Vendor Showcase: SimplyMaps

If you missed the SimplyMaps demo, you missed out. It's available to any libraries that have access to NCLive, and is a great resource for demographic, business, and marketing information.

The database contains a ridiculous number of data sets; you can search all the things you'd expect to, like age, race, and socioeconomic status, but also data sets that concern ice-cream intake and wealthy youngsters. I'm not sure how I'd use all the data, but I'm glad to have it there.

If you haven't played around with this database yet, do. I might start using it in lieu of Reference USA if the opportunity strikes.

Doe vs. Gonzales : In Which Doe, the Humble Librarian, Won and Gonzales, the Attorney General of the United States, lost

George Christian, Executive Director of Library Connection in Hartford, CT, is one of four people in the world who can discuss the National Security Letter (NSL) that his library received. Along with the NSL came a gag order forbidding George to speak about the contents of the letter or the surrounding situation -- ever.

The Patriot Act went into effect two weeks after September 11th, 2001 in an effort to combat terrorism originating in the US. According to George, the Act is a "sweeping overhaul of checks and balances" that can't be understood without looking back through all original legislation referred to throughout the entirety of the Act. The Act operates without any form of judicial oversight.

Throughout the US, some 400,000 NSLs have been distributed since the Patriot Act went into effect. The recipients of these other letters are bound by a lifetime gag order. George, however, along with his Executive Board, decided to fight back against NSLs and the gag order, even though the only way to do so is to sue the Attorney General of the United States, a daunting task. His story is a great one, and I'd recommend making an effort to hear him speak if you ever get a chance to. Despite the persistence and determination of George and the rest of the Executive Board, their court case did not make NSLs declared unconstitutional, but it did set a precedent for future cases.

In March of 2008, former President Bush re-authorized the Patriot Act, with a few small adjustments. Those who receive NSLs are now permitted to consult with an attorney (which was formerly in direct contradiction to wording of the gag order) however (and this is a big however) there are also now punishments for not adhering to the order -- including five years jail time, and the NSLs are now much harder to contest. In the new legislation, libraries are considered exempt from NSLs except those libraries that offer telecommunication services, i.e. offer the internet, i.e. almost all libraries.

What are best practices for ensuring patron confidentiality in your library?

• "Conduct a privacy/confidentiality audit;
• gather the minimum amount of information needed for library operations;
• retain information connecting a user to a particular transaction only as long as need for normal operations, and then discard;"*
• write to your senator and tell them that you support the Justice Act, which supports a system of checks and balances within the Patriot Act.

*From: "Protecting Library Patron Confidentiality -- Checklist of Best Practices." Trina J. Magi, Library Associate Professor, University of Vermont, Fall 2006.

The Manga Experience: Create Your Own

Sarah Arnaudin and Emily King attended Jana Guitar's Manga session Thursday morning. Here is their manga art.

Technology Petting Zoo

Amy Harris and Lynda Kellam (UNCG) gave attendees an overview of a variety of free, open-source, web-based technologies.

Even though many of the technologies do overlap, Amy and Lynda broke them down into three broad categories: Social Networking, Productivity, and Communication. Participants voted for what they wanted to learn about using Poll Everywhere, which allowed them respond on the poll site or via text message or Twitter. Here's an overview of some of the technologies that were discussed:

Social Networking:

• Ning.com - allows you to create your own social network or join an existing one, wide variety of groups, might be an option for class collaboration (alternative to CMS like Blackboard), doesn't allow upload of documents

• Google Groups - also allows you to create a group, can create list-serv, upload docs, another alternative for class collaboration

• FriendFeed.com - aggregator, puts all your updates and your friends' updates in one place, need to be using multiple social networking tools to make this useful - Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Delicious, YouTube, etc., various ways to access - e-mail, feed reader, website

Productivity:

• Rememberthemilk.com - task-based system, go in and create to-do lists for whatever you want, add tags, search by tags or keyword, can download lists in XML for back-up, so robust that can get a little lost

• Evernote.com - note-taking system, both web-based and downloadable for mac, pc, iphone, pre, visible on mobile devices, upgrade to premium (for a fee) for capability to upload other files, such as PDFs, create notebooks that are server-based or computer-based, can share with other ppl

• Google Docs - can create docs, presentations, spreadsheets, forms - not fancy, but they work; add hyperlinks to link to other Google Docs; share with others, invite to view or edit, also publishable to the web or downloadable in other forms (PDF, PPT, etc.)
  

• Google Tasks - view in Google Calendar, can add tasks directly to list from Gmail (under More Actions)

Communication:

• Blogger.com - bloggin platform, owned by Google, so if already have Google account, quick and easy to create blog and invite others to collaborate

• Wordpress.com - blogging platform, need to create separate account, can embed into website, easy to use

• Polleverywhere.com - create polls that update live; audience can vote on poll website, through text messaging (site generates all the numbers), or through Twitter; "poor man's clicker"

There were many other technologies mentioned that we didn't have time to cover, but this session really focused on how these tools can be useful and how different tools suit different people's working, organizational and communication preferences. Get in and find out which one works for you!

Utilizing Library Space for Learning Opportunities

UNC-G's Jackson Libary was built in 1950 and added on in 1970, but is in need of a face-lift. Instead of relying on what the librarians thought would be best for the space, they went to the users to understand:

• Where do they study in the library?
• How do they study in the library?
• What are they using while they were in the library?

Through a three prong assessment technique, using surveys, focus groups, and observation they found:

• The top five reasons that students are coming into the library are 1 - to use a library computer, 2 - work on a project by themselves, 3 - study quietly, 4 - just walk through, 5 - meet a group
• The students wanted more physical access to the library building (24/5 hours)
• Undergrad students want group areas with lots of tables
• Students want to use library computers (laptops to check out and computers with software that students need to complete projects on them)
• Students don't really like carrying their laptops around (too heavy)
  
• Undergrads really wanted a "3rd place" to go to study
• Quiet space with soft seating is essential
• The circ desk was a bottleneck
• Grad students wanted library materials, but don't want to come into the library for library materials (they want it online)
• Students wanted a fax service
• Students wanted coffee in the library
• There are many things they weren't aware of -- printing, carrols, lockers, IM assistance

Space changes as a result of assessment

• laptop checkout
• expanded collaboratories
• added vending options
• opened carrel checkout to all students
• expanded 24/5 available space
• targeted marketing of IM, collaboratories and other services
• added messaging board
• weeded collection and added more study space
• assigned quiet and group study floors
• soft furniture in quiet areas
• tables and outlets in group areas
• moved circ desk
  

Finding Your Footing

New Member's Round Table hosted a panel discussion among five new librarians in five different types of libraries (public, academic, school, and database were all covered.)

Some of the tips that came up throughout the talk for those looking for a professional position:

• think outside the box -- One panelist got her footing in a library by having an informational meetings with library managers to find out what they were looking for in an employee. This led to her volunteering at the reference desk of one library, letting her gain the skills she needed to get a paid job.
• use your contacts and resources -- Knowing people comes in handy! If you prove that you're dedicated and hard-working, they may be willing to go to bat for you in the future when a job comes up.
• take advantage of internships, volunteer opportunities, and any other ways that you can get involved -- Although not being paid isn't fun, it may pay off in the long run, big time. One panelist cited how several other students going through Library School with her wouldn't leave their full-time paid jobs for unpaid jobs that provided library experience. Many of these people are now unable to find positions in the library world because they never made the necessary connections.
• have a portfolio of your work -- Examples of things that you have done in the past (even if it's work from school) can go a long way in your interview.
• be persistent!

Good luck to all you job searchers out there!

Literacy Changes Lives: What Your Library Can Do to Assure That There is "Literacy for All."

Laura Smith, director of the Pitt County Literacy Council, Donna Phillips from Wayne County Public Library, and Steve Sumerford from Greensboro Public Library gave a fabulous presentation on adult literacy in North Carolina.

Donna, along with a committee assembled from various community leaders and businesses, established a literacy council in Wayne County to fill an obvious gap that that had been identified in through community assessment; that of adult illiteracy throughout the county. She provided some tips about how to start a literacy program for your own community. She talked about the importance of making all types of community partnerships, including:

• businesses, which might be able to provide financial backing to a literacy program;
• marketing professionals, including newspapers, that can help promote the program;
• faith-based organizations, which can provide both financial backing as well as volunteers to help with getting the program on its feet;
• educators in the community, and
• the public.

Laura gave some tips for public libraries that already have a literacy program established within their community to begin collaborating with those programs. Often, literacy programs do not have space available for individual tutoring or for group meetings -- this is where public libraries can jump in and offer those services, if they have them available. Public libraries bulletin boards and display areas are also a great area to have literacy pamphlets and information, both to spread the word to potential students and to find volunteer tutors for programs.

Another tip is to team up with your local community-college to see if they need space and/or publicity for GED classes. Literacy programs often reach out to those with a pre-high school education (generally 3rd to 8th grade levels), meaning that students on a slightly higher level might be more suited to a community college course.

Also discussed were family literacy programs such as MotherRead and FatherRead, which are NC-based programs.

And if your library doesn't have the means to host or collaborate with literacy programs, fear not; as Steve said, libraries "create a literacy-rich environment every single day" -- meaning those things we do on a daily basis to create a love of learning and reading are also promoting literacy within our communities.

The Literacy Round Table hosted a great discussion today! Be sure to join them tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. for Latinos, Libraries, & Literacy for more specifics on starting a program of your own, and reaching out to specific demographics.

Come to the Technology Petting Zoo

It's going to be a different kind of presentation where you decide the content. Be sure to bring your laptop or text-enabled cell phone if you want to play along! We'll be in City Hotel 3.

Luv yer politicians' papers

Politicians' papers was a great session not only for learning about the holdings of specific special collections, but also to learn more about the process and problems with acquiring any political papers.

• Betty Carter, University Archivist at UNCG, discussed the recent acquisition of the papers of Kay Hagan and Howard Coble and her "newbie" perspective on entering into the game of acquiring politiians' papers.
• Tim West, Director of the Southern Historical Collection at UNC Chapel Hill, talked about their large holdings and the need to consider not only politicians' papers, but also a wide variety of collections of political individuals, such as local activists, political journalists and judges.
• Maury York, assistant director for special collections at ECU, discussed Eastern Carolina University's collection of political papers. ECU's focus areas are general NC history, military history with emphasis on naval and maritime history, american missionaries, and tobacco related collections. Within those areas they have a strong politicians' papers collection that includes some oral histories.

They also discussed the challenges of acquiring political papers including:

• balancing the acquisition of large collections against the potential use and value of the collection.
• absorbing the expenses required both in terms of money and staff time.
• marketing and promoting the collection once acquired.
• meeting donor requirements (some collections may have strict restrictions).
• initiating the process of digitizing collections or dealing with electronic records.
• dealing with issues of copyright in relation to the collection.

Some interesting areas for the future include the possibility of these and other libraries collaborating on future acquisitions, coordinating acquisitions, and also conducting studies of use of these collections. ECU also has a cool class for first year students that requires the students use a primary source from the collection. Because of this assignment, many of these students become interested in using primary sources in their future assignments. Sounds great to me!!

Kick It! Opening Session of NCLA

NCLA 2009 has opened up with a pretty awesome speaker. Probably one of the best plenary speakers I've seen in a while. Keith Michaels Fiels, the ALA Executive Director, stopped by to talk about the future of libraries.

Here are just a few notes from the session:

• We need to be careful in our predictions because "attempts to predict the future can accidentally create it", especially if we assume dire outcomes.
• Library 2.0 is already passe. Social networking tools must be dealt with to work with our patrons
• No matter how many changes, we will always have tech haves and have nots. We need to keep those differences in mind.
• Statistics show 1/2 of all employers only accept applications online. Post-katrina experience with online FEMA forms demonstrate necessity of libraries to the community.
• "Technology is no longer installing software and turning it on." Librarians are necessary to work with patrons and assist them in using tech.

Libraries play key role in several ways

1. Helping the disenfranchised
2. We reflect the diversity of our communities
3. Preserving 1st amendment rights of library users. We need to be advocates for privacy.
4. Continue to fight to preserve access to information! EPA libraries experience demonstrates ALA's power to preserve access.
5. Continue to attract the best and brightest especially in light of changes in libraries.
6. We need to reach out to other countries to help and to learn from them.

Problems with funding may make us assume that we are powerless, but "We can fight back. We can succeed." Advocacy works and can be learned. What can we do?

• We need to plan for the future.
• We need to assert our role in education because libraries are other half of education system.
• We need to use the growing body of documentation showing the value of the library.
• We need to do better job involving public. "I Love Libraries" website designed for the public.
• We need to increase public awareness of importance. Use media outlets to advertise libraries.
• We must stick together at state and national level. ALA membership return on investment is astounding.
• "Put some skin in the game". Our membership in associations provides for public awareness and advocacy.

Can libraries survive?

He maintains that "those who create libraries without walls tend to create libraries without money." But we need to remember that libraries are busier than ever because people come to libraries for more than what the computer can provide.

To close he maintained that "we need to keep in mind that we hold the future and we will create the next generation of libraries".

Presentation Notes: Improving Libraries Through User-Centered Research

Susan Gibbons, Vice Provost and Dean, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester (she wrote The Academic Library and the Net Gen Student)
In 2003, she was the Digital Initiatives Librarian at UR, had colleague who had used an anthropologist to study users
Got a grant to hire an anthropologist
Started by observing faculty 03-04
Undergrads 04-06
Grads 06-08
How people search 07-09
Science libraries in the digital age 08-09
Had to go through IRB

Start with question --> methodology (interviews, surveys, photos, etc.) --> data gathering --> findings --> change
Anthropologist gathers data, librarians interpret it

Undergrads:
Question: Looked at what makes an A paper- what happens between assignment and completed paper?
Methods: volunteer students- shadowed students throughout semester (via email), then interviewed at end
Had students draw process
Findings:
Most called mom/dad! So they stopped orienting students and started orienting parents
Research is not linear: students don't always know what their problem is. Now some librarians are cross-trained as writing coaches so they don't have to send confused students away.

Grads:
Question: What are barriers to successful dissertation completion?
Methods: InSitu interviews- in natural habitat (where they work on diss)
Findings: No common experience, librarians superimposed their experiences onto students
Disciplinary differences: Science- teams, grant-focused, Humanities- lone scholar, isolation, Social Sciences- article-driven, prior publications "glued" together
Focused on Humanities students- they have no space on campus. Provided space in library. Got them together and asked what they would want in a space: No undergrads (they're TAs, want to take off TA hat), Solitary but with others, Variety of seating, Outlets, lighting.
Let students pick out furniture, colors, etc.

Science Question
Role of science library in digital age: Much of the science literature is online, but science students are still in the library. Why? Is library space unique?
Methods: Observations, reply cards (why are you here? left around library), design workshop (perfect configuration of ground floor)
Findings: library is part of the process, they come to the library to do scholarly work, they want to see the journals even if they're not using them

How people search
eXtensible catalog project (XC)
open source, reveal physical and digital library collections, intuitive interface
Methods: Interviews (at multiple campuses) and show and tell
Preliminary report, product due Jan '10

Results- User-Centered Culture:
Us/Them shifted (us is library, them is users)
Tolerance of change
Tolerance of failure
Embrace experimentation
Test first, then ask hard questions
Banned "when I was in college..."
Barriers to entry need to be lowered

Mini Consulting Sessions with Paula Singer

Paula Singer will be available to meet with individuals Thursday afternoon to discuss succession planning, change management or pay equity. Sign up at the NMRT table for a time!

Top 10 Reasons To Go To A Conference

According to Lynda Kellam. Check them out. This blog post is guaranteed to get you pumped for Greenville (if you're not already).

To First-Time Conference Attendees

If you've never attended a conference before, you're in for a lot of fun! You'll meet nice people and learn some really cool stuff. If you're feeling a bit nervous, here's a blog post from Stephen Abrams about maximizing your conference experience. NCLA is a bit different than the big conferences he's describing, but you'll get the gist. Some tips I would add are:

• Don't spend all the breaks hanging out in your hotel room! Sure, the bed's comfy, but some of the best parts of the conference happen in between the sessions and at the social functions and exhibits, when you're meeting new people.
  
• Talk to strangers. Yes, I know your mom told you not to, but you should at a conference. You might make a new friend!
• Bring lots of business cards. And ask people for theirs. You might want to write what you talked to the person about on the back of their card so that you'll remember what you wanted to follow up on. Hopefully you'll meet lots of people, so they might start to run together.
• Relax and have fun!
  

Shout-Out to People Attending Pre-Conferences!

I hope those of you attending pre-conferences today are having a great time! Remember, if you want to make everyone jealous by posting about how awesome your pre-conference was, you can email your descriptions to me at a_harri2 @ uncg.edu. Plus, it's still not too late to hype your sessions! I'll take descriptions of those as well!
See you in Greenville!

Yes, there really is a free lunch (unfortunately, not at NCLA)

And free concerts by Grammy-winning artists. And free museum tours. And free street dancing/drumming lessons. All available through your local library. How can a library afford to offer its patrons programs like this free of charge? Because the library didn't pay anything for them, either. Find out how to provide unique free experiences to your patrons in the "Developing Collaborative Partnerships" program at 4:15 on Thursday. Speaker will be Teresa Cain of ImaginOn/PLCMC.