Librarians may need to move out of the library to find an answer or solution to a problem.  I canvassed several sources to locate a fix for my library’s iPhone connectivity problem.  iPhone users in my library could view all the wireless access points in the library and could not connect to any of them.  This was a problem as West Deptford Free Public Library’s 20th anniversary celebration was around the corner and I knew there would be several iPhone users stopping by to ask me once again why they couldn’t connect.  I found this a cool challenge in an odd way.

Contacting consortium library colleagues, NJLA contacts and a 2008 LJ Mover and Shaker via his blog yielded no results.  I thought it was time for a road trip – to an Apple store as a last resort.  I feel the need to share that I have a lot to learn about the Apple culture.  My brother-in-law, a long time advocate and cardiologist with ample funding for new technologies, loves Macs and will only buy Apple.  I thought it time for me to find out why. 

Pulling into the shopping center parking lot a strange feeling came over me.  I thought … I’m not going to know the answer here!  I know I’m not.  I hope the Mac genius can pose a solution. – a select group of Apple employees actually garner  the  job title “Mac Genius.� I first tried to access the Apple support group via my cell phone and was alerted that the genius group could not speak to me on the phone free of charge.  I could be granted an audience in person if I would drive to the store.  I sense a strong analogy to library users entering a library to get a question answered.  I am proud to say Q&ANJ will answer user questions free of charge online! 

I entered the store at 10:05 am, five minutes after the doors opened. The store was already filled with black clad clerks and geniuses as well as many customers.  I moved toward a clerk perched by a monitor who inquired if I needed assistance.  I explained the problem with my wireless network access.  As I was talking I noticed a few people were now listening to the clerk as she acknowledged that she was just a clerk and that I’d need to speak with someone else.  I was ushered toward the “genius bar.�  I took a few steps forward – at this time I was feeling like Dorothy in the Wizard of OZ when she finally is granted an audience with the wizard.  As I waited patiently, a tall young man in a tight shirt and black pants approached without an iPhone, iPod, or iAnything in view.  

The Mac genius stepped into my personal space and listened attentively to my problem overview.  He then rolled his shoulders back and stepped sideways to achieve a broader stance.  At this point, people were gathering around to hear his answer.  He validated that I did have a problem.  We discuss IP issues and MAC addresses, to no avail.  Then he pulled an iPhone from his pocket with a gesture of grandeur.  Those at the genius bar learned over to view his actions.  This was a marketing strategy I had never seen in action before.  I felt like this was some kind of challenge contest similar to game shows like Jeopardy or the Weakest Link.  The marketing and sales techniques were subtle and very effective.  I was feeling hopeful that this guy would answer my question.  The Mac genius repeatedly asked if I was sure about the IP address and surmised that I must have an entire range of addresses available.  After more DHCP talk, it dawned on me that I had not upgraded the firmware on the library access points since they were installed in 2005.  iPhones were not around in 2005!  I started to think about all the mobile device users that may have not been able to connect and never approached a staff member at my library!  It was time for an upgrade.  I recall feeling empowered!  Before leaving, I explained that I was a librarian and asked all those interested in my plight to stop by their local library to check out the wireless access with their iPhones.  Have you ever noticed the responses and reactions you get when you reveal that you are a professional librarian?  I like to think of sharing my profession as a covert marketing technique to promote libraries and librarianship in general.

As I made my way out of the store, past the approving nods of those in the store and the slick clutter free monitors and keyboards on clear Plexiglas stands,   I was thinking about whether I should convert the entire library to Mac operating systems and forget the deep Windows discounts from Tech Soup Stock.  I pondered asking for a raise to convert my personal computing equipment to a Mac based environment!  Ah, just wishful thinking and good marketing at work!

Upgrading the firmware on the library’s 3Com access points did solve the problem just in time for the 20th anniversary celebration at the library.  It was great to hear the words, “I connected!�  In fact, that was the highlight of the anniversary celebration for me and that says volumes as my husband also won a great basket of muffins donated to the chance auction courtesy of My Favorite Muffin of the Deptford Mall.

I must add that I would still enjoy returning to the Apple store.  Discussion with the Mac genius was not all that pleasant and inadvertently got me to solve my problem creating a sense of empowerment even though I still need to learn everything about Apple products.

Skepticism rises when I consider whether those at the “Mac genius bar� are authentic geniuses.  Public opinion lends itself to embracing titles regarding power and expertise and no harm is really done as I am not aware of any university issuing a PhD in Mac technology.  Apple’s professional title of “Mac genius� does sound more impressive than Best Buy’s “geek squad� or even a library’s “reference librarian.�  Apple products are thriving on the “Mac culture� they have created.

I highly recommend stopping by an Apple store to access the alternate culture, radical marketing and in some bizarre way get a taste of life on the opposite site of the reference desk.

No answers here, just food for thought!  

Check out the finalists on YouTube. 

The Inspirational and Short Film groups are particularly thought provoking.   I enjoyed viewing them all.   Stick with this one

Randy Pausch Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams

From: carnegiemellonu  It is worth it.

In the creative catagory I must give kudos to  Doll Face by Andy Huang.

Check it out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWgmnAslhNo 

You never know where you will find a great program for your Library!

Paul Stankard, world renowned glass artist called to thank the Library for scheduling him to speak.  Surprisingly, I was almost speechless myself!  It seems like just yesterday I saw Paul signing books at Wheaton Village where museum visitors were so responsive to his work.  I thought wouldn’t it be great to have him speak at my library?  My feet did not move right away.  What do I have to lose? I thought. What is the chance that I will see him again?  I took the risk and it paid off!  Paul was so approachable!  He spoke about the program and suggested I give him a call.  “I guess I could visit your library,� he said. 

Paul commented that he enjoyed presenting at the West Deptford Free Public Library so much that he also did a presentation at the Gloucester County Library in Mullica Hill and the Vineland Public Library.  He shared that he suggested to his publisher that she consider “the library circuit� rather than the Barnes and Noble route.  I’m sure he was kidding however the artist’s decision to support libraries and confirm the value added service they provide to society is encouraging at a time when library budgets are lean.  

Anyone who has been lucky enough to meet this artist knows of his great sense of humor and down to earth persona – an amazing combination as this talented individual has made glasswork for the Queen of England among other dignitaries and stars such Nicholas Cage. 

Great achievements begin with small triumphs. 

Check out Paul on YouTube.

Unshelved for Thursday, March 06, 2008 by Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum

 These guys crack me up everyday! 
I am looking forward to listening to Bill’s wisdom in person at the NJLA 2008 preconferernce President’s Program on Tuesday, April 29th at 7:00 pm.

Library fines in the news again!  This time the fallout is jail time.  The Consumerist has a hefty load of comments on the topic.

Today’s user expectations border on instant gratification and this can present an information transfer hurdle in profit and non-profit sectors.  We librarians need be kind to ourselves when new ideas meet bumps in the road.   Even Oprah is limited by the rate of technology growth.  Check out the following from her website this morning.

“About Monday Night’s Live Web Event

Monday night’s webcast was one of the largest single online events in the history of the Internet. More than 500,000 of you simultaneously logged on to watch Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle live, resulting in 242 Gbps of information moving through the Internet. Unfortunately, some of you experienced delays in viewing the webcast. We are working to identify the specific causes for the problems experienced and will work diligently to rectify them.Harpo Productions, Inc., Move Networks and Limelight Networks recognize that interactive Internet broadcasting to a mass audience is still an emerging medium, and we’re proud to have been pioneers in pushing the industry forward. We deeply regret that some of you were not able to participate in Monday night’s live Web event and that others did not have an optimal viewing experience. The first session of the webinar will be available in its entirety for viewing on Oprah.com or for downloading as a podcast on Oprah.com or iTunes on Tuesday, March 4. To access the on-demand version of Monday night’s class, please visit http://www.oprah.com/ondemand.”

  Many folks missed last night’s class due to technical difficulties.  It would be interesting to access web stats to see just how many download today.  I plan to join the masses as I am reading A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose, by Eckhart Tolle,  along with the group.  The non-fiction work may awaken me along the way, however my authentic motivation for attending class is to assess the means of information transfer.  

Shifting from a realtime boardcast to visiting Oprah.com to download last night’s class somehow presents a mental picture of the “rat in the maze” experiments of my undergrad work at Rutgers University.  Who Moved My Cheese????? 

If you were lucky enough to get a seat in last night’s class, and would like to share your thoughts, feel free!