Idaho Commission for Libraries

A Nevada librarian sent out a solicitation for ideas for shoestring budget programs to share at the Nevada Library Conference. No one has posted any ideas on the Library Garden blog yet.

I guess one must define what a program is before one can assign a budget. Even then, I couldn’t think of anything innovative or unique. Nearly everything we do at our small library would qualify because of an already limited budget - aka making do.

Anyone have ideas?

Did you know that you can use Wikipedia to direct web traffic to you? Long over are the days of information hoarding, and putting information on Wikipedia about your local and unique collections is one more way to disseminate!!

 This is especially helpful for your locally oriented special collection, or books that you have about your local hsitory... and not just for scholarly or academic libraries with a lot of unique resources. Let's say you have a book that is about the history of a neighborhood in your city. You can go to Wikipedia, create an account, add content, put in a link to your library, and viola! 

There are pitfalls however, such as being labeled as a spammer. You can't really go into Wikipedia and just add links, that makes you a spammer.  

 The idea was written about by Ann Lally and Carolyn Dunford: 

The Idea
http://www.dlib.org/dlib/may07/lally/05lally.html

They suggested that we put links to our NWDA finding aids online: 

NWDA
http://nwda.wsulibs.wsu.edu/

More than 50% of all Google searches lead to Wikipedia: 

Wikipedia Users
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/460/wikipedia

So we tried, and because we only put up links, and not content, we were spammers according to Wikipedia standards. If you add content - try creating a page about your library, your town, something important to your community, or something you get asked about a lot, and then add links! It works!! Read Lally and Dunford's article!

 Here is the wikipedia article for the Idaho State Historical Society: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idaho_State_Historical_Society

 

 

SPLAT rushed in to PNLA (in beautiful Post Falls, ID) this morning to do a presentation on "Creative Outreach".  6 of us - Amy, Anna, Memo, Ruth, Stephanie, and Tammy - talked about methods of creative outreach and different things we're doing in our libraries along that vein. Later today I'll post the links to what we each pointed to in our presentations - so keep an eye out if you're interested.

 If you're here at PNLA make sure you come by and see us at our comfy SPLAT couch conveniently located at the end of vendor row by the water, stairs, and doors to the beautiful outdoors.

SPLAT rushed in to PNLA (in beautiful Post Falls, ID) this morning to do a presentation on "Creative Outreach".  6 of us - Amy, Anna, Memo, Ruth, Stephanie, and Tammy - talked about methods of creative outreach and different things we're doing in our libraries along that vein. Later today I'll post the links to what we each pointed to in our presentations - so keep an eye out if you're interested.

 If you're here at PNLA make sure you come by and see us at our comfy SPLAT couch conveniently located at the end of vendor row by the water, stairs, and doors to the beautiful outdoors.

As someone directionally challenged, this evening I was very excited to discover that Google Maps now has walking directions (BETA). For me, this means that the next time someone walks up to the information desk and asks how to get to a particular place downtown on foot, I don’t have to squirm!  Here is the link:   http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl   Click, “Get Directions” link.  Type in Boise Public Library (or library of choice) for point A, then any place to which a customer might request directions for point B.  Change the drop-down menu from “By Car” to “Walking”.  No worries about describing which roads are one way!

Ok, so I’m old fashioned and stole a song name from John Denver for the title of this blog, kinda cool huh?  Well some of you may not even remember John Denver, but if you are a baby boomer like me, ….he might have been one of your favorite music artists. He still makes my heart skip a beat! 

No matter……….. Where is this all leading?

I just bought a very small portable audio/video player today and figured out every aspect of it’s uncomplicated process  by myself!! (at least for the music part of it so far)  ..so If I can venture out onto the ”new technology bridge” on my own ,  SO CAN YOU!!  I am so excited about having figured out “all by myself” how to put my Cd’s on this tiny little player…and holy cow, what an awesome sound!!  (basiclly it’s called, following instructions……..hm-m-m)

Fessin’ up I must admit that I asked our very bright young intern, Ross, how to download songs on the computer and he quickly and graciously gave me a 1 minute instruction as I was headed for my desk duty assignment.  …and was pleasantly surprised that I actually remembered the steps when I tried it that evening after a busy work day.

So…..hang on to your bootstraps cause there’s no stoppin; me now!!  I think crossing the first hurdles of Yikes…. I”ll never be able to do this.. has been key for me this past year AND I have a couple of staff members, (not to mention names Tina and Laura) that have put much energy into encouraging me to forge ahead , …”try it, you’ll like it!”   … I’m still tryin, and I’m still likin’ it!! 

I’ve not only stepped on the train but am buying a lifetime ticket to stay on board!  We are never too old to learn, never too old to take a ride on the Dreamland Express.

Are you ready to hop aboard?

I’m really proud of my library.  Sure, we have problems like every library, but ours aren’t of the too stiff for our own good kind.  We hear from our customers again and again how they LOVE this library, how so-and-so library just isn’t as nice, or is even mean…etc. etc.  I’ll admit that makes me feel like we’re doing a super good job on the customer friendly place front, and yes, a tiny bit of schedenfreude for the libraries that customers compare us to.

The other day, some young summer visitors were here with cousins or something.  They spent a few hours in the Flight Deck, using it as the third place it was intended to be.  As they passed by my desk on their way out, I heard one say to the group, ” I like this library, the people are nice and you can do stuff, and it looks good too.”

When customers stop exclaiming how remarkable this or that particular library is — is when the general perceptions of libraries will change.  This young guy’s remarks gave me the impression that his perception of libraries compares unfavorably with his perception of our library.  That is sad.  Most libraries are really terrific.  I know, because I have a habit of visiting them where ever I go.  But a potential library customer only needs to see one or two libraries to form an opinion of libraries in general.  I’m guessing this teen has visited his hometown public library and his school library, and that the environments and customer service might be in the less than terrific  category.  Yet that is what “library” means to him.

So now I’m thinking that until customer experience for libraries is globally positive, the people that work hard to bring positive change to their libraries need to shout about it.  Be cheerleaders.  Do what it takes to not just lead the way, but help other libraries in any way possible.  Say for instance a library board is dubious about serving digital natives or letting people use their media devices on PACs.  A library that successfully serves that need can offer to speak at a board meeting.  That might be way more effective than asking the board to read tons of material posted all over the internet.  I’m thinking that positive change in other libraries ultimately impact my library.  What do you think?

I’m interested in the debate over Dewey, but really love the links to the card catalog art. I recycled my cards long ago but now I wish I had held on to some. I’m sure there are many Idaho librarians who still can get their hands on catalog cards. Here is a cool way to release your inner artist!

http://papercuts.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/do-we-dewey/?scp=2&sq=librarian&st=cse

I am so excited to discover a new search engine that actually might be better than Google. Shocking I know but see for yourself. My coworker Max showed this site to me today and I was so impressed I had to blog about it. Cuil is actually an old Celtic word for knowledge and the site was created by a former Google engineer. I love the dynamic layout of the search results.

Visit Cuil.com here: http://www.cuil.com/

Learn more about the site here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuil

How many customers of yours want to research old newspapers? How many of those customers are delighted to search through day after day after month after year of microfilm? We have a dedicated bunch of customers at the Public Archives and Research Library that do just that… but I’ve got to say thanks to the great work people do at Genealogy Bank because I use their index for all my historical research, not just for genealogy. According to their blog, they just added new newspapers to the mix:

Idaho
ID. Twin Falls. Twin Falls Daily News. 1918 to 1922

The other titles that they index include: Blackfoot Register, 1880-1886, Idaho Falls Times (Idaho City), 1891-1920, Idaho Register (Idaho City) 1886-1908, Idaho Statesman, 1864-1922, Owyhee Avalanche (and variant titles).

Here are the steps I use to search for historical newspapers:

1. Click here: http://www.genealogybank.com/gbnk/newspapers.html

2. Type in a last name and first name, if that’s what you are searching OR just type in anything into the “Include keywords with search” [this will work even if you don't put in a last name or first name]

3. Where it says Publication Location choose Idaho.

4. Review the citations and the snippets of each article that you see. I never click to pay for the new item, but always go to the microfilm.

You can always call the historical society for an item you don’t have. I think that the whole idea of searching these historic newspapers is just incredible. Ten years it was impossible to do this, and as we add more and more research gets easier and easier. Go ahead and try a search yourself! Try “Trial of the Century” or “bike race boise” or bike race boise!

Each month as I write a 300 biographical write-up on one of our Jerome Seniors, I realize what an “honor” it is for me to tap into their lives as they share so many tender, precious, often protected memories of their journey filled lives. There is a richness is learning from the Senior generation, and they, in turn, deserve the tiny but short lived glory they receive in these published write ups. And my limit of only 300 words is my biggest challenge!!

When I contact a senior to interview, they generally schedule me for a 30 minute visit  which most often turns into an hour.  “Oh my” they say, “how time flies when we talk about ourselves, and who doesn’t like to boast and reminisce?!” 

I encourage anyone who is wanting to spotlight the seniors to consider doing these write ups for a very deserving generation. Tis all for their honor and the glory!

State Librarian Ann Joslin passed this information along to staff.  The PSA is incredible–I just had to show it to you!

Jamie LaRue, director or the Douglas County Library in Colorado, was one of the speakers this week at our Next Generation ILS symposium.  He mentioned the library’s ongoing marketing activities, which includes a video that just won an Emmy. Click on the link on the DC Library website to see the 1 minute public service announcement.  By the way, the website is Drupal-based, same as ours and the e-Branch template many Idaho libraries are using.