Catching up with my blogging...

Recent activities:
SIRSI seminars on:
...Networking and Politics: Influencing Action to Get The Right Things Done
Gaining and using influence to achieve organizational goals is a critical leadership skill. Networking is an important tool for relationship building that inspires trust. Learn network building strategies as well as gain knowledge on how to understand and influence the decision-making process. Included is a discussion of a baker’s dozen of practical tips on how to practice positive politics in the workplace in order to get the right things done. (SIRSI description)

...Library Conflict Management for Consenting Adults Turning Enemies into Allies
Take advantage of this SirsiDynix Institute and take-away some important tools in resolving conflict at your library. (SIRSI description)


...The Customer is Always Right: Building and Teaching Client Relationship Skills
Ulla outlines key principles for managing customer interactions and comments on ways to foster a consistent customer friendly attitude shared among all staff.
Planning the CCL New Technologies workshop (SIRSI description)

...The Center of it All: How Libraries Can Be in the Forefront of Building Active Communities
Based on parts of previous writings by Kathleen de la Pena McCook (A Librarian at Every Table), Cohen will discuss how social networks, public space theory, and online communities can be used by libraries in any setting (public, academic, and school) to build social capital and become an active part in community building. Learn how other libraries of all sizes and budgets have become active participants in their communities and how a process-based approach can incorporate the above theories into practical methods for community building. If you're looking for innovative, creative ways to inspire and engage your community you won't want to miss this institute.(SIRSI description)

Next in line to review:
The Info Island Project on Second Life


Infopeople advisory committee

Fwd: Last call for responses to the digitization survey....

Today was my last ditch effort to get the last 15
libraries to respond to the survey. I really wanted a
strong showing so that when I write the report and a
subsequent grant, I have the strong support and
snapshot of where we are in along the digitzation
road. But really, having to pester everyone is a
drag...and so time consuming. At least I was able to
talk to a few colleagues I hadn't seen in a long time.

Just 15 colleges left to have 100% response to this
survey on digitization.

Last day to respond is Monday, April 9th.
I will be extracting the data and doing the
analysis.... and corresponding report.


15 libraries still have not responded:
Berkeley College
College of Marin
Compton College
Cuyamaca College
Feather River College
Grossmont College
Imperial Valley College
Laney College
LA Southwest College
Los Angeles Trade-Tech College
Monterey Peninsula College
Riverside College
San Diego City College
San Joaquin Delta College
San Jose City College

Netflix and libraries

Note: this Netflix issue seems to be a hoax. Here is the reply from Netflix that I received today. It seems that they are not exploring this as a possibility...
"Thank you for your interest in Netflix. You referenced a "partnership"
with the Brooklyn Public Library, which you must have read about in the
newspaper or heard on the news. The story was misleading. Netflix has
no partnership with the Brooklyn Public Library, and Netflix is not in
any discussions or negotiations for any partnership with the Brooklyn
Public Library or any other library. Netflix delivers DVDs to
individual members who join Netflix for their personal enjoyment. The
company has no services available for public libraries. You can find
more information about Netflix membership at www.netflix.com.

Best,
Netflix"


At ALA midwinter, I heard of libraries collaborating
with Netflix to deliver media to their patrons. What
a great idea, especially for those libraries that are
poorly funded. I love the idea of offering our
community all the resources that Netflix has to offer
with us paying subscriptions for the use. Although
there are some implications such as student damages
the DVD, loses it, doesn't return it, we face those
possibilities anyway. I called Netflix and they are
test marketing a program at Brooklyn Public...
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8O1T6BG0.htm

They
will send me more information as it becomes available.

-------------------------------
email to: Netflix Public Relations:
I am the Dean of Library Services at Pasadena City
College and am on sabbatical leave this year,
exploring new technologies and their implications for
community college libraries.

At ALA midwinter, I heard of collaborations between
Netflix and libraries and am very anxious to know
more. And, if you need a community college library to
test the implications of such a program, I would
gladly offer and agree to write an article to publish
about the collaboration.

Please keep me in the loop!
Mary Ann Laun
Pasadena City College
alternate email: maryannlaun@yahoo.com