Rudaí23 thing#16: collaboration tools

Google Drive: an example of an easy-to-use collaboration tool

I have used Google Drive previously when working with a library career development group, primarily as a means to easily read and transmit documents between committee members. It's an absolutely invaluable resource, but it takes time to get to grips with all that it has to offer. I also found that Google gets a bit confused if you have two or more accounts linked (or maybe it was just me). Prior to adopting Google Drive, we relied on sending around group emails. This worked until we realised that new members did not have access to older material that may be necessary for them to consult. By updating new members (and removing old) this problem is easily circumvented when using Google Drive.

Google Drive: It's more than just document sharing!

In addition to making document transfer relatively straight forward, Google Drive is brilliant at allowing multiple formats to be uploaded, as well as allowing you to work on documents within Google Drive.

Another huge plus is the 'advanced' functions that it has provided. I have a bad habit of forgetting about Google's 'advanced' options (something I like to think that everybody does). For sharing documents, this means that you can determine the privacy of the document, as well as getting a shareable link that you can use on social media.

Of course, you don't have to use Google for your collaboration needs. There are many other similar services available, most notably Dropbox, but also Microsoft's OneDrive. This article has a pretty good summary of the differences (and similarities) between the three.

Collaboration tools in a small academic library

I work in a small academic library, and there is widespread use of Microsoft Office in all levels of the college, including, of course, the library. 'Sharing' of documents isn't something that's done, at least not in the sense of collaboration tools as discussed here. Use is made of the normal drives that our colleagues have access to, and this seems to work well on a day-to-day basis.

This topic has got me thinking about what tools our students use. Group work is becoming increasingly prevalent in the academic world and I realised that I have no idea what collaboration tools students are using. This has a necessary impact on information literacy and it's something that all librarians need to get to grips with, and something that should perhaps be included in our 'how to' guides, along with instructing them on how to access databases and online journals.

Screenshot of Virginia Tech's page about collaboration tools

A good example of a library highlighting collaboration tools is Virginia Tech. Such tools highlighted include conferencing (those focused include Google Hangout, Skype, Virtual Graduate Life Center, and WebEx), shared document editing (Google Docs, Mendeley, WordPress blogging, and Zotero) as well as Bubbl.us, an interesting whiteboard tool that is free to sign up to with your Gmail account, and there is app functionability as well.

I think this is a great example of how a university is adapting to its students' needs and is making available lots of collaborative tools which a lot of people (both students and librarians) may not know are freely available.

Rudaí23 thing#15: talking about libraries (to whoever will listen)

#Thing 15 began with an inspiring and positive note: the very act of typing these words, having this blog, means that I’m an advocate.
 

We often see advocacy as a strictly political thing: protests on the street, meetings with your local representative in government, or industry-wide lobbying. And while these are all important, these are certainly not things I would associate with librarians, at least not in Ireland. And that's what was so interesting about researching for this topic. Advocacy isn't (necessarily) protesting on the streets. It's about telling the public about what you do. Advocacy helps us to get our message across, clear up misconceptions about what a library is, and ensure that a more informed message is being heard. Not just by the people in charge, but by everybody.

Advocacy in the UK

Voices for the Library serves as a good model for helping us to understanding what library advocacy is. Focusing on public libraries, their approach is aimed at getting across the basic facts and figures to the public, whilst also highlighting areas that libraries are heavily involved in. This is especially important if it focuses on areas that the public is not aware that there is a heavy librarian presence. The website looks good, it's easy to navigate, and encourages contributions from both librarians and the public. And this is an important point with regards to advocacy. People expect librarians to advocate for libraries: and there may be a perception of people simply advocating for their job, regardless of the benefits that job may have for society. For advocacy to really have an impact, we need the public to get involved (or students if you're in an academic institution, for example).

Another important point is that advocacy can help act against misconceptions of what a library is. I have lost count of the amount of time I have had to explain that the library where I work is so much more than just lending books to students, and I can only imagine that that task is multiplied to infinity when it comes to those working in public libraries. A good example of this is the word cloud (produced by Voices for the Library). How many are terms that non-librarians associate with libraries? If people don't associate their libraries with words beyond 'books', then we need to know why this is the case and change the public perception. The only way that we can do this is by advocating for libraries, whether they are in the public, private or academic sphere.

The view from America

I investigated This is What a Librarian Looks Like to see how American librarians are approaching the role of library advocacy. This is a deceptively light-hearted approached to advocacy. You see all these faces, and brief bios, and you're not thinking that this is about the serious business of library advocacy. And that's where its power lies: these are people that look like average members of society, and the bios tell you what they're doing as librarians. Sometimes that's a traditional librarian role, sometimes it's a little bit unique and 'out there'.

And what about ourselves?

It sometimes feels (to me, at least) that advocacy for libraries is something confined to the UK and America. I think that I thought this primarily because I was associating advocacy with the fight against public library closures, which is something that was particularly visible in the UK in the last five years or so. Advocacy in Ireland is just as important, and is something that many librarians and library organisations are actively participating in.

We're in the middle of Library Ireland Week and I would be surprised if anybody outside of my librarian peers were aware of this fact. According to the LAI website, the theme of this year is "books as a portal into a world of ideas and opportunities". Who among us can't get behind an idea as simple and important as that?

There seems to have been a lot of thought put into the promotional side of things (although, to be honest, I didn't see a huge amount outside of social media, but that is probably more an issue with myself than anybody else). The LAI was keen to emphasise the importance on ourselves, as librarians, to advocate for this, and they're absolutely right.

Despite the theme being centered around books, the huge list of events organised by libraries throughout the country expanded on that theme, and I think this is something very important. Libraries are many things to many people, and Library Week Ireland (despite its theme) showcased the wonderfully varied list of things that libraries do, including reading sessions, cultural exhibitions, talks on practical advice, music, and even using a yoga story telling event. 

Rudaí23 thing#14: The brave new world of augmented reality

After a couple of posts that veered from the technical side of things, Rudaí 23 are bringing us back into the fold with a post that has caught my eye since I glanced down the list of things. I have been looking forward to it ever since.

 What is augmented reality?

 

An image from L Frank Baum's The Master Key

It sounds like something you'd read in a Philip K. Dick novel (or, interestingly, an L. Frank Baum novel, specifically The Master Key from 1901, which is considered the first use of the idea of augmented reality). Augmented reality is essentially any real-world environment that has been supplemented by computer-generated input, whether that's sound, graphics, video, or whatever you're having yourself. Most of us, if we were pressed on the issue, would suggest something like Google Glass, perhaps without knowing that that particular brand of technology, as is sometimes the case, has already been and gone (or is at least undergoing some serious re-branding).

With technology touted as ‘the future’, it’s sometimes difficult to get to grips with what it actually does in a real world environment. It is often the case (and it definitely seemed to be the way with Google Glass) that it was technology that was in constant 'development' and rarely seen in the real world. This video goes some way to explaining how it would work in the library of the future (or, a library right now in India).

It looks great, and what's even better is that it seems like intuitive technology. Sometimes, when I'm reading about new technological developments, it can seem like I'm reading about things that developers want us to appreciate rather than something we want or need. With the video above, nearly everything featured made me think 'Of course! Why didn't I think of that?'

The problem with 'future' tech

We all remember Q codes (interestingly, some people are suggesting that augmented reality will finally do away with them) and while Second Life is still around, it never caught on in the way we thought it would. That's the problem with predicting the future: it's next to impossible. So, it would be foolish to think that augmented reality is going to be that tech development that will make us wonder in ten years time how we ever managed without it. The difference with augmented reality, however, is that it is a development that can be adjusted to meet our actual needs and wants.

Augmented reality in the library: the future is now

The video above shows that augmented reality already exists in (some) libraries. The issue to determine is whether it will become as ubiquitous as an online catalogue search or a self-service machine. If this is the case, we can expect many articles like this suggesting that the end is nigh for libraries (interestingly, that article is from 2013, and augmented reality still seems to be something of a niche development). Regardless, if augmented reality is the future, and something our patrons are using and expect to see in their libraries, then it's something that we will have to get to grips with. There are also many possible positives with new technology, of course. A whole new way of teaching information literacy will be needed, as well as understanding how augmented reality will impact on people's lives, from education to leisure, as well as in a business dimension. These are areas that librarians will need to master if our users are going to associate libraries with places to go to get information.

Rudaí23 thing#13: Professional institutions

When Irish librarians think of professional associations, we often thing of the main one, the Library Association of Ireland (LAI) as well as some of the bigger UK ones, in particular the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). The Rudaí post for thing 13 was eye-opening with regards to the amount of professional organisations around. My twitter feed definitely needs an update.

Going that one step further

I was a Committee member of the LAICDG for approximately two years and would definitely encourage people to seek out groups that are looking for Committee members. Membership of professional organisations like the LAI are wonderful, and contain many benefits, but becoming a
Committee member takes these advantages and brings them to another level. You learn skills like organising events, working with others as part of a professional group, as well as gaining knowledge of how sub-committees interact and work together with other sub-committees. It also serves as an excellent way of getting to know people in the library world.

The basics

If you’re not quite ready for that step, the first thing to do is join the LAI, which is easier than ever to do and gives you lots of benefits which might be particularly relevant if you’re just starting off as a library professional, or even still in university. Attend as many events as possible (see my previous post about the benefits of attending events) and get to know some of your peers. If there’s a particular area you think you might be interested (and chances are, there’s a LAI group for that!) then get involved. You may not even be working in that particular field, but it could possibly help for you in the future.

The other thing to do is keep in touch with professional bodies further afield. This is most easily done through Twitter. It can keep you in touch with new developments abroad, but also give you ideas as to how professional organisations here in Ireland might develop.

A problem with terms

 

One final point is not to get too hung up on terms like 'professional' when looking at library organisations. A perfect example of this is the wonderful group New Professionals Day Ireland (NPD Ireland) which aims to appeal to both professional and non-professional people alike, whether you're somebody who thinks they may like to work in an information professional role, whether you're studying in the field, or whether you're working in a traditional or non-traditional library or information professional role. It's a great way to 'dip your toe' into the field and see if it's for you, or if you've already made that leap, to attend some wonderfully innovative conferences and talk to your peers as well as people that you wouldn't normally interact with at similar conferences.

Rudaí23 thing#12: A librarian set loose in the real world

What do you think of when you think of library conferences? I started attending conferences soon after I graduated from UCD, and was struck by how varied they are. They range from the intricately organised to the wonderfully loose interpretation of the term 'conference' (we've even had the term 'un-conference' bandied around), from the traditional speaker-and-audience affair to the more collaborative, and even one or two that offer a very fancy meal option. They may seem (to the non librarian/information professional) to be the epitome of all the stereotypes of what librarians are, but I've found them to be (depending on the conference) informative, interesting, radical, sometimes even funny.

Attending a conference

An image from Library Camp 2014

Of course, as with so many things nowadays, there are numerous ways in which to 'attend' a conference. Even if the conference hasn't offered a live stream, chances are you will find you can interact and participate through Twitter or catch up with the slides after everything has finished.

I think there is a lot to say for physically attending a conference, however. Seeing things in a real-world environment is (for me, anyway) a positive, more engaging experience. I tend to interact more with what's said and with the people with whom I'm attending the conference. Even the very act of committing to attending a conference means I make preparations that I have to stick with. I find that I engage more with people in the field and take away points of interest that I may not do if I am checking out live tweets on my phone.

Of course, it can be difficult to get time to attend conferences, especially if you're in a full-time job. And if you're not in a full-time job, it can still be difficult, especially if there is a fee to attend (although many will offer bursaries or reduced fees for unemployed or those still in education). Another issue can be location. That conference in Sheffield may look very attractive, but you will have to add transport costs and time, which may make it somewhat less attractive.

Some practical issues

I tend to come to conferences with my phone, some paper and a pen. I take notes of things that I might want to follow up on during questions (or after the conference). Caroline Rowan’s Rudai post has a great idea that you should take notes of people you meet and what area they are working in. I have that terrible affliction that causes me to immediately forget people’s names even as they are being introduced to me.

An example of tweets during a recent LAICDG conference

On breaks from the conference (and sometimes during the talks), if I have a spare moment I will try and see what’s happening online, share my thoughts and interact with others (either at the conference or those who couldn’t attend).

I'm quite lucky in that I can reasonably expect to attend a conference, providing there is adequate cover in work and that the conference is broadly suited to my career development. I find that I got the most from conferences that I attended where I was required to write up a brief description of the day for a Committee that I was involved with at the time. I have attended conferences since, and while I take brief notes, and usually participate online, I have definitely noticed that my engagement isn't as complete as it was before. Another important aspect of conferences is the opportunity to talk to people that you don't know and don't interact with on a regular basis. This can be difficult to do at the best of times, but it's important to get outside of your comfort zone.

Rudaí23 thing#11: Reflective practice

The reflective practice for this week is perhaps particularly relevant to me. As I’m writing this, Rudaí 23 has finished and I’m still not even halfway through. I’m came late to the course, and this definitely had an impact on viewing some of the things as being relevant (like catching up on live tweeting events or participating in online broadcasts with all the other bloggers). I also seemed to coincide my engagement with Rudaí 23 with other ‘career development’ things like learning Irish. The points about time management in the reflective practice definitely apply here!

My biggest issue, however, is with the specifics of blogging. For a while there, I had a fair few posts in the ‘draft’ phase, while I tweaked them, looked at how others were approaching the same material, and even spent some ill-advised time looking for the perfect photo accompaniment for the particular blog post. I have been a sporadic user of blogging over the last decade or so, and whenever it comes to the more public types of blogs, I hesitate. I need to remind myself of the point that Siobhan mentioned in the Rudaí 23 post that not everybody is reading my blog. That is both heartening and disheartening.

Let’s hope this post doesn’t stay in blog purgatory for too long.

Rudaí23 thing#10: Live streaming

The last few 'things' on the Rudaí23 list have been very interesting, and have definitely allowed me to experience areas that I either hadn't experienced before, or had never seen them as tools that I could use in the library world. This brings us to live streaming. And of course live streaming is something that could be used in the library world.

Professional live streaming

Live streaming library conferences makes sense, particularly the more popular ones. Of course, popularity means a lot of disappointed people who won't be able to make it, but there are also many of us who have other commitments that we can't get out of, or sometimes issues like cost or distance come into play.

Professional live streaming also makes sense for the organisers. It can help engage with people who traditional don't (or can't) attend events and it increases 'attendance' (if we're so heavily invested in the digital world, shouldn't digital attendance count?)

A more personal streaming service?

The introductory video on Periscope of course focuses on short videos to entice you to sign up, but

beyond the nice glossy videos, what does it do?

Firstly, it's important to know that it's linked to your Twitter account, so you'll need one before you get started. After that, it's remarkably straight forward.

Periscope is a very easy-to-use app. All you need is a good WiFi connection, and you're good to go. What is particularly appealing about it is its connectivity. You can see who's logging on and you can send messages. I think it would be a very useful addition to a conference that's being live streamed.

Like with any application, the positives of Periscope depends on its popularity. If it's successful, then it's a legitimate option that libraries should use, depending on their user base.