2019

"Blockchain, Linked Data, and You"

Our article on the possibilities of blockchain technology in the library and linked data ecosystems was published in Public Library Quarterly.  The abstract:

Blockchain, or distributed ledger technology, has been an increasingly common topic in technical circles over the past several years.  You may have read one of the thousands of articles documenting the dramatic swings of blockchain-backed digital currencies like Bitcoin or the utopian musings that blockchain could replace our voting systems, financial systems, or other society-wide infrastructure.

There is some hype about blockchain but the technology does show promise for providing a secure decentralized digital infrastrucure with data integrity - and libraries around the world can find valuable uses for that infrastructure.  In addition, the scourges of fake news, misinformation, and disinformation can be weakened by potential applications of blockchain technology in the infosphere.

2019

Going Beyond "Learn to Code" in the Library: Partnerships and Resources for Delivering Successful Advanced Technical Training

Abstract: As more libraries offer "learn to code" and digital skills training programs to patrons of all ages, there is a significant opportunity to offer more sophisticated services for advanced learners, even up to the level of

2018

Algorithms: Avoiding the Implementation of Institutional Biases

Computer algorithms, the logic and code that power automated decision-making programs, increasingly dominate many aspects of modern society. There are already many examples of institutional biases – including ideological bias, racism, sexism, ableism – being solidified in algorithms, causing harm to already underprivileged populations. This article explores library-specific and society-wide examples as well as efforts to prevent the implementation of these biases in the future.

PLQ Cover
2018

What we can learn from Wikipedia; Why we should jump on board

Wikipedia is a proven model for openly and effectively creating and distributing high quality information in a way that users can easily access it. Its success provides lessons for the library profession to learn and challenges some of our assumptions about how we might address the mission of providing free and open access to everyone. Wikipedia is a platform for librarians to put their professional skills to work adding content and improving the quality of the entries while addressing the gender imbalance of the male-dominated group of contributors that are currently doing this work.

2017

You Can't Be Serious

Every once in a while I get a call from someone with an idea they want to explore that just makes no sense at all. At least not at first. The latest zany idea a client brought to me is a concept they dubbed, “pure central processing” and although my first response was, “You can’t be serious” it is definitely growing on me. Their idea was to eliminate check-in at each of their branches entirely by letting people return things but instead of checking them in there, the items would be taken elsewhere for check-in and then brought back later. They weren’t talking about moving from a staff check-in experience to a self-service check-in experience. They were talking about eliminating the check-in transaction and associated workflows from public service library staff and the library environment entirely.

2017

Leveraging Our Trust: Taking Action in Support of our Democracy

If we are truly committed to an informed citizenry, the job of the public librarian today is more akin to an activist than an archivist. Teaching media literacy, acting as fact-checkers, facilitating community conversations, collaborating with teachers and other organizations in the community – these are action steps. It isn’t enough to organize a collection and wait for people to come use it. As representatives of a trusted profession and a trusted public institution committed to our American democracy, we are duty-bound to do as much to leverage that trust as we can.

2017

Protecting Patron Privacy: Vendors, Libraries, and Patrons Each Have a Role to Play

Our commitment to protecting our patron’s intellectual property is a guiding principle in the ALA Code of Ethics stating that librarians “protect each library user’s right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received, and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted." The ALA Code of Ethics was originally adopted in 1939 before MARC records, the integrated library system, and definitely before the Internet. It is much more complicated to protect our patron’s privacy today than it was in 1939. However, it is timely to revisit the issues around patron privacy as we embark on our journey with the new administration. According to the ACLU Trump Memos (http://bit.ly/2gJvdok), and now confirmed by Executive Orders, we are dealing with an Administration that uses religion to justify surveillance, is threatening to deport large numbers of members of our communities, and has redefined accepted definitions of freedom of expression and libel. It is more important than ever to know how to protect our patron’s privacy.

2016

The Holy Grail of Library Automation: The Shared Library System

Over the last year, I’ve been working closely with consortia in my home state of California. I’ve participated in something of a “listening tour” to hear what is working and what isn’t working at the consortial level and to find out what they really need that the consortium could provide.

What I’ve learned is that it is very hard for get beyond the basics:  shared e-resources, shared delivery and networking with their peers. Initiatives much bigger than that, strike them as beyond the realm of possibility.  What I would love to see is some “hive mind” where the members suddenly become aware of their ability to address many of the challenges that hold them back with one big change – moving to a shared library system.

The shared library system is the holy grail of library automation. It’s awesome and yet so difficult to acquire. For libraries lucky enough to have gone down this path years ago, it might not seem so magical, but the shared library system has many wondrous qualities.

2016

From Transact to Transform: Seizing the Opportunity of an RFID Implementation

The ALA Libraries Transform campaign communicates that libraries are more than places where circulation transactions take place, libraries can be transformative. And technologies like RFID, automated materials handling and self-service technologies are the tools that increase opportunities for libraries to provide enriching experiences to their communities. Although RFID projects involve technical hurdles, they can be a fantastic opportunity to transform library services! If libraries only install the technology without changing how they use staff, they miss the chance to change the dynamics of patron-staff interaction. 

2016

Everyone Deserves a Badge!

There’s something great happening in California, Arizona, and Virginia and it’s all about summer reading. It began when Maricopa County Library District (MCLD) developed the first ever open source summer reading program (SRP) software. Their software, The Great Reading Adventure, (http://greatreadingadventure.com/), was the brain child of an MCLD staffer who garnered support from his library and received a nice infusion of IMLS grant funding.  Their software was hugely popular.  For one thing, what a great name!  And for another, the kids loved it.  They earned badges for reading and other activities -- and it was fun!  Another reason is that The Great Reading Adventure (GRA) was the first opportunity for many libraries to deliver a web-based summer reading program.  Though there are other products available to libraries, those products are commercial products requiring subscriptions that many libraries cannot afford.  The Great Reading Adventure was something any library could afford. After that first year, the California Library Association began working with the folks at MCLD and brought in my company to support California libraries that wanted to use the GRA software. With LSTA funding and our help, even more libraries were able to use a web-based SRP. 
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