Comments on: Curiosity did not kill the cat http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2005/08/24/280/ A librarian, writer and educator reflecting on the profession and the tools we use to serve our patrons Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:11:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: cj http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2005/08/24/280/comment-page-1/#comment-22080 cj Thu, 01 Sep 2005 02:25:12 +0000 http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/?p=280#comment-22080 I sometimes wonder the same thing - but I am coming to the conclusion about half the time is that it is not lack of curiosity or interest even, but instead just priority and applicability. A large portion of the librarians I interact with are interested, but may read the definition of a wiki and with that basic understanding not really grasp how it could be applicable to their running their library more efficiently or provide a better service to their patrons. They see it as yet another task - not something that would necessarily help them. So, I feel like we (we meaning the either self-anointed or foolish propeller heads among us) have to move beyond just talking about it to showing how we use it. The ALA Annual Conference wiki is a great example - concrete, solid, useful, and something that many people can grasp. And as supposedly techy and open to change as I am I still thought the editing piece of the wiki scene was a little bit too 1992 web-like. That is why the wikiwyg thing intrigues me. Who was it that was just writing about how two technologies everyone seems to know are word processors and e-mail. Well, the wikiwyg thing breaks down that barrier and makes the wiki interface much more like a word processor in my opinion and generally I think that will also help. Keep banging that drum - it will take time, but it will spread. I sometimes wonder the same thing – but I am coming to the conclusion about half the time is that it is not lack of curiosity or interest even, but instead just priority and applicability. A large portion of the librarians I interact with are interested, but may read the definition of a wiki and with that basic understanding not really grasp how it could be applicable to their running their library more efficiently or provide a better service to their patrons. They see it as yet another task – not something that would necessarily help them.

So, I feel like we (we meaning the either self-anointed or foolish propeller heads among us) have to move beyond just talking about it to showing how we use it. The ALA Annual Conference wiki is a great example – concrete, solid, useful, and something that many people can grasp.

And as supposedly techy and open to change as I am I still thought the editing piece of the wiki scene was a little bit too 1992 web-like. That is why the wikiwyg thing intrigues me. Who was it that was just writing about how two technologies everyone seems to know are word processors and e-mail. Well, the wikiwyg thing breaks down that barrier and makes the wiki interface much more like a word processor in my opinion and generally I think that will also help. Keep banging that drum – it will take time, but it will spread.

]]> By: Richard Akerman http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2005/08/24/280/comment-page-1/#comment-21034 Richard Akerman Thu, 25 Aug 2005 02:36:41 +0000 http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/?p=280#comment-21034 I have found LibSuccess invaluable for collaborative information storage; please leave it up at least long enough for me to use it in my ILI presentation on Web Browser Extensions - it has all my links! I added a small amount of info to the Web Services page on LibSuccess. I think it can be challenging to get people excited about new technology, particularly since many new technologies we are exposed to are overcomplicated or poorly designed. Just think about television: used to be all you had to know was what size you wanted to buy. Now you may have to try to understand HD-ready vs HDTV, digital vs analogue, plasma vs LCD, DVI-HDCP, 480i, 720p, 1080i... it's just ridiculous, it's overwhelming. People get burned so many times that when you say "here's a technology you can actually use" they may no longer be able to muster any interest. People have to see that it's easy and that there are benefits. Even to get a wiki going... unless there are thousands of potential contributors, some of whom are highly motivated, and it is promoted well, it may go nowhere. I've put lots of work into the ILI2005 wiki, which is fine with me since I needed the information myself anyway. It remains to be seen however, whether anyone else will actually add any info. http://ili2005.xwiki.com/ I have found LibSuccess invaluable for collaborative information storage; please leave it up at least long enough for me to use it in my ILI presentation on Web Browser Extensions – it has all my links!

I added a small amount of info to the Web Services page on LibSuccess.

I think it can be challenging to get people excited about new technology, particularly since many new technologies we are exposed to are overcomplicated or poorly designed. Just think about television: used to be all you had to know was what size you wanted to buy. Now you may have to try to understand HD-ready vs HDTV, digital vs analogue, plasma vs LCD, DVI-HDCP, 480i, 720p, 1080i… it’s just ridiculous, it’s overwhelming.

People get burned so many times that when you say “here’s a technology you can actually use” they may no longer be able to muster any interest.

People have to see that it’s easy and that there are benefits. Even to get a wiki going… unless there are thousands of potential contributors, some of whom are highly motivated, and it is promoted well, it may go nowhere.

I’ve put lots of work into the ILI2005 wiki, which is fine with me since I needed the information myself anyway. It remains to be seen however, whether anyone else will actually add any info.

http://ili2005.xwiki.com/

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