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| Issue 184 | Saturday, January 08, 2000 |
09:12:27 AM |
For a
bi-monthly wrap up of NOLA news and information, be sure to check out NOLA Notes! |
||
| Library News |
Geauga County Public Library Receives Grant
Congratulations to Geauga County Public Library which recently received a grant
from the ALSC division of ALA to serve as a demonstration site for the ParenTech Project.
ParenTech is an initiative that provides parents and educators of middle school-aged
children with resources to help them understand technology's role in the lives of their
children.
December 1999 NOLA Board Minutes
The final NOLA Board of Trustees Meeting minutes of the 20th Century have been
posted to the web.
December 1999
NOLA Board Minutes
Live Customer Service on the Web
A new, and likely very important, trend on the web has been the development of live
online customer service. Sites like LandsEnd, QVC, and Intuit are currently using live
online one to one customer service to enhance the value of their web sites for shoppers.
Many users have reported very positive experiences from these interactions – imagine
being able to shop online and get personalized customer service.
There are a number of questions for libraries raised by the development of this service - how can web-based customer service work for libraries and how will patrons respond?
The how can this technology be used question is limited only by imagination – ready reference, genealogy, public relations, readers advisory, and more are all readily apparent uses of the technology.
Does live customer service make sense for libraries, would library patrons make use of such a service and would they be satisfied with the results? The research in this area is generally focused on e-commerce sites, but the results indicate such a strong preference for interactive customer service on the web that they are worth mentioning in this article. One survey of net users found that, 35% of web users would make more online purchases if interactive customer service were available. Another survey found that over 90% of Internet connected consumers who did not currently make online purchases said that they don’t buy online due to a lack of interactive customer service. Imagine being able to provide needed information for users of your catalog or for library patrons remotely using databases licensed by the library.
Want to know more? Visit the following sites:
One article in favor of web-based customer service: http://www.zdnet.com/pccomp/stories/all/0,6605,2401503,00.html
One article arguing against the development of such service: http://andovernews.com/cgi-bin/news_column.pl?462
Items submitted by:
Brad Stephens - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
| From the Field - Brad Stephens |
DotComGuy!
Could you live for a year using only on the web? A twenty six year old from Texas
is giving it a try. Now legally known as DotComGuy he will be living in a house (which he
can't leave) for one year linked to the outside world via a phone line and the Internet.
He’ll be totally dependent on the net for everything from food to entertainment. This
has the potential to be one of the most interesting sites of the year – we’ll
have to wait an see.
Want to know more? http://www.dotcomguy.com/
Free DSL
First it was free computers, then free dial-up Internet access, now Broadband
Digital Group, a California-based startup, is offering consumers "free" digital
subscriber line (DSL) service. DSL service, which typically costs $50 per month, offers
users download speeds rivaling those of a T1 connection (1.544 MBPs) while using existing
phone lines. So how does a company give away $50 in access per month and expect to make a
profit? The answer is simple - users are selling their privacy. Users of the FreeDSL
service essentially agree to allow their activities and certain personal information
(income, gender, etc.) to monitored and sold by Broadband Digital Group. Is this a fair
trade – free DSL service in exchange for disclosing personal information and browsing
habits?
Want to know more? http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20000104/wr/tech_dsl_1.html
Visit the Broadband Digital Group site http://www.freedsl.com
Digital Certificate Expiration
One of the few wide spread impacts of new millennium has been the massive
expiration of digital certificates used to secure online transactions. Many of these
certificates, which were issued by VeriSign, Inc. and stored in web browser software, were
designed to expire on December 31, 1999. Imagine my surprise when I ordered books from
Amazon and discovered that their security certificate was expired! Both Netscape and
Internet Explorer users can upgrade their web browser software and correct the problem.
Read more - http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/zd/20000106/tc/20000106054.html
Items submitted by:
Brad Stephens - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
| Education Station - Lori Putt/CE Consultant |
What's Your Line?
We all have one...that "line" that we state as our New Year's Resolution -
"This year I'm going to..." It isn't a surprise to learn that the number
one resolution each year is "lose weight". Well, I beat the system each year by
starting a diet in November, right before Thanksgiving and continue it through New Year's
Day...sometimes continuing on, sometimes not!
Having had a very busy 1999, this year, my New Year's Resolution was to seek happiness and
joy in my life. Easier said than done! It's more than taking a vacation (although I do
plan to do just that) Happiness and joy come from the feeling of accomplishing
life's daily tasks, as well as throwing some joyful experiences in there for
"good measure".
One activity that I really do enjoy, but never seem to have enough time for, is reading a
good book. I try to encourage this habit in my son as well, who at 10 years old, is much
more interested in Nintendo! So this holiday season, I treated myself and my son to
several trips to my local libraries and bookstores.
So, for my Y2K Resolution, I vowed to read a good book each month. Not just the latest
Danielle Steele novel or book on Marketing Tactics, but rather to "expand my
horizon". This month, I chose Suze Orman's new book, "The Courage to be
Rich". Much more than the title portrays, this book has encouraged me to continue my
quest of seeking happiness and joy for the new millennium.
This book encourages its readers to realize their full potential to be rich - not only
financially - but in spirituality, family, friendships, and courageousness to move ahead
in their lives. Another very common New Year's Resolution is to "make more
money", or to "get the raise I deserve". This book allows you to explore
the milestones in our lives that will allow each of us to do just that and more...how to
be rich in bottom line numbers and also in your heart, your soul, and the way that you
live each day...exactly what I wanted for my resolution this year!
I think that I'll keep it this year...I am really enjoying life more and am seeing the
people I love in a different way already. Take my advice...that's better than losing 10
pounds any day!!!
"The courage to be rich comes alive when you have the courage to recognize what you
really do value in this life, when you live - and spend - with clarity. In order to be
truly rich, you have to not only value what you have, but also have only things in your
life that you value. You have to value tomorrow along with today."
Suze Orman, The Courage to be Rich
Items submitted by:
Lori Putt - Email
NOLA Regional Library System
| CyberStuff from Reflinks |
Hey! Don't cross that bridge until you check out these sites! Under RefLinks 624 you'll find Super Bridge from Nova Online and Bridges from Newton's Apple. Two great resources that may help you bridge the gap in your print collection. Discover the strengths and weaknesses of bridges and other interesting information that will keep you from jumping off one. Oh, and speaking of bridges, there is a nice one in Brooklyn......
Items submitted by:
Reflinks Members [email protected]