The Amsterdam Public Library (designed by Jo Coenen) looks breathtakingly wonderful, and makes me want to book a plane ticket ....
There's a youtube video here
Friday, February 8, 2008
Creating somewhere special ....... revisited
The Amsterdam Public Library (designed by Jo Coenen) looks breathtakingly wonderful, and makes me want to book a plane ticket ....
There's a youtube video here
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Twit-twoo! Thing 23
Thing # 23: Learn About Microblogging by Trying Out Twitter
It's done - tried it out and once again, I wandered lonely as a cloud, as nobody I know is twitting or twittering..... I know it could have it's uses, but I certainly haven't a use for it - I like the status updates on Facebook, for fun, which reminds me of this. I don't really use a cell phone for anything other than making the odd call.....Quack Quack! Thing 22
Thing # 22: Try Out the Halifax Public Libraries Learning 2.0 Meebo Room
I logged in and felt quite lonely on my own! I'll have to go back at a time when more are in there - maybe I'll arrange a meeting or a social!"Quack Quack" is what you shout when the number 22 ("two little ducks!") comes up in bingo, when you play it in Britain - I recently learned that you don't have this tradition here, of having phrase and actions for different numbers, when leading a bingo session in "The Drop" - our after school drop in - the sense of confusion amongst the youth was very apparent as I merrily quacked on my own! So we had a session learning how to play it like that - and they loved it! More info on "Bingo Lingo".
Beep! Thing 21
Thing # 21 -- Take a Look at Meebo
I took a peek, but was there on my own, so found it hard to get excited. I do like the idea of linking different services together in one place.Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Twang! Thing 20
Thing #20: Find a "Folksonomy" and Describe it on Your Blog
Well, I found a folksonomy on flickr in the open tagging allowed to describe photos. I'm searching around for other fun stuff and will report back.Nnnnnnn.....Thing 19
Thing #19: 'Friend' Someone on a Web 2.0 Service
I have 'friended' on youtube, facebook and flickr.I've even made a 'real' friend occasionally thanks to web 2.0 stuff....
Slap! Thing 18
Thing #18: "Tag" Something on a Web 2.0 Service
I've done a few tags here and there - on delicious, flickr and librarything.......Saturday, January 19, 2008
Click! Whirr! Thing #17
Thing #17: Give Flickr a Shot
I use Flickr to share my own photos as well as for any that I use for work yootwoot
There's a few great photos there of Andrew Paplowski dressing me up as a knight for a program we had at Sackville - for my first ever Youth Program!
Friday, January 18, 2008
Monday, January 7, 2008
Thinking big! Creating Somewhere Special
I attended a consultation meeting about the new library building on Spring Garden Road, a wonderful opportunity to have an input onto a building which could, with vision and opportunity, have a transforming and revitalizing role for Halifax.
This was reflected in me holding back and only making 526 suggestions on how to create an amazing library building. I was still excited about it when I got home, so I thought I'd blog up a few notes on my favorite libraries, buildings and features......
Creating Somewhere Special
When I attended the OLA Conference last year I attended a talk by Glenn Murray
It was an inspiring session on libraries as cultural leaders with the ability to turn 'anyplace' into 'somewhere special', using cultural mapping and imaginative town planning to rejuvenate areas, viewing libraries as a key economic assets in community development - a very powerful message for future development and survival which I think is very relevant to the new library building and its possible vision, and therefore Halifax's.
Contemporary design : which needn't be out of this world - the use of steel and glass in the mezzanine and stairway of the RSA Library (where I used to work) provides a wow factor without visitors having to question the design and match it to their own taste. The use of lighting completely transforms this space situated under street level.
Artist collaborations
Creating whole environments.....
Waterloo Sunset Pavilion at The Hayward Art gallery, created by artist Dan Graham - a viewing gallery, installation artwork and program space all at the same time.
Integrated decorative features....
Chris Ofili's designs for Folkestone Library (facilitated by the "RSA Art for Architecture" scheme at my previous workplace)
There's a HRM public art policy in development at the moment which can be read about here, with a proposed "percent for art" scheme which see developments putting one percent of costs towards inclusion of integral artworks.
Why have art in and around buildings?
It contributes to identity, acts as a marker of cultural activity and dynamism for the building and the city, creates attractive surroundings and showcases interesting work outside of gallery spaces to a high number of people. Artworks can strongly tie in with a local community and its stories rather than exist above them, as with the rich and wonderful North is Freedom at Halifax North Branch.
Exhibition Space can be more than a glorified village hall, with the use of a curator with a range of gallery and community experience and a clear remit for working with community, creative communities and interested groups and embracing excitement!
Imaginative design : which can sometimes be out of this world - Will Alsop's Peckham Library.This South London branch library has an uncompromising look which hasn't deterred locals from completely embracing it.
The programming rooms (in the pods) are a beautiful use of natural materials employed in an unusual way.
Teen Spaces with Vision
Some of the teen spaces I read about seem to be defined by having some bean bags and a video-game machine and an enthused staff - very much based on a traditional library furniture, display, service and collection model. New looks at shelving, lighting, fresh collections, seating layouts, atmosphere and flexibility are especially important for creating teen spaces. New teen spaces should avoid being centered around what is easily available but more around what is possible, and filling in the gaps for local youth - while retaining a clear sense of library purpose.
I enjoyed reading about the Knowasis Teen Learning Center at Scottsdale Arizona, as it has space, subtlety and style as well as great flexibility, different zoning and a re-invigorated collection all created in consultation with youth. I like the way it would be attractive to anyone, while still remaining relevant to the audience, and doesn't see the need to over-enthusiastically label it as "teen" or overloading a conception of teen identity.
The Imaginon Center in Charlotte is a mixed use facility with a Tech Central space for youth engagement, creativity and production using multimedia on a drop in basis, with specialized staff.
Learning from retail
Libraries can learn a lot from retail spaces, as happened in this Pickering Public Library project to improve user friendliness, in-line with other service providers in the retail sector. Part of the results, following public consultation was to rearrange the collection under broad headings for high interest areas, as in a large bookshop.
In a much broader way, I think that retail spaces offer a high responsiveness to user needs in terms of arranging their stock and services that could be useful in maximising circulation in libraries.
In terms of having an actual retail space, many public buildings such as galleries, museums and visitor centers have raised a large amount of capital by creating attractive and inspiring retail areas that have a sense of identity - creating ranges of items in partnerships with artists and designers, along with buying in selective materials that reflect the image and brand of the organization.
Tate Art Gallery Shops
Windsor Great Park
Baltic Art Gallery
Certainly I don't believe the library necessarily needs to have a retail space, but if it does, it should be as exciting as the rest of the building, in what it sells and how it looks.
Pro-active on Disability
There are lots of useful resources such as disability awareness kits and accessibility checklists for public library buildings.
Inclusion throughout the design of building, reached through continued consultation, can be extended to provide specific staff and services to pro-actively promote full accessibility to stock and services, so that in the same way that the new building may well declare it's environmental credentials, it can also boast of excellence in its equality in terms of provision for people with a spectrum of differing abilities, which involves much more than catering for wheelchair access, for example. Some areas (Ontario, England amongst others) have made this a legal requirement - any future plans would be wise to be proactive and integrate service standards now.
Toronto Public Library Centre for Disabilities
Ontario Library Association Session on Serving Patrons with Developmental Disabilities
and last but by no means least......
- in partnership with HRM parks, a tropical conservatory on the top floor which makes up for Halifax Public Gardens being closed in the winter. While I am not really expecting this to happen, I will happily lend my name to it when it is built, or even just spend the entire winter there.
While it seems to be a ridiculous suggestion, it doesn't seem that way when you visit it at London's Barbican Centre, which contains a spectacularly good Public Library amongst other things...... it raises capital by being hired out for events and is used occasionally for programming.
Details of the public consultation meeting for the Central Library are here
This was reflected in me holding back and only making 526 suggestions on how to create an amazing library building. I was still excited about it when I got home, so I thought I'd blog up a few notes on my favorite libraries, buildings and features......
Creating Somewhere Special
When I attended the OLA Conference last year I attended a talk by Glenn Murray
It was an inspiring session on libraries as cultural leaders with the ability to turn 'anyplace' into 'somewhere special', using cultural mapping and imaginative town planning to rejuvenate areas, viewing libraries as a key economic assets in community development - a very powerful message for future development and survival which I think is very relevant to the new library building and its possible vision, and therefore Halifax's.
Contemporary design : which needn't be out of this world - the use of steel and glass in the mezzanine and stairway of the RSA Library (where I used to work) provides a wow factor without visitors having to question the design and match it to their own taste. The use of lighting completely transforms this space situated under street level.
Artist collaborationsCreating whole environments.....
Waterloo Sunset Pavilion at The Hayward Art gallery, created by artist Dan Graham - a viewing gallery, installation artwork and program space all at the same time.
Integrated decorative features....Chris Ofili's designs for Folkestone Library (facilitated by the "RSA Art for Architecture" scheme at my previous workplace)
There's a HRM public art policy in development at the moment which can be read about here, with a proposed "percent for art" scheme which see developments putting one percent of costs towards inclusion of integral artworks.
Why have art in and around buildings?
It contributes to identity, acts as a marker of cultural activity and dynamism for the building and the city, creates attractive surroundings and showcases interesting work outside of gallery spaces to a high number of people. Artworks can strongly tie in with a local community and its stories rather than exist above them, as with the rich and wonderful North is Freedom at Halifax North Branch.
Exhibition Space can be more than a glorified village hall, with the use of a curator with a range of gallery and community experience and a clear remit for working with community, creative communities and interested groups and embracing excitement!
Imaginative design : which can sometimes be out of this world - Will Alsop's Peckham Library.This South London branch library has an uncompromising look which hasn't deterred locals from completely embracing it.
The programming rooms (in the pods) are a beautiful use of natural materials employed in an unusual way.Teen Spaces with Vision
Some of the teen spaces I read about seem to be defined by having some bean bags and a video-game machine and an enthused staff - very much based on a traditional library furniture, display, service and collection model. New looks at shelving, lighting, fresh collections, seating layouts, atmosphere and flexibility are especially important for creating teen spaces. New teen spaces should avoid being centered around what is easily available but more around what is possible, and filling in the gaps for local youth - while retaining a clear sense of library purpose.
I enjoyed reading about the Knowasis Teen Learning Center at Scottsdale Arizona, as it has space, subtlety and style as well as great flexibility, different zoning and a re-invigorated collection all created in consultation with youth. I like the way it would be attractive to anyone, while still remaining relevant to the audience, and doesn't see the need to over-enthusiastically label it as "teen" or overloading a conception of teen identity.
The Imaginon Center in Charlotte is a mixed use facility with a Tech Central space for youth engagement, creativity and production using multimedia on a drop in basis, with specialized staff.
Learning from retail
Libraries can learn a lot from retail spaces, as happened in this Pickering Public Library project to improve user friendliness, in-line with other service providers in the retail sector. Part of the results, following public consultation was to rearrange the collection under broad headings for high interest areas, as in a large bookshop.
In a much broader way, I think that retail spaces offer a high responsiveness to user needs in terms of arranging their stock and services that could be useful in maximising circulation in libraries.
In terms of having an actual retail space, many public buildings such as galleries, museums and visitor centers have raised a large amount of capital by creating attractive and inspiring retail areas that have a sense of identity - creating ranges of items in partnerships with artists and designers, along with buying in selective materials that reflect the image and brand of the organization.
Tate Art Gallery Shops
Windsor Great Park
Baltic Art Gallery
Certainly I don't believe the library necessarily needs to have a retail space, but if it does, it should be as exciting as the rest of the building, in what it sells and how it looks.
Pro-active on Disability
There are lots of useful resources such as disability awareness kits and accessibility checklists for public library buildings.
Inclusion throughout the design of building, reached through continued consultation, can be extended to provide specific staff and services to pro-actively promote full accessibility to stock and services, so that in the same way that the new building may well declare it's environmental credentials, it can also boast of excellence in its equality in terms of provision for people with a spectrum of differing abilities, which involves much more than catering for wheelchair access, for example. Some areas (Ontario, England amongst others) have made this a legal requirement - any future plans would be wise to be proactive and integrate service standards now.
Toronto Public Library Centre for Disabilities
Ontario Library Association Session on Serving Patrons with Developmental Disabilities
and last but by no means least......
- in partnership with HRM parks, a tropical conservatory on the top floor which makes up for Halifax Public Gardens being closed in the winter. While I am not really expecting this to happen, I will happily lend my name to it when it is built, or even just spend the entire winter there.
While it seems to be a ridiculous suggestion, it doesn't seem that way when you visit it at London's Barbican Centre, which contains a spectacularly good Public Library amongst other things...... it raises capital by being hired out for events and is used occasionally for programming.
Details of the public consultation meeting for the Central Library are here
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Snap! Thing 15
Thing #15: Find a Similar Reader on LibraryThing
I added some recent reads to Librarything as 'yootwoot', and also used their widget thingy to add the covers to my blog, which I like a lot....... can you add 'friends' in librarything? I think that is what i'd like to use it for most, to see what people i know are reading, rather than strangers.
I read and enjoy a lot of picture books as well as a few grown up books, which tends to skew the results a bit - finding a similar reader tends to hook me up with lots of childrens librarians all reading the same kind of picture books rather than the grown-up side of things, which is where I'd like to discover recommendations the most. (added later - but you can get round that by using tags, and searching for suggestions using a particular tag!)
I'd love to see something along the lines of the covers widget, integrated into our library catalog, either for individuals to chart their own library reading, or for our reading recommendations. It's an ideal way of browsing, rather than scrolling a catalog list and having to keep clicking for the next page.....
Zip! Thing Fourteen
Thing # 14: Help Someone Else do One of the 23 ThingsAt Sackville branch we've set up Wednesday and Friday mornings for staff to have a 30 minute session using laptops with a mentor available, sometimes myself, either in person, or just available to answer questions when they arise - it's working out really well, with rewarding results for all taking part.
Lots of staff have been giving valuable informal support too, but I think that for those not quite as used to using computers in a "2.0' way, the time set aside from the rest of their work is extremely valuable.
...... and I get to chat and blog about potato chips with Mrs. J and Dickens with Maggie, so it makes for a varied learning session!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Swoosh! Thing 10
Thing # 10: Add an RSS feed to your BlogI've added the feed for my favorite radio show 'This American Life', which is about, well - I'll let them explain.....
"usually we just say what we're not. We're not a news show or a talk show or a call-in show. We're not really formatted like other radio shows at all. Instead, we do these stories that are like movies for radio. There are people in dramatic situations. Things happen to them. There are funny moments and emotional moments and—hopefully—moments where the people in the story say interesting, surprising things about it all. It has to be surprising. It has to be fun."
and it is........if you like people and their stories and life's twists and turns. My favorite episode would be the show where they taped for 24 hours in an all-night restaurant. The shows are very varied and subject based, and frequently they have authors on, but not plugging their books, just talking about interesting topics or presenting a story........
Wheeeeee! Thing 12
Thing # 12: Subscribe to a PodcastI subscribe to This American Life via podcast, as well as some from The Guardian, Fader Magazine and the Tate Gallery.
Sing! Thing #11
Thing #11: Watch a Video on YouTube
Reading on a dream
after watching this, i may incorporate spontaneous singing and dancing into my information desk work.....
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Grrrrrrrreat!. Thing 8
Thing #8: Try Out Either Google Documents or Zoho
Done! See the above post. It's great to publish straight from the document - just wish they had more fonts and drawing/scribbling facilities too.
Jynweythek!* Thing 7
Thing #7: Read an article in Wikipedia on any pet subject and assess it in your blog.
I read this article on the musician Richard James, who records as Aphex Twin.
I chose this for assesment because I am extremely familiar with his work, but also thought it would be revealing due to the number of aliases that this artist works under, large number of releases and also the number of different legends and versions of the truth that surround him. Add to this a high number of obsessive fans and collectors who may contribute to a Wiki entry and you have a number of ingredients for a possible somewhat scrambled article, which I found to be the case....
I would say the article is useful overall in providing a wide introduction, but it definately reads more like a clumsy assembelage of facts rather than a flowing article with a strong narrative focus. The editorial voice and a sense of cohesion is definately absent in tying together the many strands.
The article lacks an introductory summary, beyond a brief
Aphex Twin (born Richard David James on August 18, 1971 in Limerick, Ireland) is an electronic music artist, credited with pushing forward the genres of techno, ambient, acid and drum and bass
which has little contextual meaning to it. (Credited by who? Pushing how?) After this the reader has to wade through "History: early life", in order to get to anything about his music.
There are organisational issues - the section on "Aphex Twin's Press" has very little relevance to the heading.
The entry also contains a strong contradiction and confusion within it's own contents. ......
"Local legend has it that James lived on the roundabout in Elephant and Castle, South London during his early years in the capital.[12][13]"
and yet ....
"Contrary to popular opinion, however, he does not own the silver structure in the centre of the roundabout at Elephant and Castle. This is, in fact, the Michael Faraday Memorial, containing a power transformer for the Northern Line, which James jokingly claimed to be buying in an interview with The Face magazine in 2001 [38].
The citation links given for 12 and 13 given for this do not at all refer to this first assertion - citations should provide a source to an opinion.
It also contains untrue statements - "James usually creates his own photography for his releases' artwork".
Some details are just plain dull..... "James was very meticulous about the whole process of recording, mastering and pressing. However, label co-owner Grant Wilson-Claridge convinced James to release a digital CD, Chosen Lords, which included a selection from the Analord series, with some tracks slightly altered to improve the flow of the album."
A strong plus of the article has to be that music samples are included on the page, which makes up for the lack of good description of the compositions.
However, while this search revealed the many problems in Wikipedia entries, it should be said that there is a lack of alternative authorative sources for encyclopaedic type information on contemporary musicians. The best examples would be the entries in the All Music guide to Electronica, or the Rough Guide to Techno, yet the immediacy of Wikipedia wins hands down, unless you happen to have those handy.
A particular strength of Wikipedia as oposed to print based entries could be said to be it's currency, yet the Wikipedia article isn't even particularly strong on the latest releases.
However the essential point is that it is correctable! If I had the necessary time and effort, I could make the required corrections myself.
Aphex Twin - Nannou
Aphex Twin - Avril 14th
I am a stong believer in the usefulness of Wikipedia, and can recommend The Wisdom of Crowds for extra context on the usefulness of a collective approach to information, but in looking at this entry, it certainly highlights a gap of information design - how to provide an editiorial aproach in a free space. (While Wikipedia has it's moderators, this doesn't necessarily provide a solution) .
A web equivalent of Edward Tufte's amazing books focussing on informational graphics maybe required...... yet part of the beauty of Wiki's is the lack of perfection, the room for factual manoevre. After all, the factually near-perfect Brittanica wouldn't even have an entry on the post-rave braindance delights of Aphex :)
* Cornish for metal machine (music)
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