Going Mobile with Library Services September 25, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Library Catalog, Library Website, Techology Update.Tags: library services, mobile devices, sms, sms notifications, texting a librarian
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Excellent presentation on mobile device use and how libraries can offer - Going Mobile with Library Services.
This presentation has some real eye openers about who is using mobile devices to access the Internet and what they are doing on the Internet. It also provides a great ideas on how to get started.
Wiki of Mobile Libraries – Best Practices Wiki a list of libraries and vendors offering mobile services such as texting a librarian, sending SMS notifications for holds, items due, etc., library websites for mobile devices and databases for mobile devices.
Using Mobile Devices to Promote Learning August 26, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Techology Update.Tags: hand held devices, mobile learning
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Mobile device use is exploding among children worldwide, cell phones and iPods are this generation’s preferred form of social communication. More than half of the world’s population now owns a cell phone and experts project that people will use cell phones as their primary means of accessing the Internet by the year 2020.
At CES 2009 findings and recommendations for using mobile devices to help children learn where unveiled. Read the report at http://www.joanganzcooneycenter.org/pdf/pockets_of_potential.pdf.
There is also an article at Education Weeks Digital – Mobile Devices Seen as Key to 21st-Century Learning
Keeping Current on Librarianship August 17, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Techology Update.Tags: keep current, librarianship, tips & tricks
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Here’s a list of the 100 best blogs for Librarians for the Future. These blogs will keep you current in the area of librarianship which interest you. There not just students but librarians and support staff wanting to keep up with the times. Pick one or two and add them to your feed reader – everyone has one in Internet Explorer!
Subscripting is just like adding a bookmark. If you use IE then you have to remember to look at them. I use an iGoogle page which has a feed reader widget, so I also see them everytime I open a browser.
Sony Reader and OverDrive August 13, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Databases - Updates, Techology Update.Tags: ebooks, epub, OverDrive
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Did you know that Adobe EPUB and PDF eBooks already in our eBooks to Go (OverDrive) download collection are compatible with the Sony® Reader?
This is good news for patrons who love to read eBooks on the go! It’s a win for “open standards” for eBooks. Sony and OverDrive are promoting the new EPUB (XML) format, so we can offered hundreds ebooks to them. They will be compatible with many new devices in addition to Windows and Mac.
We’re also anticipating announcements later this month from Sony on a less expensive Reader and other lower priced products are expected to follow. The key to this story is EPUB is supported by OverDrive. This is the only eBook format needed and it will eventually be compatible with most portable devices (iPhones, Blackberries, etc.) and many e-Ink readers.
Worldcat Mobile APP July 27, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Databases - Updates, Techology Update.Tags: worldcat, library catalogs, finding books
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OCLC is piloting a WorldCat Mobile App – a program that makes collections from libraries visible through mobile devices.The WorldCat Mobile pilot allows users to search for and find books and other materials available in libraries near them through a Web application they can access from a PDA or smartphone.
Created in collaboration with Boopsie, Inc., a U.S.-based provider of software for mobile devices, the WorldCat Mobile pilot is a downloadable application that supports many devices, including Nokia, Blackberry and iPhone.
OverDrive Media Console™ v3.2 for Windows! June 16, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Databases - Updates, Techology Update.Tags: eaudio books, iPhones, ipod, OverDrive
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It’s here! The new version of OverDrive® Media Console. Nearly all WMA Audiobooks in the download collection are now compatible with the iPod®, iPhoneT, iPod touch®, and iPod nano®, as well as Zune® and thousands of other portable devices, with a simple upgrade of OverDrive Media Console to version 3.2 on Windows® PCs.
With OMC v3.2 for Windows®, users can…
Listen up and look smart May 29, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Databases - Updates, Techology Update.Tags: Gale Virtual Reference Library, GVRL, ReadSpeaker Technology
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ReadSpeaker technology and subject guide searching are now available for our Gale Virtual Reference Library users.
ReadSpeaker allows an entire article to be streamed as audio. With a click of a button, the text from a Gale Virtual Reference Library article can be read aloud via the user’s computer, making it accessible in a new way. These audio segments can also be saved as MP3 files for use on MP3 players for listening at a later time.
Subject Guide searching allows our users to search subjects across our entire Gale Virtual Reference Library collection in addition to the basic full text, keyword and title options.
Cool-er eBook Reader May 29, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Techology Update.Tags: Cool-er, ebook readers
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USA Today and New York Times reports this week a new ebook reader called Cool-er. Appears it will not replace Kindle anytime soon.
Mobile Revolution is Here May 4, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Techology Update.Tags: blackberry, cell phones, iPhone, mobile devices, mobile revolution
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The May issue of Computer’s in Libraries is centered on “The Mobile Revolution“. More and more patrons are using cell phones or PDAs type devices to access our website and library catalog. According to our own statistics this is growing very rapidly. Last April 2008, there were 12,911 visits to the library’s website from iPhones which is .18% of all devices used. This April 2009, there were 103,460 visits from iPhones which is 1.06% of all devices used. To read the articles use Gale’s Expanded Academic ASAP.
Libraries Using Twitter May 4, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Techology Update.Tags: twitter, web.20
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In the recent months there has been a lot of talk about Twitter and companies tweeting. How are libraries using this Web 2.0 service? Read the article in Computer in Libraries and findout!
How the E-Book Will Change the Way We Read & Write April 24, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Books, Techology Update.Tags: ebook readers, ebooks
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An interesting article in the Wall Street Journal was post April 20 by author Steven Johnson who outlines a future with more books, more distractions — and the end of reading alone. Read the article. A side note just in case you or your patrons are looking at buying a Kindle. the author talks about using a Kindle for reading e-books, our ebooks available in the emedia catalog do not work on a Kindle but they do work on a Sony Reader.
Did You Know? April 17, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Did you know?, Techology Update.Tags: email addresses, email notifications, III
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Did you know patrons can have III notices sent to more than email address? It is possible to add a second email address to the patron record now. Sending to multiple emails can be done with the syntax of [email][,][email]. There can be no space in between the email addresses and a comma must be the divider.
Patrons can do it themselves from their account page, just click the “Modify Patron Information” button and scroll down to the email section. Add the email addresses and submit the change.
Just in case you missed it! March 17, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Techology Update.Tags: technology, videos, web 2.0
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Last Sunday the “Library Link of the Day” had a very good video for all Librarians and library staff members. If you have not seen it I encourage you to spend 5 minutes watching it: Web Tech Guy and angry Staff person.
Barriers to Innovations February 12, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Techology Update.Tags: change, technology
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This is from The Librarian in Black’s blog. See what NASA did to determine barriers to innovation within their organization. http://librarianinblack.typepad.com/librarianinblack/2009/02/nasa-managements-dirty-laundry-gets-aired.html
Wireless Printing Demo February 12, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Techology Update.Tags: web printing, wireless printing
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The TAC group will meet February 18 and view a demo on wireless printing or web print. Read more about it at Print What you Like.
Text for Audio Books January 26, 2009
Posted by virtualnotes in Techology Update.Tags: audio to text, eaudio books, ebooks
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Librivox is working on providing scrolling text for audio books. Read the article at Booklist Online.
Thiswould be a great service to our hearing impaired, ESL and low reading skill users. It makes eAudio books accessible to everybody. I see this service having great potential.
Technology Update – eNewspaper Reader September 10, 2008
Posted by virtualnotes in Techology Update.Tags: ereaders
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Here’s a new technology :
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/technology/08ink.html
New E-Newspaper Reader Echoes Look of the Paper [The New York Times]
Do you think it will impact the library? If so how?
Technology Updates June 7, 2008
Posted by virtualnotes in Techology Update.Tags: e-books
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Good article at cnn about e-books. It makes the point that when paperback novels where introduced in the 1930s they where scoffed at but look at them now. E-book readers are getting closer to what people want and technology is not far off to giving people what they want. Publishers are finding it profitable to publish new releases in both print and digital format.
New Technology June 3, 2008
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Why Gen Y is going to change the Web
Sarah Perez writes: “Gen Y (born 1983-1997) is taking over. The generation of young adults that’s composed of the children of Boomers, Generation Jones, and even some Gen X’ers, is the biggest generation since the Baby Boomers and three times the size of Gen X. As the Boomers fade into retirement and Gen Y takes root in the workplace, we’re going to see some big changes ahead, not just at work, but on the Web as a whole.” Find out how they are different and how they look at technology…
2010 MS Windows
Scheduled for release in 2010, the new fingertip interface lets users enlarge and shrink photos, trace routes on maps, paint pictures or play the piano. ‘The way you interact with the system will change dramatically,’ said Microsoft chairman Bill Gates.
See the article http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7422924.stm
Technology Tip May 24, 2008
Posted by virtualnotes in Techology Update.Tags: calendar google
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26 tips to tame Google Calendar
http://www.pcworld.com/printable/article/id,145844/printable.html
Getting started with Google Calendar is easy. You can use it to track your schedule from any computer or handheld device. It is one of the best online calendars available and loaded with features. Learn how to create a custom display of days, share it, create events and invite people to them, with RSVP notifications, embed the calendar in websites or blogs, and receive automatic alerts via text messaging.
