12 Ways Libraries Are Good for the Country | American Libraries Magazine

12 Ways Libraries Are Good for the Country American Libraries Magazine

Simple and concise! Lets build our libraries!

Happy Thanksgiving

It is Thanksgiving today and I am thinking of all the goodness that has happened this year. Even though so many talk about the problems in America, when you watch the Macy's Day Parade and others, you realize that we still have so much in America. If we didn't we would not have such ability to celebrate with such opulence.

Now -- not to ruin your Thanksgiving--Please read the book "The Unhealthy Truth," by Robyn O'Brien. Its about genetically altered foods, especially soy. It talks about our processed foods and some of the hidden sources of problems to our health. READ THIS BOOK!  BE INFORMED!

Enjoying the Experience Again of Cross-cultural Communication

 My husband and I are so enjoying the experience of communicating with someone that speaks English as a second language. It makes you realize how much you take for granted! It makes remember how difficult it was when I was trying to learn another language and live in the host country. My hubby says I need to slow my speech down but that is a bit difficult. Cherry's range and knowledge of English vocabulary is really excellent but sometimes I find myself having  to rethink a sentence because the think I am saying is quite colloquial and is not easily explained!

Here is our first picture together when she arrived! She looked great considering she'd just traveled half way around  the world and her body clock was completely upside down! What a trooper.

Becoming a Parent to a Foreign Exchange Student

Since my vacation, my husband and I finally decided that we would actually host a foreign exchange student. We had been talking with PAX a foreign exchange organization about this. They sent us bio's on high school students from around  the world. We narrowed it down to about 15 and then narrowed it further until we have 3 candidates. Once we had more information  on them we asked for our first, 2nd and third choice. Then the student had the ability to learn about us and choose whether the student wanted to live in the  area and be a part of our family. The student said yes. We were sort of on pins and needles because throughout the process the student could say no. Also, all background checks and things  had to be clear, verbal interviews with those that knew us had to be positive. There is never any guarentee!

We have chosen and been chosen by a student from China.Getting ready was really fun. We e-mailed back and forth about her likes and dislikes about many things but especiall for colors for her room. In the end we had her pickout her bedding for her room. We have discussed food likes and dislikes. She is easy going and is not picky. She experiments and then tells us what she thinks. What is really fun is that she will tell us what she likes whether it is food, programs or other topics. My personal experience with some Asian cultures is that their culture is such that they may not tell you what they think out of politeness. Of course there may always be levels of sharing of what one thinks in all cultures, including my own. It usually depends on the feeling  of saftey, or care for another's feelings. 

Our student is a delight and a real joy to have in our home. She studies hard but has lots of fun with friends. The students in our public school have been so open and inviting to her. I cannot say enough about the students in Colby, KS. I  worried about her coming to a small town environment where we have limited exposure to ethnic differences. We have some, but not like a big city. The youth are really terrific! She was invited to go shopping the first weekend after school started with some girls, she has been invited to go eat out with some students several times, she has been nicely recruited off the bleachers (where we were sitting during the first scrimmage of the football season) to join a group to watch the match and also be involved in activities. Three other ladies and Cherry got ready for the Homecoming dance. She has studdy-buddies and friends galore! Kudos to the Colby youth!

She has been here a full month now and we already see how she has livened up our lives and home! We are glad that Cherry has come to be with us for the school year! Thanks to her parents for trusting us!

Granduer of Grand Canyon - Vacation 2010

We so enjoyed our vacation at the Grand Canyon - South and North Rim. We drove to Williams, took the train to the south rim, walked the rim, stayed at the hotel overnight, hiked Kaibab trail, then went back to Williams by train. The next day we traveled to the North Rim via Page, AZ.
Enjoy some a brief video clip of our photos made through Animoto.com.



Beautiful huh???

The Grandness of our nation's beauty!

I have just spent a full week just enjoying and being amazed at the grandeur of our nation's land. I have traversed from Denver Colorado, Santa Fe New Mexico, Phoenix, Williams, Flagstaff, and Page of Arizona, plus Kanab and Sandpete Utah and much more. I have enjoyed the south and north rim of the Grand Canyon. What an amazing area of land that spans the canyon lands of the Southwest! Once I get my pictures downloaded I will add them to this post so that you can enjoy them. I hope they are as wonderful as I feel this vacation has been!

See the video in the above post!

Reflections on 23 Things Kansas

What a great experience! Thanks to all who worked so hard to train us and hold our hand in gaining skill in new technologies! I thoroughly enjoyed the course and hope you keep it available for others to take later.

I really enjoyed the technologies for screencasting, video producing, blogging and things like that. I have continued to use Meebo, and IM's. Tweeting was fun, but I just have not found I have things I think worthy to share with the world, or do not have the time! But tweeting and IM's can be a great tool in libraries. We just need more staff to respond to patrons.

I also found it fun to be able to take simple photos and create really dramatic presentations. If anything this will help us look more professional in our presentations! We are no longer just stuck to using Powerpoint.

My head will remain in the Cloud and I hope to look over some of the 45 things in 45 minutes from the KLA conference. Must keep pushing the envelope!

Again, Thanks to our mentors!

Week 15 - Wiki's

Wiki's are very useful to coordinate work and information for groups of people. I edited the Wikepedia site for the Colby, KS page. There I added some information about the Pioneer Memorial Library. I added the historical perspective and the fact that the library is a vibrant place that is supported by members of the community from its very inception until now.

I have also taken a class in Information Literacy and working with class room teachers. There we had to add reading materials, bibliographies, and reviews of the materials we read as individuals to specific subject pages. It was very helpful to learn about materials others read and what they learned so that I could glean from them.

I also added a brief page to the 23 Things Participant page. It was great to learn how to navigate Wetpaint's software. I had used PBworks previously. I do not remember having advertisements on that site, but then it may have been a paid for expansion of the free software.

I signed up for a wiki for myself I may decide to use this for book reviews and such and then add the information to this blog. Depends on how much time I have!

Week 14: Library Thing Etc. (Shelfari)

Have selected Shelfari to work with as a social book sharing. I've experienced Library Thing in the past, but never did much with it. I have more than 200 books in my library, and do not want to be limited to #'s. Shelfari has some great options. If you become a member, please view the few books I've added. My account is MelanyW. I have sooo many to add, plus all the ones I've read that the library owns.

Once I get through with 23 Things Kansas, I hope to expand to the 45 things, but work on adding my book reviews and such to this blog. I might improve some of my descriptions in the Shelfari by adding my reviews there. We will have to see what is best.

I still want to find out more about adding Library Thing to the library catalog. I need to examine what some of the draw backs might be if we did that. I was impressed that a publisher might send a person a book to review. I know this is done, but be aware that if you receive these books, then you may have to claim them on your taxes as a benefit or income. Ask your tax accountant.

Week 13 - Using Animoto: Slidesharing to Video

I have just finished my first Animoto slide sharing experience. I had some pictures from our Snapshop Day on April 13th. So I took some of these pictures, a couple of slides that I saved to JPEG so they would work well in the video, and made a movie trailer.

It works best if you have all the pictures you want to upload placed in a single folder, then just add them all at once. Choose the music ahead of time so you are ready as well. Then after you've uploaded the photos, upload music and then add a description of the video. Once you select to save the work, you will need to wait a few minutes for it to create you video.

The only thing that I was really surprised at was the length of time it took to download and complete the video. However, I was using wireless! But the end results came out pretty good.

See what you think: http://animoto.com/play/6XnyEoYQQ6EYweYt1DHIdQ

Week 12 - Screen Casting - thoughts

I just love the ability to make screencasting presentations. Though it takes a little effort to make a fairly nice presentation, it is still amazing. To think that we can avail of such technology and software is what blesses me!

My first attempt to make a screencast was to produce instructions about placing items on hold at our library. I decided that it would be a really good idea to use a phantom patron and not my personal library card! But then I became really busy and did not get back to the work.

Just recently I had all my information together, but also found that I should do the recording in the library so that when I flub up I could erase the information from the phantom patron's card, since at home I did not have access! When I was at the library I had another hurdle. Our library system catalog looks different from our patrons online catalog, so I needed to use my laptop thru Wi-Fi.

After I recorded the instructions, it took me some time to understand where my embedded file was going when I saved it. Sometimes I'm a bit slow on the uptake! I went and read the instructions and realized -- Oh ! Sign up and then sign into screencast.com. And there were my embedded files. So in the post below you will find my screencast. Though they said you could not alter the size, I was successful by merely changing the size in the HTML part of my blog post. Note however there were three places to change it! But oh how I love victories!

Week 12 Screen Casting embedded screencast

Here is the screencasting of "How to Place a Book On Hold @ the Pioneer Memorial Library"

Week 11 - taking a break

Taking a break for Week 11 - first it's KLA conference then a full week of National Library Week. Both are fun, but lots of work!

Week 10 - Producing a fun video - PML Book Sale

Myself and two staff had a fun time making a video about the upcoming book sale at the Pioneer Memorial Library. It will be held May 27-29, 2010.

I know that this effort was easier than some videos can be, but we all were laughing before we finished. The kids in the area also loved watching us be creative.

Week 10 - Activity 1 - embedding videos

I have embedded an amazing jump rope dance for middle school students performing. Their skill and accuracy is breath taking. The response of the crowd is fun to! Enjoy!

Week 10 - Video Editing

Well my first attemp was fun, but kitty would not cooperate! So I did something else!

Previous in this post I wrote: Soon you will view my kitty trying to catch her little mouse toy. However, the editing process is a bit longer than I expected and a second try at capturing video in good light will need to be done. The first one I did was a bit dark and I recorded more of me than Dawn. Hence, this week is still under construction.

My first attempt at screencasting has gone a bit better, so I may actually have that to share with you before the weekend.

Week 10 - Bonus Video - inspiring video

Though this is not an imbedded video, I just want to share it on my blog! This is a bonus to all of you who really dig library work!

Below is link to a wonderful video about a librarian and a unique book "mobile." Makes us very grateful for all we have here, yet yearn for the simplicity of life!

Link to a Bookmobile:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/02/25/cnnheroes.soriano/index.html?hpt=C1

Week 9 - IM's - 23 Things

What do I think about Instant Messaging (IM)??

Instant messaging is always fun. I really enjoy on catching up with friends and those I know around the world. I have been so blessed to talk with those students and families we helped from 1987-2000, when my husband and I lead a Student Sponsorship ministry for 750 children in the Philippines. Its so amazing to see the kids grown and with kids of their own. It's really fun to see their success and know that helping can really make a difference!

I signed up for Meebo. It has taken me quite some time to get comfortable with it. Heather and Cindi helped me with some questions. I know that Meebo is suppose to have good instructions, and I did watch some instructions, I just needed remedial help!! Using Meebo I can now IM through Facebook, Yahoo, and Gtalk.

Meebo has not yet changed how I work. I have begun just reconnecting with others in short bursts however. I may see if patrons want to IM us for help but I need to think through this. I may be able to add a link to our website to allow this. This of course will take some planning and work. Any suggestions or examples can be sent this blog.

I have also enjoyed using the freenode Web IR message chat for 23 Things Kansas as well. This is where I got really quick help from Heather. She was able to answer me and even add a link for me to review. What a great way to communicate and also continue to learn.

Week 8 - My Head in the Cloud

I spent about 3 hours helping a fellow librarian edit their list of resources of online resources for teachers. Using Google.docs was really interesting. I also found it facinating to see things on the screen change as another person performed editing at the same time that I did!

I think that this type of program can be used for such things as Library Board Trustee work, Friends work and other staff work. I look forward to try this type of work more.

I need to learn more about what type of programs can be used to edit things, or if it is simply a Word type doc. So much more to learn in the future!

Week 7 - Microblogging and Twitter

I have been signed up for Twitter for quite some time but have not used it because I really did not know how to use it. But after taking time to actually watch some training video's, I now understand it better (such as http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/. I really learned a lot about other Twitter type resource sites that will enhance and make Twitter really useful. Take time and watch Zebolsen's video on many resources for Twitter (http://mashable.com/2009/05/31/twitter-tutorials-youtube). Having watched it I will probably sign up for Tweetdeck.com to manage and use Twitter more fully. Another exciting thing is Twitterlocal.net. If you live in an area or want to find people who tweet in your area, you can view tweeter's and send them a follow message.

If I can use these sites to use Twitter, I know it will help me feel like I have a better grasp of the technology. I loved that at Tweetdeck.com. A person can add a 12 second video, make links smaller, and send messages to your Facebook followers also. This really helps a person get better use of time and sharing.

A basic Twitter account seems less than easy to learn. It's like the screen just looks at you and expects you to know how to do something. So I'm going to go to a site that is more powerful and creates learning experiences a little easier.

I have begun following 23things kansas and othe librarians, plus friends I have already been signed up to follow. As I get more active, I know that I will find messages from techy type persons helping me grow and also help them grow as we share together. If you want to share with me, just look up . I say share, because I think having a following is a bit inflated, but if we share and communicate together, then we do follow each other. Almost like a mutual admiration society.

I think Twittering could be really fun to push news and information out to local residents for a library. We can also create fun Twitter contacts with those in the community we serve. Libraries are finding that people want experiences and community, well we are situated just right to see this happen. This way libraries will be seen as relevant to those in the community.

Week 6 -Tagging and Social Bookmarking

Lesson 6 on Tagging and Social Bookmarking was fun. I had heard about Delicious, and thought it would be great to put one together. Having the instructions on how to perform the downloads and understand how this tool can really benefit us was significant.

I find though that I still have a large number of sites that were in my "favorites" list. I knew my favorites list was really too long, so now I can have websites stored in a safe place without them cluttering up my really frequented sitees. It will take me some time to finish up the "notes" and 'tags" section of all my sites.

I have created bundled tabs so that I or others can find things under subjects that one might not think about putting together.

I have also added a tab button on my menu bar so that I can easily access the account. I enjoyed being able to send or advise others about sites I value. I still would like to consider "Diigo—Diigo (dee-go). . . since it allows the user to use highlight, annotate, and add sticky notes to sites that you bookmark." and "Citeulike—[which brings a] a hybrid between social bookmarking and a bibliographic manager (like Zotero, EndNote, or Reference Manager)," for scholarly papers (McConnell, Amanda. 2010. 23Things Kansas, Lesson 6).

If you want to send me a wonderful website or resource you value, please just sent it to "podaire" in the send area of that link.

Week 5 - Sign up for my blog on the RSS feed

I have added a easy to use RSS feed signup for my blog through "Feed My Inbox," (Activity #3). If you wish to follow my blog, all you have to do is go to the right hand menu bar and enter your e-mail address into the box just below "Follow My Blog -- RSS Feed." Once type in your e-mail all you have to do is click on the buttong "Submit." This will now send you an e-mail notification that I have added something to my blog.

If you wish to add my blog to your Google Reader or Bloglines you need to go to the bottom of the page and find "Subrscibe to: Posts (Atom). Once you click on this link it will give you an option to click on the link for Google Reader or other reader (like Bloglines).

If you do not have a Google Reader or Blogline account you can watch these videos to learn more about each of their services and which is best for your.

Videos for Bloglines
Bloglines tutorial (8:03 minutes) starts with signing up and continuing basic use features.
Setting up a Bloglines account goes step-by-step through the sign up and use of Bloglines
Subscribing to RSS feeds using Bloglines takes you step-by-step through the process.
RSS Reader how to (6:09 minutes) is another explanation on how to use Bloglines.
Add RSS feeds to Bloglines (1:16 minutes) focuses on just subscribing to RSS feeds.

Videos for Google
Google Reader series: Interface overview, subscribing to feeds, viewing feeds, organizing feeds, using tags, searching, changing settings, bookmarks, offline, on cell phone, etc.
How to create a feed with Google Reader (1:23 minutes)
How to use Google Reader (3 minutes) is a large clear demonstration of subscribing and reading the New York Times.
How to read RSS feeds (9:24 minutes) demonstrates free downloaded software called RSS Bandit and Google Reader.

If you would like to sign up for other RSS feeds that are sent to your e-mail account you can use the free software found on the Internet, "Feed My Inbox." This software allows you to sent up to 5 RSS feed notifications to you email account.

Videos for Feed My Inbox.
Verbal explanation of “Feed My Inbox”
“Feed My Inbox Bookmarklet” demonstrating a bookmarklet which speeds the process of creating RSS feeds with Feed My Inbox. Bookmarklets are buttons you can add to your bookmarks toolbar. Bookmarklets can do really cool things.



These videos links were provided to me by Chris Ripple, when writing for Week 5 on 23 Things Kansas. Thanks Chris for the permission to use your hard work!!

Now the Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Week 5 - New RSS Feed Source Setup

I set up a new RSS feed at Bloglines (http://www.bloglines.com/). It was easy to set up and I loved the suggested sites that I was able to subscribe to. I subsribed to Shifted Librarian, Dilbert Daily Strip (comics), Darynkagan.com (an inspirational website), Publishers Weekly - Best sellers, About Cats, and Extremtech.

I also signed up for GoogleReader because I wanted to learn both sites. I found that GoogleReader was just different. I really enjoyed the list provided by Bloglines more than I did GoogleReader. I may find that GoogleReader may drive me to learn other items on Google apps.

Week 4 - More Flickr work

Director's Office - Don't have overdue items
Originally uploaded by Looky Lue

Posting from Flickr is fun. Still need to figure out how to add more than 1 item or add a video clip from pictures. Would really be nice to be able to do this."
Flickr Slideshow

Whoo! I did it! Took a little thought, time, playing around and just remembering my HTML principles, but that was fun!

Week 4 - Flicker Uploading: Pioneer Memorial Library, Colby, Kansas

Pioneer Memorial Library, Colby, Kansas
Originally uploaded by Looky Lue

The Pioneer Memorial Library in Colby, Kansas serves many patrons through some of the pictures attached to the original photo.

Week 4 -Flickr: Your Photostream

Uploading to my blog via Flickr was easy once I figured out what I needed to do. I did not realize I had to go in and click through the privacy settings besides just selecting the pictures open to the public.

I think using flickr will help make uploading quicker for short blurbs to a blog. A person can make blog comments and additions on the run if pictures and such are on a phone or other handheld device. Looks like it will be fun to experiment with.

Week 3 - comments on Viability of Webcasts

Webcasts are becoming more and more useful for training and lifelong learning. I have attended several in the past months, as well as used Illuminate in a classroom learning environment. If the people operating the webcast and online learning environment are well prepared and able to use the equipment, then the webinar is usually a positive experience. However, buyer-be-ware! We must be prepared or we waste peoples time and sometimes money!

I especially like the ability to go back and view archived webinars. Sometimes a person's schedule does not allow them to be part of a live learning experience. But carving out some time to concentrate on a subject even for a few minutes is great. I find the shorter the instructions--usually the faster one can actually implement the learning. Technology is really about hands-on learning. We have all sat in seminars giving us instructions about some concept or technology, but true learning happens when we are working with the software or equipment.

As we continue to create excellent teaching tools and keep up-to-date learning expeirences, I think that webcasts will become our chosen library for learning for more than 10 years to come.

As Abrams stated, the younger generation natuarally goes to YouTube for learning. This will probably increase not decrease!

Week 3 - Webcast: Twenty Five Technologies to Watch and How

Wow!

If you want to be pushed a bit on technology uses in libraries,
view the SirsiDynix Event Archives,"Twenty Five Technologies to Watch and How,"
by Stephen Abram —VP of Innovation, SirsiDynix.

I definitely need to take his challenge and just take time, have fun and learn about different tech areas. I need to learn more about scrapbooking and tagging, as well as putting together custom searches and microfederation abilities to better provide subject wisdom. It seems that these could help use such old things as "paths" for the modern age.

I am hopeful that over time e-readers will become more reasonable for libraries to provide for patrons. The new IPAD looks really interesting for those of us who might enjoy having a magazine, newspaper or book to use, while also having things at hand via the net. Will this become more the standard, versus the use of mp3's, ipods and phones?

Cloud software seems to be the next stage for libraries if we can keep our computers safe from attacks. We will have to learn this so we can help patrons be able to use the software. The expansion however, will help those with the information gap be able to compete more fully.

Some of what Abrams talks about integrating into libraries makes me understand that we really need to be moving to hiring and training more librarians who are tech able and savvy. Discussing such things as local dominance through geocoding was a bit father ahead than our library is ready for. It will take time to assimilate all this information.

I'd love to learn how to bring our websites to personal sites, Facebook pages, etc. I do think this is very important for the social network. It would not just be pushing information to them via a message sent, but a presence.

If you have not seen this web cast, please watch it at: http://www.sirsidynixinstitute.com/archive.php

This site also provides a down loadable copy of his PowerPoint presentation he used.

In retrospect however, don't let him overpower you, his presentation was done through a simple PowerPoint presentation and audio presence. While he talked about technologies, I did find it interesting however, that he did not use a more techno-savvy way to share his information through maybe a video conference or recording. Maybe he's still learning too!

Week 2 - thoughts about online communities and our library use of them

Our library has a basic blogg. So what I learn here, I can add or improve on ours. Will they want to become facebook fanatics for the library. I hope we become better at communicating through facebook and other ways. It will just take time to set up, and then keep it not only updated but fun so others will visit.

Week 2 - addition: Linkedin

Signing up for linkedin will be a new experience. I'd like to connect with more library collegues so that we can share without boring others on my facebook account.

I need to update my profile and decide what to share with others in the library world.

This will take some time and thought however.

See you on facebook and linkedin!

Week 2 - Updating Facebook

Tonight I had the great pleasure to update all my security settings. I also had really appreciated learning how to make groups or lists of my facebook. I will enjoy being able more fully create special communication to chosen groups.

I am also going to learn and create pages and share things with select ones.

These may seem simple to some, but the added help has been rally great!

Week 1 - more blogging - Getting the right intonation

In case I did not introduce myself enough in our first blog, I want to let you all know that when you check into this blog, that you need to get the right intonation and attitude. For years I have used this phrase when expressing "my" opinion. So when you think or say the title of my blog, get a bit of attitude. Like millions in the world, I have always thought it would be great to write a book. However, books should be more than just opinions expressed, they really should have something useful to add to the world's conversation.

I'd love to share a song that I think will be very real to us as the fog clears. However, I have not found a way to place it on this blog yet. So as I learn, maybe I'll be able to share the song with you.

Week 1 - other comments

Whew! This is soooo much easier than WP! I feel like I've come home. Now all I have to do is find out what else I'm to do for the rest of the weeks work.

“Week 1: Blogging”

This Blog has my name in it. I am participating in 23 things Kansas so that I can learn and grow in technology. I am looking forward to a journey with many others. Together we will become better to serve others.

Note: you may have noted that I had a blog in WordPress, but found that I really wanted one in Blogger.

Happy Learning fellow traveler!