Maker spaces should be more than 3D printers

The idea of a "maker space" is very appealing. For me it conjures a vision of walls of tools and cluttered work benches. For others it seems to simply be a 3D printer. Don't get me wrong, I think 3D printers are pretty amazing tools. But when I let my mind wander though and think about what people want to do compared to what tools they can acquire themselves, I see a more wide-ranging maker space. I see a sound lab for recording and editing music or the spoken word, such as collecting local oral histories. I see a video recording studio. I see a place with tools not easily afforded by the individual citizen. I see a place to connect with an editor for one's literary work and even a place to print a book. I see the library becoming a place where knowledge is created in many ways along with the creation of actual "things".

These spaces are being created in libraries all over the country. In this article about Oregon libraries, you can read about what some libraries there are doing. It's happening in larger places all over, but I think it could happen in the middle of Kansas as well.

Where are ebooks headed?

I don't think anyone really knows what's happening in the ebook world. The sales of ebooks plateaued in 2015 and no one really knows if that was a pause or the peak. My thought is that with about 1/4 of the total book sales, ebooks probably haven't reached their peak yet. I do think that the future for them is very uncertain, as is the future of ebooks in libraries.

I say this because the big, mainstream of the ebook publishing world seem to be satisfied with selling ebooks as if their potential to be something more than their paper counterparts isn't worth pursuing. Think about what you could do with ebooks. At the very minimum, like digital versions of movies, you could have added features, interviews with the author, etc. Things that are not possible in paper.

Libraries need to figure out ways around the stranglehold ebook publishers have on them. After all, history has shown that libraries are one of the main places for people to try out, with very low or no risk, new authors, new media, etc. I maintain that publishers are shooting themselves in the foot and driving the growth in the the independent and self-published ebook explosion by making library acquisition of ebooks so clunky and restricted.

Libraries could be the biggest and cheapest sales force a publisher could want. Librarians like reading, we like sharing, and we promote by word-of-mouth the good stuff, the new stuff, the overlooked stuff. It's like having an army of volunteer sales people. Because readers buy the books they like. If they find a new author in a library and they come to love that author, they'll start buying that author's new material rather than wait to borrow. It happened years before ebooks were even remotely a thing.

What got me ranting about this old topic again? This article, which is a pretty good article from American Libraries magazine with the opinions of four experts in the field. I'd recommend a read.

Another Interesting Circulating Item

Four Pennsylvania libraries will be circulating ukuleles! This is the start of a project created by a group of ukulele enthusiasts that has a goal of reaching 32 libraries.

Apparently, the ukuleles even come with some training for staff in the basics of ukulele playing. I imagine the staff thinking the same things about this that they do when any new service or tool is introduced at their library - "People are going to ask me how it works!" So I think it is fantastic that the ukulele afficinados responsible for the project are thinking big picture and making sure they have advocates in the libraries.

I saw this and was thinking that this is what really might be the biggest problem for the "Library of Things" post I made about the Sacramento Public Library a few weeks back. I wonder how they deal with patrons who come in and want to check out, say, a sewing machine and then want to have a staff member show them how to load the bobbin? If you had a library of things, you would want to have a library of experts, or at least knowledgeable staff, I would think. Although, I suppose you could just adopt the position that the library of things is there for patrons who already know how to use the "thing" they are checking out, rather than a hands-on learning collection.

New Computers, New Services

A Christmas present for the Hutchinson Public Library patrons and staff! Now that we've finished the big task of moving our public computers downstairs, we are adding some new services and changing the way we allocate our public computers.

We are adding software called Envisionware PC Reservation. This piece of software will allow patrons to reserve a public computer for the time period of their choosing even days ahead if desired. It will also allow patrons to sit down at empty computer stations right away. This software takes the staff out of the process of checking people in and out and tracking time allotted. Staff members will be more free to help instead!

Integrated in to the software is another product called LPT:One which controls printing. Currently, a patron will choose something to print and the printer will spit it out without regard to number of pages, etc. This can cause needless printing of unneeded pages. LPT:One holds the print job at a designated print computer which will be right next to the printers. Patrons can then select and print only the jobs they want. It will save us paper and toner and hopefully save patrons from printing things they don't need.

A side benefit of this software is that it will provide HPL with wireless printing! If all goes well, patrons should be able to send print jobs from their own devices to the print station.

A Library of Things?

I can't decide if this is horrifying (thinking about everything that will have to be repaired all the time) or fantastic:

Sacramento Public Library : borrow a sewing machine?

What do you think would happen here in little ol' Hutchinson with such a project? What would be popular? Places like Auto Zone allow you to use tools to repair vehicles, locally, Reger Rental will rent you all sorts of things you might only need occasionally, but what about those folks who can't afford a rental?

What I'm listening to today (12-18-15)

The day started streaming some Christmas music from one of my favorite singers, Dean Martin. But I was scrolling through albums related (apparently because of the performer and not that it was Christmas music) I ran across this:

This is one of those re-packaged, re-released collections of live tunes. The type of thing to fill in the background with some pleasant tunes and some "witty" banter. I've always wondered if these guys really liked each other or not. Frankly, I really haven't ever read much about their relationships with each other - maybe someone can point me toward a good book about them? Of course, I found this on Hutchinson Public Library's streaming music service. You can log in and use it too with your library card.

What I'm listening to today (11-27-15)

It's nice to be able to browse close to 10,000,000 songs. Sometimes you start out with a certain artist in mind, expecting a certain set of songs but stumble instead upon a recording you've never heard. Today I'm listening to Carlos Santana and Wayne Shorter: Live at the 1988 Montreaux Jazz Festival. Not only have I never heard this recording, there are several songs that I've never heard period. This is a nice, relaxing listen for the start of the hectic holiday season.

You can chill or rev up, whatever you need too using the Hutchinson Public Library's streaming music service! All you need is your library barcode and an Internet connection. There are apps for Apple and Android devices (search for "Freegal") and get started listening for free today.

What I'm listening to today

Using our new streaming and download music service over the past month has me back in the habit of listening to music while working. Last week I finished downloading an album for Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, a prolific blues guitar and fiddle player from Texas. I think the album was simply titled "Live in Concert". I saw him play once in Houston in 1999 or 2000 when he must have been around 70 years old. He sat down in his chair on stage, lit his pipe, and proceeded to tear through a jump blues set with such energy and enthusiasm I still get chills thinking about it today!

Today though, I've gone down a classic bluegrass path, listening to 'Tis Sweet To Be Remembered: The Essential Flatt & Scruggs.

Lynda.com Online Learning at Hutchinson Public Library

My youngest son has been working on Java programming so I thought I would look to see what kind of tools the Hutchinson Public Library has for helping him along. Turns out we have four books of varying "ages" - from 2004 (yikes!) to 2015. Those might help, so I sent him the list.

Then I went to look in one of our new self-paced education tools, lynda.com and found this:

Turns out that lynda.com has 16 different tutorials on Java, 5 beginner, 10 intermediate, and one advanced. Since these are all self-paced and lynda keeps track of your progress, he'll be able to do them as he has time. Also, since the tutorials are indexed and searchable, he can use them to find answers to particular questions if he is stuck somewhere in the process!

As he progresses (he wants to create games with Java), there are more than two dozen video courses in the "Web Developer" section of lynda dealing specifically with games and game design.

This amazing tool is available to him and to you for FREE. All you need is a valid Hutchinson Public Library card.

Free Music with your library card!

We've been testing out our new music service for a few weeks now. I'm on my second album download (you get 5 free mp3 downloads per week)! So far I personally have found the webpage to work the best. I have android mobile devices and the app available for those seems to work pretty well, but doesn't have the full functionality of the website.

We'll continue to feature this tool at events like Hutchinson's Third Thursday. If you have questions about the service, please call us and we'll help you get started!

Just as a reminder though, that our music service is REALLY easy to use. To get access to almost 10 million songs and your five free downloaded tunes each week, all you need is to visit www.hutchpl.org (the library's website) and click the image you see below and enter your library card number to login:

Access 10,000,000 songs with your library card!

Seriously.

Starting October 1, the Hutchinson Public Library has made available a new download and streaming music service.

The new service, Freegal, allows every patron with a valid HPL library card 5 free download songs per week and 3 hours of free streaming music per day!

Did I mention that the songs are free? They are also DRM free and can be saved to anything that can store/read mp3 files. Apps are available for Android and iOS users.

This service expands our music collection exponentially and covers all genres and musical tastes. I can hardly believe that it's real, but it is - and you should check it out!

More to lynda.com than just computer software

I may have given the impression that the only thing lynda.com is good for is getting you out of a software jam or learning a new piece of software.

Actually lynda.com contains a myriad of learning opportunities on scores of subjects. You can learn new business skills, add to your photography or music recording skills, learn basic skills like typing and computer use, and much more.

Remember, the service is free to Hutchinson Public Library cardholders (either inside or outside the library through the links above) and is self-paced so you learn at the rate you choose.

Free Downloadable Magazines

The Hutchinson Public Library is now offering free downloadable magazines. All you need is your library card! The service is available here on the library's website.

These are not some strange magazines you've never heard of or digest versions missing content. On the contrary they are popular, everyday journals and magazines that you know and are in an easy-to-use format. Check them out!

Get "Un-stuck" at the Hutchinson Public Library

This image shows the main list of broad learning categories available

Have you ever installed a new version of some software you've always used? But when you open up the new version, all the menus have changed or that feature you use a hundred times a day has been modified? This has happened to me, at least. So, you fire up your browser or open your YouTube app and start looking for a tutorial that answers your question.

This solution may work, but it is often time-consuming and can be frustrating. Now, you can instead use your library card to use a new tool offered through the Hutchinson Public Library: lynda.com

lynda.com is an online tutorial and learning service made up of a HUGE number of video lessons. The lessons are in short, 3-5 minutes chunks and are indexed and searchable. This arrangement allows you to watch and learn through a whole lesson, watch a lesson in small parts and lynda.com keeps track for you, or search for your specific need and get the answer to your immediate question.

This service is free to you through the Hutchinson Public Library's website. All you need to get started is a current library card! Go and browse through the catalog of training courses today!

Prepare for your Robot Overlords

Some people know that I have a tongue-in-cheek "obsession" with Skynet, the computer network from the Terminator movie series that becomes self-aware and concludes that humankind are not necessary. It's a bit of science fiction that hopefully will not become reality, but that makes for a great action movie premise.

To (again tongue-in-cheek) help this future become a reality, HPL has deployed a new RFID system from Bibliotheca to help us cut down on the amount of tedious, repetitive work and focus more on customer service.

Our new check-in shelves help our staff AND you in several ways:

• You can now see in real-time that the items you've returned are actually checked in.
• We can see right away when an item "on hold" has been returned, so we can process it right away.
• By placing items on shelves instead of dumping them in a bin, we all save wear-and-tear on the materials.
• The items you return are immediately available for another patron to use, simply by browsing the return shelves.

Our new self-check kiosks are similar in ways to many others we have had over the last 10-15 years. The new ones do have a couple of enhancements:

• We have added extra security - you must enter a password (PIN) to check out items.
• Multiple items check out simultaneously.

What does this new equipment mean for us in terms of saving time? Here is one example involving the process to check in an item. The old process (once you dropped it off in a bin) went as follows:

1. Staff waited until bin was reasonably full (this meant digging if we needed to find an item to check in early, such as when a patron had reached the limit for certain types of, like DVDs)
2. A staff member rolled the filled bin to a separate check-in space.
3. The staff member checked in each item one at a time
4. The staff member sorted, printed holds slips, etc. one at a time
5. The items were loaded back on a cart and rolled to reshleving areas
6. Items were ordered on the carts and reshelved.

The new process eliminates steps 2,3, and 4 and shortens steps 1 and 5. The end result being that staff members have more time to help patrons use the library to its full potential.

I think anything we can do to focus more of our time on actually serving the public rather than performing tedious, repetitive tasks is a good thing. Our investment in this system may be "buying in to" whiz-bang technology, but the goal has nothing to do with getting the latest-greatest thing and everything to do with being available for our users.

New Job Search Tool!

The Hutchinson Public Library has added a new search tool to its arsenal of job search and business information offerings. A to Z databases is a great resource for jobs (a quick search turned up over 20,000 jobs listed in Kansas). If you are an HPL library card holder you can access this tool from anywhere. If not, and you are in our building you can still access the tool through one of our computers.

It has 10s of millions of business listings, resident listings and even a cell phone # database besides the job bank.

BIG change ahead

Sometimes you see big changes because of the flash and glitter associated with it. Other times you notice things have changed subtly - but profoundly - around you. Over the next few months as HPL, there will be some of both. We expect the process to take a good portion of 2014 to complete.

What am I talking about? The library has contracted with a company called Bibliotheca to convert our collection management over to an RFID system. The changes will be both subtle and really, really slick and visible.

The subtle:

Our entire collection - from books to media to ephemeral items will be tagged with an RFID tag. These tags hold information about the item that allow us to more easily locate and manage the collection.

Our staff will have RFID readers at their stations to facilitate startlingly speedy, accurate check-out and check-in and other routine material processes. The upside to all of this is greater efficiency handling the mundane, repetitive tasks that staff must perform every day. This will allow more staff time to be devoted to actually helping people find what they are looking for during a visit to the library. It will also allow us to focus more on "helping" in general and less on clerical work.

The flash and glitter:

New self-check units for patrons. Not only do these units look nice, clean, and modern, we found them to work extremely well in real-world observation during our product research phase.

A new way of returning items you've checked out. This return looks like a regular bookshelf. Unlike a regular shelf though, when you bring your items back in to the library, this shelf unit checks your books back in for you! It will even alert staff when a "book on hold" has been returned. As an added bonus, patrons can then print out a receipt or check their account right there to make sure everything is returned.

Do you ever have that sinking feeling?

You know, where you just feel leaden, you are treading water, but just barely? Well, here at HPL we seem to be having a month-long marathon of water-treading.

Not only are we still recovering from the storms of early August, we seem to be running on to new little twists of the dagger that just make the recovery that much more painful. But some good things are on the horizon. For one, our lightning-damaged wireless system ended up dying after all. How is that good? Although it bumped a planned change up to a fire-alarm style immediate change, we will have a new, robust system installed by the end of this week.

OOO - swirly!

There have been many other problems, large and small, to come out of those soggy, electrically-charged rainy weeks, but those are being slowly resolved. Sometimes, it the sheer number of them seem to swallow up any other progress being made. Our new telephone system with building-wide emergency paging is finally coming online as well. Progress is being made on improving our collection security, organization, and staff efficiency by adding RFID to the building.

Don't worry though, the RFID tags will not store your personal information. The tags store information about the book to which they are affixed and will help us with inventory and help you with speedy, accurate check-out. Library cards and patron information will stay private.

New furnishings will fill the space left when we moved the 900s non-fiction collection upstairs. By the end of this month there will be a variety of new, comfortable chairs to use for study and computing.

Last, but definitely not least, HPL has subscribed to a crowd-source fundraising site called WishList. This will go live for us in the next week or so and will allow patrons to purchase memorial and "in honor of" books online, contribute toward large projects, browse volunteer opportunities at the library and join the Friends of the Library group, among many other things. I'm really excited about this! It will be awesome - I just hope I haven't drowned before it goes live!

Library as Publisher?

This is a great idea. I don't know how to make it happen here in Hutchinson, Kansas, but I'm keen to try and figure it out. Library as publisher.

Libraries continue to experience high use but with ever-shrinking revenue streams. How can we continue to fulfill our mission to build life-long learners if we don't have resources to purchase books and materials to support that mission?

I wonder if it isn't in the way of the ancient idea of "library". Libraries were once not only collectors of knowledge, they fostered it by sponsoring the creators of new ideas. That is what is proposed in this article from ALA about the library discovering new authors and helping them to blossom.

I doubt very much that HPL could muster the resources in equipment and staff to make this happen on our own, but there might be a possibility for a consortium of libraries to pool resources and help turn the explosion of self-published ebooks become an explosion of really high-quality ebooks.
(Thanks for the link Sandra!)

SNAPSHOT: Tell us how to serve you better!

The Hutchinson Public Library is conducting a week-long snapshot survey to help us focus better on the things you really want us to do or provide. Please help us by filling out the survey (if you are or might become a patron here).

There are a couple of simple, specific questions we're asking, but most of the survey is open-ended for you to tell us about what you would like or how we could help you. The entire survey can be completed in about 5 minutes, unless you have a lot to write! Please help, and "Thank you!" in advance.