Hey! I Want to Do That Too! Gaming and the Elementary Age Child

This program was presented by Dr. Warren Buckleitner, a former elementary school teacher, current New York Times contributor, current adjunct assistant professor at NYU, and current editor of Children’s Technology Review. His presentation was on creating a media center, or Mediatech (like biblioteca), for a public library. Dr. Buckleitner split his presentation up into two parts:

1. the history of Mediatech at his library, and
2. selecting the right materials to create a Mediatech of one’s own.

During the first part, Dr. Buckleitner explained how he developed a Mediatech at the library where he lives (and is a library trustee) in Flemington, New Jersey. Luckily for Dr. Buckleitner, when he pitched the idea to “VIPs in town” and the library board in 1998, he faced no opposition. In 2000, he already had the support of an attorney, schools, and library trustees to create a non-profit organization and begin fundraising. By 2001, they decided on the library as the location of Mediatech, and the library board contributed a $100,000 trust to renovate the space. Mediatech opened on May 23, 2003, marking the anniversary of Charles Lindbergh’s nonstop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris.

Dr. Buckleitner’s media center has about eight computers, all of which were donated. Most of the games available at Mediatech were donated by Dr. Buckleitner, himself, as he writes reviews for them.

Reflection on My Third Day at ALA Annual 2008

Dr. Buckleitner was a very good speaker. His presentation was engaging and informative. He definitely knows about children and what they want. However, I don’t know how useful this program would have been for someone who attempted to set up a media center, faced opposition, and was looking for advice. Dr. Buckleitner’s story almost sounded like a fairy tale; everything important went the way it should have. There wasn’t a struggle, which is a common thing in public libraries in America… what with the budget cuts and libraries closing everywhere.

I think this program could have been more useful if the speaker presented strategies for succeeding in cases where not everything goes the way it should.

Kids and Ever-Cool: Find Them Together at Your Library

Gene Del Vecchio

The main speaker in this program was Gene Del Vecchio, author of such nonfiction works as Creating Ever-Cool: A Marketer’s Guide to a Kid’s Heart (1997), The Blockbuster Toy: How to Invent the Next Big Thing (2003), and young adult fiction like The Pearl of Anton (2004), and The Sword of Anton (2006). He has been in the business for 25 years, and his clients include such brands as Disney, Mattel, and Nestle. (“How many of you played with Barbie? I sold that to you!”)

The purpose of his lecture was to encourage children’s libraries to create a logo or brand that is as strong as McDonald’s golden arches or Target’s bulls-eye while making it cool and successfully fulfilling a basic emotional need. A formula for success at the library, Del Vecchio claims, is to satisfy a timeless emotional need and dress it up in a current trend or fad (while updating periodically). Here are some examples of brands that fulfill a basic emotional need:

• cereal that makes a child feel like a winner: Wheaties
• fashion doll stands for beauty: Barbie
• fashion doll stands for rebellion: Bratz
• yogurt that gives children control: Sprinkl’ins
• stuffed animal that gives children a sense of empowerment: Build-A-Bear
• candy that makes children feel brave: Warheads
• cereal that is about sensory gratification: Rice Krispies

One particularly striking part of his presentation involved his presentation of user needs survey results, wherein children provided their opinions on what would make a library better or cool. Some of those results were in the form of pictures, like one that had an ice cream stand, bean bag chairs, and music playing, with a very small corner of the room for books; another child had drawn a separate room for listening to music. Most of the children came to a general consensus: they wanted their libraries to adapt to what they were used to and expected. They wanted Barnes & Noble in their libraries.

Metadata Mashup: Creating and Publishing Application Profiles

Metadata Mashup

The speakers in this program discussed their application of metadata, as there are so many different competing metadata standards. One presenter, Melanie Feltner-Reichert, Director of the Digital Library Initiatives at the University of Tennessee, quoted:

Metadata is expected to follow existing and emerging standards in order to facilitate integrated access to multiple information providers over the Web. However, there are many new standards, and most of them are still under development. And it is rare that the requirements of a particular project or site can all be met by any one standard “straight from the box.” [1]

It is not likely that one metadata standard will accomplish everything a librarian intends to do with a project or site, so new metadata application profiles must be created to solve the problem. Metadata application profiles tailor complex schemas for project-specific usage. They allow the project stakeholders to cover all bases.

Another speaker, Arwen Hutt, Metadata Librarian at the University of California at San Diego, quoted:

Application profiles consist of data elements drawn from one or more namespace schemas combined together by implementors and optimised for a particular local application. Application profiles are useful as they allow the implementor to declare how they are using standard schemas. In the context of working applications where there is often a different between the schema in use and the “standard” namespace schema. [2]

Creating application profiles provides documentation for the changes made to the original schema. The document should include such fields as purpose, schemas used, specific elements used, etc.

Science Fiction and Fantasy: Looking at Information Technology and the Information Rights of the Individual

SciFi and Fantasy Authors

This program consisted of a panel of four science fiction and/or fantasy authors: Vernor Vinge, Brandon Sanderson, Eric Flint, and Cory Doctorow.

Vernor Vinge

Vernor Vinge, author of True Names: And the Opening of the Cyberspace Frontier (1984), A Deepness in the Sky (2000), Rainbows End (2006), and A Fire Upon the Deep (1993), spoke about open document standards, among other things, during his portion of the discussion. Vinge explained that open document standards are really important if we want to continue usage without the risks of licensing agreements and other copyright issues. Open document standards are the only things that can protect us against proprietary formats. Having open document standards provides us a way to migrate data forward in time; it prevents lock-in.

Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson is the author of works of fantasy such as Mistborn: The Final Empire (2006), Elantris (2005), The Well of Ascension: Book Two of Mistborn (2007), and Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians (2007). He explained that fantasy novels tend to utilize euchronias. (Euchronias are idealized past time periods, like steampunk and “merry old England.”) The characters in these works tend to be people who think more like modern people in order for the characters to be relevant to the audience. Fantasy novels tend to reminisce of the days when the scientist was seen as the wizard, someone relatable who could solve all problems. The fantasy works of recent years present a pattern that strongly corresponds with the recent desires of Americans: as a culture, we are interested in unification. These patterns are presented much less often through battle, and more often through the decimation of information. The information scientist or software engineer then becomes the wizard. They are the ones who can solve our problems.

Eric Flint

Eric Flint is an author of works in the science fiction and fantasy genres. His books include 1632 (2000), 1634: The Ram Rebellion (2006), The Grantville Gazette (2004), 1634: The Galileo Affair (2004), and 1635: The Cannon Law (2006). During his discussion, Flint presented his opinion of copyright:

• It should last 40 years.
• The “intellectual land-grab by giant corporations” through copyright “destroys writing.”
• Copyright should “protect the ability of writers to make a living,” and not do much more than that.

Flint explained that, in an effort to prove that providing access to his works does not negatively effect his sales, he posted one of his earliest works online, on his publisher’s website. The author found that this worked beyond his hypothesis, so he posted more.

It seems that people appreciate having both mediums available to them for different purposes. Those who read the work online tend to buy the work on paper anyway. (I feel the same about music; I like having both the MP3 and the physical album.)

Cory Doctorow

Cory Doctorow is a co-author of a blog I’ve been subscribing to for over four years, BoingBoing, and several books, including: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom (2003), Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town (2006), Eastern Standard Tribe (2004), A Place So Foreign and Eight More (2003), Overclocked: Stories of the Future Present (2007), and Little Brother (2008). During Doctorow’s presentation, he discussed how copying is not what the internet does best; it’s best for “collective action,” transmitting ideas, and creating “communities of practice.” Sharing ideas and information is essential. Science would not have been possible without it.

Reflection of My Second Day at ALA Annual 2008

I was very frustrated, as likely many others were, that there were so many appealing programs at the same time (during the whole conference, but especially on Saturday). It was difficult to decide, but since I went to so many fun YALSA programs last year, I decided that I should open my horizons.

The first program I went to on Saturday was very interesting. The presenter had obviously done it before, and I was able to get a seat up front so that the presentation was easy to see. The second presentation was interesting, too, but it was packed, the slides were very difficult to read, and the presenters tended to change slides fairly quickly. I found that impeded my ability to keep up and understand. As a novice MSLIS-not-quite-librarian, I like to take notes. It was nearly impossible to do so at the second program. The third program was great, with four very intriguing authors (and four free books for the first 150 attendees), but their discussions were a bit scattered. They each seemed as though they deserved an entire hour to themselves.

But back to the second program, Metadata Mashups: without knowing it, I had done a lot of what they talked about on my own during my internship at RIT Libraries. During my internship, I worked with the Head of Cataloging and the Web Server Administrator to adjust the metadata field registries on RIT‘s institutional repository, the RIT Digital Media Library. (Most of the metadata was Dublin Core standard, but we adjusted it to include other things to fit the various medias uploaded to the IR. It was awesome to learn about keeping those customizations documented and organized.

1. Baker, T., Dekkers, M., Heery, R., Patel, M., & Salokhe, G. (2001). What terms does your metadata use? Application profiles as machine-understandable narratives. Journal of Digital Information 2(2). Retrieved Jul. 1, 2008, from <http://jodi.tamu.edu/Articles/v02/i02/Baker/>
2. Heery, R., & Patel, M. (2000, Sep. 24). Application profiles: mixing and matching metadata schemas. Ariadne (25). Retrieved Jun. 29, 2008, from <http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue25/app-profiles/>

Welcome to Anaheim!

Yesterday, Friday, June 27, 2008, was my fourth day in Anaheim and my first day at the ALA Annual 2008 Conference. Joe Osborn and I attended YALSA 101 (from 1600-1700) and Intellectual Freedom 101 (1700-1800).

YALSA 101

YALSA 101 was an introduction to the conference and YALSA as a division. I went to the ACRL 101 program last year, and I found that YALSA 101 this year seemed much more lively and easy-going.

YALSA 101

During the program, the current president of the division highlighted some of the cool programs YALSA is sponsoring during the conference such as Teen Spaces: Between Home and School, a program about creating both physical and virtual spaces for teens, and the YALSA Bloggers Meeting. She also highlighted the fact that YALSA and ALA are member-driven, and volunteering is easy to do: just fill out a YALSA committee form on the YALSA website (search for “volunteer form”). Overall, I found the YALSA 101 program to be helpful, even though this conference is not my first. I liked the culture and content of YALSA so much, I even joined the division online as I was sitting in the audience.

Intellectual Freedom 101

Intellectual Freedom 101

Since we were at YALSA 101 until the very end, we came in late to the Intellectual Freedom 101 program. When we arrived, Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the Deputy Director of the Office of Intellectual Freedom, was speaking. She was talking about the fact that the Office of Intellectual Freedom encourages librarians and libraries to consult the Office of Intellectual Freedom if or when encountering an intellectual freedom issue in the library. Some of the purposes of the OIF is to help librarians and libraries deal with intellectual freedom concerns, help develop policies, and train librarians and lawyers on the concept of intellectual freedom. The presenters went on to explain how relevant the Office of Intellectual Freedom is today with the advent of many intellectual freedom cases. (I attended an Intellectual Freedom Subcommittee meeting with Deborah Caldwell-Stone at the ALA Annual Conference in 2007.)

Reflection of My First Day at ALA Annual 2008

Division 101 programs are always a good idea to attend, in my opinion. YALSA is such a neat division with really hip and cool librarians and the Office of Intellectual Freedom is filled with many intellectual and noble librarians that going to their programs were no-brainers for Joe and me. Fridays are typically pretty quiet at ALA, so it was a pleasant surprise to see so many people at the programs I went to. (Unfortunately, some we’re going to miss some cool programs on Monday like the aforementioned Teen Spaces program sponsored by YALSA as we’re leaving California Monday evening.)

I am not attending WWDC with my boyfriend, but he will be attending ALA with me. Even though I did not sit through the Keynote and watch SJ deliver the next surprise, I’m still pretty gaga about Apple. I use a MacBook Pro, and I’ve preferred Apple computers since I started using one this time last year. As a recent convert, the differences between Apple’s OS X and Windows XP/Vista are obvious and fresh in my mind. I don’t miss my old large and clunky Dell laptop. When working in the library, I can use both freely, but I prefer a Mac.

Everything I produce on the computer seems all the more valuable if I do it on a Mac. Programs are simple and intuitive: their functionality adheres to the metaphors that inspired them.

One wonderful application for the Mac is Delicious Library 2 by Delicious Monster. Delicious Library 2 allows the user to catalog everything: books, movies, albums, software, videogames, toys, gadgets, tools, and apparel. (The first version of Delicious Library only allowed the user to catalog books, movies, and albums.)

Delicious Library 2 Screenshot

What’s particularly awesome about this application is that it does not require the user to do much work, as far as typing in long strings of numbers or metadata for each object. If the application is installed on a Mac with a webcam, it can be used as a barcode scanner. The barcode scanner picks up the UPC or ISBN and looks it up in Amazon’s database, and then collects the metadata from Amazon associated with that item (e.g. publisher/label, release date, genres, format, dimensions, number of pages, retail price, current value, purchase date, ISBN, Dewey Decimal, EAN, and country for books). And if a working webcam is not available, it is also possible to search by a known metadata field such as title, author, or ISBN. The application also works with a bluetooth scanner, the Microvision ROV Scanner with Bluetooth, which would greater enable cataloging of a larger collection, such as the collection of a small library.

In anticipation of the conference, I’ve compiled a list of programs that sound interesting to me.

Friday, June 27

• 9:30-11AM
  • Interviewing Strategies (ALA HRDR): interview strategies for new job opportunities
• 2-4PM
  • Managers Who Have the “Union Advantage” (ALA APA): creating positive working relationships with unionized staff
• 4-5:30PM
  • YALSA 101 (YALSA): YALSA orientation
  • LITA 101 (LITA): LITA orientation

Saturday, June 28

• 8-10AM
  • ABCs of DNA: Unraveling the Mystery of Genetics Information for Consumers (AFL BCALA): how to decipher genetics information for patrons
  • Ebook Workflows: Selection to Access (ALCTS AS): ebook selection, acquisition, and access
  • Sustainable Libraries: Shades of Green (LAMA BES): environmental library buildings
  • RFID in Libraries (LITA): examine RFID concerns
  • YA Literature, Graphic Novels, and Books on Popular Culture: How Do They Attract Reluctant Readers (YALSA)
• 9:30-11AM
  • Advanced Resumes & Cover Letters (ALA HRDR)
• 10:30-12PM
  • Research to Understand Users: Issues and Approaches (ALA LRRT): understand user behavior and the research process
  • Kids & Ever-Cool: Find Them Together @ Your Library (ALSC): Gene Del Vecchio, author of Creating Ever-Cool: A Marketer’s Guide to a Kid’s Heart speaks
  • How Branding Can Increase the Relevance of Your Library (PLA): marketing audit of the library, strategic positioning
  • Public Computing in a Library 2.0 World (PLA LD): implications of web 2.0 technologies in the library
• 1:30-3:30PM
  • There’s No Catalog Like No Catalog: The Ultimate Debate on the future of the Library Catalog (LITA): explores alternatives to catalogs
  • Social Software Showcase (LITA): showcase.litablog.org
• 4-5:30PM
  • Transformational Change: The Evolving Role of the Library IT Departments (LITA)
  • Science Fiction and Fantasy: Looking at Information Technology and the Information Rights of the Individual (LITA): Cory Doctorow speaks

Sunday, June 29

• 8-10AM
  • Beyond Gaming Tournaments (YALSA)
• 8-12PM
  • Creating the Future of the Catalog and Cataloging (ALCTS CCS): Tim Spalding, creator of LibraryThing speaks, as well as librarians from UCLA, University of Rochester, Cornell, and Columbia
• 11-1:30PM
  • Swap & Show: Hot Ideas for Cool PR (LAMA PRMS): provides access to samples of library public relations materials

As it gets closer to the time of the conference, I plan to narrow down my choices to only first and second choices for the time slots like I did last year at Washington, DC. That way, if a program is too crowded or starts and is not what I was hoping it would be, I’ll have a back up program to go to.

Are you going to the conference? What programs sound interesting to you?