New course: Social Networking Tools: Hands on Learning (Aug. 9/07)

I am very excited to announce a new continuing ed course I will be teaching at the Professional Learning Centre, Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto:

Social Networking Tools: Hands on Learning

Web 2.0, Facebook, Second Life - have taken the world and the library by storm! Explore these social media networking tools in this hands-on computer lab class. Set up a blog and wiki, view RSS feeds in an aggregator, try a social bookmarking site such as del.icio.us, and create a profile on professional networking site LinkedIn. Look at Flickr, LibraryThing, Ning, Facebook, MySpace and Second Life. Test out the latest apps such as Twitter and Jaiku. We will try some of these and have a "tour" of others, as well as discuss the implications for libraries.

Specific learning outcomes for students

At the end of the course, participants will:

* be able to set up a blog using Blogger or Wordpress
* be able to set up a wiki using PB Wiki
* set up some RSS feeds in a web-based aggregator such as Google Reader or Bloglines
* set up a profile on business networking site LinkedIn
* try using a web-based social bookmarking site such as del.icio.us or equivalent
* become familiar with Ning, Twitter, Jaiku, Flickr, LibraryThing , MySpace, Facebook and Second Life either through hands-on use or a live "tour" given to the class, depending upon time
* become familiar with how these are being used by libraries and library staff

Key topics covered

* who in society is using these applications?
* how are they being used by libraries and library staff?
* what are both the positive and negative aspects to these technologies?
* using social networking applications inside the firewall
* issues surrounding communication in public spaces
* what is Library 2.0 compared to Web 2.0
* how to learn more
* how to stay current in this area

Target Audience:
Library technicians, librarians, library managers and directors as well as others interested in Web 2.0.

When: Thursday, August 9, 2007, 9 am - 5 pm
Where: Faculty of Information Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto
Register

Thanks go to Rebecca Jones who shared the original concept with me (and I just had to jump on the opportunity), and to Eva Kupidura for working with me to set this up and who keeps things running smoothly at the PLC.

This will be my very first time attempting this feat, and you won't want to miss it!! Sign up now since spaces will be limited to the number of computers in the room.

Ken Roberts on Hamilton Public Library - Library 2.0

Liveblogging:

Library 2.0: Building Communities, Connections & Strategies
Ken Roberts, CEO of Hamilton Public Library

From the tab "Library Services", they access not just HPL but also other libraries in the community including Mohawk College and McMaster University.

If you are a library user and are on the city's portal, any search will also pull up library results. "Complete integration with municipal services." Using Sharepoint portal software. Compliant with accessibility codes; just because the software is compliant, it doesn't mean the documents added are compliant. Have provided training on this aspect.

26 web authors for the content, it gets put directly onto the portal without any mediation. They do extensive staff training and have a standards committee to look at changing standards. 200 people have been trained on creating content.

Risk management components: which parts may fail, what will they do if they fail? However, they didn't account for how much the events calendar would be used by the community. It was the first application that crashed.

Create collaborative space for community groups. Now have 70 online book clubs that use the collaborative space.

Designed for online transactions (maintained by the City); community organizations can use to do fundraisers, sell tickets, collect donations; has not worked well.

70-80 users per week obtain library cards that never go into a branch; they are using electronic services. Do not require them to go into a branch to pick up a card.

Find-it guides, on-line pathfinders, book clubs - if they add new titles to the catalogue, they automatically update. Dynamic, unlike a fixed PDF file that needs updating.

**If we provide fewer services but spend more money on publicity and marketing, we will find them better used. Ken Roberts was on the jumbotron at a local Tigercats football game that was nationally broadcast - becoming a "famous librarian". Had a tie-in with the Ticats; gave away Ticats tickets obtained from the team during off-season for free. Next run of library cards will have the Ticats logo on it (good organization, so good tie-in).

Partnerships in the community work well; your reputation will precede you. Nobody now starts a public partnership now without considering the Hamilton Public Library; considered a good, honest broker which will bring valuable resources to the table.

Built a fibre optic system in the community with the public schools in the mid-90s; has really paid off to allow them to put the portal into place.

Featured in an upcoming IFLA book on partnerships. Partnerships – many work, some don’t. For those organizations that don’t work well in the partnerships will have a more difficult time starting up partnerships later. Going into a partnership you need a common vision. Sometimes you need to compromise to create that common vision. You have to stay true to your organization’s goals; many times compromise works, sometimes it does not and you do not pursue the partnership.


“Celebrate success, excuse mistakes.” Any time working with a partnership, mistakes will make; look for a common culture. This is the attitude that the HPL brings to the table. You lose volunteers fast if you become critical; everyone who worked on it gets T-shirts, Ti-cat tickets, had a draw. Everyone is recognized.

They have not turned on financial transactions yet (city and library are currently using them but haven’t turned on for the community groups; legally with the city they haven’t decided how they should open it up).

Virtual library branch is a real branch. Started in 2001. Provides full online services, has its own manager.

Bibliocommons – social software, front end for library systems, allows users to put in information. Want to be the first multi-faceted group to use this

Second Life – have an island, just starting to build it. He loves SL; he believes it has huge potential. Working with vendors to deliver services

Hpl.ca
Myhamilton.ca

Communities of Practice, Social Networks and Knowledge Networks: Get in the Game!

I have posted notes I took during Joel Alleyne's talk to the Ark Group conference last week to the Slaw blog.

See: Communities of Practice, Social Networks and Knowledge Networks: Get in the Game!

Hello from New York

Well, it has been hectic but now I get to rest for a day. I have been in NYC attending an Ark Group conference on Law Firm Library Management Best Practices, moderated by Joel Alleyne. Yesterday morning I spoke on Web 2.0 and Library 2.0. I've had great feedback from it. The challenge was trying to speak to the wide range of experience in the room.

Joel spoke today on Communities of Practice and Social Networks. I have heard him speak before on CoP (to Toronto Association of Law Libraries several years back), but things have advanced so much since then it really was quite a larger talk. I am always impressed by how much he knows when he speaks, too. He's not just a pretty face, that is for sure!

My colleague who was here with me, Shaunna, shared this with me today: I had a fantastic mention in by Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell in the ABA's Law Practice Today. See the article.

Anyway, I look forward to a little sightseeing tomorrow. Well, we are in for a snowstorm apparently today. But at least I am in New York, which always gives me a thrill.

And then on to Podcamp Saturday and Sunday! Jim Milles and I are speaking on "What to Podcast" first thing Saturday morning. Jim has another talk that afternoon on grassroots podcasting in the academic setting. Can't wait!

Cheers,
Connie