Applications of ICT in Libraries
1. Administration
2. Information Architecture
3. Knowledge Management
4. Applications of ICT in Libraries
5. Policy
6. Special Collections
From Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection. Read more
2. Information Architecture
3. Knowledge Management
4. Applications of ICT in Libraries
5. Policy
6. Special Collections
From Wikibooks, the open-content textbooks collection. Read more
Ten tips for funding technology ...
... so you can do work that really matters.
Read the full article by Bennett Grassano at TechSoup.
- Build strong relationships with funders.
- Incorporate technology into your annual strategic plan.
- Focus on your mission and your program, not technology for technology's sake.
- Budget technology expenses as shared costs, not overhead.
- Target likely technology funders.
- Maximize existing resources.
- Use local community technology resources.
- Partner with others for joint grant proposals.
- Generate unrestricted revenue where possible.
- Spend less on technology purchases
Why you need IT support
Things will go wrong, so be prepared.
You come into work on Monday morning to find that your network server is completely dead. No one can get at word processing files or the client record system that is absolutely central to the work of your organization. And don't librarians know what happens at the front desk when the "system is down" ...
Read more at TechSoup the website for technology in non-profits / NGOs.
walking paper
Another techie library blog ... walking paper
Written by Aaron Schmidt.
"the term 'walking paper' is a way in which i think of new(ish) information technologies. things like IM and text messaging are like active, animated paper to me. the term also is one letter away from 'walking papers', something that librarians don't want to be handed (and shouldn't be handed, if we pay attention) because of technology".
Explore his 19 categories from audio books to WiFi.
Sent in by Caroline Dean.
Who makes the technology rules?
Techno Intelligence / Doug Johnson
School Library Journal, March 2003
"An open dialog about concerns, responsibilities and priorities related to technology is essential for its successful use in schools. Not everyone will agree with the decisions made, but at least everyone will have a better understanding of why they were made. Both educators and technicians come to the table with a problem-solving rather than confrontational attitude. A wonderful result of such an approach is an atmosphere of respect and appreciation for each other's uniquely difficult responsibilities". Read more ...
Doug Johnson writes, speaks and consults on school technology and library issues. More articles ...
The librarian: your technology partner
The Librarian: Your Technology Partner / Doug Johnson
Read the article
Forwarded by the Special Libraries Interest Group (SLIS) in Gauteng.
The objective of the SLIS listserv is to co-ordinate the activities of special libraries and information services as well as provide a vehicle for the interchange of information and ideas.
Join the mailing list
Communicating with IT Professionals
ICTLIG Western Cape held it first meeting on 15 February 2006: "Communicating with IT Professionals". It was hosted by the Peace Library at the Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR).
Introduced by Wynand van der Walt, National Convenor of the LIASA ICTLIG Group, and chaired by Caroline Dean, Chairperson of the local Group, the meeting was addressed by both librarians and IT experts.
- Geoff Hoy (University of Cape Town Libraries IT Support) showed that librarians and IT professionals have many characteristics in common -- although they often speak a different language! IT support for libraries is very uneven: public libraries are generally poorly funded, contrasted with huge IT support in academic libraries. IT departments often do not know the core business of their library customers. Geoff warned in particular of having a library run according to the dictates of an IT department.
- An answer to this was provided by John Mouton (University of Stellenbosch Libraries) Librarians need to learn IT skills! The converse is unlikely to happen, although some librarians do go into the IT profession.
- Paul Meyer (Infovision Library Systems) has experience in both fields. "Marketing, implementation and support of a library system is a bit like the marriage process - there's a courtship (marketing), then the marriage (implementation), then making it work after the marriage (support). Good communication is essential throughout the whole process, but nobody's perfect and mistakes can be made on both sides".
- Also, not all IT personnel are equal -- Warren Hansen (University of Cape Town Libraries IT Support) indicated that the first IT person the harrassed librarian stops in the corridor for help may be involved in some high-end technical maintenance and not be the correct person at all. His advice is not to panic and follow the helpdesk procedure.
Sally Schramm then launched the ICTLIG blog on behalf of the Committee
Good technology is always on
An earlier post highlighted Nine Rules for Good Technology by Stephen Downes, who defines nine characteristics separating a good technology from a bad technology.Capetonians now know about No. 2:
Good technology is always on .. electrical lights are a significant improvement over systems that required individual ignition with a match or candle.
Were you in the dark on voting day?
Zapiro, Sunday Times, 26/2/2006
