I also attended the SEFLIN Future of Libraries Conference, and thought I would touch about 2 sessions not discussed in the previous blogs: SEFLIN Connect and Gaming in Libraries.
SEFLIN Connect is a new free service from SEFLIN – an online meeting and collaboration service – good for web conferencing, project collaboration, and eLearning. This service would allow us to hold meetings with Broward County, HPD, the University Schools, Oceanography and/or East Campus without the time and expense of gathering in one location. Using a webcam, we can also tape a presentation with video and voice, and post it on SEFLIN Connect, so new staff can watch it at their leisure. Arlene has volunteered to investigate how Technical Services can use SEFLIN Connect as an e-learning tool, and she will be reporting back to us in the next few weeks.
Gaming in libraries has now become mainstream, with over 40% of all libraries having games in their collections. Games are circulated, library programs are being developed for patrons to come into the library to game, and games are being used as a training tool for customers and staff. This presentation gave a brief overview of gaming in libraries, and then focused on websites to help librarians design games. Check out the Carnegie Mellon Library Arcade, which teaches library staff and patrons how to use the Library of Congress classification system: http://www.library.cmu.edu/Libraries/etc/game1/game1.swf
