Big thanks to West Vancouver Memorial Library for hosting their 3rd annual Front Line Technology Meetup. Heard about a lot of cool projects.
West Vancouver Public Library
International Games Day at Your Library (Kevin)
- website has lots of great resources
- board games, video games, etc. into library
- this year’s was Creative Mode in Minecraft
- volunteers were great resource
- small budget to get board games, but instead paid honorarium to organizer of extremely shy and looking for friends: board game group that meet normally in cafes
- WiiU set up on big screen
- younger kids mostly interested in video games, older participants (20s) playing board games
- Youth Services also does classes on playing Minecraft
- SPL have open gaming sessions (in computer lab, 12 computers, typically ages 8-13) with changing maps vs. another branch which is only run when teaching; but can have behavioural issues
Technology Fair (James)
- library staff and collaboration with community
- 1500 people, one evening and full Saturday
- technologies coming up, try different things
- technology discussions on what they would like to see, interests, fears
- station examples: greenscreen, 3D printers and scanning from community groups, VR station (Oculus Rift), audio station (Audacity), digitization station (scanners), popup classes on Raspberry Pi, coding class for kids teaching computational thinking, and others
- report on WV website (under About -> Reports section), Technology Report has executive summary and details including the technology fair
- very time consuming, but worth it
- definitely had some people finding out about resources and coming back to the library
Sea Hero Quest
- free smartphone app that re-writes rules on how we go about dementia research
- goal is the develop new diagnostic tests that can detect when somebody’s spatial navigation skills are failing
- game generated useful data approx 150x faster than lab data
- available for iOS and Android
Mobile Device Management (Sarah)
- using Heat LANRev, did RFP
- low maintenance fee
- can handle phones, laptops, tablets
- can remotely lock down, track, and add profiles
- class sets of tablets
- can easily reset
- can also lock down built-in apps
- video tablets with netflix, indieflix (with library card), CBC’s youtube channel, concert series, some pre-downloaded movies
- was getting a lot of requests for content that was digital only
- pilot lending
Vancouver Public Library
Kobo Aura One
- integrated with OverDrive: don’t need to connect to computer, or Adobe ID
- identified by blue button on the back
- VPL Guide to Kobo Aura One
- have button to Sync with OverDrive
- when browse/search for books will find library’s OverDrive books and also get option to borrow from library instead of purchasing from Kobo bookstore
- currently only have one, for in-library use only
Digital Literacy Review
- basic computer classes for many years
- currently all starting people out, not much to get people to the next step
- reviewed all the literature on teaching technology to adult learners
- putting together a series of classes using streams: computer basics, intermediate users, creators (advanced, based on inspiration lab use)
- same time/day every week (over the course of 4-6 weeks)
- hope to cover coding and website creation later on
- hoping to incorporate lynda.com
- consider directed practice exercises
- also have tech cafe and device drop-ins separately
- consider refundable deposit to ensure attendance
Thompson-Nicola Regional District Library
Virtual Machines for Computer Classes
- wanted to teach users using Windows 8.1 and Windows 10; computers all still Windows 7
- public computers locked down and limited to Win7
- solution: virtual machines
- Setup: VM Server: HP Proliant DL380 G7, Intel Xeon Processing X5660 (6 cores), 1 TB hard drive, 32 GB RAM, VMware ESXi, vSphere Client, VMware Player (on training laptops)
- advantages: access to multiple OS, full access to file system, OK to break things, easy to reset
- disadvantages: slow, more updating (for each OS), storage requirements (need more than 1 TB) and allocate enough for updates, may not work with removable devices
- Workshops limited by 9 computers, can be more for tablets
Coquitlam Public library
Technology Programs (Joyce)
- a lot of partner programs
- Girls in Science, Live Science
- coding, computer skills, animation
- Google Cardboard VR headset
- lego robotics competition
- science expo with schools
- raspberry pi
- drop-in tech help (participation dropping)
- don’t offer workshops anymore, but can make 1hr appointments
- computer buddies: teens with younger kids
Innovation Hub (Kathy)
- 3D printers, got a new one
- database lynda
- hope to combine them into class
- 3D design (Rhino)
- hope to have tech bar or tech cafe where people can drop in
Richmond Public Library
- doesn’t have maker space in Richmond
- so went to find creative people to bring makers in
- makerspaces can also be intimidating
- 3D modeling for teens (Sculptris for teens, sculpting a ball), kids use SketchUp, adults use AutoDesk; done by student from Emily Carr
- gaming workshop for millenials; 6 week showcase by indie developers followed by 6 week workshop
- participation limited: 6-15 adults, 12-15 children
- forming clubs e.g. 3D maker meetup
Once a Upon an App
- storytime
- stop half way to talk about digital technology especially studies about children’s use of technology, modelling behaviour
- 8 iPads
- concurrently with school-age kids programs (reading with a dog)
Movie FX
- use iPad app called “action movie” with pre-made special effects
- second portion use iMovie to make short movie e.g. trailer
Lego digital designer club
- use free software to collaborate and build lego designs
- then bring them to life using stop motion, e.g. Animation Express on iPad
New Westminster Public Library
DVD Players
- have 2 players
- in library only, but can be used anywhere in the library
- headphones with them
- 2 hours, renewal to 1 hour
- help to relief use of public computers (also had issues playing DVDs on the public computers)
Thanks
Time to have lunch and socialize
