InsideOLITA

As always, the OLA SuperConference Top Tech Trends session was as informative as it was, well, informative. The three speakers this year included Meredith Farkas, David Fiander, and Casey Bisson. While their session powerpoints/blog postings are available and linked to below, it is worth mentioning one theme that all three presenters touched upon. If you have other observations, please feel free to leave a comment.

The library is everywhere. This was the opening salvo or Farkas’ presentation, and Fiander also mentioned that we need to go to where our users are; Bisson talked of the concept of “contextualization.” Indeed, many of the SuperConference sessions that I went to contained some aspect of this theme. Libraries build their OPACs and web sites assuming that our users are coming to us. But are they? And if they are not, how can we build our tools so that they can be directly and seamlessly integrated into the online communities in which our users are spending their online time?

• http://maisonbisson.com/blog/post/12085/top-tech-trends
• http://www.slideshare.net/librarianmer/ola-top-tech-trends
• http://lisletters.fiander.info/2008/02/my-top-technology-trends-slides.html

Update: Fiander picks up on this theme on a subsequent posting to his blog.

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The 2007 top tech trends panel was comprised of Michael Stephens from Dominican University, Amanda Etches-Johnson from McMaster University, and John Blyberg from Ann Arbor Public Library.

Amanda observed that past use of RSS was among a slightly more “techy” user population, and was not recognizable to the regular user population. RSS is now starting to be integrated into internet browser technology, such as in FireFox. Internet users will be using RSS without even knowing that it is there. She commented that library catalogues are now integrating RSS applications in catalogue searching and New book listings. Amanda then indicated that general Library web sites need improvement, and noticed the increase in library jobs that focus on the web side of library services. Some web site improvements are placing search tools at the top of the web page hierarchy, integrating aspects of social software and developing a library presence in social networks. Amanada was quick to point out that libraries should be careful about their presence in social spaces so as not to pose as too commercial or promotional. Lastly Amanda observed that in general, library blogs suffer from trying to be everything to everyone. Successful library blogs are more focused, show a human element, and some personality.  

John Blyberg observed that libraries are still trying to find their niche on the internet. He took the example of Linux operating system software and how it was developed by a volunteer developer base from all over the world. In the same light John asked whether there is enough cooperation among libraries? John discussed the example of the Georgia Pines project as an open source success story that developed and implemented ILS application software to 252 libraries in the state of Georgia. He discussed the development of the semantic web as a way to retrieve information with associated ontology, or connecting concepts. Information retrieval is currently limited by the knowledge of the user, and we need librarians and their catalogue systems to make the connection between concepts.

Michael Stephens discussed how social software creates the desire to play out life online, and how library catalogues should accommodate this by enabling users to make comments. He discussed the idea of convergence, and how old and new media are converging, like the devices that have cell phone, camera, and music recording all in one. The other trend that Michael commented on was the ability for users to create content as seen in YouTube, MySpace, etc. In a recent study 57% of teenagers created content on the web. He indicated that libraries need to use social software.

After the panelist’s formal presentations, the session opened up to questions from the audience for the remaining time that was left. 

Greg Smith
OLITA Councillor
St. Catharines Public Library

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Over the past several years, libraries have come to realize that the search interfaces of their library catalogues have not kept apace of technology features provided on commercial sites. To some, this statement may be overwhelmingly obvious; to others, this may be news. To help get library staff on the same page (or at least within the same chapter!), the University of Windsor Library held a one-day symposium on the “Future of the Integrated Library System.” Nearly 100 participants listened to presentations on the current state of the ILS, how some libraries have been responding, and how libraries should be responding in the months and years to come.

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Did you miss the chance to attend Access 2006 in Ottawa?  Never fear, they have posted podcasts for all the sessions.

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Bill’s demo wouldn’t cooperate but he valiantly pursued his topic with the 10 minute deadline riding his heels. He covered Where we were (we being the University of Waterloo), the Migration and Where we are. In 1997 they started with an in-house system that only had around 700 etheses at the time the decision came down that etheses deposit would become mandatory. The goal was to have the process untouched by staff as much as possible with students submitting their own theses. They assumed the theses would be a pdf file with up to 5 accompanying files to accomodate multimedia. The old system was analysed, a dspace instance was loaded and a functional comparison was done.

More techie stuff was covered such as their use of an LDAP/UWDIR along with a desire to include creative commons copyright, automated statistics, checksum for uploads, etc. They are not yet live but he offered the following URL: http://uwspace.uwaterloo.ca . I suggest you view his slides which should be loaded to the Access website or the podcast which is not yet available.