Library 101

02Nov09

Check out the latest video from David Lee King & Michael Porter

Library 101 is more than just a video. Its a project with a website that includes essays from libraryland leaders on what Library 101 means to them and a list of 101 things to know.

What does Library 101 mean to you?

Do you know all 101 things?

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Upcoming Webinar Best Practices in Helping Job Seekers in the Library

20Oct09

Title: Best Practices in Helping Job Seekers in the Library

Date and time: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 12 pm – 1:00 pm PST

This webinar will last approximately one hour. There is no charge for this webinar.  Pre-registration is not required.

For more information and to participate in the November 10 webinar, go to http://infopeople.org/training/webcasts/webcast_data/313/index.html

Your library has been helping the unemployed and underemployed (aka job seekers) in your community for a long time. However, the declining economy over the past year has dramatically increased the demands on library staff, services, and resources. Would you like to learn about some successful programs in other libraries? Do you wonder if there are some new ideas you could try for getting patrons started? Would you like to know the resources other libraries recommend to job seekers? Are you interested in partnerships but feel unsure who to talk to

This webinar will help you by introducing three successful programs, giving you a fresh look at getting started in helping job seekers, providing information about some “best resources”, and exploring agencies and organizations you may consider partnering with.

At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Assess where job seekers are in the job search process
• Identify at least three new job search resources
• List local agencies or organizations to pursue as possible partners

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Tags: job seekers, Training

Freak Out, Geek Out, Or Seek Out: Trends, Transformations & Change in Libraries

16Oct09

This is a slideshow from a presentation David Lee King gave this week. Even though you don’t get to hear him speaking the message still comes through.

Filed under: Innovation, libraries, technology   |  3 Comments

Digital Branch Progress

14Oct09

I’d hoped to come around and talk with all the branches and departments about the progress towards the digital branch. Unfortunately it doesn’t look like I’ll be fit into the schedules as soon as I’d hope.  So I thought I’d share an update with you here.

Here is what we’re looking at for the steps towards the Digital Branch, minus the technical stuff I’ll be handling behind the scenes.

• Present to Administration  for Feedback
• Take suggestions and feed back from Admin & make changes if needed
• Present to all staff for feedback, testing and training, staff will be given time to look at the digital branch provide feedback, ask questions and get any training they want or need. It is important that staff feel comfortable with the new design so they can answer customer questions.
• If we need to we’ll implement changes as indicated by Staff Feedback
• Conduct customer usability tests  – This will include both library staff and patrons. Basically we’ll be seeing if people can find the information they are looking for easily.
• Implement changes to website suggested by customer usability test results
• Train content creators/contributors. No one will be forced to be a content manager. But anyone who wants to is welcome.
• Prepare all staff to handle comments and answer questions on the Digital Branch
• Show a “sneak peak” on the current website. Sort of like we’re currently doing with the staff web. Customers will be able to see the new one before we make the change. We’ll be marketing the change and encouraging everyone to take a look at it before the change.
• Go live with Digital Branch!

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Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy Warns of “Second Class Citizens” in the Digital Age

05Oct09

The Knight Foundation has released a new report Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy. A good deal of the content either is or could be applies to libraries.  The entire report is 148  pages, you can also download a 2 page summary that includes recommendations like these

• 3: Increase the role of higher education, community and nonprofit institutions as hubs of journalistic activity and other information sharing for local communities.  Read more …
• 4: Require government at all levels to operate transparently, facilitate easy and low-cost access to public records, and make civic and social data available in standardized formats that support the productive public use of such data.  Read more …
• 6: Integrate digital and media literacy as critical elements of education at all levels through collaboration among federal, state, and local education officials.  Read more …
• 7: Fund and support public libraries and other community institutions as centers of digital and media training, especially for adults.  Read more …
• 10: Support the activities of information providers to reach local audiences with quality content through all appropriate media, such as mobile phones, radio, and public-access cable.  Read more …
• 12: Engage young people in developing the digital information and communication capacities of local communities.  Read more …
• 13: Empower all citizens to participate actively in community self-governance, including local “community summits” to address community affairs and pursue common goals.  Read more …
• 14: Emphasize community information flow in the design and enhancement of a local community’s public spaces..  Read more …
• 15: Ensure that every local community has at least one high-quality online hub.  Read more …

The Foundation has also taken actions that affect libraries:

$3.3 million to improve free, public Internet access in libraries in 12 communities

$2.28 million in broadband access projects in underserved neighborhoods in three cities

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