It is possible to learn quite a bit about what people think of your institution without having to conduct a survey. Why not connect with a few of your work mates and assign some time to record the goings-on at your library or in your department. Then debrief over lunch at the end of the week and make a list of next steps.

I love this idea! I do this on my own time, not at the library, but when I’m out and about in my community with my family. I love to people-watch and am fascinated by human nature. Applying this to my work environment is more difficult, as I work for a public library system where I serve librarians rather than the public and am not in a public setting. But it got me thinking…

Sometimes our member library staff make remarks that system staff are out of touch with what they deal with at the libraries on a daily basis (we could say the same to them, as they don’t deal with supporting 50-some libraries every day either). Maybe I should be visiting their libraries just to observe their days, rather than to provide training or focus on some agenda like I usually do. Maybe I would learn something about their struggles or about their patrons that would help them in a way that I can’t discover by planning training sessions in my office.

What’s really attractive about this idea is that it’s so simple. Sit. Observe. Talk. Make a plan to address what you’ve discovered. When was the last time you just sat still and really listened to what’s going on around you?

(photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/joaoloureiro/491715696/)

The other example was shared with me by Sue Abrahamson, Youth Librarian at the Waupaca Area Public Library, who found the Chappaqua Library’s “Approved by Experts” videos in which children’s librarians recommend their favorite books. (I couldn’t find them on YouTube, so you’ll have to use the link above to go take a look.)

Little by little, I’ve been getting more interest from the OWLS member libraries on using the ‘Casting Kit stuff I purchased last year. Slow and steady wins the race, I guess.

Kudos to South Carolina and Chappaqua for taking the leap and using video to engage their users and the library community at large! If you have other examples of libraries using video, feel free to add them in the comments.

Seems like the theme of my slideshow is in alignment with the stars of other folks, because today I came across a presentation by the Pew Internet & American Life Project‘s Lee Rainie and a podcast from George and Joan, Thinking Out Loud, which discuss how libraries can survive in a “new media ecosystem.” I wish I had listened to/viewed their stuff before doing my slides, because they gave me more ideas to include!

I’m not sure why I’m blogging about this, except to say that this is a crucial and very exciting time to be a librarian. If we don’t learn how to apply new technologies and engage our audience in new ways, we’re likely to be left behind. I’m thankful that I like to play, explore, and learn, so that the opportunities provided by media, gadgets, and the internet are more exciting than scary. Never a dull moment!

[image by www.flickr.com/photos/techbirmingham/76169852/]

I love Unshelved, the library comic strip created by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum. The characters and situations they get in remind me to laugh about the stuff we deal with in libraries on a daily basis, and often remind me of people I know in the real world. As it turns out, I’m not the only one to have that deja vu feeling – they recently announced an Unshelved Lookalike Contest, because:

Hardly a week goes by without someone telling us they work with someone who is just like Dewey, or Mel, or Merv.

They’re asking people to upload pictures to Flickr and to tag them with UnshelvedLookalike2009. (Additional contest rules are available on their blog.) What a great way to use a free tool to collect submissions. Should be fun to see what people post! Know anyone who reminds you of Dewey or Mel or maybe even Buddy?

So here’s my plea – If you’re a library and you’re posting images of your programs and cool stuff you’re doing, PLEASE consider using a Creative Commons license that will allow people to use your images if they attribute them to you. People are making presentations all the time and might be interested in sharing what you’re doing with the world, but we can’t if you aren’t sharing your stuff.

Thanks!

But today I came across a new kind of librarian while enjoying the latest book by one of my favorite mystery writers, Carol O’Connell. In Bone By Bone, no one ever uses the library, partly due to the stench emanating from the place and partly due to the librarian inside its doors (who evidently causes the stench). Here’s a taste of the picture:

“Mavis Hardy’s size was impressive, more muscle than fat, as evidenced by the barbells tightly gripped in her hands. There were other items of bodybuilding equipment on the floor behind her. This argued against the rumor that she was dying, and it gave credence to a theory, oft repeated by the locals, that she could not be killed except by supernatural means.” (p109)

And later…

“The librarian coughed up a mouthful of mucus and let it fly. So good was her aim that she hit one lens of Ferris’s spectacles on the first try. He rose from his chair and fled the library.” (pp116-117)

I think I like this picture better than the tightly bunned version we’re all used to.  I’m not sure why. Maybe just because it’s much more entertaining! It’s a great book – check it out sometime and share your thoughts in the comments.

Congrats to the other Webbies winners, too! Be sure to check them out on the MATS web site.

• “online book discussion groups”
• “calendar of events – searchable”
• “web-based renewal for books”
• “web cams”
• “homework chat forum”
• “broadcast programs live or streaming audio”
• “hold celebrity chat events”

Yes, we solved the web-based renewal for books issue with InfoSoup. I have recorded continuing education workshops and posted them on blip.tv and have investigated uStream for live events. I have created screencasts for InfoSoup and posted them on blip.tv, too. I use meebo regularly, and we’re looking at adding a meebo me widget to InfoSoup for patrons to connect to a librarian. We have provided WebEvent calendars to our libraries and are now in the process of moving everyone over to Google Calendars. We’re also moving away from hard-coded web pages to Drupal.

So I guess you could say some progress has been made over my last 10 years at OWLS. But I couldn’t help but feel like the 1998 notes were a bit of an admonition, too. If I’m still focused on the same kinds of things even now, 10 years later, am I stuck in a rut? Am I ineffective because so many of the libraries I’m working with still aren’t ready to think about these kinds of tools? Where do I go from here? Will I still be focused on the same list 10 years from now?

The notes also reminded me of the track I was on 10 years ago. I was getting published, being invited to do presentations, and was asked to write a book. At some point along the way, I started pulling back from all of those opportunities. My husband and I were trying to start a family and the losses along the way were too draining and devastating, so I had little energy to focus on moving my career along. So pulling back seemed like the right choice at the time, but now I sit and wonder, “what if?”

Is this what a mid-life crisis is like?! Ye gads. Interesting how a simple discovery of some filed away notes can get you thinking…

*****************

THE 99 THINGS MEME

Things you’ve already done: bold
Things you want to do: italicize
Things you haven’t done and don’t want to – leave in plain font

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band. (does high school count?)
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity. (I give to charity, but not more than I can afford)
7. Been to Disneyland/world.
8. Climbed a mountain. (in Colorado – not sure if this means something more major, like K2…)
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child. (almost! waiting for a referral when I got pregnant with my son)
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a marathon. (I’d like to keep my toenails, thanks)
28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.  (not a likely event)
32. Been on a cruise. (BIG fear of drowning at sea)
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing. (really want to do this!)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.
41. Sung Karaoke. (like singing – but the introvert in me may not be up to this without a couple of drinks first)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia. (in light of their current situation, I’d say no for this right now – maybe later!)
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp. (I absorb the energy of people and places around me. Not sure I could survive this.)
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar. (YUCK!)
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life. (would be happy to, but don’t want to be in that position unless it’s a must!)
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.