One of the most interesting presentations I attended this year at the Internet Librarian conference focused on the community web page project built for Columbus, Ohio called Columbus Neighborhoods.
This is an excellent example of a library involving its citizenry in participating to build an online archive of historical and cultural information representing all members. The library initially applied for an IMSL (Institute of Museum and Library Services) grant and did not receive it. Fortunately the library was able to partner with several regional businesses and organizations, including the public media network, WOSU to build the project.
The online web project was initially outsourced to Interactive Knowledge (the group that did the Ken Burns' product for television) for approximately $18,000. The project was accomplished in about three months. Then, once online, the site is maintained by the community with minimal library maintenance. The community monitors itself. Also, volunteers load content and moderate the website.
Content, which originally started as a postcard database, is accessible by location, neighborhood, photo or video galleries, date posted, and embedded code. After completing the initial phase, the project members stipulated goals for Phase II in 2011, as "Mobile Device Compatibility," mobile uploads, and GEO Tags. And Phase III is scheduled in 2012 for what they call "bridging between virtual and physical space" by promoting a "Traveling multi-touch display" that will rotate to various community locations within Columbus, such as the zoo and museums.
The library reference staff answers question from the community regarding the Columbus Neighborhoods project and the neighborhood regions. The reference librarians enjoy answering neighborhood-specific questions.
The project has proved to be very popular with the Columbus community. In regards to copyright matters, the "content contributor" determines the "owner." If complaints are registered as to content or provenance of content, these are reviewed by volunteers and removed from the public pages as needed. Even in such cases, the content originally uploaded is still viewable to the contributor, although blocked from the "public" view.
An interesting fact is that by design the website, hosted by the Columbus Metropolitan Library web servers, is only quietly promoted on their website (bottom of the library web page.) Furthermore, on the Columbus Neighborhoods website there is no link back to the library -- by choice. One of the goals of the project is to emphasize community ownership.
Visit Columbus Neighborhoods to appreciate the fine accomplishment of the Columbus Metropolitan Library staff working in partnership with local organizations and community members.♠
Thursday, November 18, 2010
What is API? AMI? QR?
Every year when I return from the Internet Librarian conference in Monterey I make time to review the new acronyms and terms I've learned. Whether I personally use the new words and initialisms frequently is not as important as being cognizant of them -- because I do expect to run across them again in my work or hear them from patrons. It is always useful to review the new terms I've encountered before much time passes following the conference.
What is an API? This acronym is not new, but I feel a need to differentiate it from the AMI acronym below. I nearly always have to refresh my memory about APIs. An API is, as described by Wikipedia, an application programming interface used by a software program that "enables it to interact with other software. It may include specifications for routines, data structures, object classes and protocols used to communicate between the consumer and the implementer of the API." Examples are Java, Carbon, Cocoa, and DirectX. They allow the combination of multiple services on a web page, often resulting in what is known as a "mash-up" or a blend of applications that allow a more interactive and participatory Web experience for users.
What is an AMI? AMI represents Ambient Intelligence. According to the Free Dictionary and Wikipedia, Ambient Intelligence refers to "electronic environments that are sensitive and responsive to the presence of people." Ambient Intelligence is customized, interactive, and possesses characteristics such as being
* embedded: many networked devices are integrated into the environment
* context aware: these devices can recognize you and your situational context
* personalized: they can be tailored to your needs
* adaptive: they can change in response to you
* anticipatory: they can anticipate your desires without conscious mediation.
Criticisms of AMI include concerns regarding loss of consumer privacy and loss of personal empowerment. "New thinking on Ambient Intelligence distances itself therefore from some of the original characteristics such as adaptive and anticipatory behaviour and emphasizes empowerment and participation to place control in the hands of people instead of organizations." [Free Dictionary]
What is QR? QR represents "Quick Response." And QR Codes are data-embedded blocks or matrices in black-and-white (sometimes color)that when photographed with a mobile phone take you to a web page, coupon, online video, or other content. They are also known as "Mobile Codes." As compared to the typical barcode with which we are familiar that are positioned in a horizontal space, QR Codes occupy both horizontal and vertical space. Three corners (small squares) of the QR image are embedded such that regardless of the position or angle of the camera the image is self-righting provided that most of the image is captured or grabbed in the shot.
It is claimed that QR Codes are capable of encoding the same amount of data in approximately one-tenth the space of a traditional barcode. These codes can be tracked and monitored, again raising questions of consumer privacy. To read the codes a person first downloads a QR code software reader. Some companies have proprietary codes and require that their software be used to read the codes. Most QR codes and QR code-generators and readers are generic. More can be learned about QR code software, readers and supported mobile phones at Mobile Barcodes.
What is an API? This acronym is not new, but I feel a need to differentiate it from the AMI acronym below. I nearly always have to refresh my memory about APIs. An API is, as described by Wikipedia, an application programming interface used by a software program that "enables it to interact with other software. It may include specifications for routines, data structures, object classes and protocols used to communicate between the consumer and the implementer of the API." Examples are Java, Carbon, Cocoa, and DirectX. They allow the combination of multiple services on a web page, often resulting in what is known as a "mash-up" or a blend of applications that allow a more interactive and participatory Web experience for users.
What is an AMI? AMI represents Ambient Intelligence. According to the Free Dictionary and Wikipedia, Ambient Intelligence refers to "electronic environments that are sensitive and responsive to the presence of people." Ambient Intelligence is customized, interactive, and possesses characteristics such as being
* embedded: many networked devices are integrated into the environment
* context aware: these devices can recognize you and your situational context
* personalized: they can be tailored to your needs
* adaptive: they can change in response to you
* anticipatory: they can anticipate your desires without conscious mediation.
Criticisms of AMI include concerns regarding loss of consumer privacy and loss of personal empowerment. "New thinking on Ambient Intelligence distances itself therefore from some of the original characteristics such as adaptive and anticipatory behaviour and emphasizes empowerment and participation to place control in the hands of people instead of organizations." [Free Dictionary]
What is QR? QR represents "Quick Response." And QR Codes are data-embedded blocks or matrices in black-and-white (sometimes color)that when photographed with a mobile phone take you to a web page, coupon, online video, or other content. They are also known as "Mobile Codes." As compared to the typical barcode with which we are familiar that are positioned in a horizontal space, QR Codes occupy both horizontal and vertical space. Three corners (small squares) of the QR image are embedded such that regardless of the position or angle of the camera the image is self-righting provided that most of the image is captured or grabbed in the shot.
It is claimed that QR Codes are capable of encoding the same amount of data in approximately one-tenth the space of a traditional barcode. These codes can be tracked and monitored, again raising questions of consumer privacy. To read the codes a person first downloads a QR code software reader. Some companies have proprietary codes and require that their software be used to read the codes. Most QR codes and QR code-generators and readers are generic. More can be learned about QR code software, readers and supported mobile phones at Mobile Barcodes.
What is BitNami?
BitNami is, according to its website description, a collection of free, open source web applications "such as wikis or blogs, in order to make them more accessible."
"Regardless of whether you choose a Native Installer, Virtual Machine Image or Cloud Image, you will be able to have your BitNami-packaged application of choice up and running in just minutes, with no manual configuration required." [BitNami.org]
BitNami also offers cloud-hosting and studio packages for fee.
These types of packages along with virtual platforms and cloud computing resources are the new method of information systems management, lessening the amount or intensity of on-site technological supervision and maintenance required by an organization. Because of this it is of interest to librarians in search of economical and efficient ways to build and manage appealing online web services. BitNami is a website I discovered when reviewing Mary Ellen Bates' Internet Librarian 2010 "Super Searcher Tips Spectacular" presentation.
"Regardless of whether you choose a Native Installer, Virtual Machine Image or Cloud Image, you will be able to have your BitNami-packaged application of choice up and running in just minutes, with no manual configuration required." [BitNami.org]
BitNami also offers cloud-hosting and studio packages for fee.
These types of packages along with virtual platforms and cloud computing resources are the new method of information systems management, lessening the amount or intensity of on-site technological supervision and maintenance required by an organization. Because of this it is of interest to librarians in search of economical and efficient ways to build and manage appealing online web services. BitNami is a website I discovered when reviewing Mary Ellen Bates' Internet Librarian 2010 "Super Searcher Tips Spectacular" presentation.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Internet Librarian October 2010
I was able to attend two days of the Internet Librarian Conference, held again in Monterey this year. As usual I found that there were more sessions I wanted to attend than my schedule would permit. Many topics were presented in the same time slot and I had to make difficult choices.
Fortunately, one can visit Information Today's website (for a limited time) and review the presentations that have been generously uploaded by conference speakers.
The common terms bandied about this year included "RenGen" (Renaissance Generation), "QR Codes" (quick response codes) and "QR Code Generators," "cloud computing", "brand name building for libraries", "designing a mobile experience, "free stuff for broke libraries," "Vodcasts and Podcasts,", and "iTunes as a Library Platform." There were exhortations that to remain relevant as a profession librarians must focus on user experience rather than content delivery. In addition to the phrases above, the customer or patron-perspective and customer-interaction themes ran strong throughout this year's focus.
Reviewing some of the presentations I was unable to attend but located on the conference web page, I found Kimberly Silk and Jeffrey Veffer promoting "Design Thinking for Innovation." They ask "What problems can you identify that are preventing you from providing a great user experience?" They emphasize that one should resist the urge to rush toward solutions, and rather thoroughly get to know and understand problems; then solutions will reveal themselves. They focus on "Design Thinking," or "thinking like a designer" to provide a valuable and unforgettable user experience. That means putting oneself in the shoes of the user. Traits of design thinkers are: empathy, integrative thinking, optimism, experimentalism, and collaboration. These qualities are elaborated as follows:
Empathy – we have for those who need us
Integrative thinking – new ways to solve problems
Optimism – our desire for the collective “good”
Experimentalism – we learn by trial and error
Collaboration – we rarely work alone
The conference was alive and percolating with new ideas, techniques, and skills to improve information-gathering and service to patrons. It was a pleasure to attend and to hear professionals share experiences within their libraries and communities. It is always a joy to expand my view of the roles librarians fulfill in public, academic, and private institutions, and find the similarities in purpose and fulfillment in library careers. I am grateful that the library administration provided my conference registration this year. I attend every year that I am able, whether the registration is covered, or at my own expense. And it is worth it. I highly recommend that librarians take advantage of the tremendous benefits of attending Internet Librarian Conferences. And for those unable to attend, it is worthwhile to make time to view the temporary online postings of Speaker Presentation materials at Information Today Internet Librarian 2010.
Fortunately, one can visit Information Today's website (for a limited time) and review the presentations that have been generously uploaded by conference speakers.
The common terms bandied about this year included "RenGen" (Renaissance Generation), "QR Codes" (quick response codes) and "QR Code Generators," "cloud computing", "brand name building for libraries", "designing a mobile experience, "free stuff for broke libraries," "Vodcasts and Podcasts,", and "iTunes as a Library Platform." There were exhortations that to remain relevant as a profession librarians must focus on user experience rather than content delivery. In addition to the phrases above, the customer or patron-perspective and customer-interaction themes ran strong throughout this year's focus.
Reviewing some of the presentations I was unable to attend but located on the conference web page, I found Kimberly Silk and Jeffrey Veffer promoting "Design Thinking for Innovation." They ask "What problems can you identify that are preventing you from providing a great user experience?" They emphasize that one should resist the urge to rush toward solutions, and rather thoroughly get to know and understand problems; then solutions will reveal themselves. They focus on "Design Thinking," or "thinking like a designer" to provide a valuable and unforgettable user experience. That means putting oneself in the shoes of the user. Traits of design thinkers are: empathy, integrative thinking, optimism, experimentalism, and collaboration. These qualities are elaborated as follows:
Empathy – we have for those who need us
Integrative thinking – new ways to solve problems
Optimism – our desire for the collective “good”
Experimentalism – we learn by trial and error
Collaboration – we rarely work alone
The conference was alive and percolating with new ideas, techniques, and skills to improve information-gathering and service to patrons. It was a pleasure to attend and to hear professionals share experiences within their libraries and communities. It is always a joy to expand my view of the roles librarians fulfill in public, academic, and private institutions, and find the similarities in purpose and fulfillment in library careers. I am grateful that the library administration provided my conference registration this year. I attend every year that I am able, whether the registration is covered, or at my own expense. And it is worth it. I highly recommend that librarians take advantage of the tremendous benefits of attending Internet Librarian Conferences. And for those unable to attend, it is worthwhile to make time to view the temporary online postings of Speaker Presentation materials at Information Today Internet Librarian 2010.
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