Written by I’ve set aside a few days for you to get comfortable with the site and do the major reading of the course up front. In previous versions of the course, we found this to be useful for students to have read the text and other materials and then apply what they’ve learned to the the various modules. You will see “Action Items” included in my weekly postings – watch for them, they will keep you on track in our course.
Action Items (over the next few days):
- View the Course Intro Video Web Version | Download Video Podcast
- View the Assignment Overview Video and read over the Assignment Overview page.
- Review student privacy options – remember that avatars and aliases are just fine.
- Review the full course due date and course schedule here
- Read the foundational resources supplied below.
- Create an account, blog and profile at our course site. (You will be able to export your blog from this site to your own blog at the end of the course…)
- Please accept the friend request from me. Being friends allows me to private message you in our site.
- Head over to our Break the Ice: Binge Worthy group and share something you might be binging.You may also want to try the Podcast group!
- Explore and get comfortable with our course community. Take a look at all the options under the menu across the top of the main page.
- Delete the “Hello World” post in your new blog. It will not appear in the activity feed.
- Author your first introductory blog post. This can be text-based (totally fine), video, audio, etc. Be as creative as you’d like!
- Important!: Share your blog URL as a comment in the OPML link HERE.
Foundational Readings:
- Buckland, M. (1999). Redesigning Library Services: A Manifesto.
- Please read Preface, Introduction, The Electronic Library, & The Challenge.
- Casey, M. E., & Savastinuk, L. C. (2007). Library 2.0: A guide to participatory library service. Medford, N.J: Information Today.
- Please read Chapters 1, 2, 3, “An Open Letter to All Library Directors” in Chapter 4 on page 40, and Chapters 5, 7 and 8.
- Mathews, B. (2012). Think Like A Start Up.
Some of these go way back but serve as foundational pieces – #hyperlib students read these during the few days of class. The Library 2.0 eBook has been made available through the generosity of Information Today and the authors, Michael Casey and Laura Savastinuk.
You will also be reading my 2016 and 2019 books published by the American Library Association throughout the semester. Happy to provide you with the PDF versions, please see below 🙂
-
- Stephens, M. (2016). The Heart of Librarianship: Attentive, Positive, and Purposeful Change
- Stephens, M. (2019). Wholehearted Librarianship: Finding Hope, Inspiration, and Balance
- Creating Your Account & Blog:Follow these easy steps to set up your blog for the course. Even if you already have a blog from INFO 203, I ask that everyone create a new blog specifically for this class to ensure all the features of WordPress and BuddyPress (like the activity stream) work seamlessly. Don’t worry—you can export your blog at the end of the course, and I’ll share directions on how to do that later.
Step 1: Register Your Account
1. Fill in your name, username, email, and create a strong password.
2. You are free to use a pseudonym, but please let me know who you are so I can match you to your work.
3. Choose your username carefully—this will also be your @username for the semester (similar to Twitter). It can be your first name, a nickname, or something creative to represent yourself.Step 2: Create Your Blog
1. Choose a creative and unique title for your blog. Avoid using the course title, The Hyperlinked Library, as your blog name. Feel free to play with variations of the word hyperlinked or draw inspiration from pop culture, literature, music, or anything else that sparks your imagination. A catchy title helps make your blog stand out and gives it a personal touch.
• Examples: “Through the Hyperlink Glass,” “Hyperlinked Horizons,” “Pop Culture Pixels,” or “The Librarian’s Odyssey.”
2. Be sure to check the box to allow search engines to index your site. This is important so your blog and activity show up in the course activity streams.Step 3: Enter the Registration Code
1. Use the registration code I shared on our course Canvas site.Step 4: Customize Your Blog
1. Change your blog’s theme, add images, and make it your own. This is your space to express yourself!Step 5: Share Your Blog URL
1. Once your blog is set up, post your blog URL as a comment on the OPML course blog post linked below!
2. Make sure your blog is ready to showcase your reflections, assignments, and contributions to the course!Remember, your blog will be the hub for your work throughout the semester, so have fun setting it up and making it a space you’re excited to use.
- Important!: Share your blog URL as a comment in the OPML course blog post HERE!
Write an Introductory Post:
Once your account is all set up, take some time to write an introductory post including why you chose this course, what you’re excited about for this semester, your area of interest in the LIS world, and–if you want–a picture of yourself, family, pets, favorite place, etc. You can also make the introduction a media-based one if you’d like. Be as creative as you want!
Post your introduction by the due date.
Quick Blog Tips:
Also do not hesitate to email questions or comments!
Best to all for a great semester-
Michael
