after i bought 300 bucks worth of comics at astrokitty in lawrence the guy threw a handfull of rings in my bag. im gonna give em out to the library kids.
- heart and soul royce
2 years, 7 months, 4 weeks, 16 hours, 44 minutes, 8 seconds March 20, 2007
- Bobbi Newman
2 years, 11 months, 4 days, 9 hours, 58 minutes, 23 seconds Is there some kind of tweetiversary we get to have when we hit 3 years?
- Kathryn says love n peace
Wish I could find the blog post or whatever, that prompted so many of us to lemming our way to Twitter 2 years and 8+ months ago. Is there any sort of app that allows you to find your first Tweet?
- Rochelle Rochelle
I first blogged about it 2 years, 8 months, and 8 days ago. I heard about it from Carol Ou. I don't think I'm library patient zero, though.
- s t e v e
Rochelle - MyFirstTweet is supposed to do that, but it seems that their app seems to only work a small percentage of the time.
- Curtiss Grymala
2 years, 8 months, 11 hours, 32 minutes, 55 seconds - March 14, 2007. Looks like March 2007 was a big month for library twittering.
- Jason Griffey
11 months, 1 week, 5 days, 21 hours, 20 seconds November 30, 2008
- Jennifer McDaniel
I posted on my blog on April 18 2007 "I fiddled with twitter a while back, but like Fiona, I didn’t find it very useful. About a month ago, as twitter began tipping toward mainstream, a mob of bibliobloggers started experimenting with it. I tried again." http://librariansmatter.com/blog... . I'm pretty sure it was Steven Cohen getting really hot under the collar about Twitter and encouraging everyone to join that made it happen. That and the mainstream tipping pt March 07
- Kathryn says love n peace
Unless I'm mistaken, I started in early June 2007, specifically for ALA Annual...and stopped at the end of June 2007. So far, no reason to go back; it still doesn't seem to suit my "offline character" and personality.
- Walt Crawford
2 years, 6 months, 4 weeks, 1 day, 10 hours, 26 minutes, 5 seconds April 17, 2007 (and I was very late to the game, having started at the Computers in Libraries conference in 2007)
- Julian
Um... That would be tipping point in the mainstream early adopters actually... If there is such a thing. I think most other folk thought I was loony for at least another year & a bit...
- Kathryn says love n peace
from iPhone
I don't have to look to know I didn't start using it to Computers In Libraries 2008...and I don't remember why I picked that moment probably read about some folks being on it
- Sir Shuping
Well, no, but then you are pretty cool anyway. ;) And, I don't really mean to imply that one causes or impinges on the other. Maybe it's just a reaction to all the (usual) IL hype. :D
- Mar₭ Liŋdŋer
Agreed, Cecily. I appreciate the contribution, if you will, and that a lot of folks participated ... but where was the content? What was the message? No doubt it is there but like all the surveys of kids these days say I am not sitting through 7 & a 1/2 minutes of something for 30 seconds of content.
- Mar₭ Liŋdŋer
It is a fun video with lots of cool images and widespread participation. I'm not getting how the phrase "Library 101" effectively conveys the message that libraries need to innovate and use technology to provide access to information, library collections and library services, that libraries need to evolve. I absolutely support this message, I'm just saying that the phrase "Library 101" doesn't encapsulate or represent it for me.
- marthalib
That's pretty much how I feel, too, Martha. (Well, I also think libraries *are* evolving, & worries about libraries "going extinct" are a bit extreme.)
- josh neff, geek at large
I was looking for the "About." The PR blurb. The bit you can point your boss at.
- Betsy (bentley) Vera
I'm actually glad to find this thread. To be upfront, I made the video, so there is that. And of course David King and I both hope ppl like it. But we knew it wouldn't be for everybody. I appreciate the feedback like this tho because, frankly, we are just learning as we go along. We believe in what we said and we tried our best. And that is all we can do. Personally, I was thinking more about Spinal Tap than actually thinking we were anything close to really "cool". I wish that came across more to everyone.
- Michael Porter
But here's the thing: we just love libraries, are experimenting and saying what we believe. Also, as marthalib pointed out, we did add the 101 "RTK" page, plus, the essay pages have some really good stuff in them, and in the few critiques I've found ppl don;t mention them yet: http://www.libraryman.com/blog... And all over the place on the pages we invite ppl to leave feedback, addition info and their own thoughts. We know we don;t have it all right and need help, and we ask for it!
- Michael Porter
I know it isn't perfect, but man, we did this in our own "free" time and worked our butts off on it. We tried hard to make it respectful, accurate, motivating and pointed. All I can say is we tired really hard and did our best. Again I appreciate being able to read this and learn from it and I thank you guys for being detailed in your feedback and, you know, not just going all "smashy smashy" on all of it. :)
- Michael Porter
Michael, I fully appreciate the work David and you (and any others) put into your video and the site. No doubt about that. I am sincerely glad you guys are enthused and are doing things to attempt to raise the profile of libraries and librarians! The simple fact is that many of us prefer our content in different ways/formats and some of us prefer a fair amount of "meat" where others prefer less.
- Mar₭ Liŋdŋer
As to the video, well, they generally do not speak to me. I watch very little video on the internet. I love film/cinema/movies but the vast majority of internet video has so far left me cold. As to the web site, what is up with that time consuming loading sequence? It's kind of cool the 1st time but since it happens *every time* I return to the main page it gets beyond old quick. As for...
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- Mar₭ Liŋdŋer
Hey Mark, David and I tried to make the song as meaty as we could, but also entertaining and at the very least palatable. I wrote the largest percentage of the lyrics and David and I poured over them to try and have them work with the music but also tell a story. And it was a difficult task for sure. As the song and video became such a major...
- Michael Porter
... effort for us (fitting hundreds of still images in a video and making them dynamic was very hard, and something I hadn't ever done before), we both were concerned that many folks would see the video (like they did with the last video) but not have other value added content. So we worked on getting the essays and building out the 101 resources on the "RTK" page....
- Michael Porter
...For the web page, we actually hired someone to do that for us. I don't have the technical chops or the time to do some of what was done with those pages and we wanted to make it as good as we could in the time we had (there was a serious crush there at the end). I think your critique makes sense though. But even with that, I think David and I are both feeling a little fried (and...
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- Michael Porter
I'll have another look at the video this weekend, Michael. Perhaps I just missed some of the content, as in maybe there is more than it seemed to me when watching it the 1st time. Sorry you guys are fried and broke from the effort. And I sincerely did not mean my lack of enthusiasm--or specific critiques--as a personal criticism of either of you.
- Mar₭ Liŋdŋer
Coming back home last night, David and I saw quite a few negative comments, and while we talked about knowing that would happen, it feels different when it actually happens. I'm glad we've had some back ad forth here though and thank you guys for it. I don't think this thread was hurtful though I really am glad we had it.
- Michael Porter
There were negative comments and positive comments, but anytime you put yourself out on the line that's gonna happen, so don't sweat it.
- Mike
If I'd wanted to be a rock star, I would've learned to play guitar.
- Kirsten
do rock star librarians get paid more than regular librarians? i could always go for a pay raise...how bad are the groupies?
- Sir Shuping
LOL - I hadn't considered the groupie factor. this may change my opinion! ;)
- holly
Real rock stars are, at least some of them, musicians. I'd guess the average earnings of rock musicians from rock music make library salaries look pretty good by comparison. A handful of them become rockstars--usually for a while. So, you know, be careful what you wish for.
- Walt Crawford
*sigh* *goes back to doing her job well, unconcerned with rockstar status*
- Jenica
What doofus wrote this, Holly? "Rockstar" is such a stupid metaphor. How about: "Are your librarians valued, valuable, essential resources to your community? If not, should they maybe consider wearing leather pants? Hmmmm?" Doofus.
- David Rothman (☤)
I cant afford the hookers and blow it takes to be a rockstar...
- Archangel ωαřмaiden
Interesting that the meaning behind the question is being obfuscated with the snark...
- awd
librarians are not rockstars. They are (in the PL) municipal employees: underpaid, overworked, and the brunt of everyone's complaints. Much of this also holds in the academic world, although I have found there to be fewer complaints in the academy.
- DJF
Aaron: I think the snark uncovers something here--"rockstar status" may not be ideal or even what you're looking for. Valued contributors aren't usually rockstars...
- Walt Crawford
So you are saying I *shouldn't* install a pyrotechnic display behind the reference desk?
- s t e v e
Steve, make sure to chain all the firedoors closed before you set the display off, to get the maximum effect.
- DJF
The "rockstar" language that we often see is funny to me since rockstars seem to have less and less cultural currency anyway.There are pop stars, and there are quasi-indie pseudo-stars like Radiohead. But the idea of the "rock star" as the guy in the leather pants with the groupies and the eye makeup and the half-hour drum solo--those guys are dinosaurs. So the last thing we want to be should be rock stars. Gee, this is like a blog post.
- s t e v e
Steve, you make an excellent point. How many people actually want that sort of thing anyhow? This weekend I hung out with the "rockstars" of my youth, and their appeal didn't come from leather pants or mega drum solos, but from an amazing attitude and energy and some amazing songs. That's what I want to emulate. Now, I'll never be the Operation Ivy of the library world, or even Rancid, but what about Common Rider or Schlong?
- Kendra <3 Three Lions
If we are rock stars does that mean we have to wear leather pants? If so, count me out!
- Bobbi Newman
The only rockstars in librarianship are the Dutch Boys. That's because they have accents, leather jackets and groupies.
- Rochelle Rochelle
And they travel around the country in a van and are a little older than you might expect.
- s t e v e
Kendra, if I could be the Cometbus of libraries, I'd be a very happy man.
- s t e v e
I think you're not far off. I don't know who I'd want to be. Not really Jesse Michaels, not Dr Frank, I'll go for my gut and my heart and want to be the Dallas Denery of the library world. It's totally achievable.
- Kendra <3 Three Lions
I'm a studio player. No fame, but a moderately steady paycheque.
- DJF
Not too hard to guess, Steve. I know my age peers when I see 'em.
- Rochelle Rochelle
And, you know, not all of us are wildly in love with the Dutch Boys. (Ducks and runs away.)
- Walt Crawford
no need to run away, Walt. that is a-okay in my thread!
- holly
we need more rockstars in education, seriously.. we need people who can do their jobs amazingly, achieve impact and influence our wider system
- Holly Rae
Ok, going back on myself a little: I like a little rockstar now and then. And the Dutch guys seem like pretty decent ones. They give real interviews where they give their subjects time to talk. They seem to get librarians generally feeling good about libraries and the work we do. I'm eating meringue cookies as I type this: I can't live on meringue cookies, but I don't have to.
- s t e v e
that's cool, Steve. I know lotsa people like 'em, they just don't do it for me. kinda like cilantro. and licorice.
- holly
HOW AWESOME WOULD IT BE IF THAT *WAS* PRINCE?
- s t e v e
Well, I was running away to logoff and get lunch. To clarify: Not in love with means what it says. I see what they're doing, they seem like decent folks...but I also noticed the way they managed to treat apparently-non-rockstars as invisible in at least one social setting, navigating automatically to The Hot Folks. Which is OK, but doesn't require my admiration. But, as you suggest, nothing wrong with rockstars...once in a while.
- Walt Crawford
This is from David Lee King who I DO like, and who I like more than other people who I would have expected to say something like this (and who will remain nameless).
- Mike
David Rothman - I'm the doofus who wrote this. Cool - lots of interesting comments for my impending blog post!
- David Lee King
But here's what I mean - my library's communication specialist originally said this when a ref lib was worried that something was a bit too much about her (meaning her name and pic were attached). Cm Spec said "yep - my goal is to make YOU the rockstar, not me."
- David Lee King
Meaning - our librarians ARE (well, or should be) a valued resource in the community. Let's take that 1 step further - have people ask for us, want to follow our writing in our library blog posts, want to attend our classes, etc.
- David Lee King
I've heard a manager tell an employee they were a rockstar before (but it kind of sounded like a derogative statement) -as in you put yourself too far out there on the stage.-and- yo should try to do more workwork instead
- JSNFLMNG
people don't friend brands or books. They friend people. Interesting people. People who call each other doofuses (oh wait - silly barb alert). Want your library to start getting noticed in your town? Start getting out, doing stuff, letting people know your names, etc.
- David Lee King
Lester Public Library's director does that - he's got a column in their local newspaper! People know him.
- David Lee King
So that's where I was headed with those thoughts. Now, you can continue rolling eyes if you need to :-)
- David Lee King
pssshaw...let me show you how to be a Rockstar Librarian. You can help me trash my room in a drunken blackout at CiL.
- Rev. Dr. W!cKeD Rock
who's gonna the gg allin of librarians? this community needs that sort of rebel.
- Kendra <3 Three Lions
DLK, here's my actual, sincere response: As a librarian, I don't want to be a rockstar, to be ogled from afar and immortalized on an impossible pedestal for doing flashy, sexy things. I want to be respected, valued, and appreciated for the real contributions that I make to my community, and remembered for those things. Alternately, I'd like to be Angelina Jolie. Either would be fine.
- Jenica
Jenica - that's fair. And I think that there's a large group of librarians that want that. There are others who would rather the community focused on the library's resources, rather than on them personally. And that's just wrong, because the librarian is an amazing resource for the community.
- David Lee King
Hi David! Reading over this, I feel pretty good about my contribution. Certain libraries in certain communities may need a "rock star"--someone who looks good on TV, who can sum up what the library is about in a memorable chorus. In my community, I think the more down-to-earth, DIY punk/hippie thing is a better way to think about it--someone you can share a joke with, ask a stupid question of, someone who will say "wow, I have no idea how to answer your question! That's neat!"
- s t e v e
I don't know that it's "just wrong," David. The library is bigger than I am. It was here before I came along & it will be here after I go. I think I'm a pretty cool guy, but honestly, the library & all of my coworkers are much better resources than I am. Yes, I would rather the focus be on my library & everyone who works here than on me.
- josh neff, geek at large
Josh - that's cool. But even then, you are focusing on the people rather than on the stuff, which is what I'm getting at.
- David Lee King
Well, it's both. I mean, we're all good resources, but so are our books, DVDs, periodicals, databases, etc. Plus our comfy seating, our public computers, our wifi. It's the whole shebang.
- josh neff, geek at large
Steve - that works. Someone else said "I'm more of a superhero" above, and Jenica said "valued contributor of community" ... Again, just thinking out loud, but I think some of this is similar to what I'm meaning. It's quite possible that using "rockstar" pushed some buttons (I'm apparently good at that sometimes).
- David Lee King
Josh - B&N has that. Except for the databases. What's the diff?
- David Lee King
Heh, that you are! Naw, I get it--the question seems to be "are your librarians active and known as librarians in your community, and how important is that?" And if you don't know the diff between B&N and the library, I can't help you.
- s t e v e
Ye - that's what I'm sayin. And yes, I DO know the diff. But I think it's the librarians that make the difference. We arrange the stuff, we help find it, we teach about it, etc. A library's much more than it's stuff, I think.
- David Lee King
David, I've worked for Borders & I've worked for public libraries, & I guarantee, it's not just the librarians that make them two different places to work or patronize.
- josh neff, geek at large
Wondering if I'm more of a Keith Emerson (cult ultratalented prog-rocker) than a Keith Richards (mega-superstar).
- Mike
You got me there Josh - I've never worked there. Just know two people now who have or did. Interestingly, the other one plays bass in local KC bands ... and wants to become a librarian, too. ohshootIbroughtitbacktotherockstarsagain!
- David Lee King
DLK: like a church is much more than the building people worship in and the book they read out of? A pastor (insert religious figurehead here) can fire up a church, and members of the church can be beacons of kindness etc... and it is more of a community of information sharing/gathering working together in unison
- JSNFLMNG
Jason - yep - that's a good analogy, too. Wow. So far, we have rockstars, superheroes, pastors, and valued contributors. And doofuses.
- David Lee King
I think it's the mission of the library and the mission of the bookstore that make them so different. Competent people in each can make both of them important parts of the community. Yes, we think more of Powells or the Tattered Cover or something when we think of a bookstore as a valued member of the community, but I think a chain store in a town that hasn't had a decent bookstore can...
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- s t e v e
Speaking of which, I am going to the Tattered Cover tonight for a book signing...
- Joe
Besides librarians (rockstar & non-rockstar), libraries offer access to free information & entertainment, free literacy resources, free classes, free internet access (not just wifi, but computers for those who don't have their own) & free space. I worked at Borders while I was in library school & right after I graduated. No matter how much of a librarian I was at heart & in behavior,...
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- josh neff, geek at large
Josh - I get that. Really, I do. You say "I believe in the mission of libraries & what they have to offer a community." My earlier thought was this - One thing libraries DO have that they tend to not focus on much (or market) is their staff. We tend to promote the class & the resource before we promote the person behind the class or resource. So I agree with you, but I'm thinking about it from a different angle right now.
- David Lee King
If I hadn't just finished the first draft of an absurdly long Making it Work/Philosophy essay, I'd be tempted to snatch this whole thread for use there...some really good stuff being said here. (I grew up Methodist, and if we had rockstar ministers, they'd be snatched away by other congregations with greater pull at the Conference level, where assignments were made...)
- Walt Crawford
I have to think most everyone here's right. I want to be the earnest contributor, but a large part of my job as director is to be The Voice and The Face. We have to humanize our services as much as we have to build good services...
- Jenica
David, can you tell me which libraries are keeping their staff hidden? Because every library I've worked at has had staff doing community outreach & regular patrons who got to know which staff member was good at what. If you look at my library's website, you'll see staff promoted all over the place. Now, most libraries I've been at have promoted services & collections *first*, but you...
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- josh neff, geek at large
Josh - well, your library is an exception, cause y'all rock (oops - sorry about that :-). I haven't seen many libraries hide librarians (though I do know some, and won't name them) ... but I HAVE seen plenty of librarians hide themselves. Hide themselves behind their stuff, their fears of standing in front of people, their fears of being known (even in my library, just the fact that we...
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- David Lee King
Oh sure, I've seen that, too. Putting pics of our staff up on our website wasn't met with universal enthusiasm. But not everyone *wants* to be in the spotlight. Not everyone *wants* to be a rockstar. Is that really a problem?
- josh neff, geek at large
Well ... yeah. I DO think that's a problem. And here's how I'd spin that - a library wants to go in a new direction. Change their name, put faces, names, etc on the website. Go out in the community to attract people to the library and it's stuff (I'm thinking of my recent trip to anythink libraries in the denver area here). If some staff aren't on board ... well, they're not meeting the...
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- David Lee King
Interesting. I have long said that I don't think everyone has to be a "2.0 librarian" or whatever you want to call it, but that everyone does have to accept that libraries are changing and the status quo won't last long. So they don't all have to be guitar heroes, but if the library is going that way, they don't have the right to undermine those kinds of people and programs once they are in place.
- s t e v e
I think several of you have made excellent points. I agree with DLKing that libraries need to be as present in their communities as possible, though I would argue that there are different "rockstar curves" (if I may coin a pointless phrase) for different libraries, in the sense that some libraries may have every staff member interacting regularly and thoroughly with the public. Others...
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- Louise Alcorn
In response to something Josh said, I've really struggled here with some of our staff, who are technically front-line staff, but who, given the opportunity, will keep from interacting with the public except at a bare minimum. A pleasant minimum, but still less than we could do. This is not unusual in libraries, as far as I can tell from what I hear from my colleagues. It takes a really...
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- Louise Alcorn
I'm certainly not arguing that working on the "front lines" isn't a public service job. But why, exactly, is it a problem if some staff don't want to be "rockstars"? I mean, I understand, David, that you think it's a problem. I just don't see *why* you think it's a problem. As long as they're not undermining the other staff, as Steve said, what's the problem with having some staff who...
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- josh neff, geek at large
Why? I'll try to answer. I think that "quietly doing their jobs" = complacency and falling into a traditional rut, which = death for the library. Never a good thing - in libraries, in any industry. The book Good to Great talks about that. But I also agree with Louise - this depends on the library and their goals. I also like what she said about "audience." I read somewhere that in a...
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- David Lee King
Wow. That makes me sad. Quietly & effectively doing your job is "complacency & falling into a traditional rut"? And that means "death for the library"? I don't see that at all. I certainly don't think that the key to library success is "be more like me."
- josh neff, geek at large
Just telling you what lots and lots of librarians have told me. For them, "quietly doing their jobs" = no one stepping up to the plate to do the next thing (whatever that thing is) or (even worse) hoping no one notices them so they can minimally function at their job then go home. Effectively? Not sure you CAN be effective AND quiet... depends on what you mean by quiet. Doesn't share ideas at meetings? Doesn't ever have new ideas but still answers questions? What do you mean by quiet and effective?
- David Lee King
See, when I think "rock star", I think about the librarians who have lots of speaking/preso gigs, or a whole lot of exposure beyond their community base, and that the quiet & effective folks we're mentioning just do their jobs and dont go on the circuit as much. And the quiet and ineffective ones need to go or be retrained. But that's my understanding.
- Archangel ωαřмaiden
I mean not putting yourself in the spotlight, not acting like the fish dudes, but when a patron comes in needing help, you help them. When something needs to be done, you do it, not with a lot of flash, you just get it done. If you have ideas, you share them, but what if you don't have any ideas? At my library, I see a lot of good, qualified people who do their jobs but don't make a lot...
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- josh neff, geek at large
Sometimes "great" is "coming up with a brilliant new way of doing something." And sometimes "great" is "cleaning up puke, because goddammit, someone needs to do it."
- josh neff, geek at large
Maybe I read your "quiet and effective" statement wrong. Sorry if I did! We might be talking about 2 different things here. Hope so! If they're quiet, and do their jobs well - that's wonderful. I'm certainly not meaning everyone has to be an extrovert! Heck, I'm a huge wallflower. But if they're quiet and don't speak up at a meeting (part of their job IS participating at a meeting) but then complaining about it later... that's something else entirely.
- David Lee King
And I agree with your "puke" thing - in both cases, the person went the extra mile.
- David Lee King
Of course, David, but I didn't think by "rockstar" you meant "someone who speaks up in meetings, instead of staying quiet but grumbling about it later."
- josh neff, geek at large
My point was, just because you're not a "rockstar" in your community doesn't mean you're a bad librarian.
- josh neff, geek at large
DLK- A doofusy thing is a doofusy thing, no matter who says it. Everyone says 'em. The internet just makes 'em widespread and permanent. I'd like to add that if your ambition as a LIS talking head is to evoke reaction, I strongly suggest pursuing more useful and meaningful ambitions. Your constant message seems to be "do more, be better," - and I love that- but the way that you sometimes say it (hyperbole, radical oversimplification, self-promotion) spoils the appeal of the message for me.
- David Rothman (☤)
Agreed. But I also think that there's a pretty wide space between being a good librarian and being a community "rockstar" that could be explored a bit more by libraries... that's all.
- David Lee King
A couple of comments. First of all, this seems to me to be pretty well the same conversation as all those SLA/ASKPro threads. Who are and what do we do, is there and "old" way vs a "new" way.
- John Dupuis
Know what? Twitter is lousy for nuance. The role of the librarian perhaps deserves more nuance than terms like "rockstar."
- David Rothman (☤)
David Rothman - to each his own. My goal isn't to evoke reaction (though I do that). It's always been to toy with ideas in my head, to share, and to see what others think. OTher people come along for the ride, whether or not they agree, and that's cool
- David Lee King
And I must say - you didn't say "doofusy thing" - You said "what doofus wrote this, Holly?" I agree with your doofusy thing comment. The other? Not so much.
- David Lee King
Second, I think a lot of the discomfort with the Rockstar term has to do with authenticity. When we think rockstar, we think of people who are clearly deluded (ie. Ozzy) and people who are famous for the sake of being famous or who want to be rockstars to show up everyone else or just to show off. I don't think this attracts more librarians or, in fact, most people, when it comes to how they do their jobs. People want to be authentic in their public personas, not something false and uncomfortable.
- John Dupuis
John - you're right, and with my original thoughts, I wasn't going for deluded or fake! I'd just heard the statements more than once and was saying them "out loud." Yes - authenticity is hugely important - we can't be taken seriously otherwise.
- David Lee King
At the same time, it's vitally important for librarians to be deeply connected to their communities, to be involved and visible. But I think the message here is that people want to be the Laurence Lessig or Clay Shirky of their library community outreach, not the Ozzy Osbourne or the Jon & Kate.
- John Dupuis
DLK- sorry, but get over it. You say you wanted to evoke reaction. Fine, here's my reaction: it was a ridiculous thing to say. I didn't know who said it, just that it was ridiculous. I stand by that estimation. Yay! You evoked reaction- so stop portraying hurt feelings over it. If you aren't ready to receive disagreement and criticism, I strongly suggest not constantly posting your opinions online where they are subject to criticism.
- David Rothman (☤)
DLK, that's great, it's just that you're never going to evoke an image of authenticity if you're talking about rockstars. Except for maybe Springsteen, but that's another thread.
- John Dupuis
David - whatever. I disagree. No hurt feeling here - just pointing out what you said. Seriously - I love it when people disagree on my blog, in FF, in twitter, etc. But name-calling, even to anonymous people, is simply not cool. The "reaction" I meant from my original tweet was to say something and have people respond - not to see if I could get anyone riled.
- David Lee King
John - yeah, I think you're right. Interestingly, people like Clay Shirky are called rockstars...
- David Lee King
Several of the libraries I've worked with have been well served to keep some of their librarians hidden. On the other point - I totally want to be the Ozzy Osbourne of Libraryland. lmao In fact, going forward, I'd like to be referred to as the 'Prince of Darkness'. Seriously though, David, 'Rockstar' has connotations in the profession now...as in Colleen's (warmaiden's) definition. So, I think perhaps this is somewhat at the root of this long discussion. *wanders off mumbling*
- Rev. Dr. W!cKeD Rock
Yep, you are correct I'm thinking, oh Prince of Darkness :-) Bad choice of words on my part.
- David Lee King
David, true about Shirky, but I'm thinking more along the lines of contrasting *wanting* to be a rockstar rather than ending up as one -- although I can only guess at other people's true motivations, of course. Rev D, I was thinking more Ozzy 2009 rather than Ozzy 1975...and I'm afraid I don't know Colleen's rockstar definition -- is there a reference?
- John Dupuis
John - it's in this thread somewhere ... look for The Archangel ωαřмaiden
- David Lee King
DLK- Again: get over it. It was a doofusy thing to say and I didn't know who said it. I revise my original statement: "What individual said this ridiculously doofusy thing?" Better?
- David Rothman (☤)
David Rothman - nothing to get over, but yeah - that's better. But really, I much prefer the name a patron called me a month or two ago - "sarcastic library nazi." That is a name worth a couple of giggles, at least :-)
- David Lee King
Cecily - wow - that's a cool project! Yes, I think that would qualify (though I'm starting to shy away from "rockstar" a bit :-). But yes - being a human, a face, an actual person... that's what I'm trying to get at, I think
- David Lee King
DLK- You seriously prefer to be called a Nazi than a doofus? Wow. Just: Wow.
- David Rothman (☤)
oh stop it. It was a joke about a stupid name someone called me who was WAY off her rocker. we chuckled about it at my lib, after everyone agreed that I'm pretty much the exact opposite of a nazi. Sheesh.
- David Lee King
I think the discussion is useful here. The level of snark and one-upsmanship some of the comments have though is frustrating. But I'd advise a few of us to take a chill right about now. Figuring out what is best for libs is what this is all about in the long run.
- Michael Porter
I'm a rock star, but I want to live like common people. I want to do whatever common people do.
- Meg v. Meg v. 1.0.0.1
OK, I thought I could close it out, but since there are more comments, I'm gonna say this: While I often disagree with David Lee King about this kind of thing--the emphases he places, the language he uses, the value of "getting reactions"--I respect that he's happy to come in here and talk about it without getting too worked up or personal about it, even when we've been snarky. I think that's pretty cool.
- s t e v e
Late to the party, but I also fully agree with Steve's last statement.
- Walt Crawford
I was gonna go with Meg FTW, but good point Steve ;)
- JSNFLMNG
I love this conversation, snark, silliness and all. P.S. I like to think of myself as a roadie. I do a lot of grunt work, but without me, the show doesn't happen. And I still get to take chicks back to my hotel. Er, dudes, whatever.
- Rochelle Rochelle
As I said on Twitter 5 mins after DLK's post - we should be working to make our users Rock Stars, not ourselves
- Kathryn says love n peace
Greg looks a little like he's working some bitchlips rather than a prelude to a kiss ...
- Laura Norvig
I'm going to use this one for my presentation it's too good to pass up on :)
- Sir Shuping
rofl! I can't recall who took this shot! I just gave 'emmy camera and said, "Watch this! (and take a bunch of pics)." Good times for sure. :)
- Michael Porter
Honestly - as far as I knew, it was just me and MP. Then Greg called my name, I turned - and I didn't know that Jessamyn was in the photo until I saw it on Flickr. Not that I have ever seen this photo or have any knowledge of its existence...D.E.N.I.A.L
- Kathryn says love n peace
Dearly Beloved Hive Mind: I have a student who wants to know how many lakes and rivers there are in the United States. I am not finding a source for this. I suspect part of the problem is that lakes and rivers may be variously defined. I welcome your suggestions. Thanks!
tell 'em there is no good reason for them to need to know that. Alternately, point them to google earth. (Seriously, I'll think about this, though my first answer is also a good one.)
- s t e v e
Over 800? http://www.worldatlas.com/webimag... (note, this was pure laziness in searching - I googled US River Atlas.) We also have in print the USGS "National atlas. Surface water" - so Stephen has a likely point with the USGS site.
- ÉllbeeÇee
thank you, people! as a side note, regarding the earlier FF conversation about who should be at the reference desk, I've been on the ref desk since 1:00 pm, have been working my ass off and have had only one directional or technical question. everything else has been serious reference. make of this what you will.
- marthalib
Hmm, everything I'm finding has to do with rainfall, surface water, and the like, not numbers of rivers and lakes.
- s t e v e
I'd actually suggest the World Book Encyclopedia entries for rivers and lakes. I'll go check here in just a minute.
- laura x
Okay, so I think this student is trying to make an argument how there will be lots of demand for his hypothetical bait company and wants to support this, in part, by saying there are x number of rivers and lakes. Maybe this isn't really relevant. What should I steer him towards? Something about fish habitats? Sorry, my brain has shut off.
- marthalib
Maybe one tack he could take is that because of rising food costs, people will fish more?
- Laura H.
Yeah, dude needs sport fishing stats or something.
- s t e v e
I'd have him look for numbers on how many people fish (and how many of them use what sort of bait, since fishing with worms and such is different from fly-fishing). And he might want to think about fishing as sport vs. fishing for food, too.
- laura x
And just a basic thought on this question in general: it comes down to language: what is the difference between a lake and a pond - is that difference clearly defined?; a river and a stream or a creek? Those considerations always have an impact on general (and often impossible) requests for stats like this (and can be used to steer such ill-defined requests in a more profitable direction)
- Dana Longley
Dana, I usually just say "why the hell do you want to know that?"
- s t e v e
LOL. I'm more of a long-winded airbag when it comes to that stuff I guess :-)
- Dana Longley
Dana, I suspect that is exactly why the original question was so difficult to answer :)
- marthalib
Dr House's first rule of reference: Never believe the patron when they ask for information. This is why god invented the reference interview.
- DJF
I know, David, I know. *hangs head* Thank goodness you all were here to set me straight (so to speak)!
- marthalib
today on the desk I got a lot of good questions. One woman asked me how to search PubMed for articles that were published in a particular journal. I showed her how to do that, and was just about to ask why she wanted to do that when she volunteered that her prof had told her to find an article published in that particular journal. So, working within the (stupid) parameters of an assignment.
- DJF
I just emailed your question to Wolfram's librarian and asked if Alpha can answer this. Will update you ASAP
- Eric Sizemore
Alas...."No, Alpha can't do that. The number of lakes and rivers in the US (and world, for that matter) is insane. Download data files from the USGS: http://geonames.usgs.gov/domesti... There is a "lake" feature type, but not one for rivers. Load the data files into a database and filter by the "feature type" or whatever field. There is no doubt somebody at the USGS that can answer the river question. -a
- Eric Sizemore
There are 714 of both. I know, it sounds crazy, but its true! Just ask me!
- Michael Porter
714? Is this some sort of secret OCLC knowledge?
- marthalib
Update: I talked to the patron again today. He is now focusing on finding information about worms, which will be the bait he sells via his hypothetical bait business. He also liked the sport fishing report and I sent him another report about fishing (http://www.census.gov/prod...). I also talked him through searching for info about the bait industry in the business...
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- marthalib
I love group answers to tricky reference questions. srsly.
- Stephanie_Happy2010!
My Wolfram buddy is here, and tells me that his initial check of USGS showed 860+ lakes in Illinois alone. For some reason, river isn't a feature type - he also said not to quote any of this shit, cause he's "had a headache all day, and doesn't need any more of your bullshit ref questions, Eric"
- Eric Sizemore
UPDATE: My compulsive Wolfram buddy, despite his protests, just went to USGS, and found "stream" which seems to be the feature type....just for kicks, searched Illinois for "streams" (there is NO "all US" option)....and gave up after several minutes of watching an hourglass spin....
- Eric Sizemore
That's a choice I can't make for you, Michael. (This was the dress I'd worn in my sister's wedding, so it really was just an off the rack nice dress. Would have been totally fine if all of my side of the family hadn't *just* seen me in it... but such is life for one who doesn't shop for clothes ever.)
- Imitation lris
I do though think that it would be wiser for a library to have a larger institutional communication policy rather than a policy specific to an individual tool like Twitter, facebook, freindfeed, etc. Those tools will wax and wane and have shifting levels of cultural relevancy, but a larger, carefully thought out staff communication policy would...
That was my answer back to a friend/colleague concerning a question about writing a staff Twitter use policy. Any feedback (beyond bad grammar or spelling?)
- Michael Porter
Thanks guys, I always want to double check when I doll out advice or recommendations for things that are opinions based on observation rather than opinions based on direct experience doing the thing I'm talking about, you know?
- Michael Porter
Reference question time: Either Rolling Stone or Spin (& some corporate sponsor I cant remember) donated several full recording studios 2 small colleges around the US. Pretty sure this was in the last 2 years. Looking for details about that program and the locations of the studios. And then, of course, I may have my "facts" all wrong. Naturally! :)
I'm pretty sure they were donated to colleges, but might not be limited to that type of institution. Hopefully your search won't turn back this result (like mine did): http://sadtrombone.com/
- Michael Porter
I love that Bret, Paul, and Kevin checked in. They probably are looking at their screens and asking "what do we do now?" how about ship some new features before Facebook overlords take you off to do bigger things?
- Robert Scoble
from iPhone
I feel sorry for all you addicts. My use of it is purely social.
- Bruce Lewis
I do like FF and use it almost every day. Wouldn't it be great if FB either left it alone so we can continue to use it as "professionals," or somehow incorporate it into a more "mature" version of FB that didn't have all the annoying, time-wasting apps, games, etc. I'd much prefer a totally customizable FF "wall."
- Cathryn Hrudicka
I think FFundercats HO!!!!! would have worked but I'm here anyways.
- Jimminy Fuller
Actively fighting addiction to anything on a daily basis, but I'm still a FriendFeed fan! (I'd have been here sooner but I've been staring at Phoebe Cates pics for longer than I realized.)
- Mark "Mr Bolivious" J
Thank you Robert Scoble to be here. :) BTW is this looks interesting for FF replacement? : http://streamy.com/ ? May be... I'll try it to see. :)
- Claude LaFrenière
Why should I? Whats in it for me? You doing some sort of survey of people to send out the police to do a "Safety Check" on when the site is shutdown?
- CW™
here. anecdote: a friend of mine just signed up for FF this evening. apparently the FriendFeed hype of the last 24 hours pushed him over the top. leaves me wondering whether FF has actually gained users today?it would be a crafty way of marketing the service. I'll wake up tomorrow to discover that there was a problem with the paperwork and the FriendFeed team have had a change of heart.
- JSLeFanu
from BuddyFeed
Count me in even though I was just starting to get hooked. I guess it's time to find a rehab and get all sobered up until the next relapse with some other new addiction. Isn't life grand?
- Usman Bashir
oh hey, look, the added an "add comment" link to the end of the comment list. Huzzah!
- Brett Kelly
from iPhone
++Jay. I was going to do the same thing yesterday but I didn't want to pay the money.
- David Cook - 2010!!!
David -- this was a $9.95 session but you can get them for $7.95 and there are also 25% off coupons if you do online check-in prior to your Delta flight. That's an incentive for folks to use that service and offload kiosk use at the terminals. Very savvy marketing by the folks at GoGo and Delta combined.
- Jay Cuthrell
well, it's 12:12 a.m. and I'm perusing FF from my iPhone via BuddyFeed before turning in. so yeah, I guess I count. "Here!" (raises hand)
- Don Faulkner
from BuddyFeed
I recommend FF to some of my clients, and there are some companies and nonprofits with presences here—not like Twitter, but I'll be curious how that will be affected when FB takes over more. Most have FB fan pages, groups and/or causes, too.
- Cathryn Hrudicka
Yeah, me too. I just saw the request to have a comment link at the bottom of the comments from one of your friends just yesterday and here it is. I'd say they are listening. Thanks FF.
- Keith Rowland
И так чятег, пока Скобл не поговорит с нами представителями СовиетФрендфидика, все мои записи теперь можно читать в этом тредике. Пользуясь случае передаю Парню Бухайту и его команде большой привет, в связи с тем что [He can has sleep naw].
- ideali
превед кетаец! давай сегодня сделаем тебя счастливым!
- Махатма Бугоганди
точно! поэт, пародист, переводчик. известный блоггер.
- Махатма Бугоганди
я вчера был в издательстве, с меня сведения об авторе просят. давайте, говорят, напишем, где учился, что генеральный директор. и что известный блоггер.
- Махатма Бугоганди
а можно получить профессию известного блоггера? какие экзамены сдавать надо? какую специализацию лучше выбрать - микроблоггинг или аудиоподкастинг?
- Махатма Бугоганди
Один чувак пришол в чятег и говорит я известный блоггер кто тут тру на первый второй рассчитайсь. А ему говорят чувак у тебя сертификат есть что ты известный блоггер? Вот иди Зайке экзамен сдай потом приходи. А Зайка стоит такой с топором и улыбается. Щас думает счастливым его сделаю.
- Махатма Бугоганди
Я потерял интерес в данный момент. Я буду скрывать, как и любой другой. Это хромой, что вы захватили этот. Пивные правила. Спокойной ночи. :-)
- Matthew Horton
More than a friend of FriendFeed, was starting to use it as a full lifestreaming platform and loved it. It's made a whole lot of other sites make sense.
- achean
Hi, I'm Bette... I don't know if I'm an addict, but I can't stay away... I keep checking, just to see if something's new... and I cry if I get no responses to a post. Is that addictive behavior? :D
- Bette Cooper
Yup, I have blocked all the impersonators now. You will still see them, but I don't see them and they no longer can comment on any of my items.
- Robert Scoble
@scobleizer As far as I can see you have blocked not only the impersonators (who renamed themselves back the moment they found out you have a problem with this) but most of the folks who chatted there.
- Махатма Бугоганди
@meatreach yes, see next thread. Scobble becomes anti-Russian.
- Never Impersonate You
Maxatma: well, that's just too bad. I speak English. Sorry. People who don't speak English really don't have any business commenting on one of my items, except in rare cases.
- Robert Scoble
Why you, Robert Scoble, don't block users from Spain or Italy? China or arabic countries? Those users that comments on non-English languages?
- Never Impersonate You
@Robert, in fact they do speak English. But they also do make fun of Friendfeed and everything that's going on there. You can block them or take part in this fun. ;)
- Махатма Бугоганди
I prefer FF over twitter and facebook, but all my friends are on twitter and/or facebook. Maybe facebook will get it right this time now that it has acquired FF. If they simplify it a bit more without removing functionality. Then I would spend a bit more time on FB. Lets hope all goes well with the merger. If not I'm jumping ship and going over to Google Wave. oh wait, I'm going to go with Google Wave regardless! ;-)
- Captain Jack
Bu arada Russian friends Turkiye'ye selamlar gonderiyor.
- ideali
@scobleizer i can speak english and i beg you to remove bann from all russian friendfeeders, because we are all from it-community, working in internet companies and we came with peace, you asked for feedback from friendfeed addicts — we show you how really it is being frf addicts, we change names, we chat, we making things that are not serious. Why so serious? Unlock people, they are not bots, they just playing the game of real addicts and have fun. Common.
- ideali
shaun: I started this post to demonstrate that a lot of us are still here and aren't likely to leave. At least not quickly. So, life goes on after FriendFeed gets acquired by Facebook. Point proved.
- Robert Scoble
Robert He says ; Our Russian friends say to hello to Turkey
- Osman Üngür
ideali: have them send email to scobleizer@gmail.com and I'll unblock anyone who says they weren't impersonating me.
- Robert Scoble
Hector: good morning! I need coffee.
- Robert Scoble
@robert yes they (we will) stay here, I think tat the migration process will take time and after reading @Paul Bucheit, I think that what we all are trying to get even if we don't say it explicitly is to preserve a kind of intimacy (beeing a part of the Huge faceBook community) don't mean that FF community will preserve their intimacy, why should a community be a plan one, (let imagine a community as a set of sub-community) that all.
- abdellah
Wow!! So many likes and comments; is it a record Rob?
- میر «عرفان» موسوی
@scobleizer thank you, for understanding. be cool, guys we just want have fun here a little. Take care.
- ideali
@Robert RE "I have enough noise in my life. I don't need to have more" - isn't it a lot of noise having 26K subscriptions and 46K subscribers on your frf account? I'm kind of surprised - you create a community that large around yourself, yet when you see a new and unusual activity you just block it right away.
- Махатма Бугоганди
@Robert, patience? Who's talking about patience? It's about curiosity, not patience. When something strange and unusual happens around you, you can either try to stop it or try to see what it can develop into. You choose to stop - and it stopped. Well, not stopped - just moved to some other place. And do you really know what it was and what it was about to bring you?
- Махатма Бугоганди
I'm here all the way from South Africa! I dig this service and I'm not quite ready to give it up. Regardless of the news about the acquisition, this remains an awesome service.
- Paul Jacobson
I'm new to ff but find more valuable information here than anywhere else!
- Janet Crance
I don't know how I rate my addiction relative to others, but I shared Hitler's reaction upon hearing the acquisition news (despite happiness for Paul and Bret)
- Chris Duffy
I'm sure this is part of Scoble's plot to poll all the people who really read his posts, and unfollow the rest. So I raise my hand.
- Shivanand Velmurugan
Just a wannabe. Not an addict (yet).
- Carole Hicks
It might also be a way for me to filter down my "following" count (diff (my followers, scoble)) are the only people I really need to follow. Those that scoble follows, I can safely unfollow and use Scoble as my social media filter :)
- Shivanand Velmurugan
pardon the arrogance but it really sucks this great forum of sharing will turn into a myspace humdrum. Now I have to find another SM where first adopters and well informed techies won't haft to compete with general "noise"
- earl wallace
Well, here's a comment I can later delete and rob the owner of 1500!
- Matthew DeVries
I just mention the 1500 mark since it was such an iconic query to see... that and the 500 Likes club of FF posts. It's pretty exclusive stuff... but it's also sobering to note that the subject matter required to get to these levels isn't always a uniform mix of cares/concerns.
- Jay Cuthrell
When I heard the FaceBook news, I tried to quit FriendFeed and I couldn't... I'M HOOKED
- The Web's Wendell Wittler
i clicked the "1488 more comments" and my computer nearly exploded. and yes, i am using an amiga 500.
- jack
Now that I have instructions (thanks LouisGray) and figured out my Bookmarklet! I am LOVING the ease of use! addict - not quite...
- Robyn Hawk
Actually, I lied. I am not a die-hard friendfeed fan. I desperately want to be but have just not been able to get into a good "feeding" rhythm. Maybe I need to add some more friends
- Anant Gairola
I don't need to be addict. I'm just here, everyday, absorbing so many geeky info :D There's no place like FF
- Lysender
I'm still with ya, Robert. Whatever FB paid for FF, it wasn't enough!
- Donald C. Lindsay
New here, but learning. Tips for best use?
- Barbara Langham
@bdlangam From my perspective the #1 tip in this category is: Explore and define "best use" for yourself. Despite potential "finishing" impression of some productive consolidations in this collective-collaborative cognition space, the emergent #cognosphere is still WAY too nascent to assert anything other than initial impressions. March to the beat of your own drum; build your own...
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- michael silverton
yeah sorry, late. was at Shambhala Music Festival, I know tardy, sorry...
- sofarsoShawn
I'm getting hooked, still figuring it all out
- Michele McGraw
I think I do. Not enough contacts to make a impression.
- Michael Schlag
[disclaimer: heavy on the library folk, and lots I know personally to some degree. Also generally random order] Walt Crawford, Stephen Abram, David Pogue, you, Michael Stephens, Jessamyn West, Karen Schneider, Jenny Levine, David Lee King, Meg Canada
- Michael Golrick
First name that comes to mind is Clay Shirky. In the library world, I often look to Stephen Abram, Jessamyn West, David Lee King, Michael Stephens, and Karen Schneider.
- Toby Greenwalt
Outside of the library peeps, Cory Doctorow, Anil Dash, David Weinberger, Michael Wesch are my faves, although they focus mostly on tech & society/pop culture or edutech.
- valalalala lala la la
michael geist, danah boyd, ethan zuckerman
- jambina
Leo Laporte & Kevin Rose are a couple not mentioned already.
- Scott Childers
Many of the people already mentioned, as well as Jason Puckett (GSU), Jane Hart (Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies), and Stephen Downes (National Research Council of Canada)
- αnnα vαȵ scoyoç
Bill Buxton, danah boyd, Alice Marwick, Henry Jenkins, Jane McGonigal. As far as library folk, they have already been covered.
- Fiacre O'Duinn
Also Tim O'Reilly, David Pogue, MIT Technology Review, John Gruber. Depends a *lot* on what you mean by "technology." I don't really care much about gadgets.
- s t e v e
Also, Make magazine's attitude toward technology: "Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things."
- s t e v e
Jon Udell. Everyone at the Berkman Institute at Harvard.
- Stephen Francoeur
TED talks. Lastly, we pay too much attention to "thought leaders." (Time for me to get my own thread, I know.)
- s t e v e
Agree with Steve. Especially in these days where the amateur can be an expert, I find I'm learning from a much larger group of people -- and most of them *don't* have "big names."
- Meredith
Depends a lot on what you mean by technology thought leaders. Dana Longley is probably the most thorough at discovering new tools and creative about deploying them. henry Jenkins, TED talks, all good. On a more critical note, an awful lot of the big library names mentioned so far fall into a category I call cheerleaders, and I tune out the second their names come up...I want substance from my tech thinkers, and while support and enthusiasm are important, they don't make someone a leading thinker.
- RudĩϐЯaЯïan
Mostly, I am just doing a gut check here. It is very useful to hear who you all pay attention to tho, ty! Honestly, for me, it is my "cloud" of "friends" on ff, fb and twitter that I spend the most time with and pay the most attention too.
- Michael Porter
I am however, working on a juicy project and I need to talk with 3-4 very well connected industry "tech" types soon. In round one I need to talk to ppl that know ppl and tech, not necessarily the companies or programmers, engineers, etc (yet). That was the other big reason I asked (and really appreciate you all sharing!). So, pls keep the names coming! -and Lorcan ftw, Stephen :)
- Michael Porter
After Michael G's comment, I'm afraid to say anything--but, well, what Meredith sez and, to some extent, what Rudi sez (after "On a..."). So, sorry, I don't have a neat list, particularly one of Very Well Connected types. (There's Clifford Lynch, to be sure...and he does provide substance, not cheerleading.)
- Walt Crawford
I'd say if you think library bloggers are "thought leaders" in the area of technology, you are doin' it wrong. (Edited: Ah, that's too negative of a blanket statement. Blyberg's got a blog.)
- s t e v e
I don't know if I would call Robert Scoble a "thought" leader, but he does keep up with the newest technology...
- Joe
This thread reminds me of one of the best things about FriendFeed. There are great conversations everywhere in so many different places. In fact, most of these folks, I am not even following, but now I will check them out.
- Louis Gray
I try to keep the phrase "thought leaders" out of my phrase book.
- anna sauce
Library tech thought leaders? I think of Jessamyn West, danah boyd, Eli Neiburger, David Lee King, John Blyberg, Jason Griffey, Jason Clark, Karen Coombs, Karen Schneider, Marshall Breeding... I could go on. I also love David Pogue (NYT) - not in libraries, but he's cool still.
- Rachel Vacek
yup, "thought leaders" is a bit of an overdone/overblown phrase these days, but for me, I do enjoy Clay Shirky, Charlene Li, danah boyd, Beth Kanter. Following Scoble and Leo LaPorte's convos helps me keep up with tech in general.
- Laura Norvig
I think Robert Scoble is the only non-spammer I have ever "blocked" because his commentary on FF dives me batshit in a totally irrational way (i.e., it's not just him, it's me).
- s t e v e
I keep scobles posts in a separate feed from my "librarians" list. That way, I can see his stuff when I have time, but not every day, all day.
- Joe
from iPod
It is nbd, but I didn't rlly need library "thought leaders" (agreed a somewhat inaccurate and tired phrase) I asked for *technology* thought leaders (and then clarified that I wanted to hear about ppl who have access to the tru thought leaders aka the ppl that make the stuff we end up talking about and in some cases using). Still, this list is very useful and I am grateful for the feedback and conversation everyone! Thank you? Is there more?
- Michael Porter
I love this thread! I agree with a lot of the names on this list. I'd like to mention the people who I have learned the most from: Rudibrarian, Sujin Huggins, Ingbert FLoyd, Jenny Benevento, Michael Porter, Iris, David Lee King, David Rothman, my colleague Melissa Records, and when people ask me where they think things are going, I say, I don't know, see what Greg Schwartz is up to
- Eric Sizemore
You're very kind, Eric. Wrong, but very kind. :)
- David Rothman (☤)
NYT Tech Podcast and Circuits email for the Consumer stuff. Engaget and Lifehacker for the forward thinking tech stuff.
- ♫Geek in the 410♫
Maybe to whoever said that. Sure it is something to consider doing and then most likey do, but lets be honest, the net at large is more important.
- Michael Porter
Uhhh. . . I just don't even know where to start with that one. For what kinds of libraries? For which patrons? I'm having a hard time picturing the large print crowd clamoring for tiny characters on tiny screens.
- laura x
well, I also heard him say in a different presentation that he would not teach in a room that didn't have good cell phone access
- marthalib
Got to say, our uni students are pretty damn ecstatic about getting overdue notices by text messages, especially for 3-hour loans: it's cut down their fines a *lot*. (Though I concede they're also over the moon about 3-day pre-overdue notices by email.)
- Deborah Fitchett
Joe Murphy said it during the Handheld Librarian Conference today. I think he used the work "addition" to library services to imply that the net is already in place. Not sure. But I personally think Second Life is pretty low on the list....Sorry Steve.
- Rachel Vacek
I think Steve's Second Life comment was a joke :)
- marthalib
I'm a little slow on the uptake tonight. Thanks, martha. :-)
- Rachel Vacek
Heh, yeah. I think text messaging is probably more useful to libraries and their users than Second Life. When it come to texting, I could accept "most interesting area for some libraries to be exploring right now" or "area of greatest potential for growth of services" (even if that still sounds hyperbolic to me). But when Murphy says the above, realize that he has made a name for...
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- s t e v e
Yeah, I think Murphy's vastly overstating his case & making public his own particular fetish. My library is looking into some text messaging, but I think having a catalog that doesn't suck & providing people with valuable time on the internet is FAR more important.
- josh neff, geek at large
Having myself said some pretty grandiose things before, I'm not sure that Joe is wrong. Data backs him up...twice as many people in the world use txting over email. txting is more popular in the US than email. And mobile use is growing at rates that no other technology has ever seen.
- Jason Griffey
It's possible that I "just don't get it." It's also possible that when I see "of our time" I think back & forward 20-25 years and Murphy means from now until 2 years from now.
- s t e v e
Jason, national & global statistics don't mean that texting is the MOST important addition to ALL library services at ALL libraries. Even in a generally well-off place like Johnson County, KS, we have a lot of patrons who need hand-holding with the internet far more than they need services on cell phones. I'd rather bridge the digital divide, not make it wider.
- josh neff, geek at large
I'm all for offering services via text messaging, as well as other services and applications for mobile devices. I do think, however, that his statement shows a lack of perspective. Just too grandiose for me.
- marthalib
Joe Murphy's statement is like saying in 1983 that CDs are the info delivery medium of our time. Yes, they were important for 10-15 years, but I think cell phones and microblogging and voice to text recognition (and vice-versa) will merge in 10-15 years. Why focus on SMS? We just want to respond to our patrons using whatever method is right for them.
- Joe
from iPod
I don't have a problem with doing SMS services. I'm just in this weird position where I'm the techie person in my library--the one who says, "We have the website to serve *some* patrons, just as we have story time to serve *some* patrons and a large print collection to serve *some* patrons"--but I'm a librarian in a place where a lot of people still don't have cell phones. So, sure,...
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- laura x
I like that he talks about how librarians should be bolder at trying out new technologies, but comments about SMS being the Way, the Truth, and the Life are encouraging the opposite. It's giving illusions of "technological safety". And that's what many librarians want? Or that's the status quo, it seems. So his sentiments are going to be popular beyond any real potential of SMS as a...
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- Meg v. Meg v. 1.0.0.1
[I was waiting for MegvsMeg to weigh in, and was not disappointed.]
- s t e v e
Thanks everyone! The pics are about 2 months apart. The first is my nephew's Christening on June 7th the second one is from this morning.
- Mary Carmen
Don't let up, you are doing GREAT!!!!
- RAPatton
from iPhone
Fabulous!! May I ask what you are doing? I'm in need of losing weight as well...but your results are outstanding! Do share :)
- Becca
Im on weight watchers and ive been exercising about 90 minutes a day. I use my Wii Fit for about 45 mins every day and I do cardio at the gym.
- Mary Carmen
Anybody know any very punk rock looking ppl who would hold this "101" and send me a picture of it? We are going to have a short, fast, loud & fairly intense hardcore punk bridge in our "Library 101" song/video and are hoping some pictures of punkers or people who would be willing to parade as such (I know that makes the punk hate this, srry) join.