There's an article in today's Chronicle of Higher Education online that talks about how academic libraries are struggling to get OPACs supply what their users need.  If Google can do it ...  (But, Google doesn't struggle with a complex "integrated" system and perennial budget cuts!)In any case, it's an interesting read:  http://chronicle.com/article/After-Losing-Users-in/48588/?sid=wc&utm_sou...

I am so excited to be part of SPLAT and to be presenting at ILA this year in Burley!
One of my favorite things is presenting new and fun ideas--and I will be presenting on booktalking in social networks--specifically highlighting Twitter.  5 minutes and 20 slides--can I do it?  Keep your fingers crossed!
Here are some Ignite Boise videos you could watch to get an idea about what we'll be doing:

• Our own Amy Vecchione "Food, What Is"
• Eric Goodkind "You Don't Know How to Email"
• Amanda Patchin "How Being Intentional Alters Ones Reading Experience"

This library incorporates some incredibly cool ideas for a public library. If nothing else, the design is fantastic. The red "ribbon" is eye-catching, and who doesn't love a library that has a slide? My favorite part, though, is the pre-shelving area where patrons check in their own items and pre-shelve them, thus giving them some knowledge of and stake in their library while also allowing them (and other patrons) to browse what other people are reading. Check out the cool pictures and other info at: http://karmatrendz.wordpress.com/2009/03/24/hj%C3%B8rring-library-by-bosch-fjord/

I was reading this LiefHack post called How to Think What No One Else Thinks and correlating it to libraries. So often we become a part of group think. I don't think any one field is immune to this way of working together. This is how the group behaves and then we follow along.

One key quote in this article is from the inventor/founder of Vitamin C, " Genius is seeing what everyone else sees and thinking what no-one else has thought."

The question is, how can we do that every day? And LifeHack offers some ideas! And they are easy!

* Take a different view of a situation

* Look at the scene from the perspective of an alien, a customer, an inanimate object, someone who doesn't speak English, a comedian, etc.

* Challenge all of the common assumptions

* Look for what no one else is looking for - if someone is looking for the richest region try looking for the wettest

* "If everyone else is facing the bar then turn your back on it."

Ok, so you pull up to go into the library, but the library is packed and there is no parking to get inside. What do you do? Wish you rode your bike? Curse the people who won't leave the library? Dream of a larger parking lot?Imagine this! A library book delivery service to your car as you cruise by the library! When notified by e-mail that the items are ready for pickup, users simply cruise to the library, cell phone a librarian and supply library card numbers, the names of items desired and descriptions of their cars.  http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6594373.html