There are a lot of changes happening for all of us right now. With schools closed until mid-April and many people working from home, I thought I would hit a few points that make online learning and working from home easier. We all have enough stress about COVID-19 and social distancing. Setting out some simple […]
Author: Kieran Hixon
Contact Kieran at hixon_k@cde.state.co.us.
Descriptive Link Text – Website Accessibility – part 4
Descriptive links are weblinks disguised as descriptive text that is clicked on to go to the place described. For instance, in “Look for books in our Library Catalog” the word “catalog” is a descriptive link. Descriptive hyperlinks are especially important for people with visual impairments using screen reading software, and how they are constructed is […]
Alt Text – Website Accessibility – part 3
Alt text, also called “alt tags” or “alt descriptions,” is the text that is read by screen-reading tools to describe images for visually impaired readers. It also allows search engines to better crawl and rank your website, and provides the written copy that appears in place of an image on a webpage if the image […]
PDFs and Website Accessibility – Part 2
Does your website have links to download PDF documents? Do you make a really sweet looking event calendar and upload it to your library website as a PDF? Unless authored with accessibility in mind, PDF documents often have accessibility issues. Additionally, PDF documents are typically viewed using a separate application or plug-in, and can thus […]
Website Accessibility
Accessibility… sometimes when I talk about accessibility in libraries folks imagine ramps, wide doors and not stocking items on bottom shelves. This is all essential, but there is something that is often overlooked: your library’s website. It is like another branch of your library and it needs to be accessible too. Web accessibility basically means […]
Geeking on Spreadsheets – Bag of Tricks
I admit it, I am a spreadsheet junky. It’s true. And the things I like most are the formulas. I like the ability to somehow count, group, and analyze stuff in a spreadsheet. The things I don’t like much are formulas. Yes, both like and dislike. I like the results, but I haven’t spent the […]
Eliminating Fines – Resources
[For more information on eliminating fines, check out our Eliminating Fines FAQ!] Many libraries charge overdue fines because of three main assumptions: Fines bring back materials faster (and at all) Fines generate revenue for the library Fines teach responsibility Published research and a growing amount of recent evidence show that, actually, none of these assumptions […]
Have you been pwned? – Bag of Tricks
Pwned. Yup, it is a word, not a typo. It is a word from an informal language used on the internet called “leetspeak.” Another example of leet is when a 3 is used instead of an E; “leet” becomes “l33t.” “Pwn” is derived from the verb “own,” meaning to appropriate or to conquer to gain […]
Ransomware – Bag of Tricks
The other day a friend of mine who is the director of a small rural library in another state emailed me. She was hoping I could help her tech guy because her server had just been hit with Ransomware. Ransomeware is malicious software that blocks access to your computer system until a sum of money […]
Games For Change – Bag of Tricks
I have always been a video game player, way back since Pong, Asteroids, and Pacman as a matter of fact. Which is one of the reasons I was excited to find Games For Change. Games for Change gives game creators and social innovators a way to drive real-world change using games and technology. They promote […]
Fighting Summer Slide – Bag of Tricks
Ah, summer… it is a busy time for libraries! Between the Summer Reading Program and the extra kids utilizing the library, keeping things manageable and running smoothly can be a challenge. I wanted to highlight a few websites that might help keep the younger folks busy when they aren’t making Martian slime, spilling their juice […]
Soup, well, TechSoup in the Bag of Tricks
Budgeting, finding the right solution, finding the person with the expertise to help, having the hardware, creating the plan…these are some of the issues libraries face when talking about technology. One organization that really shines in helping libraries in these areas is Tech Soup, specifically, Tech Soup for Libraries. TechSoup for Libraries specifically addresses the […]
What was there? – Bag of tricks
I am amazed by the speed at which technology develops. I really am. New developments in capacity, speed, and materials lead to smaller, faster consumer electronics. And then there are the imaginations of people who use those products to come up with new uses, apps, and products. Sometimes, the development of these has a rough […]
Oral Histories and Audio recording – Bag of Tricks
I saw a meme the other day that said, “I’m sorry I didn’t answer my phone when you called. I don’t use it for that.” It got me laughing pretty hard. It is funny the way things have changed with phones – should we even call them that anymore? When I think about how I […]
Making a habit of Habitica – Bag of Tricks
Habitica is an online task management application that, as its name implies, helps you build habits, end bad habits, and manage your daily, and weekly tasks. You can use it for work tasks and your personal life. The thing I find to be true with any task management tool is how the user feels about […]
Stuff Online and in a Box! – CSL Kits – Bag of Tricks
Generally my Bag of Tricks series concentrates on online tools you can use in some part of your library world, be it helping patrons or yourself complete a library-related task. On this outing, I would like to highlight a resource that is partly online, but mostly in the physical realm. Our very own Colorado State […]
Eliminating Fines FAQs
Want to eliminate fines at your library but have questions? You’re not alone! Here are some frequently asked questions about eliminating fines and research-based answers.
Adobe Spark – Bag of Tricks
Check out the video (above) for information on Adobe Spark. It can be a good addition to your Bag of Tricks. As we talked about in other parts of this Bag of Tricks series, having resources at your fingertips and a basic familiarity with up-and-coming technology can come in very handy for better serving […]
Big Huge Labs & Valentine’s Day – Bag of Tricks
Valentine’s Day, LOVE, or as the quote in the movie Princess Bride goes, “tweasure your wuv”. While the Children’s Librarian has probably already accumulated lots of red construction paper and doilies for handmade cards, you may also have some adults or older teens looking to make a card or some sort of holiday specialness. One […]
Data Visualization – Bag of Tricks
Ah January, the season of snow and reports! Often January is a month of getting your taxes together, making reports for the Board, and otherwise wrapping up the year gone by. One tech tool you may want in your back pocket for reports is Livegap Charts (https://livegap.com/charts/). If you can make a spreadsheet, Livegap Charts […]