Is there a connection between social media and public libraries? You bet there is.

Trends show that library usage is down and many libraries are experiencing budget cuts and even closures. Many think we’re losing libraries.

Most libraries are adapting though by changing how library space is used and by being more ‘Barnes&Noble” like. Some libraries now offer coffee and some not only allow food, but sell it themselves in in-house cafes. For example, in January 2008 UNH added Zeke’s Cafe to their Dimond Library.

Libraries have also added new technology like offering eBooks, allowing online accounts for lending renewals, using QR Codes to connect books on display to more detailed online information about the book, and even self check out stations, much like those in grocery stores.

“U.S. libraries of all types continue to make increasing use of social media and Web 2.0 applications and tools to connect with library users and to market programs and services” according to the American Library Association. But they also note that ” a few are not using them at all.”  “In short, there was general, if not complete, consensus that technology is developing rapidly and that libraries and librarians who are slow to adapt put themselves at risk. (A Google search for “social networking libraries” returned 14.8 million responses.)”

I suggest that libraries avoid the risk of falling behind by immediately adopting social media as part of their way of doing business.

Libraries that are already using social media find that Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, Flickr, and YouTube are the most useful tools according to a research study conducted by Curtis R. Rodgers, Ed.D at  SC State Library. The same study finds that among other things, libraries use those social media platforms to:

• Promote General Library Services
• Market Specific Adult Programs and Services
• Provide Quick Updates to Users
• Market Specific Children/Youth Programs and Services
• Reach New Audience of Potential Users

But change still continues to be a major factor when it comes to adding social media and web 2.0 to the library mix. Shift happens and will continue to drive change, specifically when it comes to content creation and content curation. Librarians would do well to follow the same steps as does small business when it comes to content creation using social media:

• Find your audience
• Set your goals
• Start with the basics and optimize those accounts
• Build a team
• Create a Content Map
• Link accounts – Connect, connect ,connect – your social network

Content curation is where libraries and librarians have a natural advantage because it’s already what they do everyday. Librarians have content curation super powers.  Now that content curation has moved from an in-person resource to an online resource however, librarians are in a unique position to help patrons manage the online information overload, and they can use social media tools to do it. Social media can help libraries become more highly visible and useful to the communities they serve.

If you’d like additional information on this presentation, you can find the slide deck on SlideShare and the full video on Vimeo.

I made this book planter as a thank you gift for a friend of mine who happens to be a library director. She had invited me to speak on the topic of  “social media and libraries” for a tri-county librarians collaborative, and I thought this would be the perfect ‘thank you’ gift.  It was a risk though.  Either she would love it because it was a creative reuse of a published book, or she would hate it because I defaced the very thing that she loves, a perfectly good book.

Fortunately she thought it was great idea and a welcomed gift. Here’s how to make your own book planter for you or your favorite book worm.

1. First get a big, fat, book. I went to my local library‘s used book store and picked up one for $1. What a steal. Sorry Tom Clancy, but your verbosity is my gain.
2. Remove the dust cover if it has one.
3. Using a hole saw drill bit, drill a hole in the book. I placed mine a bit off center. Drilling will take a while to get through the cover and then the pages. Drill down as far as you need to to fit the container, but don’t go through the back cover. Make sure you hold the book tightly so the drill can go through the pages without tearing them. My hole saw bit also has a drill in the center, which helped keep it stable and prevented it from skipping along the surface of the book while I drilled.
4. Place the dust cover back on the book and use your finger to rub the edge so that it marks the hole opening. Remove the dust cover and cut the rub marked line with a utility knife so it matches the hole in the book. Replace the dust cover.
5. Choose a container that won’t leak into the book when you water it. I used a small container that I re-purposed from the grocery store deli. It fit the 4″ hole that I drilled perfectly. You may want to measure and/or test the size first so it’s a nice snug fit.
6. Place the plant of your choice in the plastic container. I chose an ivy like plant that draped over the edge of the book. I added a bit of sheet moss under the leaves to cover the soil.
7. Place the plant (in the reused deli container) in the drilled hole and voilà, you’re done!

I wish I had kept some of my old graduate school text books. Those were plenty thick enough to make great planters, were topic specific to my profession, and would have made me feel so much better about the price I paid for them. I’ll have to check the basement to see if I have any tucked away still.

Local search engine optimization is crucial for small businesses. If potential customers can’t find the business, they can’t buy from the business, especially if it’s a brick and mortar business and not an online sales shop.

If you’re a small business, being online is no longer an option. Whether you like it or not, it’s more important than ever that someone, anyone, in the same town or the next-town-over knows exactly how to find you when they need you.

Here are two ways small business can get more online exposure so customers can find them.

First, get listed in local search engines. The top 3 search engines are Google, Yahoo! and Bing. Each one has its own local business listings where you can add your company’s information.

Here are links to the top three search engines. You’ll probably have to set up an email account with each first, but that’s a small price to pay for a listing in their local search results.

• Google Maps
• Yahoo! Local
• MSN Bing Local

Second, add your company to the top online directories (kind of like the old yellow pages books). This will ensure that the local directories, which spend big bucks on advertising to consumers, have you included in their listings.

• Superpages.com Now known as SuperMedia
• YellowPages.com
• Yelp.com Claim your Business

Of course there are many other directories and listings, but this should get you started.  Although going through the process is a bit tedious, you’ll find it to be well worth the effort.  To make things a little easier, you may want to prepare a few things in advance.

1. Prepare a list of ‘key word/phrases” that describe your business category, main product or service lines. ie. “manufacturer, stuffed animals, organic, wholesale, plush purple frogs, Pete the purple frog, toys, stuffed toys”.  If you’re having a hard time thinking of words, try typing a few words into Google, it will prompt you with suggestions. Compile a list of 10 – 12 key words/phrases.
2. Write a description of your company. This is typically one sentence (about 150 characcters or less) that includes the very basic description for your business. ie. “Manufactuer and wholesale distributor of organic stuffed animals – home of Pete, the plush purple frog.”
3. Photos – including an outside photo of the business (so people can identify it as they’re driving/walking, some interior shots, maybe the company logo, perhaps a few shots of your top categories and a few close ups. The number of images you can upload varies so have about 10 to choose from.

Don’t procrastinate about getting your listings out there.  Most of the links above are free but some charge for ‘upgrading’ your listing with photos etc. At the very least, get listed for the basic free listings. You can always go back and upgrade if you feel it necessary.

Now go, do it. Do it now.

If you’re a builder or even a handy homeowner in need of some budget conscience repairs, you may be interested to learn about the newest building supply store with bargain basement prices – ReStore.

ReStore, an ingenious idea of Habitat for Humanity, is the go-to resource to find overstock, closeout and used building material items and home improvement supplies. It’s a new gem in Seacoast NH’s eco-friendly, green crown. The newly opened Restore in Newington, NH was orchestrated by the Southeast New Hampshire Habitat for Humanity.

Situated in a former Roller Skating Rink in Newington, NH, just outside the Fox Run Mall, customers can still catch glimpses of the former roller rink’s character in the leftover, neon wall colors and bright blue painted rink floor. The ambiance makes perfect sense for a store designed to be a haven of reduce, reuse, recycle.

In addition to being a retail store open to the public, ReStore also accepts donations of building materials, furniture, appliances, and of course, cash.  You can check their site for a list of acceptable donation items and how to best coordinate drop off.  If you are more ambitious and would like to get involved, there are number of ReStore volunteer positions available.

When I visited the new ReStore , I found the prices to be very reasonable, and they stock a wide selection of items to choose from, but like any closeout or discontinued items store, it’s a hit or miss scenario. You need an attitude of openness and a spirit of creative adventure. You don’t know what you’ll find, but chances are you’ll find something, and it just may be the perfect fit for what you’re working on.

Check it out:

ReStore
29 Fox Run Road, Newington NH
(the former roller rink near Walmart)
Open Tuesday – Saturday 9am to 5pm.

Lately, I’ve become fascinated by the idea of Guerrilla Gardening; the idea of covertly beautifying barren or run down areas of a City to make it more green, inviting and alive with the spirit of green. One of the more interesting ways I’ve found that Guerrilla Gardeners combat urban ugly worldwide is the use of Moss Graffiti.

Moss Graffiti is nothing like the territorial, spray-paint kind of street art that covers many walls, bridges, and lonely freight cars. This is something more alive and organic. It’s green garden art that adds a vitality and warmth to the dark, dank corners of any dull city landscape.  And it’s outlandishly cool.

From what I can tell, there are three ways to create Moss Graffiti. You can grow a whole wall of it and then remove the area you don’t want making a reverse design, stencil it on and watch it grow into your design, or paste it on in a ready-made fashion.

Strook, Reverse Moss Graffiti

When I consider all three moss graffiti methods, it appears that the initial method seems to takes the most time, planning and talent. First you have to find a wall that has the right conditions to easily grow moss and then seed the entire space with moss growing medium. Then you have to regularly water the wall so the moss grows into a large lush carpet. Once the wall is green, the graffiti artist then removes the unwanted moss using a high powered pressure washer. The result is a beautiful moss graffiti design. Beautiful that is, if you have the talent to create design using negative space. In my case this might be a bit of a challenge, but not for Belgian artist Stefaan De Croock  (a.k.a. Strook).

Moss Graffiti, Mosstika

The second method seems much more approachable for the average moss graffiti artist like me. Using a stencil or free hand paintbrush, you apply the moss growing medium to the surface and regularly spray it with water until the moss grows, revealing the stencil pattern as graffiti . This still takes a lot of time and effort, but doesn’t need as much creative talent to achieve if you use an outline.  This is one way Brooklyn artist Edina Tokodi (A.K.A. Mosstika) brings some green wildlife to New York City.

Moss Graffiti, Anna Garforth

The last moss graffiti method is the fastest and perhaps the most immediately visable. It involves pasting already grown moss directly to the wall surface using a flour-like paste.  The beauty of this method is that is quick and can be grown in advance in whatever shape you’d like or cut from already grown sheets of moss. Because it is applied rather than grown in place though, I do question its longevity. Would it easily wash away in a heavy rain, fall off if it got too dry or survive a strong wind?  London-based artist, Anna Garforth doesn’t seem to have had any issues with her paste-in-place creations.

All these Moss Graffiti methods have their merits, and you could use whatever method appeals most to you and your level of talent.  For me, I think I may try all three. I’m so excited, I just can’t wait for spring.

Moss is soft. Its velvety green carpet is a welcomed treat for tender bare feet.
Moss is pretty. Its vibrant shades of green paint the world with plush hues of beauty.
Moss is cool. Its lush growth in moist, shaded spaces calms our spirits and soothes our souls.

It’s no wonder then that gardeners, designers and artists alike are drawn to the magnificence of moss. We nurture its growth in the garden, use it in home décor, and employ it as a medium for expressive environmental art.

Gardeners enjoy the softness it adds to shade gardens. Decorators use moss to add a hint of green to indoor design, sometimes topping the soil on flower pots, or on the planters themselves. Artists are using moss in a new way, as outdoor green art or moss graffiti. Moss graffiti, different than the spray paint tagging that makes cityscapes look tired and warn, add a zest to the gray urban streets. Guerilla gardeners are using it to add a fresh splash of green life to their gray concrete jungle.

Whether you want to try and make your own moss pot for your kitchen windowsill, or join the guerilla gardeners to reclaim a city alleyway and make it a living piece of art, the method of growing moss is the same.  In my own attempt at bringing outdoor gardening indoors, I’ve made moss pots to add a bit of aged character to newer clay pots so they didn’t look like bright red beacons but rather seasoned and weathered friends.  Way back in 2000, Rebecca from Rebecca’s Garden inspired me with this moss milkshake recipe. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a current link to her site, but luckily I had printed a copy and tucked it away in my garden file.

MOSS MILKSHAKE RECIPE

2 cups buttermilk or plain yogurt
4 ounces potter’s clay
Kitchen Blender
Fork
Moss
Paintbrush
Spray bottle

Pour the buttermilk or the yogurt into a bowl.  Add (4) ounces of the potter’s clay and stir with a fork until the mixture is liquefied. This will help reduce the wear on the blender.

Pour the mixture into a blender and add a handful of moss. Using the “liquefy” button, blend until the thoroughly mixed. You are now ready to apply the milkshake to your piece.

Pre-moisten the piece with the spray bottle. Then apply a thin layer of the milkshake mix over the surface of the pot or statuary.  Move the pieces into a shady location and be sure to keep it damp using the spray bottle. Soon you will have a nice addition for your garden that has aged gracefully.

Here are a few links to other moss recipes that I found online – some even include beer!

Environmental Graffiti
Heavy Petal
Green Profit

If you’re interested in Moss Graffiti and are local to Southern NH, drop me a note. I’m considering pulling together some guerilla gardeners to try this tactic in some of our less-attractive urban landscapes here in the Granite State.

I’ve been an Etsy artist wannabe for a long while now. It’s even how I’ve described myself on many of my social media accounts. “Diane Vautier, MBA Business and Marketing Consultant, entrepreneur, Etsy Artist wannabe and green living enthusiast. Practiced sustainability before it was cool.”

So, why the big interest in being an Etsy artist? Because I think Etsy is just awesome.

I’ve browsed the pages of the site with amazement at what people there create. The raw creative talent is inspiring and plentiful. Search by keyword, color, location or price and you’ll find just about anything you can imagine. There is jewelry, pottery, home décor items, lighting, baskets, bags, purses and art just to name a few. In fact, there are nearly one million handmade items to choose from (942,098 at this writing). Now that’s a lot of handmade beauty.

With so much admiration for the talent on line, I had high hopes of someday finding a talent of my own that would be ‘craft worthy’ enough to be listed on Etsy.  Finally in late in 2011 I found something that inspired me; using an industry by-product as a raw material. The true spirit of recycling (well, actually reuse), sustainability, and industrial synergy.  I was finally able to change my Twitter profile from “…wanna be Etsy artist…” to official “Etsy artist” with the opening of my Esty Store, Java Jayne.

Java Jayne Messenger Bag, Aprons and Journals

Java Jayne is way cool. Everything I make is crafted from re-purposed coffee sacks that I source from local coffee roasters, which saves the burlap sacks from entering the waste stream. I sew some really useful items like messenger bags, laptop sleeves, tote bags, and some really fun items such as journal covers, full aprons, waist aprons and firewood log carriers.

Java Jayne Messenger Bag

Admittedly, I was a little unsure of my rusty stitching skills until I really started cutting and sewing, and until memories of my 8th grade home economics class started flooding back into my brain. Then I was really glad I decided to pull out the old sewing machine that a friend had given me about 20 years ago. Once I had a few projects sewn together and a few more underway, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and level of work I was turning out. I am Esty worthy.

What’s even better is that not only am I now an Etsy artist, but my creations are even being sold locally at Coffeeberries coffee shop in Londonderry, NH.  How cool is that? Look out world I am an Etsy artist wannabe no more.

In speaking to a group of local artists and small businesses, Andrew Mack Jr. describes Facebook as” the new word of mouth.  One the biggest things about Facebook and social media is that it’s the new word of mouth, if you want to be able to get your business out there, this is a really a great place to do it.”

His audience, roughly a dozen or so small business owners and artists, gathered last Thursday evening to listen, learn and share on the topic of social media. The session, which ran from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm was the first of three scheduled sessions that Andrew is hosting to help the local art community thrive in a networked world.

The short lecture/workshop was held at the Londonderry, NH Leach Library and was free to the public. The next two sessions, also free, are scheduled for January 19^th and February 2^nd, 2011. For more information checkout  Andy’s website.

Are you a fan of the holiday season? If so then you’re probably spending countless nights and weekends fretting about and searching for the perfect gift for that special someone – the kind that reflects the personality and character of the recipient and the generous spirit of the giver.

But what happens when that special someone is eco-friendly? You may feel stuck, at a loss for ideas and way out of your shopping comfort zone. What’s a desperate holiday shopper to do?

First, don’t panic. Then consider choosing gifts that are local and green. Finding green gifts is easier than you may think. In fact, NH is brimming with great ‘green gifts’ ideas that could turn out to be the perfect gift for all your eco-friendly loved ones.

Dining and Getaways:

Everyone enjoys a sumptuous meal or a relaxing weekend getaway and you can find lots of eco-friendly options to both right here in NH.  Try browsing through the listings of restaurants and hotels at the New Hampshire Sustainable Lodging and Restaurant Program for some delicious, green restaurants and comfortable yet sustainable hotels. Your friends and family will thank you.

Although NHSLP is not a definitive list, it is a useful place to start when searching for sustainable locales and dishes that will make anyone’s mouth water. A few places not on NHSLP’s list, but definitely worth recommending are a few of my own personal favorites, MT’s Local (formerly Michael Timothy’s) in Nashua, NH and Republic Café in Manchester, NH. Bon Apetite and sleep well.

Gifts, Housewares and Home:

For a more personal touch, there are some outstanding NH retail stores that carry thoughtful and earth-friendly products where you’re sure to find just the right something for that special  someone. If you’re in the Concord, NH area, check out Bonafide Green Goods or see them online. They have a wide selection of unique and sustainable items for kitchen, bath, personal and home use. They also offer some workshops and post updates about green events in the area. They’re a useful resource for ongoing green activities.

Moving a little more toward the house and home side of things is Your Home, Your World, also in Concord and Green Depot in Manchester, NH.  Your Home, Your World focuses on design, décor and green living while Green Depot leans more toward green building materials.  Both would be excellent places to get a gift certificate for the green DIY’er in your family.

Food and Organic Products:

What’s better than getting healthy, locally grown dairy, vegetable, and meat for your family on a regular basis? Well, having it given to you as a gift of course. Why not consider purchasing a share to a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program?  The New Hampshire Agriculture Department maintains a list of CSA programs in the state to choose from.  If a CSA share sounds too ambitious then there is always the option of a gift certificate to one of the State’s best natural food stores,  A Market in Manchester, or Concord Food Coop in Concord, NH.

For a wide search of organic or related products and services in New Hampshire, check out the Organic Consumers Association’s buying guide where you can enter your zip code, specify the distance around it, and voila, you’ll get a listing of what’s available in your area. Find everything from pet supplies to pest control and everything in between.

Last but Not Least Options:

If after reading all these ideas you still find yourself with barely a wisp of a green gift idea, there are two last fail safe options. Both look to our local artisans for inspiration. Check out the online store at The League of NH Craftsmen where you can find incredible and artistic handmade items. Their beauty, creativity and craftsmanship will blow your mind.  Also click on Etsy, the largest online outlet for handmade crafts, supplies and vintage items (vintage as in “reuse” from the green mantra of “reduce, reuse, recycle”).  On Etsy you can perform a local search to find items in your local zip code area.  Look for me there as Java Jayne to see some of my own upcycled, burlap coffee sack creations.

Now go. Go find the perfect, local green gift for your special someone.

What the heck is RSS Feed Reader and why are we talking about it? It’s a good question and one worthy of a little discussion.

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Readers function as our eyes and ears online. While RSS actually has two major components, the reading side and the publishing side, RSS “Readers” focus on listening and monitoring that helps us stay informed and up-to-date on what’s going on in our world.

RSS Readers

An RSS reader is a tool that lets you aggregate your own online content by subscribing to webpages. Those webpages can be websites, blogs, an online journals or news sites.  When the author/site publishes new content, it gets routed directly to you and appears in your RSS Feed Reader as a new headline.  It’s like creating your own personalized magazine just for you with all your specific interests organized for easy viewing. Every morning, instead of searching for top headlines, the headlines that you are interested in come to you via your RSS reader. Pretty cool, right?

RSS Feed Reader Benefits

The benefits to using an RSS reader are huge. Once you set up your RSS “feeds”, you don’t have to spend countless hours searching for interesting topics or industry news.  Your RSS feed lets you browse the headlines of top industry publications, favorite authors or quirky and obscure topics and blogs. It lets you aggregate what’s important to you and filter out information in which you don’t have an interest or which you find to be irrelevant.

An RSS Feed Reader also gives you an opportunity to engage with thought leaders in your industry by commenting on their posts. Commenting on the post of a well-known author also has the added benefit of search engine optimization by connecting your name with the more well-known online personality. Additionally, staying on top of current events can spark great content ideas of your own that you can write about and share on your own blog.

RSS Feed Reader Tools

There are lots of RSS Feed Reader tools to choose from. Personally, I use Google Reader. It makes sense for me since I already use many of Google’s other tools, but you can also find many other RSS readers at Microsoft, Yahoo, and lots of other places. Here’s what my Google Reader Screen looks like. I have topics organized into folders.

The helpful folks at Mashable compiled a list of RSS tools to make it easier to find, review and select one that’s right for you.

Once you select the reader tool that’s right for you, you can start selecting people, places and resources to follow. When you find a website or blog that you like, simply click on the little orange button (that is sometimes plain or sometimes stylized and a different color) to add the website or blog to your RSS feed.

An RSS Feed is a fantastic organizational tool to manage information more effectively, leaving you more time to use all the great knowledge you now have to conquer the world.