Estherville Library on MySpace

Speaking of social networking, kudos to Estherville Public Library for creating a MySpace page—for the library! Two weeks ago, Estherville Library staff participated in a staff development day with a shortened version of “Flickr, Wikis, and Blogs.” The library’s page on MySpace is brand new; eventually they’ll tailor it to a teen focus. Check it out: www.myspace.com/esthervillepubliclibrary Now that’s continuing education in action—thanks to the Youth Services Staff & Paula Spoo for sharing this story!

Social Networking & Schools Studied

Northwest libraries have been hearing a lot about “the social web” lately, most notably from NWILS workshop “Flickr, Wikis, and Blogs—Oh My.” That workshop premiered in May and has since been repeated in some county settings around the region. Last month, the National School Board Association (NSBA) released a study entitled “Creating & Connecting: Research and Guidelines Regarding Online Social and Educational Networking.” The study was conducted by Grunwald Associates and underwritten by News Corp, Verizon, and Microsoft.

The study defined social networking as “…a cluster of technical functions that allow users to easily create, share, and respond to information…” Overall, the study provides real support for many points made by ALA regarding the importance of student access to the social web. Some valuable findings include:

60% of students report using social networking for education-related topics.
Negative experiences online are much lower than expected.
Parents are, in fact, much more involved in their kids’ use of technology than is commonly perceived.
Classroom use of technology is increasing, but school technology leaders are still skeptical of social networking applications.
The majority of school districts are using some kind of social networking software to communicate with students, parents, and the community.
Social networking does allow students to engage in creative expressions of all kinds.

The report also includes in-depth statistics and a list of recommendations for educators….find it here http://www.nsba.org/

Lakeside Learning Hotel is Really Lakeside!

We’re “putting the lake” in Lakeside Learning…for hotel arrangements, anyway! All programming on September 18-19 takes place at Buena Vista University. But this year, we’ve booked a block of 8 rooms at Storm Lake’s new King’s Pointe Resort. If an overnight stay would be cheaper than commuting—or just more convenient—then contact Janie soon to reserve a room (jbeauli@nwils.lib.ia.us) All rooms are non-smoking and will be $50.00 +hotel tax. (When you check in, please make sure the desk staff switches your room to your own credit card) And hey, if you haven’t actually driven by King’s Pointe lately, visit their splashy website http://www.kingspointeresort.com/

More About Lakeside Learning

Last week came news of NWILS premier fall education event. It’s Lakeside Learning, September 18-19 in Storm Lake. For a re-cap of Day 1:
Morning:
“Parents as Literacy Partners” with Mary Cameron
“Parents are critical to children's readiness for reading, learning, and school. Public librarians have a key role in helping parents learn how to help their children prepare. Mary Cameron will take participants through an overview of a parent-training model that librarians can use with teachers to train parents on early literacy strategies. A more detailed training will be scheduled for those making a commitment to participate in the project at a later date…”

Afternoon:
Online Safety for Kids & Parents (speaker pending)
Intergenerational Programming (large group discussion)
Wild Wednesdays @ Manson PL with Ann Schlapkohl (after school programming ideas)

Evening:
Paparazzi: Digital Photography @ The Library (Tena Hanson w/ ALA READ posters, Scott Zimmer w/ tips for teaching digital photos as a library-sponsored computer class, and Ann Schlapkohl w/ digital photo frames)

Now for the scoop about Day 2, the ever-popular Town Meeting presented by State Library staff. This year’s Town Meeting theme is “Extreme Makeover @ Your Library—You Can Do It! “…In the morning, a look at making over the library's physical space to make it more inviting. Then, we’ll consider the changing needs of our customers and what that means as far as "making over" our own attitudes and openness to change.

Afternoon sessions include:
Collection Development Makeover: Rethinking Buying and Weeding Patterns. The average library collection, regardless of size, follows the 80/20 pattern: 80% of circulation comes from 20% of the collection. This session will talk about how to rethink what we purchase and weed to break this barrier and circulate more of our collections on a regular basis.

Library Merchandising: Using ideas from both libraries and the retail industry, this session will address how to develop public libraries into more visually stimulating places. Discussion to include what we know about how customers decide what to check out, why library displays are important, ideas for displays, etc.

Making the Most of Your Library Web Site: This session is for all libraries with websites. Topics include publicizing your website; adding content that keeps drawing the public in; thinking about the website as a "branch" library that is open 24/7.

Online registration is ready, so don’t delay! Refer to the catalog for program fees and meal fees. And note: each part of LAKESIDE LEARNING requires a separate catalog registration; be sure to browse the c.e. catalog under Northwest LSA and under the State Library to find all programs http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/cgi-bin/cecat/

BookSystems & Atriuum

Thanks to all who attended the demonstration of BookSystems' newest automation software called Atriuum. The demos were sponsored by NWILS and conducted by Bart Eby at BookSystems office in Alabama. And thanks to the staff at Orange City PL and Lake City PL for hosting.

Special pricing was offered to those who attended and by now, you should have received a packet in the mail with price details. Remember, the pricing offered at June's demonstration is good through July 31st. Returning the committment sheet will guarantee it for you.

As you set about upgrading or switching to Atriuum, use this space to share your progress and what you're learning...comment here!

Lakeside Learing Coming Together

Plans are shaping up for LAKESIDE LEARNING, coming up September 18-19 in Storm Lake. All programs remain at BVU, although we may switch our hotel to the new resort on the lake. Rumor has it we can get state rates there, so we may book our block of rooms there...stay tuned on that.

The Day 1 program has switched hands several times, but it’s finally coming together. Here’s a look:

Day 1 September 18
Morning:
“Parents as Literacy Partners” with Mary Cameron

Afternoon:
Online Safety for Kids & Parents (still tentative, hoping for police officer from Storm Lake as speaker…)
Intergenerational Programming (large group discussion, brief…)
Wild Wednesdays @ Manson PL with Ann Schlapkohl (after school programming ideas)

Evening:
Paparazzi: Digital Photography @ The Library (Tena w/ READ posters, Ann w/ digital picture frames, hopefully Scott Z. w/ tips for teaching digital photos as a library-sponsored computer class)

Day 2 September 19
State Library’s Town Meeting

We'll let you know when online registration is ready...in the meantime, make plans to attend LAKESIDE LEARNING @ Storm Lake, September 18-19!

Special Project Consulting Service Update

NWILS Special Project Consulting continues going strong. It’s been no problem having projects to outsource to our group of consultants. (Imagine how busy they all would be if I REALLY advertised!) Most recently, Susan has been working with Auburn PL and Sandi with Dickens PL. In future weeks, Ann will be heading to Sanborn and Tena to Quimby.

Also: within the framework of this consulting service, Susan is doing a staff development day for Milford PL on customer service. That’s coming up in August. A nice spin-off here is that NWILS gains another workshop to use and replicate, so obviously another great aspect of this service.

Still ahead is a wiki for the consulting group. There would be some real benefit to that, especially in developing agendas and training materials.

And here’s some exciting news: I have an opportunity to tout this shiny new service at 2 conferences, at the Rural Libraries Conference in September (Ohio) and at PLA in March (Minneapolis) It’ll be done as poster sessions, but still, I’m excited about sharing this consulting approach. Because it’s a new model for regional systems to consider, it’s innovative, and I suspect it’s unique (although I don’t know that for sure) But I do know it’s working! For these poster sessions, Sue and I are working on a slideshow using PhotoStory.

Remember, you'll find a list of the Special Project Consultants on NWILS website, along with allowable projects: www.nwils.lib.ia.us Let us know how we can help!

READ Poster CDs

NWILS now has 3 sets of READ Poster CDs and they’re all in use. Those of you who attended JAMBOREE in May saw this in action, thanks to Tena H from Milford PL doing a demo. Tena is going to demo the CDs again at LAKESIDE LEARNING. (September 18-19, BTW) Our nighttime gig is going to feature digital photography things like the READ posters, digital photo frames, etc.

One important note from NWILS Board meeting. The board is very supportive of this purchase for us, but they’d like to see the CDs used in a different way. Their idea is that county library associations buy the CDs from us and actually take ownership of them. This would accomplish several things:

NWILS is credited for a pilot project by purchasing the CDs first—that’s the carrot—you have to see it to sell it!

A county association could buy a set from us; ideally, all libraries in a county would contribute toward the purchase

Easier to do “train the trainer” or any kind of training in using them when the discs “live” in a specific county

It becomes a collaborative model for county associations

It’s great PR and a brand new project to demonstrate—and boast about—to county supervisors

To encourage this idea--this blog post! We'll also talk more about this at LAKESIDE LEARNING's evening program. Chime in with any comments or questions here...

Testimonials, Anyone?

I wanted to share these testimonials from JAMBOREE 2007:

“Blogging is so fun!! Now on to wikis!” (Val Haverhals)

“A shout out to NWILS staff for a great JAMBOREE…Janie, loved your hat!” (Faye Seidl)

“I’m very excited about the new programming ideas presented today…” (anonymous)

“Can’t wait to check out all the websites, especially the blogs and Flickr (anonymous)

“NWILS new consulting approach is good stuff, sounds great…” (anonymous)

“Bonnie, I had to share this with you. I like to watch Jeopardy like you like to watch ‘24’ J One of the categories this evening was Online Words. I don’t remember the exact questions, but 4 answers out of five in the category were: What is a blog? What is a wiki? What is an avatar? (which no one got except me!!) and What is RSS? You will be pleased to know I answered all four correctly and told my husband ‘I learned all this yesterday at JAMBOREE.’ Thanks for the education!” (Sandi Neary)

Lend your comments...what was your favorite part of JAMBOREE this year?

JAMBOREE Was A Hit!

Judging by audience evaluations and comments, C.E. JAMBOREE was a bonafide hit! Two days of programming, and one evening session, piqued interest in all things social on the “social web.” From Flickr to Delicious, from blogs to wikis to podcasts and more, we learned from each other about Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 concepts. All of which led me to a new phrase: Learning 2.0!

Turns out I didn't coin the phrase, so says eagle-eye researcher Kay Larson. But I like it and I think it really fits what happened last week. Because what happened was collaborative learning: sharing our “discoveries” on the web, explaining how to blend traditional services with technologies, and going home to put learning into practice.



For instance, in the days following JAMBOREE, Valerie Haverhals from Hawarden PL started a book discussion blog: http://hawardenbookdiscussion.blogspot.com/ Val tells me she also started a personal blog for an upcoming family reunion—and already a brother is asking her to teach him all about blogging!

Turns out there’s a new article freshly posted on WebJunction about blogging, check that out here http://www.webjunction.org/

Nathan Clark from Ruthven/Emmetsburg PL has started a wiki for the 1-2 person libraries, using WetPaint for the wiki design:
http://1-2personlibrary.wetpaint.com/home His Jamboree handouts are there, too.

And you can check out lots of great “Learning 2.0” photos on our Flickr page. That's Janie being a good sport in a "mysterious skit." At www.flickr.com, search Flickr Groups for “NWILS Library Fun Fotos." You can also join the Flickr group for Northwest and include your own photos of events @ your library. If you were at Jamboree, you should be getting an invitation to join the group--give it a whirl :-)

Through discovery and conversation, people shared so many cool websites, far beyond what was pre-printed on the handouts. I'll include follow-ups in future issues of EYE-OPENER and here, too. Remember to blog what you're learning and putting into practice!

Kids First Conference

I heard through the grapevine that the Kids First Conference was super this year (as every year) Any and all Northwest library staff who attended are encouraged to blog their Kids First Conference experience here...Thanks!

Trying to Add my Avatar

Some bloggers out there need to tell me how to make the avatar image show up on the page...suggestions, anyone?
http://lookup.avatars.yahoo.com/wimages?yid=bonfan24&size=large&type=jpg

Your Plans for National Library Week

No doubt, your plans are already in motion for celebrating National Library Week 2007. NLW this year is April 15-21 and the theme is “Come Together @ Your Library.” Amongst many programming ideas, you can also highlight 2 special days during that week: “National Library Workers’ Day” and “Support Teen Literature Day.” Read all about it on ALA’s website, where you’ll find scads of promotional materials, press releases, posters, bookmarks, prizes and more: http://www.ala.org/ala/pio/natlibraryweek/nlw.htm

And while you’re at it, how about blogging your plans for National Library Week with your Northwest colleagues? Please contribute your ideas here and share the fun!

More From New Mexico

Last day here in sunny ABQ. The weather has been really beautiful the entire time; makes for nice vacationing and conferencing. I saw a great T-shirt today that said "New Mexico: Not all that new, and not really Mexico." All true, but still a great trip!

Just to recap some of the many sessions I attended here at the Mt. Plains Library Conference. A session on interactive whiteboards made by Smart Technologies was especially cool--it's definitely going on my "wish list" of purchases for NWILS office at fiscal-year-end!. A session on legal policies issues was interesting, presented by people who attended the latest Lawyers for Libraries conference sponsored by ALA. "50+ Boomers and Seniors in the Workplace" was good too--lots of thoughtful discussion about the generaltional differences amongst workers in any profession--and how managers can best capitalize on peoples' strengths. And again, plenty of sessions on social networking and Web2.0/Library 2.0 concepts. This will all come back to Northwest Iowa in time for C.E. JAMBOREE.

I'll include more details about the Mt. Plains Conference in a series of EYE-OPENER articles beginning Monday. But it's time to be boarding instead of blogging!

Blogging From New Mexico

Hello to Northwest Iowa from sunny, warm Albuquerque! Thanks to NWILS Board, I'm blogging from the Mt.Plains Library Conference in ABQ, as the natives have nicknamed the city.

While there were many pre-cons to choose from on Wednesday (3/14/07) the conference started for me today with the opening session's keynote speaker Joseph Janes. Among his many credentials, Mr. Janes is the chair of Library & Information Science at the University of Washington. He writes "The Internet Librarian" column for American Libraries, has authored 8 books on libraries and technlogy, and was one of the co-founders of The Internet Public Library.

His presentation was great--and very funny--we need to bring him to an ILA conference sometime soon! "What Libraries Need to do Now--and Why" encouraged the audience to interact on the web in the same ways that our customers are already doing. We need to creat blogs and wikis, not to mention great websites. We need to make our own videos on YouTube and promote our services on MySpace.

All of which bolsters the need for NWILS to raise awareness and promote these concepts, encouraging libraries to blend traditional services with new approaches that technology affords. Guess what--much of this is the focus of C.E. JAMBOREE this year! More on the Mt. Plains sessions tomorrow and in EYE-OPENER...

Public Computer Instruction

The interest and need for computer instruction continues unabated. Lake City PL began a new series of computer classes in January. Michele is coordinating and teaching classes that blend traditional topics like WORD and EXCEL with trendier topics like Using the Internet for Travel, Advanced Email, Genealogy on the Web, and Internet Safety & Security. Classes run 2 hours and attendance is limited to 6 people.

We’d love to hear more topic ideas and strategies from other libraries providing computer instruction. Who’s offering classes on using digital cameras or demonstrating great websites for parents and kids? Who’s explaining blogs or acquainting parents and grandparents with social networking sites like MySpace and YouTube? NWILS Bulletin Board Blog is a great forum to share these and other ideas!

Promote Teen Tech Week

Make plans now to promote the first ever “Teen Tech Week,” March 4-10, 2007. Teen Tech Week is sponsored by YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association of ALA) The theme is “Get Connected @ Your Library” and there are lots of great posters and promotional materials available through the ALA Graphics Catalog or through the ALA Online Store www.ala.org

Why this promotion now? YALSA website explains: “…By developing Teen Tech Week, YALSA demonstrates the important role technology plays in teen life and the need for librarians to integrate the ways teens use technology into their programs and services, said Teen Tech Week chair Linda Braun. Teen use of non-print resources has increased dramatically in recent years, yet more and more teens are doing this from home instead of the library. According to a recent study by Harris Interactive, in 2005 86% of youth aged 8-18 have a computer in their home, and 74% have Internet access in their home. On average, 8-18 year olds spend 6 hours and 21 minutes per day using media (including TV, video/DVDs/movies, video games, audio media, computers and print media) According to Pew Internet Research, 71% of teens reported that the Internet is their primary source for completing school projects. Yet multiple studies have shown that the majority of teens lack the critical thinking skills and technical expertise to use the Internet and other electronic resources effectively. Teens need to know that the library is a trusted resource for accessing information and that librarians are the experts who can help them develop the skills they need to use electronic resources effectively and efficiently, remarked YALSA President Pam Spencer Holley…”

Programming ideas abound on YALSA website http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/teentechweek/ttw.htm

Get into the swing of things by blogging your plans and ideas for Teen Tech Week. Blogging...techie stuff...it all fits!

Progress on NWILS New Website

Sue and I have been happily (???) revamping NWILS website! We're moving it to PLONE, just like 60+ Northwest libraries will soon be doing. We're learning to create folders, pages, links, lists, and more. At first, this process was abit cumbersome and Sue was the very definition of "high anxienty." But...it's getting easier each day as we get more experienced. How do you get to Carnegie Hall? PRACTICE-PRACTICE-PRACTICE :-)

Seriously, it will be great for us to be using the same PLONE product as you'll be using--we'll be here to help. Look to upcoming EYE-OPENERS for reminders of the PLOW training classes required in round 2. See you on the web!

Hot Topic @ ILA: Balancing Security with Human Rights

One session that stayed with me after the conference was over was the discussion panel on security and human rights. This could have been a full day (or three!), as clearly there are no easy answers here. Many questions were raised:

• When and how should a parent have access to a child's account?
• How do we create a safe environment for our staff?
• What criteria should we use to ask people to leave (how bad do they have to smell? How much of a disruption can they cause to others?)?
• Where do we draw the line with "porn?"
• Should we use technology to further restrict Internet use, or should we do all we can to give patrons more privacy?
• When should we call 911?
• Should anyone work alone in a library, and how do we handle threats if this can't be avoided?

The list goes on. We all know the issues, and we know the philosophies behind them. We also know that the philosophical response isn't always applicable in our day-t0-day work life. What suggestions do you have in terms of practical ways to manage these issues in the real world?

ILA Conference '06

By now, we're all home from the ILA conference in Council Bluffs and back to the grindstone! Before I ask NWILS consulting team to share their conference experiences here, I thought it only fair to get the conversation started with my favorite session.

It has to be Wednesday's preconference with Michael Stephens; he was also the keynote speaker on Thursday. I heard him speak at PLA in Boston, too. He's a vigorous supporter behind the notions of Web 2.0/Library 2.0. Life on the web is now all about social networking. With great explanations of blogs, wikis, IM, podcasts, Flickr and more, he inspires libraries to be about social networking too.

For a good article on that topic, he recommends the cover story in Newsweek from 4/3/06: "Putting the WE in Web." You probably subscribe to Newsweek, but it's also available in full text in EBSCO. Do a little networking yourself and email the article to your board!

Lots of ideas are racing through my head as a result, including bringing Web 2.0/Library 2.0 topics to C.E. JAMBOREE in the spring. While I ponder that and set about buying his book and loading the car for 2 days on the road, check out Michael Stephens website: ww.tametheweb.com
Look for other conference highlights here soon...Bonnie McKewon