Blogging Section of SLA-IT

Got an iPod Touch for Christmas?

If you're like me, you received a iPod Touch for Christmas. I found some of the following suggestions on the TUAW blog useful to enhance my new device right away.

Getting a Touch instead of a phone made sense to me: it's much cheaper in the long run than a smart phone (arg, those plans) while I can still easily browse the web and check email on the wireless networks at work, home and around town. I'm keeping my current cell phone for calls, texts and quick picture taking.

What is your preference: a smart phone, a netbook (or mini laptop), a device like the Touch or nothing at all?

2008 top technology trends

A few days ago, CNN published its top technology trends for 2008. Not surprisingly, Twitter, smart phones and netbooks are on the list.

SLA IT: Joe Ann Clifton Student Award 2009

Submissions are now being accepted for the Joe Ann Clifton Student Award 2009 from the IT Division of SLA. This award is intended to promote participation in the SLA Annual Conference by an exceptional
library science student. The recipient of this award will receive:

• Student membership in SLA for one (1) year.
• Reimbursement for expenses to attend the SLA Annual Conference not to exceed $1,500 
• Recognition and presentation of the winning paper at the Annual Business Meeting of the IT Division. The winner must be present to accept the award at the IT Business Meeting. The winning paper will be published in b/ITe, the official Division newsletter.

Deadline January 30, 2009.  Learn more.

12 Days of Web 2.0 Christmas

You may wonder...are there any videos in YouTube about web 2.0 and Christmas?  The answer is "yes", proving perhaps that there is a video for everything.  I do find it a bit scary that he did this while driving.

SLA Click U: Learn Open Source

I'll be teaching my first SLA Click U course next month.  I'll be teaching special librarian all about open source.  You can sign up online if you're interested in learning something new - or just seeing my presentation :)

• Open Source Software for Libraries
  SLA Click U, Live Online, January 8, 2009
  

  The library community is abuzz about open source software.  Open source usually refers to an application whose source code is made available for use or modification as users see fit. Make sense? Probably not!  Would it help if you knew that open source is not just about programming, but about following a philosophy?

  Still confused? Not surprising. What will open source mean to our libraries? More flexibility and freedom than with software purchased with license restrictions. This is an important path for libraries to consider.  Why open source?  Because both the open source community and the library world live by the same rules and principles.

  Nicole Engard will give you the facts and dispel myths about open source. This presentation will not only introduce librarians to what open source is and what it means for libraries, but will also provide attendees with links to a toolbox full of freely available open source products to use in their libraries.
  

Hopefully I'll "see" some of you there.