best of... secrets of the catalog / library metadata (presentation archives)

I decided to start digging out some of my old stuff that I either 1)haven't posted here before, or perhaps, 2)I posted it 5 years ago, but it is still relevant or 3) it is super popular (on twitter, on a blog, etc.) which makes me think it is worth a re-post. I promise my site is not about to become a re-hash and just like for the Question of the Day, these will have their own category and header. So, first up is a presentation from 2003(ish?) on the secrets of library databases (catalogs).

Secrets of the catalog / metadata

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More changes at Facebook / removing profile boxes

Heads up... more changes for Facebook.
I've gotten 3 notices in the last 3 days about moving applications to tabs. Profile boxes are going away. I have my Pandora playlist embedded in what I thought was a box, but FB calls it an information area, so maybe that one is okay.

It does appear that you can still move them to a Boxes tab to put them all in one spot, but they will no longer be directly embedded on your profile page.

Kind of sucks, doesn't it?
To see what you've put in a box:
Go to Account> Application Settings>Added to Profile

Also, for those of you who play games at FB (farmville, mafia wars, etc. -- you know who you are), if you want notifications, you will need to go through an email address. You can add a new email address to FB to give you more choices or you can choose FB random email.
To change to a new email to your facebook account:
Go to Account>Account Settings>Settings>Click change next to email
I'm not quite sure what that is yet (the new FB email that has been talked about on the 'net? or just that I'll get notifications but they will come in through email somehow???)

that's all I know about at the moment.

Question of the Day: How to search your own tweets at twitter

So, this was MY question today: as in, I wanted to re-post a tweet about moonshine arts & literary magazine. I couldn't quite remember what I wrote and I didn't use a #hashtag. So what to do? How do you search your own twitter feed? There are lots of cool trending tools out there, but those are very limited in terms of timeframe. I personally like trendtastic.

Per my usual M.O. I tweeted, buzzed, & facebook'd my request --even before I google'd, now what does that tell ya? I tell you what it tells me -- I trust my networks of techies, artists, photographers, librarians, metadata mavens, programmers, hackers, writers, proj managers DIVAS -- the creme de cool , more than google for quick answers.

Here is what I tried BEFORE I tweeted my plea for help:

• Searching via twitter by keywords I thought I used
• Searching google via advanced search: using key words and limiting to domain twitter.com and by date
• using http://search.twitter.com/advanced

None of these achieved any results. Strange, no? Not even the advanced search feature was successful. I know that I can scroll back chronologically through my posts but that is a LOT of work.

Doesn't this seem like a huge failure on twitter's part? Surely there are times when people what to see something from a previous week or month...and how will that fit into the semantic web? If the semantic web is all about the data and finding relevant info, whoa... huge hole.

One answer
My friend and webgurl, Amy, tweeted back almost instantly:

set up an RSS feed for own tweets & search in Thunderbird.

Looking at it from the RSS angle, I pulled my twitter feed into google reader, but that pretty pretty much starts with today, so didn't help me find my moonshine arts tweet. I did find it using advanced search using friendfeed (yeah, I have an account there, too!), so big kudos to them. Good luck if you ever want to find anything in twitter or facebook. It's nearly impossible -- perhaps, this is where google buzz will score its biggest hit.
...and if I'm wrong and there is an easier way to do this, by ALL means, please let me know -- because I'm not the only one who wants to see what they have tweeted.

Survey us...

UGA Libraries are looking for site feedback in preparation for a site redesign. The Web Advisory Group is working on a new look for the UGA Libraries home page, http://www.libs.uga.edu As we begin the redesign process, our first step is to gather feedback. We want to find out what works and what doesn't as far as the current home page is concerned, and to get ideas for the new home page design, in terms of content, layout, navigation, etc. Your input is very important. Please help us out by taking a few minutes to complete our anonymous, online survey: http://tinyurl.com/yguxnn8 Some questions may not be as applicable if you are outside of UGA, but any feedback is good feedback, right? ;-) thank you -- and consider it your good deed of the day. ;-D

The buck stops at the library

The buck stops at the library. If we keep cutting library aid, people who can’t figure out how to file for taxes, or how to use e-mail, are going to be out of luck.

Lots of aren't librarians cool stuff, but overall a nice piece on libraries and librarians.
http://www.salon.com/books/nonfiction/index.html?story=/books/feature/2010/02/21/interview_marilyn_johnson_librarians

RDA vocabulary (article)

http://dlib.org/dlib/january10/hillmann/01hillmann.html
Abstract
"The Resource Description and Access (RDA) standard, due to be released this coming summer, has included since May 2007 a parallel effort to build Semantic Web enabled vocabularies. This article describes thateffort and the decisions made to express the vocabularies for use withinthe library community and in addition as a bridge to the future of
library data outside the current MARC-based systems. The authors also touch on the registration activities that have made the vocabularies usable independently of the RDA textual guidance. Designed for both human and machine users, the registered vocabularies describe the relationships between FRBR, the RDA classes and properties and the extensive value vocabularies developed for use within RDA."

Illusion: Insight into visual design elements

Covers the most basic elements of webdesign: layout, fonts, whitespace, color theory; additionally encompasses fundamental guidelines and findings regarding how users use the web.
Btw, my portion is more of the design stuff. Oh, and this is a google presentation so the design of the presentation itself is a little fugly. ;-)

Illusion Insights Into Visual Design Elements

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Free mobile learning/education webinar

Sorry for the late notice, this just came across my desk.
As far as I can see, it is free.
-------------------------------
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/948880016

Mobile Learning Fundamentals: Innovation Showcase and Real-World Examples - Presented by A.J. Ripin with special guest, Dr. David Metcalf

The way that we live, work, play, and learn is being impacted by the increasing mobility of our global society. As leaders, it is our responsibility to design for the needs of our changing audience. Learn the key trends and technologies that are fast emerging to meet the challenges and changes of today and tomorrow.

Come hear this conversation as we explore advanced concepts like mobile performance support, compliance, games and simulations, location awareness, transcoding, mobile social networking and collaboration. Learn firsthand how world leaders from industry, academia, military and organizations like Google, Microsoft, Tyco International, Tufts University and others are delivering value through Mobile Learning content.

“Mind over Technology” – The value of content design in “mobile education” - Presented by Supra Manohar, EVP Emantras

The discussion of mobility in education has primarily focused on technology and devices. It is critical to understand that the maturation of the market is driving the need for understanding content design and why it is probably one of the most critical aspects of any mobile learning initiative.

Understanding how we learn in specific environments is critical to learning design. Using online content without pedagogical modifications within mobile environments probably does not work. The primary thrust of mobile education must be the design of the content and utilization of technology to deliver this content. This presentation will explore learning design for mobile environments and critical factors that need to be considered for a successful initiative (relative to content).

So, what does an Emerging Technologies Group talk about?

Thought you'd never ask...
Here is the agenda for Weds. afternoon meeting of the Emerging Technologies Group... we are still playing with our acronym ET or EMT... I kind of like EMT.
Robin = me (I chair, btw...)
--------------


Agenda 2/17/2010

• Tie up RSS/multimedia pages (Robin/Amy) -- any lingering questions or issues? (webpages created to highlight our multimedia and also all of the feeds we are generating...)
• Libraries home page redesign group update (Deborah) -- anything ET can help with?
• ETD (electronic theses & dissertation portal) public interface update/progress report (table 'til next month; group needs to get back together)
• Social media training/Library 2.0 Learning Training program overview -- (Deborah, Robin and/or Amy) quick project overview
• Youtube Edu report (Robin)
• Mobile update (Deborah)
• WEG (Web Editors Group) update (Deborah) -- changes in WEG format -- how can we help?
• Podcasts update (Christian)
• Tagging in VuFind -- (all) -- do we want to pursue this? If so, how to go about it and does anyone want to volunteer to lead the charge, so to speak?
• Social media/website management policy -- (Deborah/Robin) -- any updates on ET's questions re: website management and social media?

Sharing/Re-using catalog records in a web2.0 world

Wow, this is kind of cool...

The internet has made sharing library catalogue records easier for libraries and users - but with it comes a new set of challenges surrounding the legal implications. A new JISC toolkit helps librarians navigate the legal minefield of making their catalogue records available to others.

http://www.jisclegal.ac.uk/Projects/TransferandUseofBibliographicRecords.aspx

Photo booth software at home use...

I kind of wondered if photo booths would become a thing of the past (sigh, polaroid...) but at least one company is trying to move them to the home market. It does make you wonder a little if anyone will buy this....

http://www.partyboothapp.com/

Drupal basics for librarians

Class size is limited. Live interactive demo, too!

As the Open Source and Free Software movements gain ground, more and more open-source options are becoming available to libraries. In this two-hour online class, will discuss what Open Source does and doesn’t mean, and will introduce a variety of different types of library applications (with an emphasis on web site tools) for which there are open-source versions available.

http://tr.im/Nnoh

Yay, I'm teaching... (again)....

Facebook: content vs. action, privacy & more (presentation)

Presentation in January:
covers

• Uses of facebook
• Social media netiquette
• Privacy issues (including changes in Facebook privacy; content vs. action)
• You are your brand

Facebook & Privacy 2010

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Mobile, social media & more research

The Pew Institute has been researching technology and various demographics.

The study in January covers internet, broadband & cellphone statistics:
55% of American adults connect to the internet wirelessly, either through a WiFi or WiMax connection via their laptops or through their handheld device like a smart phone. This figure did not change in a statistically significant way during 2009.

The most recent study (released Feb. 3, 2010) focuses on young adults and social media:
Even as blogging declines among those under 30, wireless connectivity continues to rise in this age group, as does social network use. Teens ages 12-17 do not use Twitter in large numbers, though high school-aged girls show the greatest enthusiasm for the application.

more at
http://www.pewinternet.org/

Facebook image uploader changes

I surely hope this is the last fb update for a little while. Everytime I teach a class on fb, everything changes! LOL

So, many of us (including myself and probably 85% of my friends who post images to fb) have been having problems with the uploader, especially with firefox (firefox, you used to be so dependable, but that is another post....) We've updated java, done all of the other magic tricks, but no luck. Of course, alot of us have had all sorts of issues with fb (nothing like a new version rolling out to cause breaks in current functionality...). Btw, more here about the new version of fb...

Anyhow, fb has been aware of the uploader problems, and has created a new uploader developed in house. More here. Lots of chatter on the net about this (just google it.. lol)

Important to know for Firefox users:

Facebook has started rolling out the new uploader and it should be coming to everyone within a few weeks. When you want to upload a photo, you'll be asked if you want to install the photo uploader plugin. Facebook says that this shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. What it doesn't say is that the plugin is only available for Firefox, 3.5 mind you, not the latest 3.6 as Facebook says it has disabled it in 3.6 due to a security vulnerability, for Google Chrome but only on Windows and very recently it has been made available for Internet Explorer 7 and above.

Also, some chatter about a new email system from facebook, too.

Project Titan(?) Real Email for Facebook?

This is from an article at allfacebook, but lots of chatter (Techcrunch, lots o' blogs) all over the 'net about facebook's new (or perhaps, just improved) if it's scaled off of the current private messaging (PM) feature...

According to Mike Arrington, Facebook is preparing to roll out its own email client, code named “Titan”. We’ve suggested to Facebook in the past that they roll out an email client as they have an opportunity to redefine the product. Additionally, Paul Bucheit, the lead developer of Gmail, is now an employee of Facebook which means he may have another opportunity to redefine the email experience.

All of my facebook writings are located here.

Facebook changes (more new ones!)

Just in case you weren't one of the 800000 to be surprised with a new version of facebook yesterday, you can read all about it at mashable. Also, lots of broke stuff at facebook today: likes missing, PM not working, etc.

Sigh. I wish they would give us a bit of break before they roll out a new change, or perhaps, allow us to opt into the new change, instead of just surprising it on people. My mom already has the new version, but no one else I know does. I know, my mom! LOL Oh, and you can see the demo, here.

I'm beginning to think facebook is throwing anything out they can, to see what might stick. Not really a good business or web design model...

smart dust -- nano computing...

HP's goal to connect the physical world to computing as never before," using so-called "smart dust" sensors to enable "buildings that manage their own energy use, bridges that sense motion and metal fatigue, cars that track traffic patterns and report potholes, and fruit and vegetable shipments that tell grocers when they ripen and begin to spoil."

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2010/02/smart-dust--the-emergence-of-sensor-computingthe-science-fiction-dream-of-smart-dust-is-still-a-ways-off-but-moving-closer-t.html

spam, spam, spam @ google groups

So, I'm the admin for like 5 different google groups. I've set the groups to moderation for new members and membership has to be approved. Still, still, we are getting hit with spam. Finally, as a desperate last measure, I've closed the list down for reading, unless you are logged in. I kind of wanted to keep the list open for reading, but oh well...

I discovered that google groups is being hit with spam and there has even been some chatter on the 'net that google is slowly dumping google groups. I don't know that to be true, but there's the 'net gossip and the Jquery list dumped google groups back in October.
http://www.webmonkey.com/blog/Google_Groups_Fail:_JQuery_Dumps_Google_Over_Spam__Interface_Problems

Question of the Day: how does texting to email work?

A question asked by one of my coworkers (and you all thought I just answered social media, opensource, or database questions, right? LOL)

Q: How does a phone text to email? Does the computer have to have anything magic?
A: You can text to any email system. It's the phone that has the magic. Each texting phone (which is just about every cell phone except for a few REALLY old ones) has an email address attached to the phone number, so it's essentially email to email. SMS (short message service) = texting, which is based on really old GSM (Global System Messaging) which was back with early cells. It is also limited to 140 characters, which is probably one reason twitter limits to 140 characters. Smart phones actually give you the capability of doing straight email via a web browser or mobile device, so no character limits on those, unless you are texting. ;-)

... I realize this is a really basic answer and it's all a little more complicated than that, but that answered the question. ;-)

the story of you

Very interesting idea...

"Photographer Robert Weingarten's portraits are digital composites of several photographs which give an overall vision of his subject's history and accomplishments. View a clip of Weingarten explaining this part of his process.

In order to do this, Weingarten asks his subjects (Quincy Jones, Sandra Day O'Connor and Buzz Aldrin, to name a few) to create a list of places or objects that they feel define them, and photographs each item. Weingarten then combines these photographs to form one large "portrait" of his subject.
Robert Weingarten, "Hank Aaron"
What's your list?"

--from the High Museum of Art (ATL)'s facebook post.