelica mentioned is.  This is it, that green pile in the left is my creation.  The 3Doodler is stupid.

Best conference ever

Don's complimentary crab cake at the exhibit reception.  Not pictured, open bar.

Phoenix airport

I guess you leave the kids here when you go on vacation.

Not your momma's library

This video was shown in the above mentioned session, which is essentially about the damage the internet and mobile devices is doing to our brains.

http://youtu.be/dRl8EIhrQjQ

Dear Marriott conference room

Please keystone your projector.

Then I got scolded

The guy sitting in this office scolded me for taking the picture with an iPad.  Oh the irony.

Don told me to take pictures.

Waiting at the Ontario Airport for our departing flight.  The airport website's suggestion of arriving two hours before takeoff turned out to be quite unnecessary.  Of course that particular webpage also talked about "peak summer travel conditions".  Flights from Ontario to Montery have an inexplicable stopover in Phoenix, so we'll arrive around 10 p.m.  Looking forward to Day 1 tomorrow!