Often the reality of a technology doesn't meet the requirements or the expectations that you have for it. Best recent example, an automated secure DVD checkout and retrieval system, which I most often (and inaccurately) referred to as the DVD Jukebox. [For similar comparison see The Red Box machine at McDonald's] However, the technology was just not up to the high demand of frequent use and lacked interoperability with existing systems. The most important thing to learn from these failed technology situations is project evaluation and realizing when to wait for the technology to meet your expectations. It's good to be brave and try new things, but you must make sure that you are investing wisely in technology that enhances what you have and doesn't cause more headaches that you can handle!
This situation is not restricted to the library world. See this post for another hilarious example.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
When Reality Doesn't Meet Expectations
Friday, March 14, 2008
Hello. My Name is Tara and I am an Infovore.
Often I joke that the need to develop something akin to a nicotine patch but for checking your email, creating bibliographies, updating my reading list, checking my holds at the library and other things that I do compulsively (though compulsively isn't quite the right word because I enjoy it so much.)
Well, it turns out that I wasn't totally off base. According to this blogpost from LISNews information can be addicting. And not only am I an addict, but I'm also a pusher. So come on kids, have some information, it's on the house.
Web-based Bookshelves
We've been teaching an in-house training class on web-based bookshelves, also known as online social networks for bibliophiles. Below is the information provided on our class handout.
___________________________________
How to track, rate and share your books online
“But it takes only one—one book that reaches inside you and shifts things
around, expands your sense of who you are, and opens up that little conduit of
magic. Once you find it, once you’ve felt that tidal pull, that danger, you’ll
be a reader for the rest of your life.” – Anthony Doerr
“It’s a social need. We want books everybody is reading (and nobody finishes) so
we can talk about them.” – Ursula K. Le Guin
What is a web-based bookshelf?
- Bibliographic database for cataloging and organizing book collections
- Housed on the internet (not downloaded to your PC/Mac)
- Web 2.0 – features social networking, portability, and sharing
- Integrates with other internet sites and applications – links to libraries, Amazon, blogs, RSS feeds, etc.
How do web bookshelves fit into Library 2.0?
- L2 is about adapting Web 2.0 principles to evolve the library environment
- 23 Things from the Learning 2.0 project (Helene Bowers, Public Services Technology Director for the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County) – http://plcmcl2-things.blogspot.com/#23 - LibraryThing is #11.
Key features (*standard to most applications)
- Your library*
- Searchable database*
- Ratings*
- Reviews/Comments*
- Tagging*
- SHARING*
- Communication from/to the community (newsletters, email, RSS)
- Recommendations
- Groups
- Swapping/Loaning
- Original Cataloging
- Series (FRBR concepts)
Setting Up an Account
- User Names
- Terms Of Agreement (TOAs)
- Profiles
- Settings
- Build your collection and have FUN!!
- Ideas for personal use
- Catalog your stuff
- Wish Lists
- Track reading
- Track lending
- Share with family & friends
- Catalog for family
Ideas for professional use
- Staff favorites
- Branch book groups
- Reader’s advisory
- What are you reading?
- CDO wish list
- Bibliographies
- Bookmarks
- Storytime Reading Lists
- Widgets for blogs, etc.
- Scope out reading trends and unique titles
- Get input from the community
- LibraryThing for Libraries
- Let your imagination run wild!!!
Issues and considerations
- Cost
- Commercialization
- Privacy / Security
- Read the TOA
- Anonymity
- Accessible through DPL filters?
- Levels of public sharing
- Minimum social requirement
- Transferability (import/export, reporting)
- Reliability and reputation
Variations on a theme (just a sampling)
Social bookmarking – del.icio.ushttp://www.stumbleupon.com/
Professional social networking – http://www.linkedin.com/
DPL book review links – http://www.denverlibrary.org/booksmedia/books/reviews.html
Book swapping/sharing – http://www.bookmooch.com/http://www.bookcrossing.com/http://www.swaptree.com/
Virtual book clubs – http://www.dearreader.com/
Library book tracking – http://www.libraryelf.com/
eBook downloads – http://www.manybooks.net/
Book blogs – http://www.bookslut.com/bloghttp://somanybooksblog.com/
Open Library – new open community catalog competitor to OCLC
Reading about Reading
- “Reading is Dangerous” by Anthony Doerr - Spirit Magazine, Feb 2008 – http://www.spiritmag.com/2008_02/pdf/0208/reading.pdf
- “Staying Awake” by Ursula K. Le Guin – Harper’s Magazine, Feb 2008
Let us know what you think, or if there is anything we should add.
Also, here's some other press about web-based bookshelves:
NPR article
Ecommerce-guide.com overview
