Rob and I really enjoyed our time in Springfield, MA. Thanks to everyone who attended our sessions, 21 Ideas for 21st Century Librariesand Teen Third Place. We hope you found the sessions useful. Let us know if you have any questions.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the 2010 conference, if not before.
5/14/2009
Inspirational Space in Lancashire, England
The Lancashire Libraries Youth Space team in England commissioned design practice Mooch to work with local young people to generate ideas and concepts that would inform the new spaces.
The aim of the project is not only to create inspirational space that would become young people's default "third place" destination but to allow young people ownership of the space through their input and ideas.
Raising expectations, opening up new doors and creating a platform of opportunity for young people is all part of the project and Mooch facilitated this perfectly through their engagement program.
For more information see their presentation.
The aim of the project is not only to create inspirational space that would become young people's default "third place" destination but to allow young people ownership of the space through their input and ideas.
Raising expectations, opening up new doors and creating a platform of opportunity for young people is all part of the project and Mooch facilitated this perfectly through their engagement program.
For more information see their presentation.
4/08/2009
2009 PLA Symposium
What a great day and a half at the 2009 PLA Symposium in Nashville, TN on April 3 and 4. Jane, Tim, Marc, Cathy and I would like to thank the 106 participants who attended our session, "Today's Library: From the Inside Out." We had a great time and learned a lot. We hope you did too.
As promised, here is a .pdf of the final PowerPoint presentation. It will remain on my blog for the next several weeks. If you have questions, please let me know.
Today's Library Powerpoint
Also, here are a few other items people requested:
1. "Wood" ceiling information for the Ramsey County (MN) - Maplewood Library project
Organtex
Acoustigreen Organtex
Photo of Maplewood ceiling
2. "Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill" articles include, but aren't limited to:
Peter Carbonara Article #1
Peter Carbonara Article #2
3. Meeting room management software is called Room Reserve by Evanced Solutions and the vending solution for libraries is called GoLibrary also by Evanced Solutions. See also my blog post from 1/13/09.
4. See my 3/15/09 post for mobile service point solutions.
5. Free Signage - The Dewey pictograms are available on the California State Library's literacy website. They can be downloaded in low or high resolution at California Library Literacy Services.
3/16/2009
Music and Video Production Spaces on a Budget
A friend and colleague Kent Barnard, currently working on his MLIS (focusing on youth and children's services) at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, recently shared some great tips with me for libraries who are interested in creating a music and video production space on a budget. Here's what he has to say:
- Depending on the budget, there are lots of ways to do this inexpensively. The most important element is to be able to eliminate background noise for the audio. In this respect, it would be best to have a separate room, or a way to separate the area from noise. In many instances, a meeting room could double as this space.
- In order to use a green screen for video production, the subject needs to be at least 4' in front, and there needs to be room for lighting. One solution for lighting, if an area is under construction, would be to install a couple of sets of track lighting spots, one to illuminate the green screen, and one set to illuminate the subject. If only one track is used, it should be to light the green screen, to prevent shadows.
- Another way to illuminate is through simple work lights (the kind on stands at any hardware store). Inexpensive cloth can be used to soften the light, but these have the advantage of being portable, and only about $40 apiece.
- For the green screen itself, there are several inexpensive ways to do it. The important thing to remember is that the green (or blue) needs to be a flat color, it cannot be glossy. Dark Lime green is the color of choice.
Here are some options:
1. special chroma key paint @$30 gallon
2. special chroma key fabrics (lots of choices, lots of websites)
3. green bed sheets
4. green flat paint
5. a pull down, or portable screen can be purchased or made
Other components:
- A computer (Mac would probably be the best choice, but a PC can be used with the right software. A laptop set up with the right software could also be used elsewhere in the library.)
- A microphone (USB is the new technology)
- A video camera (If you get one with a microphone, that much the better for video production.)
- Software (There are a lot. Adobe may already be available in the library.)
Feel free to contact Kent with questions. Visit him at Large Librarian-at-Large. Thanks, Kent!
- Depending on the budget, there are lots of ways to do this inexpensively. The most important element is to be able to eliminate background noise for the audio. In this respect, it would be best to have a separate room, or a way to separate the area from noise. In many instances, a meeting room could double as this space.
- In order to use a green screen for video production, the subject needs to be at least 4' in front, and there needs to be room for lighting. One solution for lighting, if an area is under construction, would be to install a couple of sets of track lighting spots, one to illuminate the green screen, and one set to illuminate the subject. If only one track is used, it should be to light the green screen, to prevent shadows.
- Another way to illuminate is through simple work lights (the kind on stands at any hardware store). Inexpensive cloth can be used to soften the light, but these have the advantage of being portable, and only about $40 apiece.
- For the green screen itself, there are several inexpensive ways to do it. The important thing to remember is that the green (or blue) needs to be a flat color, it cannot be glossy. Dark Lime green is the color of choice.
Here are some options:
1. special chroma key paint @$30 gallon
2. special chroma key fabrics (lots of choices, lots of websites)
3. green bed sheets
4. green flat paint
5. a pull down, or portable screen can be purchased or made
Other components:
- A computer (Mac would probably be the best choice, but a PC can be used with the right software. A laptop set up with the right software could also be used elsewhere in the library.)
- A microphone (USB is the new technology)
- A video camera (If you get one with a microphone, that much the better for video production.)
- Software (There are a lot. Adobe may already be available in the library.)
Feel free to contact Kent with questions. Visit him at Large Librarian-at-Large. Thanks, Kent!
3/15/2009
Mobile Service Desks
Many of you have contacted me about ideas for mobile service desks for both circulation and reference/information. Here are a few products I've seen in action that have a lot of possibilities.
1. TechnoLink Service Desks by Demco Library Interiors (DLI) *Contact DLI for more information.
2. Rovers by Versteel
3. There is also a product by Bretford, but I don't have a product name yet. Contact Bretford more more information.
I'll post additional information as I have it.
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