Bring your collection alive November 5, 2012
Posted by k3nd in digitisation.add a comment
Digitisation of local studies material delivers a two fold advantage. Firstly, resources are archived and secondly, made available 
worldwide.
Once you have decided to catch the digitisation bus, there are a few stops that need to be completed.
- Do you possess the staff and time
- Will you complete the process inhouse or outsource.
- Are you aware of any copyright restrictions
Having ticked these off and creating inhouse:
- Ensure suitable hardware and software available
- Create efficient workflows
- Train staff in these workflows
During the digitisation process:
- Prioritise material to be digitised
- Scan to the highest quality
- Crop/straighten/edit where needed
If importing into a DAM:
- Ensure exhaustive tagging. Your DAM is only as good as your metadata
For disaster control measures, don’t have your DAM server and collection to be digitised in the same building. Also, regularly backup your images, ideally located in yet another location.
There is no rocket science in the art of digitisation. Once you have set the course just do it and enjoy the benefits that eventuate.
Mirror mirror on the wall….. January 6, 2012
Posted by k3nd in Change.add a comment
2012 is now upon us faster than we could ever imagine. Staring into my crystal ball, here are just a few predictions which I see will develop over the year.
The 6.00pm news bulletin will disappear (it is simply an electronic version of New Idea) where smart graphics and well groomed reporters are more important than news substance.
The Australian nation will suffer under the ignorant, selfish and economic suicidal policies of our worst ever PM
Tagging will swiftly outpace present cataloguing workflows
The reference library will be taking it’s last few breaths
Ricky Ponting to retire on his own terms.
Despite the predictions of the Mayan calendar, the world will not end
Internet TV more prolific
Great advancements in battery powered cars
Stephen Smith to be named the 28th PM of Australia. Bill Shorten Deputy
Continued stagnation in the discussion of fast trains
Tablets and smart phone sales easily outstrip that of desktops and laptops
Shane Warne features in a movie with Liz Hurley
Chrome to draw level with Explorer in the browser stakes
Light at the end of the tunnel. October 13, 2011
Posted by k3nd in Change, Disturbance, Restrictions.add a comment
First of all I must apologise for my non-appearance for a few months now. I have been busy building houses, travelling, and nurturing websites. I am pleased to announce that many of my suggestions for library improvement have been accepted worldwide, which is a great buzz for me and my supporters.
However, there is a long road to traverse, and many more flags to be raised in honour of library advancement. I myself will continue tirelessly on this mission, floating a plethora of breathtaking ideas in the name of common sense.
There have been a few ups n downs along the way, but never forget people, don’t take your eyes off the ball. The moment you do, those same strangulating vines of ignorance and rigidity will envelope you again, threatening to cut off your supply to variety, fun, flexibility, innovation and efficiency.
Yes people, I have returned, and libraries will never be the same again.
The great circulation desk in the sky. July 18, 2011
Posted by k3nd in Library Image, trends.add a comment
At what point in history did the library profession lose its mystique? It’s je ne sais quoi? Information on librarians falling off this mortal coil was a prodigious news event . Death of these carefree cataloguers, these impovident indexers, and shiftless shelvers were met with a tsunami of scribbling from suited journalists with matching hat. Here are some tantalizing tidbits.
T’was an innocent age, where the librarian was held in high esteem, somewhere between Prime Minister and Bank Manager. In a more cynical age, it lies between Lord Mayor and Climate Change Minister. Why the change? Information is readily available to the public, without the need for gatekeepers. The librarian was held in awe, and had to be praised. If not, they may not have provided you with the latest census information, or that fabulous bibliography on radar.
Check out the video below to get into that 1940’s 1950’s feel.
The Twenty Commandments May 5, 2011
Posted by k3nd in Disturbance, Staff, trends.add a comment
Thou shalt not:
- catalogue
- process
- issue manually
- return manually
- send out overdue/reserve notices via post
- argue with customers over minute fines/overdue items
- deal with the Dewey Classification System
- create media releases
- attend unstructured meetings
- sit behind customer service desks
- teach technology
- know your customers
- learn from other institutions
- promote innovation
- answer questions through social media
- create partnerships with local businesses
- invest in self cleaning toilets
- ensure reliable and fast wireless connection
- train staff
- bid farewell to the reference library
Whistle while you work……. April 21, 2011
Posted by k3nd in Staff.add a comment
How to create a more convivial atmosphere in your organization:
- Flexibility in relation to work hours.
- Fairness in the distribution of holidays.
- Fairness in the distribution of shifts for all staff on rosters.
- Steady increase in staff work skills.
- Nurture a fire within, rather than underneath.
- Clear and open lines of communication between all in the organization.
- Encouragement and a kind word are welcomed more than a boot.
- Fellow workers refraining from backstabbing. Try sitting on your fat or narrow arse and minding your own business. If there is a perceived problem, discuss it with other staffers, rather than go squealing to management. Notions of your own apparent self importance and perfection are not shared by others. If this is your only method of attaining any form of self fulfillment, I suggest you piss off.
A State in Decay April 15, 2011
Posted by k3nd in Change, election, politics, Traffic.add a comment
In NSW a new
state government has been installed. Mind you, the drover’s dog would have defeated the tired, corrupt, and inept group of politicians who were wielding power for the previous 16 years.
The most urgent problems facing the state of NSW include lack of affordable housing and inadequate transport infrastructure. The Labor government failed miserably by pursuing a policy of urban consolidation, stacking people hopelessly one on top of each other in an ever increasing forest of high rise. At the same time, road infrastructure was left stagnant, resulting in hundreds of additional vehicles being thrust upon already congested thoroughfares. Of course, there is also the drain on water and especially electricity. (please don’t get me started on the carbon dioxide tax!)
Government have not had the foresight or courage to release land not contained in the Sydney basin. They have not had the foresight or courage to plan fast train links. They have not had the foresight or courage to plan or develop anything. Sydney will implode on itself through 24 hour gridlock, families living in shoe boxes, and only the wealthy owning homes.
Put a fast train link to Goulburn, Orange and Newcastle. People will be able to purchase affordable housing, pouring vigour back into regional NSW towns through creating work for tradesmen, retailers, local shops, and yes, libraries. Build highways which are at least four lanes wide, not the piddling two which has been the norm.
Using a library analogy, NSW has been using the card catalogue, stamping due dates, embracing the “shoosh” policy, and browsing with IE6, for the past 16 years. It’s time we embraced a little RFID and Chrome.
Not another bloody meeting! February 24, 2011
Posted by k3nd in Disturbance, Meetings, Staff.add a comment
We have all been to those meetings where we have physically been there, but mentally elsewhere. Here are ten steps towards successful meetings.
- Have an agenda. People can prepare in advance.
- To the point. No inane waffling. Limit of twenty minutes. Try a stand up meeting.
- Not setup like a kindergarten.
- Relaxed atmosphere. Make it fun. People should want to go.
- No one person dominating. If you want to deliver a speech from the pulpit, tack in onto the minutes
- Remain positive.
- Never immediately shoot down ideas when raised. That person will not be bothered to raise new ideas ever again, if humiliated in front of the group.
- Include some multimedia, role playing, somebody from outside the organisation, etc. Anything to get messages across.
- Encourage everyone to participate.
- Have meetings when needed. Date does not have to be set in stone.
ALIA (Australian Librarians In Action) Conference February 15, 2011
Posted by k3nd in ALIA, Knowledge, Technology, trends.add a comment
I recently attended the ALIA Conference in Sydney. Here are some of my observations.
There is an throbbing underbelly that realizes there are new ways to do old tasks.
Some people take tweeting too seriously.
It is ultimately up to each individual library to grasp these new ideas and implement them.
Some people take themselves too seriously.
There are a few cutting edge people out there, whose enthusiasm and knowledge need to flow through the veins of all.
Talks about methodology are for the birds.
Chris Winter from the ABC is a well organised and highly interesting speaker.
Papers from conference need to be available ASAP. If not, interest will be lost.
Better organisation of vendors. Rather than standing there, have a demonstration in progress. A video of what your product is about. Standing there like a shag on a rock will get you nowhere.
Video all talks for free, and stick them on YouTube. What’s the point of all that great information being bottled up in a lecture theater, or in the minds of those lucky enough to be asked to attend. Get those who are never asked to go to conferences or training in the loop.
Cracking Staff Conversations January 13, 2011
Posted by k3nd in Staff.add a comment
Workplaces are full of twaddle and fluff. Here are a few classic examples.
FutureLibrary 