Critique of BPL website and web 2.0 by a library student

http://bigskyt.wordpress.com/tag/birmingham/

Google Wave is Coming!

This is an interesting real-life application of Google Wave.

In this video, Salesforce demonstrates how the Google Wave platform can be used to personalize the customer service experience.

2009 Ghoul's Ball

The Birmingham Public Library's 1st Annual Ghoul's Ball!!

Make it Fun?

Fun makes a difference.

See more here.

Virtual Tours Uploaded This Week

Key to Bathroom by L2 Crew Room

The new keys to the L2 Crew room fit only the room door, not the bathroom next door. But Hope brought us a bathroom key to keep in the room and I put it in the pencil glass on the desk.

Social Media a Fad or Revolution?

Schedule

Hey Guys,

I am off next week so if I don't respond to you it is not because I am being rude.

:)

Melinda

Meeting time again: July 29

Hey All,

Let's meet in the Board Room at 10 a.m. on July 29. Let me know if you can or can't be there.

Thanks!
Melinda

ALA via twitter

Hey all. I have been following the ALA convention via twitter and came across this wiki listing some cool ideas. Check it out and see if anything catches your eye.

http://necclibrarytoolssmackdown.wikispaces.com/

Changing face of public relations

Good article about how PR has changed due to social media.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/05/business/05pr.html

Cool plugin for bloggers

Zemanta

Improve the way you blog & write e-mails.
Simple point & click enrichment of your blog posts (and emails). In real-time, while you type. We suggest tags, links, photos, and related articles. You save time and aspirin.
5M+ pictures, 5M+ articles. 10M+ possibilities.

Videotaping Workshop July 18

Is anyone available and willing to videotape a workshop Saturday morning, July 18 from 9:30-12:00?

Social Media Strategy

Social Media Strategy from Jeremy Flint on Vimeo.

Elizabeth and i went to this program yesterday. There are many good points to think about.

Judge Clemon Video and Podcast

The complete video of the Judge Clemon interview at BPL is now live on YouTube and Blip.Tv.

Due to time restrictions, the video interview is in 5 parts.




The audio Podcast of the interview is on Podbean in two parts.

Part 1

Part 2/

Branch Photographs

I added a folder of branch photographs in the shared folder Photographs. The folder name is Branch Photos.

Springville Road's Summer Reading Teen Rappers

Enjoy!

Summer Reading Videos Ready - Use as Needed

Son of the most popular databases

This list came from Springville Rd. and Eastlake via Mike F., Ellen L., and Wanda M.

These are the databases most used in those two locations.

Alabama Legal Forms, Biography Resource Center, EBSCO MasterFile, LearningExpress Library, Literature Resource Center, NewsLibrary (Birmingham NewsBackfile), and Reference USA, Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center, Oxford AfricanAmerican Studies Center, Obiturary Index: Birmingham Area News.

Thanks gang.
DNR

New Assignment For September

The L2Crew was given an assignment yesterday to be completed by the beginning of September.

BPL will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the opening of the "New Building". We are to videotape staff and former staff who remember the opening (group discussions that will be videotaped), videotape a brown bag of George Stewart discussing the history of the building being built, interview patrons about the opening (this may be where an online survey could come in), and create an online exhibit composed of photographs,newspaper articles and text. Hope was charged with contacting staff and rounding them up.

So put on your thinking cap (like I had to even say that) and let's begin organizing this huge project. We may need to have a face-to-face meeting in the near future.

Thoughts? Questions? Concerns?

Cheers or jeers?

Ouch! Although BPL was not named, at least one of our policies was 'jeered' by Michael Casey and Michael Stephens in their Transparent Library column. We reserve some PCs for OPAC and database use. What do you think, thumbs up or down on this practice?
Library journal 4/15/2009, p. 20.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6650292.html?industryid=47356

The most popular databases

At the last meeting we decided to begin creating video tutorials of the most popular databases.
I've checked with all the Central departments and the most popular databases are: Legal forms, EBSCO Master Premier, Biography Resource Center, Learning Express Library, Encyclopedia Britannica online (primary grades), Novelist, ReferenceUSA, Grove Art online, Grove Music online, HeritageQuest Online, Obituary Index. A lot more than four!
I would suggest narrowing the list to Legal forms, Biography Resource Center, Learning Express and EBSCO Master Premier.
Are these sources also popular in the branches?

Something New This Way Comes

An invention that could change the internet for ever
Revolutionary new web software could put giants such as Google in the shade when it comes out later this month.


http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/an-invention-that-could-change-the-internet-for-ever-1678109.html

L2 Crew Minutes

April 29, 2009
Central – Boardroom
10:30 a.m.

Melinda – Mardi Gras was an excellent event. BPL received good PR from this event. Judge U.W. Clemons interview was a success as well.

Updates:

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
Myspace: Michael is still running OK. We’re getting a lot of Friend Requests, Comments, and Invitations. I’ve also start adding photos of all branches in the PICS section of the Myspace Page. Kathy talk about BPL Twitter, right now it has over 600 followers. Kathy also adds latest news from branches such as closings.

BLOG
Tressa Fancher updated us about the BPL Blog. It was suggested that staff write info about things to do at my Library. Leslie Deason is working with Rochelle for more staff participation for the Teen Blog. Suggestions to market the blog were fliers, bookmarks, and music / game reviews. The Teen Blog has received over 700 hits.

VIRTUAL TOURS
Richard: Thumbnail issues with the virtual tours between EW and WE. Melinda will look into this issue.

Melinda sent out a statistics overview of March statistics. Flickr has the highest of stats followed by our virtual tours.

Robert Jones is teaming with Adrian Moultrie to form a Camtasia Create List Tutorial. This project was started last Monday. This is a working progress.

David Ryan will poll staff and determine the most popular databases used. We will begin creating tutorials for the most popular databases. Right now, the suggestion is the Top 4 databases as well as a common interface starting with EbscoHost which was suggested by Richard Manoske.

The L2 Crew office is now up and running, but there are still some minor network issues. Tressa will work 25 hours starting next week. Currently, the office has a Desktop and a Staff Laptop. The phone is operational and the number to the office is 226-3606.

Richard Manoske introduced us to a site called Tube Mogul. This site lets you upload a video and tube mogul distributes the video to many video sites. (i.e. youtube, blip tv) Richard is also working on creating a blog entry reminding staff how to upload pics and telling staff that photos of events need to be uploaded asap.

Brief discussion on ustream tv. (Video quality issues)

JCLC Training Date – August 7, 2009

JCLC Committee wants us to do two Web 2.0 programs:

Intro to new technology and social media and a more in-depth program with hands on training.

Other suggestions for the L2Crew to work on in the next few month: online surveys for patrons about what the library means to an individual and collecting "why I love the library" comments.

Melinda and Hunter discussed possibly podcasting the Brown Bag Programs at Central. Melinda will talk to Sandi Lee as well.

Meeting adjourned!

edited by Melinda 5/5/09

Awesome Highlighter

One of the many websites mentioned at Computers in Libraries was Awesome Highlighter. This handy little tool allows users to highlight text on a page and then save a copy with a new URL. You can then send that URL to someone. The receipient of the email will see the highlighting on the "archived" copy of the page. You don't necessarily have to use the website. You can use a Firefox add-on and bookmarklet as well.

Meeting April 29 @ 10:30 a.m.

Hello All,
We will have a meeting in the Board Room next Wednesday, April 29 at 10:30 a.m. Let me know if there is anything you want to discuss, debate, or share. Also, please let me know if you will be able to attend or not.

Thanks!
Melinda

Robert McCammon @ Alabama Bound

Robert McCammon's presentation at Alabama Bound 2009 is now on our YouTube channel in 4 parts.

Thanks to Frank for recording Alabama Bound this year.

Videotaping Alabama Bound

Is there anyone who is available the Saturday of Alabama Bound to film it? If you don't know how to use the camera I am sure one of the guys can give you a tutorial. Any takers?

Virtual Tours Noticed

A local blogger and big library supporter has noticed our virtual tours. He didn't get all the information correct but it is still a great post. I am sure he would appreciate some feedback. Take a peek.

BPL Mardi Gras Interviews 2009

Great job L2 Krewe!

Thanks for helping and supporting the Mardi Gras celebration!

I really appreciate you all helping with Tuesday's event. We hosted over 20 interviews, gave out 185 Moon Pies, 225 pieces of cake, 25 pounds of beads, and hundreds of BPL magnets and coasters. Thanks a lot.

Ustream.tv Test

Video streaming by Ustream

This is our first attempt to do a Ustream.tv live. We were using the webcam to capture the video and sound. This was recorded today at the Paraprofessional meeting.

This is a work in progress. This test gave us some insights on how to to improve the video quality next time around. For one thing, the picture and audio should be better when the video camera is used.

Ustream.tv will allow live broadcasting over the Internet and recording of library events. This will allow us to cover events as they happen or quickly post video to the Internet.

L2 "Krewe" celebrates Mardi Gras???!!!

Hello everyone,

This Tuesday, February 24, is, of course, Mardi Gras!

For three hours, from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. we're transforming the L2 Crew into the L2 Krewe! According to the mardigrasdigest.com a "krewe" is

Any of several groups with often hereditary* membership whose members organize and participate as costumed participants in the float parades, and balls, in the annual Mardi Gras carnival: example “They . . . watched a parade of bands and New Orleans-style floats run by krewes throwing necklaces of colored beads” (Robert Reinhold).

*Today you can join a krewe without being a hereditary pledge. Some krewes accept applications year around, while others limit membership to certain periods.

So......I'm writing to enlist your help.

We're going to take this opportunity to host a random act of library outreach.

This is how it will shake down:

1) We will need people to cut and pass out King Cake (or a sheet cake decorated in Mardi Gras colors and themes)

2) We will be listening to Mardi Gras music (brass band, zydeco, etc, from the BPL collection)

3) We will be passing out BPL magnets, pamphlets, etc, as well as Mardi Gras beads (which a friend and former BPL employee is shipping from "New Awluns" as I write this very post.)

4) We will have a display shelf with library CDs, books, possibly art prints, and the like relating to Mardi Gras.

5) And maybe most importantly, we will be asking patrons to give brief interviews on camera or podcast recorder about what the library means to them.

I know it will be lunch time and maybe difficult to get away from your department / branch, but if you could make a special effort, I think this would be fun and good for the library (and the Krewe). It will be both a bonding experience and a good way to reach our patrons.

Please let me know if you can or cannot attend. (Again, the festivities will be held in Central's Atrium from 11-2 this Tuesday, Feb 24th.)

Below, I have pasted a short video to get you in the spirit. It features New Orleans' own Rebirth Brass Band. Laissez les bons temps roulez!

Social Networks Leapfrog Each Other in Latest Metrics

Take a look at the top 25 list of social networking sites.

Virtual Tour (Inglenook)

http://www.mapwing.com/explore/view_tour.php?t=MQdKKiKdKifdWgQ

Microphone 4 Videocamera

Thanks to Richard's research and the Business Department's fast ordering we are now the proud owners of a genuine JVC stereo microphone. Yay!

Virtual Tours

Hope wants to know the next three or four branches we will be doing so she can have the floor plans scanned. So what is the plan guys?

Book Reviews on Blog and Catalog

Whenever a review is posted on the blog, should that review also be added to the review section of our catalog? This would increase the reviews being submitted to the catalog.

Creative Twitter Uses

Laundryroom- The laundry room Twitter account helps residents at Olin College’s West Hall check on the availability of washing machines at the campus Laundromat. Anytime a washer or dryer is available, a Tweet is automatically sent out to the local residents following the Laundryroom account.

JetBlue- This airline has different employees man their Twitter account throughout the day. If a customer has any question—whether about potential flight delays or how big their carry-on can be—the JetBlue account will Tweet a quick answer.

These are 2 of the 10 shamelessly lifted from the post linked below. For all 10 see: http://sem-group.net/search-engine-optimization-blog/10-examples-of-creative-twitter-uses/

Minutes for L2Crew Meeting: January 29, 2009

(10:30 - 11:45a.m.)

Group members in attendance were Melinda Shelton, Tressa Fancher, Hunter Murphy, Richard Manoske, Michael Fagin and Leslie Deason.

The meeting began at 10:33 A.M. Melinda had news about the new office for the L2Crew. She said that David and Debbie had finished moving out books. She would like to contact Hope about a desk, chair, and new lock for the room. She also needs to contact IT about making sure the room has Internet connection and phone lines. The room will also need to have a temperature adjustment because it tends to get hot and stuffy.

Ms. Sirmans sent and e-mail to Melinda concerning the L2Crew. She said that she is proud of the group and wants to be kept updated.

Melinda and other group members (Richard and Hunter) began talking about the completed virtual tours of the libraries. Melinda would like to get a professional account of MapWing She would also like to talk to Hope about photography plans for the branch libraries.

The Alabama 360.com adds virtual tours of sites throughout the state to its website. AL 360 uses these tours to market facilities. They will be adding a tour of Birmingham Public Library, beginning with the first floor of the Linn Henley building in the next few days.

Richard Manoske has been creating videos to market BPL and its resources. Richard has created a video of an interview with Jim Baggett and Judge Clemons. He plans to divide this video into eight separate segments that can be uploaded easily to the blog and Intranet. Melinda would like to find a video of last year’s AL Bound event as an advertisement for this year’s event. She will bring her personal editing software to edit videos.

Melinda and Leslie conducted a workshop on website creation for teen librarians. Tressa helped participants with Blogger software. We taught participants how to create a blog entry, including how to add pictures , video and audio. Melinda demonstrated how to create a Delicious account. Delicious allows individuals to create, share and edit links. These links are tagged by subject-type which enables users to search for links on their favorite subject.

Melinda asked for new podcasting ideas. Hunter Murphy made the suggestion to ask patrons “What does the library mean to you?” Richard stated that we could also gather ideas from patron comment cards to use. The group decided that we could include short narration, along with images, music and quotes. Michael Fagin may go to the branches to create podcasts on “What does the library mean to you?”

The group then moves to ideas for marketing the library on Facebook, MySpace and Beebo. Kathy works with Facebook but could not attend the meeting. Michael Fagin has updated pictures from FlickR. Hunter and some other group members stated that we might change the music on the MySpace page. We could add music from bands that also have a MySpace page. Melinda stated that if there was anyone interested in becoming an administrator for the Facebook group page, please let her know.

Melinda invited everyone to think of new ways that we can use Twitter to advertise library events. Kathy already schedules Twitter to send out updates on blog entries, calendar events, etc. Richard updated the group that libraries have been sending in photos to post on the library’s FlickR account. Richard has been answering questions about taking photos and how they should be posted to the FlickR site.

Melinda discussed new ideas for promoting blogging within the library. It was agreed that we do need to look for ways to encourage more staff members to blog. Richard Manoske stated that blog entries could be written on the information discussed during LA training. David might be willing to blog about job hunting skills and business databases. We create more blog entries on current and local events. Richard Manoske mentioned adding book trailers to the blog as well. He said that he wanted to add some trailers for African-American titles, but they contained inappropriate content.

Hunter Murphy mentioned that it was time for us to get e-commerce. We could add BPL logos to all types of materials for marketing purposes. Melinda said that she would look further into this possibility.

Melinda mentioned the possibility of an adult summer reading program this year. She has been contacted by a group of young women who would like to see an adult summer reading program created. Melinda will talk to this group further about creating a video in which they will discuss summer reading and what the library has meant to them.

Hunter Murphy mentioned that he would like to have a theme for the new year such as: “BPL: Not Your Average Library.” Everyone agreed that we should organize our ideas around a specific theme.

The meeting ended at 11:45. We will be looking for ways to make the library more relevant to patron’s daily lives.

Do You Know...Jeopardy Video

Thanks for the suggestions.

I will post it on the blog on Feb 1.

Meeting: Jan. 29 in Board Room

We will have our first meeting of the year Thursday, January 28 at 10:30 a.m. in the Board room.

Please comment here or email me to let me know if you will be able to attend.

Put on your thinking caps, bring along your ideas and let's determine what we want to accomplish this year.

Meeting Jan. 28....sorry I need to reschedule...stay tuned

Hello and Happy New Year L2Crew!

We will have our first meeting of the year Wednesday, January 28 at 9:30 a.m. in the Social Sciences conference room.

Please comment here or email me to let me know if you will be able to attend.

Put on your thinking caps, bring along your ideas and let's determine what we want to accomplish this year.

Meetings for 2009

Does anyone know if we're having any meetings for 2009???

Library 2.0 ???

Saw this on Helene Blowers' blog. I agree with her that the message of this video looks like Library 2.0. except for the last 12 seconds…