Sunday, June 01, 2008

Canadian Book Collecting Contest

Have you heard about the first annual National Book Collecting Contest?

The National Book-Collecting Contest was created by the Bibliographical Society of Canada (BSC) to encourage young Canadians to collect books and study the discipline of researching and writing bibliographies.

The Contest is only open to Canadians under thirty years of age.

First prize is $2,500.

Entries have to be submitted by 2 March 2009.

More information here from the Alcuin Society.

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Firefox Extensions for the Web

Working on web sites with a lot of CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is easier with three Firefox extensions:

1. Firebug, which allows you to inspect the code on a page by a point-and-click interface; it's like "looking under the hood" of a web site, but instead of trying to figure out what CSS (and other code) applies to the item you are interested in, you just click on that part of the page to find out.

2. Web Developer allows you to use Firefox to analyze a web site, but I find it useful to understand the layout of a page, since it will colour-code the different sections.

3. ColorZilla is a simple tool that fulfills one function very well - if you ever customize a page for a client, then you may want to have a specific colour. Instead of trying to determine the hex HTML code for the colour, simply point and click on a site to find out.

4. Meebo in Firefox allows instant messaging within your browser, which facilitates virtual reference, but also work in general on web sites, since one can upload changes to a site using other tools and IM with co-workers.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Commenting Features in Digital Collections

Searching for examples of public institutions, library or archival, which have added a commenting feature to their digital collection or catalogue is not easy! Type in any variation of the comment in a blog search engine, and you will likely retrieve every blog in existence because blogs often allow visitors to add a comment. Working with digitization blog, we wanted to compose a list of public institutions, particularly ones with digital collections, that offer a "add a comment" feature. If a picture is worth a 1,000 words, then a commenting feature in a digital collection may be priceless! Imagine how many visitors to a digital collection may have a story to tell about an image.

A commenting feature allows users to post a message on a web site for others to read. A visitor submits a message, which may be reviewed by an editor or screened by a filter, and the approved comments are displayed, often in chronological order, on the web site for the general public. Some commenting features require a person to type in a series of random, distorted letters (also known as CAPTCHA) in order to minimize the risk of spam. A commenting feature may also require some form of registration before a person is allowed to read or write a message.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We conducted a blog search to identify seven institutions worldwide using an “add comment” feature to enhance their collection. Let us know if there is another library or archive that we missed, since we plan on conducting a Delphi study:

1. Polar Bear Expedition Digital Collections

2. Edmonton Activist Literature (Streetprint)

3. ERITREAN PRINT AND ORAL CULTURE (Streeprint)

4. Scrawl: Artwork from the Streets (Streetprint)

5. Hennepin County Library

A special thanks to LibrarianInBlack for writing about the commenting feature on Hennepin's web site in her blog, which was the first post that I found when searching for commenting features.

Another special thanks to Archivemati.ca for pointing out two more examples:

6. Zoekplaatjes.nl – municipal archives hosts a forum allowing visitors to comment on unidentified photographs.

7. The Diary of Samuel Pepys - blog for the digitized Gutenberg Project version of Samuel Pepys diary allowing visitors to annotate text.

Also, thanks to Jen P. for pointing out another digital collection offering a commenting feature:

8. Hudson River Valley Heritage. Some actual comments selected by Jen P. as examples: http://www.hrvh.org/u?/larc,81

This list is the start of more research into commenting features, since a lot of librarians seem to be curious about what works and what doesn't. The spark for our project to look more closely as commenting features came about as we evaluated options for making an existing digital collection more "Web 2.0ish" At one point, it looked liked we were going to turn our collection into a Flickr-like web site, so read the next post, which revolves around the question of how should we evaluate Flickr as a host for digital collections, as opposed to an open source solution, such as StreetPrint (University of Alberta).

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Flickr as a Digital Collection Host

Several libraries use Flickr, and the idea of using Flickr to manage and display a digital collection is not new. A Google search of: flickr "digital collection" returns its first result as a blog post from October 2005 with the title Flickr as a digital collection hosting example, where the author suggests a "...practical example of what libraries could do with Flickr from a small digital collection perspective." We know it is possible to use Flickr to host a digital collection, but when should we use Flickr? How would we recognize a potential digital collection as being ideally suited for hosting on Flickr? What criteria should we use to evaluate Flickr as a host?

In an attempt to answer the question, “When should libraries use Flickr to host digital collections?” a brief search of the professional literature was conducted. A search of the library literature in three major databases does not result in many articles on Flickr, which is in contrast to the hundreds, if not thousands, of blog postings about it.

SEARCH STRATEGY

Here are the results of a quick search for articles on Flickr in three databases using a simple keyword search: flickr OR flick*r

1. Library Literature & Information Science with Full Text
-flickr (2 results)
-flick*r (5 results)

The subject heading suggested by the thesaurus when we search for “Flickr” was Internet/Terminology.

2. Library and Information Science Abstracts (LISA)

-flickr (3 results)
-flick*r (9 results)

LISA offered a specific subject heading for the organization, or corporate entity: Flickr.com

3. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts (LISTA)

· flic*r (41 results)
· flickr (13 results)

LISTA applied several subject headings, with no discernable conformity, to articles mentioning Flickr. Here is a sample: DIGITAL images; PHOTOGRAPHY -- Computer network resources; PHOTOGRAPHY -- Digital techniques; PHOTOGRAPHY -- Social aspects; SOCIAL networks; FILE sharing (Computers); IMAGES, Photographic, etc. Also, FLICKR Online (Company) was a subject heading.

ARTICLES

From the search strategy describe above, a few articles on Flickr were retrieved. Aside from a review of a book on Flickr in Library Journal, what did we find relevant?

1. Harris, C. “Flickr and BubbleShare: Photo-sharing sites.” School Library Journal 52, no. 7 (July 2006): 19.

Briefly explores Flickr as a digital collection host for libraries: “This is your chance to jump onboard at your library. If the technical benefits of picture hosting and sharing aren't enough to excite you, imagine creating a rotating display of student pictures on your library's Web site.” A short article, but one of the only articles to focus on Flickr. Many articles discuss “social software,” or Web 2.0, so it stands out when an article concentrates on one tool. As we move from awareness of these tools, and some of them become more established, then perhaps we shall see specific articles?

2. Sauers, Michael. “Internet connection. Fun with Flickr.” Action for Libraries 32, no. 3 (Mar 2006).

Tools used by searchers using Flickr are listed. I was unable to read the full-text of this article, so I only read the abstract.

CONSIDERATIONS

A much broader literature search is needed before any conclusions may be drawn, and by “broader,” it would seem that any research on Flickr as a potential host of digital collections sponsored by libraries has to be conducted in blogs and listservs for now.

From the perspective of evaluating Flickr as a sustainable host for digital collections put up by libraries, here are some points to keep in mind from Flickr’s FAQs:

--a free version is “guaranteed” to always exist
--using the free version, one may only upload 20 MB per month
--inactive free accounts may be deleted after 90 days of inactivity
--free accounts only display up to 200 photos, or the 200 most recent
--photos will not be deleted unless you delete them
--each photo must be less than 5 MB (on the free account)
--TIFFs can be uploaded, which is most likely the format being scanned for master copies by institutions maintaining a digital collection, but they are converted and stored as JPEGs (the most likely format used to display images in a digital collection)
--Flickr offers many copyright options, and one can even prevent people from downloading the images.

Based on the information above, it would seem that a digital collection could be hosted, managed, and maintained on Flickr. At the same time, there are limitations that should be planned for when considering Flickr as a host.

The success of using Flickr to host a digital collection, like any other hosting solution, depends on what it is being used for by librarians (e.g. photographs of your library, community events, etc.). Flickr offers libraries with limited resources and staffing an opportunity to provide access to a small digital collection. Although “digital collection” has not been defined here, our perception is that libraries have used Flickr as an online photo album, but what about using Flickr to host a digital collection in place of a more traditional solution, such as a server and content management system (e.g. CONTENTdm, Streetprint.org, MySQL-backed web site, etc.)? Flickr makes it easy to upload images, and it enhances them with commenting, tagging, and searching features.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

Your Mission: Choose a Wiki for your Library

picture of deer in tall grass Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to select, evaluate, and implement a wiki for a library project. You have only a few hours! Here is a quick guide.



What to read? Some useful articles on wikis in the library literature:

Brenda Chawner and Paul H. Lewis. “WikiWikiWebs: New Ways to Communicate in a Web Environment.” Information Technology and Libraries 25, no. 1 (2006): 33-43.

Current article on wikis comparing "...three wiki engines and seven case studies of real-world library and library-related Wild [wiki] applications." Selection criteria for wikis is discussed.

Fichter, Darlene. “Using Wikis to Support Online Collaboration in Libraries.” Information Outlook 10, no. 1 (January 2006): 30-31.

Frumkin, Jeremy. “Digital Libraries: Modern Practices, Future Visions. The Wiki and the Digital Library.” OCLC Systems & Services: International Digital Library Perspectives 21, no. 1 (2005): 18-22.

Mattison, David. “Quickiwiki, Swiki, Twiki, Zwiki, and the Plone Wars.” Searcher 11, no. 4 (2003): 32-48.

Excellent glossary and extensive links, the article reads like an HTML page instead of an essay. Not easy to read. Three interviews are conducted in the article, including one with Bo Leuf, author of The Wiki Way (2001), a book on wikis.


What to quote? In preparing a case for wiki use:

"Have you ever edited a Word document that has passed through a half dozen hands with 'track changes' on? It’s painful" (Fichter 2006). Ha, ha : )

"Moving from traditional Web site development to a Wiki... requires a substantial investment of time and effort. ...It might be useful to identify a short-list of potential Wiki engines, and install each on a trial basis before making a final decision" (Chawner and Lewis 2006, 8 of 15).


Decisions: although some authors (Chawner and Lewis 2006) report that other researchers have identified six types of wikis based on read/edit/access permissions, the following matrix represents four decisions:

chart showing four options for wikis: free or fee, server or web-hosted










Criteria: the list of criteria available when choosing a wiki is extensive (Chawner and Lewis 2006). Selected criteria appear:

-W3C standard compliant (XHTML and CSS)
-Database support
-RSS read and publish
-Read and edit control
-Page history (version control)
-Open source; free of advertisements
-Spam blocking options
-Extensive documentation supporting the wiki
-Mature development
-Community support
-Use by other libraries

By "community support," I mean that there are plug-ins, mods, etc. and new ones keep coming for use with that wiki; a forum is offered where you can seek advice, etc.


Selection: What are other libraries using in terms of wikis? Here is a list of wikis mentioned in the articles I read:

list of wikis being used by libraries






Summary: a few key points to make the case for a wiki.

The library literature agrees that wikis could be used by libraries to create “knowledge bases” (Fichter 2006, 31; Frumkin 2005, 19).

You will want a plan in place to encourage staff (or patrons) to use the wiki. Chawner and Lewis explain how to create the "right conditions" for wiki use.

Resources: wiki comparison

1. WikiMatrix
http://www.wikimatrix.org/

Allows a person to choose and compare multiple wiki applications, open source and commercial, side-by-side. Very helpful.

2. Wikipedia – Comparison of wiki software
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_wiki_software

Offers a long table comparing several features of "every" wiki available. Of course, when you read any Wikipedia article, it is a good idea to check the link "Related changes" (left-hand side in Wikipedia) to view the edits.

3. WikiWikiWeb, Ward Cunningham (a Wiki pioneer)
http://c2.com/cgi-bin/wiki

The "first" wiki page (if I read one article correctly) that covers all aspects of wikis. A strong community is behind this wiki, and the number of resources seems endless, but it would be a good place to visit if one had a technical question.

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Photograph: Can you spot the deer? I just like the picture that I took in BC's Interior. It has nothing to do with wikis.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Firefox Add-ons

I am making plans to migrate to a new blog, since this blog has served its purpose. Meanwhile, I will continue to post to this blog.

I spent my weekend looking through the more than 1,500 Firefox add-ons. I did not get through them all, but I did install a few that I found useful as a librarian living in Vancouver (in no particular order):

New

0. Hyperwords puts tools within one click of any idea you see on a web page. It is like embedding a search engine in your fingertips - you almost touch any word, phrase, or idea online and off you go!

Original Post

1. NoScript. Allows you to specify which web pages can run java. Useful for safe browsing and ad blocking.

2. Dublin Core Viewer. Allows you to display metadata on web sites. I already mentioned this on my blog.

3. Infocon Monitor is useful if you want to monitor the health of the Internet from SANS ISC.

4. eQuake. Alerts you to earthquakes around the world. Provides a link to the USGS. eQuake will even shake your browser (if you want). To turn off the shaking, click Tools > Extensions > click on eQuake > click on Options, and select "None."

5. mozCC automatically displays the Creative Commons license of the site you are viewing. Helps you determine the copyright status of a site.

6. 1-ClickWeather. Displays weather.com forecasts. You can customize a lot. Useful if you do not have a window in your office : (

7. etc. There are many more extensions that I find useful, but let me know if you found one out of the more than 1,500 that you think is great.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Move over Gutenberg

As I mentioned in my previous post, I attended the UBC e-Strategy Town Hall "20/20 Visions of 2010" on Thursday, June 22. Representatives from UBC Enrolment Services presented on WordPress, which is a "semantic personal publishing platform," according to WordPress. Translation: a cool tool for blogging! How cool? Check out what UBC is doing with WordPress, and read on.

The speakers were describing WordPress as a "content management system" (CMS), which puts WordPress in the company of other open source CMS, such as: Drupal, b2evolution, TikiWiki, MediaWiki (hint: MediaWiki powers Wikipedia), etc. Wikipedia offers a CMS comparison page. What's a content management system? A tool for web publishing that can be customized with plugins from the open source community. Translation: you can publish a web page in a few minutes for free! With WordPress, all you need is access to a server with PHP and MySQL,

With plugins, one can quickly and easily add neat features to your blog, wiki, or web site. Here are the WordPress plugins that UBC Enrolment Services found useful:

1. Category Icons
2. A spam filter (by WordPress creators)
3. A bread crumb trail
4. A backup
5. Ultimate Tag Warrior

As the speakers noted, plugins must be carefully evaluated before installing them. Read the version history or development notes, FAQ, user comments, privacy policy, and terms of use, etc. Here are some lists of WordPress plugins.