library+instruction+technology

One of the goals of our integrated learning commons is to provide technology tools for teaching and learning to our faculty. I used some of my FY2009-10 budget dust to purchase two Kindles and two wi-fi only iPads. The Kindles arrived in two days, but the iPads took the slow boat from China (literally) and arrived on Monday while I was in DC at ALA.

Ryan, aka GQ computer dude, configured one of the iPads this morning and gave it to me to use over the weekend. I will admit that I am impressed. I am not an Apple fan boy. I personally can’t stand Steve Jobs. However the speed, size, and screen make this device captivating.

The iPad connected easily to my home wireless. I’ve streamed from Netflix and the ABC apps and found the NPR and Pocket Pond (think koi, lily pads, and rippling water) apps addictive. I still need to do some research before buying any apps.

What are we going to do with our two iPads? Experiment. My reasons for purchasing were simple. I want to make sure our computer guys have some hands on-time prior to August. I’m confident that we will see more than a few students show up in the Fall with an iPad in hand. I am curious to see what role an iPad (or tablet) might play during library instruction or reference work. Based on my limited experience so far, the iPad is ideal for roving reference in and/out of the library (based on your wi-fi infrastructure). Searching and reading articles on JSTOR using the iPad…wasn’t quite magical, but it was cool. Finally, I want to give our faculty an opportunity to touch an iPad and figure out if/how it or another tablet device might be used for instructional purposes.

To be clear, MPOW has no plans to give away or require our students to have an iPad. The initial hands-on use will be by computer services, library staff, and faculty to discover the potential and the weaknesses. My intent is to lend the iPads to students starting sometime during the Fall semester.

I will continue to share our experiences with the iPads here. I’m curious if your library is lending iPads to faculty and/or students? What are your reasons/goals for lending? How much or little policy do you have in place for this type of technology? Please feel free to share your experiences by leaving a comment.

and I still don’t blog. I could write posts on my work computer, my laptop, my netbook, and my Droid. Yet, I don’t write. I have been thinking a lot lately about why I don’t write and have some ideas:

• I want to protect the innocent. A lot of what I want to write about is related to my current job. Protecting the innocent is necessary, since the entire full-time library staff consists of five people including myself.
• I feel a need to write about events in chronological order.
• My job has shifted away from instruction and to library
  administration.

I am going to try and get back into the habit of writing. It may also be time to rethink the title of this blog.

The Local Systems and Services committee of the RUSA/MARS: Emerging Technologies in Reference Section is hosting a discussion forum on discovery systems during Annual 2010.

When: Sunday, June 27, 2010 from 1:30-3:30 pm
Where: JW Marriott Hotel Washington DC in Capitol Ballroom E/F (14th St NW at E St NW)

Panelists include:

- Marshall Breeding will provide an “Overview of Discovery Systems.”
- Scott R. Anderson will share Millersville University Ganser Library’s experience with EBSCO’s Discovery Service.
- Dale Poulter will share Vanderbilt University’s experience with DiscoverLibrary (Primo Central).
- Ellen Safley will share the University of Texas at Dallas McDermott Library’s DISCOVER search (Innovative Interfaces Encore).

Our panelists will highlight the experiences of libraries that have implemented “next generation discovery tools” that provide access to library collections from a single search box. Panelists will focus their comments on user response and subsequent assessment of the local implementation. Discussion forum participants will be able to share their experiences with discovery tools and ask questions following the panelists. Notes will be posted following Annual on a publicly ALA Connect document at http://bit.ly/lssala10. A summary of the Midwinter 2010 discussion forum on the same topic can be read at http://connect.ala.org/node/92049.