ResearchBuzz

Learning about RSS feed by visiting blogs written by librarians was certainly eye-opening. I didn't know there were so many chatty librarians out there! I have read some of them before, of course. I've loved Annoyed Librarian since I first read it a few years ago. She seems to be annoyed by all the same things that annoy ME and it's always great to read someone you agree with. So I subscribed to Annoyed Librarian and another LJ blog called In the bookroom about new books, award books, etc. Useful, but not too exciting.

My favorite so far is Research Buzz:

ResearchBuzz is designed to cover the world of Internet research. To that end this site provides almost daily updates on search engines, new data managing software, browser technology, large compendiums of information, Web directories — whatever. If in doubt, the final question is, “Would a reference librarian find it useful?” If the answer’s yes, in it goes!In the last few years an effort has been made to build tools relevant to researchers and make them available on this site.

I found some great new links browsing this blog. I will definitely keep reading it.

School's Out! Merry Christmas!

Fulton Schools let out at one o'clock this afternoon and the library was full by 1:20. Boys and girls were sitting on each other's laps at the tables, with social groups gathered around. No caroling - but cherry enough with giggling and squeals. All twelve internet computers were filled, of course, with a waiting list as long as Santa's. It was busy and hectic and once again we were thinking how nice it would be to have special teen space where the kids could cut loose without scaring off the older patrons.

It has quieted down, now, and I expect it will be a little quieter than usual in the late afternoons for the next week or two. When school is out the busy times are more evenly spaced throughout the day.

Lulu.com

I had fun exploring all the Web 2 Award winners. There are some great sites out there! Several of them I plan to go back and spend more time exploring.

I picked Lulu.com to blog about because it has been my favorite for a long time. I LOVE lulu. This site allows anybody with a modicum of technical know-how to become a published author at absolutely NO cost. If you have ever tried to publish a family history, a cook book, or a collection of poems, you know how totally amazing that is. Traditional self-publishers or printers have always demanded loads of money up front and required a commitment for a print-run of hundreds of copies.

Lulu.com is a print on demand publisher. Your book is published and made available for sale online for free. You don't have to buy a single copy if you don't want to. Pretty amazing.

Yes, I can see Lulu being used in a library setting. In fact, I already have! In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Callaway County Public Library in 2007, we sponsored a writing contest. The winners were collected in an anthology called "Callaway: 100 Years" and the book was published on Lulu.com. I priced it at the moderate printing cost: $8.96, so the winners were able to order copies to give to family and friends.

Google Docs

I've used Google Docs before as an easy way to access my work as I move between computers. The document is always available at any library workstation or even from home. It was a lifesaver when Callaway didn't have access to the psdesk. Now I use it at home and for backup storage.

I've also used Google Docs to collaborate with others on the board of the Missouri State Genealogical Association and with my local writer's group. The genealogy board uses a google spreadsheet to keep track of work that is passed from member to member thoughout the state. My writing group uses Google docs for critiquing.

But I've never even thought about posting to my blog from Google Docs! So this is something new and I will try to do it.

Online Learning at MIT

This is the second section of our DBRL training. I just watched a slide show all about inserting an image in a blog. Although I have done this before - I blundered into it using an entirely different method than than the one Brandy described. So, I did learn something new and I will attempt to duplicate Brandy's lesson.

Since Online learning is our theme, I want to post a link and a picture from one of my favorite online learning sites: Online learning at MIT OpenCourseWare. The site offers free lecture notes, exams, and videos from virtually all MIT courses. There is no fee and no required registration. I can drop by the site any time, choose what I want to learn, and stop whenever I decide. There are no credits offered, of course, but what you learn here will serve you well on a physical campus or on the job.

Waiting for the next assignment

I'm waiting for the next assignment in our NetTrek training. Meanwhile, I thought I would post a photo I took of our library recently. The colorful leaves on the trees are all gone now, but the library is still beautiful. It's also one of the busiest places in town.

7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners

1. Begin with an end in mind. In learning a new skill , it does help tremendously to have a project you need to do and a date when it must be finished. It's very difficult for me to set the "end" artificially. At one point I wanted to learn how to use Excel. I tried to tell myself I would learn how to use Excel and make up a sample spreadsheet by certain date. It didn't happen. But later I had a real Excel project with a real deadline. I learned enough about the program to do the the project. With that beginning I was able to learn more.

2. Accept responsibility for your own learning. Of course.

3. View problems as challenges. Yes! Nothing is duller than a quiet day just like yesterday!

4. Have confidence in yourself as a competent learner. There have been times when I've been a little too confident.

5. Create your own learning toolbox. Not sure what this means...guess I better read the 7 habits again....

6. Use technology to your advantage. I think I do this in many ways.

7. Teach/Mentor others. Here at CCPL we all help each other learn every day.

71/2. Play! Microsoft didn't put a solitaire game in with every computer by accident. The easiest way to learn to use a mouse is to play cards. Many other tasks get easier when you let yourself play.

Daniel Boone Regional Library Training

This blog is part of a training program at Daniel Boone Regional Library. We're learning all about Web 2. It seems the administration wants staff members to be more familiar with wikis, social networking, blogging, and other interactive web applications. If we know more, we will be able to help patrons more.

Makes sense. I'm willing to learn new skills in any way possible. Much of it is already familiar to me, but not everything. I already have a personal blog and I use facebook, twitter, linkedin, goodreads...... Okay - so I've been computer junky ever since they lugged that first machine into the library in 1979.

But technology changes so quickly. There is something new to learn every day, and I haven't been able to keep up with half of it. This training program is very much welcome.