Author Archive
October 28th, 2009 by Barbara Merz
Should we change the blog categories in any way? Should “*The Essentials” remain the default?
Rational – it can be confusing to use the current categories. See what is categorized currently as essential and what is not.
Some suggestions:
1) *The Essentials is not needed. All readers should subscribe to the whole blog and pick what they’re interested in cp. reading sections of newspapers or subscribing to any other blog.
2) or should the default category just be changed to “Areas and Workgroups” i.e. LIS centric with action required to categorize as “*The Essentials”
3) and/or should “*The Essentials” be renamed “*The Essentials (all campus)”
October 23rd, 2009 by Barbara Merz
From the archives of the LIS eNewsletter, November 2008
If you need equipment for an upcoming audio or recording project, stop by the Main, Armstrong, and Music Library Circulation Desks – we have a variety of options to choose from:
Digital Voice Recorders: Small and portable, these can be used to record a lecture, meeting, or interview; then simply plug it into a USB port on a computer to download or upload files. Lapel microphones are also available for use with these recorders for higher quality sound recording.
iPods and iTalks: You know all about iPods, but did you know they’re available to borrow from the library? And if you would like to do an audio recording on one of our iPods, or on your personal iPod, we have iTalks for that purpose as well. We also have higher memory iPods that can be used for video projects.
USB Microphones: Microphone on small stand with USB connection; great for anyone who needs to record audio.
WebCams: Perfect for webcasting and face-to-face video conferencing.
Headsets with microphones: Another option for voice recording, or for use with Skype.
Computer speakers: Plug into a PC, laptop, or iPod
Check out go/equipment for an overview of our most popular equipment, including information on reserving equipment, quick tips, links to user manuals, loan period guidelines, and MIDCAT availability.
Questions? Please call the Main Library Circulation Desk at 443-5494.
October 23rd, 2009 by Barbara Merz
First in an occasional series of posts from the archives of the LIS eNewsletter. November 2008
If we don’t have a book you want, we can get it for you quickly. Through Interlibrary Loan, Middlebury College students, faculty, and staff can use books, journal articles, and other research materials owned by libraries across the country. Here’s how to make an interlibrary loan request:
1) Search for the item in the NExpress catalog (shortcut: http://go.middlebury.edu/nexpress). If you find the item there, click on the “Request” link and fill out the form. Books should be delivered to the Main Library within a week, articles should be delivered to your email inbox within a few days.
2) If your item is not available in NExpress, fill out the Illiad form (shortcut: http://go.middlebury.edu/ill). Books and articles should be delivered to the Main Library within a few weeks.
Tips:
- In MIDCAT and other databases, look for the blue “NExpress” button. It’s a shortcut that searches NExpress for you.
- In FirstSearch databases such as WorldCat, MLA and PsycInfo, try the button first. If Middlebury does not own the item then you can request it from NExpress or traditional Interlibrary Loan (ILLiad).
- Always try to order from NExpress first. Article requests that cannot be filled by NExpress are automatically forwarded to ILLiad for ILL processing.
October 7th, 2009 by Barbara Merz
Do we want to broaden the the web team’s charge to include “communications within LIS”?
Can we clarify what this means!? We have already proposed the LIS one blog as a major communication tool. To consider communications more broadly probably should involve gathering info about current communications, discussion of what various LIS ares/departments/staff need and want etc. etc. Is this something that should happen now?
Comment here!!
August 19th, 2009 by Barbara Merz
Note taker? Time keeper?
Recommendation Highlights – 10 minutes
1. Parature recommendation
2. Key concepts as shown in contents
3. One blog concept with trust and openness as design basis
Developments in media services and their impact on our project – 5 minutes
Recommendation discussion – 30 minutes
What message is Jeff going to take to ADs? Identify, clarify. – 10 minutes
August 12th, 2009 by Barbara Merz
July 27th, 2009 by Barbara Merz
How important is it for you to reach each of these audiences with your web content?
Students, faculty, LIS staff = “very important”
Other staff = “quite important”
Alumni, other = “less” to “unimportant”
________________________________________________________________
How often do YOU use these LIS website features?
Often: catalog
Sometimes: helpdesk documentation, LIS staff directory, Newsletters, LIS blogs, LIS Wiki
Never: subject guides
Didn’t know existed: NONE! good.
_______________________________________________________________
What features of the LIS website work or could be improved?
Work: research guides
Need improvement: help documentation, website searching, LIS org structure, LIS depts staffing info, services/depts loctions, hours of service, space availability, who to contact for what
Unfamiliar: staff accomplishments, status of systems, LIS events calendar, tagging
3-way tie: emergency procedures
_________________________________________________________________
Do users often contact you for information that is available on the website?
yes = 65% e.g. hours, documentation.
_________________________________________________________________
Is there information not on the LIS Website that would be useful to include?
yes = 58% (22 of 42 responses)- no theme of what’s missing is apparent.
Some comments on difficulty of finding what’s there already.
__________________________________________________________________
What is your level of comfort with the following technologies?
Most to least comfortable, overall -
Blogs, Wikis, IM, CMS, RSS, Surveying
___________________________________________________________________
What specific areas of the current site do you feel are successful? Why are they successful?
MIDCAT gets a few mentions. Documentation. Some comments apply to College website not LIS.
_________________________________________________________________
Is there anything else you’d like the LIS Website Team to know about?
22 responses – most common theme – need to improve access to info already there! “info is buried” “difficult to find things” etc.
____________________________________________________________________
Please rate your overall experience in navigating the LIS website.
Frustrating = 52% OK = 48% Love it = none.
Should be possible to show improvement on this metric.
July 20th, 2009 by Barbara Merz
Two things I’m thinking about:
1) Use of blog & wiki – I was moved to send out e-mails to all of you because I thought if I posted on the blog/wiki you’d be unlikely to see the posting (about the survey) quickly. Is this true for some of us anyway? I feel like I get lost in the non-linear nature of the communications & yes – I know we can search, should be set up to get notifications of new postings etc. etc. but I’m not feeling this is completely sucessful.
2) meetings & agenda. I think that a useful discussion between 8 people on almost any topic is going to take longer than 10 minutes. Understanding that time is passing & meeting time is limited, do you think we should break into smaller groups to discuss different topics? That seems to me the only way to be able to cover the agenda items so quickly! If agenda items regularly have to be pushed to the next meeting & we always are rushing I’m not sure that we will do the best job.
Barbara
July 2nd, 2009 by Barbara Merz
In the ppt sent around today. This has our charge and priorities looking a bit different:
Charge: To create a brand new LIS web presence that has the following characteristics: is easy to find (things,) is easy to use, is easy to maintain, is user centric, has more self-service functionality.
Priorities:
•Involve end users: develop & test [Beta test 11/09, Public beta test 12/09, Public launch 1/04/10]
•Develop LIS staff workflow, content management, protocol procedures & apply to new web presence [Test 11/09, In place 12/09]
•Assess/evaluate new LIS web presence ( involve end users) [April 2010 & ongoing]
•Develop “site-refresh” strategies [Aug 2010]
July 2nd, 2009 by Barbara Merz
I’ve been gathering links etc. that might be useful to me & perhaps to others. A lot is concerned with library pages, but some is more general. Let me know if you think this isn’t how the blog should be used.
http://www.dickinson.edu/ – has merged LIS. LIS has a “home page” but separate library & tech homepages linked from college home page
Features I want (library) –
Google search of website – all Midd, just LIS
catalog, reserves, journals, media searches
search documentation – researching, citing etc.
Questions for team to decide:
How to get ideas, needs, input from interested LIS staff?
Where to get good ideas from other organizations?
What do we need on a LIS home page? OR do we want library & tech home pages (with big link to “about LIS” on both)?
Overall “look and feel” constraints? – maximum freedom for all contributers.
Content constraints? – no gatekeepers! Responsibility at point of service! From WhiteWhale:
“Workflow should not take the place of accountability. Too often, we feel, complicated workflow setups (Dave enters an item which is modified by Sue, sent back to Dave, then finally approved by Jim) removes a sense of accountability from the content management process. Whose page is it? For every page of the Midd site, there should be a clear understanding of who’s in charge, and that person ought to consider him/herself personally accountable for its accuracy and effectiveness.“
June 24th, 2009 by Barbara Merz
Web team – vision statement.
Barbara
The Web team will design, test and implement a new LIS Web presence.
The LIS web is used both to provide information about LIS and as a means to deliver services and provide access to resources.
The product will be tied in with the new College web design.
Our first priority will be usability. Other important considerations are ease of maintenance, and continued development.
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