LibraryTrax

I read an interesting post in DegreeTutor.com that interviews a number of library leaders on the future of libraries and librarians. Many of the questions centered on what features in libraries are useful, not useful; the changing role of librarians in the community; implications of Web 2.0 technologies on libraries; competition (or even copying features from libraries) from the business community and much more. These are relatively short articles from thirty librarians including Michael Stephens, Helene Blowers, Loreine Roy (ALA President), and many more. The interviews provide an excellent forum for us to think about our place in today’s information community.

Emily Casper posted to her blog that all professional librarians should have  basic technical skills in order to be success in the profession. Items on the list include, computer skills such as creating a desktop shortcut,  being able to connect with a wireless network, etc.  David Lee King’s takes it a step further with a list of library 2.0 basic competencies.  Many of these skills are pretty easy to accomplish even for the non-techie.  How many of these skills do you have?

• write and post to a blog
• add photos and videos to a blog post
• embed a widget into blogs and social networking accounts (like Myspace)
• social network knowledge - basic understanding of Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc
• shoot, upload and edit photos
• shoot, upload and edit short videos
• record, edit and upload a podcast
• use IM in different forms
• use and explain rss and rss readers to others
• send and read sms text messages
• edit an avatar’s appearance
• basic console gaming skills (multiple formats preferred)

If you’ve ever suffered through a deadly meeting, the kind that only takes up precious minutes in your day and doesn’t accomplish anything (except, perhaps, the date of the next meeting), you’ll want to check out the June tip from the Idea Sandbox, a cool marketing web site.

Here are just a few of the tips for creating a results-based agenda for your meetings:

• Include the purpose or goal statement for each meeting.
• List any preparation you require from participants.
• Instead of a task list, establish results and outcome. Finish the statement: “At the end of this part we will have accomplished…”
• For accountability and to set expectations, assign a person with each result. People will be happy to know what is expected of them.

Check out the whole article at http://www.idea-sandbox.com/inbox_sand/june_07.html