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<p align="center"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">OPLIN 4cast #32 -
November 28, 2006</span></b></p>
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<p>The <em><b>OPLIN 4cast</b></em> is a weekly compilation of
recent headlines, topics, and trends that could impact public
libraries. You can subscribe to it in a variety of ways, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>RSS feed</strong>. You can receive the <em>OPLIN
4cast</em> via RSS feed by subscribing to the following URL: <a
href="http://www.oplin.org/4cast/index.php/?feed=rss2">http://www.oplin.org/4cast/index.php/?feed=rss2</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Live Bookmark</strong>. If you're using the <a
href="http://www.mozilla.com/" target="_blank">Firefox</a> web
browser, you can go to the <em>4cast</em> website (<a
href="http://www.oplin.org/4cast/">http://www.oplin.org/4cast/</a>)
and click on the orange "radio wave" icon on the right side of the
address bar. In <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/"
target="_blank">Internet Explorer 7</a>, click on the same icon to
view or subscribe to the <em>4cast</em> RSS feed. </li>
<li><strong>E-mail</strong>. You can have the <em>OPLIN 4cast</em>
delivered via e-mail (a'la OPLINlist and OPLINtech) by subscribing to
the <em>4cast</em> mailing list at <a
href="http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/OPLIN4cast">http://mail.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/OPLIN4cast</a>.</li>
</ul>
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<p class="style4">This week’s <em>4cast</em><b>:</b></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">1.<b><strong> OPLIN Award for
Innovation: Castr</strong></b> (Westerville Public Library) </span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Although podcasting and videocasting are becoming more popular,
many libraries are still struggling to find ways to integrate them into
their online services. One Ohio library that's finding a way to do it
is the <a href="http://www.westervillelibrary.org/" target="_blank">Westerville
Public Library</a>, which unveiled <a
href="http://castr.westervillelibrary.org/" target="_blank">Castr</a>
earlier this year. Although it's billed as a "podcast delivery system,"
Castr has mainly been used for videocasts of library storytimes,
performances, special guests, and other programming. There are 10 shows
so far.</p>
<p>We're proud to present <strong>Westerville Public Library</strong>
with an OPLIN Award for Innovation for their <strong>Castr</strong>
service.</p>
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<th width="200"><img src="cid:part1.05020006.06050204@oplin.org"
alt="OPLIN Award for Innovation" height="200" width="200"></th>
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<p align="left">Castr was built using <a
href="http://www.rubyonrails.org/" target="_blank">Ruby on Rails</a>,
an open-source web framework, and the shows appear as QuickTime videos.
According to Kristen Hewitt, Manager of Support Services, copyright
issues are still "a bit dicey." Westerville asks permission to feature
copyrighted material, and permission has been granted most of the time.
</p>
<p>OPLIN isn't the first to recognize Castr as an innovative
service. Several prominent library blogs (listed below) have mentioned
it as one of the better examples of library videocasting in the
country. You can subscribe to the Castr RSS feed at <a
href="http://castr.westervillelibrary.org/castr" target="_blank">http://castr.westervillelibrary.org/castr</a>.</p>
<p align="left">Hewitt notes that the Westerville Public
Library is always open to comments and feedback to make Castr better.
They're certainly off to a great start - congratulations Westerville!</p>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://castr.westervillelibrary.org/" target="_blank">Castr</a>
(Westerville Public Library)</li>
<li><a
href="http://www.davidleeking.com/2006/07/12/westerville-public-library-videocasts-well-sort-of-videocasts/"
target="_blank">Westerville Public Library Videocasts (well, sort of
videocasts)</a> (David Lee King)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.librarystuff.net/2006/07/castr.html"
target="_blank">Castr</a> (Library Stuff)</li>
<li><a
href="http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2006/08/18/things-i-wish-id-known-about-before-i-finished-my-book/"
target="_blank">Things I wish I'd known about before I finished my book</a>
(Information Wants To Be Free) </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">2.<strong> OPLIN Goes Mobile </strong></span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>We've reported in the past about the growing number of people
accessing the Internet via mobile device, and when viewed on a tiny
cellphone screen, the OPLIN website presents the same issues as many
other sites - that is, it looks ugly and behaves even worse. But now,
anyone who visits the OPLIN website on a mobile device will be
automatically redirected to <a href="http://www.oplin.org/mobile/"
target="_blank">OPLIN Mobile</a>, an extremely trimmed-down version of
our website where users can <a href="http://www.oplin.org/fal"
target="_blank">find an Ohio library</a> or search our <a
href="http://www.oplin.org/discoverohio" target="_blank">Discover Ohio</a>
link directory. </p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.oplin.org/mobile/" target="_blank">OPLIN
Mobile</a></li>
<li><a
href="http://themwordblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/are-your-library-services-available-via.html"
target="_blank">Are your library services available via cell phones
yet?</a> (The "M" Word - Marketing Libraries)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.w3.org/TR/mobile-bp/" target="_blank">Mobile
Web Best Practices 1.0</a> (W3C) </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">3.<strong> Of <b><strong>Worms &
Zen </strong></b></strong></span></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Two new library-related search tools - <a
href="http://www.liszen.com/" target="_blank">LISZEN</a> and <a
href="http://www.libworm.com/" target="_blank">LibWorm</a> - recently
launched. Both search through hundreds of library-related blogs and RSS
feeds, so you can quickly find out what the rest of Libraryland thinks
about certain issues and topics. </p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.liszen.com/" target="_blank">LISZEN</a>
(Library & Information Science Search Engine)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.libworm.com/" target="_blank">LibWorm</a>
(Search the Biblioblogosphere and Beyond...)</li>
<li><a
href="http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2006/11/05/liszen-is-the-path-to-library-blog-search-nirvana/"
target="_blank">LISZEN is the path to library blog search nirvana.</a>
(Information Wants To Be Free)</li>
<li><a
href="http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/index.php/2006/11/25/libworm-searching-syndicating-and-aggregating-the-bibliblogosphere/"
target="_blank">LibWorm: Searching, syndicating and aggregating the
bibliologosphere</a> (Information Wants To Be Free) </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">4.<b><strong> Pew! I Smell Reports...
</strong></b></span> </p>
<blockquote>
<p>The <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/" target="_blank">Pew
Internet & American Life Project</a> aims to "explore the impact of
the Internet on families, communities, work and home, daily life,
education, health care, and civic and political life." They do this
through 15-20 yearly reports that focus on a wide range of
Internet-related topics and activities. While some of their most <a
href="http://www.pewinternet.org/reports.asp" target="_blank">recent
reports</a> don't focus on libraries specifically, they do provide a
great snapshot of current trends and issues related to Internet usage,
and can provide valuable info as libraries look to increase their
online services and presence. </p>
<ul>
<li><a
href="http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/193/report_display.asp"
target="_blank">Podcast Downloading</a> (Pew Internet Report)</li>
<li><a
href="http://stephenslighthouse.sirsidynix.com/archives/2006/11/podcasts_and_li.html"
target="_blank">Podcasts and Libraries</a> (Stephen's Lighthouse)</li>
<li><a
href="http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/186/report_display.asp"
target="_blank">Bloggers: A portrait of the internet's new storytellers</a>
(Pew Internet Report)</li>
<li><a
href="http://www.pewinternet.org/PPF/r/189/report_display.asp"
target="_blank">Riding the Waves of "Web 2.0"</a> (Pew Internet Report) </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
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<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Joel Husenits
Managing Editor
Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)
2323 W. 5th Avenue, Suite 130
Columbus, Ohio 43204
Phone: (614) 728-5252
Fax: (614) 728-5256
E-mail: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:editor@oplin.org">editor@oplin.org</a>
Web: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.oplin.org">www.oplin.org</a></pre>
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