Comments for Musings about librarianship http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay Bumbling through the library world Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:40:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 Comment on Sharing links with users – 8 different ways by Gino Carpio http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/2009/09/30/sharing-links-with-users-8-different-ways/comment-page-1/#comment-69 Gino Carpio Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:40:12 +0000 http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/?p=513#comment-69 i am also fond of sharing links on Facebook. but filtered it to news.. Nice article again Aaron.. Keep up i am also fond of sharing links on Facebook. but filtered it to news..
Nice article again Aaron.. Keep up

]]> Comment on Libraries on FriendFeed by Gino Carpio http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/2009/04/12/libraries-on-friendfeed/comment-page-1/#comment-68 Gino Carpio Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:36:06 +0000 http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/?p=256#comment-68 Hi Aaron, Thank you for sharing this article. really informative. I am using friendfeed also... and linked in all my social media accounts.. somehow it helps my blog drives traffic. Here my blog: http://www.clicktrue.biz/blog a Online Marketing Company Hi Aaron,

Thank you for sharing this article. really informative. I am using friendfeed also… and linked in all my social media accounts.. somehow it helps my blog drives traffic.

Here my blog: http://www.clicktrue.biz/blog
a Online Marketing Company

]]> Comment on GoogleWave – First thoughts by Gino Carpio http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/2009/11/04/googlewave-first-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Gino Carpio Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:33:29 +0000 http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/?p=524#comment-67 I requested for google wave account. it has been a month but still google is not replying. cant wait.. people gave good review out of it. I requested for google wave account. it has been a month but still google is not replying. cant wait.. people gave good review out of it.

]]> Comment on Subject guides on web 2.0 startup pages – 12 widgets by Gino Carpio http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/2009/04/29/subject-guides-on-web-20-startup-pages-12-widgets/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Gino Carpio Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:31:31 +0000 http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/?p=347#comment-66 i dont see anything bad of search engines / wikis coming in replace of books.... sad, but online really gives more information and more resources. What do you think guys? gino - clickTRUE http://www.clicktrue.biz i dont see anything bad of search engines / wikis coming in replace of books…. sad, but online really gives more information and more resources.

What do you think guys?

gino – clickTRUE
http://www.clicktrue.biz

]]> Comment on Aggregating sources for academic research in a web 2.0 world by ken mcewan http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/2009/07/21/aggregating-sources-for-academic-research-in-a-web-20-world/comment-page-1/#comment-65 ken mcewan Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:05:03 +0000 http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/?p=424#comment-65 Very interesting post on the sourcing of information in the web2.0 area. One other possible source that can sometimes shortcut/aggregate all the RSS one ends with is the use of one of the brand/keyphrase monitoring tools. While mainly for brand monitoring if a specific/relevant term for the field of research is used then it can uncover new information on that topic - and all in one feed. Very interesting post on the sourcing of information in the web2.0 area. One other possible source that can sometimes shortcut/aggregate all the RSS one ends with is the use of one of the brand/keyphrase monitoring tools. While mainly for brand monitoring if a specific/relevant term for the field of research is used then it can uncover new information on that topic – and all in one feed.

]]> Comment on Livechat software – beyond Meebo by The Only Live Chat Software That Sends Text Messages. | 7Wins.eu http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/2009/03/29/livechat-software-beyond-meebo/comment-page-1/#comment-53 The Only Live Chat Software That Sends Text Messages. | 7Wins.eu Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:37:03 +0000 http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/?p=80#comment-53 [...] Livechat software – beyond Meebo | Musings about librarianship [...] [...] Livechat software – beyond Meebo | Musings about librarianship [...]

]]> Comment on The Librarian at the reference desk. How do you manage your workflow at the reference desk? by Deborah Fitchett http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/2009/10/21/the-librarian-at-the-reference-desk-how-do-you-manage-your-workflow-at-the-reference-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-52 Deborah Fitchett Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:26:58 +0000 http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/?p=521#comment-52 I can get quite carried away with tabs too on my own computer, but on the front desk I've only got an hour so it doesn't *usually* start going off the screen... With the dual monitors, what I think would mostly be ideal for us is to keep the swivel one as the main one we do our private work on so that the dual monitor ones can be on all the time, showing the library homepage as the default. (Well, what would be *really* good would be if a. the outward facing monitor could have its own screensaver separate from what was showing on the staff screen, and b. the staff screen had an icon that showed whether the outward facing monitor was transmitting or just in screensaver mode. But that would require custom software I guess.) One thing re the pointing is, once you get off the habit, students seem not to need you pointing, they seem quite able to follow what's going on without it. I hadn't expected that actually but I've noticed it several times. I can get quite carried away with tabs too on my own computer, but on the front desk I’ve only got an hour so it doesn’t *usually* start going off the screen…

With the dual monitors, what I think would mostly be ideal for us is to keep the swivel one as the main one we do our private work on so that the dual monitor ones can be on all the time, showing the library homepage as the default. (Well, what would be *really* good would be if a. the outward facing monitor could have its own screensaver separate from what was showing on the staff screen, and b. the staff screen had an icon that showed whether the outward facing monitor was transmitting or just in screensaver mode. But that would require custom software I guess.)

One thing re the pointing is, once you get off the habit, students seem not to need you pointing, they seem quite able to follow what’s going on without it. I hadn’t expected that actually but I’ve noticed it several times.

]]> Comment on The Librarian at the reference desk. How do you manage your workflow at the reference desk? by Aaron Tay http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/2009/10/21/the-librarian-at-the-reference-desk-how-do-you-manage-your-workflow-at-the-reference-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Aaron Tay Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:41:06 +0000 http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/?p=521#comment-51 Deborah, Lisa thanks for the comments. >I haven’t noticed anyone being confused that there are also tabs open for Camelot/Microsoft/Twitter/ I guess it depends on how insane you are with open tabs and windows, I'm quite horrific when it comes to such matters. A user or two had commented on this before. >That said, recently we’ve added screens facing the customers to our less-used stations, and that’s taken some getting used to. So far we’re mostly leaving them turned off and only turn them on when needed; this is awkward though because we lose track of when they’re on and off, and they take a few seconds to warm up; plus it just looks ugly. OTOH leaving them on all the time does have the potential to share information that shouldn’t be shared. Coincidentally the same thing has being implemented here with dual screens, one facing the customer. We seems to have nearly identical systems and my thoughts mirror yours, I also keep it turn off mostly, but it takes a few seconds to warm up which I find annoying. Plus the potential for confusion. I also have this habit of pointing to the screen, which looks stupid now since the user isn't looking at the same screen :) Lisa, bringing in laptops or other devices is an interesting option I didn't consider. Our information desks have a dual monitor system, but our reception desks (the ones stationed at the exit) don't. Deborah, Lisa thanks for the comments.

>I haven’t noticed anyone being confused that there are also tabs open for Camelot/Microsoft/Twitter/

I guess it depends on how insane you are with open tabs and windows, I’m quite horrific when it comes to such matters. A user or two had commented on this before.

>That said, recently we’ve added screens facing the customers to our less-used stations, and that’s taken some getting used to. So far we’re mostly leaving them turned off and only turn them on when needed; this is awkward though because we lose track of when they’re on and off, and they take a few seconds to warm up; plus it just looks ugly. OTOH leaving them on all the time does have the potential to share information that shouldn’t be shared.

Coincidentally the same thing has being implemented here with dual screens, one facing the customer. We seems to have nearly identical systems and my thoughts mirror yours, I also keep it turn off mostly, but it takes a few seconds to warm up which I find annoying. Plus the potential for confusion.

I also have this habit of pointing to the screen, which looks stupid now since the user isn’t looking at the same screen :)

Lisa, bringing in laptops or other devices is an interesting option I didn’t consider. Our information desks have a dual monitor system, but our reception desks (the ones stationed at the exit) don’t.

]]> Comment on The Librarian at the reference desk. How do you manage your workflow at the reference desk? by Lisa Philpotts http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/2009/10/21/the-librarian-at-the-reference-desk-how-do-you-manage-your-workflow-at-the-reference-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Lisa Philpotts Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:38:23 +0000 http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/?p=521#comment-50 Great question, Aaron. I've still been trying to figure out which approach I like best. Some of my work involves using programs I have installed in my office computer that aren't available at the reference desk, so I've been using the remote desktop feature as of late. Also, many of the librarians at my workplace are fortunate enough to have employer provided laptops, so they bring their laptops down to the desk and only use the reference desk computers when they're working with a patron. Since I don't have a work provided laptop, I've sometimes gone as far as to bring in my personal laptop to remote desktop with just so I can leave the desk computer monitor swiveled outwards towards the patron at all times. Just about any question that doesn't fall into the directional category involves me demonstrating something on the computer, so it's more convenient that way. Great question, Aaron. I’ve still been trying to figure out which approach I like best. Some of my work involves using programs I have installed in my office computer that aren’t available at the reference desk, so I’ve been using the remote desktop feature as of late. Also, many of the librarians at my workplace are fortunate enough to have employer provided laptops, so they bring their laptops down to the desk and only use the reference desk computers when they’re working with a patron.

Since I don’t have a work provided laptop, I’ve sometimes gone as far as to bring in my personal laptop to remote desktop with just so I can leave the desk computer monitor swiveled outwards towards the patron at all times. Just about any question that doesn’t fall into the directional category involves me demonstrating something on the computer, so it’s more convenient that way.

]]> Comment on The Librarian at the reference desk. How do you manage your workflow at the reference desk? by Deborah Fitchett http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/2009/10/21/the-librarian-at-the-reference-desk-how-do-you-manage-your-workflow-at-the-reference-desk/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Deborah Fitchett Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:41:14 +0000 http://blog.nus.edu.sg/aarontay/?p=521#comment-49 The screen we use the most is on a swivel: normally it faces the staff, but when we're working with someone we can swivel it to them. This is important anyway because our desk is a combo reference/lending desks. So my workflow is: Someone approaches, I look up, greet them, and work out what they want: a) they're returning a book - I take it and they wander away while I do my thing; b) they're borrowing a book - I get it from the shelf, alt-tab to our check-out program, and turn the screen to them while they're still hunting for their library card. Then I can issue the book and they can see the due date; when they leave, I swivel the screen back to me and alt-tab back to Firefox. c) they've got a reference query - I ctrl-T to open a new tab showing our library homepage and turn the screen to them. I haven't noticed anyone being confused that there are also tabs open for Camelot/Microsoft/Twitter/A Newbie's Guide to.../The Librarian at... - we're just focusing on the page to hand. That said, recently we've added screens facing the customers to our less-used stations, and that's taken some getting used to. So far we're mostly leaving them turned off and only turn them on when needed; this is awkward though because we lose track of when they're on and off, and they take a few seconds to warm up; plus it just looks ugly. OTOH leaving them on all the time does have the potential to share information that shouldn't be shared. So, dunno - still working out the kinks in that. The screen we use the most is on a swivel: normally it faces the staff, but when we’re working with someone we can swivel it to them. This is important anyway because our desk is a combo reference/lending desks.

So my workflow is: Someone approaches, I look up, greet them, and work out what they want:

a) they’re returning a book – I take it and they wander away while I do my thing;

b) they’re borrowing a book – I get it from the shelf, alt-tab to our check-out program, and turn the screen to them while they’re still hunting for their library card. Then I can issue the book and they can see the due date; when they leave, I swivel the screen back to me and alt-tab back to Firefox.

c) they’ve got a reference query – I ctrl-T to open a new tab showing our library homepage and turn the screen to them. I haven’t noticed anyone being confused that there are also tabs open for Camelot/Microsoft/Twitter/A Newbie’s Guide to…/The Librarian at… – we’re just focusing on the page to hand.

That said, recently we’ve added screens facing the customers to our less-used stations, and that’s taken some getting used to. So far we’re mostly leaving them turned off and only turn them on when needed; this is awkward though because we lose track of when they’re on and off, and they take a few seconds to warm up; plus it just looks ugly. OTOH leaving them on all the time does have the potential to share information that shouldn’t be shared. So, dunno – still working out the kinks in that.

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