Cool tools: Prezi and Zotero - April 22, 2010

w/ Jason Kucsma, Joe Morgan, and Ian Benton

Everyone hates Powerpoint. Slides can be boring and oversimplify complex issues to linear steps. Prezi is different. Prezi is an online presentation tool that represents information spatially. This allows the presenter to zoom in close on an idea that is part of larger concept or zoom out to show relations among different concepts. Transitions are animated and create a visual "swoop" that keeps the information moving and connected. Joe and Ian have used Prezi in several settings including staff training, as guides embedded on webpages and in library instruction. This presentation will show you different examples of Prezi presentations and a quick overview of how to begin building engaging presentations. Click here to check out Joe and Ian's Prezi on Prezi

Zotero is a free, easy-to-use Firefox browser extension that library users can use to collect, manage, cite and share research resources. For research and data control and access, Zotero is now recommended by hundreds of educational institutions around the world including Stanford, MIT and Yale Universities. This session will introduce the Zotero plug-in and how to use it to collect, organize, and cite information sources from library catalogs, databases, the web, and the desktop.

- Ian Benton is a late-evening public service librarian at UW Madison’s College Library. He is a perpetual tech-tinkerer and is always on the lookout for tools that can add value to instruction and public service interactions. Ian’s areas of expertise/interest include screencasting, chat reference, mobile computing, instructional gamming, and student engagement.
- Joe Morgan is a soon-to-be graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Library and Information Studies with an an interest in instruction, web analytics, content management systems, and other fun technology tools. For any interested future employers, his blog and portfolio live at http://josephsandersmorgan.com
- Jason Kucsma is the Emerging Technologies Manager at the Metropolitan New York Library Council where he manages METRO’s Digitization Grant Program and member inquiries related to resources, training and services associated with digitization, digital preservation and emerging technologies issues. He is also a part-time lecturer in the Library and Information Science Department at Rutgers School of Communication and Information.

Mobile Site Generator

w/ Chad Haefele

The Mobile Site Generator is designed to flatten the learning curve for web developers new to the mobile world. Using the iUI framework, the MSG provides custom HTML code which establishes the navigational structure and basic page format for a mobile site. This webinar will show how to set up and use the MSG, and demonstrate how to add content to the generated site. Future plans for and limitations of the MSG will also be discussed.

- Chad Haefele is currently Reference Librarian for Emerging Technologies at UNC Chapel Hill. He serves in an advisory role to projects throughout campus involving new technologies. His current areas of interest at the moment are eBooks, mobile devices, gaming in education, and location-based services. He is the author of the Mobile Site Generator. He also writes a blog, Hidden Peanuts, where he shares news and views of leading-edge technologies.

Information, Not Location: the new MLibrary - April 8, 2010

w/ Ken Varnum, Karen Reiman-Sendi, Liene Karels

The University of Michigan Library released a a new library web site at the start of the current academic year, replacing 19 distinctly different library sites with no consistent identity nor functionality. The new unified web site, built on Drupal, VuFind, LibGuides, and Ex Libris's Metalib, integrates library services so they become one overarching resource for our patrons in all subject areas. The new site consolidates the search process by delivering search results from all of our available databases including results from the catalog (with HathiTrust), our ejournals and databases lists, our web site, research guides, and librarian subject specialists.

- Ken Varnum is the Web Systems Manager at the University of Michigan Library, where he manages the library web site and development of new features and functionality.

- Karen Reiman-Sendi is the Digital Information Services Librarian and she coordinates virtual reference services and serves as an advocate for public services content in library web space.

- Liene Karels is Director of Communications and heads visual and verbal communications efforts.

OCLC Web Services in Action - April 1, 2010

w/ Karen Coombs

Have you wondered just what a web service is, and what it would mean to use one? Are you thinking of investing effort into building new systems that rely on web services, or enhancing an existing service with API-provided data? OCLC offers a variety of web services which can be used to extend library interfaces and improve user experiences. This session will provide an overview of the web services offered by OCLC and demonstrate real world applications of these web services in libraries. Come learn about services such as the WorldCat Search API, xISBN, WorldCat Registry and Identities.

Karen Coombs, is a well known librarian and Web developer, currently working at OCLC as the product manager for the OCLC Developer Network, where she helps library and consumer developers make best use of OCLC's suite of Web Services, and continues to expand OCLC's commitment to libraries' own development of services that use WorldCat data. Ms. Coombs previously served as Head of Web Services for the University of Houston Libraries in Houston, Texas.

Library H3lp - March 18th, 2010

w/ Cindi Trainor and Steve Frye

This presentation will provide an overview of Library H3lp as well as how Library H3lp was implemented at both Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Library H3lp is an integrated web chat/IM platform written specifically by a librarian (and her husband) for libraries. Library H3lp routes all Web-chat, instant messaging, and SMS calls through Library H3lp and then directs those calls to specific librarians, library services, or libraries through the use of queues. Library H3lp allows the creation of queue 'failover' - allowing calls to be redirected from queues that are not being staffed to other queues. Along the way we'll cover transferring calls, staffing issues, the use of JING, assessment issues, and the use of Google voice in providing an SMS/texting service via LibraryH3lp.

- Cindi Trainor is the Coordinator for Library Technology and Data Services at Eastern Kentucky University, a division of five library staff who manage and support library computers and systems. She also blogs for ALA Tech Source and is active member of LITA.
- Cindy Judd is an Associate University Librarian at Eastern Kentucky University. She serves in the Learning Resources Center providing reference and instruction to the College of Education students and faculty. She headed up the committee that started Instant Messaging at EKU several years ago.
- Steve Frye is a Senior Academic Librarian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He manages both campus-wide reference services and information services at the undergraduate library. He has been involved with providing assistance via chat and IM since 2002.
- Pete Boguszewski is a Library Systems Administrator at UW-Madison Library Technology Group. He is a member of the team responsible for choosing and implementing LibraryH3lp on the UW-Madison campus. He has been involved with implementing three different Chat/IM services since 2002.

OCLC Web Services In Action - April 1 - Materials

Have you wondered just what a web services is, and what it would mean to use one? Are you thinking of investing effort into building new systems that rely on web services, or enhancing an existing service with API-provided data? OCLC offers a variety of web services which can be used to extend library interfaces and improve user experiences. This session will provide an overview of the web services offered by OCLC and demonstrate real world applications of these web services in libraries. Come learn about services such as the WorldCat Search API, xISBN, WorldCat Registry, and Identities.


For more information on various OCLC Web Services visit the Developer Network Website

Keep up with the latest developer new at the Developer Network Blog.

Code Samples

Download the Slides

OCLC Developer Network Handbook

We've finalized the line up and added details.

Mark your calendars and sign up now for the full series of weekly webinars offering fun and informative stuff good for libraries. Keep up on the latest series information and comments from speakers right here on our series blog, or check out our New Facebook Fan Page:

Here's the line-up:

3/11 Get Real, Be Creative: Social Networking in Libraries

w/ Tasha Saecker and Jeff Dawson
Successful social networking requires more than a Facebook page and posts on Twitter. It takes passion, creativity, a willingness to try something and fail, and a drive to connect and communicate. In this presentation, two library directors who have successfully harnessed social networking in different ways will talk about how they did it and how you can too.

- Jeff Dawson has twenty two years library experience in a variety of libraries, public and academic, and levels of responsibility. Jeff’s exploration into social software and internet marketing began in Two Rivers, Wisconsin as Lester Public Library Director in March 2007.

- Tasha Saecker is the director of the Menasha Public Library, 2008 Wisconsin Library of the Year. She has been blogging for over seven years at her Sites and Soundbytes blog and also blogs at Kids Lit, one of the top children’s literature blogs in the nation. Tasha can be found online at Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites.

3/18 Library H3lp

w/ Cindi Trainor and Steve Frye
This presentation will provide an overview of Library H3lp as well as how Library H3lp was implemented at both Eastern Kentucky University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Library H3lp is an integrated web chat/IM platform written specifically by a librarian (and her husband) for libraries. Library H3lp routes all Web-chat, instant messaging, and SMS calls through Library H3lp and then directs those calls to specific librarians, library services, or libraries through the use of queues. Library H3lp allows the creation of queue 'failover' - allowing calls to be redirected from queues that are not being staffed to other queues. Along the way we'll cover transferring calls, staffing issues, the use of JING, assessment issues, and the use of Google voice in providing an SMS/texting service via LibraryH3lp.

- Cindi Trainor is the Coordinator for Library Technology and Data Services at Eastern Kentucky University, a division of five library staff who manage and support library computers and systems. She also blogs for ALA Tech Source and is active member of LITA.
- Cindy Judd is an Associate University Librarian at Eastern Kentucky University. She serves in the Learning Resources Center providing reference and instruction to the College of Education students and faculty. She headed up the committee that started Instant Messaging at EKU several years ago.
- Steve Frye is a Senior Academic Librarian at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He manages both campus-wide reference services and information services at the undergraduate library. He has been involved with providing assistance via chat and IM since 2002.
- Pete Boguszewski is a Library Systems Administrator at UW-Madison Library Technology Group. He is a member of the team responsible for choosing and implementing LibraryH3lp on the UW-Madison campus. He has been involved with implementing three different Chat/IM services since 2002.

4/1 OCLC Web Services in Action

w/ Karen Coombs

Have you wondered just what a web services is, and what it would mean to use one? Are you thinking of investing effort into building new systems that rely on web services, or enhancing an existing service with API-provided data? OCLC offers a variety of web services which can be used to extend library interfaces and improve user experiences. This session will provide an overview of the web services offered by OCLC and demonstrate real world applications of these web services in libraries. Come learn about services such as the WorldCat Search API, xISBN, WorldCat Registry, and Identities.

- Karen Coombs, is a well-known librarian and Web developer, currently working at OCLC as the product manager for the OCLC Developer Network, where she helps library and consumer developers make best use of OCLC’s suite of Web Services, and continues to expand OCLC’s commitment to libraries’ own development of services that use WorldCat data. Ms. Coombs previously served as Head of Web Services for the University of Houston Libraries in Houston, Texas.

4/8 Information, Not Location: the new MLibrary

w/ Ken Varnum, Karen Reiman-Sendi, Liene Karels

The University of Michigan Library released a a new library web site at the start of the current academic year, replacing 19 distinctly different library sites with no consistent identity nor functionality. The new unified web site, built on Drupal, VuFind, LibGuides, and Ex Libris's Metalib, integrates library services so they become one overarching resource for our patrons in all subject areas. The new site consolidates the search process by delivering search results from all of our available databases including results from the catalog (with HathiTrust), our ejournals and databases lists, our web site, research guides, and librarian subject specialists.

- Ken Varnum is the Web Systems Manager at the University of Michigan Library, where he manages the library web site and development of new features and functionality.

- Karen Reiman-Sendi is the Digital Information Services Librarian and she coordinates virtual reference services and serves as an advocate for public services content in library web space.

- Liene Karels is Director of Communications and heads visual and verbal communications efforts.

4/15 Mobile Site Generator

w/ Chad Haefele

The Mobile Site Generator is designed to flatten the learning curve for web developers new to the mobile world. Using the iUI framework, the MSG provides custom HTML code which establishes the navigational structure and basic page format for a mobile site. This webinar will show how to set up and use the MSG, and demonstrate how to add content to the generated site. Future plans for and limitations of the MSG will also be discussed.

- Chad Haefele is currently Reference Librarian for Emerging Technologies” at UNC Chapel Hill. He serves in an advisory role to projects throughout campus involving new technologies. His current areas of interest at the moment are eBooks, mobile devices, gaming in education, and location-based services. He is the author of the Mobile Site Generator. He also writes a blog, Hidden Peanuts, where he shares news and views of leading-edge technologies.

4/22 Cool tools: Prezi and Zotero

w/ Jason Kucsma, Joe Morgan, and Ian Benton

Everyone hates Powerpoint. Slides can be boring and oversimplify complex issues to linear steps. Prezi is different. Prezi is an online presentation tool that represents information spatially. This allows the presenter to zoom in close on an idea that is part of larger concept or zoom out to show relations among different concepts. Transitions are animated and create a visual "swoop" that keeps the information moving and connected. Joe and Ian have used Prezi in several settings including staff training, as guides embedded on webpages and in library instruction. This presentation will show you different examples of Prezi presentations and a quick overview of how to begin building engaging presentations.

Zotero is a free, easy-to-use Firefox browser extension that library users can use to collect, manage, cite and share research resources. For research and data control and access, Zotero is now recommended by hundreds of educational institutions around the world including Stanford, MIT and Yale Universities. This session will introduce the Zotero plug-in and how to use it to collect, organize, and cite information sources from library catalogs, databases, the web, and the desktop.

- Ian Benton is a late-evening public service librarian at UW Madison’s College Library. He is a perpetual tech-tinkerer and is always on the lookout for tools that can add value to instruction and public service interactions. Ian’s areas of expertise/interest include screencasting, chat reference, mobile computing, instructional gamming, and student engagement.

- Joe Morgan is a soon-to-be graduate of the University of Wisconsin School of Library and Information Studies with an an interest in instruction, web analytics, content management systems, and other fun technology tools. For any interested future employers, his blog and portfolio live at http://josephsandersmorgan.com

- Jason Kucsma is the Emerging Technologies Manager at the Metropolitan New York Library Council where he manages METRO’s Digitization Grant Program and member inquiries related to resources, training and services associated with digitization, digital preservation and emerging technologies issues. He is also a part-time lecturer in the Library and Information Science Department at Rutgers School of Communication and Information.

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