Here's the Google Logo for the day -- I love when they do these things! Isn't it cute!
Let's hope this election goes the way I want it to :)
November 4, 2008
Have you voted!?
Get out and vote today!
Here's the Google Logo for the day -- I love when they do these things! Isn't it cute!
Let's hope this election goes the way I want it to :)
Here's the Google Logo for the day -- I love when they do these things! Isn't it cute!
Let's hope this election goes the way I want it to :)
November 2, 2008
Falling Behind, Catching Up
Some of you may have wondered if I have fallen off the face of the earth the past few weeks... and, well, yah, I guess I have. Not intending to drag my students into my personal life, I haven't really mentioned what has been going on, and I'm kind of struggling with whether to throw it out there or not. But, since I live within the definition of "being human" I figure what can it harm.
I was out of town last week, back in Michigan, to visit my very ill father. Several months ago in my blog I mentioned that he had recently been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer with brain metastases (cancer tumors). He had radiation and chemo back in the Spring and I'm happy to say that he had a pretty good summer. However, the cancer took back over last month and it's been a pretty rough downhill spiral. I made an emergency visit to see him and assist with his care (he refuses to go into a nursing home for care so my siblings are doing a fantastic job helping him with his 24/7 care).
Therefore I apologize if I've been a bit "absent" the past two weeks. I'm intending to catch up on grading and will have the remaining assignments posted shortly. Thanks for your patience and understanding!
In all honesty I have greatly enjoyed reading the blog postings and project 2 responses. As always, I love the forum participation. Even if I'm not putting my $.02 in everywhere doesn't mean I'm not here... looking on like the proud teacher I am. I love when the students "get it" and I can see the lightbulb going off as well.
Keep up the great work!
Dena
I was out of town last week, back in Michigan, to visit my very ill father. Several months ago in my blog I mentioned that he had recently been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer with brain metastases (cancer tumors). He had radiation and chemo back in the Spring and I'm happy to say that he had a pretty good summer. However, the cancer took back over last month and it's been a pretty rough downhill spiral. I made an emergency visit to see him and assist with his care (he refuses to go into a nursing home for care so my siblings are doing a fantastic job helping him with his 24/7 care).
Therefore I apologize if I've been a bit "absent" the past two weeks. I'm intending to catch up on grading and will have the remaining assignments posted shortly. Thanks for your patience and understanding!
In all honesty I have greatly enjoyed reading the blog postings and project 2 responses. As always, I love the forum participation. Even if I'm not putting my $.02 in everywhere doesn't mean I'm not here... looking on like the proud teacher I am. I love when the students "get it" and I can see the lightbulb going off as well.
Keep up the great work!
Dena
September 25, 2008
Week 6 of the fall semester
Wow. Week 6 already! Seems like we just started the semester.
Library 1 is coming to an end soon. Good class. This is the first semester I've taught it as a graded course instead of a CR/NC class. Quite a difference in student performance when a grade is at stake, which I appreciate. I've pulled the research project due date to week 8 to see if I get better quality work. Some projects seem very thrown together at the last minute. I have another section of Library 1 starting the last 9 weeks of class and it will be a very full class! Very full. Already have over 50 people on my waiting list. I'm going to see how many people I can pull in from that.
I really love Library 204, a great group of students and the first of the core library technician students. We've talked about concepts that are a good reminder for me about why I enjoy being a librarian. The ultimate purpose - we are here to assist our patrons with their information needs, whether that patron is standing in front of me or talking to me through instant messaging, sending an email or just visiting our website.
Sometimes I get so caught up in the Systems aspect of my job - the computers, the databases, the Voyager system (and upgrade), the statistics, the computer labs... that I feel further from the real purpose. I guess that is why I enjoy teaching my classes so much - gives me that one-on-one connection with the students and allows me to share some of my knowledge with them that hopefully they can take on to further places and share with others - their kids, friends, parents, and maybe someday their own students if they go on to become a librarian. Perhaps!
Well, this is my own 6 week reflection. All the students in my class probably hate the reflections I ask them to do - so I figured I'd do my own too. Just so I can enjoy the process as well!
Take care!
Library 1 is coming to an end soon. Good class. This is the first semester I've taught it as a graded course instead of a CR/NC class. Quite a difference in student performance when a grade is at stake, which I appreciate. I've pulled the research project due date to week 8 to see if I get better quality work. Some projects seem very thrown together at the last minute. I have another section of Library 1 starting the last 9 weeks of class and it will be a very full class! Very full. Already have over 50 people on my waiting list. I'm going to see how many people I can pull in from that.
I really love Library 204, a great group of students and the first of the core library technician students. We've talked about concepts that are a good reminder for me about why I enjoy being a librarian. The ultimate purpose - we are here to assist our patrons with their information needs, whether that patron is standing in front of me or talking to me through instant messaging, sending an email or just visiting our website.
Sometimes I get so caught up in the Systems aspect of my job - the computers, the databases, the Voyager system (and upgrade), the statistics, the computer labs... that I feel further from the real purpose. I guess that is why I enjoy teaching my classes so much - gives me that one-on-one connection with the students and allows me to share some of my knowledge with them that hopefully they can take on to further places and share with others - their kids, friends, parents, and maybe someday their own students if they go on to become a librarian. Perhaps!
Well, this is my own 6 week reflection. All the students in my class probably hate the reflections I ask them to do - so I figured I'd do my own too. Just so I can enjoy the process as well!
Take care!
September 18, 2008
A Librarian's Lexicon for the Layperson
Highly recommended reading defining terms we have or will be talking about in our LIB 204 class.
A Librarian's Lexicon for the Layperson:
"As is quite well known, librarians are afflicted with a particular strain of linguistic debillitation known as jargonitis, or inflammation of the jargon gland. "
A Librarian's Lexicon for the Layperson:
"As is quite well known, librarians are afflicted with a particular strain of linguistic debillitation known as jargonitis, or inflammation of the jargon gland. "
September 2, 2008
Another new Google tool
Being a Google fanatic, I enjoy learning about and using Google's new toys... I mean... tools!
Today they released the Google Chrome beta - Google's version of a browser. You can just type in searches in the URL address bar and it will perform a search for you. Smart. LOL.
Check out more about Google Chrome and download it to try it out!
I'll keep you posted on my thoughts about it. This could take some time getting used to!
Today they released the Google Chrome beta - Google's version of a browser. You can just type in searches in the URL address bar and it will perform a search for you. Smart. LOL.
Check out more about Google Chrome and download it to try it out!
I'll keep you posted on my thoughts about it. This could take some time getting used to!
August 29, 2008
Library 204: Blog as a Library Tool?
Greetings students!
I've been enjoying reading all the blogs this week. The majority of you seem to be new bloggers -- and while some of you may be scratching your head wondering why I would possibly want you to blog, I assure you that at the end of the class you will see some value in it. (If you don't feel free to express that to me as I'm a feedback nut).
The major idea of a blog is a personal publishing system with a very important component - the ability for the general public (or restricted users in some cases) to post comments. Feedback! Contribution!
Let's take a look at Amazon. When I am searching for a new book to purchase on a favorite topic, I generally browse a specific subject that I find in a keyword search. I narrow down my choices by type of materials (this case a book), and at the bottom of every product page is a list of CATEGORIES that the product belongs to. This is all very similar to a library catalog (OPAC). I can click through the different subject. I can see other titles that are similar to the one I'm searching for. And, for someone like me who is a feedback nut, I can read REVIEWS! I want to know what other people who have read the book I am considering spending $30 on thinks about it. Was it valuable to them? Wouldn't it also be nice to have a feature in the library OPAC that connected REVIEWS to the item you are searching for?
I do the same thing with hotels. Let's look at my choices. 10 years ago I could go to the Internet and search for hotels on expedia.com, find out information about the property, etc. It is a good possibility that I could even find a webpage for the specific hotel with photos, maybe reservation information, and description of amenities. Today however I can go to TripAdvisor.com or RealTravel.com and find out other people's opinions on hotels, restaurants, museums, places to visit, etc. One of my favorite places to visit is Seattle, Washington. Take a look at the TripAdvisor page for Seattle. Some of these hotels have hundreds of reviews. I can do my own research from opinions and advice from real people, instead of from a book which may or may not be outdated or accurate. Another good example that I use often to find local restaurants, parks, and other places is Yelp.com. People SHARE information with other people, with us.
Blogs are just another way to do that, to provide a platform for someone to share about a specific topic and for others to put in their $.02. In a library environment, it gives the library a human aspect, opens up ideas about new services and really tries to connect the library and the community. Kinda like what I'm trying to do in this class. Hmm...
Something to think about!
Some of my favorite library related blogs are:
LibrarianInBlack.net
TameTheWeb.com
TheShiftedLibrarian.com
LibrariansMatter.com
TheUbiquitousLibrarian
Here are some examples of how Universities use blogs in their libraries:
Ohio Universities Libraries News
Yale University Library News
Hunter Library News
Example of Teen Services Blogs in Public Libraries
WorthingTeens
Know of any you would like to share?
I've been enjoying reading all the blogs this week. The majority of you seem to be new bloggers -- and while some of you may be scratching your head wondering why I would possibly want you to blog, I assure you that at the end of the class you will see some value in it. (If you don't feel free to express that to me as I'm a feedback nut).
The major idea of a blog is a personal publishing system with a very important component - the ability for the general public (or restricted users in some cases) to post comments. Feedback! Contribution!
Let's take a look at Amazon. When I am searching for a new book to purchase on a favorite topic, I generally browse a specific subject that I find in a keyword search. I narrow down my choices by type of materials (this case a book), and at the bottom of every product page is a list of CATEGORIES that the product belongs to. This is all very similar to a library catalog (OPAC). I can click through the different subject. I can see other titles that are similar to the one I'm searching for. And, for someone like me who is a feedback nut, I can read REVIEWS! I want to know what other people who have read the book I am considering spending $30 on thinks about it. Was it valuable to them? Wouldn't it also be nice to have a feature in the library OPAC that connected REVIEWS to the item you are searching for?
I do the same thing with hotels. Let's look at my choices. 10 years ago I could go to the Internet and search for hotels on expedia.com, find out information about the property, etc. It is a good possibility that I could even find a webpage for the specific hotel with photos, maybe reservation information, and description of amenities. Today however I can go to TripAdvisor.com or RealTravel.com and find out other people's opinions on hotels, restaurants, museums, places to visit, etc. One of my favorite places to visit is Seattle, Washington. Take a look at the TripAdvisor page for Seattle. Some of these hotels have hundreds of reviews. I can do my own research from opinions and advice from real people, instead of from a book which may or may not be outdated or accurate. Another good example that I use often to find local restaurants, parks, and other places is Yelp.com. People SHARE information with other people, with us.
Blogs are just another way to do that, to provide a platform for someone to share about a specific topic and for others to put in their $.02. In a library environment, it gives the library a human aspect, opens up ideas about new services and really tries to connect the library and the community. Kinda like what I'm trying to do in this class. Hmm...
Something to think about!
Some of my favorite library related blogs are:
LibrarianInBlack.net
TameTheWeb.com
TheShiftedLibrarian.com
LibrariansMatter.com
TheUbiquitousLibrarian
Here are some examples of how Universities use blogs in their libraries:
Ohio Universities Libraries News
Yale University Library News
Hunter Library News
Example of Teen Services Blogs in Public Libraries
WorthingTeens
Know of any you would like to share?
August 25, 2008
Lets talk about Library 2.0
This weeks discussion is centered around Reference Services -- what is our idea of providing valuable reference services to our patrons. When we think of library reference services are we assuming that the interaction always has to occur in a face-to-face setting? How can we provide reference services 24 hrs a day? How can we reach out to the Internet generation? People browsing our website? Where else can we reach the patrons?
I'm going to provide a few links to other blogs that provide discussion about Library 2.0. We will be reading much about Library 2.0, Web 2.0 and other services to provide over the Internet to inspire ideas that might help us discover new ways to reach patrons.
Library Crunch - Service for the Next Generation Library - A Library 2.0 Perspective by Michael Casey
Tame the Web - Libraries, Technology and People - by Michael Stephens
I'm going to provide a few links to other blogs that provide discussion about Library 2.0. We will be reading much about Library 2.0, Web 2.0 and other services to provide over the Internet to inspire ideas that might help us discover new ways to reach patrons.
Library Crunch - Service for the Next Generation Library - A Library 2.0 Perspective by Michael Casey
Tame the Web - Libraries, Technology and People - by Michael Stephens
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