The OCLC Newsletter

From the eOCLC Next Space Newsletter :an article by George Bishop, the Information Centre Manager, entitled "A Ripple Effect" I copied this passage:

• "In 1995 we passed a local bond proposal to build a new middle school and a new “information center.” Our service-oriented reputation [involving InterLibraryLoans (ILL)] allowed us to make significant gains in both the budget process and have a voice in the“infrastructure” of the new facility. We used some of our bond money to acquire a new library automation system (Innovative Interfaces) with greatly expanded capabilities, a security system and a self-checkout system. Today, over 90 percent of all library checkouts are done through selfcheckout, and our students love it.
  
• Quality customer service is another key to success for our library. Our goal is to make the total customer experience satisfying, pleasurable and resulting in an end-product that meets or exceeds their expectations. Students should always feel welcome.
  More..

Most notable services were:

• MP3 players available for patron checkout with a new downloadable audiobook program in place
• 52 computers on the technology island
• 30 wireless laptop computers
• Digital motion and still cameras for student checkout
• Laptops for student checkout

In order for small libraries to succeed, they need to think big. Here are some suggestions:

• Develop an innovative strategic and tactical plan. Work on one tactic at a time, and eventually, you will accomplish your goals.
  
• Network with other libraries, especially other library types (i.e., academic and public). School libraries can learn from other library successes.
  
• Make the most of your ILL capabilities.
  
• Purchase more electronic content and use local and state consortia, including your OCLC network.
  
• Consider adopting the customer service motto, “we want to serve you,” and mean it.
  
• Be more visible to your patrons by applying for library awards and grants.
  
• Ingrain your services into your patrons’ world so that they cannot live without you.
  
• Finally, promote your services. This seems simple, but otherwise students and faculty will not be aware of your expanded services."

These are really good ideas.

#13 Tagging, folksonomies & social bookmarking in Del.icio.us

Exploring Technorati I found one blog which takes all my attention and then 15 mins later I find I don't know anything else but I have navigated around a complicated and fullsome blog complete with pictures, quotes, ads, appeals, other webpages links, petitions, polls, tag clouds, and multiple menus lists and options. I read the blogger profile and find that though some things interest me others disappoint. But that is life.





Us.ef.ul is a beginners guide to del.icio.us, but at this hour of night I can't act on the information but hope to later in the week.





This website YouTube Social Bookmarking in Plain English:by CommonCraft was excellent and easier to understand. I will do some bookmarking another day.

Good night

Keeping up with my blog links

I was searching through Read Alert, Insideadog, and Misrule and discovered a great website on names in the last blog. Think baby names is a great resource for new parents and even children to find what their name means.

It will be my birthday soon so I looked up my name and found that this website considers my name VERY popular! Otherwise nothing really unusual to report.

#12 Roll your own search engine with Rollyo

I have managed to make my own search engine using Rollyo and the instructions on the library webpage. I was able to search for a quote using Kizuki-sama's Quick Quotes Search. I searched for the quote 'pull up your socks' and found a page on socks quotes in AskOxford.com.

Everything else seems to be set up for sales of one kind or another.

Earlier this year we finally sold our old Cressida to the wreckers. It was a sad day, when 'Charles' was winched up on the tray and carried away to his last resting place.

#11 All about LibraryThing

I have made a start on my library cataloguing. I have pasted the info from Library Thing into my blog as a link, and hopefully there will be something there.

This Calistemon is growing in our nature strip and is called Kings Park. It is very vibrant and brings the native birds.

More fun with image generators

I couldn't resist putting these up to remind me of the great opportunities there are on the web for sending messages or making posters, etc.

E-cards and calendars are also other options.

http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/magazine.php

#10 Play around with Image Generators

Regarding this book "Spell book of Listen Taylor" -

the Read Alert blog at the State Library, reports that Roger Sutton from New York Times commented “Young adult literature has been doing some growing up. It’s not that it is getting better (although in a lot of ways it is) but rather that more and more of it is being aimed at older teenagers. “Twelve and up” used to be the standard reading-level designation for young adult novels; now “14 and up” or even “16 and up” have become common.” When we looked at this book for our library we were in two minds as to who the audience is meant to be. One reviewer says "Despite the wonderful cover, this is NOT a fantasy--it's contemporary realism with hints of whimsy and magical realism" More here.

Then I had a sneak look at my Wendymerle feed to find the latest delightful photo. I couldn't resist including this crocus on my page...

Now to get onto the real task - image generators:

See what your brainscanner results produce at this URL.

Veith Starship was generated at this URL Have fun with your own version.

And finally

At the RedKid.Net website Will's Show Band: