Oh boy, where do I start?! This has been an enormous learning curve for me. I'll start with blogging, of course I had heard of blogs but never realised that they were easy to do and what an impact they can make. Now I know what a QR code is (or rather boxes with squiggles in them!). I managed to add a page to a Wiki and know what they are for and how to add pages/comments. I've read about posting photos on Flickr and embedding virtual tours of the library. Of course there is Twitter and I enjoy following some of the big names I have chosen but as yet have not tweeted myself. I must not forget Facebook where we would have a page. There are other Web 2.0 technologies that have been touched on but I have enough coping with the ones above. I would love to be able to use these within our organisation, particularly for the library. I would be able to make the library blog fun and interesting for the public to follow us and learn about the whole organisation.
I am particularly interested in our archival material and showing it off to the general public. These give a look at Australia through the photos and paper memorabilia that is unknown to Generation X. They show a slice of life including fashions, attitudes and needs of Australia and Australians in different eras. As an aside, it is such a shame that nowadays I find there seems to be little interest in keeping material for the future, especially photos as no one keeps digital images. They could be copied onto a CD and then kept in the archives. I found this article on that exact point The decaying web and our disappearing history http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120927-the-decaying-web/1
To go on with how I can use Web 2.0 techologies within the library. As I mentioned we would keep an up-to-date library blog which would involve news and views from the library and it's users; a virtual library tour; ask a Librarian; new material in the library - week by week; a link onto our home webpage; a QR code containing the archive exhibition and each month an article with photos of a particular year starting at the beginning 1939. I would open a Twitter account to augment the library blog and a Facebook page.
Something I will have to investigate is Flickr to post some of our archival photos and possibly a Wiki inviting readers to add their own comments etc. I would love to become more involved with our members, library users and people just interested in what we do.
I am sure that if we started using the above Web 2.0 technologies the benefit to the library and the organisation in general would be tenfold.
Monday, 8 October 2012
Sunday, 7 October 2012
The Special in Special Libraries
What is the Special in Special Libraries? Of course it is the collection including the databases, DVDs, CDs and journals, aimed at a particular group of people. In my case it is Management. The staff of Special Libraries need to have strong skills in their particular area and be able to understand the clients needs. Now there is more to Management than just a straight noun, it encompasses many aspects including human resources, coaching, project management, teams, safety and more. So we have to appeal to a larger part of the community than first thought.
As in my previous blog, a library page, where a part of this blog is to incorporate how our collection is special and how to access it through A) the OPAC and B) the library tour embedded in the blog.
We have a fantastic archive room. In it we have many, many photos (black and white) of AIM since the beginning in 1939. We have all the annual reports, lectures, presentations and so on and so on. We especially enjoyed the photos of the library and librarians all dated from 1931. The library was always there from beginning to now. (Look at the History of AIM part 2 to give you an idea of the era.)
Three years ago the library staff were asked to produce a time line of The Australian Institute of Management with photos and a narative linking them together. There was an amount we could spend and we were given a space where the history of the AIM could be shown. Of course we used a professional who set up the final exhibition. It was great fun sorting through all the archives and it took almost one year to sort out what to use and not to use. It was sad that so much had to be left out due to financial restraints.
Anyhow on with the blog on how to let more of the public know the hidden treasures behind our doors.
All our archive material is kept in archive safe boxes and sleeves but it would be marvellous to be able to digitise it and show it within the library page. On our library blog it would be held in a QR code. This would then take the viewer on a tour of the exhibition with a commentary. Because we are held back with costs, it could be digitised in yearly blocks and be included within a part of the library blog. On reading some of the articles on this library area it seems that posting the photos through Flicka would be a good idea (one I will have to research further).membership
I really think a library blog with the QR code encompassing the history of AIM would enlarge our membership and lead to more use of the library. We will need to advertise that we have this blog and I would recommened we set up a twitter account to encourge people to follow us to the blog.
It would be very exciting to be able to use the above Web 2.0 technolgies for AIM and I will hang onto this blog for reference in the future.
As in my previous blog, a library page, where a part of this blog is to incorporate how our collection is special and how to access it through A) the OPAC and B) the library tour embedded in the blog.
We have a fantastic archive room. In it we have many, many photos (black and white) of AIM since the beginning in 1939. We have all the annual reports, lectures, presentations and so on and so on. We especially enjoyed the photos of the library and librarians all dated from 1931. The library was always there from beginning to now. (Look at the History of AIM part 2 to give you an idea of the era.)
Three years ago the library staff were asked to produce a time line of The Australian Institute of Management with photos and a narative linking them together. There was an amount we could spend and we were given a space where the history of the AIM could be shown. Of course we used a professional who set up the final exhibition. It was great fun sorting through all the archives and it took almost one year to sort out what to use and not to use. It was sad that so much had to be left out due to financial restraints.
Anyhow on with the blog on how to let more of the public know the hidden treasures behind our doors.
All our archive material is kept in archive safe boxes and sleeves but it would be marvellous to be able to digitise it and show it within the library page. On our library blog it would be held in a QR code. This would then take the viewer on a tour of the exhibition with a commentary. Because we are held back with costs, it could be digitised in yearly blocks and be included within a part of the library blog. On reading some of the articles on this library area it seems that posting the photos through Flicka would be a good idea (one I will have to research further).membership
I really think a library blog with the QR code encompassing the history of AIM would enlarge our membership and lead to more use of the library. We will need to advertise that we have this blog and I would recommened we set up a twitter account to encourge people to follow us to the blog.
It would be very exciting to be able to use the above Web 2.0 technolgies for AIM and I will hang onto this blog for reference in the future.
Monday, 1 October 2012
Wishful Promotion & Marketing!
Oh well here we go again - what I wish our library could get involverd with on Web 2.0. I believe we should have a blog to cover all the functions that we offer. The library staff (including myself) would be happy to keep this up-to-date. We would need to work with our Marketing dept. as they seerm to be in charge of any form of advertising. I say "seem" as we do so little and then only to our members, it really does nothing for the library and very little for the organisation.
Anyhow enough complaining - on with how I would handle the new face of the AIM Library. The first thing would be to get an on-going blog. The first entry should be an explanation of who and what we are (as a specialist management library) and then I would love to see an interactive tour of the library showing our collection. (As we have no tour I have included a one from the web).
The blog will be linked to our webpage so the public can check the Institute's activities including training courses and our webpage back to the blog. I also would like to see advertising of our forums, Meet the Author and presentations. On our first blog it would be necessary to include a survey to make sure we are targeting the right section of the public. As we have never set up a survey/questionnaire I have included a webpage to help set it up - click here.
I have the perfect scenario in my head but the hard part is getting it up and running. I am sure we can utilitse Web 2.0 applications to help the whole Institute by putting ourselves out in the public eye. This might increase our membership especially to the middle managers who are the future of the Australian Institute of Management. By increasing the membership we would increase the use of the library ensuring the future all round. Also it could be such fun setting it up and getting closer to our members and library users.
Can our members use this application? Yes, I am quite confident that all our members will, in time, enjoy the library blog and be able to contribute to it and help keep it up-to-date and interesting.
I have centered this fairytale around an on-going library blog but there are other applications that can be used such as a Wiki, Twitter, Facebook etc. It just takes time and future thinking but this has to come from the top of the organisation.
I have just found that we do have a Facebook page but it was rather dry and uninteresting and did not mention the library at all! This should all be fun.
Anyhow enough complaining - on with how I would handle the new face of the AIM Library. The first thing would be to get an on-going blog. The first entry should be an explanation of who and what we are (as a specialist management library) and then I would love to see an interactive tour of the library showing our collection. (As we have no tour I have included a one from the web).
The blog will be linked to our webpage so the public can check the Institute's activities including training courses and our webpage back to the blog. I also would like to see advertising of our forums, Meet the Author and presentations. On our first blog it would be necessary to include a survey to make sure we are targeting the right section of the public. As we have never set up a survey/questionnaire I have included a webpage to help set it up - click here.
I have the perfect scenario in my head but the hard part is getting it up and running. I am sure we can utilitse Web 2.0 applications to help the whole Institute by putting ourselves out in the public eye. This might increase our membership especially to the middle managers who are the future of the Australian Institute of Management. By increasing the membership we would increase the use of the library ensuring the future all round. Also it could be such fun setting it up and getting closer to our members and library users.
Can our members use this application? Yes, I am quite confident that all our members will, in time, enjoy the library blog and be able to contribute to it and help keep it up-to-date and interesting.
I have centered this fairytale around an on-going library blog but there are other applications that can be used such as a Wiki, Twitter, Facebook etc. It just takes time and future thinking but this has to come from the top of the organisation.
I have just found that we do have a Facebook page but it was rather dry and uninteresting and did not mention the library at all! This should all be fun.
Saturday, 15 September 2012
Access - Physical v Intellectual
I've had to think long and hard to write this blog, between what our library is and what I would like it to be. As you may have picked up on earlier blogs, I work in a small, special members only, library. Our members are on the older side (but not elderly - there is a difference!). They seem to be stuck in old ways and do not embrace modern technology easily. It is hard to get change through the various levels of management and then to our clients. Our library users enjoy the library and use it not only for borrowing books, CDs, & DVDs but a place where they can read papers plug in their computers and in general enjoy the ambience of a library. Parking is easy and in some cases they are able to park underground for free. Looking at our library, access is definitely very important. They are not that bothered with electronic gadgets (as they put it). Even with e-books and e-audios they are not welcomed and used as much as we thought they would be.
We try to make our library a comfortable and welcoming place and they seem to appreciate this. They mostly cope with the catalogue but when we changed to a different OPAC they became rather disoriented and it has taken a while to get them used to it. We offer a post out of library books so if they have problems in getting into the library this is an option they prefer to take up.
If we do take a step towards the new technologies I would suggest the QR (quick response) codes. This is because, though they are not technically savvy, they have the latest up-to-date phones, ipads etc .and amuse themselves with their different "apps". Everyone has seen those boxes with squiggles which seem to appear everywhere you look, newspapers, advertisements, shops and anywhere there is a boarding, hoarding etc., I even saw one on a board selling a house. I suspect that it would not be too hard to gradually teach our users the benefit of locking into the QR codes. I would like the library to have one on our catalogue and home page. This would educate them on the library times, borrowings, book reviews, and other information, but it must be introduced slowly so that they do not feel in anyway belittled.through lack of knowledge. Once they are used to scanning QRs I am sure we can use these in the library in many ways.
There is much more I would like to see the library involved with and one is to have a regular libary blog. This would contain a virtual tour of the library, review of new books, interesting snippits about the library staff, and up to date list of events and courses the Institute is holding.
There has been talk about us having our own "app" (a new word for our language). This has yet to happen and the talk has stopped. Unfortunately this is what happens - new ideas emerge and get carried along but seem to reach a point where they just die. Innovation just becomes a word to be banded about!
So you can see that it is an up hill battle to get any web 2.0 technology into our library.
We try to make our library a comfortable and welcoming place and they seem to appreciate this. They mostly cope with the catalogue but when we changed to a different OPAC they became rather disoriented and it has taken a while to get them used to it. We offer a post out of library books so if they have problems in getting into the library this is an option they prefer to take up.
If we do take a step towards the new technologies I would suggest the QR (quick response) codes. This is because, though they are not technically savvy, they have the latest up-to-date phones, ipads etc .and amuse themselves with their different "apps". Everyone has seen those boxes with squiggles which seem to appear everywhere you look, newspapers, advertisements, shops and anywhere there is a boarding, hoarding etc., I even saw one on a board selling a house. I suspect that it would not be too hard to gradually teach our users the benefit of locking into the QR codes. I would like the library to have one on our catalogue and home page. This would educate them on the library times, borrowings, book reviews, and other information, but it must be introduced slowly so that they do not feel in anyway belittled.through lack of knowledge. Once they are used to scanning QRs I am sure we can use these in the library in many ways.
There is much more I would like to see the library involved with and one is to have a regular libary blog. This would contain a virtual tour of the library, review of new books, interesting snippits about the library staff, and up to date list of events and courses the Institute is holding.
There has been talk about us having our own "app" (a new word for our language). This has yet to happen and the talk has stopped. Unfortunately this is what happens - new ideas emerge and get carried along but seem to reach a point where they just die. Innovation just becomes a word to be banded about!
So you can see that it is an up hill battle to get any web 2.0 technology into our library.
Monday, 3 September 2012
The Learning of NewTechnology
Wow there is so much to take in - I never realised all these new ways to communicate existed and I now know what they call Social Media. Facebook and Twitter I have dabbled in but that is all. Though recently I wonder about Twitter with all the publicity about "Trolls". I loved learning about QR codes, cloud computing, wikis, flickr and more. Unfortunately most of these technologies can't or won't be utilised by my library, but learning never goes to waste. I fully intend to use my new found knowledge as best as I can somewhere! My Manager paid for me to do this course so maybe there are plans............
I looked at many different library applications on the net though most of them were library blogs in one form or another. The one that took my interest an kept me going through all parts of their blog is http://liverpoolcollegelibrary.blogspot.com
This library has a virtual tour, TAFEcard, opening hours, loan limits, length of loan, ask a librarian, to list a few. They also have study guides and there are two videos on Learn English Conversaation and Learn English Listening Skills. I would think they have a rather large community of students whose first languaqge is not English. You can log onto Youtube, Google, ABC news and other websites which could be of help to students through this library blog. Apart from all the help on this website there is also a rather long article "Skills for the 21st Century Librarian".
If all this has been set up by one Librarian or even an larger number of Librarians, I must congratulate them on an informative, well set out blog and would hold this up as a library blog to use as a master.
I would love to have a virtual library tour as I feel this would help our members realise what their library consisted of and how it could help them.
I looked at many different library applications on the net though most of them were library blogs in one form or another. The one that took my interest an kept me going through all parts of their blog is http://liverpoolcollegelibrary.blogspot.com
This library has a virtual tour, TAFEcard, opening hours, loan limits, length of loan, ask a librarian, to list a few. They also have study guides and there are two videos on Learn English Conversaation and Learn English Listening Skills. I would think they have a rather large community of students whose first languaqge is not English. You can log onto Youtube, Google, ABC news and other websites which could be of help to students through this library blog. Apart from all the help on this website there is also a rather long article "Skills for the 21st Century Librarian".
If all this has been set up by one Librarian or even an larger number of Librarians, I must congratulate them on an informative, well set out blog and would hold this up as a library blog to use as a master.
I would love to have a virtual library tour as I feel this would help our members realise what their library consisted of and how it could help them.
Monday, 20 August 2012
Friday, 17 August 2012
Australian Institute of Management Library
The AIM Library was started at the same time as the Australian Institute of Management was formed in 1942 in Melbourne. It became a very important part of AIM with members borrowing books and journals that were difficult to find elsewhere, as they focused on all aspects of management. In the 4 moves that AIM has made up to date, the library has become biger and of course, more diverse, including videos,and cassettes, now CDs and DVDs. Books and talking books seem to be our main borrowings but we are now moving into e-books. I have worked in the library for 11 1/2 years and have seen many changes. When I started one of my first projects was to catalogue the cassettes! Now of course there are no cassettes and I catalogue the CDs. We also handle requests for research and database enquiries.
The Institute has changed with more variety of training being introduced as has the library with e-readers, blogs, facebook etc and all the modern technology for our fast moving society, but in some ways I suppose I am a bit of a dinosaur as I still love the feel and smell of the printed book and believe (hope) it will always be around. We are still considered an important special library for our members.
We also have a bookshop which is open to the public in which we stock a wide scope of books covering all aspects of office/management/training etc. So as librarians we are multi-skilled!
The library has compiled a history of the AIM library and I will post some photos of the early days later. Keep tuned!
The Institute has changed with more variety of training being introduced as has the library with e-readers, blogs, facebook etc and all the modern technology for our fast moving society, but in some ways I suppose I am a bit of a dinosaur as I still love the feel and smell of the printed book and believe (hope) it will always be around. We are still considered an important special library for our members.
We also have a bookshop which is open to the public in which we stock a wide scope of books covering all aspects of office/management/training etc. So as librarians we are multi-skilled!
The library has compiled a history of the AIM library and I will post some photos of the early days later. Keep tuned!
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