Citation
Oyelude, A.A. (2015), "What’s trending in libraries from the Internet cybersphere – 03 2015", Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 32 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-06-2015-0045
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
What’s trending in libraries from the Internet cybersphere – 03 2015
Article Type: General review From: Library Hi Tech News, From: Volume 32, Issue 6
Adetoun A. Oyelude
Halfway through the year and mobile devices are everywhere. Three-dimensional (3D) printing, the Internet of things, smart machines, cloud/client computing and others are major trends. This edition of the column highlights some of these emerging technologies.
Pinterest for libraries
The Tampa Bay Library Consortium, Inc. (TBLC) is a not-for-profit multi- type library cooperative that works with libraries – public, academic, special and K-12. They posted an article on libraries using Pinterest. Their blog at http://tblc.org/archives/3126 gives some pointers on how libraries can use Pinterest. According to them, libraries can:
create a library board – (here is one created by Jessica Zairo at http://pinterest.com/azalla/libraries/);
pin articles, photos from their library, photos from their community, artwork or anything visual they would want their patrons or students to see or use it to promote; and
Teen Tech Week: this is a collaborative board for sharing even resources and ideas http://pinterest.com/sarah_ludwig/teen-tech-week-2012/
Posting on social media. How often?
David Lee King, in a post on his blog, tackles the issue of how often one should post on social media. The May 28 blog refers to two articles via links to the blog and arrives at the following simple suggestions:
1. Post more than you are currently posting. For most libraries, this advice works great. Why? They do not have a dedicated posting schedule or posting goals. Or, they post sporadically. Maybe no one posted last month. Sometimes, it is important to post enough to look alive in that social media tool, so at least once per day.
2. Figure out your organization’s optimal posting frequency. Start experimenting with posting more, then look at engagement rates, daily unlikes (on Facebook), etc. and adjust accordingly. Or, just ask your social media followers if they want more or less from you, then “go with the flow”. Find more on these ideas at: http://www.davidleeking.com/2015/05/28/how-often-should-you-post-to-social-media/%23.VYM-4VKAAW4
Blended librarians and library makerspaces
This trending issue contends that blended librarians could contribute to the library makerspace by relating “to the design of learning products such as tutorials or guides that would help community members learn how to use maker resources”. Blended librarians could work with the makerspace managers and event developers to learn where there might be learning gaps. Find out more at this blog from the Blogspot, Blended Librarian, posted on May 27, 2015 by Steve Bell: http://blendedlibrarian.learningtimes.net/what-role-can-blended-librarians-add-to-the-library%20makerspace/%23.VX69AVKAAW7
Collaborations for experiential learning
Kara Driscoll of the University of Cincinnati on the 8th of May, 2015 posted that students of the University of Cincinnati College of design, Architecture Art and Planning were collaborating with Ohio State University students on a fashion project. Students gain experiential learning documenting their work. Designer Bonnie Cashin, a fashion designer of ready-to-wear clothings has posted 690 pins on Pinterest and 2 tweets as of 8th May. A documentation and preservation of the work of the students is being showcased here: http://www.uc.ed/news
3D printing in Rijeka, Croatia
Kristian Benic reports on three dimensional (3D) printing in the town of Rijeka, Croatia. This is a project initiated in 2014 with the support from EIFL’s (Electronic Information for Libraries) Public Library Innovation Programme (EIFL-PLIP). EIFL is a not-for-profit organization that works with libraries to enable access to knowledge in developing and transition economy countries in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America. The printing incubator is being used to transform the library in a community makerspace. This activity is bringing more people to the library and preparing young people for a digital future. Find out more from http://www.eifl.net/eifl-in-action/3d-printing-project-turns-library-youth-makerspace
Cloud storage with new Google photos
The blog, Lifehacker posted a report by Alan Henry on the 1 June, 2015 about the New Google Photos project which offers free storage for high-quality photos and HD videos. It allows uploading everything from all sorts of devices, organizes it to help create your albums and allows you to search via a search bar. Photos can be shared with everyone, and the gallery view can be customized. More can be found at http://lifehacker.com/how-the-new-google-photos-makes-your-picture-library-aw-1708189976 With 17 likes and 126 comments as at June 8, 2015, it is trending. Libraries can buy into this – it is free.
Video streaming to enhance storytelling
Techsoup for Libraries, a Blogspot, posted by Ale Bedzikian on 28 May, 2015 exhibits the usefulness of video streaming by mobile apps to enhance rich storytelling. Livestreaming, however, brings up security and copyright as well as appropriation issues and are a bit restricted in use for now. Libraries could still “capitalize on the power of the lives”. They could consider:
broadcasting their events;
display the scene’s moments; and
broadcasting news or community happenings.
Read more at http://www.%20techsoupforlibraries.org/blog/video-streaming-apps-to-stream-or-not-to-stream
Saving the digital record using digital forensic software
A May 8, 2015 post by Kate Kondayen in the Havard Gazette reports the effort of Harvard libraries and archives in using digital forensics method akin to those used by police departments to preserve and conserve digital records. Obsolete equipment is preserved as well. According to her,
“Archivists are now much savvier when assessing incoming collections. They try to uncover these issues in a collection as soon as it comes in – sometimes even before it arrives at the door. University archives staff members take a mobile forensics kit to the offices, basements, attics, and studies of donors and are equipped to survey materials onsite, like members of a forensics SWAT team.”
More can be found at: http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/05/saving-the-digital-record/?%23_=_
Library on a chip for people without Internet access
With 254 Tweets, 481 Likes and 196 Shares, the write-up by Ben Schiller on the work of WiderNet in creating chips that can be used without the Internet to get information from the library in it, is trending. The Widernet project started in the early 2000s by Cliff Missen with the aim to help people in developing nations who do not have access to libraries due to little or no Internet access. The work has progressed to creating tiny chips for individuals in form of its “eGranary Pocket Library”, an SD card that fits into the side of a phone or tablet. This project is crowdfunding to be able to
“raise at least $60,000 – money that will go towards rejigging PC-developed code to repurpose for pocket libraries. It has several planned, including a “Veterinary Sciences Pocket Library” and a “STEM Pocket Library” (for teaching science and technology to young women).”
Find out more about the project at: http://www.fastcoexist.com/3045289/fund-this/this-library-on-a-chip-gives-people-without-internet-access-all-the-information-th
Adetoun A. Oyelude (toyelude@yahoo.com) is Principal Librarian at University Of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.