Tuesday, February 20, 2007

On the blogging train...

I'm on 3 blogs now, and it has taken me a while to figure a few things out: I have to sign in to post, I have to ignore or at least sift through a lot of "noise" like Google trying to get me to use Google Blogger instead of the older version, what the Dashboard is, how to post, how to save a draft and edit it, etc.

I think it's always hard for anyone who is familiar with a technology to go back to a time when they knew nothing. We need to remember that if we are going to bring people in to Web 2.0, we have to find ways to make it happen and to be there for them when they meet that first roadblock, maybe pair them up with someone a bit more savvy, find ways to smooth the path and bring them in. There must be some creative solutions. Let's find them!

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Online/chat opportunities

Andrea and I have discussed online teen book clubs. I have done online courses and can see that with a program like WEB CT/IM this could be done.

Eventually, I would like to see IM reference. A couple of ladies from courses I have taken have participated in this service. They were mostly from the states. They do say that the kids truly take the instant messaging for instant messaging and want automatic replies.

I think this would be a great way to give the customers what they want. "Ask a teacher" run by TVo is a good example but still needs refining. They are meeting the needs of students.

I see a virtual branch, in the future.

Catherine G

Baby steps with blogs

It is great to see the blog idea being continued. I like Debbie's blog for heritage week.

The Canada reads theme is also a great foray to see if this will attract different customers.

One thing with blogging is that I find we need to keep it fresh and innovative.

The Teen summer blog was highly successful. The kids were disappointed when that one ended because it was a chance for them to blog about books but also participate in mini-contests, share trivia information and on the long weekend before school, share going back to school fears. One student was very homebound, last year and said the blog was a great way for her to have connections with kids as well as an interesting summer.

TRAP blog is not as interesting because it does not have the same group of kids. I am looking forward to this one ending at the end of the school year and the reinvention of something for summer.

Catherine G.

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Sam's Club - Globe and Mail Bestsellers

Walking down the aisle's at Sam's club, I noticed that they have the Globe and Mail bestsellers lists taped on the new books display.

I was impressed because I would not expect such service at Sam's.

Catherine G.

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Reorganizing Reference

Very relevant article in Public Libraries November / December 2005, p. 340.

http://www.ala.org/ala/pla/plapubs/publiclibraries/novdec2005.pdf

Web 2.0 on Youtube

Might be interesting to watch at the next Roundtable. The Web is using us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE&eurl=

Saturday, February 3, 2007

Canada Reads 2.0

Motivated by CafeLatte's Heritage blog and by OLA Conference I've created a Canada Read blogs for our customers to comment on this years titles: MPL Reads Canada Reads

Thinking about our jobs and our future

This week, a daily message that I receive has been all about our jobs. Everyday, it focused on a different aspect of work and its' importance, in our lives.
Coincidentally, I have been following the ispresso blog, a little more closely, this week.

i still have the same questions unanswered that I did months ago. What will our jobs look like in a year's time? Will Ispresso have made an impact?

George from Circ took the ball and ran with her ideas. She and two committee members are putting into place 91 recommendations that will make circ processes better. By June, George will have completed her task and continued to improve.

I am still waiting for some direction and some support.

Someone said get started and go. Last summer, that is what happened with blog. Andrea, patrick and Diane supported me in that venture. I wonder how much more successful it could have been had we had everyone's (I mean everyone from every branch and admin) support and their efforts?

Catherine G.

Overheard at Angus

Thursday morning, I was on the second floor working at Angus. A customer came in and was on his cell phone. He was very loud. I was just about to ask him to be quieter when I heard what he was saying.

He was talking to a relative and telling this relative that they must come to Angus Glen Community Centre. The gentleman went on to describe the facility but then he went in depth about the library. I served the man a few minutes later and we discussed Angus.

It was interesting to hear the enthusiasm and excitement in his voice that we all had when we first came to AG>