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.