Celebrity Blogger? No lah. But please feel free to come up and say Hi

Hot and humid Sunday morning. Walked the dog. Arrived home. Received two SMS in quick succession.

"Read the Sunday Times article*. Nice piece. But you look very serious."
"... Proud of you. Celebrity blogger."

To the first message, I replied, "Thanks. But that's me. Mr. Serious." To the second, I replied, "Celebrity? Ah, no. If more people use the library more often after reading the article they, I'd be contented".

Yesterday evening, I told my wife that my picture could appear in the paper (which I've yet to read). She said -- in what I think/ hope was mock horror -- that now people would know that we're that couple living in the block.

I think it's typical of city dwellers to be protective of their privacy (or should I say, anonymity). I'm no exception. Having my picture appear in the paper is a little discomforting, but the more I thought about it, I asked, "So what?"

I figured people will be quick to forget. Or they might just have a double-take, stare a little more out of recognition that anything else. In fact, it would be a good thing if people used the article as a conversation starter. I think that'll be nice.

"Hi, weren't you in the paper the other day?"
"Yes, I was."
"I didn't know you were a librarian."
"So now you know. And you can come look for me if you need any information on using the library. So, have you read anything good lately...?"

But wait, why can't I be the one to start a conversation, right? I know I could but it's not easy. In Singapore, people tend to think you're weird or up to no good if you suddenly start a conversation with a stranger. I do talk to my immediate neighbours but as a norm, most people are just strangers in the same block.

I'm also aware that I look intimidating. With my height, my close-cropped hair, the bland facial expression I always carry, basically I don't look approachable. Maybe that's why I blog -- to be approachable from that sense. What I find difficult to do face-to-face, I find it easy to do online.

So it's definitely not about fame and getting that celebrity status as a blogger. It's about the conversations and exchange of ideas.

If you've found your way to my blog from the 30 Jul 2006 Sunday Times article, feel free to leave a comment. Feel free to say "Hi", or email/ leave a comment if you have a question about the library and materials.

Oh, here's a plug for my employer -- check out these NLB blogs:

• High Browse Online (book blog, Public Library Services)
• ASK! (Advisory & Enquiry blog, Public Library Services)
• Programmes @ 100 Victoria (Programmes blog, National Library)
• Digi.Talk (e-resources blog from Digital Library Services, NLB)

* The Straits Times, July 30, 2006. "I thought it was just verbal diarrhoea - THINKING MEN WHO BLOG"

Related post: The Straits Times interviews this liblogarian (26 Jul 06)

Technorati Tag: liblogarian, singapore librarians

Rambling Librarian's Podcast: "Take Me Away"

Uploaded this a few days ago: Take Me Away (4mins 30secs)

powered by ODEO

If you've listened to the piece, you might be thinking:
#1 - "Who's sang the female part?"
#2 - "How come the lyrics aren't clear? I hear only mumblings"

Answer #1 = Me.
Answer #2 = They are mumblings!

I tried to write lyrics for this song but gave up. Simply no inspiration. So if you can't pick up the words clearly, it's not you. Apart from the beginning part where you probably can hear the words, "Take me away to another place", the rest of the vocals are really mumblings. I was interested in the melody than actual lyrics.

Details of how this piece was put together, over at MyRightBrain.

RamblingLibrarian's Podcasts:


Technorati Tags: garageband, mac, apple

Learning my way around OS X: Read a book

I received an alert from the NLB email reminder service that this book was due in a few days time, so I decided to post details of the book over at RoughNotes before returning the book.

If you're a Mac newbie like I am (was?) to OS X, I'd recommend you scan through this book, particularly sections 1 to 4.

Mac OS X Tiger (Top 100 Simplified Tips & Tricks)
by Mark Chambers
NLB Call No.: 005.4469 CHA -[COM]
ISBN: 0-7645-7699-2

Look for it at the Computer & IT in the Adult Lending section. Check the NLB Catalogue for item availability (keyword search "mac os x mark chambers").

When I switched on my Mac for the first time, I didn't quite know what I could do with it. Sure, I easily found the toolbar thingy (which I later learnt was called the "Dock") and got some apps running, but I wasn't quite sure what to do once the apps were open.

Having been weaned on Windows, I also instinctively looked for a place where I could "right-click" to get to the Windows Explorer, but I didn't know how to do that either. No right click on the scroll pad. Oh, there wasn't ALT-CTRL-DELETE. Hey, how come the "delete" button works like a "Backspace", and why wasn't there "Backspace" key? How do you close a... er... 'window' for a Mac?

I did find out that I was using the OS X operating system (otherwise known as OS X Tiger). So I went to the library to see if there was something on using OS X. I wasn't quite sure if we had any but aiyah, I should've had more faith -- we did lah. While browsing the shelves, I also discovered there were versions called Leopard and Panther... right, what big cat is after Tiger, I thought.

A Mac is pretty intuitive, I must say, but to a certain extent. Not quite Star Trek "Hello Computer"... (yet).

Eventually I would've figured out how to find my way around the Mac. Or I could've read blog posts for “switchers” like this, this and this (links via Siva). They are pretty good. But the book was more concise and purposefully written. Saved me lots of time (yeah, yeah, this is just a shameless ploy by a librarian to make you borrow a book right? Well don't take my word for it, heh.)


Technorati Tags: mac, switcher, mac newbie, visual books series

My wife's artwork - "Bavarian Landscape"

[Originally posted at MyRightBrain, 26th July 2006]
My wife rarely draws or paint. In fact, this is the first time I've seen her do it, and so I HAD to blog it!

This was done with watercolour pencils.


And this was after she applied water to it:


She drew the picture from memory, inspired from a trip to Germany quite some time back. I jokingly told her to first picture looked like what a five year-old produced... ok, that was mean of me, sorry!

Good or bad, I think adults should just experiment and put their pictures online since they already drew it.

In fact, I'm secretly proud of her for deciding to experiment with an art piece. : )

Technorati Tag: watercolour pencil

The Straits Times interviews this liblogarian

A journalist with The Straits Times, Sandra, emailed me yesterday, requesting for an interview. Said she discovered my blog during her routine Internet surfing (it shouldn't surprise me that journalists do this too) and asked if I'm interested to be interviewed for a story she's writing, on Singaporean bloggers.

Her piece was partly in response to the latest blog-related report from the Pew Internet & American Life project (see also an earlier report, The State of Blogging). Sandra explained over the phone that her intent was also to show what other Singaporean bloggers are there, apart from the more well-known and high profile ones. She said she was particularly interested in the community of liblogarians!

Ah, that clinched it for me! I agreed to the interview, as I felt it was appropriate to show that librarians are also blogging.

However, even though the interview was about my personal blog(s), I informed Sandra the interview request ought to be cleared with my colleagues from Corporate Communications (Corp Comms). Afterall, a large part what I blog in RamblingLibrarian has to do with the public library services with the NLB.

You could say I was following the organisation's public communications policy but to me, it's all part of being transparent -- a simple act of keeping my Corp Comms folks informed, just in case they had any concerns that might not be apparent to me. Afterall, my agreeing to be interviewed was to publicise what a librarian in NLB does, and if NLB wasn't comfortable with that, I certainly should not go ahead.

In anycase, the green light was given.

At 5pm today, I met with Sandra and Desmond from The Straits Times -- journalist and photographer respectively. Nice folks, who put me at ease. After asking me a few questions, we then went around the library where I had to pose for pictures.

It then occurred to me that I ought to blog about the interview process. Besides, if I were to appear in their publication, it was only fair that they appeared in mine, eh? So they sportingly agreed to have their picture taken and posted here:

(When I related this to my wife, she said, "Yah, journalists and photographers hardly get their own pictures or stories published". So kinda fitting, don't you think?)

Sandra and Desmond looked a lot more natural than me when posing for pictures. Aiyo, I had to smile (which was something that I know I need to do more often, on a daily basis) and then pose for pictures, which I felt really self-conscious. Ah well, I shall see how the picture turns out (if at all) and then decide if I need a paper bag to put over my head for the rest of the year.

We picked this book -- "Blogging For Dummies" -- for me to pose with. They appeared when I said I was borrowing it home. They must've thought I fibbed my way about being a blogger. Heh.

NLB Call No.: 006.7 HIL -[COM]
by Brad Hill
(look for it in the "Computer & IT" section)

As to what was asked during the interview, you'll have to read about it when it comes out in this Sunday's issue. The story isn't entirely about me of course. Sandra said she interviewed two others before me. Also, I'm prefectly aware that sometimes, for various reasons, the story might not be printed at the last minute. So we shall see.

Oh, I learnt something new today -- apparently SPH photographers worked in shifts. Desmond said his shift just started for the day (at 5pm). I asked Desmond if he had a blog. He said no. I said if he had one, it would be quite interesting. I'm sure he would've captured many interesting pictures on a daily basis.

[update: Celebrity Blogger? No lah. But please feel free to come up and say Hi, 30 Jul 06]

Technorati Tag: liblogarian, singapore librarians

New look to Technorati.com: Watch the Screencast

Thanks to Kevin for the heads-up. Here's a Technorati.com screencast - Quicktime Movie - on the newly unveiled (Jul 2006) Technorati website. Includes an overview of the features and services.

I learnt a few new things myself, especially the "Favorited" feature. Try searching for your own blog, then click on it for information.

I'm also asking myself, "How did they make that video?"
Wonder if it's easy enough to do it myself. For simple online user-education clips like, "How to use the library OPAC" or "Introducing the new XXX Database" etc.

Technorati Tag: technorati

It just got more real for me: Storms & Floods in Japan

I read and heard about the floods in Japan. But Japan is far away and frankly it didn't affect me. But after I just IMed with a friend who's there (and still there), well it changes perspectives. It just got more real for me (IM conversation posted with permission):

Me: oi, busy ah?

Friend in Japan: so-so. just survived a flood

Me: oh yah, i read. did you like almost drown or what?

Friend in Japan: only can joke now. camped out at fren's place for two days couldn't return home.

flooding was waist high next to my apt block n all around the area.
giant swimming pool
so i didn't/ couldn't get into my own apt lor
schools were closed n the kids had to stay home

the lake was at risk of overflowing
the city was in state of emergency
there's a little island in the middle of the lake n it looKed like it was sinking cos couldn't see the land for those few days.
only could see the pine tree tops

anyhow i was really lucky. my apt was miraculously not flooded.
[other apartments] all flooded inside.
just a step higher than the rest n saved by the step.
one of the neighbour's car was towed away after the flooding subsided.
think it was stuck in the floodwater for 2 days.
engine must be ruined

but now storm has moved to kyushu.
that's what's being reported now


Me: the floods are everywhere in japan?

Friend in Japan: western japan
http://typhoon.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/keihou/

these are all the prefectures in japan.
the red ones are on high alert for the rains.
the pale orange ones mean caution.
red means really serious
pale orange still in storm zone
cos kagoShima is still experiencing landslides/mudslides n it's pale orange
in my cities there are still many pple in the refuge centers
their houses had been flooded or damaged so they can't go home yet

http://typhoon.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/keihou/32/6811.html
this chart tracked the alerts in my city
e.g. red alert for flooding from night of 19-20


Friend in Japan: just so much info on weather on the internet.
i remember looking at the earthquake page n it's scary how many went on without being reported

r u going to blog about it. weather chart n all?

Yes, my Friend in Japan, I'm blogging this. So that I don't take things for granted.

• 19 Jul 2006: Heavy rain in Japan leaves 21 dead, missing
• 22 July 2006: Japan's rain death toll rises to 19 as evacuation warning issued
• 23 July 2006: Death toll at 22 after heavy rains, mudslides in Japan

Technorati Tag: japan flood
Flickr Search Results: "Japan Flood"

"Live" online book chat - Kite Runner (25th July 2006)

If you are online tomorrow evening at 8pm (Singapore time) and you're interested in a discussion on Khaled Hosseini's Kite Runner, I hope you can join us for a "live" book discussion over IM. Details of tomorrow's chat event at this page.

Here's the chat transcript of the session on Tuesdays with Morrie, 13 June 2006.

Technorati Tag: readsingapore

Mr Lim Kim San (1916-2006)

As posted at the National Library Board (Singapore) Newsflash webpage (Last accessed July 2006):

Lim Kim San (b. 30 November 1916, Singapore - d. 20 July 2006, Singapore), the first Chairman of Housing and Development Board (HDB), best known for his contributions in housing the population of Singapore in the 1960s. He held ministerial positions in various ministries from finance, education, defence to environment. He was Chairman of the Council of Presidential Advisors and had also chaired various boards such as Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

For a biographical profile, please read the full Infopedia article.

To get a list of published articles about the man, please consult the resource guide (PDF 165k) prepared by our Reference Librarians.

Finally, to get a succinct online overview of the man, please try the ASK! blog.

So, another of post-independence Singapore's founding pioneers has passed on. Here's a piece of random thought clumsily captured in words and disguised as poetry:

It is only natural that
Heroes
Are thanked in life,
And celebrated in Memory.

More related posts from Technorati.com (search term "lim kim san").

Technorati Tags: singapore, singapore pioneer

A long term solution for how the library collection is organised?

Just read Connecting Librarian's post on "Dewey and its future in Public Libraries" and was compelled to leave a comment:

Perhaps the day will come when it doesn't matter how we label the books. Like, our customers would pick up a pair of hi-tech lens and switch on to whatever Display Mode they choose -- by DDC, by Subjects, by Themes.

Let me elaborate on the above:

• Imagine a wearable device, where the user would input some search terms. The user walks along the shelves and would pick out items by sight.
• The device acts as a filter, graying-out the less relevant items while the most relevant ones would appear brighter.
  
• Extend this feature one step up -- in addition to a wearable device, the user could see on a screen, in plan-view (i.e. top down), the various items marked out on the entire floor of the collection area.

Discussions on how the library should organise its collections isn't new. Typically, public libraries use the DDC with the Cutter system combined (for fictional works) while academic libraries adopt the Library of Congress Classification System , or LCC (see also LCC outline).

To non-librarians, you might wonder why this discussion about classification systems. Well, if you've used the libraries and ever muttered, "Why can't libraries classify items that makes sense to ME?" then perhaps that's one reason (because ultimately, libraries want to make their collection accessible to you).

In simple terms, the "problem" is that the way libraries organise its collection isn't the most intuitive for ALL customers. I feel the root cause to this "problem" is that we all perceive things differently and/or our preception shift according to whatever context at that particular time.

Example: I might see a title "Computers in Business Applications" as "Computers" while another time I might see it as "Business". I might see Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code as "Fiction" while I might also see it as "Controversial Religious Fact-ion". You can't say it's "right" or "wrong" because that's what makes sense to me.

In my view, classification systems were never meant to be well understood by library customers. The systems were meant for librarians to organise materials so that librarians can efficiently retrieve them on behalf of the customer. It was only after computers got into the act that customers are able to routinely help themselves search for items within the collection. However, how customers search is very much dictated by how the items are organised (i.e. the classification systems used).

With improvements in technology, there's a greater awareness, and perhaps urgency, for libraries to improve the way materials are organised within the library so that more customers can help themselves. It's not that librarian are lazy. It's about improving convenience to customers.

I think a long term solution should tackle the root cause. Rather than tackle how items are organised, why not tackle the fluid nature of how preceptions about how they are organised. Hence, the idea of the "Contextual Lens/ Device".

OK, with a device like that, does this spell the end for librarians? I don't think so, because I'd like to make two assumptions:

1. On one hand, while we reduce the reliance on librarians to retrieve information, the rate at which information is made available far exceeds the time that customers have to search for information themselves.
2. Information needs of individual customers will become more complex and customers will become more discerning. While there is google -- which most times is "good enough" -- there will be times they will want far more than what they can find off google on their own.

It's like this -- I can already buy investment products online, and I know where to seek information. At times I'd buy direct. However, there are times I feel it's faster more comprehensive to speak to a sales representative or advisor. For instance, I want to know what's the best returns on investment based on my personal income and consumption patterns (which would differ from others, and even for myself it differs from year to year as my needs change).

Anyway, if you're really really interested in the exciting world of library classification systems, then you might want to read up more on things like Enumerative, Hierarchical, and Faceted classification systems (see this Wikipedia entry for an overview)... ... OK, I'm just cheating here and plucked the terms off Wikipedia. Frankly, my knowledge of Library Classification Systems isn't deep.


Technorati Tags: library classification system, contextual virtual reality