I was not prepared to post anything on the blog today. No stories stuck out in my mind. I didn't come across any incredibly interesting articles. Frankly, I was drained of all my energy because I had to teach two courses of library instruction / information literacy yesterday. (After 3 hours, I have a new found respect for teachers who stand up and talk all day.)
So, here I sit, blanking on any information to type. I could discuss more about Google Wave (named after a communications method from my beloved and bygone space cowboy show Firefly), but it's been done and will continue to be done. I could peruse the ASIST journal and bulletin for articles, but I'm not in the mood. Ultimately, I've decided to do what most people do when they're stuck: procrastinate.
(1 hour later)
Success! In my procrastination, I decided to clean out my e-mail files. Look what I came across: Library101.
A large part of working in an academic library is teaching to undergraduates. We have to make the library look all sorts of awesome while still teaching them how to use all our (awesome!) tools and resources. Library101 offers a (somewhat hokey) crash course in what it means to remain relevant in a changing and technologically innovative society.
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Friday, November 6, 2009
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
YouTube Tuesday: They're back
Welcome back everyone! This is our first YouTube Tuesday of the Semester.
Library Tech
A brief overview of RFID and library robots. Yes, robots.
Comic Books
Word girl saves the library from being destroyed by, you guessed it, robots.
Library Tech
A brief overview of RFID and library robots. Yes, robots.
Comic Books
Word girl saves the library from being destroyed by, you guessed it, robots.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Impress Your Professor: Future of alternative book formats
Hi everyone! My name is Sarah and I'm the new Vice Chair of ASIST. Have you heard the buzz this week about the future of alternative book formats (i.e. non print books)? Two big stories caught my ear...
1. Amazon announced its purchase of Audible.com two weeks ago. Audible.com is the largest provider of ‘audio entertainment’, a term that encompasses audio books as well as radio programs and audio editions of newspapers and magazines. The combination of this acquisition and the recent launch of Kindle (a handheld device for reading electronic books) indicates that Amazon is, if not anticipating a new direction for books, at least hedging its bets.
I’ve gotta say that, as a reader, I’m totally old school—give me paper any day. My dad uses audible.com and loves it, but I have a tendency to tune out and miss whole chapters. Check out ALA Techsource, as they muse a bit on our collective history as listeners. I’ve never used Kindle myself, but I have used Mobipocket (also owned by Amazon), a platform for ebooks that is compatible with almost any handheld device (or even just your computer). The books are cheap, which is nice, but oy! Eyestrain!Reading
1. Amazon announced its purchase of Audible.com two weeks ago. Audible.com is the largest provider of ‘audio entertainment’, a term that encompasses audio books as well as radio programs and audio editions of newspapers and magazines. The combination of this acquisition and the recent launch of Kindle (a handheld device for reading electronic books) indicates that Amazon is, if not anticipating a new direction for books, at least hedging its bets.
I’ve gotta say that, as a reader, I’m totally old school—give me paper any day. My dad uses audible.com and loves it, but I have a tendency to tune out and miss whole chapters. Check out ALA Techsource, as they muse a bit on our collective history as listeners. I’ve never used Kindle myself, but I have used Mobipocket (also owned by Amazon), a platform for ebooks that is compatible with almost any handheld device (or even just your computer). The books are cheap, which is nice, but oy! Eyestrain!
2. Harper Collins, as part of some new marketing experiment, is offering free access to a few digital books. I’d love to see the results of this campaign. Does free online access increase sales? Decrease sales? I’d imagine it would depend on the type of book—fiction, non-fiction, reference, etc.
You don’t even have to register for this service, and the complete book is right there online! Downloading and printing are verboten, but you can search the full text and submit reader reviews. Each book is only available for one month. I can't wait for the Neil Gaiman book to be posted! Check it out!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
YouTube Tuesday
Ipod, Powerpoint, and Libraries
Some libraries are allowing students to borrow iPods to take audio tours of the library. Now, with video iPods, PowerPoint shows can be downloaded by students to their own iPods. Here's a quick tutorial on what works and what doesn't on the small video iPod screen.
A (Remade) Oldie But Goodie
Has anyone actually met a librarian named Marian?
Some libraries are allowing students to borrow iPods to take audio tours of the library. Now, with video iPods, PowerPoint shows can be downloaded by students to their own iPods. Here's a quick tutorial on what works and what doesn't on the small video iPod screen.
A (Remade) Oldie But Goodie
Has anyone actually met a librarian named Marian?
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
SLA Technology Day 2007
Technology Day 2007 - Working in a Virtual World
Sponsored by the Maryland Chapter of SLA
Date: Thursday, 4 October 2007
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:15 PM PM
Location: Kossiakoff Center, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory [Laurel, MD]
REMINDER - EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS SEPT 10 - This is a reciprocal event, ASIS&T members receive SLA member rates.
http://units.sla.org/chapter/cmd/events/techday.htm#program
JOIN US! You've heard the terms before, maybe even attended talks on these topics in the past. Here's your chance to get the latest updates on these fast-moving technologies. Listen to vendor updates and have the opportunity to ask pointed questions. Get practical advice on how to apply new technologies in your organization in our TechTalk sessions. Exchange success stories and lessons-learned with colleagues. PROGRAM UPDATE - Ran Hock on Search Engines, Session 4.
A full day of state-of-the-art technologies & discoveries awaits you!
For more information, contact Susan Fingerman.
Sponsored by the Maryland Chapter of SLA
Date: Thursday, 4 October 2007
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:15 PM PM
Location: Kossiakoff Center, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory [Laurel, MD]
REMINDER - EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS SEPT 10 - This is a reciprocal event, ASIS&T members receive SLA member rates.
http://units.sla.org/chapter
JOIN US! You've heard the terms before, maybe even attended talks on these topics in the past. Here's your chance to get the latest updates on these fast-moving technologies. Listen to vendor updates and have the opportunity to ask pointed questions. Get practical advice on how to apply new technologies in your organization in our TechTalk sessions. Exchange success stories and lessons-learned with colleagues. PROGRAM UPDATE - Ran Hock on Search Engines, Session 4.
A full day of state-of-the-art technologies & discoveries awaits you!
For more information, contact Susan Fingerman.
YouTube Tuesday
The Library of The Future
This video is a nice news clip about Stanford and "The Library of the Future." The video focuses on digital collections and discusses how the library is no longer just a physical entity, the library has moved online.
Library Tech Service of the Past
We've all been there.
This video is a nice news clip about Stanford and "The Library of the Future." The video focuses on digital collections and discusses how the library is no longer just a physical entity, the library has moved online.
Library Tech Service of the Past
We've all been there.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Another Radio Segment
Hi All!!
Well, it seems to be my job on this blog to direct you to NPR segments. This one comes from WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi Show. On today's Tech Tuesday there is a segment that deals with children and how they interact with technology. One of the commentators is the head of the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Lab at the University of Maryland.
As Librarians, specifically dealing with technology, it is important for us to understand how different generations interact with technology. This means not only understanding how younger children change interaction patters, but also how older generations want to approach technology.
Ok, enough lecturing from my soap box.
Here is the synopsis of the segment:
Kids today rarely think of 'technology' as something separate from themselves. Rather, technology is infused into everything they do and see. So how can grown-ups rethink design ideas based on what the next generation is thinking? Tech Tuesday explores the intersection of technology and child development.
Well, it seems to be my job on this blog to direct you to NPR segments. This one comes from WAMU's Kojo Nnamdi Show. On today's Tech Tuesday there is a segment that deals with children and how they interact with technology. One of the commentators is the head of the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Lab at the University of Maryland.
As Librarians, specifically dealing with technology, it is important for us to understand how different generations interact with technology. This means not only understanding how younger children change interaction patters, but also how older generations want to approach technology.
Ok, enough lecturing from my soap box.
Here is the synopsis of the segment:
Kids today rarely think of 'technology' as something separate from themselves. Rather, technology is infused into everything they do and see. So how can grown-ups rethink design ideas based on what the next generation is thinking? Tech Tuesday explores the intersection of technology and child development.
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