SLA Information Technology Division Blog

Technology Adoption and Use

I recently read some of the highlights of the report, Information Seeking Behavior of the Researcher of the Future.  I was not terribly surprised at the finding that the Google generation isn't quite as tech savvy as we thought they were.  You can read that report here:

http://www.bl.uk/news/2008/pressrelease20080116.html

Now, that report is focusing mostly on searching behavior and it seems to be showing that younger generations are using the web a lot, but they're not really understanding it or searching it as well as one might hope.  That's the basic reason that librarians should have a fair amount of job security into the future.  Kids (and this probably applies to older web users as well) have come to view the internet like you would TV, it is ever-present but they don't know how that LCD screen works or how the picture is passed through that cable.

For an interesting take on this issue from a super-web savvy individual, I think it's useful to compare a blog post from Astronomy Cast's Dr. Pamela Gay with the report's findings.

Introducing HTML 5

With the last development of HTML occurring in 1999, HTML 5 introduces features that ease the creation of web-based applications.  Coming together to create the Web Hypertext Application Technology Working Group (WhatWG), Apple, Opera, and the Mozilla Foundation worked to update the web's core language.  You can learn more by reading this article on IBM's web development page. 

So, do you Jing?

Jing is a new technology that allows people to create screen captures and videos to share with others via email, IM and blogs.  This TechSmith project is being provided along with complimentary hosting on Screencast.com.  Within the site's FAQ, you'll see that Jing is neither a product or beta technology.  Rather, it's a concept delivered as project that seeks feedback from users.  So while the technology and hosting are free for now, be prepared to pay for it later. 

Article: Ebooks Face Triple Threat

mmm...ebooks aren't catching on?  And why?

The survey shows that ebooks are now widely adopted, with 88 percent of libraries saying they own or subscribe to ebooks and nearly half saying they have access to more than 10,000. The survey was completed by 552 individual libraries, the majority of which (77 percent) are academic. Usage, however, is something else. Only six percent of respondents said ebook usage was excellent, compared to 22 percent who said usage was poor. Most students use ebooks via the library catalog, but “low use of the catalog” is not the issue. Instead, librarians said the major inhibitors to ebook use were “lack of awareness,” followed by difficulty in reading ebooks, difficult-to-use platforms, and lack of training.

SLA Denver Conference Wiki

If you haven't already, be sure to check out the Denver Conference wiki.  The Rocky Mountain Chapter has done a great job putting together lots of useful local information.  I'm really looking forward to the trip!

I think this wiki is another example of how well that technology works for certain types of projects.  I'm involved in a planning project right now and have found a  discussion list to be problematic in brainstorming--no quick access to archives or easy editing of previous ideas.  I think a wiki will work much better for what we're trying to do.

Share your wiki experiences in the comments!

Library Journal article on Metasearching

Library Journal recently posted an article by Jonathan Rothkind on Google's role in the future of metasearch:

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6413442.html

I found the article to be fairly interesting and I have to agree that local indexing needs to increase for metasearching to be effective.  I, personally, have never had to attempt to get publishers and aggregators to release metadata for local indexing, but I suspect that it is a process that is often akin to pulling teeth.  Perhaps with Google Scholar leading the way in giving publishers a reason to want to release metadata, libraries may have an easier time asking for and receiving the same information.  At least that is my hope.

On a related metasearch issue, why doesn't science.gov (http://www.science.gov/) use local indexing?  I understand that it would be somewhat of an undertaking to put together the index, but it is searching publicly available information that shouldn't have many re-use restrictions.  I'm always somewhat annoyed by the sometimes minutes-long delay in receiving search results there.  I'm sure the reasons science.gov still uses "cross-search" techniques are the age-old answers of time and money, but if someone has a more specific answer I'd be interested in hearing that as well.

LibX Firefox extension

Firefox launched a new extension just for libraries: LibX.

A fair number of academic and public libraries are already using it. It offers toolbar & right-click context menus, OpenURL support, Google Scholar support, Web localization via embedded cues, support for xISBN, etc.

Internet access in Convention Center

Looks like bloggers will still be again struggling to post live from sessions in Baltimore at the Annual Conference. SLA HQ will not provide service. Individuals can access wireless internet using the WiFi Internet Café service at the Starbucks in the Pratt Street Lobby entrance. There will also be wireless access at the Main and Outdoor Terrace locations on the 300 Level. My understanding is that it is not free.

So, which one will I buy, the access in the Center or my hotel room? Decisions...

Thanks to Ted Baldwin on sla-dche for the info.