The End of Books

In the New York Times, a really nice examination of the history of the death of the book. There's even a little bit at the end of the article about how libraries also haven't ended as prophisied. Although the "death of the book" has been vastly over-reported, there has been a lot of prescience in past writing. From the article. One 19th-century inventor gave the names of “whispering-machine” and “metal automatic book” to something that sounds like a cross between the audiobook and the Walkman. Users “would place the machine in the hat, and have the sounds conveyed to the ear by wires.” Besides curing eyestrain, these “reading machines” would “permit of the pursuit simultaneously of physical and of mental improvement.” Instead of hunching over desks, intellectuals would be free to jog and with both hands free, their wives could read while washing the dishes: “the problem of the higher education of woman would be triumphantly solved.”

Everything's Fine?

I love fine amnesty. I've read in several places, from library textbooks to journal articles to the regular, old news that we don't actually make much money on fines. In fact, they cost money to keep track of! And we, in fact, alienate users -- especially teens -- with stringent fine structures. Some libraries don't even have fines.
Lots of libraries have programs to get rid of fines so they can up usership to the people that actually need to use the library the most. Those that can't afford to pay their fines!!
Here, today, in my old hometown, fine amnesty. Go Chicago!

Book Dominos

This video of the world record attempt at a Book Domino Chain Reaction is mesmerizing, relaxing, and fun.  It also links to so many other domino videos; who knew there were so many domino fanatics out there? Ah, the Internet...

Silly Photos of Serious Writers

Flavorwire just published this post of the gravest in literature coasting on the goofiest of grooves.  I've included my favorite, this literary study in irony.

Was Proust getting all Proustian for a more carefree time?  Could you ever imagine him this goofy?

Information Literacy Summit

“Learning how to learn.”

Best way to describe it, as detailed by Charlet Key of Black Hawk College in one of today's sessions noted below.  Picked up a lot of good, usable information here, such as how to help students with their projects and increase information literacy at the same time.  It doesn't necessarily happen in a normal classroom setting......this appeals to this public librarian.  Also, screencasting is easy and fun.  And e-reading doesn't engage in the same way as p-reading.  Lots of passion, good information, and a lot of it directly applicable to the everyday reference transaction.

Check It Out: Paper vs. Electonic Learning

Dorothy Mikuska (ePen & Inc Oak Brook, IL)

Marti Seaton (Glenbard South HS)

Laura Broderick (Glenbard East HS, Lombard IL)

eBooks are Best..?

The brain reads the words differently on paper than on an ebook.  We read 16% of words online, F-shape.  Rereading doesn't happen.  We distract to other sites.  IGA.  Information excess blocks focus.  Slow reading beats fast every time, like Aesops Tortoise.   

Screenagers

Will they grow up to read deeply.  HS syllabi are filled with digital texts, blogs, facebook pages, etc.  Over 3 million freshmen in 2008, 43% at 2 yr and 29% at 4 year unable to do basic work, more likely to drop out.  They cost society.  Can't comprehend complex texts.  Able to do main idea, word meaning, and supporting evidence, though...

Decelerate

Uninterrupted thinking vs multitasking.  Focus on values, perspectives, why's, over skimming, poor comprehension. 

Receptivity

Modesty is a precondition to learning vs. Youtube's "broadcast yourself" 

Kaiser Family Fdtn study 1/2010

Develop Habit of Slower Reading
Reading is learned -- develop new connections & pathways.  Plasticity can re-adapt back to slow reading.  The end of the author's wisdom is the beginning of ours (Proust).

Brain Changes from eReading

Grey cells over-activated.  Leads to shallow reading/thinking.  Decode rather than interpret.  

Read: Maryanne Wolf - Proust and the Squid

Imposition and superimposition of digital reading technology the academic...

pBook reading habits don't work with ebooks.  Fewer distractions so stay focused.  Better for reading entire book.  Easier to memorize, on eyes.  Kids prefer real books.  Less than 10% use ebooks.  Postits are easier than kindle highlights.     

Future Thoughts

Reading in depth, ereading is incomplete.  Will the economic consequence of today's narcissistic poor learners be felt tomorrow? 

However...can't stop a runaway train...e is happening.  We need to move p practices to e!!

The One Minute Mentor

F Elizabeth Nicholson, Lizzie Matkowski
Phillips Library
Aurora University by Jing (tm)

Tutorials
Offered to be quick, easy to understand, reference services to students who can't come to campus, answers FAQ's, short alternatives to live instruction.

Best Practices
Short, simple, learnable chunks.  Start with one, continue to others.  They build.  Consistent visual identity makes them easily identifiable, findable (same intro, outro).
  
Tools
Free, text based tutorials (students like to print), video, all led to Jing (free, 5 min, easy to use, and tracks #'s of views).  Can be used on the fly to send an example of question answer to patron via chat.

Topics
Make list of FAQ under 3 categories: getting articles, finding books, citations and formatting.  Avoid complex IL issues like narrowing a topic, plagiarism, etc.

Best Practices
Use a script, Match PowerPoint/screencast as closely as possible.  May be best to make PP first as script. Get away from desk noise to record.   Headphone/mic sets are $20.

Marketing
Mount on website page, include in email blasts, topic of "what's new" at library, post at point of need, mention during instruction sessions, demonstrate in off-campus student orientations.

Adjustments
Libguides are another good way to host.  Camtasia is something they're going to move up to.