Really? This is it?!

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Well, I finished. I'm done with the paper- the final assignment for this class. It's been a whirlwind (the class AND the paper). It's been an interesting experience. One in which the circumstances would have to be just right for me to do this again. I will say that it's been a bit of fun. I appreciate having to use some of the technology in addition to learning about its applicability to Libraries.

So the paper...
I wrote it on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). I chose it mainly because the library where I work is planning on implementing this when they move to a new location in 2 years. So there are several Librarians researching vendors and options as well as communicating with other Libraries utilizing this technology. I wanted to be more "in the know" by conducting some research of my own. So here's a little paper for you to skim:

RFID: Pets, Cars, and Now Libraries (My Paper)

I wish the best to everyone in the class. I hope we all get wonderful jobs that fulfill us in every way. I'm sure I'll "see" many of you again in other classes. Until then remember that Not All Who Wander Are Lost, but some of us are, and that's okay.

Peace.

Pondering...

One of the discussion posts has prompted me to wonder...does the interconnectedness and the exposure that the Internet provides us with result in extreme behavior? In terms of control and security- do many people react by locking up and locking down even tighter than before? Is the Internet ultimately going to kill freedom as we know it because of the fear it generates and perpetuates?

...just a little something that's on my mind this Wednesday morning.

Now it's time for a much needed dandelion break.

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Horizon / Blur / What the?!

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A fellow student mentioned they're not sure about becoming a librarian. Of course, being the self-absorbed individual that I am, her contemplation makes me reflect on my own choices.

I just stumbled into this program, kind of like I was floating along in a stream and before I knew it, I was on this river called Masters Library and Information Science. I never said,"I want to be a librarian!" Honestly, I just wanted to accomplish something that I didn't think was possible.

I was intimidated by the GRE and graduate school, but that drive in me that makes me do things I'm scared of said it was time to overcome these obstacles and the timing and situational circumstances were right. I'm NOT getting any younger, and I've had plenty of experiences in the past five years that re-enforce the truth that our time is NOW. For all that we know, we only get this one shot, so why waste it being scared of things or experiences. Just go for it and see where it takes you. I may not end up being an honest-to-God traditional librarian, BUT I will have achieved a goal and proven to myself that, again, I can do almost anything if I put my mind and heart to it.

Here's a little hope

North Plains Public Library (Oregon)

Dreaming of faraway places, I chose to contact a library in the Northwest to talk with someone about their experience with a CMS. The North Plains Public Library in North Plains, Oregon is located just west of Portland. This is a unique library that serves a rural community of about 2000 people. What I find really interesting is that the library did not exist until 2002. That's right, this library was born in the 21st century! Prior to that, the city did not have a library.

In 2000 the City Council and a small group of dedicated townspeople were determined to change the situation. Starting with a Friends organization, volunteers began gathering books and donations, and the first library was born in a small, janitor's closet in the local community center. In April 2002, the city established a Library Board and they drafted an ordinance for the city to establish a Public Library. The dedication of volunteers and the help of local business owners resulted in the building you see pictured above. Its doors were opened in April of 2006, and the library is operated by a small, part-time staff and many, many volunteers. Read the library's history here: http://nplibrary.org/about-us/library-history/.

The website manager is another dedicated NPPL volunteer who has been managing the website since 2008. She took it over when a new librarian was hired with no web experience. She, herself, had limited experience with their CMS, Wordpress, but has enjoyed learning to use the system. She definitely takes advantages of the resources available regarding how to manipulate the site and is learning more and more as time goes on. So this is an example how a CMS is really helpful. It's free, relatively easy to learn how to use, and offers a web presence to those organizations who may not be able to have one otherwise.

Despite the headaches I experienced with Joomla, I have a warm, fuzzy feeling for CMS now. They can make good things happen for wonderful organizations- like this little fledgling of a library. So many of our readings, beginning in our Foundations class, profess doom and gloom about the state of libraries in the digital age, and yet here is a library that a community built from the ground up at a time when many libraries are struggling. It makes me happy and gives me hope, and I hope it does the same for you too.

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Interview Transcript:

•How and where did they hear about CMS?

I heard about Wordpress from our former Librarian in 2008. When he left we hired a new Librarian who didn't have web experience. I stepped in as a volunteer to rebuild and manage the website using Wordpress.

•What were your library’s motivations to adopt CMS for its website?

We wanted to have complete control over our website and Wordpress made this possible and gave us the ability to customize our site.

•What were their decision making criteria?

Wordpress was customizable and was free and relatively easy to learn.


•What are the important benefits or advantages of CMS they are using now over the old system or another CMS system they've used in the past?

We didn't have any website before using Wordpress. The City Website gave us a page to post basic information, but they managed it.


•Was there a learning curve? If so, can you please discuss it further.

Yes, there was a learning curve and it took enormous amounts of time. I am still learning as I go. I read a few
Wordpress books and have used the online forums for help. It has been a fun learning adventure. I hope at some point another volunteer will be able to learn and take over the website.

Motivation

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One week left and I'm trying to muster the energy to write discussion posts for class. Long night of a puppy (our puppy) crying and whining. It started with this big thunder and lightening storm that came up all of a sudden at about 11:30/midnight, and it didn't really stop until about 4:15 this a.m. I could use food, a nap, and some coffee. In that order. I included the Far Side cartoon because I just love Gary Larson's humor. It's just dark enough to be appealing. This one is helping me motivate for our LAST WEEK OF CLASS!!

Take That, Joomla!

I was referring to the smack down I gave Joomla. Actually it was more of a beating...and I was on the receiving end.

Overall it was a really frustrating assignment.  It started with the three different web addresses needed to access my site- four, if you count the address for the how-to tutorial. Each address seemed to have a different login and password, but I didn't realize any of this until trying to access my page.

From there it went on to hair-pulling when I was trying to understand the Joomla language: categories, menus, and articles. Having finished, I only vaguely understand the meaning of categories and menus. I think if I were using Joomla to manage many different websites and/or blogs I would have a firmer grip on these terms and their intended attempts at organizing information. With only one piddly little site (that would be mine) it just created confusion.

But alas, I made it through most of the tutorial (had to stop it when the Q&A section started- couldn't take it any more) and the following is the result of a lot of time, tears, and tirades: wandering7505.cloudaccess.net. I hope you enjoy it. Please don't tell me anything is wrong with it for at least a day. I need some space from this project.

You know, the best part of this semi-miserable experience is seeing the sites that everyone created. There are some truly talented and interesting folks taking this class!

Ho Hum

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This woman's face accurately depicts my mood (and probably my face) when looking through the CMS websites listed here: libsuccess.org: Library Websites Using CMS. 

While I didn't look at every single site they mentioned, it was darn near close. Maybe I looked at too many, because they all just looked the same. Nothing really stood out. There were a few that were somewhat innovative in their home pages (Portsmouth Public Library (OH) by Joomla and Scottsdale Public Library (AZ) by Expression Engine), but overall they were fairly generic in appearance. Some did looked more like blogs than others. I'm assuming that part of this is due to not only the constraints of the CMS but also the abilities (and patience) of the website manager or administrator.

Regarding the sites and how they look on smartphones, I accessed the Mobile Phone Emulator site and plugged in the same sites I looked at from the CMS list. I've not played much with mobile technology and wasn't sure what to expect. Some of the sites would re-size to look exactly as they do on a desk or laptop. Some of these were so complex in tabs and drop down menus that I wondered if the site was even usable on such a small device. Other sites appeared wonky and what was accessible when you first bring up the site were useless (in my opinion). There were only a couple that did not show up using the emulator.

After all that, it seems like CMS is a decent option for libraries that lack the means for a super fancy website designer. It helps, though, to have someone with design experience managing the site.