Ab’s Blog

I was recently asked to speak as part of a panel on emerging technologies. Alas, I couldn’t make it, but the panel description and questions really got me thinking about how libraries decide what new projects to pursue and why. The conference in question was organized around a transportation theme (e.g., the technology bus) and I was asked to think about technologies fueling the bus.

I may be taking the phrasing too literally, as I am wont to do, but it seems to me that this is a bit of a backwards way of thinking about things. Technology should not be in the driver’s seat. Technologies are tools for getting things done. Sometimes the appropriate technology is really great signage; sometimes it is a full-fledged ERM system (just to use a totally random, off-the-top-of-my-head example). Sometimes it’s even a cool Web 2.0 app.

Instead of “what technologies should we be using?” I think the questions need to be along the lines of, “What is our library trying to accomplish? What is the best way to accomplish that? What do our users need that we aren’t offering? How can we offer that?” What is the question that the technology you’re considering answers? If you can’t answer that question, maybe you’re barking up the wrong tree, to switch metaphors.

I have wondered if the reason we can get so focused on trying new apps is because it’s a lot easier than some of the alternatives, such as meeting regularly with every faculty member in one’s subject area, or putting together a first-class marketing campaign, or trying to convince the powers that be to get librarians into every single freshman composition class. When students are characterized as being on all the time, as being permanently connected to their cell phones, MP3 players, and Facebook accounts (I’m sure I’m behind the times with my examples; I’m a lackluster veteran after all…) it can be easy to justify working with a new technology. But with cool geek exceptions acknowledged, the aforementioned are simply ways to talk, write, listen, share, cruise, and declare affinities. We should work as hard as we can to make our technologies of choice so seamless they are invisible to most users and create a loyal fan club among the rest. That goes for signage just as much as AJAXified web apps.

It’s arguably been a while since I posted any truly useful content. But never fear, because now there is… The Daily Puppy!!! I have added The Daily Puppy as a widget in my sidebar. Look today or you might miss Brandy the Saint Bernard. I’m more of a cat person myself, but I’ve always had a soft spot for big dogs that still manage to look cuddly.

I’m intrigued by the proliferation of blog widgets and other blog add ons, since I rarely hop over to blogs from my feed reader unless the author mentions changes to the site or I know that the design gets updated frequently (e.g. dooce). I fiddle with my blog design mostly for my own amusement, to try out new things, and to give people finding the blog for the first time something interesting to look at. But I hardly expect that most of you see my site on a regular basis.

I feel like such a fuddy-duddy: I actually log in to WordPress to post to this blog. Library Clips has a list of over 15 ways to post. I’m going to try the browser extension. Via Lifehacker.

If you’re heading to NASIG this year, please look for me and say hello.  I’ll be starting a term as co-chair of the Electronic Communications Committee, but otherwise plan to keep a light meeting schedule.

Straight from Louisville I’ll be traveling to Spearfish, SD, for the Ex Libris Users North America meeting, where I’ll be doing an all-day SFX refresher at the Ex Libris Technical Seminar that precedes the user group meeting. Would you rather spend the day with me and SFX, or visiting Mt. Rushmore?  That’s what I thought.

Now that I’m into week 5 at the new job and my personal belongings have caught up with me, I’m ready to tackle a blog post again.  It sounds simple, but let me tell you, starting a new job is exhausting!  I hadn’t done it since 2000 and had forgotten that feeling that comes around at 2 or 3 every afternoon for the first couple weeks, the one where you want to put your head down on your keyboard and close your eyes for a minute, even though you’re in a cubicle and everyone will see you sleeping at your desk.

I was pretty frustrated by the fatigue until I started listing in my mind all the things I’ve been trying to learn:

• workflow diagrams
• SQL
• Web Services
• Unix
• travel tips
• Interwise
• the correct way to fill out an expense report
• where the supplies are
• how to set/un-set the office alarm
• Oracle
• Powerpoint animation

and, oh yeah, Verde.

This is in addition to all the random observation the brain is doing half-subconsciously: what’s the best way to get in touch with my manager? does she prefer e-mail, IM, or dropping by the office?  is that Hebrew I’m hearing over there? is it OK to pop my head up out of my cubicle to ask my neighbor a question? what does this button on my laptop do? should I just eat my lunch at my desk, or at that small table in the kitchen?

I’ve answered a lot of the questions and am making progress on the big stuff, but I definitely have a newfound empathy for new employees. If you’ve gone one at your place of work, take them to lunch or bring them some chocolate!

I started my professional life as a cataloger. I have felt the push and pull of inter-departmental wranglings: “they don’t understand the value of what we do!” and “they don’t understand how people actually use the catalog!” Now that I’ll be helping e-resource librarians implement an ERM system and will no longer be an end user myself, I’m conscious of the fact that I’ll start to lose touch with what it really means to do the job.

I would like to minimize that phenomenon as much as possible, and I’d like your help, dear reader. I still manage ERIL-L, I’ve recently learned about a couple e-resources blogs and have subscribed, and I recently joined the editorial board of JERDA, so I’ll surely be reading that. I plan to attend NASIG and start a subscription to Against the Grain. I know there’s more out there–what else should I be doing to stay connected to the front lines of ERM? Journals, websites, blogs, conferences? Send your suggestions, please, so I’ll be well prepared to assist should Verde be in your library’s future!

Three of us, out of less than 30 people, at my new workplace went to the same high school. Go Tigers!

Rachel Singer Gordon asks, “What do people read outside the library field?”

• dooce - “I’m Heather B. Armstrong. This is my website.”
• A List Apart - “For people who make websites”
• Church of the Customer - by Ben McConnell and Jackie Huba, authors of Citizen Marketers and Creating Customer Evangelists
• National Geographic News - Jurassic crocodiles, interspecies mating, “Toyger” kitties.
• desire to inspire - “This blog was started so that we could share our favourite inspirational design photos with you”

If you write for the web, you may find this tip sheet helpful. It discusses making your page easily scannable, optimizing for search engines, and (my favorite, as you may know) good reasons not to write “click here.”

I’m all moved into the aforementioned apartment (can you believe it?), although not all unpacked. I plugged a phone in today and found a dial tone, so I got myself a dial up connection to use while I wait for Verizon to hook me up with the high speed. This means that I’m currently torn between wanting to browse and not wanting to hurt all over: the phone jack is not near any place to sit besides the floor. Since there’s a good chance I’ll hurt all over no matter where I sit, I’ve opted to browse.

I don’t remember the last time I used dial up, so it’s been quite an experience seeing which sites load in what I consider a reasonable amount of time: Google does pretty well, of course, and Newsgator is OK too, but Wordpress, always a bit slow, is downright sluggish. And I desperately want to spend the going-away gift card some colleagues gave me, but iTunes just laughs.

Sorry Binghamton readers, but here, one more time, is the list of things I can walk to from my new place, in order of proximity:

• dry cleaners
• Dunkin Donuts
• pub
• ATM
• work
• express bus stop
• Thai food
• Starbucks
• post office
• the Charles River
• Whole Foods (if I’m not buying much)