The End of iHCPL?

I am happy to say that this is not the end of iHCPL. We have only started to learn. Last week I attended a program on "Transforming Texas Libraries" and one of the major concerns was how to teach staff about all of the new technology. It was nice to know that so many of us at HCPL have learned and will continue to learn about this amazing new technology.

In the past few years so much has changed at HCPL and the changes will keep on coming at us; whether we are ready or not. Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 have changed how the customer relates to the library and to information. We used to be the gatekeepers of knowledge and information; today we are more like navigators. Our customers want to be more self sufficient but want us to be available to give assistance. The 23 things that we learned about and the new things that we will learn will help prepare us for the future.


Lifelong learning is a necessity if we are going to keep up with the pace of change that has become the norm for our society. Because all of us in the library field deal with information, we have even more reason to keep on learning.

Thank you to the iHCPL Committee and everyone who took part in iHCPL. Who knows what 2008 will bring?

Facebook

I signed for a Facebook account and have not done much with it accept but I can see how you can get "hooked" on it. Dale McNeill, who used to be at HCPL and is now at Queens, has friended me,as have a few other people. I have yet to put any pictures up ,but I did add my Hebrew name.

Tags, Technorati, Del.icio.us and Library 2.0

When I first looked into tagging I thought "what a good idea, subject headings that anyone can figure out. "Cooking" instead of "cookery". This ability to name things in common language offers everyone the opportunity to classify and find information in a way that is more intuitive. It certainly gives the user more power over information. I very much like Del.icio.us because it makes bookmarks portable and allows others to see what you have in your list. Another tool that makes it easier for users to get the information they want .

These tools are at the heart of Library 2.0. They have been developed and are so popular because users want to to be able to quickly and easily access the information they want when they want it and in the format that they want. The user wants convenience first and these tools certainly help meet that demand. Library 2.0 is a customer centerd view of how the library should be interacting with those who use the library both in our buildings and outside our walls.

Podcasts and Downloadable Media

I can't say podcasts are my favorit way to get information, but they may grow on me. I subscribed to the Sirsi Dynix because their online content is always interesting and well done. As the presidential campaigns heats up I may subscribe to some political podcasts.

I have often downloaded books and videos from Overdrive. I have listened to books on my MP3 player and I have watched videos on my computer at home. The only issue that I have is that it takes a very long time to download to my computer so you have to plan ahead if you want to watch or hear something. All in all, it s a good service and our customers certainly like it.

card catalog quilt

card catalog quilt
Originally uploaded by txlibrarian

I came across this "card catalog" quilt in the Feed Dog blog and remembered how difficult it was to keep the catalog up to date. The online catalog solved this problem(ok, there were more than a few bugs in the beginning) with the added benefit of increasing access to the entire HCPL collection.

As this first part of iHCPL winds down I still marvel at all we can do with the new technology and look forward to what comes next. iHCPL has been a learning experience that has inspired, frustrated and encouraged me at different points along the way.

A visual metaphor for Houston

The implosion of the Crowne Plaza Holiday Inn this past weekend that will make way for a new building in the Texas Medical Center struck me as a perfect way to describe Houston- always changing and making way for something newer. Sometimes, as in the case when a piece of the River Oaks Shopping Center was torn down, I am disturbed by it. In this case it seems like a good thing.

Say yes to Zoho!

 

 

I really like Zoho. This is a much better way to have access to files. There is no need to have a flash drive to access files from another computer. All you need is access to the Web. I will be learning more about Zoho.

Technorati Tags     ZOHO

Untitled

 

Last Saturday the Friends of the Atascocita Branch honored Odell Dreyer,  a great friend of the library, at a Gala called Dreams to Reality. Odell was a major force in moving the Atacocita branch from a dream to a branch of HCPL.  The Friends raised close to 18,000.00 that will be used to purchase computers.

 

 

Library 2.0

I have been reading about Library 2.0 for quite a while. The more that I read about Library 2.0, the more I think it has to do with being open to whatever the "next thing" will be . Advances in technology and changes in society have forever changed how we do things and how people want to get information. Customer service will continue to driven by these technological and lifestyle changes. This is a great opportunity for libraries as long as we are willing to try what may have been unthinkable to us in the recent past. The acceptance of so many of the changes we have instituted, such as selfcheck and holds available for customer pickup , show that we are on the right track.

The great Horizon meltdown last week demonstrated how much we rely on technology, and how much the quality of our service now depends on reliable technology. This was a good reminder of hw technology has improved our service to our users.

The Texas Library Association and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission are spearheading a task force that will discuss transforming Texas libraries to meet the needs of the people of Texas. The task force will meet and begin to discuss issues dealing with how to keep libraries of all types viable and dynamic in the time of ever increasing change. This discussion will be a work in progress. If you are interested in giving your ideas and opinions please go to www.txla.org and click on Transforming Texas Libraries.We have been processing a great deal of change at HCPL and the staff has much to contribute to this statewide process.

Carved pumpkin

Carved pumpkin
Originally uploaded by rckenned

Next Wednesday is Halloween. Please wear costumes, if you wish. Please send pictures.

Meez and one of my favorite things

As they say, when going gets tough, the tough go shopping. Choosing and exporting my Meez was easier than I thought it would be. The challenge was in choosing what it would look like, just like a shopping expedition. I may later change to a tall Meez with long straight hair.

A few months ago I discovered Library Thing, thanks to Keddy Outlaw. I have been using Library Elf as a second reminder to return my books on time.

I have read almost every blog at least twice. In most cases, I do not know whose blogs they are but I have been amused, impressed, surprised and moved by the comments and all of the efforts that so many HCPL bloggers have taken.

Txlibrarian

285 HCPl staff are taking part in iHCPL. Thanks to the iHCPL Committee for making this learning experience so much fun. As you can tell from the video, I will be keeping my day job.

I have subscribed to blogs for some time now. Some of the most interesting ideas about libraries are posted to blogs. Librarian.net and Tame the Web are two excellent blogs. Also, Stephen's Lighthouse.


How many staff plan on keeping their blogs active after iHCPL is completed?

Aldine Branch Library

Aldine Branch Library
Originally uploaded by txlibrarian

I am on my way to a whole set of HCPL trading cards.

An inviting picture

Library_bee_books06_s
Originally uploaded by txlibrarian

I have now been able to upload a photo to Flickr and my blog without help. Tomorrow i am going to try trading cards.

Autumn in New Haven, Connecticut

Autumn in New Haven, Connecticut
Originally uploaded by txlibrarian

Getting the picture from Flickr to this blog was not as easy as I had hoped. I will have to practice this step again. This excercise has convinced me that there is a digital camera in my future.

I am glad that we are beginning iHCPL with a discussion about online safety. The Internet , blogs, social networks and wikis offer so much to us. By remembering the on line safety guidelines everyone can benefit .

Success

This is my first attempt at creating a blog! Success!