Citation
Oyelude, A.A. (2015), "What’s trending in libraries from the internet cybersphere – 02 – 2015", Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 32 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-04-2015-0027
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
What’s trending in libraries from the internet cybersphere – 02 – 2015
Article Type: What’s trending in libraries from the internet cybersphere – 02 – 2015 From: Library Hi Tech News, Volume 32, Issue 4
This month’s column speaks a lot about money, unique libraries and library spaces and mobile technologies.
$32 million Toronto archives under secure management
The Toronto Archives uses Eloquent Archives software to manage their holdings. It supports multilevel descriptive records required by professional standards. The collection of “over 133,750 boxes of documents, photographs, maps, architectural plans, audio tapes, and videos are stacked on approximately 36 foot tall shelves in a climate-controlled, fire-proof building”. The collection is mostly online for the public, while some are digitized and ready for viewing. E-mails are sent requesting material from the records center. Learn more about the program at: http://www.blogto.com/city/2015/02/behind_the_scenes_at_the_toronto_archives
Crowdfunding can be lucrative – rakes in $4.8 million
A report by Jessica Harlan written on March 10, 2015, tells about the success of Cedar and Stuart Anderson’s beekeeping idea. Their project is one that has created an organized beehive for bees which keep their honey making and eases harvesting of the honey with no fuss except opening a tap for honey to flow down. The duo researched and strategized to get the contraption in working order and have raked in millions through crowdfunding the honey harvester on. Find out more from http://www.yahoo.com/makers/a-sweet-idea-reaps-millions-in-crowdfunding-112910077205.html Crowdfunding is certainly something libraries surely can learn and take advantage from this.
Heard of library hotels?
Chloe Hamilton, on February 6th, 2015, described library hotels in different places around the world in a report at: http://independent.co.uk/travel/hotels/in-pictures-library-hotels-10028617.html Each hotel has a unique library that is created to meet the needs of their local community. Books can be found in hotels from Koh Samui, Thailand to Amsterdam, Netherlands. In the Library, Koh Samui which has “an all-white reading room nicknamed The Lib”, there are not only “an impressive collection of books but also DVDs and CDs”. Gladstone’s Library, Flintshire: “which was founded by William Gladstone in 1895, when he was 85; provides guests at the wood-paneled library with facilities such that they can even take books back to their rooms”. The Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, India, has an Imperial Library which is “a replica of the library at Windsor Castle, with its teak and rosewood walls. It houses rare manuscripts first editions, a collection of Korans and encyclopedias from the turn of the last century”.
The Library Hotel in New York City is a 60-room Manhattan hotel with each floor being assigned a category of the Dewey Decimal System and kitted out accordingly. The eighth floor, for example, is “Literature” with rooms entitled “Fairy Tales”, “Poetry” and even “Erotic Literature”. As for the Ham Yard, London, it has “an elegantly decorated reading room full of books about the capital’s history, art, culture and politics, as well as prize-winning literature”. The Andaz Hotel in Amsterdam, “a former humdrum public library close to the center of the Dutch capital has been transformed into 122 rooms individually designed, with roots in the Amsterdam tradition”. When next you or any other bibliophile travels choose a hotel with a library. And just maybe it could make for a working holiday.
Libraries in Korea evolve into cultural complexes
A blog report from library learning spaces posted on January 30, 2015 states that Korea.net recently visited several libraries which are no longer spaces where people just read books. These library spaces are in transition, becoming cultural centers where people are provided with lectures on the humanities and can receive practical training. It was reported that visitors have access to digital information and have a chance to watch films. More can be read at: http://librarylearningspace.com/women-nepal-receive-prenatal-care-via-mobile-library-app/ and http://www.readglobal.org/blog/192-amakomaya
Libraries and mobile technologies
Helping pregnant women through mobile apps: The Jhuwani Library teaches pregnant women and local Female Community Health Volunteers how to download and use an application on their mobile devices, called Aamako Maya (Mother’s Love). The app, designed by a Nepali computer engineer, allows health workers to track and support expectant mothers throughout each stage of pregnancy. Read more on their blog at: http://www.readglobal.org/blog/192-amakomaya
SMS and texting – a few recent examples: A blog article written by Elisia Geurena includes three stories on the use of mobile technologies for service delivery. First, text-messaging is trending. The text messages and mobile apps are used for marketing produce. Second, the Springfield, Missouri library uses text messaging for patron services. They contact their patrons by text messages when the need arises. Third, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services uses text messaging for child support services. They moved from using landlines to communicate with parents enrolled in their child support program, to text messaging them. The text messaging yielded better results. More can be found at: http://www.mobilecommons.com/blog/2015/o3/sms-nation-mobile-strategists-library-books-child-services-support
University of KwaZulu-Natal: first African institution to implement OCLC’s cloud-based library management services
The University of KwaZulu-Natal, a leading South African university, now uses the OCLC WorldShare Management Services (WMS) as its library management system. WMS provide cloud-based library management and discovery applications in an integrated system that allows local, regional and international connections. The system is cost effective and enables librarians to manage their workflows efficiently, and improve access to library collections and services for their clientele. “OCLC works in conjunction with its local partner, Sabinet, in the African region. Sabinet provided implementation support and training for the University of KwaZulu-Natal and will be providing ongoing support for WMS in Africa”. The first African institution to use this service, the University of KwaZulu Natal has probably set the trend for other African institutions. More information can be found at: http://www.oclc.org/home.en.html
That’s what’s trending!
Adetoun A. Oyelude (toyelude@yahoo.com) is a Principal Librarian based at Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.