Kathy Hicks and Christine ChiassonOALT/ABO 37th Annual Conference

May 6, 2010

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Mohawk College Fast Facts• 10,000 full-time• 3,180 apprenticeship• 5,000 adult learners• 33,500 Continuing Ed• 8,500 Distance Ed

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Mohawk College Libraries•Library@Brantford•Library@STARRT•Library@IAHS•Library@Fennell•e-Library@Fennell

Cummings Library and Learning CommonsOpening Jan 2011

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Tools of the Past Web Based Tools

•file cards•binders•shared drives

Problems• paper based• staff time• limited access

•Wiki’s•Google Docs•Google Sites

Solutions• paperless• searchable• instant access

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Information Staff Wiki

• easy to use• staff contribution• document control• anytime/anywhere

access• cost effective

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The Wiki’s have been a godsend. The success of KIWI lead to an initiative to ‘rid’ ourselves of inconsistent and out of date procedures at 4 campus libraries.

Debbie Duce Manager of Library Operations, Mohawk College

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Google Docs

• document sharing• upload MS Office files• control access• anytime, anywhere• secure• cost effective

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Google Sites

• easy start up• no HTML knowledge

required• multiple templates• embed content • control access

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 Thinking Outside the Library

ANYWHERE

ANYHOW ANYTIME

ANYONE

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• provide an alternative to in-person reference service or in-class library instruction

• helpful when answering reference questions, especially when providing step-by-step instructions

Online Guides and Tutorials

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Camtasia Video Tutorial Project

Stats• 23 instructional videos

Staffing• e-Services Librarian• Technicians (6 information

services technicians)

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Screencasting Tools: Camtasia

Pros• more file formats• editing• pan/zoom 

Cons• $$• steep learning curve• time-consuming

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Screencasting Tools: JingPros• free (for now)• image and video capture• easy sharing via IM/Chat/email

Cons• Flash (swf) file format only• 5 minutes recording time (max)• no editing

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Screencasting Tools: Browser-Based

• instant screencasts for Twitter• MOV & SWF files• record audio separately• embed webcam in screen capture

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Subject Guides

The wide application of digital technologies in the library

environment has changed the format and content of

subject guides.

Creating Online Guides

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Why LibGuides?

• easy to use• hosted server-side• branding• statistics• link checker• URL replacer• levels of editors• widgets

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Creating a Streaming Media File

Conversion Utility Programs• AVI Converter (converts VOB files to AVI format)• TMPGEnc (combine multiple AVI files into a WMV file)

Streaming Video Technologies

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Streaming Media Server

A streaming media or streaming video server is a specialized application that runs on an Internet server, usually a separate computer than the Web server.

Encoding Process

mms://vista.mohawkcollege.ca/library/Mickey_Mouse_Monopoly.wmv

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A custom URL is added to the OPAC

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Stats• 129 math VHS & DVDs• 88 health science• 21 other subjects

Staffing• Systems Librarian• 3 - 4 Technicians (technical,

licensing, & cataloguing)

Licensing• Streaming rights vary by distributor• $$• Technology changing faster than copyright

Streaming Video Project - Summer 2009

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Library@Mohawk: History of Virtual Reference

Collaborative Services

VAL (Virtual Academic Librarian) 2003- 2007

askON - 14 colleges

Mohawk Chat Services

Trillian & Meebo

Issues:• connecting to all IM providers• only one operator at a time• missing chats • lunch time issues with yahoo and Meebo services

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Chat Service: Research and ImplementationFeb 2010 - Research chat software programs for reference and internal communication

Olark Trillian Astra LibraryH3lp

March - Installation and testing of LibraryH3lp

April 1st - Library launched chat service for both reference service and internal communication.

April 10th – Partnered with the Admissions & Recruitment departments

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LibraryH3lp: Why?

• no login or forms required• powerful administrative interface• customizable widget• simultaneous operators• intuitive to use• transfer chats to “subject specialists”• internal communication system

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Users are staff operators. These are the people who will answer incoming chats using a Jabber Client.

Queues are public entry points.

Widget: written in Javascript (most Chat widgets are flash)

Jabber Clients: Digsby, Pidgin, and Adium (Mac)

LibraryH3lp Jargon

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Digsby Chat ClientAn all-in-one desk top client that manages: • LibraryH3lp jabber account• other IM accounts• email• Facebook• Twitter

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Chat Services: What’s next?LibraryH3lp• more queues (LibGuides, catalogue, RefWorks, databases, Facebook)• SMS (Text Messaging)• mobile version of the widget • more partnerships with college services

Skype?• setup time (too complicated for quick questions)• equipment (open office environment)• staff comfort with video technologies

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In your workplace, are you maximizing your use of

emerging technologies?

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