This session is about using an open-source next-generation catalog. Presenter is Stephen Wynn, Head of Technical Services and Systems at Pickler Memorial Library, Truman State University.
Last-generation catalogs are unfriendly, have limited feature and are no longer cool.
Next-generation catalogs have visual organization of results, faceted searching, results from catalog and more, social software, tag clouds. Examples include Encore and Aquabrowser. Presenter is showing an example of Encore and it looks really cool. So much nicer than the regular (old-fashioned) library catalog.
Right Generation Interfaces
-are told that libraries are losing users to Google and Amazon, but are we really in competition with them?
-Cool is nice, but most of the time libraries are not cool.
-Libraries should be interested in useful features such as faceted searching, breadcrumbs and social features
Options for Open Source catalogs:
Blacklight, Fac-bac-opac, LibraryFind, Scriblio, VuFind
VuFind - pulls info out of the last generation catalog such as if a book is available, descriptions and holdings, with next-generation users can then tag or rate the item. This also has a "cite this" option for different style guides. Students love this feature!
Features of VuFind include faceted searching, social software, real-time data from catalog, customizable index, breadcrumbs, statistical information available through SOLR Admin Module, locally created fields may be addded to the index in any way you please, relevancy ranking is completley customizable, and links to book cover images, reviews and other vendor content.
VuFind Social Software - users can set-up an account, add tags, rate items, etc. Does not currently have visual organization (tag clouds)
Fuctions for placing holds and obtaining "My Library" information are not yet written.
This library ran into problems with the installation instructions, they had to write their own.
There is a large learning curve for this product, not just this product but all the others that have to be used to support this (i.e. MySQL, Linux, Apache, etc.)
Result: did not end up implementing because of problems such as placing holds, viewing checked-out items and fines, built-in security measures, and optimizing SOLR.
While it did not work for this library, other libraries out there are using this and other's like it.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Mobius Conference - LibGuides
Second session getting ready to start. This one is about LibGuides presented by: first Rebecca Power anbd Chris LaBeau from UMKC, second Jaleh Fazelian and Melissa Vetter both from Washing University in St. Louis and Rick Dyson from Missouri Western State University . Several presenters from Wash U today.
LibGuide - predesigned website librarians can update easily can include RSS feeds, embedded chats, Delicious tag clouds, embedded video, student feedback, polls, etc.
Chris LeBeau - uses LibGuides first as classroom instruction and then for reference help. Students know what content they want, but not necessarily a specific item. Uses tabs on her libguide for organization purposes. Presenter is giving good information, but really specific to what she is doing - business resources. Study - average student only asks .1 question in class, teachers only ask 3 questions. On a one to one basis students will ask far more questions. On her libguide gives an area a way for students to ask questions after the class.
***Good idea to use for my bibliographic instruction classes.***
This presenter created a Q&A page with questions asked after the class.
Rebecca Power - Embedding the library, can embed a LibGuides widget into Blackboard.
***This is something that I would love to do to give students more information about the library and librarian. Students could have this at home when they are doing research. I am still thinking that I would like to go to their classes so they can see the "face" of the library. But what a great way to connect to the students where they are.***
Jaleh Fazelian and Melissa Vetter - Assessing LibGuides. Are students and faculty really using them? They compared their web based guides to their LibGuides. The overall usage of LibGuides increased exponentially in a year's time. Why? Link to guides better situated on newly redesigned home page, promotion of LibGuides, push to advertise in all areas, links in email signatures. Besides looking at stats, interviewed faculty and grad and undergrad students to see how they liked/used the guides.
Best quote from Jaleh Fazelian "It's not about what we [librarians] want, it is about what they [students] want." Amen sister.
Rick Dyson - started LibGuides in 2007, uses it for subject guides and course guides. What else can they be used for? Currently they have over 40 public guides. Non-traditional guides include special collections, library documents, faculty services, and guidelines for library exhibits.
***side not to my Bolivar colleagues, would be good to have one for the Author Series. ***
Private guides include policy and procedures for staff. Staff can not only access but have write access.
***So my question is with the way he is describing it, how is it different from a wiki? I'm thinking money.***
Rick has a libguide for his presentation found at http://libguides.missouriwestern.edu/mobiuspre
***I really think that this presentation would be better if they could have divded out the information instead of trying to put all this info into one presentation. Five different presenters from three different schools, all talking about something different. The only similarity is that they are talking about LibGuides.***
LibGuide - predesigned website librarians can update easily can include RSS feeds, embedded chats, Delicious tag clouds, embedded video, student feedback, polls, etc.
Chris LeBeau - uses LibGuides first as classroom instruction and then for reference help. Students know what content they want, but not necessarily a specific item. Uses tabs on her libguide for organization purposes. Presenter is giving good information, but really specific to what she is doing - business resources. Study - average student only asks .1 question in class, teachers only ask 3 questions. On a one to one basis students will ask far more questions. On her libguide gives an area a way for students to ask questions after the class.
***Good idea to use for my bibliographic instruction classes.***
This presenter created a Q&A page with questions asked after the class.
Rebecca Power - Embedding the library, can embed a LibGuides widget into Blackboard.
***This is something that I would love to do to give students more information about the library and librarian. Students could have this at home when they are doing research. I am still thinking that I would like to go to their classes so they can see the "face" of the library. But what a great way to connect to the students where they are.***
Jaleh Fazelian and Melissa Vetter - Assessing LibGuides. Are students and faculty really using them? They compared their web based guides to their LibGuides. The overall usage of LibGuides increased exponentially in a year's time. Why? Link to guides better situated on newly redesigned home page, promotion of LibGuides, push to advertise in all areas, links in email signatures. Besides looking at stats, interviewed faculty and grad and undergrad students to see how they liked/used the guides.
Best quote from Jaleh Fazelian "It's not about what we [librarians] want, it is about what they [students] want." Amen sister.
Rick Dyson - started LibGuides in 2007, uses it for subject guides and course guides. What else can they be used for? Currently they have over 40 public guides. Non-traditional guides include special collections, library documents, faculty services, and guidelines for library exhibits.
***side not to my Bolivar colleagues, would be good to have one for the Author Series. ***
Private guides include policy and procedures for staff. Staff can not only access but have write access.
***So my question is with the way he is describing it, how is it different from a wiki? I'm thinking money.***
Rick has a libguide for his presentation found at http://libguides.missouriwestern.edu/mobiuspre
***I really think that this presentation would be better if they could have divded out the information instead of trying to put all this info into one presentation. Five different presenters from three different schools, all talking about something different. The only similarity is that they are talking about LibGuides.***
Mobius Conference - Embedded Librarian
I am sitting at the first session entitle the Embedded Librarian - hoping to learn new and great things. The speaker is Brian Vetruba, Catalog librarian from Washington University in St. Louis. Right now technical difficulties with the presentation.
Presentation started - via webcast
Started in 2006 holding "office hours" - Official office hours at Main Library underutilized office located off-campus. Departmental lectures and social events became "office hours"
Becoming Embedded
-Regular office hours in convenient setting
-Problem was finding space and computer could use
-2 to 2.5 hours a week in the Dept.
Advertise and Be Visible
-Email, newsletter, signs
-Don't stay put in your office
-Strategically walk the halls
-Strike up conversations with faculty and students
Informal conversations can be productive
Results--Personal touch back into librarianship
***My thoughts is that this is a great idea when you are at a large university, you really need to have that interaction with the faculty and students to find their needs. I was hoping for more information on how to do this virtually which he has not discussed.***
Benefits
-Convenience
-being seen will prompt questions
-good pr for library
-market other services
-collegiality with faculty
Drawbacks/Challenges
-commitment of time
-no print resources available
-space at dept.'s whim
***I'm still thinking that there is a better way to do outreach to other dept.'s and students. In our world of the social web, it would be better to hold virtual office hours. I understand wanting to be "seen" but why not "go" where the students are...Facebook, MySpace, chat, etc. Just saying.***
Suggestions
-have relationship established with dept. beforehand
-walk the halls, meet people
***Presenter is good, but the presentation was not really what I expected. In other words there was good information, but really nothing pertained to what I would be doing in my job.***
Presentation started - via webcast
Started in 2006 holding "office hours" - Official office hours at Main Library underutilized office located off-campus. Departmental lectures and social events became "office hours"
Becoming Embedded
-Regular office hours in convenient setting
-Problem was finding space and computer could use
-2 to 2.5 hours a week in the Dept.
Advertise and Be Visible
-Email, newsletter, signs
-Don't stay put in your office
-Strategically walk the halls
-Strike up conversations with faculty and students
Informal conversations can be productive
Results--Personal touch back into librarianship
***My thoughts is that this is a great idea when you are at a large university, you really need to have that interaction with the faculty and students to find their needs. I was hoping for more information on how to do this virtually which he has not discussed.***
Benefits
-Convenience
-being seen will prompt questions
-good pr for library
-market other services
-collegiality with faculty
Drawbacks/Challenges
-commitment of time
-no print resources available
-space at dept.'s whim
***I'm still thinking that there is a better way to do outreach to other dept.'s and students. In our world of the social web, it would be better to hold virtual office hours. I understand wanting to be "seen" but why not "go" where the students are...Facebook, MySpace, chat, etc. Just saying.***
Suggestions
-have relationship established with dept. beforehand
-walk the halls, meet people
***Presenter is good, but the presentation was not really what I expected. In other words there was good information, but really nothing pertained to what I would be doing in my job.***
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