USF SLIS: East Coast Connection

 On March 26, I attended the DCLA  Library Fair http://library1.fiu.edu/DCLA. It was held at Carlos Abizu University, and I was able to attend 3 out of the 5 lectures. I saw Engaging the User to Help Build Your Website, Designing Library Spaces to Enhance Learning, and Burn the OPAC.

 Three FIU librarians told us about how they used students to help redesign their website. First of all, they had to get students involved. In order to do that, they have to be bribed, usually with a Starbucks coupon. After getting 5-10 students to form a focus group, the study can begin. Throughout the course of the webdesign process, numerous focus groups will be necessary. The focus groups have different responsibilities based on the stage of the project. The first group works on brainstorming. They throwout ideas in order to tell the designers what they want. The next group provides feedback on the website, and the last group gives a more detailed feedback. Two people take notes as individuals attempt to use the website. The users are given tasks to complete, and as they are completing them, the designers encourage them to discuss what they are doing and why. These days it is essential to have user input when designing a website, and with a little bit of effort, and a couple hundred dollars worth of Starbucks coupons, the library can get a website that it's users can use.

 Glendora Phipps is the directory of the Miami Dade College Library at the Hialeah Campus. We talked about a number of design trends in libraries. One interesting one she wants to try in her library is "deskless" reference. This encourges the reference librarians to be more interactive with the students and to play a more interactive role. She is also a big fan of mobile furniture, and most importantly slat walls. I could not agree more with the last one. Slat walls, are basically book displays. I've never understood why libraries do not capitalize on the beauty of the books in their collection. Fortunately, this trend is beginning to take hold, and I would like to see more of it.

Finally George Pearson presented Burn the Catalog. Most of what he told us we've all heard or thought by now, but he did it in a fun way. Like most of us, his criticisms create more questions than they provide answers, but it is important that we get the momentum rolling on our outdated OPACs. We talked about some of the current trends in library catalog. Some of the more important ones are simple searching, incorporating folksonomies, more forgiveness in spelling, organizing the internet, and integrating web resources into the catalog.

 The whole thing was a positive experience. My only complaints are that I wish it was longer, so I could have attended all of the lectures, and I also thought it was disproportionately geared towards academic libraries. I was very encouraged by the enthusiastic response of the attendees, and I look forward to attending many more professional conferences.

DCLA Library Fair

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Carlos Albizu University, Doral

Join your local colleagues for an informative morning program featuring

Keynote speaker: Laura Probst, Dean of Libraries, Florida International University.

  Lunch session: “Burn the Catalog!” presented by George Pearson

In the 1980's, the OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) was a cutting edge gateway that provided entry to the world of library resources.  Today, it is cursed by staff, dismissed by administration, and ignored by users.  How did the OPAC fall so far, so fast?  What would a good OPAC look like?  How do we get one?  Join FIU Librarian George Pearson for a rollicking look at all things OPAC.

Plus, your choice of two of the following hour-long concurrent sessions:

 Session I:   Online Consumer Health Information

                   Presented by Carla M. Clark, Librarian, Miami Dade College, Medical Center Campus

Today, all of us, as health consumers, have less face-to-face time with medical providers, have better access to health information, and are increasingly seen as active consumers rather than passive recipients of treatment and care.  Therefore, it is critically important to know how to identify quality health information sources and use the information to make wise health decisions. 

      In this session, learn more about who is seeking health information online and what exactly is being sought.  We will examine how to locate and evaluate health information written at varying  literacy levels, in multiple languages, and in various formats.

 Session II:   Creating Library Spaces to Enhance Learning

                         Presented by Glendora Phipps, Library Director, Miami Dade College Hialeah Campus

The changing role of libraries is reflected in their changing design.  Take a tour that explores how  higher educational institutions are putting learning at the center by creating spaces that prompt specific learning outcomes.  Also shared are techniques for renovating a library (public or educational) to excite, engage, and enthrall on a limited budget.

 Session III:  Particpatory Web Design: Engaging Users in Your Library Website Makeover

                         Presented by FIU Librarians Sarah Jane Hammill, Marissa Ball, and Annie Paprocki
Does a redesign of your library website seem daunting?  Not sure where to start? Not sure how to ensure your end-users are involved in the process?  This session will detail the  Website Redesign Project at FIU Libraries and how it involved end-users in the process.

 Session IV:  Wiki Rookies: Approaches for Learning Through Collaboration

Presented by Douglas W. Cornwell, Palm Beach Community College

At Palm Beach Community College Lake Worth Library, a wiki prototype was introduced in Fall 2007. PantherLearn utilizes the strengths of wiki technology to encourage collaboration between library faculty, classroom faculty, and students when completing class assignments.  The wiki was utilized as an information resource for students assigned library research projects in various disciplines.  This session will define wikis, provide examples of wikis used in education, and focus on the prototype PantherLearn wiki being developed at PBCC Lake Worth Library.  Participants will create a basic wiki and be able to identify some tips, tricks, and pitfalls when using a wiki software program.

Registration

Deadline for registration is Friday, March 20, 2008

The Library Fair is free for DCLA members, $5.00 for non-members.

Non-members may pay at the door.

Lunch generously provided by Carlos Albizu University.

To register, please e-mail Jenny Saxton at jsaxton@mdc.edu with the following information:

Name

Institution 

Phone Number

Fax

E-mail

Please prioritize the sessions you are interested in (1 - 4) so that you may be grouped:

Session I:      Online Consumer Health Information

Session II:     Creating Library Spaces to Enhance Learning 

Session III:    Participatory Web Design: Engaging Users in Your Library Website Makeover

Session IV:    Wiki Rookies: Approaches for Learning Through Collaboration

 To join DCLA or renew your membership, visit

http://library1.fiu.edu/DCLA/membership.html

 For more information, please contact:

Jenny Saxton

Miami Dade College Kendall Campus

Phone: (305) 237-2075

Fax: (305) 237-2923

jsaxton@mdc.edu

Address & Directions

Carlos Albizu University

2173 NW 99^th Ave

Miami, FL 33172

(305) 593-1223