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.♠
Showing posts with label InternetLibrarian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label InternetLibrarian. Show all posts
Thursday, November 18, 2010
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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