Presentation about screenagers (11-18 year-olds) - the youngest wave of the Millennials - their information needs and implications for libraries.
http://www.oclc.org/programs/events/2008-11-05c.pdf
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Online Time Important for Teen Development
A new study on teens and their use of digital media finds that America’s youth are developing important social and technical skills online – often in ways adults do not understand or value.
http://www.macfound.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lkLXJ8MQKrH&b=2024163&content_id={3A699BFD-3FA0-4793-8328-9E542E5280C9}¬oc=1
http://www.macfound.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lkLXJ8MQKrH&b=2024163&content_id={3A699BFD-3FA0-4793-8328-9E542E5280C9}¬oc=1
A President Who Reads
President-elect Obama reads and understands the value of reading. Libraries should anticipate that he will influence others by his example, revitalizing reading as a "thing to do", and that his reading choices will drive customer demand for particular items. In this AP shot, showing Obama leaving the Chicago home of friend Penny Pritzker after having dinner last Saturday, he is holding a copy of Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer by Fred Kaplan.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Digital Future Project
The 2008 Digital Future Project found that the Internet is perceived by users to be a more important source of information for them—this over all other principal media, including television, radio, newspapers and books.
http://www.digitalcenter.org/pdf/2008-Digital-Future-Report-Final-Release.pdf
http://www.digitalcenter.org/pdf/2008-Digital-Future-Report-Final-Release.pdf
Libraries and the Millennial Generation
By 2010, the Millennial generation—those now 14 to 28—will outnumber their Boomer parents. Also known as “Generation Y,” the “Net Generation” or “Echo Boomers,” this group of approximately 76 million people have been described as “ … thinking and processing information fundamentally differently from their predecessors”. Libraries need to develop Information services that are relevant to the information-seeking habits of Millennials, who cannot remember life without computers or mobile phones.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Reference Librarians in the Age of Google
Steven Bell, a librarian from Temple University, takes a controversial stand, arguing for the abolition of the reference desk by the year 2012.
http://www.dukemagazine.duke.edu/dukemag/issues/091008/brave1.html
http://www.dukemagazine.duke.edu/dukemag/issues/091008/brave1.html
Inspiration from Barack Obama
President-Elect Barack Obama keynoted the opening general session at the ALA Annual Conference in Chicago, June 23–29, 2005, while a U.S. senator from Illinois. His speech drew record crowds and garnered a standing ovation.
"Guardians of truth and knowledge, librarians must be thanked for their role as champions of privacy, literacy, independent thinking, and most of all reading."
http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/resources/selectedarticles/obama05.cfm
"Guardians of truth and knowledge, librarians must be thanked for their role as champions of privacy, literacy, independent thinking, and most of all reading."
http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/resources/selectedarticles/obama05.cfm
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Strategy Update - Virtual Branch
As part of our Strategy to develop “The Right Information Technology Tools”, and led by Suliang Feng, our Manager of Virtual Services, we are making great progress in improving and expanding the MPL Virtual Branch.
What is the Virtual Branch?
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year, the Virtual Branch is the library branch that never closes.
Studies show that Canadians average 17 hours per week online. Through our Virtual Branch, we can meet our customers where they are spending so much of their time, on the Internet.
The Virtual Branch starts with our website – our homepage is the front door and hallway of our Virtual Branch, leading our customers into what will become a whole series of virtual spaces or rooms where customers can access our collections and services.
NEW & FORTHCOMING:
Federated Search Launched
Federated Search is the door that opens onto our Virtual Branch’s vast room of information databases. Through our new product “Webfeat”, customers can now search almost all our databases with one easy keyword search – a huge step forward in making it easy for customers to access our virtual information sources. Suliang and the Virtual Branch Team continue to work on improving and optimizing the look and functionality of Federated Search.
Email Notification – Coming Soon
One aspect of our Virtual Branch is how we communicate with customers about their accounts. Soon customers will have a new option – to receive notifications regarding holds or overdues by email, rather than by a phonecall or a mailed notice. This new service is being tested now. When we are ready to go live, talking points will be provided so that you can guide customers to this new service.
Overdrive – Coming Soon
Now being tested, Overdrive will provide our customers with virtual access to downloadable digital audiobooks. From home, work, or wherever they are, customers will be able to visit the audiobook collections room of our Virtual Branch to browse our digital audiobook collection and download (“check out”) Overdrive audiobooks from the MPL Virtual Branch. The launch of Overdrive is scheduled for December 1st.
Symphony – our new ILS (Integrated Library System) – Migration Project in 2009
Our Integrated Library System (ILS) is the foundation that supports and manages all our business and technical operations – circulation, acquisitions, cataloguing, and our OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog). In 2009, we will migrate from Horizon, our current ILS, onto the latest SirsiDynix ILS product – Symphony. Symphony will bring us many new benefits and new services, including printed hold slips and an RSS feeder module that will enable customers to automate and personalize the building of their reading lists. Suliang and the Virtual Branch Team will lead the migration process – working with SirsiDynix to plan the project, training, testing module by module, and making decisions about the look and feel of Symphony for MPL. This will be a huge project, lasting many months – you will be hearing much more about it.
Website Improvements
The Virtual Branch Team is still working on the selection of the best solution for our website development. There are many options to explore, including a SirsiDynix product called EPS, which can be installed only after we have fully migrated to Symphony. So as a short term solution, while we continue to evaluate the options for our ultimate website solution, we are planning a clean-up of the structure of our existing website. Our IT client advisor June Frywill be guiding us through this process.
What is the Virtual Branch?
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year, the Virtual Branch is the library branch that never closes.
Studies show that Canadians average 17 hours per week online. Through our Virtual Branch, we can meet our customers where they are spending so much of their time, on the Internet.
The Virtual Branch starts with our website – our homepage is the front door and hallway of our Virtual Branch, leading our customers into what will become a whole series of virtual spaces or rooms where customers can access our collections and services.
NEW & FORTHCOMING:
Federated Search Launched
Federated Search is the door that opens onto our Virtual Branch’s vast room of information databases. Through our new product “Webfeat”, customers can now search almost all our databases with one easy keyword search – a huge step forward in making it easy for customers to access our virtual information sources. Suliang and the Virtual Branch Team continue to work on improving and optimizing the look and functionality of Federated Search.
Email Notification – Coming Soon
One aspect of our Virtual Branch is how we communicate with customers about their accounts. Soon customers will have a new option – to receive notifications regarding holds or overdues by email, rather than by a phonecall or a mailed notice. This new service is being tested now. When we are ready to go live, talking points will be provided so that you can guide customers to this new service.
Overdrive – Coming Soon
Now being tested, Overdrive will provide our customers with virtual access to downloadable digital audiobooks. From home, work, or wherever they are, customers will be able to visit the audiobook collections room of our Virtual Branch to browse our digital audiobook collection and download (“check out”) Overdrive audiobooks from the MPL Virtual Branch. The launch of Overdrive is scheduled for December 1st.
Symphony – our new ILS (Integrated Library System) – Migration Project in 2009
Our Integrated Library System (ILS) is the foundation that supports and manages all our business and technical operations – circulation, acquisitions, cataloguing, and our OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog). In 2009, we will migrate from Horizon, our current ILS, onto the latest SirsiDynix ILS product – Symphony. Symphony will bring us many new benefits and new services, including printed hold slips and an RSS feeder module that will enable customers to automate and personalize the building of their reading lists. Suliang and the Virtual Branch Team will lead the migration process – working with SirsiDynix to plan the project, training, testing module by module, and making decisions about the look and feel of Symphony for MPL. This will be a huge project, lasting many months – you will be hearing much more about it.
Website Improvements
The Virtual Branch Team is still working on the selection of the best solution for our website development. There are many options to explore, including a SirsiDynix product called EPS, which can be installed only after we have fully migrated to Symphony. So as a short term solution, while we continue to evaluate the options for our ultimate website solution, we are planning a clean-up of the structure of our existing website. Our IT client advisor June Frywill be guiding us through this process.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Modernizing England's Libraries
UK Culture Secretary Andy Burnham launches a modernisation review of England’s public library service.
http://www.dcms.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/5532.aspx
“In the internet age, shared experiences and a shared sense of place are more important than ever. Libraries are ideally placed to be that - a welcoming and stimulating place at the heart of the community where people can come together to learn.
“Learning, literacy and the written word will always be the heartbeat of the service, but there’s much that can be done in addition to make them come alive for generations to come. There are some incredibly interesting things going on in our public libraries, far removed from the stereotype of dusty books and silence, that we should celebrate. The review will look at how we share and build on that innovation, to make sure that our libraries have a vibrant future.”
http://www.dcms.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/5532.aspx
“In the internet age, shared experiences and a shared sense of place are more important than ever. Libraries are ideally placed to be that - a welcoming and stimulating place at the heart of the community where people can come together to learn.
“Learning, literacy and the written word will always be the heartbeat of the service, but there’s much that can be done in addition to make them come alive for generations to come. There are some incredibly interesting things going on in our public libraries, far removed from the stereotype of dusty books and silence, that we should celebrate. The review will look at how we share and build on that innovation, to make sure that our libraries have a vibrant future.”
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Strategy Update - The Right Programs
As part of our “Relevant Programs” strategy, and led by Marketing & Programming Strategist Diane Macklin, the “Right Programs” tactic is achieving great success in 2008. Recent success stories include:
Performance Measures UP UP UP!
Statistically, our programming strategy, combined with the re-opening of the Markham Village Library, is yielding positive results in 2008. At Year-to-Date (YTD) September 2008:
Program Attendance is up 28.1% over 2007
The number of Programs is up 14.3% over 2007.
Program revenue stands at a favourable variance YTD of $21,480. This means we are on target to exceed our revenue projections for 2008.
Cancellation rates have gone down - we offered 470 programs in the first 3 quarters of 2008, and 24 were cancelled – a cancellation rate of only 5%, much better than our baseline (26% in 2006).
The numbers are great, but more important is that they reflect the reality of how programs can make a difference in our customers’ lives – from building literacy skills to developing school readiness to nurturing lifelong free-choice learning. Quality programs are powerful tools for bringing customers into our branches, responding to community needs, raising our relevance to our customers – and positioning libraries as the community place where everyone can imagine learn and grow.
Summer Camps
Our biggest success story in 2008 has been the innovative Summer Camp programs, as developed by the Marketing & Programming Strategist and Summer Camp Coordinator - 275 participants and $34,300 in camp registration fees. For next year’s Summer Camps, we will improve volunteer management, based on your feedback.
Community Events
We have had very successful community events, including the Spelling Bees for Ontario Library Week, and the All Candidates Meeting held at Markham Village Library. Thanks to all staff for supporting these important events that bring to life the concept of the library as a community forum for learning and civic engagement.
Open-Space Programming
A key new direction has been liberating our free drop-in programs (like Storytime and Baby Goose) from behind closed doors and running them in open spaces. This supports our Diversity strategy by removing barriers to participation, maximizing inclusivity for newcomers, and marketing programs to all customers. It also aligns with the Town of Markham’s strategies regarding diversity and inclusivity.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE:
Online Program Registration - CLASS
A big step forward in terms of efficiency and workload improvements will be the introduction of online program registration (aka CLASS). ITS (Information Technology Services at the Town) has advised us that MPL CLASS implementation will be processed as a service request, likely during Q1 2009.
“The Learning Place” – MPL’s Contracted Program Development Model
We will build on the success of the Summer Camp programs by extending the Contracted Program Development Model to a wider range of library programs. This Model will involve MPL hiring, on a contract basis, certified teachers to develop program curricula for a series of core literacy-based programs. MPL will retain proprietary rights to the programs and then be able to hire presenters to deliver our content at a significantly lower rate than we currently provide for program instructors delivering their own materials. Staff will then develop a set schedule of core programs for the system. The benefits of this Model include increased program revenue, increased quality control regarding program content, the ability to hire presenters on the basis of excellence in teaching skills, increased efficiencies in terms of programming workload due to a more centralized approach, and the opportunity to develop a competitive core library programming product – literacy-based, high-quality – that will help to differentiate MPL in the context of a highly competitive programming market environment.
Performance Measures UP UP UP!
Statistically, our programming strategy, combined with the re-opening of the Markham Village Library, is yielding positive results in 2008. At Year-to-Date (YTD) September 2008:
Program Attendance is up 28.1% over 2007
The number of Programs is up 14.3% over 2007.
Program revenue stands at a favourable variance YTD of $21,480. This means we are on target to exceed our revenue projections for 2008.
Cancellation rates have gone down - we offered 470 programs in the first 3 quarters of 2008, and 24 were cancelled – a cancellation rate of only 5%, much better than our baseline (26% in 2006).
The numbers are great, but more important is that they reflect the reality of how programs can make a difference in our customers’ lives – from building literacy skills to developing school readiness to nurturing lifelong free-choice learning. Quality programs are powerful tools for bringing customers into our branches, responding to community needs, raising our relevance to our customers – and positioning libraries as the community place where everyone can imagine learn and grow.
Summer Camps
Our biggest success story in 2008 has been the innovative Summer Camp programs, as developed by the Marketing & Programming Strategist and Summer Camp Coordinator - 275 participants and $34,300 in camp registration fees. For next year’s Summer Camps, we will improve volunteer management, based on your feedback.
Community Events
We have had very successful community events, including the Spelling Bees for Ontario Library Week, and the All Candidates Meeting held at Markham Village Library. Thanks to all staff for supporting these important events that bring to life the concept of the library as a community forum for learning and civic engagement.
Open-Space Programming
A key new direction has been liberating our free drop-in programs (like Storytime and Baby Goose) from behind closed doors and running them in open spaces. This supports our Diversity strategy by removing barriers to participation, maximizing inclusivity for newcomers, and marketing programs to all customers. It also aligns with the Town of Markham’s strategies regarding diversity and inclusivity.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE:
Online Program Registration - CLASS
A big step forward in terms of efficiency and workload improvements will be the introduction of online program registration (aka CLASS). ITS (Information Technology Services at the Town) has advised us that MPL CLASS implementation will be processed as a service request, likely during Q1 2009.
“The Learning Place” – MPL’s Contracted Program Development Model
We will build on the success of the Summer Camp programs by extending the Contracted Program Development Model to a wider range of library programs. This Model will involve MPL hiring, on a contract basis, certified teachers to develop program curricula for a series of core literacy-based programs. MPL will retain proprietary rights to the programs and then be able to hire presenters to deliver our content at a significantly lower rate than we currently provide for program instructors delivering their own materials. Staff will then develop a set schedule of core programs for the system. The benefits of this Model include increased program revenue, increased quality control regarding program content, the ability to hire presenters on the basis of excellence in teaching skills, increased efficiencies in terms of programming workload due to a more centralized approach, and the opportunity to develop a competitive core library programming product – literacy-based, high-quality – that will help to differentiate MPL in the context of a highly competitive programming market environment.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Strategic Update: Collections - The Right Stuff
As part of our “Right Stuff” strategy and responding to trends in customer demand, the Collections Project team is working on many exciting initiatives, including:
Blu-ray DVDs
We will soon launch the Blu-ray format at all branches, in response to customer demand and market trends indicating that Blu-ray will replace DVDs as the format of choice among consumers in the coming years.
Express Bestsellers (EBs)
The Collections Project Team continues to evaluate the Express Bestsellers initiative and develop ways to improve it. EBs will be expanded to include high-demand Teen and Children’s titles. And since the Express Bestsellers program is such a high-profile and critical part of our “Right Stuff” strategy, we have decided to bring EB selection in-house and ensure that it will precisely reflect what our customers want and need. Staff responsible for EB selection are Dante Tang (DVD EBs), Chris Sheehy (Adult Fiction EBs), Lynda Cunha (Adult Nonfiction EBs), Amy Dolmer (Teen EBs) and Anthea Baillie (Children’s EBs).
Counting Opinions Data
As part of its collection development work, the Collections Project Team will review a quarterly report of collection-related data and comments from the Counting Opinions online customer satisfaction survey. This will help to ensure that our collection-development decisions are based on full and accurate data.
C3 – Children’s Nonfiction
C3 Classification for Children’s Nonfiction will be developed during the next couple of months. Based on the excellent work done by Hilary Huffman during the run-up to the re-opening of the Markham Village Library last December, Amy Dolmer will work with TSD cataloguing staff to complete C3 for JNF.
Teen CDs and DVDs
As part of ramping up services for teens at all our branches, and ensuring a consistent experience for teen customers system-wide, we will be developing full collections of Teen CDs and DVDs for all branches.
Blu-ray DVDs
We will soon launch the Blu-ray format at all branches, in response to customer demand and market trends indicating that Blu-ray will replace DVDs as the format of choice among consumers in the coming years.
Express Bestsellers (EBs)
The Collections Project Team continues to evaluate the Express Bestsellers initiative and develop ways to improve it. EBs will be expanded to include high-demand Teen and Children’s titles. And since the Express Bestsellers program is such a high-profile and critical part of our “Right Stuff” strategy, we have decided to bring EB selection in-house and ensure that it will precisely reflect what our customers want and need. Staff responsible for EB selection are Dante Tang (DVD EBs), Chris Sheehy (Adult Fiction EBs), Lynda Cunha (Adult Nonfiction EBs), Amy Dolmer (Teen EBs) and Anthea Baillie (Children’s EBs).
Counting Opinions Data
As part of its collection development work, the Collections Project Team will review a quarterly report of collection-related data and comments from the Counting Opinions online customer satisfaction survey. This will help to ensure that our collection-development decisions are based on full and accurate data.
C3 – Children’s Nonfiction
C3 Classification for Children’s Nonfiction will be developed during the next couple of months. Based on the excellent work done by Hilary Huffman during the run-up to the re-opening of the Markham Village Library last December, Amy Dolmer will work with TSD cataloguing staff to complete C3 for JNF.
Teen CDs and DVDs
As part of ramping up services for teens at all our branches, and ensuring a consistent experience for teen customers system-wide, we will be developing full collections of Teen CDs and DVDs for all branches.
Networked Families
Traditional nuclear families use the internet and cell phones to create a "new connectedness" that revolves around remote interactions and shared online experiences
For insights into how our customers live, see the latest Pew Internet & American Life Project report at http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/266/report_display.asp
For insights into how our customers live, see the latest Pew Internet & American Life Project report at http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/266/report_display.asp
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)