Monthly Archives: August 2013

10 Futuristic Libraries

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I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many different types of libraries around the world and I really enjoy the architecture and design of today’s modern libraries. Many libraries today are striving to be innovative and cutting-edge though the design of their buildings as well as their services and resources. Here are ten libraries that look as if they have been transported back from the future.

1) Vennesla Library and Culture House

vennesla

Located in Vennesla, Norway, the Vennesla Library and Culture House looks like something out of a futuristic sci-fi movie. This unusual space contains a library, a café, meeting spaces, administrative areas, and links to an existing community house and learning centre. More coverage here.

 

2 ) University of Chicago Mansueto Library

mansueto

The Library at the University of Chicago has been designed to maximize the physical space in the library sporting an 8,000-square-foot main reading room under a glass paneled dome. But keeping scholars in mind, the library has a massive underground storage facility holding 3.5 million volumes which are retrieved by by robotic systems. More coverage here.

 

3) Stuttgart City Library

stuttgart
The Stuttgart City Library is a stunning new media center located with a five-story atrium and an all-white interior. This futuristic-looking library is located in Stuttgart, Germany. More coverage here.

 

4) Matadero Theater and Library

matadero

Dark walls and flooring in the interior of the Matadero Theater and Library are illuminated by bright lights set in contrast for a dramatic effect. This incandescent library is located in Madrid, Spain. More coverage here.

 

5) Philological Library of the Free University

philological
Located on the campus of the Free University of Berlin in Germany, the Philological Library was designed in the shape of a human brain by architect Norman Foster. The library’s collection is over 700,000 volumes. More coverage here.

 

6) Kanazawa Umimirai Library

kanazawa
Located in Kanazawa, Japan, this stunning library building is perforated with 6,000 holes in its concrete exterior which are filled with glass to provide natural light to its 12 metre-high reading room. More coverage here.

 

7) Seattle Central Library

seattle_central

Seattle Public Library’s Central Library branch is a stunning 11-story, glass and steel information mecca. With over 1.5 million books in its 4-story “Books Spiral”, 400 public access computers, automatic book sorting and conveyance, and self-checkout for patrons, Seattle Central embodies the idea of the modern library. I had a chance to visit this library last month while attending the AALL Annual Conference and it was absolutely breathtaking. More coverage here.

 

8) Dalian Public Library

dalian

Located in Dalian, China, this modern library was designed to weave itself into the surrounding ground area in order to root itself and create a series of courtyards and topographic undulations, drawing visitors in to its unique environment. More coverage here.

 

9) The Royal Danish Library (The Black Diamond)

danish

An extension of the Royal Danish Library, the largest library in the Nordic countries, the Black Diamond sits on the waterfront of Copenhagen. The black granite exterior reflects the water of the harbor and it absolutely stunning. I was lucky enough to visit this library when I was in Copenhagen, and it’s a sight to see! More coverage here.

 

10) Nam June Paik Library

nam

Made up of cubes of transparent blocks, the Nam June Paik Library in the Nam June Paik Art Center in Yong-In, South Korea holds 3,000 books and exhibition catalogues as well as periodicals and audio video materials. This unusual space houses reading areas, computer stations, video screens and book shelves, all of which are incorporated into the library’s transparent blocked walls. More coverage here.

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Do-It-Yourself GIS: 20 Free Tools & Data Sources for Creating Data Maps

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The world of mapping and presenting data sets through geographical representations is no longer relegated to GIS librarians and highly trained technologists. New free and open source applications now make it possible to create complex and robust data visualizations in the form of maps that display statistics and poll results. Here’s a guide to 20 free applications and data sources.

    Data Visualization Tools

    tableau
    Click for Interactive map.

  1. Tableau Public
    This free, highly sophisticated software enables the lay person to create very complex graphical representations of data sets in minutes. The above image is actually an interactive map that I created in just a few minutes (after watching the tutorial video) with a data set I downloaded from the CIA World Fact Book comparing internet users in countries worldwide. Data can be uploaded in many forms including Excel spreadsheets, text documents, and Microsoft Access and can be displayed on a map, as well as bar, area, line, or pie charts, as tables, treemaps and more. See the gallery of visualizations here.

    2.  

    fusion_tables

  2. Google Fusion Tables
    Google’s experimental Fusion Tables functionality allows you to upload an Excel spreadsheet and instantly create charts and maps from the data set. It was incredibly easy to create the above map after searching the NOAA database for statistics on tsunami locations within the past 10 years.

    3.  

    heat_map
    Click for Interactive Map.

  3. Open Heat Maps
    This simple and straightforward map generator lets you quickly upload your Excel or Google Docs spreadsheet and adjust the colors and settings for your custom map. It took less than 5 minutes to create the above map with data on country military expenditures generated from the CIA World Fact Book. See the gallery of other heat maps here.

    4.  

    many_eyes
    Click for Interactive Map.

  4. Many Eyes
    This free Web-based application is a bit more sophisticated than some of the other tools available, and therefore has a steeper learning curve. Many eyes enables users to create detailed, interactive maps by uploading a spreadsheet and then specifying your preferred visualization type. This map of worldwide religious affiliations was created in just 20 minutes with a data set from ARDA. Additionally, simple maps can be created on the ARDA website in the GIS Maps section.

    5.  

    imf_data_mapper_001

  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) Data Mapper
    Instantly create robust maps using the IMF Data Mapper tool on their website. Users cannot upload their own data sets, but instead can use any of the reports and data within the IMF site.

    6.  

    gunnmap

  6. GunnMap 2
    This Web-based application is very straightforward and easy to use. Simply paste in your data set or use one of the example sets to create a robust, color-coded map. This worldwide population map took under two minutes to customize and the final map is clickable and interactive.

    7.  

    Data Sources

  7. Data.gov: The Data.gov website has 210,912 datasets that are open and freely available for download and use. Many of the data sets are viewable via interactive maps.
  8. ARDA - The Association of Religion Data Archives: This website has also got its own GIS Maps section where users can plot religious data sets over neighborhood and/or world maps.
  9. Census.gov: The US Census Bureau’s website holds the most recent version of the US census which is freely downloadable for visitors. They also have a data visualizations gallery where they spotlight infographics and maps in which Census Bureau data sets have been used.
  10. CIA World Factbook: The World Factbook, is prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency and provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.
  11. Eurostat: Eurostat’s mission is to be the leading provider of high quality statistics on the European Union and candidate countries.
  12. Global Health Observatory: This collection has over 50 datasets on priority health topics including mortality and burden of diseases, the Millennium Development Goals (child nutrition, child health, maternal and reproductive health, immunization, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, neglected diseases, water and sanitation), non communicable diseases and risk factors, epidemic-prone diseases, health systems, environmental health, violence and injuries, equity among others.
  13. Harvard Dataverse Network: This is a repository for sharing, citing and preserving research data; open to all scientific data from all disciplines worldwide. It includes the world’s largest collection of social science research data.
  14. HUD.gov: The U.S. Dept of Housing and Urban Development offers quite a few downloadable data sets.
  15. International Monetary Fund (IMF) Data: The IMF (International Monetary Fund) publishes a range of time series data on IMF lending, exchange rates and other economic and financial indicators.
  16. NOAA: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) is the world’s largest provider of weather and climate data. Land-based, marine, model, radar, weather balloon, satellite, and paleoclimatic are just a few of the types of datasets available.
  17. NYC Open Data: This collection has over 800 sets of data pertaining to New York City, most of which can be viewed as an interactive map. Sets include graffiti locations, locations of toilets in public parks, wifi hotspot locations, subway entrances, and more.
  18. The Roper Center: This open collection has 19,000 datasets reflecting public opinion and social trends including Gallup polls dating back to 1936, Roper Reports and more.
  19. UNdata: The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD) of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) launched a new internet based data service for the global user community to provide free access to global statistics.
  20. The World Bank Data Collection: The Data Catalog provides download access to over 8,000 indicators from World Bank data sets, searchable by country, indicators, or topic.

For even more..

Ten Places to Find and Create Data Visualizations

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35 Library Stories You May Have Missed in July

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This summer has been fantastic for library news, blogs posts, and articles. If you’re just getting caught up, here’s a list of library-related stories that will keep you busy!

 

table

 

  1. 30 Things Librarians Love – I love this one, it reminds me of the post that I put together in November titled: 5 Annoying Things You Have Every Right to Do Because You’re a Librarian.
  2. Creating Game-Based Makerspaces
  3. Today’s Computer Commons is Tomorrow’s Card Catalog
  4. 15 Gorgeous Photos Of The Old Cincinnati Library
  5. To Be Or Not To Be A Library Director
  6. Hoopla wants to be a free Netflix for library users
  7. Few students likely to use print books for research
  8. Image, Public Perception, and Lego Librarians
  9. Another Perspective on Library-Press “Partnerships”
  10. Libraries & Privacy in the Internet Age
  11. Launch of DCPL’s Digital Commons opens doors to cutting-edge technology
  12. Amazon vs. your public library
  13. Book Recommendation Engines Compared
  14. The ‘Other’ E-Book Pricing Problem
  15. 50 Places Every Literary Fan Should Visit
  16. 12 Tales of Book Thievery
  17. The meandering library table
  18. Libraries Partner with Local Airports
  19. Advice on Being a Solo Library Technologist
  20. Introducing Library CMS. A Drupal CMS Built For Librarians
  21. Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Libraries
  22. The Librarian Shortage Myth & Blaming Library School
  23. A Quick Guide to Green Libraries
  24. 15 Cool Ways Libraries Can Use Vine to Create Social Videos
  25. 10 Great Slidedecks from SLA 2013
  26. 5 Awesome Librarian Business Cards
  27. 42 Library Stories You May Have Missed in June
  28. 62 of the World’s Most Beautiful Libraries
  29. How Book Covers Have to Evolve in the Digital Age
  30. 25 Most Popular Apps Used By Librarians
  31. 40 Great Apps for Mobile Reference and Outreach
  32. Libraries Partner with Local Airports
  33. 500+ ebooks for school librarians to read, review
  34. Big Six eBooks in libraries, a comparison chart
  35. Can Libraries Survive the E-Book Revolution?

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Mega Summer Reading List of 23,000 Post-Apocalyptic, Plague, and Pandemic Books

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plague2
Image Credit: Io9

I love post-apocalyptic fiction in the form of novels, films, comics, and video games. I’m a huge fan of The Walking Dead, Fallout 3, Under the Dome, Falling Skies, etc. I have gathered reviews and recommendations for hundreds of titles for my own summer reading list that I thought others might enjoy as well.  This post will highlight some of my favorite post-apocalyptic novels, but then also provide resources and lists where you can find over 23,000 more!!

My favorites

I Am Legend
legend

This short story by Richard Matheson has been one of my all-time favorites since I was a teenager.  It’s the story of the last surviving man on Earth who is being hunted by the rest of the world’s inhabitants who have been turned into vampires following an apocalyptic event.  Also, the Charlton Heston film The Omega Man, also one of my all-time favorites was based on this story, as was the recent Will Smith flick I Am Legend.

 

 

The Stand
stand

Stephen King has always been one of my go-to writers to read, but this tale in particular resonated with me.  It’s about a worldwide epidemic and its few remaining survivors, but more it’s about what people would be like in a situation like that, what their moral and ethical decisions would look like and whether they would align themselves with good or evil at the end of days.  The TV mini-series with Molly Ringwald was also great.

 

 

Swan Song
swan
Not many people have heard of this book and that’s surprising.  It’s an epic story about a motely crew of survivors of an apocalyptic nuclear event including a small girl who has special abilities, a professional wrestler and a homeless woman named Sister who possesses a special ring.  Similar to The Stand, it explores themes of good and evil.

 

 

Uglies Series
uglies
More of a dystopian novel than a post-apocalyptic one, this series takes place 300 hundred years after an apocalyptic disaster occurred that reshaped the world.  In this new society, every teenager undergoes an operation on their 16th birthday to make them beautiful in the hopes that this will eliminate conflict and lead to a harmonious society.  The books center on Tally Youngblood a fifteen-year-old girl who is about to become pretty, but may choose to reject society for friendship.  This book reminded me of the Twilight Zone episode, Eye of the Beholder.

 

 

Hunger Games Series
hunger
I haven’t read anything as gripping as The Hunger Games in a very long time.  I absolutely couldn’t put these books down.  This title is also a bit more of a dystopian tale than strictly post-apocalyptic but it’s still one of my favorites.  Set in Post-apocalyptic America (Panem), the country consists of The Capitol, the country’s seat of power and home to the obscenely wealthy and 12 districts which are poverty-stricken.  Each year they hold a lottery from which a boy and a girl ages 12-18 are chosen to represent each of the 12 districts.  These children are forced to fight in a battle royale from which only one can survive.  This outstanding book reminded me of the exellent film Battle Royale, a Japanese film from 2000 which is also one of my favorites.

 

 

Divergent Series
divergent
Unlike anything else I’ve read, Divergent really stood out to me as incredibly original, fast-paced, and gripping.  This one also takes place many years following an apocalyptic event in dystopian Chicago that has segregated its population into 5 factions representing virtues that are valued beyond others – Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent).  Each person has a choice on their 16th birthday whether to stay in the faction they were born into and remain with their family, or choose a new one and be shunned by everyone they know.  They then must undergo an initiation rite in order to be accepted into the community or be cast out, factionless.  The story follows Beatrice Prior (Trice) on her journey to adulthood.

 

 

Great Lists of Post-Apocalyptic, Plague, and Pandemic Fiction

 

GoodReads List of the Most Popular Post Apocalyptic Books
This is a list of the most popular books for this subgenre on GoodReads right now totaling 23,519 titles.

 

GoodReads List of the Most Popular Pandemic Books
I can see that there may be some overlap between this list of 1,024 titles and the last list of similar ones.

 

The Best Post-Apocalyptic Fiction
Here’s a list of 100 Post-Apocalyptic books by GoodReads user Osvaldo Ortega.

 

theapocalypselist
This wiki neatly lists out over 450 post-apocalyptic titles including dates, authors, and occasional hyperlinks.

 

Wikipedia List of Works of apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction
This mega-list of post-apocalyptic fiction includes films, games, short stories, and 324 novels for your reading pleasure.

 

The Best Apocalyptic Fiction Releases of 2011
Paul Goat Allen at Explorations: The Barnes & Noble SciFi and Fantasy Blog put together this list of The Best Apocalyptic Fiction Releases of 2011 which includes 13 titles.

 

Post Apocalyptic Book Club
Post Apocalyptic Book Club is actually a blog that reviews titles in this fiction subgenre.  They also offer a Reading List of over 50 titles.

 

Novels that Could Help You Prepare for a Future Pandemic
Amanda Yesilbas and Charlie Jane Anders at io9 put together this stellar list of 11 novels that are sure to please.

 

List of Seventy Fictional Survival, Doomsday, TEOTWAWKI and Apocalypse Books
The folks at the SHTF Blog has compiled a large list of 70+ titles that have to do with the apocalypse and the aftermath.

 

Time’s Top 10 Post-Apocalyptic Books
Time Magazine has put together their own list of the top 10 best books.

 

Five Apocalypses: A Particularly Catastrophic Summer Reading List
Here are five highly recommended post-apocalyptic novels from Emily St. John Mandel at The Millions blog.

 

So You’ve Survived the Apocalypse: A Post-Apocalyptic Reading List
WordsLikeSilver offers reviews and recommendations of 6 related apocalyptic and dystopian novels.

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26 Free Live Webinars for Librarians in August

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Summer continues to be an excellent time to hone your skills and learn new ones before the fall semester begins.  Here’s a slew of free learning opportunities for libraries and librarians.

  1. Thursday Aug 1 – TODAY!!
    2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
    Discovery Services: The Future of Library Systems (American Libraries Live)
    Marshall Breeding leads an expert panel on how Discovery Services will shape the future of libraries on the next American Libraries Live broadcast.
  2. Tuesday Aug 6
    12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (Eastern)
     Blogging Beyond Book Recommendations (Washington State Library)
    Most library blogs deliver excellent Reader Advisory Services, book recommendations and book lists. However, libraries provide more that books and our blogs could do a better job showcasing everything else that makes our libraries valuable and indispensable. Learn tips for making posts visually appealing, and ideas for inspiring your readers to keep coming back for more from Rosemary Washington, Library Associate at the Greenwood branch of the Seattle Public Library.
  3. Tuesday Aug 6
    3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
     Civic Engagement in Your Library Community – A Guided Tour of the Book-to-Action Program and Toolkit (InfoPeople)
    Book-to-Action is an innovative library program being implemented in libraries throughout California. Funded by IMLS/LSTA, Book-to-Action programs have offered California residents both the opportunity to collectively read and discuss a book and to put their newfound knowledge and perspective into action by engaging in a community service project related to the book’s topic. The activities and guidelines presented in the Tool-Kit are now available and will be of great value to libraries everywhere. Book-to-Action offers libraries a new way to collaborate with and support organizations doing vital work in local communities, and to expand the role of the public library by mobilizing volunteers in work that enhances civic engagement.
  4.  Tuesday Aug 6
    3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
    YouTube for Nonprofits: 25 Strategies to Attract Donors (NonProfit Webinars)
    Has your nonprofit posted any videos on YouTube? Why should you? We’ll examine how to create, post, embed, and drive traffic to videos– and photos– on YouTube and other social media sites. Learn how to do all these things for free or low cost. Learn what kinds of videos and photos to post, and how they can benefit you. We’ll examine how to build awareness, raise funds, recruit volunteers, spawn viral marketing, communicate effectively, build online communities, interact with constituents, and drive traffic to your website, blog, and social media. We’ll explore some interesting case studies. YouTube and other online videos are an effective way to connect with donors, build awareness for your cause, and raise more funds. What type of videos and content best connect with your donors and prospects? What steps do you need to take t o incorporate YouTube in your fundraising strategy?
  5. Wednesday Aug 7
    11:00 am – 12:00 pm (Eastern)
     Boopsie-Daisy, Easy-Peasy! One librarian’s experience with Boopsie mobile app development (Nebraska Library Commission)
    Louise Alcorn, Reference Technology Librarian for the West Des Moines (Iowa) Public Library, will recount her experiences earlier this year working with Boopsie, Inc. to create a library mobile app: why her library chose to go with a private developer instead of “DIY mobile app”, pros and cons of this decision, costs (money and time), their experience with the process, and why they’re glad they “went mobile”.
  6. Wednesday Aug 7
    2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
     Digital Literacy: What’s It All About? (Montana State Library)
    Lauren McMullen and Jo Flick will lead a discussion about the meaning of Digital Literacy for libraries. Together, participants will explore the important role libraries play in promoting digitally literate communities. In the second half of this session, participants will explore online resources they can access to support their digital literacy services and training.
  7. Thursday Aug 8
    2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
     Where Teens and Technology Meet: engaging teens with digital media (WebJunction)
    At Howard County Library System’s HiTech Digital Media Lab, teens are developing critical 21st century skills and being guided toward careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Founded on innovative teaching methods which demonstrate that teens learn most effectively through hands-on projects and peer-to-peer communications, HiTech provides curriculum that is both self-paced and structured, offering an array of classes and projects for youth to select. The community response has been remarkable. Youth are on waiting lists to register for opportunities to explore and learn about STEM principles while having fun in the process.
  8. Monday Aug 12
    10:00 am – 11:00 am (Eastern)
     Gamification and the Virtual Classroom (Insync Training)
    Gamification is the utilization of game thinking and game mechanics in the training environment to engage learners and solve learning problems. Gamification and the virtual classroom is a trending topic in the learning and development community. Is gamification just points, badges, and leaderboards or is there more to it? What types of games are appropriate for the virtual classroom and what can we teach with games? This seminar will look at games that teach executive function skills such as planning, goal setting and prioritization. The session will also explore why these types of games are well-suited to the unique, collaborative environment of the virtual classroom.
  9. Tuesday Aug 13
    2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
     Geek the Library Information Session (Geek the Library)
    Get a complete Geek the Library overview and your questions answered in a live format. Our informational webinars are a simple way to learn about the details before committing to participate in the program.
  10. Tuesday Aug 13
    2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
     YA Announcements: Falling Into Books (Booklist)
    Fall is just around the corner, and the smell of new books is in the air. Please join us as representatives from Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Disney Book Group, Egmont, Harlequin Teen, and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group share their new teen titles for fall and beyond. Booklist’s Books for Youth associate editor Ann Kelley moderates this free, hour-long webinar.
  11. Wednesday Aug 14
    11:00 am – 12:00 pm (Eastern)
     EveryoneOn @your library (Nebraska Library Commission)
    EveryoneOn.org is a national three-year media campaign—currently underway—to raise awareness of the importance of digital literacy. The campaign’s mission is to promote the personal relevance of computer and high-speed Internet use among non-users, and to connect them with free digital literacy training. It is likely that, in many cases, this training will be provided through school and public libraries. In Year One, the National Ad Council campaign will focus on the call to action: “Find free training near you!” It will direct customers to call, text, or visit a Website with a directory of sites where they can receive one-on-one instruction and/or classes.
  12. Wednesday Aug 14
    2:30 pm – 3:30 pm (Eastern)
     Library-Museum Partnerships: Oh, the places you’ll go! (Colorado State Library)
    Libraries and museums share common missions—to engage communities in lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, civic conversations, information resources, and gathering as neighbors. Sharing so many goals makes libraries and museums excellent partners that together can more fully support and engage their communities. Join in this interactive CSL in Session to explore and discuss the many possibilities of how museums and libraries can collaborate—and why they should. From programs for kids to digitization projects, share your ideas and learn new ones from fellow attendees from both libraries and museums in this lively online forum, and come out with a list of first steps to take in creating or strengthening a partnership with a library or museum in your community.
  13.  Wednesday Aug 14
    3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
     Advanced Search for Beginners: Navigating the latest release of the American FactFinder – Part 2 (InfoPeople)
    Linda Clark, data dissemination specialist for the U. S. Census Bureau, will guide you through the latest version of the American FactFinder database. NOTE: This entire webinar will consist of “hands-on” exercises using Census Bureau online tools and data from the 2010 Census and the American Community Survey. We strongly urge you to print the handouts in advance.
  14.  Thursday Aug 15
    3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
     Inspired Reading: New Titles in Christian Fiction (Library Journal)
    From apocalyptic adventures to intricate Amish relationships, Christian fiction is so much more than devotion. Whether you are looking for some good clean romance or exciting protagonists guided by the Spirit, this webcast is for you. Discover the latest offerings from David C. Cooke, Kregel Publications, and WaterBrook Multnomah and pick up some inspired reading this fall!
  15.  Friday Aug 16
    3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
     Hands-on NASA Activities to Celebrate Our Personal, Cultural, and Scientific Connections to the Moon (NASA)
    Public library staff and informal educators are invited to join the Lunar and Planetary Institute’s Explore program team for hands-on activities and programming ideas! Use food, art, storytelling, and interactive investigations to celebrate our Moon! Explore: Marvel Moon activities rely on inexpensive materials and can be flexibly implemented. As the children complete each activity, they collect pages to assemble into their own comic books. You must register in advance, and registration is limited.
  16. Tuesday Aug 20
    3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
     Inclusive Library Programs for People with Intellectual Disabilities (InfoPeople)
    Libraries have always strived to create structurally accessible facilities in order to accommodate all users regardless of physical disabilities. However, has your library considered creating inclusive programs designed to break attitudinal barriers, in order to promote library access? This webinar will guide library staff toward creating, promoting and implementing a library environment that supports users with intellectual disabilities – from identifying community partners and outreach and creating inclusive programming – to staff sensitivity training. This webinar is designed to equip staff with the tools to create a library experience that is inclusive to all users, including those with disabilities.
  17. Wednesday Aug 21
    11:00 am – 12:00 pm (Eastern)
     Libraries Lending eReaders (Nebraska Library Commission)
    Lots of libraries lend eBooks, but did you know that some are also lending eReaders? As eBooks become more popular, patrons want to know more about the various devices they can use to access them. Join our panel of librarians as they share their experiences circulating eReaders at their libraries. Speakers: Karen Stuart, Columbus Public Library; Megan Boggs, Seward Memorial Library; Sara Lee, Central City Public Library; Susan Knisely, Nebraska Library Commission.
  18. Wednesday Aug 21
    12:00 pm – 1:00 pm (Eastern)
     Introduction to Library Technology Training: Tech Training for Library Staff (Washington State Library)
    In this 4-part webinar series, Stephanie Gerding will provide library staff and trainers with practical tips and best practices for planning and promoting computer classes at the library, engaging students and evaluating success. She will address the most common concerns from new trainers, including fear of failure, lack of confidence, uncertainty about how to deal with difficult situations and worry about logistics, space concerns, and planning. By attending this series you’ll learn all the many ways that your library can meet the needs for technology job and best us the resources you have on hand. Join us, boost your confidence, get organized, and become a more effective technology trainer!
  19. Wednesday Aug 21
    1:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
     How to Navigate American FactFinder (United States Census Bureau)
    Gain experience in using the American FactFinder data access tool. Learn how to use the search and navigation features to access some of the Census Bureau’s programs, datasets and topics.
  20. Wednesday Aug 21
    2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
     Going First: More from the Edge Pilot Libraries (TechSoup)
    The Edge Initiative is a voluntary assessment program that provides libraries with benchmarks, best practices, tools and resources that support continuous improvement and reinvestment in public technology services. Edge helps libraries connect their services to community priorities. Edge will be available to public libraries nationwide in January 2014. A group of pilot libraries has been testing the benchmarks in their libraries and communities. Join us as we talk with participants from two of the pilot libraries: Marcia Johnson from the Miami Public Library in Oklahoma and Dionne Mack from the El Paso Public Library in Texas. What did they do? What did they learn? What are they planning to do next?
  21.  Thursday Aug 22
    3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Eastern)
     Collections: Making Smart Choices within a Limited Materials Budget (InfoPeople)
    In today’s high demand/low budget environment, meeting community needs through collection development is more challenging than ever. In this webinar, participants will learn how the collection development “nuts and bolts” they learned in library school (or maybe didn’t) can be applied in the real world. We’ll discuss everything from how to make a simple and usable collection development plan to new trends and resources that should be influencing your decisions.
  22. Tuesday Aug 27
    2:00 pm – 3:00 pm (Eastern)
     Conversation Sparks: Tech-Savvy Kids at the Library (Southern Maryland Regional Library Association)
    Conversation Sparks is a way to facilitate a large-scale conversation with librarians around the country. In this virtual environment, participants will meet with the purpose of exchanging ideas, exploring best practices, and learning from others in the profession. It is a way to break paradigms and learn from the examples of others in an environment of respect and understanding. Our August session features Cen Campbell from Little eLit discussing Tech-Savvy Kids at the Library. Sharing examples needed of innovative tech-with-kids projects or programs at the library. Please contact Jennifer Hopwood at jhopwood@somd.lib.md.us by 8/9th, 2013 if you would like to be listed as a sharing participant.
  23. Wednesday Aug 28
    11:00 am – 12:00 pm (Eastern)
     Tech Talk with Michael Sauers (Nebraska Library Commission)
    In this monthly feature of NCompass Live, the NLC’s Technology Innovation Librarian, Michael Sauers, will discuss the tech news of the month and share new and exciting tech for your library. There will also be plenty of time in each episode for you to ask your tech questions. So, bring your questions with you, or send them in ahead of time, and Michael will have your answers.
  24. Wednesday Aug 28
    8:30 pm – 9:30 pm (Eastern)
     Applying for a Library Job – Don’t Do This! (San Jose State University)
    Hiring managers from the San Jose Public Library will talk about their most recent recruitment for a Librarian 1. Of the more than 200 applications submitted, 50% didn’t meet the minimum qualifications, and 75% didn’t answer the supplemental questions appropriately. Don’t let this be you. Come to this session and find out what you should do when applying for jobs. Our guest speakers will tell you what they are looking for in applicants and provide guidance on how to answer supplemental questions. Be one of the successful candidates – make it to the interview stage!
  25. Thursday Aug 29
    1:00 pm – 2:30 pm (Eastern)
     35 Free and Low Cost Tools Every Organization Should Know About (idealware)
    What software tools are available to nonprofits at low or no cost that are actually worth using? How do you judge when tool really is low cost, as opposed to a pit of time and effort? We’ll walk through 35 software packages that are worth knowing about. We will also provide a framework for determining long term costs.
  26. Thursday Aug 29
    1:00 pm – 2:00 pm (Eastern)
     Marketing Libraries: What the not-for-profits can learn from the lots-of-profits (WebJunction)
    You built it and promoted it, but they didn’t come? Libraries can learn from marketing strategies that for-profit organizations use. Get beyond the one-off approach to promotion. Explore how to build “ambient awareness,” establishing your library as an authoritative source and a definitive provider of services for the community. Learn how to use social media not only for communication, but as a tool to monitor and document the impact of the library. Get your whole team on board to tell the library’s convincing story of its impact on your community.

 

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