Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Web 2.0 & HPL
How would you feel if instead of subject resources, the topic was exploring Web 2.0 technologies. For example, you had to create your own blog, open del.ic.ious, Facebook and Flickr accounts? How about downloading audiobooks on your MP3 device? Many public libraries including Harris County has started a series of Learning 2.0 tools to engage their staff and patrons. Feel free to post your comments.
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9 comments:
If it's good enough for Harris County, it's good enough for us! Expanding our web technologies knowlege certainly could come in handy for those librarians not proficient in that area.
Since Heritage Quest can be searched at home with a current Power card, it is used by many of our patrons for census information. When searching the census, there are a few things to keep in mind that may make the job easier.
The program defaults into “Search” mode. The list of available census years on the left is for those years that are searchable. Note that 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, and part of 1930 are not there. To see these years, you must go into “Browse” mode (to the right of “Search”). You will be able to drill down by year, state, county, and location. From there, you must go page by page. In 1930, Texas is searchable.
For those years that are searchable, remember that Heritage Quest is indexed by head of household only. Head of household is generally defined as the person responsible for the care of the home and family or anyone else in the house with a different last name.
There is no soundex capability available in Heritage Quest. It searches for exactly what you key in. If you don’t find “John James Bienville”, try to imagine how the census taker might have spelled the name. (You’d be surprised at some of the odd spellings.) Maybe they went by a nickname or by their initials. Don’t give up after only a few tries.
Elizabeth Porter
When can we start doing this? To me this is true 2.0 learning. Database is reference work not learning new technologies. I can learn how to use my new Zune to help patrons download ebooks to their MP3 players.
Melissa Hayes
Melissa we will start 2.0 topics next month. We wanted to have some fun while learning which is the best way to explore new technologies. Stay tuned - more information will be posted once we finalize our plans but it will definitely entail learning how to blog, photosharing using Flickr, some new fun websites etc. Thanks for your comments.
Before sending your customers intent on genealogy to Clayton, please tell them a version of the following:
Be sure to talk to your relatives before beginning your research. There may be an old family Bible, a relative who routinely keeps all documents (like notices of dance recitals, birth announcements, etc.), an old family friend/neighbor who knows the whole family...
Many times, our customers come in with little or no information on their past. We usually start people in the 1930 US Census. Without info, or very little info, we may not be able to find their relatives or be unable to determine which is their relative.
Of course, if they have no way to get any info, we'll do our best.
Elizabeth Porter
I would like the new stuff, and I'd like to keep learning databases. Pamela
I was exploring the HPL website and under Services, I came across DVS Video (on the left-hand side), which is described as follows:
"The DVS® Video Collection consists of popular VHS videos enhanced with DVS® technology, including feature films and documentaries suitable for both children and adults."
Are there not DVD's with this service, and if so, should we incldue that in our description since we have weeded out the vast majority of our VHS's?
Because I like to know how the enemy operates, ;-) I went exploring Harris County Public Library's iStar page and found a tutorial for the Overdrive Digital Media database (http://www.overdrive.com/products/dlr/tour/).
I've always been curious to find out if Overdrive's downloadable media can be transferred to an iPod, but it seems like the answer is no:
"Unfortunately the iPod does not support DRM-protected Windows Media Audio (WMA) files, the format in which our audio titles are delivered."
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