What

1
Whats Hot in Technology

• Sarah Houghton, MA, MLIS
• Information and Web Services Manager,
• San Mateo County Library
• Librarian in Black http//www.librarianinblack.ne
  t

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Why are you here?

• Im here to talk to you about the hottest
  technology in and out of libraries.
• And you have to listen to me ?
• Well, at least try to pretend youre listening

3
Device Convergence

• Phones are Cameras are MP3 Players are PDAs are
  DVD players are Game Devices
• with IM, text messaging, e-mail, web browsers,
  GPS, Bluetooth, and WiFi.
• How small can they go?

4
ePaper

• Flexible plastic with the look, resolution, and
  feel of paper
• Will revolutionize how information is
  distributed, stored, and viewed

5
Cool USB Devices

• USB external hard drives
• JumpDrive Encrypted Vault
• USB wireless headphones
• USB T.V. tuner
• USB LED projector
• USB hand warmer
• USB car key Mazda
• USB air purifier
• USB beverage warmer
• USB EasyBake Oven

6
Podcasting

• Audio content online (delivered to user)
• What You Need
• Computer with a microphone
• Audio-recording software (like Audacity)
• A way to post your podcast feed and deliver it
  via RSS
• Podcasting and Libraries
• Many libraries already doing it
• Open Stacks blog http//openstacks.net/os/

7
Social Software

• Conversational interactions between individuals
• Creates a sense of community
• Instant messaging, recommendation engines,
  feedback engines, Friendster, del.icio.us,
  MySpace, Wikipedia, Slashdot
• This is the strength of the web
• Where can libraries play a role?
• MySpace profiles, IM reference, user reviews in
  the catalog, use del.icio.us for recommended
  websites

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One take on social software
9
Another take on social software
10
Digital Rights Management

• AKA Digital Restrictions Management
• Arrangements which allow electronic format
  content vendors to control the material and
  restrict its usage
• Issues with Preservation of Data
• Encryption, passwords, proprietary formats
• Issues with Accessibility of Data
• Mac vs. PC, downloadable audio in libraries

11
Ubiquitous Wireless

• Philadelphia 10 - 20 per month
• San Francisco - Free
• Portland - 20 per month
• Manassas, Va. - Broadband Over Power Lines
• Oakland County, Michigan - Free
• Legislation
• Role for Libraries?

12
Search Extensions

• Nifty add-ons for search engines and browsers
• Open published interfaces
• The Big Gorilla Google
• Gmail, Google Suggest, Google Maps
• OCLC WorldCat
• Google search box Catalog search box
• Rule of the day mash up code/content to fit your
  own needs

13
Bridging the Digital Divide

• Whats Next?
• Opening Up Public Computers
• Unlock drives, downloads, installations, and
  ports
• Use software "computer security" like DeepFreeze
• More Hardware
• Scanners, speakers, headphones
• More Software
• Alternative Browsers (Firefox, Opera)
• Digital Imaging Programs
• PowerPoint, Excel, Access
• CD-burning software

14
Lightweight Virtual Reference

• Heavyweight web-based library chat products
  (coughPoint, coughtor.com, coughutek)
• expensive, glitches, delays, frequent
  disconnects)
• Instant Messaging
• Your patrons are already there
• Library doesnt IM? For some, thats like not
  having a phone
• Jybe
• Browser toolbarchat co-browsing
• SMS
• Cell phone text messaging

15
Open Source Projects

• ILS Open Source software
• Koha
• LearningAccess ILS
• Avanti
• OpenBiblio
• phpmylibrary
• Emilda
• Evergreen OPAC
• Operating system Linux
• Productivity software OpenOffice
• Blog software Word Press
• Open Source product Wikipedia
• Chat software Inter Chat V.3

16
eBooks, eMusic, and eVideo

• DRM still causing problems
• Accessibility for people with disabilities
• Bandwith problems
• Cross-platform compatibility being demanded by
  consumers librarians
• Downloadable audio and video content
• Overdrive, Recorded Books, Apple
• Imagine a completely self-sufficient e-branch!

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An OPAC that doesnt suck

• User expectations of speed, simplicity, relevancy
• OPACs should work just as well--fast, relevant,
  complete
• RedLightGreen (simple keyword searching, FRBR
  records, relevancy ranking, citation tools)
• Roy Tennant, Andrew K. Pace, Karen Schneider
• An OPAC from OCLC?

18
10 Year Outlook

• Ubiquitous Wireless
• Cheap PCs Increase in PC ownership
• Convergence of devices and content
• Everything is portable
• Library websites and online resources for the
  high-end consumer

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• Questions?
• Contact Sarah any time
• E-mail sarahfaery_at_hotmail.com
• IM LibrarianInBlack (AOL, Yahoo!, MSN)