tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-116590162008-07-04T21:24:42.952-04:00OPL Plus (not just for OPLs anymore)Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comBlogger841125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-28648500805954123532008-07-04T21:08:00.003-04:002008-07-04T21:24:42.995-04:00NEW LIBRARY NETWORKING SITEIt seems that every other day there is a new library networking site announced. I don't think we need this many sites and many or most of them will probably die from lack of support, activity, or money, but here's the latest--and it seems pretty good.
LibGig: Your Career, Your Community is "dedicated to bringing together everyone who accesses, organizes, creates, manages, produces or distributesMs. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-36444761533464280412008-07-02T14:20:00.000-04:002008-07-02T14:22:01.526-04:00NEW NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY FOR NEW YORK LIBRARIANS<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-47962373711958149762008-07-02T08:53:00.000-04:002008-07-02T08:54:42.816-04:00SEE KNOWLEDGE AS “FLOW,” NOT “STOCK”
Since the real product of your library is answers (knowledge), the way you look at it is important. John Dolan, head of library policy for the UK cabinet level division of Museums, Libraries & Archives, said that it is “critical” for libraries to move away from thinking of libraries as storehouses “to libraries as animators, to help empower ‘smart publics.’ Libraries should be thee not to gatherMs. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-14081352797398231982008-07-02T08:52:00.000-04:002008-07-02T08:53:13.988-04:00IS THE ACADEMIC LIBRARY FALLING BEHIND?<!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 <![endif]--><!--[if !mso]> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } <![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-7485833513194421042008-07-02T08:50:00.000-04:002008-07-02T08:51:55.035-04:00TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE CREDIT CRUNCH“City Business Library (CBL)—the only UK public library focusing exclusively on the business sector—expects to be busier as the ‘credit crunch’ leads companies to cut back on information. This was the message form CBL Manager Goretti Considine to the City Information Group [of the Chartered Institution of Library and Information Professionals—the UK equivalent of the American Library Association]Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-82448406636293152332008-06-20T12:49:00.009-04:002008-06-20T13:08:51.360-04:00THREE INTERESTING RESOURCES: One for law librarians, two for medical librarians
Real Lawyers Have Blogs: Law Blogs, Blawgs, Law Firm Marketing is produced by Kevin O’Keefe, founder of Lexblog, Inc. and former trial lawyer. His goals in blogging are: “to get people the legal help they need, to connect people in need of a lawyer with the most appropriate lawyer, to help lawyers, and to improve the image of the legal profession.” It’s a very professional looking blog, with Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-489022612794146202008-06-10T12:31:00.002-04:002008-06-10T12:39:08.637-04:00WHO BLOGS?eMarketer has release a report on the demographics of US bloggers.
Nearly 70 percent are white, 20 percent Hispanic, 12 percent African-American, and just under 4 percent Asia. They average 37.6 years of age, 14.3 years of education (that is, 2 years of college), and income above US$55,800. (Based on a survey of people 18 years of age or older "who regularly or occasionally write in a blog."
Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-42964080604445329782008-06-06T23:18:00.002-04:002008-06-06T23:22:01.694-04:00GOOD TRAINING RESOURCES FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE, REFERENCE, AND MARKETINGI just found the Houston Area Library System's training site. They have three great training "courses," one on customer service, one on reference, and one on marketing. They are easy to use and understand. Not too in-depth, but worth a look.
URL: http://www.hals.lib.tx.us/Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-62292660671268549882008-06-04T20:02:00.003-04:002008-06-04T20:11:23.729-04:00ANOTHER GREAT ISSUE OF COMPUTERS IN LIBRARIESEven without Kathy Dempsey at the helm, Computers in Libraries is still pub]lishing great stuff--way to go, Dick (Kaser, new editor).
The first goodie is an article on redesigning your web site, The Secret to Patron-Centered Web Design: Cheap, Easy, and Powerful Usability Techniques by Erica Reynolds of Johnson County (Kansas) Library. The emphasis is teamwork and listening--to both customers Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-1316657558426323902008-06-02T20:28:00.005-04:002008-06-02T20:55:04.150-04:00USING GOVERNMENT MONEY TO RECRUIT NEW LIBRARIANS--WORTH THE MONEY?There’s a very interesting article in the most recent issue of the MLA newsletter about the US Government’s funding of various projects to recruit more people into librarianship. As part of the Laura Bush 21st Century Librarians Program, the Institute of Museum and Library Services has handed out over seven million dollars in grants to various library schools. I can’t help but wonder if this willMs. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-51052558349250962072008-06-02T20:24:00.003-04:002008-06-02T20:28:11.973-04:00Minority Health Archive
The Minority Health Archive, created in collaboration with the Center for Minority Health and the University Library System at the University of Pittsburgh, is an online archive of print and electronic media related to the health of the four nationally recognized minority groups: Blacks/African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders.” It includes Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-81236550167779816522008-05-26T18:27:00.002-04:002008-05-26T18:33:02.837-04:00PALLIATIVE CARE WEBSITE, AUSTRALIAN STYLE"CareSearch is an online resource of palliative care information and evidence. All materials included in this website are reviewed for quality and relevance." It is sponsored by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and in cooperation with Flinders University, Adelaide.
The site is divided into: what is palliative care? for patients and families, finding services, clinical Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-54507726978424060522008-05-25T14:33:00.002-04:002008-05-25T14:39:24.403-04:00GREAT NEW SEARCH ENGINE--MIDDLESPOTMiddlespot is a really neat new search engine. You enter a term (or terms) and you get both a list of hits and a mosaic of screen shots. If you click on the screen shot it takes you to the cite/site (unintentional pun). That in itself is nice, but what I like is that I found links that I'd never seen before. I searched on my name (of course) and on "one person library" and "solo librarian" and Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-74264303387052287432008-05-24T21:16:00.002-04:002008-05-24T21:21:23.754-04:00TOOLS FOR MENTORS AND MENTEESThe Central New York Library Resources Council (Syracuse, New York, USA) has put up a wonderful Mentoring Toolkit. Included is a definition of mentoring, common questions from mentors or mentees, a memo of understanding form between a mentor and a mentee, additional activities that mentors and mentees can do together, and a link to other resources from the Council. Thanks to CLRC and the Federal Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-30901767281407901012008-05-20T19:38:00.000-04:002008-05-20T19:39:55.223-04:00CANADIAN CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION WIKIThe Toronto Public Library Consumer Health Information Service has put together a wiki “to help you find reliable, understandable health information for you and your family.” The site includes information on locating reliable health information, links to various resources, a browsable list of over 500 current information files held by the library, several health FAQs, and toll-free number for Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-86346068546392754992008-05-05T19:23:00.002-04:002008-05-05T19:25:26.769-04:00FREE DOWNLOADABLE POSTERS
The State Library of Iowa has several downloadable posters with “fantastic photos and quotes [that] can be used by any library—no need to customize.” Most were developed with a grant by the Illinois State Library using funds provided by the federal Library Services and Technology Act.
Some of the ones available are Can't judge a book by its cover! (teen with orange hair) Who would have thought Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-48471828633505649162008-04-30T21:27:00.001-04:002008-04-30T21:28:51.334-04:00TRAVEL DIARY TOOLI just happened on TravelPod Community, a neat tool to let you create a travel blog, complete with photos, that you can share with others. You can add to it while you’re on a trip and notify friends and family that there’s something new. It also makes a map of your trip and keeps track of all the places you’ve blogged on your own personal world map. And of course you can look at other people’s Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-85469758977683829102008-04-30T21:25:00.001-04:002008-04-30T21:26:39.049-04:00SPEECHMAKER’S AID
CuePrompter.com is a free utility that can turn your computer into a teleprompter, so you can be just like all the politicians and celebrities. I got it to work with Firefox, but it is best with Internet Explorer. You can change the size of the type and the scrolling speed. What a neat idea!
URL: http://www.cueprompter.comMs. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-37531698747166068922008-04-29T17:05:00.001-04:002008-04-29T17:07:00.790-04:00MS. OPL IS MOVING
My husband and I are moving back to Champaign, Illinois. I grew up there and got my library degree at the University of Illinois and my husband got his B.S. there. We leave Cleveland on 7 May 2008. My email will remain the same, but my new address and phone are 830 Sedgegrass Drive, Champaign, IL 61822-2024, 1-217-355-9071.
Go Illini!Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-50158674272565708582008-04-29T17:03:00.002-04:002008-04-29T17:05:35.592-04:00HAVE YOU TWINED YET?I’ve just started using a new social network called twine. Yes, another one. But this one seems a bit easier to use—there’s an applet you can put on your browser bar that let’s you add a page to your list immediately. You can even share it with others (either individuals or twines—interest-based sub-networks). I’ve added a link to this blog to my twine stuff.
There are a few library-related Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-25227816097056720032008-04-29T17:00:00.002-04:002008-04-29T17:02:46.142-04:00SOME REALLY GREAT TAG LINES FOR MEDICAL LIBRARIESWhen I was working as a corporate librarian, my boss accidentally created my tag line, or slogan—“The Bailey Library—it’s more than you thought!” If you don’t have a creative boss and/or haven’t come up with a tag line yourself, here are some to think about from Amy Frey [Hospital for Special Care, New Britain, Connecticut, USA], editor of National Network, the newsletter of the Hospital Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-57990765385317501072008-04-29T16:57:00.001-04:002008-04-29T16:59:54.816-04:00A GUIDE TO THE MEDICAL LITERATURE FOR STUDENTS—AND EVERYONE ELSE
A Student’s Guide to the Medical Literature “has been designed especially for medical students, but it can be used by anyone who wants a guide to the medical literature.” It has almost everything you might need, including: a tutorial on a 4-step approach to reading medical literature; search strategies and links to “best” Web sites; “a guide to critical appraisal of journal articles;” an Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-83514715066358102572008-04-29T16:52:00.001-04:002008-04-29T16:57:16.030-04:00SCHOOL LIBRARY WIKIWebTools4u2use is a new wiki for school library media specialists. It was created by two Ph.Ds from the University of Central Florida, Tampa. “Much of the information is the result of a survey conducted in 2008 of over 600 school library media specialists about their knowledge and use of Web-based tools….” There are sections on audio and podcasting, blogs, calendars and to-do lists, drawing/Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-36025624711883950132008-04-22T12:10:00.004-04:002008-04-22T12:19:47.424-04:00HOW TO CONVINCE YOUR BOSS TO SEND YOU TO A CONFERENCEJust in time for conference season, here is a post from PubCon (sponsor of a major IT conference) on Top Tips to Get Your Boss to Send You to a Conference. Although it is written for IT-types (geeks), it has some good tips for anyone.
For reasons that escape me, but probably make sense to an IT person, it starts at the end with "post conference deal sealers," then covers your presentation to theMs. OPLnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11659016.post-36589714661941376562008-04-22T11:53:00.003-04:002008-04-22T12:08:59.324-04:00INNOVATIVE (PATIENT) CARE WEBSITEIf your hospital administrators are looking for ideas for better health care delivery systems—and who isn’t?—then this website may be of some help. Innovative Care Models “provides detailed profiles of 24 successful care delivery models…developed as part of a research project conducted by Health Workforce Solutions LLC and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.” The models are divided Ms. OPLnoreply@blogger.com