Flickr Apps - Statr for Flickr

Now this looks promising!

Statr for Flickr is described as a tool for collecting Flickr use statistics. It graphs page visits using the Flickr API. Statr graphs are updated daily, and it seems to be fairly simple to set up.

Unlike Kaleidoscopr, which searched & grabbed mainly other peoples pictures, Statr works directly with YOUR Flickr account. In order to use it, it requires you to grant permission for read access.

Haven't activated any apps yet and aren't sure where the permissions are located? Go to your account and click the Extending Flickr tab.

Once you've granted permission, you can copy and paste the Statr widget into your profile information on Flickr. The "Describe yourself" section seems to be a good spot to stick it.

Here's what McGovernLibrary's Statr info looks like moments after creation:

**note: it does take one day to start the counter,
although you'll get a rough count of visits immediately.

What are Statr's advantages?

• Well, for one thing, it's free.

Flickr doesn't offer statistical information unless you pay for an account.

So if your library's on a budget like ours is, you just might find Statr helpful.

• Any other advantages you can think of? Well, library boards love numbers....
  

Happy Counting!!

Flickr Apps - Kaleidoscopr

Last week I talked about using Flickr's build-a-badge tool to display Flickr images on one our website. This week, it's more fun with Flickr!

After reading through this week's lesson and visiting some of the sites suggested, I went exploring. Flickr doesn't really point out too many APIs, although they do provide the base code should anyone want to make their own applications.

A Google search for "flickr mashups" produced a bunch of nifty hits, however. There's a great list of 275 different possibilities at Programmable Web.

Kaleidoscopr allows you to search flickr images by tag, Flickr ID, date, or keyword and create a kaleidoscopic image. I went with "pumpkins"....

Kaleidoscopr'd pumpkins!

I love the face that appeared in the middle of the photo!

Here's the original
Pumpkins by Hans Dekker

Now Kaleidoscopr has one slight draw back - it can be very difficult to locate the original image on Flickr. But here's a clue that can help - the Flickr photo titles will appear if you hover your mouse over the photo slide bar at the top of the screen. If the title is unique enough, you can search for it as a phrase in Flickr and locate it pretty easily.

Unfortunately, my photo of choice,
with its one word title,
was a bit more challenging....

If the title-search method doesn't work, try this: right click on the thumbnail image you've selected, copy the image location, and paste it into a new window - it should look something like this:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/31/47427090_e3728b2b64_s.jpg

The bit you'll need to locate your photo on Flickr is bold. That series of numbers is Pumpkins' unique photo ID. Copy the number for your photo, paste it into Google along with the word "flickr" and your photo should pop right up.

Quick news note (with a book/library tie-in)

The New York Times online is running a great story today: Acclaimed Colombian Institution Has 4,800 Books and 10 Legs by Simon Romero.

What the NYT says is , "a whimsical riff on the bookmobile" the "Biblioburro" is consists of one man and two donkeys.

This real life story reminded me of Margriet Ruurs' My Librarian is a Camel, a children's book (non-fiction) on the same topic... except with camels, of course. It also reminded me of Marsha Hamilton's novel The Camel Bookmobile(a book I keep meaning to read), which is fiction but based on true events.

From Flickr - Empty Library Shelves by Mike

Empty Library Shelves-Mike
Originally uploaded by malonefoto

Wow! I absolutely LOVE this image. And imagine my surprise to discover that this shot was taken in the stacks of our old library!

Layne Library, which we moved out of in 2006, had cantilever shelving built right into the structure of the building. When we moved out, we couldn't take it with us.

Now the shelving sits empty, and the open space is being used by the music department for band practice.

And by someone else for ART!!! Neat.

Fun with Flickr

This week I get to visit an old friend - Flickr!

My library started a Flickr account sometime last year. We use it for homepage decoration - seasonal shots add interest - and also to highlight what types of new stuff we've added to the collection.

If the home page is full, I just pull the widget off until there's space again.

This grinning guy is currently wishing site visitors a Happy Halloween.

Reading through this week's lesson, I realized I've never identified our photos using the tag "sdlibraries". That was my first task.

To add a tag to all images (or as many as I wanted) I used the Organize function in my account. It allows mass photo editing, mapping, adding to sets, groups, etc. Definitely nifty.

Then I set about exploring.

Things I discovered:

• The blog-it-from-Flickr feature: I absolutely LOVE this. Can't believe I never noticed that button there before.
• People like Carnegie Libraries - there are a ton of photos of them floating around. And I can see why. They just look library-esque.
• Searching tags with stucktogether words can be useful. Flickr has not always allowed tag phrases with spaces, so searching for "librarydisplays" brings up lots of results. And gave me lots of display ideas :)
• The tag "books" - people use it for some interesting items....
• I need to visit this bookstore!
  

Flickr Widgets - the lesson doesn't mention them (maybe it's in Lesson 4b?), but you can build a Flickr Badge for your library homepage (or wherever) really easily. Once the widget code is installed, it self-updates with your new Flickr content. So, if you don't have access to edit your pages yourself, just tell your web-designer where you'd like one stuck, and Flickr will take care of the code for them and updates for you.

Can't wait to see what's coming up next!

Blogging news

Dabble, dabble, dabble! (Which rhymes with babble!)

I've now dipped my toes into Bloglines - eehnh... not my favorite - Google Reader - better. And
added a bunch of RSS feeds to various things.

Personally? I use news feeds right now to follow my favorite magazines and pundit's latest items.

What I've discovered thus far:

• RSS feeds into my email just don't get read as much. I'm better off limiting those to journal subscriptions and search alerts. (Did you know you can set up RSS feed from any of the publications in EBSCO?)
• RSS feeds to my blog - those I like. (But I knew that already.)

For library use, adding & keeping many of these tools up-dated depends on having ready access to your library homepage. If you don't have ready access it's critical to carefully select your news sources for coverage relevant and appropriate for your online audience. Feeding ALOnline, for example, would be useful for a staff page, but I'm not sure all of our patrons would be thrilled.

A feed from the Chronicle of Higher Education, on the other hand... hmmm.....
Might just have to act on that thought!

If you have access rights and can edit your library's home page, changing out the RSS feeds that run in response to seasonal or current interest and events would be great. Right now, election news from NPR topics: politics or CNN's Political Ticker are timely. But why not follow Super Bowl coverage, MLB Playoffs, college basketball's Sweet Sixteen, Elite 8 & Final 4, especially if you know that sports materials are popular with your patrons. Even something as simple as finding a feed from your local news channel, or following regional weather is value added.

Or CREATE a blog that's relevant to your patrons' needs - what about homework help, or database searching tips & tricks geared specifically for parents and/or students who need to know what to search and how. In a school location? Work with teachers on resources appropriate to upcoming assignments. Add a feed option to your blog, and your patrons can subscribe. Add the feed directly to your library's site for easy discovery.

Less work? Select a few popular magazines or local newspapers, and if they offer feeds, profile them on your website with a "read more at your library" note.

As to locating sources? GoogleReader has an easy to use search interface, and also allows immediate "block" subscriptions to popular blogs & news sources grouped by topic. Bloglines offers similar options. Ot type your topic (e.g. music, sports, etc.) into any search engine along with the phrase "news feed" for pages of results.

Have a favorite print title, sportscaster, or news personality? Chances are there's an accompanying blog, and usually an RSS option.

Already breaking the rules!

So, this should technically be my second post - too bad it's my third. Oops.

Let's see, our assignment: write about what possible uses to which a blog might be put for our libraries. Lovely!

Well, I for one like the idea of book reviews. Also new database profiles, and instruction tips. I like the immediacy of getting information out.

We have a comment box in the library.
Patrons can comment, ask questions, give us h**l, etc.
But patrons aren't always IN the library.
They now live, work, and play, in a world that allows 24/7 connectivity.

So why shouldn't the library follow suit where possible!

Of course, I can see the potential for problems. As an academic institution with guidelines for everything, there will likely need to be guidelines for this, as well.

For me personally? I have my own blog, (which shall remain nameless) which has nothing to do with libraries. I have friends and acquaintances in corners of the country that I've never seen, but who share my interests and concerns.

But back to the library...

It's about providing relevant information in an informal way. A quick way. A way that allows readers to interact. We can create handouts and let people find their way to the library. Or we can present the information and attempt to create a dialog.

Of course, the pressure will be ON
Can we be interesting enough to retain readers?
Stay tuned to find out!

And now, having completed the assignment for today, I'm going to go see what sorts of interesting things I can do with my profile!

The BiG BloG challenge! - not so scary after all

Our first assignment - set up a blog.

Done!

I've done this before, so the blog part was fairly easy. It's some of the next steps that will be more difficult.

The second directive - watch the 7 and 1/2 lifelong learning habits - was interesting, but the fact that I was reading the text and clicking through to the next slide before the narrator had a chance to finish speaking? Probably indicative of where I'm apt to have the most probl... Er- sorry, challenges(!) acquiring the 7 1/2 habits. Can you say "patience"?

Easiest? Goals, I think. I'm already looking forward to learning about (or learning more about) the tools in the upcoming lessons. And playing :)

The opportunity to just fool around with this stuff is priceless!

Actually, the hardest for me will probably be seeing problems as challenges to be overcome. And not being negative about them. The whole positive outlook thing.

Second most difficult? That toolbox of learning resources we're supposed to build, consisting of contact information & resources we can use to learn more about what we're doing.

And how, you might wonder, is that an issue? Not the collecting of information, certainly - I'm a librarian, after all, and finding answers is my stock in trade!

But asking questions on my own behalf? Not so fun. Yes, I know that theoretically, there's no such thing as a stupid question. But who wants to be the example that proves the rule!

Before I worry too much about that, however, I might as well go see just what I'm to have the opportunity to learn!

Feel free to follow along :)

SD Libraries 2.0 Challenge - how exciting!

Not having attended conference this year, and a tad behind on getting to the messages that aren't work-critical this week, I just discovered the Challenge. But I don't think I'm too far behind just yet.

First lesson, coming up!