#17 Online applications and tools

I'm sure it took me quite a bit longer than anyone else to get Zoho sorted out, but victory in the end. I registered, and imported documents, although I had trouble with some documents that I had on machine that might have been in an old version of Word, I was just looking for odd ball things that I didn't mind posting. The posting to the blog (pt. 2) was pretty easy, although for some reason, peculiar to me, I seem to consistently have problems with the Google account, passwords and so forth, but may be fixed now. I would like to get into Zoho a little further and look at all the features, instead of my usual "turn the key on approach" and see if it runs. I'll do that now that the assignment part of this exercise is over and I feel less tense.

Access for Patron Groups

Access for Patron Groups

Recommendations to the University Librarian

November 15, 2006

Recommendation One:  Eligible user categories for access to UCSC libraries electronic resources should not be restricted to the Personnel Payroll System entries.  

Rationale:  Other UC libraries do not have access to their campus payroll systems and do not tie eligibility to entries in those systems. 

Recommendation Two:  The University Librarian should decide which of the following "affiliate" users, not in PPS, would be considered eligible for access under the general categories of "faculty, staff and students" used in the licensing contracts:  (a) visiting or exchange scholars, (b) researchers and special assistants, (c) extension students, (d) UCSC retirees.  (Note: (a) and (b) seem likely candidates, (c) would probably be excluded and (d) would have to be evaluated.)

Rationale: All UC campuses use the eligible user categories, "faculty, staff and students" in their Web presence regarding access to electronic material.  This is the language used by the vendors in the licensing agreements.  Different vendors expand slightly on this to include affiliates such as, "independent contractors" (Springer), "temporary or exchange faculty" (Elsevier), "bona fide faculty members, students, researchers, staff members, librarians, executives or employees of the Licensee, or contractors engaged by the Licensee. . ." (Wiley), with the understanding that all users will abide by the "Terms and Conditions of Use. . ." (Wiley)  The library takes responsibility for making available on its Web site, the "terms and condition of use” provided by the vendor.  This seems sufficient notice to users.

Recommendation Three:  Clarify the roles within the library with regard to early response to vendors' breach alerts or queries.

Rationale:  Curtis Lavery at the CDL maintains a document used for licensing that lists Martha Ramirez as the main UCSC administrative contact for licensing and Eric Mitchell as the technical contact.  This same information should be available to vendors of locally licensed materials.  Library staff members who accidentally receive breach alerts, e.g. acquisitions or serials staff,  should be made of aware of who in the library properly responds to these alerts and should forward information appropriately.  Eric Mitchell and/or Martha Ramirez should communicate with vendors regarding investigation and follow-up.

Recommendation Four:  If the numbers of affiliate users exceeds the general range of our eligible FTE counts with the vendors, then a decision should be made about increasing our FTE count and paying for that increase.

Rationale:  Any inclusion of affiliate users that exceeds our FTE counts for licensing would have to be managed in good faith.

#16 Library 2.0

Wonderful vision, wonderful articulation of current and future versions of libraries fro 1.0-4.0 and beyond. Remembering that all of our work is still dependent on proven principles of organization and implementation, we must account for creativity and the practical delivery of 2.0 to patrons. So speaking as a Taurus, the most compelling (to me) are the following paragraphs in the articles assigned that come from Michael Stephens, librarian and blogger. . .

Librarian 2.0 controls technolust This librarian does not buy technology for the sake of technology. “Techno-worship” does not exist here. Without a firm foundation in the mission and goals of the institution, new technologies are not implemented for the sake of coolness and status. Technology is put to the test: Does it meet the users need in a new or improved way? Does it create a useful service for putting users together with the information and experience they seek? These are some of the questions this librarian asks when planning for technology. This librarian creates and nurtures a living, breathing technology plan.

Librarian 2.0 makes good, yet fast decisions This librarian recognizes how quickly the world and library users change with advancing technology. Project timelines that stretch on for months simply do not work in Library 2.0 thinking. Perpetual beta works well for the library’s Web presence. This librarian redesigns for ease of use, user involvement and easily added/re-configured pieces. This librarian brings evidence to the table for planning sessions and decision making, such as recent studies from Pew, articles from professional and scholarly journals and a synthesis of on topic postings from the biblioblogosphere.

#15 Rollyo

Very useful for discrete interests. I got a little discombobulated about seeing all the "sponsored links" on my search. Fortunately, Ken Lyons was able to talk me down, explaining the basic principles of American capitalism, i.e. you don't really get anything for free without a little or a great deal of advertising involved. I'm okay now. After creating a (surprise) "knitting" searchroll, I think I will create a couple of these to serve my needs as a sociology selector when searching, e.g. for films, book titles etc.

#14 Chat

I can see a tremendous mount of potential using these tools. As a public service librarian, I can see obvious advantages in communicating with patrons, if a simple, effective, and respectful protocol was established and easily accessible through our library web sites or as part of a larger learning management system on campus.

I particularly see the advantage of the YackPack service in conferencing. It still seems pretty static to me and only slightly improves on the core problem for me with phone conferencing, which is that it is difficult to be productive without being able to observe and interpret body language which not only communicates about issues being discussed, but more importantly influences the behavior of participation for those involved, i.e. who dominates a conversation, what clues are communicated that allow the group to equally distribute verbal participation, all that kind of thing. It certainly helps to have a speaker's image highlighted on the screen, but I wonder if that configuration of participants would look like popcorn popping all over itself in some of the UC systemwide committee meetings, in which it is extremely difficult to get a word in, or maybe in a brief period of time it would help regulate people's consideration for one another. Hopefully.

#13 UCSC Learning 2.0 - About the Library

Very useful. I made a comment about the Reference Section under "Reference." That's about it.

#12

Wikis are wonderful.