Archive for the 'Innovation' Category

“We’re getting gerbils!”

My son Peter illuminated a Colorado road atlas one day on our way to a pet store. His inscriptions are as gleeful as some of the comments I hear lately around Marmot, where we’re implementing VuFind as a next-gen OPAC.

In this and future posts I’ll tell the story of how we selected VuFind from a list that included AquaBrowser, Encore, Drupal SOPAC, and WorldCat Local. I’ll write about testing and launching open source software originally developed at Villanova University. We might blaze a few interesting trails, taking software currently running in university libraries, and adapting it to our multi-type consortium on the Western Slope.

“We’re getting open source!”

Continue reading ‘“We’re getting gerbils!”’

The NEW AskColorado: utility and coolness combined

What do E*Trade, REI, Godiva Chocolatier and AskColorado have in common?

Beginning Feb 1, they will all use the same web-based customer-support and communication technology, InstantService.

In the last few years, libraries have seen an explosion in online communication tools available for reaching and serving patrons. The use of IM, text messaging, online chat and related technologies are becoming embedded in the fabric of libraries’ online service offerings. Given this changing landscape in technology and the evolving need for libraries to flexibly serve their patrons, the AskColorado community and AskColorado Steering Committee have endorsed a migration to this new software platform, InstantService. Continue reading ‘The NEW AskColorado: utility and coolness combined’

Plinkit wins Project of the Year

As they say, “Woot!”

The Colorado Association of Libraries (CAL) recently honored the Colorado State Library’s Plinkit service with its “2009 Library Project of the Year Award” at the association’s annual conference in November.

This award recognizes a creative and innovative project which furthers library service within the state of Colorado. Continue reading ‘Plinkit wins Project of the Year’

The State Library at CAL

The Colorado State Library will have a variety of pre-conferences and workshops at the 2009 CAL Conference.  Don’t forget to stop by our booth on Friday and Saturday in the Exhibits Area. We would love to:

  • * Share with you the latest services and resources we can offer Colorado libraries
  • * Hear how libraries have transformed your lives

CSL at CAL 2009 – Schedule (PDF)

Public Libraries & Web Technologies – New Report Released

The Library Research Service is proud to announce the release of our most recent Closer Look Report, “U.S. Public Libraries and the Use of Web Technologies.”  In the spring of 2008, we visited the websites of nearly 600 public libraries in the United States, including all Colorado public libraries, looking for the presence of web technologies, including those identified as “Web 2.0″.  This report details our findings about what public libraries are doing on the web, and the characteristics that “early adopters” share.

Find the report, and a Colorado-specific Fast Facts report, on the report page:  http://www.lrs.org/public/webtech

Technology Planning

I attended a great webinar yesterday as the snow fell sponsored by WebJunction on Technology Planning with TechAtlas. TechAtlas is a free tool that libraries can use to develop and write technology plans. Public libraries applying for e-rate funds beyond basic telephone service are required to submit a technology plan. This hour-long webinar is a great introduction into technology planning. I highly recommend viewing the archived webinar.

Have other questions about technology plan requirements for e-rate? Visit the Colorado State Library online, or contact me (Christine Kreger) by phone (303-866-6946) or e-mail.

TechFest 2009

Anythink LogoI spent an awesome day at the Anythink Brighton location last Monday for TechFest 2009. The day started off with a bang with a presentation by David Lee King, followed by a full schedule including staff presentations on web 2.0 tools, and technology,  a Technology Petting Zoo, and gaming. Continue reading ‘TechFest 2009′

A revolution in Rangeview: Anythink

You may have missed the September 12 official unveiling of the Rangeview Library District’s latest (some would call radical) movement away from its traditional library brand into a new style.

AnythinkAnythink(tm) “celebrates imagination, play and interactivity.” In the official Anythink announcement, you’ll note a decidedly strategic absence of the tried-and-tired verbiage and emphasis typical of library press releases. Included is a YouTube-hosted “Anythink Branimation.” Pop on over to the site; this is an innovative and bold direction for Rangeview Library District, well worth watching.

Libraries awarded grants for key projects

The dust has settled on the 2009-10 LSTA grants to libraries process. With the economy in the state wobbly and libraries doing all they can to scrape by, it’s not surprising that $792,285 worth of grant proposals were submitted, competing for the $400,000 allocated to Colorado through the Library Services and Technology Act.

Teams of grant reviewers, composed of librarians of all types from throughout Colorado, scrutinized every word within each proposal. For a library or library service organization to prepare a top-notch proposal is no small feat, and reviewers took their task just as seriously.

The breadth of proposals, both in terms of content and reach in Colorado, was impressive.  All grants awarded addressed the long-range goal “that Colorado’s residents will be able to access resources and services electronically through libraries to meet their information and learning needs.”

A list of 10 grants awarded for 2009-10 follows below. For more information about the LSTA grant submission and review process, your questions are welcomed by Jean Marie Heilig, LSTA Grant Coordinator (heilig_j@cde.state.co.us)

Continue reading ‘Libraries awarded grants for key projects’

Plinkit Wins National Award

The Plinkit Collaborative, a national cooperative organization behind the Plinkit web site hosting system, has received an achievement award from the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government. The Colorado State Library is one of four founding members of the Plinkit Collaborative. Continue reading ‘Plinkit Wins National Award’