Weekly Reader

OhioLINK, OCLC Report Reveals Surprises about Circulation
"OhioLINK and OCLC Research have released a report of, and the data set used in, a joint study of OhioLINK circulation, to better understand the usage patterns of books in academic libraries and support further research in this area. The study, which incorporated usage data from 2007-2008, was limited to books and manuscripts because these materials typically circulate, and circulation is a significant element in evaluating collections." - OhioLINK What's New, 9/29/11

OCLC & OhioLINK Release Extensive Data Sets on Book Usage Patterns in Academic Libraries
"OhioLINK and OCLC Research released on September 21 what is likely the largest and most comprehensive study of academic library circulation ever undertaken. Among the more interesting findings, the "80/20" rule, which says that 80 percent of a library's circulation is driven by approximately 20 percent of the collection, may not be accurate." -- Michael Kelly, Library Journal, 9/29/11


No Projector? No Problem. Use QR Codes + SlideShare to Share Your Slides
"Here's a useful and easy social-media option speakers can use to put their slides into the hands of the audience right away--even if there's no projector or the projector's not working. From the SlideShare blog, we learn how: First, upload your slides to SlideShare, the popular website for making slides easily available. Then create a QR or "quick response" code like the graphical bar code at right  with a link to the SlideShare version of your presentation. The code embeds an easy-to-scan version of the web address where your slides reside."-- Denise Graveline, The Eloquent Woman, 9/27/11

The Question of Control in the Classroom
"The August 24 post, What Does Your Syllabus Say About You and Your Course?, in which I asked a series of questions designed to encourage revisiting the syllabus in terms of its role in setting course norms and establishing the tone of the course generated some interesting responses. I am always pleased when a post stimulates reaction, including disagreement. This is how we learn and grow as professionals. It also makes blogs worth reading, in my opinion. I do have to say, however, that I found some of the assumptions embedded in the responses troubling. I have been thinking about the issues they raised and thought it might be useful for us to continue the conversation." -- Maryellen Weimer, The Teaching Professor Blog, 9/28/11

Dynamic Views: Seven New Ways to Share Your Blog with the World
"As we said a few weeks ago when we launched a completely rebuilt, streamlined authoring and editing experience, we’re in the process of bringing you a much improved and modernized Blogger. The next phase of these updates starts today with seven new ways to display your blog, called Dynamic Views. Built with the latest in web technology (AJAX, HTML5 and CSS3), Dynamic Views is a unique browsing experience that will inspire your readers to explore your blog in new ways. The interactive layouts make it easier for readers to enjoy and discover your posts, loading 40 percent faster than traditional templates and bringing older entries to the surface so they seem fresh again." -- Antin Harasymiv, Blogger Buzz, 9/27/11

Why I Killed My Facebook Account
"Many Facebook users are in an uproar over new changes, while bigger ones are about to be unveiled. I’ve had a Facebook account since 2005. Today, I killed it. Didn’t just deactivate it, but deleted it. The whole kit-and-kaboodle. Why?" -- Joe Hardenbrook, Mr. Library Dude, 9/25/11

Blended Learning - Cutting Edge Or a Double-Edged Sword
"Instructional Designer and Teacher Kimberly Greene provides deep insights into Brandman University’s implementation of a blended learning environment in their School of Education. In the presentation, Greene discusses the goals of the effort, many of the technologies and approaches used, and identifies what worked well and what they’ve been working to improve." -- K. Walsh, Emerging EdTech, 9/25/11