Category: Keeping Up

[GUEST POST] Everything you ever wanted to know about spyware & adware (but were afraid of the answers)

Shawn Walsh is the Technology Analyst for NEO-RLS. What are spyware and adware, anyway? Spyware is any technology that aids in gathering information about a person or organization without their knowledge. Adware is any software application in which advertising banners are displayed while the program is running. How did I get this on my computer?… Continue reading [GUEST POST] Everything you ever wanted to know about spyware & adware (but were afraid of the answers)

Lifestreaming, the next social act

I currently know more about the lives and interests of many of my professional contacts than I do about some family members.  This isn’t really on purpose, but it is a direct result of the choice many people I know have made, to keep people constantly abreast of what they’re doing via web services such… Continue reading Lifestreaming, the next social act

Time to talk spam

(With a lot of credit to George Lenzer, blogger at alt.think!) Here’s some facts about email’s biggest annoyance.  Did you know: Spam is largely automated? There aren’t sweatshops full of people typing up those messages at lightning speed in some less developed nation for half a cent per day. In fact, the automation of spam… Continue reading Time to talk spam

The sins of library web sites

Ah, Twitter is a wonderful thing.  I asked members of the Twitterverse to catalog the problems of library web sites, and my followers (as friends on Twitter are called) did not disappoint.  I got responses not only from both library and non-library folks, but even a bit of international participation with a comment or two… Continue reading The sins of library web sites

[GUEST POST] Is your library search bar friendly?

Don Yarman is the Deputy Director of Delaware County Public Library. Probably by now, you’re using a web browser that has a search box in the upper right-hand corner. Do you use it? You should; it’s handy and it’s awesome. I used to hate it. I already had the Google toolbar and Google is my… Continue reading [GUEST POST] Is your library search bar friendly?

The web as social playground: Weblin

For the past several months, I have been experimenting with a little-known web application called Weblin. In effect, it allows you to have a little avatar (Weblin) that appears on any web site you visit. This avatar can then see and communicate with other Weblins it encounters on that site. In essence, Weblin turns your… Continue reading The web as social playground: Weblin

[GUEST POST] Escaping the Brand Trap: Moving Beyond Big Name Software

George Lenzer is a Computer and Network Manager at Cleveland Public Library and blogs at alt.think. Do you exclusively use big name household products like toothpaste, laundry detergent and tissue paper? Not very likely, since they almost always are more expensive than their generic or store-branded counterparts…and generics are often just as good. Then why… Continue reading [GUEST POST] Escaping the Brand Trap: Moving Beyond Big Name Software

[GUEST POST]Ultra Low-Cost PCs: Little Laptops Getting a Lot of Love

Glen Horton is the Technology Coordinator and Assistant Director of SWON Libraries. As convenient as they are, laptops can be a pain to lug around.  They’re heavy, take up table space, generate heat, and need to be plugged into power every couple of hours.  For years the computer industry has tried to develop smaller, more… Continue reading [GUEST POST]Ultra Low-Cost PCs: Little Laptops Getting a Lot of Love

Facebook and public libraries

“Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.” (Official definition.) I think most people have some idea of… Continue reading Facebook and public libraries

Why link collections are dead…sort of

I am hoping, nay, I’m practically praying, that your library does not have either of the following: A collection of links to external websites (often called “Links” or the “Link Library” on the library’s web site, or Bunches of sites bookmarked at the Reference Desk that staff use to find information for patrons. Why do… Continue reading Why link collections are dead…sort of

Tag, You’re It

You may have heard about tagging (AKA folksonomies). If you’re a cataloger, the whole concept might give you nightmares. So, before we even delve into what tagging is, let’s preface the discussion with this: tagging does not replace cataloging. It is a supplement; an additional way to get metadata that may help the end user… Continue reading Tag, You’re It

A short lesson in Netiquette

Everyone has at least one; that person (friend, family member or coworker) who thinks they have to forward every last joke, LOLCat photo or (usually fake) virus warning to absolutely everyone in their address book. And, often they have no clue about how to use the BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) field, so that people you… Continue reading A short lesson in Netiquette

First things first: RSS

RSS (usually standing for “Really Simple Syndication”), is crucial to your career. No, really, I mean it. After all, if you’re a librarian, keeping up with information and current events is your job. Think of it like this: New stuff happens all the time. In technology, new stuff is happening every minute. Who can keep… Continue reading First things first: RSS