This past week I have been using social media (blogs, Facebook, Twitter) to promote library events and also to provide staff members with social media training materials.
I have been creating blogs on the Policies and Procedures section of the Marin County Free Library staff site. These blogs on the staff site contain files of training materials for social media sites like Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter, which I had uploaded. The staff are now able to gain access to these social media training materials so that they can better utilize social media; particularly to promote services and provide information to patrons, and also work together to enhance the social media experience for both patrons and staff.
I have been spending even more time promoting and marketing upcoming library events to patrons through the use of social media including blogs on the public library site, as well as Facebook and Twitter. The events I have been promoting include those that are part of the Marin Public Library's Science Month project including lectures and discussions about mammals, humans, and the geographical area of Marin County; but also story times for children, Spanish Language courses, art related events, and many other events.
My site supervisor is getting close to having my next big assignment ready, which involves compiling and uploading information about the staff. In the meantime, or for the rest of the weekend, I will be doing more work with social media including uploading subject guides that I created to the Marin County Library's public site so that patrons can access them; one is a general subject guide and the other is for parents. I will also be doing more promotion and marketing of upcoming library events.
Friday, October 19, 2012
Friday, October 12, 2012
Week 7
My internship is now getting off the ground. I am no longer solely doing research, compiling information for staff and users, and revising staff materials. I am now learning to use the Marin County Free Library Intranet or the MCFL staff website. My site supervisor made me an administrator of the MCFL staff site, and in addition to receiving Intranet training, I have been learning to post content to the Intranet or staff website. I have taken the staff training materials and subject guides that I worked on since the start of the semester, and have now been able to upload them to the staff site of the Intranet.
This has not been as easy as it sounds. I did face challenges as there always is when learning something new. I spent a full day struggling to solve Intranet login issues. I had trouble logging into the staff site, but that was because of some mistakes I made and possibly login issues the library had been experiencing, but luckily my site supervisor guided me on how to correct such issues so that I could gain access to the staff site. It was also challenging to learn where and how to post content. It took me a while to learn how to post content in the appropriate sections of the staff site including the policies and procedures page, committee page, and staff home page. Furthermore, it had taken me some time to learn how to upload content onto the Intranet, which I found challenging since it is done a little differently from other websites such as our own D2L site. I also had to struggle to figure out how to upload files that are certain sizes, and basically how to solve issues regarding the uploading of file sizes. Although I know how to post images to the regular MCFL website for users, I still have not figured out how to post images to the Intranet, and solve issues with image size.
The good news is that I did manage to upload all the files my site supervisor wanted on the staff site, and the appropriate places to upload them, for instance training materials that need to be uploaded to policies and procedures page.
Furthermore, I also had to learn about the taxonomy of the staff site. Taxonomy is vocabulary created to help staff find the right places to access certain information and also post content. For instance, the word "Procedures" is an example of taxonomy and was created for the staff site so that staff can upload and access all files related to library procedures. I had to learn how to choose and create taxonomy so that I knew where to post my content, and also where my content can be accessed by library staff.
My site supervisor did say that I need to take my time to learn all these things, and that I don't need to rush to complete assignments. We still have until November 6 before the Intranet actually goes live.
This has not been as easy as it sounds. I did face challenges as there always is when learning something new. I spent a full day struggling to solve Intranet login issues. I had trouble logging into the staff site, but that was because of some mistakes I made and possibly login issues the library had been experiencing, but luckily my site supervisor guided me on how to correct such issues so that I could gain access to the staff site. It was also challenging to learn where and how to post content. It took me a while to learn how to post content in the appropriate sections of the staff site including the policies and procedures page, committee page, and staff home page. Furthermore, it had taken me some time to learn how to upload content onto the Intranet, which I found challenging since it is done a little differently from other websites such as our own D2L site. I also had to struggle to figure out how to upload files that are certain sizes, and basically how to solve issues regarding the uploading of file sizes. Although I know how to post images to the regular MCFL website for users, I still have not figured out how to post images to the Intranet, and solve issues with image size.
The good news is that I did manage to upload all the files my site supervisor wanted on the staff site, and the appropriate places to upload them, for instance training materials that need to be uploaded to policies and procedures page.
Furthermore, I also had to learn about the taxonomy of the staff site. Taxonomy is vocabulary created to help staff find the right places to access certain information and also post content. For instance, the word "Procedures" is an example of taxonomy and was created for the staff site so that staff can upload and access all files related to library procedures. I had to learn how to choose and create taxonomy so that I knew where to post my content, and also where my content can be accessed by library staff.
My site supervisor did say that I need to take my time to learn all these things, and that I don't need to rush to complete assignments. We still have until November 6 before the Intranet actually goes live.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Week 6
This week, I have been given access to the staff home page of the Marin County Free Library website; not just because I'm an intern, but mainly since my future assignments will be done on the staff homepage, such as uploading and posting information. I was given a username and a password to log into the staff home site.
A future assignment in which I cut and paste information into the staff site, like staff information, has been put on further hold and is still in development.
My assignment for this week is learning to use the library's Intranet. An Intranet is as Wikipedia states, "a computer network that uses Internet Protocol technology to share information, operational systems, or computing services within an organization." I will be watching a training video on how to use the Intranet. I will be using the Intranet for many future assignments to share staff information, training materials, and anything for the staff so that I can meet the student learning outcomes that state, "the student will help develop and maintain the staff website, as well as create and maintain training materials to assist the staff in improving staff communication and efficiency," and "the student will maintain existing materials and create new materials for publicity and trainings to enable staff to help promote the library and its programs."
I will also be filling out and emailing a time sheet to show the library the days and hours I worked in September, which I must do at the start of every month.
I do not completely understand all the technology that I must use for the staff home site and the Intranet. However, I will be going through a list of assignments for this next week one by one, and by doing so, slowly and gradually gain an understanding about these technologies, how to maintain and develop the staff site, and how to use the Intranet. At this point, I'm a little lost, but I will have to take these assignments a little step at a time.
A future assignment in which I cut and paste information into the staff site, like staff information, has been put on further hold and is still in development.
My assignment for this week is learning to use the library's Intranet. An Intranet is as Wikipedia states, "a computer network that uses Internet Protocol technology to share information, operational systems, or computing services within an organization." I will be watching a training video on how to use the Intranet. I will be using the Intranet for many future assignments to share staff information, training materials, and anything for the staff so that I can meet the student learning outcomes that state, "the student will help develop and maintain the staff website, as well as create and maintain training materials to assist the staff in improving staff communication and efficiency," and "the student will maintain existing materials and create new materials for publicity and trainings to enable staff to help promote the library and its programs."
I will also be filling out and emailing a time sheet to show the library the days and hours I worked in September, which I must do at the start of every month.
I do not completely understand all the technology that I must use for the staff home site and the Intranet. However, I will be going through a list of assignments for this next week one by one, and by doing so, slowly and gradually gain an understanding about these technologies, how to maintain and develop the staff site, and how to use the Intranet. At this point, I'm a little lost, but I will have to take these assignments a little step at a time.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Week 5
It is a bit slow this next week, but there is a lot going on since my site supervisor is currently figuring out and creating upcoming assignments and other things related to the library's website. We are usually scheduled for telephone meetings every Wednesday at 11:30am, but my supervisor has postponed our next meeting until October 3 since she is now hosting a training this Wednesday morning.
I have completed putting together information that will eventually go into both the website and subject guides. The information for the website is on Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library, and the information that will be added to the subject guides is on social media sites like Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and You Tube. My site supervisor will be in the meantime figuring out how to get Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library working, and how to create the subject guides based on my research and findings. There is an upcoming assignment where I put together information about the staff, which has been postponed because of some technical issues. In the meantime, I will be creating blogs and posting information on social media sites.
The two learning outcomes I will be focusing on in the next week are:
1. The student will maintain existing materials and create new materials for publicity and trainings to enable staff to help promote the library and its programs, and assist patrons in utilizing library services and materials.
2. The student will help develop and maintain the Marin County Free Library website so that patrons will learn to use the library, become informed about the library's reading programs and events, and get information about the library including locations and service hours.
The blogs that I will be creating are to "help develop and maintain the Marin County Free Library website so that patrons will learn to use the library and become informed about the library's events." The blogs also function as "new materials for publicity to enable staff to help promote the library and assist patrons in utilizing library services."
This may sound boring, but I am basically creating blogs for the next week while waiting for my site supervisor to have my next major assignments and certain aspects of the website ready for me to work on.
I have completed putting together information that will eventually go into both the website and subject guides. The information for the website is on Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library, and the information that will be added to the subject guides is on social media sites like Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and You Tube. My site supervisor will be in the meantime figuring out how to get Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library working, and how to create the subject guides based on my research and findings. There is an upcoming assignment where I put together information about the staff, which has been postponed because of some technical issues. In the meantime, I will be creating blogs and posting information on social media sites.
The two learning outcomes I will be focusing on in the next week are:
1. The student will maintain existing materials and create new materials for publicity and trainings to enable staff to help promote the library and its programs, and assist patrons in utilizing library services and materials.
2. The student will help develop and maintain the Marin County Free Library website so that patrons will learn to use the library, become informed about the library's reading programs and events, and get information about the library including locations and service hours.
The blogs that I will be creating are to "help develop and maintain the Marin County Free Library website so that patrons will learn to use the library and become informed about the library's events." The blogs also function as "new materials for publicity to enable staff to help promote the library and assist patrons in utilizing library services."
This may sound boring, but I am basically creating blogs for the next week while waiting for my site supervisor to have my next major assignments and certain aspects of the website ready for me to work on.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Week 4
My internship is all of a sudden moving very fast, and my site supervisor has me on a roller coaster. I will of course put details and specifics about my assignments and experiences with them in the status reports and final report. For now, I am working fast and only have the time to blog about general information on my new assignments.
This week I have been given two assignments, although my site supervisor is developing one of them. The assignment I am starting today is compiling information for two upcoming subject guides that teach patrons how to use Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and You Tube. One guide will be for general information, and the other will be for parents. My assignment is to collect social media website information from the Marin County Free Library site such as subjects, book titles, websites, and subject headings. This information is what will go into the subject guides.
The assignment that my site supervisor is in the process of creating and will have for me any day has to do with putting together information about the library staff. There is information about the staff such as pics, bios, user permissions, and email that are in both the Library's website and on a spreadsheet (my site supervisor will send me the spreadsheet any day). My assignment will be to take all the staff information from both the Library website and spreadsheet, and cut and paste it into the staff site on the Internet. Generic passwords will be given.
This week I have been given two assignments, although my site supervisor is developing one of them. The assignment I am starting today is compiling information for two upcoming subject guides that teach patrons how to use Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and You Tube. One guide will be for general information, and the other will be for parents. My assignment is to collect social media website information from the Marin County Free Library site such as subjects, book titles, websites, and subject headings. This information is what will go into the subject guides.
The assignment that my site supervisor is in the process of creating and will have for me any day has to do with putting together information about the library staff. There is information about the staff such as pics, bios, user permissions, and email that are in both the Library's website and on a spreadsheet (my site supervisor will send me the spreadsheet any day). My assignment will be to take all the staff information from both the Library website and spreadsheet, and cut and paste it into the staff site on the Internet. Generic passwords will be given.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Week 3
It must be stated that when new information technologies emerge and can greatly benefit libraries, libraries will of course want to use them to compete and survive in the information industry. However, libraries are not going to immediately understand how these new technologies work, and how they can use them to their benefit. All they know are that these technologies are new, are improvements over previous technologies, are helping other libraries, and that they would greatly help their own library or library system; they just do not know how to go about approaching these technologies and using them. They need to be guided, helped, or get ideas on how to use these new technologies by researching and learning about how other libraries are utilizing them. It is in this research and learning process that I come in for this next week's assignment.
My job for this next week is to help the Marin County Free Library get a start on using Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library, which are new technologies to get information to patrons. Libraries are now learning to use these technologies and implementing them; both public and academic libraries. I am to find out what libraries use Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library, and report back to my site supervisor on how these libraries are utilizing them, and how the Marin County Free Library can understand and use them too.
More specifically, I am to find out...
1. What libraries are using Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library
2. How these libraries are marketing Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library
3. How libraries are using Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library differently
4. Evaluate what these libraries are doing with Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library
5. Find out what to do and not to do with Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library
6. And get any additional information and support about how libraries are using Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library to get information to patrons.
My job for this next week is to help the Marin County Free Library get a start on using Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library, which are new technologies to get information to patrons. Libraries are now learning to use these technologies and implementing them; both public and academic libraries. I am to find out what libraries use Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library, and report back to my site supervisor on how these libraries are utilizing them, and how the Marin County Free Library can understand and use them too.
More specifically, I am to find out...
1. What libraries are using Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library
2. How these libraries are marketing Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library
3. How libraries are using Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library differently
4. Evaluate what these libraries are doing with Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library
5. Find out what to do and not to do with Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library
6. And get any additional information and support about how libraries are using Axis 360 and 3M Cloud Library to get information to patrons.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Week 2
During the second week, I continued to review training and publicity materials for the library staff at the Marin County Free Library, and also continued to meet the student learning outcomes that focus on "maintaining existing materials for publicity and trainings to enable staff to help promote the library and its programs, and improve staff communication and efficiency." The materials on training and publicity are on social media and are supposed to train library staff how to use social media sites like Blogger, Twitter, Hootsuite, Facebook, and You Tube so they can better connect with both the community and other librarians and staff persons. The training and publicity materials were done last Spring, and since social media sites do change overtime, my assignment was to report any recent changes in how these social media sites work that differ from what is stated in the training and publicity materials. I am now in the process of editing the Google documents for these materials so that they are updated to show how these social media sites are functioning today as opposed to last Spring.
I will also be posting current news stories about the library on these social media sites. I will be doing some research to find out any current news about the library, and use the library's social media website accounts to post them so that the community and staff are informed about the latest news concerning the Marin County Library.
I will also be posting current news stories about the library on these social media sites. I will be doing some research to find out any current news about the library, and use the library's social media website accounts to post them so that the community and staff are informed about the latest news concerning the Marin County Library.
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