Read the entire article from the March 2010 American Libraries for great ideas!
10 Technology Ideas Your Library Can Implement Next Week
Even non-techies can offer cutting-edge services right away
By Ellyssa Kroski
Here are 10 ideas you can use to start creating, collaborating, connecting, and communicating through cutting-edge tools and techniques. All of them are culled from the 10 books in the Tech Set series.
New social media websites such as Facebook and Twitter enable librarians to converse, communicate, and collaborate with patrons as never before, because they are increasingly a part of people's everyday lives. A brochure that describes your library with a few pictures is great, but a video tour that people can watch on your website or blog is immeasurably better. Enabling patrons to save their catalog searches is important, but offering the ability to notify patrons via email and text messaging when new acquisitions arrive presents a fresh way to connect with users.
Librarians who are still becoming comfortable with the Web are often reticent to begin using new technologies in their day-to-day work because the learning curve often takes more time than they have at hand. When I begin teaching people about Web 2.0, mobile, and emerging technologies, I try to answer three questions:
• What is it?
• Why is it important?
• How can it help me better serve my users tomorrow?
Here are 10 ideas you can use to start creating, collaborating, connecting, and communicating through cutting-edge tools and techniques. All of them are culled from the 10 books in the Tech Set series, to be published by Neal-Schuman in March.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
8 things I wish everyone knew about email by Seth Godin
1. Change your settings so that email from you has a name, your name, not a blank or some unusual characters, in the from field. (ask a geek or IT person for help if you don't know how).
2. Change your settings so that the bottom of every email includes a signature (often called a sig) that includes your name and your organization.
3. Change your settings so that when you reply to a note, the note you're replying to is included below what you write (this is called quoting).
4. Don't hit reply all. Just don't. Okay, you can, but read this first.
5. You can't recall an email you didn't mean to send. Some software makes you think you can, but you can't. Not reliably.
6. Email lives forever, is easy to spread and can easily show up in discovery for a lawsuit.
7. Please don't ask me to save a tree by not printing your email. It doesn't work, it just annoys the trees.
8. Send yourself some email at a friend's computer. Read it. Are the fonts too big or too small? Does it look like a standard email? If it doesn't look like a standard, does this deviation help you or hurt you? Sometimes, fitting in makes sense, no?
And a bonus tip from Cory Doctorow, who gets more email than you and me combined: When you go on vacation, set up an autoreply that says, "I'm on vacation until x/x/2010. When I get back, I'm going to delete all the email that arrived while I was gone, so if this note is important, please send it to me again after that date."
2. Change your settings so that the bottom of every email includes a signature (often called a sig) that includes your name and your organization.
3. Change your settings so that when you reply to a note, the note you're replying to is included below what you write (this is called quoting).
4. Don't hit reply all. Just don't. Okay, you can, but read this first.
5. You can't recall an email you didn't mean to send. Some software makes you think you can, but you can't. Not reliably.
6. Email lives forever, is easy to spread and can easily show up in discovery for a lawsuit.
7. Please don't ask me to save a tree by not printing your email. It doesn't work, it just annoys the trees.
8. Send yourself some email at a friend's computer. Read it. Are the fonts too big or too small? Does it look like a standard email? If it doesn't look like a standard, does this deviation help you or hurt you? Sometimes, fitting in makes sense, no?
And a bonus tip from Cory Doctorow, who gets more email than you and me combined: When you go on vacation, set up an autoreply that says, "I'm on vacation until x/x/2010. When I get back, I'm going to delete all the email that arrived while I was gone, so if this note is important, please send it to me again after that date."
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Our Public Library Lifeline is Fraying.........
This is long for a blog post - but the article is so good I wanted to post it in its entirety.
Our Public Library Lifeline Is Fraying. We'll Be Sorry When it Snaps
by Art Brodsky, Communications Director, Public Knowledge
Posted: April 11, 2010
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/art-brodsky/our-public-library-lifeli_b_533529.html
This is National Library Week, a time normally reserved for celebrating an institution that plays a vital role in many of our cities, towns and counties. Instead, many libraries, particularly public libraries, are being decimated by budget cuts at a time when library services are needed most.
Libraries, once considered a necessity, are now seen as a luxury. They are low-hanging fruit for budget pluckers, particularly at the state and local levels of government in communities across the country. It's been a slow death by attrition over the past couple of years. First, it was the budget for books and materials because, after all, books and materials aren't people. No matter that books and materials are what makes a library, well, a library. Then came the hours of operation, then the staff, then the closure of branches. No two communities are approaching the situation identically, but in cities from Boston to Indianapolis, the stories are increasingly dire.
In Boston, the trustees voted to close four branches. There was lots of protest, and Mayor Thomas Menino still has to make the final call, but the situation doesn't look good.
The Florida legislature is considering eliminating state aid to libraries entirely, while the New Jersey legislature is only looking a at a 74 percent cut. Indianapolis and surrounding Marion County are also looking at closing six branches and cutting back programs and staff.
In my home community of Montgomery County, Maryland, formerly one of the wealthiest local jurisdictions, the County Council is looking at a budget for fiscal year 2011 of $29 million - down from $40 million just three years ago. This year, it is slated for a 23 percent cut - one of the largest of any agency, on top of cuts in the last fiscal year with percentage decreases larger than all but one county agency. And this is for a county of about one million residents in which 70 percent hold library cards. It's even worse across the river, in Fairfax County, Virgina, where libraries were declared a "discretionary" service while cutting 30 of 54 full-time librarians. Libraries discretionary? That's nuts.
These are only some of the stories. They are being repeated endlessly across the country, perhaps even where you live. Some places put a high value on their libraries. Contrast the $29 million of my county for the $51 million library budget in Seattle, a city of about 600,000. Sure, Seattle needed to cut the library budget, but the fact that they started out much higher than my home says something about their priorities. Sadly, Seattle is the exception, not the rule.
One problem for libraries in some jurisdictions is that they don't fit squarely into any one policymaker's domain, like public safety or a school system. Libraries serve a range of purposes - they help teach children to read, they help students work on projects, they provide meeting space for tutoring, they provide Internet access. They serve students, seniors, immigrants. They provide assistance to the unemployed. Libraries combine education, workforce development, socialization, recreation. But they aren't the school board, or a social services agency, and so generally get buried in the larger budgets.
The cuts come at a time when library use is increasing, for all types of services. The one that hits home the most these days is the crucial access to the Internet. A study by the Information School at the University of Washington found that: "Low-income adults are more likely to rely on the public library as their sole access to computers and the Internet than any other income group. Overall, 44 percent of people living below the federal poverty line used computers and the Internet at their public libraries."
In addition, the study reported: "Americans across all age groups reported they used library computers and Internet access. Teenagers are the most active users. Half of the nation's 14- to 18-year-olds reported that they used a library computer during the past year, typically to do school homework."
Ask any librarian, or read any of the stories about the budget cuts, and one message that stands out loud and clear is that the Internet at libraries is a lifeline for many. Here the unemployed look for jobs, and apply for jobs - many companies these days accept applications online only. Here people learn what many would consider rudimentary skills - how to attach a document to an email, for example. Is this what a library is supposed to do? Yes. The Internet has become an integral part of the library mission.
Internet support for libraries is national policy, going back to the 1996 Telecommunications Act and the amendment from current Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WVA) as well as former Nebraska senators, the late James Exon and Robert Kerrey. Today, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) is trying to update the policy for the 21st century.
But it would be a mistake to say that the Internet replaces libraries. It doesn't. It's an adjunct. More than one budget officer has said that people don't need libraries because they can go online. First, many people can't go online due to their economic circumstances. Second, librarians help to guide research. A simple online search will not always achieve desired results, as anyone who does this well knows. And libraries still have those quaint old things called books, many of which aren't online. The printed medium still has a lot of attraction for many, from the youngest readers whose parents check out armloads of picture books, to the serious readers and researchers who realize there is more to find than what's online.
It would also be a mistake to say that bookstores replace libraries. Nothing against bookstores, but they aren't a public resource. Quite obviously, who have to pay to enjoy the fruits of a bookstore. Libraries are there for everyone.
Politicians are loathe to raise money to pay for libraries. That's the kiss of death to an aroused citizenry that wants services but doesn't want to pay for them or, in some cases doesn't value them at all. Still, it's nice that around the country, people are protesting the cuts to their local libraries. In some cases, library lovers have formed foundations or other organizations to supplement their libraries. These are to be lauded, and supported, but they aren't a substitute for the public commitment that led to public libraries in the first place.
Let's give the last word to someone who has a secret ambition to be a librarian, but whose career went in a different direction. No less an authority than Keith Richards put it best in his forthcoming autobiography: "When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church, which belongs to God, and the public library, which belongs to you. The public library is a great equaliser."
Our Public Library Lifeline Is Fraying. We'll Be Sorry When it Snaps
by Art Brodsky, Communications Director, Public Knowledge
Posted: April 11, 2010
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/art-brodsky/our-public-library-lifeli_b_533529.html
This is National Library Week, a time normally reserved for celebrating an institution that plays a vital role in many of our cities, towns and counties. Instead, many libraries, particularly public libraries, are being decimated by budget cuts at a time when library services are needed most.
Libraries, once considered a necessity, are now seen as a luxury. They are low-hanging fruit for budget pluckers, particularly at the state and local levels of government in communities across the country. It's been a slow death by attrition over the past couple of years. First, it was the budget for books and materials because, after all, books and materials aren't people. No matter that books and materials are what makes a library, well, a library. Then came the hours of operation, then the staff, then the closure of branches. No two communities are approaching the situation identically, but in cities from Boston to Indianapolis, the stories are increasingly dire.
In Boston, the trustees voted to close four branches. There was lots of protest, and Mayor Thomas Menino still has to make the final call, but the situation doesn't look good.
The Florida legislature is considering eliminating state aid to libraries entirely, while the New Jersey legislature is only looking a at a 74 percent cut. Indianapolis and surrounding Marion County are also looking at closing six branches and cutting back programs and staff.
In my home community of Montgomery County, Maryland, formerly one of the wealthiest local jurisdictions, the County Council is looking at a budget for fiscal year 2011 of $29 million - down from $40 million just three years ago. This year, it is slated for a 23 percent cut - one of the largest of any agency, on top of cuts in the last fiscal year with percentage decreases larger than all but one county agency. And this is for a county of about one million residents in which 70 percent hold library cards. It's even worse across the river, in Fairfax County, Virgina, where libraries were declared a "discretionary" service while cutting 30 of 54 full-time librarians. Libraries discretionary? That's nuts.
These are only some of the stories. They are being repeated endlessly across the country, perhaps even where you live. Some places put a high value on their libraries. Contrast the $29 million of my county for the $51 million library budget in Seattle, a city of about 600,000. Sure, Seattle needed to cut the library budget, but the fact that they started out much higher than my home says something about their priorities. Sadly, Seattle is the exception, not the rule.
One problem for libraries in some jurisdictions is that they don't fit squarely into any one policymaker's domain, like public safety or a school system. Libraries serve a range of purposes - they help teach children to read, they help students work on projects, they provide meeting space for tutoring, they provide Internet access. They serve students, seniors, immigrants. They provide assistance to the unemployed. Libraries combine education, workforce development, socialization, recreation. But they aren't the school board, or a social services agency, and so generally get buried in the larger budgets.
The cuts come at a time when library use is increasing, for all types of services. The one that hits home the most these days is the crucial access to the Internet. A study by the Information School at the University of Washington found that: "Low-income adults are more likely to rely on the public library as their sole access to computers and the Internet than any other income group. Overall, 44 percent of people living below the federal poverty line used computers and the Internet at their public libraries."
In addition, the study reported: "Americans across all age groups reported they used library computers and Internet access. Teenagers are the most active users. Half of the nation's 14- to 18-year-olds reported that they used a library computer during the past year, typically to do school homework."
Ask any librarian, or read any of the stories about the budget cuts, and one message that stands out loud and clear is that the Internet at libraries is a lifeline for many. Here the unemployed look for jobs, and apply for jobs - many companies these days accept applications online only. Here people learn what many would consider rudimentary skills - how to attach a document to an email, for example. Is this what a library is supposed to do? Yes. The Internet has become an integral part of the library mission.
Internet support for libraries is national policy, going back to the 1996 Telecommunications Act and the amendment from current Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Jay Rockefeller (D-WVA) as well as former Nebraska senators, the late James Exon and Robert Kerrey. Today, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) is trying to update the policy for the 21st century.
But it would be a mistake to say that the Internet replaces libraries. It doesn't. It's an adjunct. More than one budget officer has said that people don't need libraries because they can go online. First, many people can't go online due to their economic circumstances. Second, librarians help to guide research. A simple online search will not always achieve desired results, as anyone who does this well knows. And libraries still have those quaint old things called books, many of which aren't online. The printed medium still has a lot of attraction for many, from the youngest readers whose parents check out armloads of picture books, to the serious readers and researchers who realize there is more to find than what's online.
It would also be a mistake to say that bookstores replace libraries. Nothing against bookstores, but they aren't a public resource. Quite obviously, who have to pay to enjoy the fruits of a bookstore. Libraries are there for everyone.
Politicians are loathe to raise money to pay for libraries. That's the kiss of death to an aroused citizenry that wants services but doesn't want to pay for them or, in some cases doesn't value them at all. Still, it's nice that around the country, people are protesting the cuts to their local libraries. In some cases, library lovers have formed foundations or other organizations to supplement their libraries. These are to be lauded, and supported, but they aren't a substitute for the public commitment that led to public libraries in the first place.
Let's give the last word to someone who has a secret ambition to be a librarian, but whose career went in a different direction. No less an authority than Keith Richards put it best in his forthcoming autobiography: "When you are growing up there are two institutional places that affect you most powerfully: the church, which belongs to God, and the public library, which belongs to you. The public library is a great equaliser."
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Dulcinea Media - a significant find at the TLA Conference!
A significant highlight of my experiences at this year's TLA Conference was meeting Mark Moran, President & CEO of Dulcinea Media, and seeing the online products his company provides without fee. Check out any or all of the following and see if you're not impressed:
http://www.dulcineamedia.com/
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/ & www.encontrandodulcinea.com/ - Be sure to review the index at the bottom of each page!
http://www.sweetsearch.com/
http://www.findingeducation.com/
According to their website, their mission is "to bring users the best information on the Web for any topic, employing human insight and methodical review." Information at www.findingDulcinea.com/employees.html, shows that they employee a team with appropriate expertise to tackle the challenge of meeting that mission.
For more information, read "8 Ways that Public Librarians Can Use Dulcinea Media to Serve Patrons" at http://blog,findingdulcinea.com/2010/04/8-ways-that-public-libraries-can-use-dulcinea-media-to-serve-their-patrons.html and "8 Ways a Week: Using Dulcinea Media in the Classroom" at http://blog.findingdulcinea.com/2010/04/8-ways-a-week-using-dulcinea-media-in-the-classroom.html.
http://www.dulcineamedia.com/
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/ & www.encontrandodulcinea.com/ - Be sure to review the index at the bottom of each page!
http://www.sweetsearch.com/
http://www.findingeducation.com/
According to their website, their mission is "to bring users the best information on the Web for any topic, employing human insight and methodical review." Information at www.findingDulcinea.com/employees.html, shows that they employee a team with appropriate expertise to tackle the challenge of meeting that mission.
For more information, read "8 Ways that Public Librarians Can Use Dulcinea Media to Serve Patrons" at http://blog,findingdulcinea.com/2010/04/8-ways-that-public-libraries-can-use-dulcinea-media-to-serve-their-patrons.html and "8 Ways a Week: Using Dulcinea Media in the Classroom" at http://blog.findingdulcinea.com/2010/04/8-ways-a-week-using-dulcinea-media-in-the-classroom.html.
Thursday, April 08, 2010
Hmmmm..Makes one think.........
As a follow-up to last night's Find a Job in Federal Libraries chat (please see the Wimba classroom off the SLIS Village homepage for the archive and the Career forum in the Village for the panelists' notes), please consider joining the Careers in Federal Libraries Google Group. The group's founder, Nancy Faget (also one of last night's panelists) describes the group below:
Students and job seekers may be interested in federal librarianship as a career choice because:
1. The average annual salary of a federal librarian is approximately $84,000
2. There are school, academic, medical, law, public, and special libraries in federal government
3. The Feds are hiring, even in this tough job market
An online group was set up to allow those interested in this career choice to continue the conversation with federal librarians. Educational presentations, resume reviews, and mentors are available on the Careers in Federal Libraries Google group. You may want to join and receive job announcements and career advice from federal librarians in ALA and SLA.
Students and job seekers may be interested in federal librarianship as a career choice because:
1. The average annual salary of a federal librarian is approximately $84,000
2. There are school, academic, medical, law, public, and special libraries in federal government
3. The Feds are hiring, even in this tough job market
An online group was set up to allow those interested in this career choice to continue the conversation with federal librarians. Educational presentations, resume reviews, and mentors are available on the Careers in Federal Libraries Google group. You may want to join and receive job announcements and career advice from federal librarians in ALA and SLA.
How Libraries Stack Up
Mentioned before (I think) but worth repeating..........
How Libraries Stack Up: 2010
This new report examines the economic, social and cultural impact of libraries in the United States. As the current economic environment is impacting library budgets and library usage is increasing, particular attention is paid to the role that libraries play in providing assistance to job-seekers and support for small businesses. Information includes statistics on:
•Americans receiving job-seeking help and career assistance at public libraries
•Libraries as a resource for small businesses
•The prevalence and scope of library activity in the United States
•Libraries as providers of free services to the community such as Wi-Fi access, technology training and meeting rooms
•Comparisons of library activities to various retail and entertainment businesses
How Libraries Stack Up: 2010
This new report examines the economic, social and cultural impact of libraries in the United States. As the current economic environment is impacting library budgets and library usage is increasing, particular attention is paid to the role that libraries play in providing assistance to job-seekers and support for small businesses. Information includes statistics on:
•Americans receiving job-seeking help and career assistance at public libraries
•Libraries as a resource for small businesses
•The prevalence and scope of library activity in the United States
•Libraries as providers of free services to the community such as Wi-Fi access, technology training and meeting rooms
•Comparisons of library activities to various retail and entertainment businesses
Recently updated at NTRLS.org
New things to see at NTRLS.org:
- Were you at the System Assembly in Denton last January? Visit the photos page and see our photographs. Look for 'photos' under the Resources menu.
- Our Librarian Live partners post new podcasts several times a month. Meet Kim Doner, the artist for the 2010 Texas Reading Club and learn about a wireless network device and a free web content filter that might be useful in your library. Recent Librarian Live podcasts are listed in the box on the right-hand-side of our web page. Click 'all podcasts' to get to the archive of the entire podcast series.
- TWDL - Texas Workskills Development in Libraries - is the program we developed through the SYNG grant to provide resource for libraries to help job seekers. See NTRLS.org for more information, or go straight to the TWDL website at http://www.twdl.org/.
- We're gearing up for this summer's Close the Book on Hunger campaign, to fight hunger and illiteracy in North Texas. See the project website at http://www.closethebookonhunger.org/ .
- A few of our libraries recently sent us updates on their websites and automation systems. Do we have correct information about your library? Look for 'Library Websites and OPACS' and ‘Automation Systems’ under the Members menu.
- The scrolling box on the left side of our website has links to the the latest items in the NTRLS Blog , Adam Wright's blog Notes of a Binge Thinker, and the Libraries for Literacy website. Check these blogs often so you won't miss anything.
- Our Sample Library Policies page now includes a sample policy for Social Software, thanks to Denton Public Library. Look for "Policies-Examples" under the "Resources" menu.
- At the March regional meetings, we received some questions about the differences between regional meetings and system assemblies. The Meeting Details page now has a brief description of these two kinds of meetings. Click 'Meeting Details' from the main Meetings Portal page, http://www.ntrls.org/meetings/.
- The dates for the next five regional conferences are on a handy flyer you can get to from our home page. The dates are also posted on the SIGS page - look for 'SIGS and Regional Conferences' under the Continuing Education menu. Or check each conference's website: LibraryPresentationsNetwork.com (for LP3), LibraryYouthServicesNetwork.com (for CYC), LibrarySupportersNetwork.com (for the Supporters Conference) and LibraryTechNetwork.com (for TechNet). These links are all on our home page at the bottom right.
- Remember to check the CE Portal often for upcoming workshops and conferences. Registration is now open for the TechNet conference in May, as well as workshops on Accessibility, Budgeting, Long Range Planning, and more!
Thanks for visiting North Texas Library Partners at http://www.ntrls.org/ !
Monday, April 05, 2010
Micro-Volunteering
>From a report commissioned by the James Irvine Foundation called, Convergence:
How Five Trends Will Reshape the Social Sector http://www.lapiana.org/downloads/Convergence_Report_2009.pdf
Options for volunteering are increasing along with the development of new technologies and online platforms for connecting interested individuals with causes, actions and communities of like-minded activists. Virtual volunteering, where tasks are undertaken at least partly online, is increasing in popularity, allowing individuals to find opportunities that are personally meaningful and a good fit for their skills, regardless of geography.
The even newer concept of micro-volunteering — where volunteers help out in small, convenient ways that do not require a long-term commitment to an organization or cause — is also growing. The economic downturn is likely to bolster this trend, as online engagement offers an opportunity to give back in one’s spare time, while reducing transportation costs and travel time.
How Five Trends Will Reshape the Social Sector http://www.lapiana.org/downloads/Convergence_Report_2009.pdf
Options for volunteering are increasing along with the development of new technologies and online platforms for connecting interested individuals with causes, actions and communities of like-minded activists. Virtual volunteering, where tasks are undertaken at least partly online, is increasing in popularity, allowing individuals to find opportunities that are personally meaningful and a good fit for their skills, regardless of geography.
The even newer concept of micro-volunteering — where volunteers help out in small, convenient ways that do not require a long-term commitment to an organization or cause — is also growing. The economic downturn is likely to bolster this trend, as online engagement offers an opportunity to give back in one’s spare time, while reducing transportation costs and travel time.
Thursday, April 01, 2010
A Book Free Future - we keep hearing this!
Librarians envision a book-free future
PORTLAND, Ore., April 1, 2010 (NW Newswire) -- Librarians in your town or city will soon be arguing for the elimination of books from your public library. In response to a call for action issued at a major librarians' conference in this city on Wednesday of last week, over 750 leaders in the field met in the Grand Portland Ballroom of the Oregon Convention Center to found a new advocacy group, the Redeployment of Library Resources for Renewal Round Table, or RDLRRRT, which will be affiliated with a major professional organization.
"As the interest in, and need for, literacy declines in the era of networked information sharing, public libraries must realign their priorities to better match the interests of their communities," said Lucia Ashton, a Seattle-area public library administrator tapped as first chair of RDLRRRT. "Thousands of shelves of books idly occupy millions of square feet of library space across the country, space that can be repurposed for greatly expanded public computing, coffee service, gaming, and suites of study and meeting rooms."
"Today's library patrons want what I call the Three C's -- computers, coffee, and community," noted Edgar Ravenswood, RDLRRRT member and public-relations coordinator. "The Three C's require space -- space now inefficiently occupied by books, few of which circulate at levels high enough to justify their continued existence," he asserted. "The cost/benefit analysis simply no longer supports books, whereas the Three C's show large, measurable social benefits for the space expended on them."
RDLRRRT member-at-large Art Bucklaw concurs. "At my library, entire mornings can transpire with not a single member of the public seen in some ranges of the bookstacks. Imagine that space devoted to computers, gaming, or conferencing, or simply to a good cup of coffee! We do our taxpayers no service by tying up expensive square footage with a medium no one uses or cares about," he observed. "Even Steve Jobs said 'people don't read anymore.' "
Ashton emphasized that there are now excellent alternative channels -- reading devices such as Kindle, Nook, and iPad, and inexpensive book lending services such as BookSwim -- available to the relatively few, representing an older and declining demographic, who still indulge in longform reading. "They can get more of what they want faster and cheaper through those channels, frankly, than through the public library," she remarked. "The public library has never been 'free.' Tax money is involved. Why not deploy that resource in the way our customers clearly want? Reading is moving in the direction of Twitter-size bites, and 'information' is whatever our users want it to be. These are just the kinds of activities we can support and promote with our computers, wifi, space, and tech savvy."
RDLRRRT's initial goal is the launching of several EPLOTs -- Experimental Prototype Libraries of Tomorrow -- around the United States. "We want to get a few libraries interested in the concept of completely clearing their facilities of books," Ashton stated. "RDLRRRT will assist the libraries in using the federal grants process to obtain funding for computers, wifi, game consoles, and coffee bars to fill the space once wasted on books."
"We are confident that the EPLOTs will see usage levels never before encountered in library service," Ravenswood asserted. "The EPLOTs will stand as proof-of-concept projects, and will serve notice as to just how relevant and -- may I say it? -- hip public libraries can be. Once they are book-free, the sky will be the limit."
I find this article interesting - while I agree people are reading less and listening more - MAYBE - the bookstores are awfully full when I go in with people reading and buying books - and many look under the age of 40 and quite trendy..............We certainly have more reference books than are necessary, and I firmly believe in weeding materials, "if in doubt, throw it out!" libraries as a generalization are not responsive to community needs - and some - not just ancient people - want books.......
PORTLAND, Ore., April 1, 2010 (NW Newswire) -- Librarians in your town or city will soon be arguing for the elimination of books from your public library. In response to a call for action issued at a major librarians' conference in this city on Wednesday of last week, over 750 leaders in the field met in the Grand Portland Ballroom of the Oregon Convention Center to found a new advocacy group, the Redeployment of Library Resources for Renewal Round Table, or RDLRRRT, which will be affiliated with a major professional organization.
"As the interest in, and need for, literacy declines in the era of networked information sharing, public libraries must realign their priorities to better match the interests of their communities," said Lucia Ashton, a Seattle-area public library administrator tapped as first chair of RDLRRRT. "Thousands of shelves of books idly occupy millions of square feet of library space across the country, space that can be repurposed for greatly expanded public computing, coffee service, gaming, and suites of study and meeting rooms."
"Today's library patrons want what I call the Three C's -- computers, coffee, and community," noted Edgar Ravenswood, RDLRRRT member and public-relations coordinator. "The Three C's require space -- space now inefficiently occupied by books, few of which circulate at levels high enough to justify their continued existence," he asserted. "The cost/benefit analysis simply no longer supports books, whereas the Three C's show large, measurable social benefits for the space expended on them."
RDLRRRT member-at-large Art Bucklaw concurs. "At my library, entire mornings can transpire with not a single member of the public seen in some ranges of the bookstacks. Imagine that space devoted to computers, gaming, or conferencing, or simply to a good cup of coffee! We do our taxpayers no service by tying up expensive square footage with a medium no one uses or cares about," he observed. "Even Steve Jobs said 'people don't read anymore.' "
Ashton emphasized that there are now excellent alternative channels -- reading devices such as Kindle, Nook, and iPad, and inexpensive book lending services such as BookSwim -- available to the relatively few, representing an older and declining demographic, who still indulge in longform reading. "They can get more of what they want faster and cheaper through those channels, frankly, than through the public library," she remarked. "The public library has never been 'free.' Tax money is involved. Why not deploy that resource in the way our customers clearly want? Reading is moving in the direction of Twitter-size bites, and 'information' is whatever our users want it to be. These are just the kinds of activities we can support and promote with our computers, wifi, space, and tech savvy."
RDLRRRT's initial goal is the launching of several EPLOTs -- Experimental Prototype Libraries of Tomorrow -- around the United States. "We want to get a few libraries interested in the concept of completely clearing their facilities of books," Ashton stated. "RDLRRRT will assist the libraries in using the federal grants process to obtain funding for computers, wifi, game consoles, and coffee bars to fill the space once wasted on books."
"We are confident that the EPLOTs will see usage levels never before encountered in library service," Ravenswood asserted. "The EPLOTs will stand as proof-of-concept projects, and will serve notice as to just how relevant and -- may I say it? -- hip public libraries can be. Once they are book-free, the sky will be the limit."
I find this article interesting - while I agree people are reading less and listening more - MAYBE - the bookstores are awfully full when I go in with people reading and buying books - and many look under the age of 40 and quite trendy..............We certainly have more reference books than are necessary, and I firmly believe in weeding materials, "if in doubt, throw it out!" libraries as a generalization are not responsive to community needs - and some - not just ancient people - want books.......
Telecommuting by the Numbers#
Telecommuting by the Numbers#: "Telecommuting by the Numbers
What the U.S. could save if more people worked from home
By Max Chafkin | Apr 1, 2010"
Great article about the impact if people starting working from home..........I like the idea of telecommuting but also feel a bit of dread as it seems everything is moving to non-people contact - stay in your home - work, IM, watch youtube, and keep the DVR going.......
I really like this fact though - as someone who oftens gets caught in traffic........100 hours per person not spent commuting
What the U.S. could save if more people worked from home
By Max Chafkin | Apr 1, 2010"
Great article about the impact if people starting working from home..........I like the idea of telecommuting but also feel a bit of dread as it seems everything is moving to non-people contact - stay in your home - work, IM, watch youtube, and keep the DVR going.......
I really like this fact though - as someone who oftens gets caught in traffic........100 hours per person not spent commuting
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Is Twitter Relevant?
Date: March 29, 2010 10:22:08 PM CDT
Subject: Boom! Tweets & Maps Swarm to Pinpoint a Mysterious Explosion
Source: ReadWriteWeb
Author: Marshall Kirkpatrick
What would you do if you heard a giant boom and you didn't know where it came from? If you're like thousands of people in Portland, Oregon, you might hit Twitter and Google Maps to participate in the city-wide exploration of a slightly frightening mystery. Last night at about 8 p.m., people in a big part of the city felt their windows shake and no one could tell them what caused it.
Was it a sonic boom? An angry deity? Even the mayor himself tweeted this morning that he was looking into the sound. In the meantime, thousands of people were using the hashtag #pdxboom and adding themselves to a hastily configured Google Map showing where they lived and how loud the boom had been there. In just a few hours, a pattern emerged, with reports clustering around one city park. This morning the police found a detonated pipe bomb there and cited the Google Map in their announcement.
Sponsor
Pausing the Stream
Reid Beels is a designer, geo-developer and one of the community organizers of Portland's forthcoming conference Open Source Bridge ("The conference for open source citizens").
Beels says he was sitting in a restaurant in southeast Portland when he heard the boom, and saw tweets streaming in about it within minutes. He searched Twitter for "boom" and "explosion," limiting the results by location. Within five minutes, he says, a hashtag had emerged: #pdxboom.
What was the #pdxboom, people wanted to know? Some people said it sounded like thunder. Lots of people said it sounded like an empty trash Dumpster crashing on the ground. They mentioned their locations in their Tweets and Beels quickly grew frustrated that all this data was just streaming into the ether, lost from analysis.
So he threw up a Google Map with instructions to put a pin in your location and describe how the boom sounded to you.
Within an hour 100 people had placed pins on the map. Beels and developer Audrey Eschright came up with a color coded system to describe the intensity of the sound, and began retroactively coloring in pins based on any comments people left.
Then they found out that Google Maps will only display the 200 most recent pins placed in a public map. Beels' friend Aaron Parecki wrote a script to download the map's data every fifteen minutes. That came in handy when a few hours later someone vandalized the map by dragging a large number of markers outside the town. It was trivial to roll back to the last valid data.
The local TV news and the newspaper ran stories about the boom, and pointed their audiences at the Google Map. Thousands of people visited it, and just under 1,000 added a pin marking where they where and how loud the boom had sounded to them.
It became clear that the boom originated near the Sellwood Bridge; a big cluster of red markers surrounded the area, especially to the east. Thousands of people are still streaming in to look at the map; at the end of the day it's now approaching 70,000 views, even if the mystery, if not the crime, is solved.
Some people thought it was a precursor Earthquake Boom. (I woke up convinced my basement bedroom was underground in an earthquake.) But the Portland police went to a park in the area most filled with red flags on the map and found a large, detonated, pipe bomb. A Portland police spokesperson said the maps and tweets were very helpful.
A topographic view of the map made some inclined to believe that cliffs across the river and low-hanging clouds combined to make the sound travel as far across the city and in the direction that it did.
That Was a Practice Run
Beels says two big lessons came out of the experience for him. First, the tools they used were easy and fast, but they were also quite limited. Google Maps in particular was capable of multi-user collaboration but did poorly when it came to displaying a large amount of data. As Eschright wrote after the action, "It's not the best platform for a couple hundred people, many without prior experience editing maps, to be using all at once."
Inspired by campaigns like CrisisCampPDX and the CrisisWiki, Beels says the community is interested in setting up an installation of open-source, crisis support software Ushahidi on standby in case a real crisis has to be dealt with.
Beels says he's inspired not just by what was done in this situation, but by what it revealed about the future. "The community of people who will search for things online and go out of their way to try to figure out what's going on," he says, "is larger than you might think."
Subject: Boom! Tweets & Maps Swarm to Pinpoint a Mysterious Explosion
Source: ReadWriteWeb
Author: Marshall Kirkpatrick
What would you do if you heard a giant boom and you didn't know where it came from? If you're like thousands of people in Portland, Oregon, you might hit Twitter and Google Maps to participate in the city-wide exploration of a slightly frightening mystery. Last night at about 8 p.m., people in a big part of the city felt their windows shake and no one could tell them what caused it.
Was it a sonic boom? An angry deity? Even the mayor himself tweeted this morning that he was looking into the sound. In the meantime, thousands of people were using the hashtag #pdxboom and adding themselves to a hastily configured Google Map showing where they lived and how loud the boom had been there. In just a few hours, a pattern emerged, with reports clustering around one city park. This morning the police found a detonated pipe bomb there and cited the Google Map in their announcement.
Sponsor
Pausing the Stream
Reid Beels is a designer, geo-developer and one of the community organizers of Portland's forthcoming conference Open Source Bridge ("The conference for open source citizens").
Beels says he was sitting in a restaurant in southeast Portland when he heard the boom, and saw tweets streaming in about it within minutes. He searched Twitter for "boom" and "explosion," limiting the results by location. Within five minutes, he says, a hashtag had emerged: #pdxboom.
What was the #pdxboom, people wanted to know? Some people said it sounded like thunder. Lots of people said it sounded like an empty trash Dumpster crashing on the ground. They mentioned their locations in their Tweets and Beels quickly grew frustrated that all this data was just streaming into the ether, lost from analysis.
So he threw up a Google Map with instructions to put a pin in your location and describe how the boom sounded to you.
Within an hour 100 people had placed pins on the map. Beels and developer Audrey Eschright came up with a color coded system to describe the intensity of the sound, and began retroactively coloring in pins based on any comments people left.
Then they found out that Google Maps will only display the 200 most recent pins placed in a public map. Beels' friend Aaron Parecki wrote a script to download the map's data every fifteen minutes. That came in handy when a few hours later someone vandalized the map by dragging a large number of markers outside the town. It was trivial to roll back to the last valid data.
The local TV news and the newspaper ran stories about the boom, and pointed their audiences at the Google Map. Thousands of people visited it, and just under 1,000 added a pin marking where they where and how loud the boom had sounded to them.
It became clear that the boom originated near the Sellwood Bridge; a big cluster of red markers surrounded the area, especially to the east. Thousands of people are still streaming in to look at the map; at the end of the day it's now approaching 70,000 views, even if the mystery, if not the crime, is solved.
Some people thought it was a precursor Earthquake Boom. (I woke up convinced my basement bedroom was underground in an earthquake.) But the Portland police went to a park in the area most filled with red flags on the map and found a large, detonated, pipe bomb. A Portland police spokesperson said the maps and tweets were very helpful.
A topographic view of the map made some inclined to believe that cliffs across the river and low-hanging clouds combined to make the sound travel as far across the city and in the direction that it did.
That Was a Practice Run
Beels says two big lessons came out of the experience for him. First, the tools they used were easy and fast, but they were also quite limited. Google Maps in particular was capable of multi-user collaboration but did poorly when it came to displaying a large amount of data. As Eschright wrote after the action, "It's not the best platform for a couple hundred people, many without prior experience editing maps, to be using all at once."
Inspired by campaigns like CrisisCampPDX and the CrisisWiki, Beels says the community is interested in setting up an installation of open-source, crisis support software Ushahidi on standby in case a real crisis has to be dealt with.
Beels says he's inspired not just by what was done in this situation, but by what it revealed about the future. "The community of people who will search for things online and go out of their way to try to figure out what's going on," he says, "is larger than you might think."
Friday, March 26, 2010
PLA Day 2 - my feet hurt!
Okay, I am ready to eat crow - the first session I wanted to attend was too full - so I guess there ARE alot of people here. I have to say I have attended really good sessions today.
The first one was "Oh, I Wish I'd Said.....(aka: Dealing With Difficult People by Pam Parr and Gail Johnson - these ladies are funny! They also suggested two sentences can help handle almost any situation.......and they are: 1. I am sorry that happened and 2. I can take care of that for you. Neither of these mean you or the library is at fault - but that you are sorry about the situation and will take care of it - even if that means calling the police. Many people feel upset if they think they weren't treated "fairly". But fairness is in the eye of the beholder.........so ask them what they think is fair.
Next I have attended an update on Paco Underhill's Envirosell and their library study "Why We Borrow" - for those that know me you know I often refer to his book Why We Buy. Very insightful information - I plan to incorporate more of this into the Image Audits that I do with libraries. One comment made is "retail" is not a four letter word! Look at how your users use the library space and respond accordingly.
A side note: I am becoming quite the seasoned transit rider - it is so nice - we need this system in North Texas. The rail police even talked to me this morning - and thankfully I had bought the right ticket! : )
The first one was "Oh, I Wish I'd Said.....(aka: Dealing With Difficult People by Pam Parr and Gail Johnson - these ladies are funny! They also suggested two sentences can help handle almost any situation.......and they are: 1. I am sorry that happened and 2. I can take care of that for you. Neither of these mean you or the library is at fault - but that you are sorry about the situation and will take care of it - even if that means calling the police. Many people feel upset if they think they weren't treated "fairly". But fairness is in the eye of the beholder.........so ask them what they think is fair.
Next I have attended an update on Paco Underhill's Envirosell and their library study "Why We Borrow" - for those that know me you know I often refer to his book Why We Buy. Very insightful information - I plan to incorporate more of this into the Image Audits that I do with libraries. One comment made is "retail" is not a four letter word! Look at how your users use the library space and respond accordingly.
A side note: I am becoming quite the seasoned transit rider - it is so nice - we need this system in North Texas. The rail police even talked to me this morning - and thankfully I had bought the right ticket! : )
Thursday, March 25, 2010
I am at PLA!
I arrived today at PLA and hit the ground running.............and I am proud to say that I have the light rail connections figured out.
I attended a couple sessions and visited several exhibitors - and yes, grabbed some freebies. There seems to be a common thread running tnrough the sessions - survival in tough times. It may also be my imagination but it seems like there are fewer people here - an example of a tough time in library world? One thing I have definitely taken away from the sessions is that it takes the dedication of all of us to keep our libraries relevant and growing. Speakers are building morale and being supportive - truly cheering on all of the hard working staff.
Also discussion of a revolution is prevalent - to dewey or not, support your supporters and tell non-supporters to take a hike, grow civic activities together and so on............
Oh yea, the really important stuff - went to voodoo donuts - the best one I had was the dirty rotten bastard - a concoction of chocolate, peanut butter and I am not even sure what all - yum! Popular local joint as we waited in line for 30 minutes - there is ALWAYS a line apparently.
Hopefully will get more rest and will have a very pruductive day tomorrow.....
No problems.............they seem to say that phrase alot up here.............
I attended a couple sessions and visited several exhibitors - and yes, grabbed some freebies. There seems to be a common thread running tnrough the sessions - survival in tough times. It may also be my imagination but it seems like there are fewer people here - an example of a tough time in library world? One thing I have definitely taken away from the sessions is that it takes the dedication of all of us to keep our libraries relevant and growing. Speakers are building morale and being supportive - truly cheering on all of the hard working staff.
Also discussion of a revolution is prevalent - to dewey or not, support your supporters and tell non-supporters to take a hike, grow civic activities together and so on............
Oh yea, the really important stuff - went to voodoo donuts - the best one I had was the dirty rotten bastard - a concoction of chocolate, peanut butter and I am not even sure what all - yum! Popular local joint as we waited in line for 30 minutes - there is ALWAYS a line apparently.
Hopefully will get more rest and will have a very pruductive day tomorrow.....
No problems.............they seem to say that phrase alot up here.............
New Program
TWDL
The Texas Workskills Development in Libraries, better known as TWDL (pronounced Twiddle), has begun. It is a cooperative effort by North Texas Regional Library System, Big Country Library System, Houston Area Library System, Northeast Texas Library System, Texas Trans-Pecos Library System, and the West Texas Library System. It is made possible by a grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
TWDL was created to help Texas residents obtain information and learn better ways to look for a job as well as providing ways to improve their job skills. The project supports Texas library staff, management and volunteers in gathering job training resources that can be easily accessed and offered to all Texans.
Carolyn Davidson Brewer, Assistant Director at NTRLS, has developed and scheduled a series of more than 52 free workshops thoughout North Texas to provide information about resume writing, interviewing strategies, job searching and much more.
One of the most exciting developments of TWDL is the web site www.twdl.org. In addition to information, another highlight online is the links to self-paced tutorials, lists of agencies offering free training by region and much more. Because each library system offers different programs all over the state, go to www.twdl.org to see what is available in your area. The TWDL web site allows all to access the valuable information 24/7.
At NTRLS we are seeing tremendous success early in this project. Workshops are full and even when a workshop has ended, people stay to talk to Carolyn to try to get additional personalized information. She is often on location an hour after the workshops end.
If a librarian needs help getting information about TWDL to their communities, promotional materials have been developed that are easily personalized for every participating library to use in their community. The materials include bookmarks, flyers, and posters.
The need for this service is great and to quote Adam Wright, Executive Director at NTRLS, “The public library has always been known as a resource for providing quality information and now during these economically stressful times, we wanted to provide work skill information that will help people become employed or improve their skills.”
If you would like more information about TWDL, please call Aera Yoon at the North Texas Regional Library System at 817.377.4440.
The Texas Workskills Development in Libraries, better known as TWDL (pronounced Twiddle), has begun. It is a cooperative effort by North Texas Regional Library System, Big Country Library System, Houston Area Library System, Northeast Texas Library System, Texas Trans-Pecos Library System, and the West Texas Library System. It is made possible by a grant from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
TWDL was created to help Texas residents obtain information and learn better ways to look for a job as well as providing ways to improve their job skills. The project supports Texas library staff, management and volunteers in gathering job training resources that can be easily accessed and offered to all Texans.
Carolyn Davidson Brewer, Assistant Director at NTRLS, has developed and scheduled a series of more than 52 free workshops thoughout North Texas to provide information about resume writing, interviewing strategies, job searching and much more.
One of the most exciting developments of TWDL is the web site www.twdl.org. In addition to information, another highlight online is the links to self-paced tutorials, lists of agencies offering free training by region and much more. Because each library system offers different programs all over the state, go to www.twdl.org to see what is available in your area. The TWDL web site allows all to access the valuable information 24/7.
At NTRLS we are seeing tremendous success early in this project. Workshops are full and even when a workshop has ended, people stay to talk to Carolyn to try to get additional personalized information. She is often on location an hour after the workshops end.
If a librarian needs help getting information about TWDL to their communities, promotional materials have been developed that are easily personalized for every participating library to use in their community. The materials include bookmarks, flyers, and posters.
The need for this service is great and to quote Adam Wright, Executive Director at NTRLS, “The public library has always been known as a resource for providing quality information and now during these economically stressful times, we wanted to provide work skill information that will help people become employed or improve their skills.”
If you would like more information about TWDL, please call Aera Yoon at the North Texas Regional Library System at 817.377.4440.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
From no library to showcase library!
Almost exactly five years ago, Bedford (TX) residents in favor of a tax rollback won that election by 10 votes. As a result, the Bedford (TX) City Council voted 4-3 to close the Bedford Public Library and several other city services in order to repay 3.5 million dollars collected before the rollback was put in place.
Since then, library supporters have succeeded not only in getting the 17,000 square foot library re-opened but also in urging the City to purchase a former Food Lion building and contracting to have it redesigned as a 40,500 square foot library.
Last night, March 23, 2010, the Bedford (TX) City Council approved the $1.9 million dollar grant for a 244.75 kw solar panel system from the State Energy and Conservation Office for the new Bedford Public Library. The non-roof penetrating solar system will save 343,384 kw annually.
The new library will be a showcase for the community on sustainable and energy efficient green technologies combining geothermal wells, a reflective roof, energy efficient lighting and solar panels. You've come a long way, Bedford!
For more information about the geothermal project, visit http://www.bedfordlibrary.org/assets/PDFs/GeothermalPres.pdf .
For more information about the entire renovation, click on the links in the lower portion of http://www.bedfordlibrary.org/ .
BTW: The floor plan for the new library originated in the focus group made up of Bedford teens.
Since then, library supporters have succeeded not only in getting the 17,000 square foot library re-opened but also in urging the City to purchase a former Food Lion building and contracting to have it redesigned as a 40,500 square foot library.
Last night, March 23, 2010, the Bedford (TX) City Council approved the $1.9 million dollar grant for a 244.75 kw solar panel system from the State Energy and Conservation Office for the new Bedford Public Library. The non-roof penetrating solar system will save 343,384 kw annually.
The new library will be a showcase for the community on sustainable and energy efficient green technologies combining geothermal wells, a reflective roof, energy efficient lighting and solar panels. You've come a long way, Bedford!
For more information about the geothermal project, visit http://www.bedfordlibrary.org/assets/PDFs/GeothermalPres.pdf .
For more information about the entire renovation, click on the links in the lower portion of http://www.bedfordlibrary.org/ .
BTW: The floor plan for the new library originated in the focus group made up of Bedford teens.
Visit NTRLS.org before March is over!
Be sure to check out the NTRLS website before the end of the month so you don't miss the March news.
Libraries other than public libraries can now become members of NTRLS. It's free and easy for academic, school and special libraries to join the community that determines NTRLS programs and services. See http://www.ntrls.org/membership/ for membership criteria and membership application forms – or look for 'Criteria for Membership' under the 'Members' menu.
Award nominations are open through April 12. See http://www.ntrls.org/awards/ or look for 'Award Nomination Form' under the Resources menu. Awards will be presented at the Awards Luncheon following the System Assembly on May 27.
There's about a week left for this month's theme – Comparing Office Software Suites, in which we compare Microsoft Office, OpenOffice and GoogleDocs in our theme article and podcast. You should also check the column from Adam Wright and Adam Beatty's story about keeping Internet Explorer 8 in good working order.
We're putting together the web theme for April. Come back to NTRLS.org after April 1 to see it!
Libraries other than public libraries can now become members of NTRLS. It's free and easy for academic, school and special libraries to join the community that determines NTRLS programs and services. See http://www.ntrls.org/membership/ for membership criteria and membership application forms – or look for 'Criteria for Membership' under the 'Members' menu.
Award nominations are open through April 12. See http://www.ntrls.org/awards/ or look for 'Award Nomination Form' under the Resources menu. Awards will be presented at the Awards Luncheon following the System Assembly on May 27.
There's about a week left for this month's theme – Comparing Office Software Suites, in which we compare Microsoft Office, OpenOffice and GoogleDocs in our theme article and podcast. You should also check the column from Adam Wright and Adam Beatty's story about keeping Internet Explorer 8 in good working order.
We're putting together the web theme for April. Come back to NTRLS.org after April 1 to see it!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
Librarians may come in contact with homeless Veterans, Veterans at risk of homelessness and/or families and friends of Veterans who may be homeless or at risk. Below is information to share:
While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has not yet made a formal announcement about it, the National Homeless Veteran Call Center and Homeless Veteran Chatline Service are up and running and the telephone number and related information are on the VA website.
To access it, log onto www.va.gov, scroll down to the right hand corner to Special Programs. Click on Homeless Veterans. Once on that page, click the third bullet (left hand side) – National Call Center for Homeless Veterans—under Useful Links.
While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has not yet made a formal announcement about it, the National Homeless Veteran Call Center and Homeless Veteran Chatline Service are up and running and the telephone number and related information are on the VA website.
To access it, log onto www.va.gov, scroll down to the right hand corner to Special Programs. Click on Homeless Veterans. Once on that page, click the third bullet (left hand side) – National Call Center for Homeless Veterans—under Useful Links.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Finding Jobs | Texas Workskills Development in Libraries
Finding Jobs | Texas Workskills Development in Libraries: "If you use Twitter, you can sign up for job notifications with TweetmyJobs.com.
The TweetMyJOBS service lets job seekers receive instant notifications on their phone when new jobs are posted online via the popular micro-messaging service Twitter. The company aggregates the Twitter-based job postings from over 7000 companies and maintains over 8250 specific job channels within those companies, all of which are searchable via their website."
How TweetMyJOBS Works
The TweetMyJOBS service lets job seekers receive instant notifications on their phone when new jobs are posted online via the popular micro-messaging service Twitter. The company aggregates the Twitter-based job postings from over 7000 companies and maintains over 8250 specific job channels within those companies, all of which are searchable via their website.
However, it's the job matching service that makes TweetMyJOBS worth using for those in need of work. Instead of having to follow potentially hundreds of Twitter accounts belonging to companies, the service will match a Twitter user's interests with the available jobs posted to Twitter. Users can also specify a particular geographic region where they prefer to work. They can even use the service to post their resume to Twitter. When a job seeker and a job listing match up, the user is alerted via a text message sent to their phone via Twitter.
For job posters, there are fees involved for adding listings just like there are with any other job board. At present, it costs $4000 to list 500 jobs and $8000 for unlimited job postings. Single posts are $1.99. In return, companies are able to directly connect with qualified candidates while also tracking the clicks on the jobs they list.
Sears Holdings: 7000 Jobs Now, Hundreds of Thousands to Come
At launch time, Sears Holdings has posted 7000 jobs to TweetMyJOBS. The lineup includes everything from cashiers to vice presidents, a company representative tells us. And this is just the beginning. Over the course of the year, the company will continue adding all their available jobs to the service. Since, as noted above, the company posts hundreds of thousands of jobs per year, they will soon have thousands more to post to TweetMyJOBS.
In today's tough, competitive hiring market, a service like this can give motivated job seekers an edge. Since it allows for instant notification when a job is made available online, users of TweetMyJOBS can be among the first to apply to available positions. They can also rest assured that the jobs sourced are from reputable companies assures Rich Trombetta, TweetMyJOBS co-founder. Unlike on many job boards today, filled with questionable get-rich-quick schemes, work from home offers and other spam, only legitimate jobs are made available on his service. "We are very careful about the types of jobs we list on the site," Trombettarecently told the Chicago Tribune. "We eliminate the spam."
Interested job seekers can sign up for the service here at TweetMyJOBS.com
The TweetMyJOBS service lets job seekers receive instant notifications on their phone when new jobs are posted online via the popular micro-messaging service Twitter. The company aggregates the Twitter-based job postings from over 7000 companies and maintains over 8250 specific job channels within those companies, all of which are searchable via their website."
How TweetMyJOBS Works
The TweetMyJOBS service lets job seekers receive instant notifications on their phone when new jobs are posted online via the popular micro-messaging service Twitter. The company aggregates the Twitter-based job postings from over 7000 companies and maintains over 8250 specific job channels within those companies, all of which are searchable via their website.
However, it's the job matching service that makes TweetMyJOBS worth using for those in need of work. Instead of having to follow potentially hundreds of Twitter accounts belonging to companies, the service will match a Twitter user's interests with the available jobs posted to Twitter. Users can also specify a particular geographic region where they prefer to work. They can even use the service to post their resume to Twitter. When a job seeker and a job listing match up, the user is alerted via a text message sent to their phone via Twitter.
For job posters, there are fees involved for adding listings just like there are with any other job board. At present, it costs $4000 to list 500 jobs and $8000 for unlimited job postings. Single posts are $1.99. In return, companies are able to directly connect with qualified candidates while also tracking the clicks on the jobs they list.
Sears Holdings: 7000 Jobs Now, Hundreds of Thousands to Come
At launch time, Sears Holdings has posted 7000 jobs to TweetMyJOBS. The lineup includes everything from cashiers to vice presidents, a company representative tells us. And this is just the beginning. Over the course of the year, the company will continue adding all their available jobs to the service. Since, as noted above, the company posts hundreds of thousands of jobs per year, they will soon have thousands more to post to TweetMyJOBS.
In today's tough, competitive hiring market, a service like this can give motivated job seekers an edge. Since it allows for instant notification when a job is made available online, users of TweetMyJOBS can be among the first to apply to available positions. They can also rest assured that the jobs sourced are from reputable companies assures Rich Trombetta, TweetMyJOBS co-founder. Unlike on many job boards today, filled with questionable get-rich-quick schemes, work from home offers and other spam, only legitimate jobs are made available on his service. "We are very careful about the types of jobs we list on the site," Trombettarecently told the Chicago Tribune. "We eliminate the spam."
Interested job seekers can sign up for the service here at TweetMyJOBS.com
Thursday, March 18, 2010
LoKast : The Disposable Social Network
LoKast : The Disposable Social Network
Written by Mike Melanson / March 18, 2010 11:29 AM
Here's an idea for you: instead of slowly amassing followers, like on Twitter, or carefully culling your friends list over time on Facebook, making sure everyone is in their appropriate list and category, collect and dispose of friends like you ask for the time or a spare cigarette on a busy city street.
That's what Lokast, the self-described "disposable" social network lets you do - carry your throw-away lifestyle over into the digital world.
The LoKast iPhone app was released earlier this week at the South By South West festival in Austin and is the perfect app for finding yourself among throbbing masses of the technologically inclined. But what is this disposable thing? From the email we received this week on the app's release:
Disposable? Yes. That means unlike Facebook which is friends and family, this app is about finding random people in close range and being able to share and see parts of their public digital profile including downloading their public-share videos, music and pictures. The best part, is that after you're in that close range, you may never see them again. IE: Disposable.
According to the press release, the name is short for "local casting", as opposed to broadcasting, and "aims to eliminate the need for physical media sharing, thereby eradicating physical CDs, plastic cases, video DVDs or waiting to get back to a PC computer to share and experience content."
Written by Mike Melanson / March 18, 2010 11:29 AM
Here's an idea for you: instead of slowly amassing followers, like on Twitter, or carefully culling your friends list over time on Facebook, making sure everyone is in their appropriate list and category, collect and dispose of friends like you ask for the time or a spare cigarette on a busy city street.
That's what Lokast, the self-described "disposable" social network lets you do - carry your throw-away lifestyle over into the digital world.
The LoKast iPhone app was released earlier this week at the South By South West festival in Austin and is the perfect app for finding yourself among throbbing masses of the technologically inclined. But what is this disposable thing? From the email we received this week on the app's release:
Disposable? Yes. That means unlike Facebook which is friends and family, this app is about finding random people in close range and being able to share and see parts of their public digital profile including downloading their public-share videos, music and pictures. The best part, is that after you're in that close range, you may never see them again. IE: Disposable.
According to the press release, the name is short for "local casting", as opposed to broadcasting, and "aims to eliminate the need for physical media sharing, thereby eradicating physical CDs, plastic cases, video DVDs or waiting to get back to a PC computer to share and experience content."
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