Ruminations on Web Page Design

I enjoyed the experience of creating a useful website. I took an HTML course 6 years ago, but never had the need to use it after that class. So I was basically starting from scratch.

As with many of my LIS assignments, the most difficult part of the project is coming up with the idea. Useful content is always a challenge for me. I hate the idea of reinventing something that is already on the Web, but once I developed a practical reason for the website, a staff page for shelving aides, it was much easier to plan the storyboard and develop links that were useful.

As a potential add-on to the existing Oak Park Public Library, I maintained the look of the official website by recreating the heading and format from the original home page. The logo is not as clear as it could be as it was copied from the website, not the original file.

One of the most useful things I learned during this experience is the ability to create PDF files for free. This utility is useful for anyone outside of the HTML experience. I also appreciated the wealth of information available on the web that provided handy details to be used on-the-fly.

I also learned about list elements. List tags are similar to table tags, with <ol> being an ordered (numbered) list and <ul> being an unordered (bulleted) list. Each list item is tagged with <li> </li> list item within the <ul> or <ol> command.

Much of my frustration came from the idiosyncrasies between Firefox and IE. Links, styles and images all were a challenge when viewing in the different browswers.

I also appreciated the dedicated lab time for the entire course. It allowed me to have an uninterrupted block of time to work on the coding, something that would have been difficult in my home situation.

Finally, I am glad that I took this course as I am finishing the program, as I have noticed that the job openings that I am interested in are requesting more web related skills.

Crowdsourcing—

The group dynamic gets a different spin with NPR’s “11 Central Ave.” Listen to show 31 to hear the alternate reality to collaboration on the web and the financial realities of collective intelligence.

Bibliography for Podcasting in Public Libraries

Podcasting in Public Libraries

 

Print Sources

Abram, Stephen. “Podcasting: the Short Course.” Information Outlook 10 (2006): 34-35. ArticleFirst. OCLC. Dominican University, Chicago. 18 June 2007.

Donohue, Nanette. “Library 2.0: What’s Next in Tech.” Illinois Library Association Reporter 2 (2005): 18-19. Library Literature and Information. Wilsonweb. Dominican University, Chicago. 18 June 2007.

Fichter, Darlene. “Creating Engaging Audio Content: Podcasting.” Online 30.6 (2006): 46-48. Library Literature and Information. Wilsonweb. Dominican University, Chicago. 14 July 2007..

Morris, Tee, and Evo Terra. Podcasting for Dummies. 1st ed. Hoboken: Wiley, Inc, 2006. 1-340.

Murdock, James. “On Air At the Library: Teens Sound Off Through Podcasting.” VOYA 29 (2006): 402-403. Library Literature and Information. Wilsonweb. Dominican University, Chicago. 18 June 2007.

Sampson, Jo Ann. “Launching Into the Podcast/Vodcast Universe.” Computers in Libraries 26 (2006): 10+. Library Literature and Information. Wilsonweb. Dominican University, Chicago. 18 June 2007.

Websites

Podcast Overview

“Lansing Public Library Podcast Information Page.” Lansing Public Library. 14 May 2007. 15 July 2007

Instructional Podcasts

“Atlantic Free Public Library: Online Databases.” Atlantic City Free Public Library. 19 Apr. 2007. 15 July 2007 http://www.acfpl.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=203&Itemid=352

“Basic Business Research.” Sunnyvale Public Library. 20 Apr. 2007. Sunnyvale Public Library. 15 July 2007

Interviews

“Christina Saller: Dresden Survivor.” Kankakee Public Library. 10 Nov. 2005. 20 June 2007

Storytime/Children

“Denver Public Library Podcast.” Denver Public Library. 6 July 2007. 15 July 2007

Teens

“Orange County Public Library System Podcast.” Orange County Public Library System. 6 July 2007. 15 July 2007

Library Professionals

“Seattle Public Library: Audio for Professionals.” Seattle Public Library. 6 May 2007. 15 July 2007 (No RSS)

“LibVibe: the Library News Podcast.” LibVibe. 12 July 2007. 15 July 2007

Post #5 Is the Web 2.0 bubble about to burst?

Web 1.0 fights back. Blackboard ( our favorite web app) fires a shot at Second Life. I was not wildly impressed with my first viewing of Second Life. I’m not sure why I would go to all the work of making an avatar for an online class discussion.

Facebook is not all that friendly to libraries, either. The Facebook terms of conditions don’t allow users to imbed search apps, including catalog searches– the exact thing that libraries are trying to do. So, libraries can attract Facebook users, but not show anything useful. Librarian.net has some interesting, if cynical theories on the reasons behind the blocks.

YouTube pulls guitar lesson videos due to copyright infringement. The videos used a portion of a Rolling Stones song as a teaching tool. When I first heard the story on NPR, I thought instructional videos were a great idea and could be implemented in libraries for all kinds of subjects. Just don’t use copyrighted music or books. So, if you were thinking of recording a storytime, DON’T DO IT! Record an instructional tape on how to use a software application, STOP! YOU’LL GO TO JAIL!! Record a sing-a-long, LOOK OUT FOR THE RIAA!! (Paranoid episode completed.)

I really don’t think the Web 2.0 bubble will burst (after all Web 3.0 is right around the corner) but there is still a lot to be  resolved between the assumed freedom of the Internet and the rights of the  content providers.

Post # 4 Authority and the Internet (Michael Gorman, again)

I slogged through Michael Gorman’s discourse on the Internet and the decline of authority, and had a variety of reactions.  The first is that the concept of authority is just to broad to define with one brush.

Authority comes in many guises.There is of course the written authority: researched, analyzed, and documented.  These authorities are usually recognized until new evidence is produced to prove the point otherwise. Is the authority that is recognized always right? No. (think the Catholic Church and Galileo)  Is the authority immediately  recognized? No. (Galileo, again.) Is the authority always documented and published? No, and there’s the rub.

Think of how many people are authorities– through research, persistence and hard work who don’t publsh books, articles or theses. Are they less of an authority?  I don’t think so.  Blogging, wikis, and electronic documentation give publishing access  to those (who are familiar with the medium) who otherwise would take their knowledge to the grave. I’m thinking of the example of the mechanic who just “knows” what is wrong with your car (regardless of what the manual says), based on his/her experience.

Information is not static. As soon as it is captured on the printed page it is subject to addition, correction and obsolescence.  Just as there are too many claiming unwarranted authority, there is the “authority” claiming unproven truths. The new information  model allows for both error and correction.   As it should.

It’s the little bits that make up the whole mosaic of human knowledge.

More libraries that do it right: Kankakee Public Library 2.0

Earlier I wrote about library websites that do it right, and one of the best is here in our own state. The Kankakee public library has embraced the 2.0 challenge.

Kankakee PL puts it right on their home page–2.0.   Click on it and see their online mission for the 21st century.  They have incorporated podcasts, flickr, blogs, IM reference, and Cafe Press.   They’ve also won ALA webdesign awards for 2 years.  I’m impressed with the clean layout that tells it all.  (Check out the Teen Zone.  Again, I’m easily impressed with graphics, so check out the “meet staff” door on the theater.)

This website has it’s bugs, many links don’t work.  But after a few days of learning HTML, I have sympathy and respect for the webmaster who has to keep all those balls in the air.

Post #3 Defining Web 3.0

Just when I think I’ve figured out what Web 2.0 entails, I discover that the visionaries and futurists are beginning to define Web 3.0. I’m not even sure I understand the terminology behind 2.0 yet.

Search “web 3.0″ and you get techspeak that can hardly be described as English.

Web 1.0 was the one way street: read-only web. We could browse what was uploaded by those with the skills to get the information out to us.

Web 2.0 turned it into the two way street: read-write web. No longer restricted, new programs (Blogger, YouTube, Myspace) allow everyone to contribute content and interact with others.

Web 3.0 is being defined in many ways by various interested parties.

Some consider the definition to include programming the web (read-write-execute) allowing users to develop their own personalized software. Others think it will be more of a 3d.0, transforming the internet into 3-D spaces, expanding on the Second Lif e model. Some see the integration of all technology into a seamless flow from computer to mobile technology.

Lately I’ve been reading so much about it, my head hurts. How do you become proficient in one when so many others are coming along at the speed of light? How much can you absorb, apply, assimilate or just plain use? Will I come to a point where I’ll just say “STOP! I give up?”

Post #2 Library websites that do it right

I’ve been looking at various library websites to determine if there are any libraries that do something really different. I’ve compared the Los Angeles Public Library site with the the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg Counties. This isn’t comprehensive, just highlights of the good and not-so-good features.

The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County was the 2006 winner of the National Award for Library Services. Dig through their website and you will see why they won. The services the library provides are incredible: Downloadable audiobooks, music and “eFlicks”, beta testing of video on demand, RSS feeds for programming by subject area or branch location (each branch has its own feed,) a photo poster generator, along with the more traditional web elements.

Library websites with this much information can be disorganized and overwhelming. This site was well-designed, with easy navigation to the most needed information: branch locations, programming and calendar, catalog, and services. Very concise, no need to click through menus. Highlights upfront, details behind the tabs. I like the way the library tied into the “Body Worlds” exhibit at the Discover Place Museum by both featuring the exhibit, and linking in its own databases and collections related to health. Be sure to drool over the other services PLCMC provides its patrons. And to be absolutely sure the printed page lives on, PLCMC sponsors “the only public library-sponsored literary publisher- Novello.

Click on the Teens link and see how PLCMC is engaging teens with 2.0: a dedicated website with Second Life, YouTube videos made by teen patrons, podcasts, MySpace. They’ve done it all plus the traditional book reviews, game nights and movie nights. Information directed to teens are tabbed at the top. Of special note is the Life Info tab, which links to social services that teens may be embarrassed to ask an adult (abusive parents, homelessness, etc.)

The Los Angeles Public Library website is more traditional, with a cleaner homepage. The most interesting pages are for Kids and Teens. Both are animated and colorful, although they are a bit slow to load. Both have games designed specifically for the library, but the highlight is the LAPL Game in the teen section, The Goodhue Codex. This quest-type game involves the architect of the LAPL main library, the art work on display, and some secret codes. (If you’re not familiar with quest games, be ready to spend a few hours solving the puzzle.) The teen site doesn’t feature the 2.0 features as did PLCMC, but it does feature an opinion page with opinion polls, book reviews, comments and suggestions. The LAPL “My Life” also provides teens with sites to help with personal problems. This site is less focused than the PLCMC page, providing general websites, but no local social service information.

The rest of the LAPL website is a standard library site, providing information about traditional services.(I found it ironic that so much reading was required for the Adult Literacy link.)

Overall, I think the PLCMC site provides more information in an engaging format. The site is well planned, and most information is only one or two clicks away. They’ve put the most interesting and engaging information up front. Explanations are short, direct and informative. If you need a model of a library using 2.0 services and well designed website use PLCMC as your template.

If you know of a great library website, share it and let me know what makes it great.

Copyright Law Video

In case the explanation of copyright from Bitlaw was too dry, watch this video from Eric Faden, an assistant professor of English and film studies at Bucknell University, who produced the video with help from seven of his students and said it took eight months to make.

Post #1 Blogging Jitters

I read a few blogs on a regular basis, and skim others (usually from links that I can’t find again) and find that the most interesting blogs are also the ones that are thoughtful and well-researched. The good ones are hard work! I don’t have that kind of expertise or passion, (most librarian types are generalists) but I seem to always find a story or article that I want to share with others—lucky you!

If any of you are like me, you probably stare at your computer screen and think: “Now what?” I’m of a “certain age” and don’t have the confidence that younger folks have. I don’t really think that anything I have to say is all that interesting to the world at large, and I pretty much still maintain the mindset of my youth: “Don’t speak unless spoken to.”
That being said, I will be searching for inspiration where ever I can find it.

Today, I will be reviewing a handy little book No One Cares What You Had for Lunch: 100 Ideas forYour Blog. by Margaret Mason. It’s a quick read, with some interesting ideas for when your mind is blank.

Mason introduces the book by providing mind-numbingly bad blog posts—her evidence of the writer not knowing what to write about. She then provides 100 ideas to stimulate inspiration to avoid the “me, too” syndrome. Not all of these ideas are applicable to this class format, but some are useful.
My favorite tips from the book:

#5 Be a sage. Offer your readers some of your hard-earned advice, and how you gained that insight.

#11 Curate the web. If someone else has said something that you find interesting, point your readers to that post, and explain why the writer affected you.

#21 Address the public. Write an open letter to a specific population. Mason’s example is a letter to the people of Boston, but it could be to any group: Librarians, Teachers, Techies, you name it.

#55 Take Sides. Choose a side on a big topic: the death penalty, censorship, etc., do some research and post your research and conclusions. Wait for fireworks!

#88 Choose your Company. You can’t write to everyone successfully, so focus on your intended audience and make your tone and content consistent with that group.

So this post should qualify for tip #5 — My sage advice–I hope it helps you!