http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ WNYLRC Discussion: Recent Posts en Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:59:57 +0000 http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=20#post-43 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:46:21 +0000 amwik 43@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Are we still set for the next meeting on Tueday, July 22? I have been watching for a reminder and details! Thanks! </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=20#post-41 Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:12:15 +0000 mgrundle 41@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Hi Everyone,</p> <p>I finally got my login issues resolved (and my password changed) so I seem to be accessible to this forum once again.</p> <p>I sent an email to the WNYlib-L listserv. Did anyone get it? Robin suggested I post there in the event the issues with this forum were larger than suspected.</p> <p>Basically, I mentioned that we should very specifically and clearly define what we mean when we say Information Literacy. Also, it would be helpful if we could have Carol Taurillo, the Executive Director of The School Library System at BOCES, at our next meeting. </p> <p>When and where is the next meeting?</p> <p>Mary Jo </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=20#post-40 Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:33:21 +0000 AndreaSullivan 40@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Hello Everyone!</p> <p>Glad to see people posting to this forum - here\'s where we can vent and brainstorm!</p> <p>Nicki, you\'ve expressed my secret fears - that we\'re TOO helpful! I admit to sometimes falling into the mindset that it\'s easier to get the information for the students than to coax/push/pull them towards it. But how am I empowering someone to be a \"life-long learner\" by acting like an \"information waitress\"? </p> <p>If only we could get them to see research as a process that requires time, not a \"one-shot, push-a-button\" scenario succesfully completed two days before the paper\'s due! And that information retrieval is a basic skill interwoven into other aspects of their academic lives. I know for myself that if I don\'t use certain computer skills on a regular basis I forget them - but I also know that I\'ll forget them, and so I keep a notebook!</p> <p>I also see students coming to me with research topics that I know won\'t produce much information and it\'s too late for them to talk to the professor. So it becomes my task to convince them that they need to rethink their thesis statement (if they\'ve even thought about it in the first place!), dissect its various components, do the research to see what\'s out there, and tweek the topic so that they have something that will produce a 5-7 page paper(in two days)!</p> <p>What are incoming freshmen\'s expectations? I\'d love to do a survey at summer orientation!</p> <p>May Jo - I think your idea of our doing a presentation at a summer BOCES\'s workshop is an excellent one. The timing would be right and the atmosphere congenial. I like it in that it would make everyone feel like they\'re a part of the solution. And you\'re right, we need to be clear on what we mean by Information Literacy.</p> <p>Let\'s hear from other people about Mary Jo\'s idea.</p> <p>Andrea </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=20#post-39 Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:42:26 +0000 lerczak 39@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>I wonder though, how much of this is the library and how much is students in general? When students are in 10th or 11th grade english, math or foreign languages, how much slippage or inability is there for students to build upon (or even remember) previous knowledge? Can the average 12th grader define what a preposition is? We all know they learned it, but will they react like you asked them to explain E=mc2? If so, then we can attribute their inability to transition on yet another failure of our educational system in general.</p> <p>Are we simply too compartmentalized or separate enough that students can\'t see us within their larger world? The library appears to have nothing to do with reading, writing and arithmetic, just some weird jazz about call numbers? Thus they consider us irrelevant and unnecessary to remember? Or, and here\'s a thought likely to get me tarred and feathered - are we SO helpful and reliable that students don\'t see any need to learn our skills, when they know we will help them in the future? History teachers don\'t promise to be there for students when they need them. Yet we repeatedly tout our accessibility and promise that all librarians are there to help them, so why should they store anything away?</p> <p>These are all wild conjectures on my part, I admit, but I can\'t help wondering.</p> <p>Nicki </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=20#post-38 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 17:50:09 +0000 lpickreign 38@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>I attended the SLAWNY workshop and want to thank the panel. I wish that we had more time to ask questions. I am at a high school and find the same problems that you do. The students come to the library and it seems that they have never seen one before. I don\'t know why the skills that we teach at all levels do not seem to transition from one library setting to another. I bet if we were to poll the public librarians they would say the same thing. Any thoughts? </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=18#post-36 Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:08:20 +0000 jumhauer 36@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>FYI</p> <p>Open Source Information Portal discussed in Web4lib Listserv, 3/27/08</p> <p>Joe Umhauer</p> <p>**********************************************************</p> <p>Published on oss4lib (http://oss4lib.org)</p> <p>About oss4lib<br /> By dchud<br /> Created 2005-11-01 21:04</p> <p>Our mission is to build better and free systems for use in libraries. Toward this end, we maintain a listing of free software and systems designed for libraries (the physical, books-on-shelves kind), and we track news about project updates or related issues of interest.</p> <p>oss4lib started at the Yale Medical Library [1] in early February 1999 thinking there were probably other folks like us out there who might be working on free library software or looking for same. Our reasons for wanting to see Open Source take off in the library software arena are straightforward, fairly typical, and mostly outlined in the Open Source Systems for Libraries: Getting Started [1] piece. You would think librarians would have figured this shared software thing out years ago. :)</p> <p>Dan Chudnov [2] (dchud) started oss4lib and maintains it, along with the many readers who often post news. Everyone is welcome to sign up for an account and post news, so long as it\'s about free software or libraries or the intersection of both.</p> <p>oss4lib is a volunteer effort. If you like oss4lib, consider buying snazzy oss4lib tshirts and mugs [3]; we\'ll get $3/shirt or $2/mug, which doesn\'t sound like much but actually really helps.</p> <p>Source URL:<br /> <a href="http://oss4lib.org/about" rel="nofollow">http://oss4lib.org/about</a> </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=18#post-35 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:14:37 +0000 atengsbuedu 35@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>We have not budged from our Classic Dynix system yet, but we will consider open source software (most likely the version that comes with tech support because we don\'t have a lot of time to devote to making it work!)</p> <p>We got a quote for a Koha system from LibLime. LibLime is now working with WALDO, the purchasing consortium for academic libraries, which immediately gives it more credibility in my opinion! There seems to be quite a bit of interest in it, and we will be following the developments closely.</p> <p>If and when anyone regionally chooses an open source system, I\'m sure we\'d all like to hear the details!! </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=17#post-34 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:09:00 +0000 atengsbuedu 34@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>At St. Bonaventure, we\'re not using the new Qwidget due to the fact that it is not able to send the message to a live reference librarian 24/7. If our patrons wanted to use e-mail, they already have avenue for that. </p> <p>I hope that QuestionPoint revamps the Qwidget so that it can utilize the normal question routing queues that are used for the form. </p> <p>The Qwidget is a great idea--patrons like a simple box where they can quickly enter what they need. </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=18#post-33 Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:07:30 +0000 jumhauer 33@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>FYI - from Web4Lib listserv</p> <p>The Computers in Libraries March 2008 issue has some great articles on Open Source Software:</p> <p>- Using Open Source to Give Patrons What They Want (by Amy Begg De Groff)</p> <p>- Making a Business Case for Open Source ILS (by Marshall Breeding)</p> <p>- What Librarians Still Don\'t Know About Open Source (by Daniel Chudnov)</p> <p>- Open Source Becomes More Accessible (by Janet L. Balas)</p> <p>- What Can Open Source Do for You? (by Rachel Singer Gordon and Jessamyn West) </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=18#post-32 Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:38:11 +0000 jumhauer 32@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>I received this email via the AUTOCAT LISTSERV.</p> <p>Obviously, it will be slightly biased since it\'s from an OS vendor but it should still be useful.</p> <p>j0e</p> <p>Joseph Umhauer<br /> Assistant Library Director for Technical Services<br /> Niagara University Library<br /> (716)286-8015<br /> <a href="mailto:jumhauer@niagara.edu">jumhauer@niagara.edu</a><br /> ===========================================================================</p> <p>I just want to announce that as part of my new role as Open Source Evangelist at LibLime I will be blogging about libraries and open source (not limited to LibLime) at Open Sesame <a href="http://blogs.liblime.com/open-sesame/" rel="nofollow">http://blogs.liblime.com/open-sesame/</a> . My intro post is here:<br /> <a href="http://blogs.liblime.com/open-sesame/archives/6" rel="nofollow">http://blogs.liblime.com/open-sesame/archives/6</a> and the RSS feed for subscribing is here: <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/LibLimeOpenSesame" rel="nofollow">http://feeds.feedburner.com/LibLimeOpenSesame</a> .</p> <p>I look forward to hearing from all of you regarding open source in general and in regards to libraries. Feel free to email me with any news you think I might be interested in.</p> <p>I also can be found presenting about open source all over the place. Keep an eye on my schedule:<br /> <a href="http://www.web2learning.net/about-me/my-presentinglearning-calendar" rel="nofollow">http://www.web2learning.net/about-me/my-presentinglearning-calendar</a> and make sure you come by and say hi if you\'re at the same event as I am.</p> <p>--<br /> Nicole C. Engard<br /> Open Source Evangelist, LibLime<br /> (888) Koha ILS (564-2457) ext. 714<br /> <a href="mailto:nce@liblime.com">nce@liblime.com</a><br /> AIM/Y!/Skype: nengard</p> <p><a href="http://liblime.com" rel="nofollow">http://liblime.com</a> </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=23#post-31 Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:34:11 +0000 losterhout 31@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <br /> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=22#post-30 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:51:02 +0000 BECHS 30@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>If you have surplus microfilm reader-printers in good working condition, please consider donating them to the Buffalo &#38; Erie County Historical Society. We\'d like to replace all of our tired microfilm readers. </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=21#post-29 Tue, 12 Feb 2008 21:46:43 +0000 BECHS 29@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>We can always use Buffalo city &#38; suburban directories in good condition at the Buffalo &#38; Erie County Historical Society. Due to budget reasons, our standing order ended in 2001. </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=20#post-28 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:57:57 +0000 AndreaSullivan 28@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Hi Mary Jo,</p> <p>That sounds like a great idea! My energies have been focused on preparing for SLAWNY and this merits discussion. Will you be at the next meeting? Feb. 28th at 4pm at Daemen College. (I posted it on the listserv.) </p> <p>Andrea </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=20#post-27 Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:27:57 +0000 Anonymous 27@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Hi everyone,</p> <p>I feel as if I am a bit late to this discussion forum, but better late than never. </p> <p>During our last meeting we brought up the topic of information literacy advocacy. How would a staff development/panel/seminar for School Administrators through Erie 1 BOCES sound? College librarians: you could--briefly--present the information literacy problem(s) you are experiencing. We can then open a dialog with the administrators persuant to identifying problems high schools (and grade schools)have meeting information literacy needs. Then--and this is critical--we can discuss some ideas for solving the problems we are facing in this area with the people in a position to help with solutions. </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=20#post-26 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:46:55 +0000 losterhout 26@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Welcome to the High School to College discussion forum. We look forward to hearing your ideas! </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=17#post-25 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:31:39 +0000 losterhout 25@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>After more details were released about the Qwidget at ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia, it seems that the functionality of the widget is less than we had hoped for. Apparently the Qwidget will not funnel questions into the 24/7 Reference Cooperative, but will send them only to librarians from that library or group. This means that for a user to effectively use the Qwidget to chat with a librarian, at least one librarian from that user\'s library or regional group would have to be online.</p> <p>This Qwidget is a step in the right direction, but really, how useful will it be if you have to be online to take the questions rather than having them sent into the 24/7 Reference Cooperative queues?</p> <p>Would any of our Ask Us 24/7 participating libraries be likely to use the Qwidget in this case? </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=19#post-24 Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:48:33 +0000 lngenesee 24@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>We just purchased a multi function printer/scanner/copier to be used for ILL. We can use the copier and fax, but have not been able to get the scanner to work yet. Has anyone else had this problem?<br /> Thanks,<br /> lngenesee </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=13#post-23 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:15:48 +0000 AmhMuseum 23@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Thank you (I apologize for not getting back to you sooner). I\'ll send along those recommendations. :) </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=19#post-22 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:10:09 +0000 Robin 22@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>This is an invitation to contribute to this list. There\'s no end to the topics that can be discussed (argued?) here! </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=18#post-21 Tue, 15 Jan 2008 17:09:15 +0000 TSBinga 21@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>I am starting to look Open Source LMS, possibly changing from our current software. Has anybody done any changing over? I have done some preliminary research, but nothing more than that. I want to make sure the software is able to handle importing records from OCLC, but I also want to make sure that the Z 39.50 is compatable with wnylibraries.org.</p> <p>Thanks for an imput you might have.</p> <p>Tim Binga<br /> Center for Inquiry Libraries </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=17#post-20 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:34:08 +0000 losterhout 20@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Recently, QuestionPoint announced the creation of a new widget for QuestionPoint. Some of the highlights and benefits of the Qwidget will be:</p> <p>On the Patron side:<br /> 1. Patron familiarity: many patrons use chat widgets in their social networking spaces, so Qwidget would provide the same easy, simple interface to contact a librarian.<br /> 2. Less barriers: Qwidget, like any chat widget, provides an application where patrons can immediately type in their questions. So, they don\'t need to click on a link to get to the service then fill out a patron form; they are already at the point where they enter their question.<br /> 3. Session Transcripts: If the patron enters their email address, they will get a session transcript sent to their email.<br /> 4. Access: Qwidget can be placed in a variety of places - even a Myspace page (if the library has one). These multiple access options would make it more convenient for patrons to ask questions.</p> <p>On the Librarian side:<br /> 1. Librarians use the same QP tools with Qwidget patrons as they do with any chat patrons - no new interfaces to learn.<br /> 2. Workflow: all patrons come into the same chat monitor, whether they come from Qwidget or from the web-based chat. So the same librarians can monitor Qwidget as monitor the PA queue, at the same time.<br /> 3. Collaborative tools: Qwidget patrons come into QuestionPoint, just like the other chat patrons, so all the QuestionPoint collaborative features are available: multiple librarians from multiple locations can pick up Qwidget patrons; a librarian can transfer the Qwidget patron to another librarian, etc.<br /> 4. Session transcripts: Since the Qwidget patrons come into QuestionPoint, a session transcript is created inside QuestionPoint, so the librarian can follow up post-session with the patron, refer to subject experts, etc. You can review these sessions for Quality purposes as well.<br /> 5. Reports and statistics: Each Qwidget session is captured in QuestionPoint, just like any chat session, so your reports and statistics would include the Qwidget sessions as well as regular chat sessions. I believe you will be able to distinguish Qwidget vs. regular chat sessions in the reports.</p> <p>For librarians already using QuestionPoint, are you interested in providing the Qwidget for your patrons or students? Do you think the Qwidget will increase traffic to Ask Us 24/7? </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=16#post-19 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 21:19:35 +0000 emeryg 19@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>At Canisius College we recently implemented using the Google Calendar application for displaying our library calendar on our website. Actually we just went live with it this week so we don\'t have in fully populated yet. It is easy to maintain for both regularly scheduled hours and for special events. We have also begun using the Google Calendar for scheduling the reference desk and our library staff are using as personal work calendars. We share our calendars among each other and the person doing the desk schedule can use people\'s individual calendars to create the reference desk calendar. It\'s a work in progress but I\'m sure we\'ll have some experiences to share as we proceed with this project. </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=15#post-18 Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:53:39 +0000 emeryg 18@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>There have been some recent workshops locally on using Web 2.0 applications and I was curious how people have been using social networks such as Facebook at their libraries. At Canisius we have encouraged staff to get Facebook accounts and last semester we used a Friends of Bouwhuis Library @ Canisius College Facebook group to promote an Library Open House. Although not many people joined the group we did get great attendance for the event which we heavily promoted in Facebook. Beth Bradley, our Digital Services Librarian, has created a Library Quick Search application which is available for Facebook users to add to their profile pages. She also made the application available to the Innovative Users Group for other Innovative libraries and that has become very popular. Anyone else doing anything with Facebook? </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=13#post-17 Fri, 16 Nov 2007 19:39:08 +0000 jumhauer 17@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Found these two books in WNYLibraries.org so you could use ILL to get them</p> <p>Running a small library : a how-to-do-it manual / edited by John Moorman.<br /> Imprint: New York : Neal-Schuman Publishers, c2006.<br /> Description: xv, 336 p. : plan ; 28 cm.<br /> Series: How-to-do-it manuals for librarians ; no. 149 </p> <p>Not familiar with this book but the series is very extensive.</p> <p>*******</p> <p>The How-to-do-it manual for small libraries / edited by Bill Katz.<br /> New York : Neal-Schuman Publishers, c1988.<br /> viii, 387 p. </p> <p>I know this is very old (it has not be updated) and NOT related to \"special libraries\" but it\'s still a very good introduction to \"basic\" functions and operations of a small (1-2 person) library. I had to read this in library school. </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=14#post-16 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 19:55:18 +0000 atengsbuedu 16@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Is anyone in the region considering establishing a new institutional repository? Does anyone have an already established repository? It would be interesting to find out more about what we are all doing in this area and maybe get a discussion started.</p> <p>As for St. Bonaventure University, we\\\'re starting to consider establishing an institutional repository. We\\\'re aware of the work done at the University of Rochester and have read through some of the Internet sources on this, but local experiences would help to ground what I\\\'ve learned about it so far.</p> <p>Thanks,<br /> Ann Tenglund<br /> St. Bonaventure University </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=13#post-15 Fri, 09 Nov 2007 13:36:14 +0000 AmhMuseum 15@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>A colleague of mine here at the museum is leaving for a new curatorial position, one where she\'ll need to oversee a library; she has no library background. Although she plans to hire a degreed assistant, she wants to have some basic knowledge of library procedures.</p> <p>Anyone have any suggestions for sites or books for the non-librarian? </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=12#post-14 Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:37:03 +0000 cnc1976 14@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>How does your library handle a situation where parents drop off their children (age 6-10 sometimes younger) at the library and leave them unattended while they go and run errands sometimes for as long as 1-2 hrs?</p> <p>Do you have a written policy posted that is readily visible at the entrance or do you handle this on a case by case basis? What reaction do you get from the parent when you broach the subject with them? </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=11#post-13 Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:40:55 +0000 admin 13@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Thanks. :) </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=10#post-12 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:52:42 +0000 Robin 12@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Welcome to the Library Assistants discussion forum for library support staff. </p> http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/topic.php?id=9#post-11 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:48:09 +0000 Robin 11@http://wnylrcwatch.org/forum/ <p>Welcome to the General Library Discussion Forum. Issues relating to WNY libraries or general library practices can be discussed here. </p>