I'm going to break a productivity rule I try to make myself follow & blog right now on something non-systems-related during work hours. Today was a momentous day for us at my place of work. It was odd, sad, and even a bit surreal as we bid a final farewell to 15 of our colleagues who had taken the retirement incentive program offered as a part of the budget negotiations this spring. Back when 14 of our colleagues had planned on retiring, we counted 453 years of experience leaving us. Now, there are more. Tomorrow, they will be gone.
So what is the impact on an organization of such a mass exodus? To some degree, only time will tell, but you can already see some of the implications playing out. One of our library service centers lost 1/2 its staff and will have to close on Fridays. We lost a number of our reference librarians, so we will have to close to the public on Mondays.
To those of us "left behind", there is a palpable sense of loss along with some anxiety about what the future will look like for us. We know that our retiring colleagues held up this institution over many years. Their contributions are what kept this place going successfully for so long.
At the same time, I know that for the folks leaving, it's painful to think about how the organization will change after they leave. If/when things that they'd brought to fruition change, they may wonder whether what they did mattered in the long run. But no one can argue that the work they did over the years is what needed to be done at the time. If it ends up changing, it doesn't mean what was done before was wrong. It was wonderful. It helped our organization to become what it is today. That is the foundation for the next iteration of the organization.
If we, who are left behind, do our jobs well, there will be an organization when we move on. Then the organization will go through another iteration and the structures we will have created, the things we will have done and achieved will also disappear. It won't have made our time here any the less valued or needed.
All of us are but temporary occupants of the roles we play in the workplace. We do our best. We create change and movement and improve things. After us, others will improve and change things in their own ways. It's the nature of life to be dynamic. That doesn't mean that what came before - what was done by our predecessesors is valued any less.
But I do think it's a reminder that part of what matters is not simply the task we do, the role we play, but who we are in relation to others. Sure, my web work might be fine, but part of what will endure when I am at the end of my career will be the impressions others have of working with me. Did I help them, empower them, treat them well? And yes, I am human and imperfect, but did I do the best I could? Because what I will miss most about our 15 departing colleagues is not so much the tasks that they did and the things that they achieved (although those are worthy of great praise), but who they are. For every kindness they have shown their coworkers, for every bit of encouragement they have given, for every time they helped us understand things more clearly, I am grateful. I hope that I can carry on their legacy and do my part in keeping this organization successful for as long as I am here.
So to everyone who is saying goodbye, I wish you a long and fulfilling retirement from our place of work. Thank you for all you have done. Enjoy your time away from this place, knowing that we will do our best to continue on... and that we will miss you!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Fixing the Mac VMWare Fusion Windows XP Local printer issue
Last week, I spent what felt like an inordinate amount of time (any time feels like too long when printing should be basic, easy function) trying to finally work out some of my printing issues on my new MacBookPro. I’d actually let the problem fester for about as long as I’ve had the Mac because I had the back up of the network printer and because we’re not supposed to print unless absolutely necessary in our office these days. But it got to the point that I needed to print & didn't want to use the networked printer. I could not!
My computing setup is this:
• MacBook Pro – 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 – OSX Version 10.5.7
• With a Windows XP virtual machine through VMWare Fusion version 2.0.4
o The default memory allocation had been 512MB, but since the majority of our work (even some old ASP support, lots of Access dbs, Frontpage, remote desktop, etc.) still takes place in the Win environment, I’d almost immediately upped it to 2.26 GB (max recommended = 3.684GB)
The problem was that I could never print to the local (USB-attached) printer from the Windows (VMWare) side. No matter what I tried, making sure that the “Virtual Machine” “Settings” included “Printers” enabled, etc., it seemed like my attempts to print to the HP1320 at most made my printer hang, orange light on and all. At its worst, I got a printout which said simply ERROR: timeout; OFFENDING COMMAND: timeout ; STACK: and the whole issue seemed to make printing impossible from the Mac OS X side, too, from that point on.
Since then, I followed the instructions at http://communities.vmware.com/message/1174729#1174729 to change my virtual machine from NAT networked to Bridged networking, disabled the virtual machine printers setting, made sure I had USB device support enabled in the virtual machines setting , then set up the printer using the Windows add printer (or was it the plug-and-play auto-detect of local devices) function. Either way, it was done natively through Windows, not through the Virtual Machine settings.
I’d tried so many things (that I’ve since forgotten) to try and troubleshoot the issue. I think I had downloaded new HP 1320 (Windows) printer drivers from HP & reinstalled using that.
Initially I'd thought that the "Bridged" networking / Windows installation way of doing things hadn't fixed the issue. But at some point, after I’d actually stopped & relaunched the virtual machine fully, it seemed to work. It’s a little slow, but it’s usable. There may be additional tweaks I could make to speed things along. My spool settings are to spool (vs. to print directly), then under spool settings, to print immediately. I don’t have the “Print spooled documents first” setting checked off and the Printer is Not Shared on Windows. I find it odd (maybe it’s because I don’t actually understand all of the printing “mechanics”, so to speak – it’s been a black box to me in the past) that none of the ports are checked off if you look at the Printer Properties’ listing of ports, not even the USB one.
Whatever, it works… for now! My main bit of advice for dealing with the VMWare Fusion side of things is to totally close out of the virtual machine when attempting to troubleshoot system-level issues, such as the use of peripherals while in your virtual machine… Normally, in the evening, I just suspend the VM, rather than closing out of the VMWare Fusion app completely.
Next time I spend some time messing with the virtual machine to optimize it for Windows use, I’m going to try remapping the keyboard (if possible), so key combos I’ve traditionally relied on – be they the Print Screen button (there is no equivalent on the MacBook, that I can find), the Alt-F11 to get into the Visual Basic editing environment, the Control-click for selecting a single line, or others, (yes, Ctrls C, X, and V work while in Windows VM, thk goodness! I just have to remember to use the Cmmd key combos when moving back into the Mac OS X side).
Maybe the dual OS is kind of a pain, but I think the ability to use and be fluent in working with both is becoming increasingly valuable. More importantly for me, for now, I’m able to test web forms, pages, etc. from perspectives of both a Mac and a PC user! (and yes, it’s important – a local zoo built a web form that I was unable to use on my home machine (a Mac mini) – it was very frustrating and alienating... not a good thing...)
My computing setup is this:
• MacBook Pro – 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; 4 GB 1067 MHz DDR3 – OSX Version 10.5.7
• With a Windows XP virtual machine through VMWare Fusion version 2.0.4
o The default memory allocation had been 512MB, but since the majority of our work (even some old ASP support, lots of Access dbs, Frontpage, remote desktop, etc.) still takes place in the Win environment, I’d almost immediately upped it to 2.26 GB (max recommended = 3.684GB)
The problem was that I could never print to the local (USB-attached) printer from the Windows (VMWare) side. No matter what I tried, making sure that the “Virtual Machine” “Settings” included “Printers” enabled, etc., it seemed like my attempts to print to the HP1320 at most made my printer hang, orange light on and all. At its worst, I got a printout which said simply ERROR: timeout; OFFENDING COMMAND: timeout ; STACK: and the whole issue seemed to make printing impossible from the Mac OS X side, too, from that point on.
Since then, I followed the instructions at http://communities.vmware.com/message/1174729#1174729 to change my virtual machine from NAT networked to Bridged networking, disabled the virtual machine printers setting, made sure I had USB device support enabled in the virtual machines setting , then set up the printer using the Windows add printer (or was it the plug-and-play auto-detect of local devices) function. Either way, it was done natively through Windows, not through the Virtual Machine settings.
I’d tried so many things (that I’ve since forgotten) to try and troubleshoot the issue. I think I had downloaded new HP 1320 (Windows) printer drivers from HP & reinstalled using that.
Initially I'd thought that the "Bridged" networking / Windows installation way of doing things hadn't fixed the issue. But at some point, after I’d actually stopped & relaunched the virtual machine fully, it seemed to work. It’s a little slow, but it’s usable. There may be additional tweaks I could make to speed things along. My spool settings are to spool (vs. to print directly), then under spool settings, to print immediately. I don’t have the “Print spooled documents first” setting checked off and the Printer is Not Shared on Windows. I find it odd (maybe it’s because I don’t actually understand all of the printing “mechanics”, so to speak – it’s been a black box to me in the past) that none of the ports are checked off if you look at the Printer Properties’ listing of ports, not even the USB one.
Whatever, it works… for now! My main bit of advice for dealing with the VMWare Fusion side of things is to totally close out of the virtual machine when attempting to troubleshoot system-level issues, such as the use of peripherals while in your virtual machine… Normally, in the evening, I just suspend the VM, rather than closing out of the VMWare Fusion app completely.
Next time I spend some time messing with the virtual machine to optimize it for Windows use, I’m going to try remapping the keyboard (if possible), so key combos I’ve traditionally relied on – be they the Print Screen button (there is no equivalent on the MacBook, that I can find), the Alt-F11 to get into the Visual Basic editing environment, the Control-click for selecting a single line, or others, (yes, Ctrls C, X, and V work while in Windows VM, thk goodness! I just have to remember to use the Cmmd key combos when moving back into the Mac OS X side).
Maybe the dual OS is kind of a pain, but I think the ability to use and be fluent in working with both is becoming increasingly valuable. More importantly for me, for now, I’m able to test web forms, pages, etc. from perspectives of both a Mac and a PC user! (and yes, it’s important – a local zoo built a web form that I was unable to use on my home machine (a Mac mini) – it was very frustrating and alienating... not a good thing...)
Monday, June 08, 2009
Tip of the Hat, Wag of Finger - smartphones, proposed CT budget
A la Steven Colbert, today's "tip of the hat" goes to smartphones, those ingenius portable computing devices (formerly known as cell phones) that are changing the way society interacts with the online world.
I'm still partial to the iPhone due to the breadth of the iTunes app store, but that's the major advantage I see to the iPhone vs. other types of smartphone.
Now to the more unhappy task, a MAJOR "wag of the finger" at Governor Rell's latest budget, which would cut core library and educational services in Connecticut. Items on the chopping block support the information and educational equity needs of the state's citizens. At best, these cuts would place significant NEW (multimillion $) burdens on already-struggling local governments as they try to ensure that their students and residents get basic information services. At worst, it means that those children and citizens go without... particularly those in the most hardscrabble towns and cities.
People who haven't lived in Connecticut may see it as an affluent state, but those of us who live here know only too well the great disparity between our wealthiest and poorest communities. We have some of the highest per capita income municipalities abutting some of the most impoverished urban areas in our great nation. Programs like the statewide Connecticut Education Network, the iCONN statewide database (digital library) program, and interlibrary loan (to name but a few of the items decimated by the governor's newly proposed budget) helped to provide some level of equity, some level of access for everyone.
In real-world terms, the Governor's newest budget means, among other things, that as of this summer, almost all of the state's public and school libraries will have their online access cut off. If they don't immediately find and pay for (on their own) alternatives to the CEN, there will be no more internet for these institutions.
There are so many troubling, even dangerous, unintended consequences to such a move... my sister, a public reference librarian, often tells me about how even the most seemingly basic jobs these days - e.g., those to be greeters or janitors at the big box stores - require people to apply for them online. The people she helps to apply for those jobs do not have internet access at home. They usually don't have computers. What about the online classifieds that have allowed people to find out which jobs were available in the first place? Connecticut's libraries have been working with the state's Department of Labor to help the unemployed find new opportunities. How will they continue this mission if the Governor's budget passes? When Monster.com sponsored a job fair in Hartford last week, it required people to register online ahead of time - where would people without access to computers and the internet have been able to do that if there were no internet access at their local libraries?
What about accessing basic governmental services? From getting the legally mandated annual free reports from credit bureaus to registering for the "do not call" list, we've made internet access a prerequisite for the public to access so many services these days. Just getting a coupon for the digital converter box (in order to continue using your tv after the nation's switchover to a digital system) required you to fill out an online form at the website of the governmental agency coordinating the switchover. And these are just a few minor examples that come to mind...
We've reduced how many materials we print in the public sector in order to save money and the environment. But then the only way for people to see, read, and use those materials is to give them access to the online world - to provide computers, internet access, and a helping hand to guide them through that sometimes confusing and dangerous environment... So now, as people need these services most, they're about to be axed - does this make good sense from a societal perspective?
Public, school, and college/university libraries all rely on the statewide library services that are to be eliminated in the new budget. These services range from interlibrary loan support to a statewide catalog to access for all Connecticut students and residents to high-quality online information through iCONN - Connecticut's re-Search engine. iCONN supports businesses, helps people gain reputable information about health issues they face, and aids students, faculty, and researchers in a broad array of academic disciplines. These statewide services not only ensure that even our most impoverished school districts have equity with our most affluent in terms of the core informational databases they can use, but they offer economies of scale that are simply impossible if each school district and library must negotiate separate database agreements. In some cases, iCONN and interlibrary loan may be a key factor in keeping a school accredited (where otherwise, their libraries would be egregiously deficient in supporting the students informational needs).
From the perspective of more efficient state government, iCONN provides all state agencies with access to news and research at no extra cost. Without iCONN, agencies will once again pay for clipping services or per article when they need to research or provide background on issues. Key decision-making in government requires high-quality information. iCONN offers this for all of the state's policymakers.
Another swipe the Governor's new budget takes is at the State Library's Law & Legislative reference materials. As an attorney recently pointed out (to my student intern, no less), we offer all citizens the right to represent themselves, but without the reference materials to inform them, they are unable to do so effectively. The materials required to conduct one's own legal research are prohibitively expensive. To shut down (or materially reduce the collections of) the State Library's Law & Legislative research unit (which is open to everyone) leaves Connecticut residents at the mercy of a system they becomes a "black box" to them. It begs the question - without a place like the State Library's Law & Legislative reference library, are we ultimately barring our citizenry from getting access to the legal protections that our lawmakers have put in place (the laws built by and for these very same citizens)?
I don't mean to be out of line in pointing this out, but wasn't it originally the vision and foresight of then-Lt. Governor Rell that led to such services as iCONN and the Connecticut Education Network? In Rell's November 1999 report to Governor Rowland on the state's educational information technology needs, she'd pointed out how important this vision was for the future of our state, our workforce, and our competitiveness in the global marketplace.
Just two years after iCONN's unveiling, she'd pointed out what a success the service was for the state's residents. In fact, it did take vision to create these services. It made our state a model in the provision of information resources for all residents. Maybe vision's easiest when there is no budget crisis, no recession... but that's not when we need vision and leadership the most... no, we need leadership the most when we are floundering. We need vision that is long-term and proactive, not reactive and short-sighted... we cannot fall into the trap of being pennywise and pound foolish. We cannot destroy information services that are vital to Connecticut because it makes a better sound bite to say "no new taxes", (and Governor Rell proudly acknowledged earlier this year that:
) than it does to say that those who can afford to pitch in must do so during this crisis in order to ensure the survival of programs that sustain ALL of the state's citizens.
There's so much more here than I have time to express, so please see this page, put together but the Connecticut Library Consortium that explains some of the impacts of the Governor's disastrous budget proposal. And - for the sake of Connecticut's present and future - let's hope that the budget that DOES finally get passed doesn't destroy our libraries and schools.
Finally, to follow some of the News (via the Google for a News search on Connecticut budget and "iCONN"), try this RSS feed - http://news.google.com/news?um=1&ned=us&hl=en&q=Connecticut+budget+%22iCONN%22&output=rss
- Apple announced a number of improvements to the iPhone, both in the software release 3.0 for the original iPhone & iPhone 3G and - most importantly (& comprehensively) in the device known as the iPhone 3G S, which will be available on June 19th. Finally, hurrah, the new iPhone will support such features I've longed for since acquiring my beloved 1st generation version in Sept. '07 as: MMS (multimedia messaging service, so others can easily send photos, videos, audio clips from their phones, though the addition of MMS isn't promised until later this summer... see: http://www.macnn.com/articles/09/06/08/iphone.3g.s.upgrade/ and the quote from "AT&T Comes Clean" about why MMS won't be available right off...); Copy, Cut & Paste (with a shake to undo feature); Voice control for everything from the phone to the iPod, no longer just for the Google voice search (now I can tell the phone to call my husband and remain safe & hands free as it executes the task); improved accessibility with a screen reader for the visually impaired; Video shooting & editing capabilities; a 3 megapixel camera with auto & manual focus, auto adjustment for light and color balance (original iPhones had 2 megapixel cameras); Voice memo/audio recordings; Longer battery life; Landscape keyboard; Spotlight search across all apps; improved battery life. Those are just the points that hit home for me, particularly. At first, I was very excited to see that "internet tethering" (basically turnining your iPhone into a modem) would be available in iPhone 3G S... (at last I could use my iPhone's inet access via my laptop without hacking the system!) but then I saw that this feature wasn't available in the U.S. Thanks a freakin' lot, AT&T. As always... And no, I don't know if the rumor of the iPhone no longer being exclusive to AT&T in the not-too-distant future is true or not. Everything I'm seeing about the 3GS suggests that AT&T is still the devil any would-be iPhone user MUST deal with. Moreover, if you were foolish enough to upgrade to / start with the iPhone 3G, it looks like you'll be punished by AT&T & have to pay +$100 to upgrade your 3G to the 3G S (compared to new iPhone purchasers). People in the know are already crying foul about the so-called "Apple tax". It would make good sense for Apple and for consumers to get out of the AT&T box, but I don't see that happening. I know a number of folks who've avoided the iPhone route solely due to the service provider. I can't blame them. (Personally, I hate that I have to leave my office and go out into the parking lot just to use my old iPhone, while my peers who use Verizon never even leave their desks). At first, I'd heard the rumor that the iPhone was now going down in price to $99 and was thrilled - but that won't include the 3G S, only the older 3G model. The 3G S starts at $199 (16GB) & also offers a $299 (32GB) model. As for the iPhone 3.0 software update for older iPhones - either the original first generation or 3G versions - there will be some limitations despite the updates (e.g., with MMS). But it sounds like some of the cool features (minus the hardware's limitations) will be available for free for all iPhone users. Still, I'm so excited about the options in the 3G S vs. my 1st gen model, I may have to offer my husband the original & move on to 3G S.
- In the meantime, I've heard a lot of positive buzz about the newly released Palm Pre. Since I've never really gotten into Palm products and I'm so completely in love with the iTunes App store at this point, I can't offer much of an opinion on the Palm Pre. If someone I know gets one, I'll be happy to share more about it. For now, reviews like this one from the UK's Telegraph make it sound like it does a better job than the iPhone in allowing one to use a fuller qwerty (physical) keyboard (as opposed to the iPhone's touch screen/software-based "keyboard"); in integrating all of the ways one might communicate with an individual on the phone - be it via calling, SMS/MMS (text/multimedia messaging), email or what have you; & finally that its OS can handle running multiple apps simultaneously, something the iPhone cannot do (instead, you rapidly switch between apps). For more on the Pre (which is usable with Sprint), see: http://www.palm.com
- I should add that I don't know too much about Google's smartphone OS known as Android, but they've announced an update of Android (Cupcake!)... For more, see this review from InformationWeek or this ComputerWorld Blog Posting that posits "Why Android will not beat the iPhone". Perhaps more interestingly from my perspective, it looks like at least one Netbook (Acer, which gained significant traction in the ultralight, ultraportable, ultracheap world of netbook computing) will be running Android as its new OS - I guess the rumors weren't that far off-based - Google has successfully built its own OS, in defiance of Microsoft's chokehold on that market for so many years. It may yet work!
- Finally, the Blackberry line is so comprehensive (and there are models that serve multiple mobile carriers, so you aren't stuck with a given service provider, a la the iPhone AT&T stranglehold) that I wouldn't know where to begin in offering you information about their smartphones BUT I can't fail to point out that their smartphone devices have traditionally been the favorite of the business crowd. I know a couple of colleagues who've recently acquired Blackberries for personal use (and yes, there's a mobile Facebook app for the Blackberry, too). They are often more affordable than the smartphones generating the most buzz out there. Blackberries also offer an array of applications and options for getting users online. If you're trying to decide on which smartphone to buy, don't leave this option out of your comparison matrix.
I'm still partial to the iPhone due to the breadth of the iTunes app store, but that's the major advantage I see to the iPhone vs. other types of smartphone.
Now to the more unhappy task, a MAJOR "wag of the finger" at Governor Rell's latest budget, which would cut core library and educational services in Connecticut. Items on the chopping block support the information and educational equity needs of the state's citizens. At best, these cuts would place significant NEW (multimillion $) burdens on already-struggling local governments as they try to ensure that their students and residents get basic information services. At worst, it means that those children and citizens go without... particularly those in the most hardscrabble towns and cities.
People who haven't lived in Connecticut may see it as an affluent state, but those of us who live here know only too well the great disparity between our wealthiest and poorest communities. We have some of the highest per capita income municipalities abutting some of the most impoverished urban areas in our great nation. Programs like the statewide Connecticut Education Network, the iCONN statewide database (digital library) program, and interlibrary loan (to name but a few of the items decimated by the governor's newly proposed budget) helped to provide some level of equity, some level of access for everyone.
[From then Lt. Governor Rell's 1999 report]: As we look to the future and as we move forward with information technology, we must continually ask who will be left behind. A so-called digital divide does exist and it widens as technology evolves. It’s real and it’s disturbing.
In real-world terms, the Governor's newest budget means, among other things, that as of this summer, almost all of the state's public and school libraries will have their online access cut off. If they don't immediately find and pay for (on their own) alternatives to the CEN, there will be no more internet for these institutions.
There are so many troubling, even dangerous, unintended consequences to such a move... my sister, a public reference librarian, often tells me about how even the most seemingly basic jobs these days - e.g., those to be greeters or janitors at the big box stores - require people to apply for them online. The people she helps to apply for those jobs do not have internet access at home. They usually don't have computers. What about the online classifieds that have allowed people to find out which jobs were available in the first place? Connecticut's libraries have been working with the state's Department of Labor to help the unemployed find new opportunities. How will they continue this mission if the Governor's budget passes? When Monster.com sponsored a job fair in Hartford last week, it required people to register online ahead of time - where would people without access to computers and the internet have been able to do that if there were no internet access at their local libraries?
What about accessing basic governmental services? From getting the legally mandated annual free reports from credit bureaus to registering for the "do not call" list, we've made internet access a prerequisite for the public to access so many services these days. Just getting a coupon for the digital converter box (in order to continue using your tv after the nation's switchover to a digital system) required you to fill out an online form at the website of the governmental agency coordinating the switchover. And these are just a few minor examples that come to mind...
We've reduced how many materials we print in the public sector in order to save money and the environment. But then the only way for people to see, read, and use those materials is to give them access to the online world - to provide computers, internet access, and a helping hand to guide them through that sometimes confusing and dangerous environment... So now, as people need these services most, they're about to be axed - does this make good sense from a societal perspective?
Public, school, and college/university libraries all rely on the statewide library services that are to be eliminated in the new budget. These services range from interlibrary loan support to a statewide catalog to access for all Connecticut students and residents to high-quality online information through iCONN - Connecticut's re-Search engine. iCONN supports businesses, helps people gain reputable information about health issues they face, and aids students, faculty, and researchers in a broad array of academic disciplines. These statewide services not only ensure that even our most impoverished school districts have equity with our most affluent in terms of the core informational databases they can use, but they offer economies of scale that are simply impossible if each school district and library must negotiate separate database agreements. In some cases, iCONN and interlibrary loan may be a key factor in keeping a school accredited (where otherwise, their libraries would be egregiously deficient in supporting the students informational needs).
From the perspective of more efficient state government, iCONN provides all state agencies with access to news and research at no extra cost. Without iCONN, agencies will once again pay for clipping services or per article when they need to research or provide background on issues. Key decision-making in government requires high-quality information. iCONN offers this for all of the state's policymakers.
Another swipe the Governor's new budget takes is at the State Library's Law & Legislative reference materials. As an attorney recently pointed out (to my student intern, no less), we offer all citizens the right to represent themselves, but without the reference materials to inform them, they are unable to do so effectively. The materials required to conduct one's own legal research are prohibitively expensive. To shut down (or materially reduce the collections of) the State Library's Law & Legislative research unit (which is open to everyone) leaves Connecticut residents at the mercy of a system they becomes a "black box" to them. It begs the question - without a place like the State Library's Law & Legislative reference library, are we ultimately barring our citizenry from getting access to the legal protections that our lawmakers have put in place (the laws built by and for these very same citizens)?
I don't mean to be out of line in pointing this out, but wasn't it originally the vision and foresight of then-Lt. Governor Rell that led to such services as iCONN and the Connecticut Education Network? In Rell's November 1999 report to Governor Rowland on the state's educational information technology needs, she'd pointed out how important this vision was for the future of our state, our workforce, and our competitiveness in the global marketplace.
[From then Lt. Governor Rell's 1999 report]: * That a new independent authority be established, via legislation, to manage, plan and advocate for a statewide high speed, flexible, robust network, known as the Connecticut Education Network, as well as a Digital Library, in order to provide reliable universal communication links to Connecticut schools, libraries and institutions of higher education with sufficient capacity to deliver state-of-the-art access to education, training, and electronic information.
The authority, which should fall within the purview of DOIT for administrative purposes, should oversee the development and operation of the Connecticut Education Network and Digital Library, as well as set broad operating policy, undertake planning services and identify and coordinate all necessary fiscal needs. Authority membership should reflect public and private constituencies with a direct interest in meeting the goals outlined above.
* That a Connecticut Digital Library be established as a component of the Connecticut Education Network to ensure online access by all students and citizens to essential library and information resources. The keystone of the library would be a collection of on-line electronic full-text databases, a statewide electronic catalog and interlibrary loan system and the electronic and physical delivery of library resources. The Connecticut Digital Library shall include elements specifically designed to meet the educational and research needs of the general public, higher education students and faculty and K-12 students and teachers
Just two years after iCONN's unveiling, she'd pointed out what a success the service was for the state's residents. In fact, it did take vision to create these services. It made our state a model in the provision of information resources for all residents. Maybe vision's easiest when there is no budget crisis, no recession... but that's not when we need vision and leadership the most... no, we need leadership the most when we are floundering. We need vision that is long-term and proactive, not reactive and short-sighted... we cannot fall into the trap of being pennywise and pound foolish. We cannot destroy information services that are vital to Connecticut because it makes a better sound bite to say "no new taxes", (and Governor Rell proudly acknowledged earlier this year that:
"The top income tax in New York and New Jersey is nearly 9 percent and Rhode Island's is just under 10 percent, while Connecticut's top rate is still 5 percent," she [Rell] said. From http://www.wfsb.com/money/19592515/detail.html
) than it does to say that those who can afford to pitch in must do so during this crisis in order to ensure the survival of programs that sustain ALL of the state's citizens.
There's so much more here than I have time to express, so please see this page, put together but the Connecticut Library Consortium that explains some of the impacts of the Governor's disastrous budget proposal. And - for the sake of Connecticut's present and future - let's hope that the budget that DOES finally get passed doesn't destroy our libraries and schools.
Finally, to follow some of the News (via the Google for a News search on Connecticut budget and "iCONN"), try this RSS feed - http://news.google.com/news?um=1&ned=us&hl=en&q=Connecticut+budget+%22iCONN%22&output=rss
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
Budget Issues
I can't lobby on work time, but I can repost what the CT State Library's Division of Library Development sent out about the Governor's newly proposed budget, which cuts core services to schools and libraries, including their free high speed internet access from the CT Education Network & the iCONN program, which provides high quality informational resources to all citizens in CT, (ensuring that the state's municipalities have some level of educational equity, regardless of means and saving millions of dollars by obtaining the resources at a huge discount, through the joint buying power of the state). There are other very painful implications, too, so I'll let the facts provided below speak for themselves:
Fact Sheet about Library Funding Situation – June 2009
In response to the many questions we have received, I thought it would
be useful to clarify the various budget proposals and their impact on
library funding. Please excuse the cross posting.
Governor’s Original Budget
In February the Governor released a budget that:
Eliminated funding for the service centers
The Service Centers provide training, consulting, professional
development materials, early literacy and other library resources to 331
public, school and academic libraries.
Eliminated funding for InfoAnytime
InfoAnytime provides 24/7 online reference service through all
libraries in the state.
Reduced funding for the Connecticut Library Consortium by $17,500
Did not include any new bond funds for Public Library Construction
grants
This program provides grants to public libraries for 1/3 the cost up
to $1 million for new and renovated buildings.
Appropriations Committee Budget
In April the Appropriations Committee released a budget that:
Restored funding for the service centers
Restored $42,500 to InfoAnytime (enough to keep it operating)
Restored $17,500 to CLC.
Governor’s Revised Budget
On May 28th, the Governor proposed further cuts in state funding for
FY2010 and FY2011. These were in addition to the cuts proposed in her
original budget. In other words, if this revised budget were passed the
service centers and InfoAnytime would be eliminated in addition to the
following cuts:
Suspend funding for iCONN (Approximely $ 1.9 million)
The databases that comprise iCONN are paid for annually. If funding
is suspended iCONN will be shut down on July 1st. It is estimated that
statewide licensing for the iCONN databases result in a $33 million cost
avoidance for all schools, libraries, and academic institutions in
Connecticut.
Suspend Funding for Connecticard ($1,226,028)
The Connecticard program allows residents to borrow from any library
in the state making many more books and other library resources
available at great savings to taxpayers. The Connecitcard payments are
an incentive for libraries to provide this service. Given local budget
constraints many libraries will stop loaning to non residents if they
lose the Connecticard reimbursement. Last year, residents borrowed over
4.7 million items through this program.
Suspend Funding for the State-Wide Data Base Program ($674,696)
This line funds reQuest the statewide catalog which contains over 4.4
million titles. Since it is a web-based service suspension of funding
for this program will shut it down and eliminate the ability of citizens
to search for books held by all libraries in Connecticut.
Reduce Funding for Legal/Legislative Library Materials ($570,000)
This reduces the materials budget for the state library by one-half.
This line funds legal and legislative library materials and will
severally limit the State Library’s ability to keep its extensive law
collection current. The collection is used by all 3 branches of state
government, law firms and lawyers as well as individuals.
Suspend Funding for Grants to Public Libraries ($347,109)
These grants are classified as payments to municipalities.
Municipalities must maintain support for their Principal public library
and the library must to provide core services to the residents of
Connecticut without charge. Libraries use this funding for books,
technology, staff training and salaries.
Suspend Funding to Support Cooperating Library Service Units
($332,500)
This eliminates funding for the Connecticut Library Consortium that
provides for resource sharing and discounts on books and supplies and
training.
Reduce Funding for Interlibrary Loan Service ($82,000)
This reduces funding for Connecticar, a program that saves local
communities several millions of dollars a year in mailing and shipping
costs. The service uses both state employees and a private company to
transport the more than 2 million items a year.
Connecticut Education Network
The CEN provides high speed lines to schools and libraries at no cost.
The budget proposal eliminates this support and, if approved, the CEN
would either shut down or would bill schools and libraries for the
service
Additional concern
Federal Funds
Because these programs are used to meet the maintenance of effort and
matching requirements to receive federal Library Services and Technology
Act (LSTA) funds, the proposed state budget cuts could result in the
further loss of all or part of the $2,232,404 Connecticut receives
through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. LSTA funds are
used to support Connecticar, the Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped, the service centers, reQuest, and subgrants to libraries.
_____________________________
Sharon Brettschneider
Director, Division of Library Development
Connecticut State Library
231 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
860-757-6665
sbrett@cslib.org
ct.webjunction.org
Fax 860-757-6503
In response to the many questions we have received, I thought it would
be useful to clarify the various budget proposals and their impact on
library funding. Please excuse the cross posting.
Governor’s Original Budget
In February the Governor released a budget that:
Eliminated funding for the service centers
The Service Centers provide training, consulting, professional
development materials, early literacy and other library resources to 331
public, school and academic libraries.
Eliminated funding for InfoAnytime
InfoAnytime provides 24/7 online reference service through all
libraries in the state.
Reduced funding for the Connecticut Library Consortium by $17,500
Did not include any new bond funds for Public Library Construction
grants
This program provides grants to public libraries for 1/3 the cost up
to $1 million for new and renovated buildings.
Appropriations Committee Budget
In April the Appropriations Committee released a budget that:
Restored funding for the service centers
Restored $42,500 to InfoAnytime (enough to keep it operating)
Restored $17,500 to CLC.
Governor’s Revised Budget
On May 28th, the Governor proposed further cuts in state funding for
FY2010 and FY2011. These were in addition to the cuts proposed in her
original budget. In other words, if this revised budget were passed the
service centers and InfoAnytime would be eliminated in addition to the
following cuts:
Suspend funding for iCONN (Approximely $ 1.9 million)
The databases that comprise iCONN are paid for annually. If funding
is suspended iCONN will be shut down on July 1st. It is estimated that
statewide licensing for the iCONN databases result in a $33 million cost
avoidance for all schools, libraries, and academic institutions in
Connecticut.
Suspend Funding for Connecticard ($1,226,028)
The Connecticard program allows residents to borrow from any library
in the state making many more books and other library resources
available at great savings to taxpayers. The Connecitcard payments are
an incentive for libraries to provide this service. Given local budget
constraints many libraries will stop loaning to non residents if they
lose the Connecticard reimbursement. Last year, residents borrowed over
4.7 million items through this program.
Suspend Funding for the State-Wide Data Base Program ($674,696)
This line funds reQuest the statewide catalog which contains over 4.4
million titles. Since it is a web-based service suspension of funding
for this program will shut it down and eliminate the ability of citizens
to search for books held by all libraries in Connecticut.
Reduce Funding for Legal/Legislative Library Materials ($570,000)
This reduces the materials budget for the state library by one-half.
This line funds legal and legislative library materials and will
severally limit the State Library’s ability to keep its extensive law
collection current. The collection is used by all 3 branches of state
government, law firms and lawyers as well as individuals.
Suspend Funding for Grants to Public Libraries ($347,109)
These grants are classified as payments to municipalities.
Municipalities must maintain support for their Principal public library
and the library must to provide core services to the residents of
Connecticut without charge. Libraries use this funding for books,
technology, staff training and salaries.
Suspend Funding to Support Cooperating Library Service Units
($332,500)
This eliminates funding for the Connecticut Library Consortium that
provides for resource sharing and discounts on books and supplies and
training.
Reduce Funding for Interlibrary Loan Service ($82,000)
This reduces funding for Connecticar, a program that saves local
communities several millions of dollars a year in mailing and shipping
costs. The service uses both state employees and a private company to
transport the more than 2 million items a year.
Connecticut Education Network
The CEN provides high speed lines to schools and libraries at no cost.
The budget proposal eliminates this support and, if approved, the CEN
would either shut down or would bill schools and libraries for the
service
Additional concern
Federal Funds
Because these programs are used to meet the maintenance of effort and
matching requirements to receive federal Library Services and Technology
Act (LSTA) funds, the proposed state budget cuts could result in the
further loss of all or part of the $2,232,404 Connecticut receives
through the Institute of Museum and Library Services. LSTA funds are
used to support Connecticar, the Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped, the service centers, reQuest, and subgrants to libraries.
_____________________________
Sharon Brettschneider
Director, Division of Library Development
Connecticut State Library
231 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT 06106
860-757-6665
sbrett@cslib.org
ct.webjunction.org
Fax 860-757-6503
Thursday, May 28, 2009
On the end of May and my scattered state of mind
I wrote an article for Connecticut Libraries this month on iPhone app's. It's one of the things that's most on my mind these days - the power of a mobile application, whether it's WorldCat Local for the iPhone or Google's Mobile Search, the Kindle e-book reader for iPhone, or so many others (over 39,000) available (often free) via the iTunes App store. We librarians have to embrace the importance of mobility and the use of cell phones as people's primary computing devices in order to ensure that we're offering the best possible service for our users.
I've been using Zoho Projects, Remember The Milk, and RescueTime to try and control the many things that are floating around in my mind (yes, blogging is among the multiple-pages of lists I have at RTM). But I still don't feel in control. I think it's because I have to keep flipping modes between micro and macro - big picture / vision work and detailed / code-level work. I love the schizophrenic nature of what I do. I find it a challenge. But I also sometimes feel like I'm out of control of it all. I think it's because I have difficulty estimating the amount of time some tasks take, particularly those related to troubleshooting code. And because I often get sidetracked, there is the relearning curve when I return to a type of project that I've successfully worked on before but haven't finished up the final bits of. We have a lot of technologies to master here. I'm even straightening out old ASP code (which, yes, should be converted, I know, but ask me where that fits on the list of to-dos). The other bit I'm having some trouble balancing is the person vs. technology based aspects of my career. I find I have to be very different in dealing with people and politics than I am with working directly on technological solutions. I feel very fulfilled when I resolve issues - but these types of issues - the emotional/political issues vs. the technical ones - require very different types of energy and orientation.
In trying to get control of things, I've reduced the amount of time I spend on my Twitter and Facebook. I hooked my Twitter updates to update my Facebook status, but of course, that made me more cognizant of how many tweets I do in a day and - not wanting to load down others' feeds - I reduced the number. Then I felt like I wasn't participating in the conversation. I think I must master FriendFeed to help pull these aspcts of my online life together, but I haven't taken the time for that.
Some new technologies that I'm hearing buzz about, btw, include:
I've been using Zoho Projects, Remember The Milk, and RescueTime to try and control the many things that are floating around in my mind (yes, blogging is among the multiple-pages of lists I have at RTM). But I still don't feel in control. I think it's because I have to keep flipping modes between micro and macro - big picture / vision work and detailed / code-level work. I love the schizophrenic nature of what I do. I find it a challenge. But I also sometimes feel like I'm out of control of it all. I think it's because I have difficulty estimating the amount of time some tasks take, particularly those related to troubleshooting code. And because I often get sidetracked, there is the relearning curve when I return to a type of project that I've successfully worked on before but haven't finished up the final bits of. We have a lot of technologies to master here. I'm even straightening out old ASP code (which, yes, should be converted, I know, but ask me where that fits on the list of to-dos). The other bit I'm having some trouble balancing is the person vs. technology based aspects of my career. I find I have to be very different in dealing with people and politics than I am with working directly on technological solutions. I feel very fulfilled when I resolve issues - but these types of issues - the emotional/political issues vs. the technical ones - require very different types of energy and orientation.
In trying to get control of things, I've reduced the amount of time I spend on my Twitter and Facebook. I hooked my Twitter updates to update my Facebook status, but of course, that made me more cognizant of how many tweets I do in a day and - not wanting to load down others' feeds - I reduced the number. Then I felt like I wasn't participating in the conversation. I think I must master FriendFeed to help pull these aspcts of my online life together, but I haven't taken the time for that.
Some new technologies that I'm hearing buzz about, btw, include:
The flip side of crisis = opportunity
I can't believe that May is ending. I haven't posted in over a month... So what's been going on?
Well, the larger issue that has been influencing our work lives and environment is the state's budget crisis. A union agreement that passed in May promised no layoffs in the coming fiscal year, but offered a retirement incentive package. I don't recall the exact numbers, but I believe it was something on the order of 1/3rd of our agency qualifies for this package. Even after the agreement passed, we weren't sure who was leaving. We still aren't. And we can't imagine what things will look like once we lose those people who carry with them so much institutional knowledge.
There are issues with the budget, moreover, that are so serious that it seems every day brings some new restriction. State agencies have been on a hiring freeze for something like a year now, with no promise of letup. The only way we'll save money via retirements, as far as I can guess is to NOT rehire those positions that are left vacant. The supplies - now that's an issue, too. We can't print things out anymore. We must absorb everything on-screen. I'm not so good at that, so if my proofreading gets worse & my work seems a bit more careless, I apologize in advance. Just this weekend, it sounds like the legislature raided one of our programs that provides grants. There is no purchasing being authorized. Our fiscal folks are at once under serious strain and yet having little to do because of the freeze. When the dam breaks, so to speak, it will be extremely difficult for them, no doubt, since there will be months of catching up. The new SEBAC agreement includes required "furlough days" (during which the agencies will be closed, employees will not report to work, and will not be paid). Even if you did the voluntary giveback / unpaid leave days in the April-June period, the furloughs are required.
Still, I know our agency & even our state are not alone. I'm grateful that our situation isn't worse. And I'm hopeful that this crisis will represent an opportunity - that it will require us to work in new ways and thus to innovate. The weight of our many years of tradition at this institution will no longer matter as much, because we cannot afford to keep the status quo. We have to work together in new ways. Those who are left will have to pull together, pool knowledge, share burdens, and communicate more directly than we ever have had to before. I know that our leader has shown his leadership skills more than ever, with his optimism and promise that our flexibility and adaptability will be our strength.
Well, the larger issue that has been influencing our work lives and environment is the state's budget crisis. A union agreement that passed in May promised no layoffs in the coming fiscal year, but offered a retirement incentive package. I don't recall the exact numbers, but I believe it was something on the order of 1/3rd of our agency qualifies for this package. Even after the agreement passed, we weren't sure who was leaving. We still aren't. And we can't imagine what things will look like once we lose those people who carry with them so much institutional knowledge.
There are issues with the budget, moreover, that are so serious that it seems every day brings some new restriction. State agencies have been on a hiring freeze for something like a year now, with no promise of letup. The only way we'll save money via retirements, as far as I can guess is to NOT rehire those positions that are left vacant. The supplies - now that's an issue, too. We can't print things out anymore. We must absorb everything on-screen. I'm not so good at that, so if my proofreading gets worse & my work seems a bit more careless, I apologize in advance. Just this weekend, it sounds like the legislature raided one of our programs that provides grants. There is no purchasing being authorized. Our fiscal folks are at once under serious strain and yet having little to do because of the freeze. When the dam breaks, so to speak, it will be extremely difficult for them, no doubt, since there will be months of catching up. The new SEBAC agreement includes required "furlough days" (during which the agencies will be closed, employees will not report to work, and will not be paid). Even if you did the voluntary giveback / unpaid leave days in the April-June period, the furloughs are required.
Still, I know our agency & even our state are not alone. I'm grateful that our situation isn't worse. And I'm hopeful that this crisis will represent an opportunity - that it will require us to work in new ways and thus to innovate. The weight of our many years of tradition at this institution will no longer matter as much, because we cannot afford to keep the status quo. We have to work together in new ways. Those who are left will have to pull together, pool knowledge, share burdens, and communicate more directly than we ever have had to before. I know that our leader has shown his leadership skills more than ever, with his optimism and promise that our flexibility and adaptability will be our strength.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A few notes from the web design & usability fronts
RT (retweet) webmaster_refRT @ilkeryoldas202 16 Best Web Design Galleries for Inspiration: http://tinyurl.com/ccrdap (tinyurl translates to http://sixrevisions.com/web_design/16-best-web-design-galleries-for-inspiration/, btw)Nielsen now says some drop-down menus ok – hurrah! Well, we knew they were behind the times. On the other hand, I’m behind the times – he prefers the double-width/extra large drop-downs – he calls them “mega-dropdowns”. (http://www.useit.com/alertbox/mega-dropdown-menus.html)
So in looking at Nielsen, of course, I ended up browsing around again & though it's possible I’ve seen it before, I actually read through & highlighted sections of his: “Do Government Agencies and Non-Profits Get ROI From Usability?” (http://www.useit.com/alertbox/government-nonprofit.html)
(of course, that’s a rhetorical question… and the answer would be a resounding “YES!” But I’ll let you read through it in detail yourself…)- “We're currently running an eye-tracking study of the "About Us" pages for various charities, and we frequently hear users say that they don't feel like donating to a particular charity because the site doesn't present itself in a sufficiently credible manner.” (website credibility issue)
- “Most users clicked on the top link, which is a typical response to an unclear set of choices.”
- “The previous VA jobs page (above) had told job seekers to "simply" click on the "Agency Search" tab when they arrived on the "new" jobs page. Anytime you find yourself writing such instructions, you know you have a usability problem.”
- “Notice that the site insists that users have "a special RIN Number," which appears nowhere on the printed renewal notice. The notice does have a "Renewal Identification Number," but not everyone is going to decipher the acronym therein.
All experience shows that some users will be confused by the mismatched vocabulary, which violates one of the oldest usability guidelines: that of consistency.” - What about the many pages on government and non-profit websites that are purely informative? What's the value of improving the public information that organizations present? …”
1. “Presumably, there's some value to the organization's activities…”
2. “The value can be approximated by the budget…”
3. “The organization's website, published reports, and other information thus have a value that should be greater than the money spent creating this information, or the organization is mismanaging its budget.”
4. “Information has value only when it's being read and understood. In other words, the value we have imputed through steps 1-3 comes from having people read and understand the website.”
5. “Website use typically doubles when the site is made easier to use. Our studies of simplifying online information show that user understanding increases substantially when websites are rewritten according to usability guidelines. Lower-literacy users should be particularly important to government agencies, given their mandate to serve all citizens. These users' understanding increases the most when content usability is improved.”
Friday, April 03, 2009
Designing With Emotional Intelligence
I loved this quote from Kate Sheehan's (Loose Cannon Librarian, Darien Library) section of the Computers In Libraries 2009 presentation on Innovation - "our chief export as a profession is kindness". I've been thinking a lot about emotional status lately - largely in response to the conference & having just finished reading David Lee King's excellent new book Designing the Digital Experience on the train home from the conference (and no, I rarely read that fast at all - that's a testament to how great the book was for me)!
I have a student intern whose major is Sociology. She's been wonderful in doing usability testing and interviewing of potential site users. Because she didn't have a background in web design, I gave her my copy of Steve Krug's Don't Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability. It's the Don't Make Me Think part of the title that seems to almost require an exclamation point. Does it mean that people are lazy? No - the Don't Make Me Think! is a plea to not be frustrated by a website.
The very title of that book reminds me that one aspect of the digital design experience many people forget to talk about it is the emotional aspect. In David's book, the importance of tying a positive emotion to your organization really hits home. He talks about how people feel about brands like American Girl and Build-a-Bear and how we've moved from a products & services-based economy to an experience-based economy. We have to extrapolate this to our library web design - are we designing a positive experience for people or a negative experience?
Certainly, a key aspect of our humanity is our emotional state. It shapes our decision-making processes profoundly. Have you ever avoided situations or people because you knew that you would feel worse after going through them or dealing with them? I think we all have - it's human nature. It's a survival mechanism - figuratively and literally. Because emotions play into our overall well-being. People under stress, people who are depressed, people in any form of negative emotional state are far more likely to die than those who are not.
So - are our websites making people feel good? Feel connected? To your organization? To you? To others? Do they feel safe, validated, in control, open, ready to learn, to share? Do they feel supported? I would argue that all too often the answer is an emphatic "no!" So... is your library taking good emotional care of its users online? (heck, does it take good emotional care of its staff?)
Long-term ill will necessarily destroys institutions and whole industries. I would argue that the subconscious negativity that many harbor towards various organizations or professions can ultimately destroy said organizations or professions. One example - newspapers (having worked at a newspaper, I recall the number of times I would recount my employer's name & people would roll their eyes and talk about the biases it had & how someone they knew had been so badly mis-portrayed or mis-quoted and how unfair the newspaper had been to do that) have had a bad rap for a while. Now how are they doing? That's not the whole story, but I would say that it helps to form a backdrop/an environment in which that industry could wither and people would let it go. If there's more of an emphasis on creating positive experiences, as David's book explains, at every "touch point" that users interact with our organizations, we will be fortifying our "brand" (our library/organization) and ensuring that it not only survives, but thrives in an environment when information is so ubiquitous online.
Some of our greatest library supporters are parents of young children. For these people, the library fulfills some raw and basic emotional needs, as well as providing practical support. The new parent finds a place of validation and warmth. Others facing similar joys and challenges are found there - stories can be shared. It feels safe. There is a happy buzz, an infectious burble around story hour. Children love story hours, parents feel relief and comfort - the support of a community institution. The positive experiences that young families have at the library are often the foundations of an overall positive view of the institution that overlaps even into later life, when the family's changing needs may make them less likely to visit the library so regularly. Still, if there's a referendum on budget cuts to that library, you can be certain that these families will be on the side of the library.
So... emotions are life and death. Emotions also translate to dollars.
Look, advertisers have always known this. They sell cars based on the ways they can make people feel - "safe", "sexy", "privileged", "proud", "in control", "at peace" (a la those commercials with the SUV off in the wilderness or at the beach, bringing you to some beautiful place where you can leave your troubles behind).
Wouldn't it be great if your website made your users feel like rock stars? If it made them feel like the digital space was designed for them? That it was so easy to use, it met their individual needs so specifically, that felt like they were masters of the universe? How often do we get to feel like that in today's world?
So how do you design for your users' emotional well-being? First, have empathy for the user (BTW, a key criteria in your Digital eXperience Design team's leadership should be empathy for users. Just a thought.) A technique for building empathy is described in David's book, and is used a lot in the world of software development - the creation of "personas". Create a "character" to represent a common class of your users - but give them a name, try to picture their face, assign an age and other demographic characteristics. Talk about their roles in daily life that may lead them to your site. Then imagine the many ways they might try to use your site & where they might run into difficulties. (This is a little trick that the folks at CraftySpace - Drupal developers par excellence, with a focus on libraries and schools - mentioned to me recently.) Create "use case scenarios" building on these personas. The concept of the persona reminded me of how we used to characterize some of our most popular work in the newspaper - we called them "Hey Martha!" stories. The idea was to write a story that so piqued someone's interest that as they were reading it, they felt the need to read it outloud to others. That's a strong emotional response - that's user engagement.
Additionally, when you're engaged in digital presence design, don't forget how powerful multimedia can be in invoking emotions and creating experiences. People increasingly seek out immersive experiences. They can view videos, hear audio, see stunning photos online & comment on all of it. They expect and desire this type of thing. Don't create an emotion of frustration by not providing it. Open up further, be creative, "surprise and delight them", in the immortal words of Paul Holdengraber (the keynote speaker for the 2nd day of CIL) of New York Public Library, Getty Institute, etc., fame.
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