David Lee King: iBeacons and the Library

March 24, 2015
By: David Lee King

I’ve shown what iBeacons are, and what they do in non-retail settings. Can they be used in a library setting? Definitely – because some libraries are already experimenting with them!

There are currently two companies in the library industry working with iBeacons (that I know of, anyway):

• Bluubeam
• Capira Technologies

What are these companies focusing on?

Bluubeam sends out location-based messaging. For example, if you walk into the teens area of the library (and have the Bluubeam app on your mobile device), you might get a message about what’s happening in the teen section that day, or get a message about an upcoming teen event.

So think location-based promotion of events and your stuff.

Capira Technologies does location-based messaging. They’re also working on more personalized info. For example, here’s what they say about circulation notices:

Patrons who have authenticated their account information in your library app can receive notifications about items due that day, items ready for pickup, and much more when they enter the building. Library staff know that patrons often visit the library and forget they have items due that day. Automatically reminding them to stop by the circulation desk and renew them before they leave is a great customer service.

What types of things could you do with iBeacons in a library? Here are some ideas:

Event notices that are location-based

Promotion of new library services. For example, if a customer walks by your new makerspace, they could receive a message explaining it, and maybe an “ask the librarian” prompt for more information.

Building tours!

Around-town tours. I’d love to see iBeacons connected to a historical walking tour, for example. This has the potential to be much better than portable headsets, and definitely better than QR codes.

Art gallery explanations. We have an art gallery. It might work to have explanations of art pieces or more information about the current exhibit.

Shelving notices. What’s on this shelf? Capira goes much further with this idea – “For example, if a library offered a row of shelves with New Releases, a patron could view items released that day using their device and a beacon located on the shelf.”

Patron Assistance (again from Capira). Devices can time how long a beacon stays in range. Staff can be notified if a patron spends an excessive amount of time in a specific area or room without moving, possibly indicating they may require assistance looking for items.

Beacon Tracking – Anonymous tracking via iBeacons can capture how library customers move around in your building, along with how much time is spent in each area. Retail stores already do this, and then move their products around to where customers gather. Something to think about!

Again – there is potentially a LOT of possibility here. What do you think? Please share!

iBeacon image by Jonathan Nalder

Source: David Lee King

McMaster students hope to bring bike lending to Ottawa Public Library

By Haley Ritchie | March 17, 2015

Libraries are usually about teaching kids how to read, but two McMaster University students are hoping the Ottawa Public Library will soon be a place to learn how to ride a bike.

Justin Hall and Charles Burke are avid cyclists who launched a Hamilton-based bike library program aimed at children.

The Start the Cycle program allows library cardholders to borrow bikes, helmets and safety gear for a short period of time. They’re hoping the program, currently operating out of McMaster’s library, can expand across the country.

“Allowing young people to develop a love around reading is the true value of the library. We want to create a generation of people who love cycling,” said Burke.

Ottawa’s library and the Start the Cycle group have only just started talking, and no commitment has been made, said Anna Basile, a planning manager from the Ottawa Public Library.

While it might be a slow process, the idea of lending things other than bikes isn’t a new trend.

“Libraries are community hubs, they’re not just about lending books. They’re about providing community services,” said Valoree McKay, executive director of the Canadian Library Association.

She said whether it’s books, technology or bikes, libraries across the country are trying to draw in younger patrons and serve their community’s needs.

Libraries in Canada are reading between the lines and lending a lot more than books and DVDs:

Fitness tracking: The Ottawa Public Library has more than 500 pedometers available for people to borrow and track their steps towards better fitness. Even more high-tech? The Santa Clara City Library in California lets patrons borrow FitBit trackers.

Parks and arts: The Vancouver library lets patrons borrow a free pass to go mini-golfing, and Calgary’s library offers free live theatre tickets to low-income families. At the Ottawa Library, you can borrow passes to almost every museum, as well as Gatineau Park’s ski trails.

Watt-ever you need: Libraries in Ottawa and Calgary let patrons borrow “Kill-A-Watt” machines that can track how much energy is used by household appliances.

Fun and games: Carleton University’s library has an extensive collection of borrow-able board games, including classics like Monopoly and new and unusual titles like Blokus and Zombicide.

Gamer heaven: Once thought the antithesis of books, the Ottawa library now has over a thousand different video game titles in hot demand. There’s only a few copies of each and some, like How to Train Your Dragon 2 for Wii, have over 50 people waiting.

The cutting edge of tech: Ottawa library allows patrons access to 3D printing and video gear. In Toronto, you can use a “Print-on-Demand” machine for DIY bookbinding. The University of South Florida is seeking federal approval to lend out thousand-dollar drones to students.*

*Correction – An earlier version of this article stated the University of South Florida is currently lending out drones. In fact, school officials are still seeking federal approval for the program. Metro regrets the error.

You have to see these libraries. (But shh—people are reading.)

Books may be under siege, but these odd, charming libraries are taking them to the Earth’s farthest corners

 By Brian Bethune | March 17, 2015

Photo by James D. Morgan/REX

Libraries on beaches or sidewalks, libraries on the move—whether by elephant in Laos or boat in Minnesota or a tank-like vehicle in Buenos Aires known as the “Weapon of Mass Instruction”—their books offered to all on a take-one, leave-one honour system: It may yet turn out, as Nietzsche might have put it, that what doesn’t kill libraries will end up making them stronger. Or merely flat-out cool.  

The growth and proliferation of libraries has always been tightly tied to the (economic) devaluation of books. In the Middle Ages, when it took months of monastic labour and the lives—and skins—of an entire flock of sheep to make one unique book, libraries chained their treasures in place and occasionally wrote toe-curling curses within them aimed at any would-be thief: “Whoever steals this book, let him die the death; let be him be frizzled in a pan; may the falling sickness rage within him; may he be broken on the wheel and be hanged.”

Librarians’ collective blood-pressure readings only began to decline with the printing press, the first of the technological leaps that would allow, among many other revolutions in human affairs, the creation of mass lending libraries. The de-individualization of book copies—there are up to 80 million Da Vinci Codes still floating about the planet—and the exponential decrease in their unit cost eventually combined to make books perhaps the cheapest, hardiest and most ubiquitous bundles of information, entertainment and aesthetic joy ever created. Now, the same technological and economic forces that made lending libraries possible seem poised to make them—and physical books themselves—disappear. The coming of the ebook, most digital prophets of the future agree, means that soon, there will be nothing tangible left for book thieves to pilfer.

But a funny thing happened on the way to the landfill, as British journalist and booklover Alex Johnson shows in his stunning little collection, Improbable Libraries. As books continue to lose economic value in the Internet age, and big-city libraries have reconfigured themselves to intensify their digital focus, traditionalist book-lovers have responded to dwindling costs and loss of access with a profusion of innovative libraries. For Johnson, a thoroughgoing traditionalist, there’s no question which is preferable. “I went up to York to see the new wing there,” says the transplanted Yorkshireman who now lives outside London, “and I swear it has only half the books it used to. And many more computers. And a café. But that’s inevitable. Libraries are feeling the pressure, the need to defend their existence, and many are becoming general stores.”

What warms Johnson’s heart more are the smaller-scale developments, including a handful of spectacular personal libraries. In Washington, Canadian writer Wade Davis, explorer in residence at the National Geographic Society, accesses his most precious volumes by climbing a ladder to the book-lined dome that crowns his home office; in Texas, furniture designer Sally Trout reaches the upper shelves of the multi-storey library on her ranch via a winch-lifted bosun’s chair.
 
But for Johnson, even they pale beside contemporary efforts to bring books where they’ve never been, the numerous mobile and mini-libraries springing up around the world. There are libraries in airports, hotels and subway stations, and a library for deaf children in Burundi filled throughout with giant, locally made hammocks. In Mongolia, kid-lit author Jambyn Dashdondog started the Children’s Mobile Library to bring books to the most remote corners of the Gobi Desert—by camel. In Laos, Big Brother Mouse Library Services runs what Johnson calls the “most romantic” of the improbable libraries: Big Brother’s key employee is an elephant named Boom-Boom, the sole means possible of getting books to children in remote mountaintop villages still unreachable by road.

Nowhere do the socioeconomic-technological trend lines intersect more neatly than in the phone-box library. The red booths, originally developed in 1935 as part of the celebrations for King George V’s Silver Jubilee, are as iconic a symbol of Britain as a double-decker bus. As late as 2002, there were 92,000 across the country, half of which have since been removed after the spread of mobile phones. Rather than rip out tens of thousands more, British Telecom launched an adopt-a-kiosk program in 2009, offering local communities a chance to buy them for about $2 each. The public response was enthusiastic: Grocery stores, wildlife information centres and defibrillator storage units are some of the new uses. And dozens have become very local libraries—two casualties of the digital age finding a new life together.
  

Improbable Libraries 
Occupy Wall Street: This street library in New York, set up in 2011, has been destroyed. (Credit: David Shankbone)

Improbable Libraries
Dutch design: This complex in Koh Kood, Thailand, includes a library and a cinema. (Credit: Boris Zeisser/24H-architecture)

Improbable Libraries
Urban reading: Readers can browse from books hanging in small containers in Lyon, France. (Credit: Didier Muller/House Work)

Improbable Libraries
Little Free Library Credit: Marcelo Ertorteguy and Sara Valente/Stereotank

 Improbable Libraries
 "Weapon of mass instruction" by Raúl Lemesoff in Buenos Aires Credit: Geronimo Poppino/Flickr

Improbable Libraries
White and bright: A mobile library in Mexico City features rotating wall-doors. (Credit: Luis Gallardo Merino)

Improbable Libraries
Have camel, will read: Carrying books to nomads in the Gobi Desert. (Jambyn Dashdondog/Mongolian Children’s Culture Foundation/Go Help)
 

Improbable Libraries 
From the ground up: A library for deaf children in Burundi is elevated and cool. (BC Architects)
 

 From: Macleans

Open For All?

Systems

By John Pateman | March 15, 2015

Systems are policies, procedures and processes which enable a library to operate. They are the rules and regulations which determine attitudes and behaviour. They should be driven by the library Purpose, Vision and Values. They should be in alignment with the organization’s Strategy, Structures (staff and buildings) and Culture.

They should enable rather than disable. They should include rather than exclude. They should be used to guide rather than govern. But in so many cases this does not happen. Why? – because systems can also be used to create a comfort zone for staff which prevents them from having to make discretionary decisions.

For example, I have heard many times that “Library rules should be applied equally to all library customers because this ensures both fairness and consistency.” But equality is not the same as equity. Every library user is different. They all have different needs. So applying the same rule in the same way to every patron cannot meet their needs.

It is far less comfortable but much more empathetic to recognize that library users are not equal – some have greater needs than others.

Our Systems should be nimble and flexible enough to recognize and reflect this. Library fines are a case in point. A $5 fine for one person may be nothing, just the small change in their pocket; but for another person it may be a big deal. An accumulated debt of $15 may make the difference between them using the library service or not. What is more important – getting $15 in income or getting the books back and the patron (and their family) using the library.

Open to All? (Resource, 2000) found that those who use libraries the most, need them the least; and those who use libraries the least, need them the most. This is in no small part due to the exclusive Systems which we operate.

Systems form a huge part of organizational culture which is very difficult to shift or change. The discussion about the need to change Systems has to start internally, with library staff. They operate these systems and can tell you what works and what doesn’t work; what they like and what they don’t like. But staff generally like these Systems and so we need to seek a broader view from those who the Systems are applied to.

This must go beyond Active Users who understand the rules and generally abide by them. We also need to talk to Passive Users, those who have used libraries in the past but no longer use them. Perhaps this lapsed use was triggered by a faulty System? We also need to consult Non Users because our Systems can sometimes be a barrier which prevents them from accessing our libraries. Maybe our membership requirements are too strict. Or it could be that the whole image and identity of our library has been shaped by Systems that make us appear exclusive.

There are four main barriers to library use:

institutional barriers (policies, procedures and processes);
personal and social barriers (low income and poverty);
perceptions and awareness barriers (image and identity) and
environmental barriers (location and access). 

Systems can passively or actively exclude. For example: inappropriate rules and regulations; charging policies which disadvantage those on low incomes; book stock policies which do not reflect the needs of the community; lack of signage in buildings or signs which make no sense to library users. These Systems can create a lack of a sense of ownership and involvement by the community.

In relation to the most excluded people, it is important to address the processes of exclusion rather than focusing simply on addressing the particular characteristics of excluded groups. The critical test of a system is that it is useful, usable, and desirable. If a system fails to pass this test it should be amended or scrapped.

Fines are the biggest barrier to library use and the most difficult System to change.

They form part of the public library DNA, even though there is significant research which suggests that fines are both ineffective and inefficient. They do not encourage the return of materials “on time”, whatever that means (because loan periods are an arbitrary construct). And it costs more to recover and administer fines than the income they generate (particularly if we factor in the “opportunity costs” of patrons who can no longer use the service because they have a fine).

Library fines make no sense and they should be scrapped (today) and replaced with more positive incentive models. Food for Fines is a great idea because it simultaneously removes the stigma of paying a fine (and turns it into a positive social action) and benefits those with the greatest needs. “Paying it forward” (by paying someone else’s fine) is another good approach. Random Acts of Reading also work – whereby patrons can work off their own or another person’s fine through the restorative act of reading.

There are many ways in which we can make our Systems more inclusive and enabling. For that to happen we need to take both a community-led and needs-based approach. We need Systems which are Values driven. And we need staff that have the power to operate Systems with empathy and discretion. This means letting staff use their personal judgement and discretion. This may be messy and inconsistent. But it’s the right thing to do.

John Pateman is the CEO / Chief Librarian of the Thunder Bay Public Library. The Open for All? column explores the nature of libraries and their commitment to openness.

From : Open Shelf 

Library of Things at Sacramento Public Libraries

Library Of Things Launches On Saturday

 By Steve Milne |  March 12, 2015 

             

Lori Easterwood looks over a collection of board games and musical instruments at the Central Library in downtown Sacramento. After they are cataloged they will be sent to the Arcade Branch Library and made available to the public to check out. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

The range of things – other than books – that you can check out at Sacramento Public Libraries is expanding. This weekend the library system is launching its new Library of Things, intended to help push the library into the future.

Everything that ends up in Sacramento’s 28 library branches starts out in the basement of the Central Library in downtown Sacramento.

“This is where we have a lot of our collections,” says Lori Easterwood who is overseeing the new Library of Things. “They’re here for processing and cataloging.”

“So we just got the instruments in and we’re un-boxing those,” explains Easterwood. “This has been kind of like Christmas, opening all of this fun stuff – ukuleles, a couple of sets of drums.”

The library’s circulation coordinator Shari Nichelini is un-boxing a beautiful, rosewood colored Spanish guitar.“Oh that one’s pretty,” says Nichelini. “It needs to be tuned though.”

Nichelini has also been cataloging 70 boutique board games with names like The Forbidden Desert and Munchkin Deluxe. She has to keep a record of all the little game pieces and put them into plastic bags.  

                                 
Everything that goes into the Library of Things must be inventoried, including game pieces for a board game. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

“We have some that are more adult kind of games. Not the “adult” adults but adult-age kind of games, family games, lots of family games and younger kid games.”

The Library of Things also includes video games, GoPro cameras and sewing machines that you can check out with your library card and take home. There are some things you can check out at the library but you can’t take out. Things like a bike repair station and a 3-D scanner. Easterwood says they picked all these things based on the results of an online vote through the library’s website. 

“One of the funny things that somebody suggested for the Library of Things - an automobile - being able to check out a car from the library which was not in our budget.”

That budget is $10,000 – money from a federal grant the library got through the Library Services and Technology Act. Easterwood trusts that all these newly bought “things” will come back undamaged.

“There will be an agreement that people have to sign for some of the items, the more expensive ones,” says Easterwood. “And they’ll be expected to bring them back in the condition they found them, just as they would any other item.”

                                 
Collection Services Manager Nina Biddle, left, and Circulation Coordinator Shari Nichelini peruse the board games that will be available in the Library of Things at the Arcade Branch Library. Nichelini shows Biddle how to play a word association game called "5 Second Rule." Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

Above the basement processing center, on the main floor, people are checking out the library’s more traditional offerings – books, along with CDs and DVDs.

The folks we talked to like the library’s expansion of its non-book offerings.

“People might not be able to have access to something they might want to explore,” said Lynn Flanigan. “It’s a hard economy right now. And I think it’s a fabulous idea.”

“Some people would see something and they might say ‘well, hey I like this,’ you know,” said Arzo Thames. “And it becomes a hobby or something.”

“A lot of people used to be able to borrow things from their neighbors or from family members,” said Ellen Walrath. “And this makes another option.”

Sacramento’s Library of Things is part of a nationwide effort to reintroduce us to our local libraries and expand ideas of what a library can be.

“There’s a movement towards a lot of innovation and experimentation in libraries,” says Ken Haycock, a longtime library and information science educator with the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

“I think the issue is – how can we have more experiments and innovations that are still true to the mission of libraries? And that’s what you’re seeing in Sacramento,” said Haycock. “It needs to be girded in a distinct community need and a very strong assessment in terms of the benefit of a return on investment for community tax dollars.”

                                    
Circulation Coordinator Shari Nichelini helps determine how to catalog a board game at the Central Library in Sacramento.  Without a universal standard, library staff must develop their own method for describing objects for their Library of Things, including musical instruments, board games and sewing machines. Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

In Sacramento, those dollars come from property taxes.

Rivkah Sass is Sacramento’s library director. She says even though e-books from the library are gaining in popularity, people still want to come to a physical location – traditional book checkouts are up by about three percent. And Sass says the Library of Things is an extension of new ways people are using the library.

“They’re using us more as gathering places,” says Sass. “We offer high school diplomas, prom dresses which we do also, you can come into the library and borrow a prom dress. And the things are just one more facet of helping people, sure have fun - we have a lot of games, but there are other resources that they'll then discover that we have by coming in maybe for the fun thing."

Items from the Library of Things will be offered at the Arcade branch on Marconi Avenue. That’s where a kick-off event will be held this Saturday.

From: Capital Public Radio

Lights and Camera In Action at Tampa Bay Libraries

By Ian Chant  |  March 16, 2015

Libraries in Central Florida are getting ready for their closeup. The Tampa Bay Library Consortium (TBLC), which represents 113 public, academic, school, and special libraries in the Sunshine State, has brought on a full-time videographer to serve each branch, and the consortium as well. Now special events, chats with authors, and even monthly newsletters from TBLC members are getting professional video treatment.



According to Jessica Riggins, the seeds for the program were planted in early 2014. One of TBLC’s member libraries rewrote the job description for a library assistant position into a job with more of a video production bent, hoping to start filming library events and share them more effectively with the public. It was an idea that resonated with TBLC staffers. There was just one problem, and it was a familiar one—money.

“We knew that not many of our libraries could afford to have a position dedicated to this and thought that a ‘shared’ person could benefit many libraries in our region,” said Jessica Riggins, membership coordinator at TBLC.

The program kicked off with the hiring of video content producer Scott Patterson in October of last year, and TBLC member libraries have found plenty of work for him. If repeat customers are any indicator of success, the program is flourishing.

“We average about six videos per month and have filmed things with more than 12 of our member libraries,” TBLC assistant director Beth Farmer told Library Journal. “We have gotten a lot of positive feedback from members, and have often been called back by the same library to film additional videos after [its] first experience with us.”

Those projects have run the gamut of library content, from TED Talk-style lectures on the future of libraries to short videos highlighting the library-sponsored Manatee County Comics Convention. Ericka Dow, a librarian at Manatee County Library’s Central Branch, who helped organize and manage that event, Mana-Con, was delighted with the footage Patterson captured at the event, which featured plenty of costumed attendees and a robot-themed lounge space.

“Scott created a fantastic video with high quality production value and now we’ll be able to use it to promote Mana-Con 2015 coming up in October,” said Dow.

It’s not just visually interesting events like a comic convention that can benefit from video treatment, though, says Patterson. Short video pieces can breathe life into drier subject matter as well, and it’s something patrons are already looking for.

“Video reaches places that other typical media cannot. Close to a third of online activity consists of watching videos,” Patterson told LJ. “Video can take a seemingly boring topic and make it more appealing.”

That may be why TBLC has employed Patterson’s services to spice up their once traditional newsletter. “We have also begun doing video news segments in place of email newsletter updates to member libraries,” Farmer said. “These have been very popular and people are happy to see smiling faces instead of just reading text from their inbox.”

Once Scott receives the request, he works with the library to ensure the shoot runs smoothly. Scott shoots the event or promotional video, edits the work, and sends the preliminary video to the library to review before final production.

To get a video produced, member libraries submit a request through the TBLC website, giving Patterson a rundown of what they want recorded, for what purpose, the intended audience, and when and where the program will take place. Then, said Riggins, “Scott shoots the event or promotional video, edits the work and sends the preliminary video to the library to review before final production.”

The requesting library has the last word on what the “final cut” of its video looks like, and owns the result, though most vidoes end up also being posted to the TBLC YouTube channel.

For Farmer, the videography program is just the next evolution of the traditional consortium mission to improve and enhance the way member libraries operate by pooling resources.
“TBLC has always provided centralized services to help maximize resources by sharing,” she said. “We see the video program as the next wave of library service—reaching the user visually, where they are.”

That outreach is especially important in the digital age, where libraries have to keep up with modern media or risk appearing to be behind the times. According to Riggins, that presence isn’t just nice to have—it’s essential to meeting the expectations of patrons.

“Providing video programming content and video promotional materials gives our libraries the opportunity to stay current with their users’ expectations,” she told LJ. 

From: Library Journal 

What is the best Solution for Digital Newspapers and Magazines for Libraries?

By Michael Kozlowski | February 28, 2015

There are three major companies that market newspapers and magazines to libraries and there is a fair amount of concern about what ecosystem to invest in. Library budgets are finite and the average system can ill-afford in making the wrong choice when investing in digital content for their patrons. Today, we look at the three best ones out there and give you a sense on what they are all about.

All of the companies involved in magazines and newspapers in the library have their own apps. This is necessary to read the digital content and normally the branches will have detailed instructions on their website about where to download and how to use their apps.  I think the most compelling aspect of this type of content is that there are no limits like e-books. You can borrow them for as long as you want and borrow as many titles, without limits.

Overdrive

Overdrive got into the digital newspaper and magazine game very late. The company launched their new service in February 2015 and relies on Barnes and Noble for all of their content. Currently, there are only 1,000 issues that libraries can purchase and its only available in the US.

Libraries that invest in the Overdrive ecosystem are always paying a bit more, because Overdrive is the market leader for e-books and audiobooks. They can get away with charging a bit extra, because the vast majority of libraries already deal with them.

PressReader

Pressreader deals with both digital magazines and newspapers and has the largest catalog with over 3,7000 publications. The company also offers a hotspot solution, to be able to hook the entire library up with wireless internet access, so anyone can ride the connection to download content from PressReader or just surf the internet. Libraries all over the world can signup, something that they can’t do with Zinio or Overdrive.

One of the big advantages with the newspaper aspect of Pressreader is being able to get audio editions. Their apps have the capability of doing text to speech, so people who are visually disabled can have the articles read aloud. Secondly,  the newspapers they offer are replica editions, which means they mirror the printed form. This allows you to see local advertising, classifieds and even the Sunday Funnies.

Zinio

Zinio focuses exclusively on digital magazines and does not bother at all with newspapers. Their primary partner for selling their services to libraries is Recorded Books. Recorded Books started out in 1979, heavily investing themselves into the library space. Aside from marketing magazines they also have a catalog of 13,500 audiobook titles and 100,000 eBooks.

Zinio currently has around 500 titles that publishers have sanctioned for use in the library. Due to their relationship with Recorded Books it means that users need to setup 2 accounts: an RB Magazines account, which lets you check out magazines for free (as long as the library subscribes to them); and a Zinio account, which lets you read checked-out magazines online in your browser or read via an app.

Zinio isn’t really global, in the respects that the vast majority of their clients are solely in Canada and the US. I think this is one of the things that hinders their growth potential in this sector.

Michael Kozlowski is the Editor in Chief of Good e-Reader. He has been writing about electronic readers and technology for the last four years. His articles have been picked up by major and local news sources and websites such as the Huffington Post, CNET and more. Michael frequently travels to international events such as IFA, Computex, CES, Book Expo and a myriad of others. If you have any questions about any of his articles, please send Michael Kozlowski an email to michael@goodereader.com

From GoodEReader

Tri-City News: Port Moody Library shows off old tech

Port Moody Library shows off old tech

• by  Sarah Payne - The Tri-City News
• posted Feb 3, 2015 at 2:00 PM— updated Feb 3, 2015 at 3:25 PM

Maryn Ashdown of the Port Moody Public Library shows off some of the items that will be part of the Retro Tech Fair Petting Zoo on Feb. 7.

— Image Credit: SARAH PAYNE/THE TRI-CITY NEWS

Remember the good old days, when we talked on telephones attached to the wall, rented VCRs from the video store and marveled at the first Commodore 64 on the block?

Travel back in tech time at the Port Moody Public Library's Retro Tech Petting Zoo on Feb. 7, a technology fair where families can check out cool old gadgets — the parents will get to reminisce about simpler times while kids puzzle over just how that rotary phone was supposed to work — from an antique vacuum tube radio to the iconic yellow Sony Sport Walkman.

"It's a first-time event so we're excited to see how it goes," said Maryn Ashdown, program and services co-ordinator at the PMPL.

Inspiration for the event came from the library's interest and history in information technology and the way it has shaped our own personal histories.

"Our mandate is to facilitate the exchange and exploration of ideas and information within the community," Ashdown said, "and information technology does define how we connect."

The library chronicles the history and progress of information technology while simultaneously being shaped itself by technological progress. Anyone who used to research a paper by thumbing through the vast card catalogue, and now borrows an e-book to read on their iPad from the comfort of their sofa, can attest to the way technology has changed the way the library does business.

The goal, Ashdown said, is to facilitate the discovery of information by whatever medium clients prefer — book collections, discussion groups, streaming media, DVDs and CDs and by providing free computer access to the entire community.

The technology fair will be a chance for families to explore all manner of devices and experiment with the latest in techno wizardry. Items have been donated or loaned and some of the owners will be on hand at the fair to give demonstrations (kids accustomed to the slick graphics in today's video games might be keen to try their hand at a Super Mario Bros. game console).

From the Atari Disk Drive 1050 personal computer to a chance to see a 3D printer in action, as well as demos by the Amateur Radio Club — showing off both old-school gear and modern communication devices — the Retro Tech Petting Zoo will offer a fascinating glimpse into the past in all its cumbersome, clunky glory.

• The Retro Tech Petting Zoo is on Saturday, Feb. 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

spayne@tricitynews.com

@spayneTC

From: Tri-City News

WikiHow: How to Become a Librarian

How to Become a Librarian

Three Parts:The Library Science FieldEducational RequirementsBecoming a Librarian

Librarians are keepers and disseminators of knowledge. They organize information and develop new, creative ways to make it accessible to others using the latest technology. Depending on what specialty they choose, librarians may have responsibilities as varied as running public education programs, conducting research at top universities, teaching children to love reading or managing library employees. Read on to find out more about the different facets of library science, the educational path librarians must travel, and the final steps you’ll need to take before earning the title of librarian.

Part 1 of 3: The Library Science Field

1. 
   1
   Understand what defines library science. The study of library science includes library management, the preservation, archival, and dissemination of information, the development of information technologies, and research education. Librarians can specialize in any one of these areas, and many have responsibilities that require expertise in all of them. Tasks librarians might have include the following:
   • Cataloging items in a library’s database
   • Developing taxonomies to organize data
   • Implementing new technologies to update the organization of old collections
   • Using research skills to answer reference questions
   • Facilitating educational programs for students and the public
   • Managing a library branch, including other employees
   • Keeping a library’s collection up to date by ordering new books and resources
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   Know about different types of librarianship. Perhaps you’re interested in becoming a children’s librarian, or you may want to participate in the archival of scientific information. There are many different types of libraries, and librarians may have a variety of responsibilities within them.
   • Public libraries have branches that are open to anyone who wants to obtain a library card. They often have public education programs to promote literacy for both adults and children. They play an important role in providing the public with free access to information. Librarians in public libraries take on a customer service role as well as making sure the collection is up to date, communicating with other libraries, and facilitating public programs.
   • School libraries are an important part of grade schools and middle schools, and serve the function of providing children with the resources they need to receive a well-rounded education. School librarians teach children research skills and help to develop children’s interest in reading as well as managing the library itself.
   • Academic libraries are found at colleges and universities, and they have comprehensive collections that serve the needs of students pursuing higher education. Academic libraries are often specialized, with separate buildings for a law library, a science library, an art library, and so on. Librarians at academic libraries work at reference desks, catalog new materials, help students with complicated research projects, archive special materials, and keep libraries operating as cutting edge purveyors of knowledge. Librarians at specialized libraries often need secondary degrees, such as a degree in law or within the field of science, to be qualified for their positions.
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   Decide whether you’re cut out to be a librarian. Many people who love reading are interested in becoming a librarian, but the job requires much more than an appreciation of good books. Good librarians have a passion not just for knowledge, but for finding the best way to organize it. They’re concerned with preserving information and making it as accessible as possible to those who need it.
   • Many librarians describe their decision to pursue library science as a calling to share information with others.
   • With today’s ever-changing information technology landscape, librarians have to be technologically adept. Some library science programs now require classes in coding.
   • Not every librarian interacts with the public. Some librarians spend more time on archival, cataloguing, and other tasks. If you love information, but don’t necessarily feel passionate about education, library science could still be the right field for you.
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   Conduct informational interviews to learn more. Contact the librarian in a library that interests you, whether that be a public, school, or academic library. Arrange to have a meeting so that you’ll have the opportunity to discuss librarianship with someone who has chosen that career.
   • Ask the librarian about his or her specific job duties, so you’ll know what to expect.
   • Ask how he or she made the decision to become a librarian, and what traits librarians should have.
   • Ask which Masters of Library Science (MLS) programs he or she would recommend.

Part 2 of 3: Educational Requirements

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   Get an undergraduate degree. In order to apply to an MLS program, you’ll need an undergraduate degree from a college or university. There is no particular major requirement if you want to become a librarian, but common majors include English, Art History, Computer Science, and other courses of study that require research and technology skills.
   • If you plan to become a librarian in a specialized library, such as a law or science library, you may need a secondary degree in a specific field. In this case, make sure you choose a major with classes that cover the prerequisites you’ll need for acceptance into a master’s program in your field.
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   Obtain an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited Masters of Library Science. The ALA website, http://www.ala.org, is an excellent resource for information on MLS programs. You’ll find a directory of accredited programs with descriptions of each one.
   • Conduct a lot of research before you choose where to apply. Each program is quite unique; some focus on technology, others on the politics of information accessibility, and so on.
   • Some programs require that you live on campus, while others are conducted entirely online. If you find out about a program through a source other than the ALA website, double check to make sure it’s ALA-accredited before going forward. Many libraries will not hire candidates with degrees from non-accredited schools.
   • Some prestigious institutions offer programs on information technology that are not ALA-accredited. If you’re interested in information technology, but not necessarily in managing a library or the other responsibilities that being a librarian might entail, you may want to look into these alternatives.

1. Part 3 of 3: Becoming a Librarian
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   Don’t wait until you have your degree. You can gain experience in a library before you finish your MLS, and even while you’re still an undergraduate. Apply for a job at your university library or local public library. Many colleges hire students to staff reference desks and reshelve books, among other duties. It’s a good chance to find out whether you enjoy the library atmosphere and want to pursue a career in library science.
   • Some libraries offer internships, whether paid or unpaid, as opportunities for students to get real world experience. If your university library doesn’t already offer one, set up a meeting with the librarian to ask if there’s a way you can get involved.
   • Many schools have Student Library Association (SLA) chapters for students interested in information technology. Join your school’s SLA, or start a chapter if your school doesn’t have one.
   • Network with librarians. Your volunteer work, part-time job, internship, or SLA chapter involvement are all opportunities to start relationships with librarians who could help you find a job down the line. Express your enthusiasm for librarianship, ask questions, and keep in touch after your internship ends.
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   Find ways to stand out when you apply for jobs. Unfortunately, with funding for public and often academic libraries being cut, the library science field has become extremely competitive. Getting your MLS and having library experience will not be enough to guarantee you a job.
   • Don’t say you “love books” in your resume and cover letter. With so many applicants to choose from, the people in charge of hiring are looking for more interesting reasons why they should choose you for the job. Describe specific characteristics and experiences that make you perfect for the position.
   • Always tailor your resume and cover letter to each job to which you apply. Mention specific qualities about that particular institution that have led you to seek employment there. Follow up with a thank-you email to show your continued enthusiasm.
   • Rely on the network of people you met in school, through internships and part-time jobs, and through your SLA chapter. Let people know you’re searching for a job, and be open to a range of positions.
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   Be willing to work your way up. Even if you’re qualified for a professional position, you may have to start at entry level. Use the opportunity to get to know more people and understand the way your library works. Once you prove yourself, the opportunity for promotion will surely arise.
4. From: WikiHow

Mississauga Life: Port Credit Seed Lending Library Grand Opening

March 7: Port Credit Seed Lending Library Grand Opening

On March 7, you’re invited to the Port Credit Library for the unveiling of its new Seed Library.

Why Have a Seed Library?As traditional libraries encourage mass literacy, seed libraries teach seed and food literacy. By putting seeds back into the hands of the people, seed libraries:

Empower
Seed libraries reduce barriers to accessing seeds and resources necessary to grow and enjoy healthy food.

Educate
Seed Libraries reintroduce the culture of seed saving and the concept of the commons. They reconnect us to the natural world, increase awareness and respect for seed farming, and where our food comes from.

Conserve
Seed libraries preserve traditional crops and culture by growing and encouraging seed diversity, ensuring that the seeds of history are an integral part of a just and sustainable future.

During the event, you’ll have the chance to meet representatives from The Credit Vallery Horticultural Society, Credit Valley Conservation, Mississauga Master Gardeners, Cloverleaf Garden Club and the City of Mississauga’s Environment Division. Visitors will also have an opportunity to attend workshops presented by local organizations:

11:00-11:30 a.m.Free gardening advice from the experts
11:00 a.m.-noonEcosource presents Jump Start Your Garden: Starting Your Own Seedlings at Home11:00 a.m.-noonRiverwood Conservancy presents a Seed Planting Demonstration1:30-2:00 p.m.Unveiling Ceremony

Port Credit Library
20 Lakeshore Rd. E.
905-615-4835

From: Mississauga Life

Public Libraries: Do we still need libraries?

Do we still need libraries?

MARCH 14, 2014

Once upon a time, a library was just about the only place that someone could go to get a book or go to read for free. Librarians knew their turf inside and out. Card catalogs were an essential part of stock organization. After this became outdated, the Dewey Decimal System reigned supreme. Libraries all over the country thrived as one of the main providers of free books and education.

Then came the advent of the internet, and that changed everything. Before long, books were available on different sites on the web, and many companies and organizations strove to catalog and digitize as many books as they legally could. It was only a matter of time until Kindle, Nook, and other ereaders swept the scene. Along with them came the ebook and the ability to download pirated copies of books for free. Many believed that this would be the end of libraries. But, libraries still exist today, and many of them even thrive. So, how is it possible that they survived against the onslaught of ebooks? How did libraries and librarians adapt?

For one thing, the truth is that libraries were never just about borrowing books for free. Librarians provide many services other than those of a desk clerk or customer service agent. They often hold seminars, presentations, contests, and other events to promote free education for the people in their communities and beyond. Over the summer, many libraries hold book-reading contests for young children, with prizes for anyone who participates. These events are considered indispensable by parents and kids alike.

For others, the library is a place of respite and quiet. A place where they can go to get away from the world and its rush of action, to get away from social obligations or family troubles. Many go to the library to study for projects, papers, and exams. Others simply see it as a recreational hobby, to be able to sit in a comfortable chair and read a good book without interruption.

For another thing, most libraries and librarians do not reject outright the changing tides of technology. And neither does the world, for that matter. In the US, the graduate degree program to become a librarian is often called a Library Science program. This is a relatively recent change, and it reflects the fact that the country believes its librarians should keep up with the latest in information technology. Many librarians agree, and therefore have become experts in the field.

Library science includes learning the latest cataloging, archiving, record-keeping, and information management technologies. They not only curate physical books, they also curate digital media and other technological assets. They are extremely well-versed in anything that has to do with books, education, research and technology. They know the ins and outs of ereaders as well, and more and more libraries are even offering them as items to check out.

Librarians have by and large embraced the changing tides with open arms. After all, public libraries have always maintained a goal of free education and access to books for all people; not just those privileged enough to have the means to pay for it. It is with this attitude that libraries and librarians have willingly educated themselves in the technology needed to keep up with the fast-paced digital world of technology today.

So consider a visit to your local library to see all the recent changes. If you haven’t been to one in a while you might not recognize the place. But don’t worry. Your librarian will be happy to bring you up to speed.

From: Public Libraries