Infographics in Libraries

Recently I come across a new term “Infographics” which means Information graphics or graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge.

I found Is Print Dead? (Infographic) very interesting.

The librarians can use this technique for displaying library usage, collection development, and expenditure analysis over a period of time. Generally this kind of information is given during committee meetings by means of PowerPoint presentations. But for display purpose the infographics is best way to communicate same data / information to the readers.

This may be used for library advocacy programme as suggested by Linda W Braun in How-To Use Infographics for Library Advocacy 

Another example I come across is Layola University in New Orleans where the students are guided about infographics.

Anatomy of a Librarian is another example for infographics. The accuracy of data given is not known but the picture gives an idea how infographics helps the readers to understand the concept in better way with visual representation.

Instead of giving data / statistical information in tabular forms infographics really works due to its meaningful presentation by use of charts, graphs & visualizations.

Also University of Texas Libraries is organizing special class / workshop Beyond PowerPoint: Say it with Infographics in October 2011.

This is something new hence sharing with all of you!!!!

Librarian's Job

The librarian’s job is to assist users in finding relevant information by proper guidance and / or by providing alternative means to do the same work in different way. Recently I came across one such resource which is titled as “Guide to Library Research at Cornell: Seven Steps to Effective Library Research developed at Cornell University Library which helps the users from deciding the research topic till it’s citations by way of tips, multimedia etc. It is really a great resource from library users point of view. At the same time, it is an innovative yet simple mechanism to serve the users. It may also serve as a tool for information literacy programme for library users.

Web 2.0 applications for Libraries

Evernote.Com
Evernote is free software allows you to easily capture information in any format irrespective of device used and makes this information accessible and searchable at any time. As Roy "Todd" Vandenbark mentiones it is very useful web 2.0 tool comes in versions for Windows and Mac computers, and many mobile devices including Windows Mobile phones, the iPhone, and iPod Touch. And Evernote organizes everything based on tags you add to each item, allowing you to search for items and group them into "notebooks." You can publish any of your notebooks for others to see, and once published, it will be given its own unique URL and indexed by search engines.

Evernote offers two service plans, free and premium. The free account allows you to upload up to 40 MB of information per month, and is limited to images, audio files, link files, and PDFs. Notebooks published from any free account will include advertising in the margin. For $5 per month, or $45 per year, you can upload up to 500 MB of information in any file type, and they are secure socket layer (SSL) encrypted for added security during transfer. In addition, advertising is turned-off for premium users. The Web site offers some documentation and searchable support, and it includes a number of helpful tutorials.


LibGuides
The librarians experimenting with Web 2.0 applications may try tools provided by Springshare.com through which libraries can distribute their content to other websites, blogs, and courseware systems. As mentioned on their website Librarians can use it to create attractive multimedia content, share knowledge and information, and promote library resources to the community. Academic, Public, Special, and K-12 School Libraries find LibGuides an ideal solution for subject guides, information portals, course guides, community guides, research help, faculty/teacher support, etc. But this is not free software.

Innovations in libraries: Need of the day

The library staff usually tends to become bored after doing same work over period of time. To keep interest alive, one must try something new though the original work may remain the same. This is nothing but one’s innovation and creativity, which helps in bringing new value to monotonous work.

As Michelle McLean mentioned in her post on the blog, four elements of innovation are creativity, strategy, implementation and profitability. Innovations not only bring out creativeness in librarians but also save the times of users.

Innovation is useful for libraries as it:

· Makes optimal use of resources
· Attracts new users
· Builds stronger loyalty among current ones
· Gives creative satisfaction to library staff
· Helps in smooth running of activity irrespective of existing or newly introduced
· To enhance the library image amongst management as well as user community

To give some examples from library background, following changes may be considered as innovations:

i.) The library visit now can be replaced by Virtual Tour / Library Map on internet / intranet site.

ii) Previously library marketing was done through Brochures / Pamphlets which is easier through Library Blog.

iii) Earlier reference service was provided in person but now it can be done remotely also by Ask A Librarian / Instant Messaging service

iv) Previously library collection had both print as well as non-print (CDs/DVDs) material which may be now replaced by Digital Library / Online databases etc.

The above examples uses the various tools provided by information technology (IT) applications. But irrespective of IT, the librarians can do many things such as:

1. Announcing “Best User” Awards to excel reading habits of users
2. Display of slow moving titles in themes for increasing awareness amongst users
3. Using user-friendly furniture & displays etc.
4. Creating “Book Clubs” of users

32 Tips To Inspire Innovation for You and Your Library, Part 1, 2 and 3 by Stephen Abram, SirsiDynix vice president of Innovation are also helpful in this regard.

The most important of all is one’s own determination to make changes as and when required for maintaining balance between the present scenario and latest happenings in and around library keeping in mind future planning.