Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Where is the Card Catalog?
Being tech savvy in libraries. What does that really mean anyway? Is it being knowledgeable about computers to help patrons create resumes? Is it knowing how to create a MARC Record or even read one for that matter? Is it creating blogs in order to communicate with other libraries and librarians?
The most common question I get in the Children's room from parents is "Where is your card catalog?" To which I respond, "Our computer catalog is right here."
I think being tech savvy really just means staying hip with the young ones and trying to keep ahead of them in order to continue to captivate their interests.
I think it is important that we push ourselves to try new things as this class has. I had never created a podcast, website, brochure, or discovered so many different ways to do one thing before this class. There are so many steps and realms I had never explored. So my goal for 2011 is to do 43 new things and to be sure to share them with everyone through web 2.0 and eventually in library 2.0.
Thank you Professor Austin for the opportunities and experiences you exposed me to.
The most common question I get in the Children's room from parents is "Where is your card catalog?" To which I respond, "Our computer catalog is right here."
I think being tech savvy really just means staying hip with the young ones and trying to keep ahead of them in order to continue to captivate their interests.
I think it is important that we push ourselves to try new things as this class has. I had never created a podcast, website, brochure, or discovered so many different ways to do one thing before this class. There are so many steps and realms I had never explored. So my goal for 2011 is to do 43 new things and to be sure to share them with everyone through web 2.0 and eventually in library 2.0.
Thank you Professor Austin for the opportunities and experiences you exposed me to.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Communications (23 +1) - Overdrive Study
Overdrive is a new way to download audiobooks and e-books. Many people at the library are now using it and are very happy that there is something new and innovative out there. A common response to Overdrive is "I had no idea the library was okay with digital books". I think that many patrons think librarians only feel that books should be in print and librarians should pretty much just live in caves.
I also discovered that Alachua County has a large quantity of e-books, audiobooks, music, and even DVDs on their Overdrive. All Florida residents are able to withhold an Alachua County e-card to check out all digital materials. Give it a try if you haven't already. You may find that you will even become addicted!
So, I decided to observe and note how many patrons within the course of a day were aware that our library had a digital library. I decided to be fair and stay within the children's area and ask parents rather than kids. Within the course of an entire day and asking about ten parents I found that none of them knew. A handful of parents knew about our Playaways which are new Mp3 players that allow patrons to listen to audio books through a handheld Mp3 player. The fact that they knew this was a given since we have had the Playaways for almost a year.
Unfortunately, none of the parents I asked knew about our digital library even with the advertising through fliers, bookmarks, and website. On the other hand, people were very surprised and excited that the library was so innovative. One patron even mentioned that she was reluctant to tell me that she had a digital reader because she thought the library would be offended!
I decided to use my activity in this case for my 23 things + 1 New thing:
The patron and I completed the following steps in a matter of 10 minutes (as long as you are a Florida resident you can do this for free):
1. Go To: Alachua County Library System
2. Apply for an e-card
3. You will receive your e-card number in your personal email account.
4. Once you have retrieved your e-card number - Go To: Overdrive
5. You will need to download Overdrive to your computer.
6. Proceed to browse Overdrive and checkout digital materials for FREE!
When I cannot find books on my library's Overdrive, I cross check materials with Alachua County's Library and I also refer patrons to it as well. The patron in this case was very happy and excited about the idea of free and new materials.
So, little by little we will inform and instruct our patrons of how innovative and cool the library is and that as librarians we really do not live in caves but rather try to live on the edge of new technology.
I also discovered that Alachua County has a large quantity of e-books, audiobooks, music, and even DVDs on their Overdrive. All Florida residents are able to withhold an Alachua County e-card to check out all digital materials. Give it a try if you haven't already. You may find that you will even become addicted!
So, I decided to observe and note how many patrons within the course of a day were aware that our library had a digital library. I decided to be fair and stay within the children's area and ask parents rather than kids. Within the course of an entire day and asking about ten parents I found that none of them knew. A handful of parents knew about our Playaways which are new Mp3 players that allow patrons to listen to audio books through a handheld Mp3 player. The fact that they knew this was a given since we have had the Playaways for almost a year.
Unfortunately, none of the parents I asked knew about our digital library even with the advertising through fliers, bookmarks, and website. On the other hand, people were very surprised and excited that the library was so innovative. One patron even mentioned that she was reluctant to tell me that she had a digital reader because she thought the library would be offended!
I decided to use my activity in this case for my 23 things + 1 New thing:
The patron and I completed the following steps in a matter of 10 minutes (as long as you are a Florida resident you can do this for free):
1. Go To: Alachua County Library System
2. Apply for an e-card
3. You will receive your e-card number in your personal email account.
4. Once you have retrieved your e-card number - Go To: Overdrive
5. You will need to download Overdrive to your computer.
6. Proceed to browse Overdrive and checkout digital materials for FREE!
When I cannot find books on my library's Overdrive, I cross check materials with Alachua County's Library and I also refer patrons to it as well. The patron in this case was very happy and excited about the idea of free and new materials.
So, little by little we will inform and instruct our patrons of how innovative and cool the library is and that as librarians we really do not live in caves but rather try to live on the edge of new technology.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
23 Things
My favorite things along this 23 things journey were the discovery of classifications and awards of web 2.0 technologies. It feels like there is a purpose and that there is some sort of validation or recognition for what's out there. There is a whole new wave of technologies and we are sometimes blind as to what is available.
As librarians I think we limit ourselves as to what we can use in the field and it is great to have an exercise like 23 things to practice and learn what are possibilities are. Thank you 23 things! I look forward to the next discovery program!
As librarians I think we limit ourselves as to what we can use in the field and it is great to have an exercise like 23 things to practice and learn what are possibilities are. Thank you 23 things! I look forward to the next discovery program!
BlackBoard Part II
After playing around with Blackboard and finding all of its different uses for new web 2.0 technologies, I decided to find more information about it. I found that Blackboard had been around for awhile and as Karplus explains it is one of the most used management systems in academia.
In fact, she states that Blackboard has been around since 1997 and was intended for students to check grades, assignments, discuss and eventually incorporate things like RSS feeds, podcasts, and blogs. Blackboard has become a great tool for students on campus but most importantly for distance learning students. Today students are able to attend classes through Elluminate on Blackboard.
I can hardly wait to see what becomes of Blackboard in ten years or who and what may challenge Blackboard in ten years...
Karplus, S. S. Integrating Academic Library Resources and Learning Management Systems: The Library Blackboard Site. Education Libraries v. 29 no. 1 (Summer 2006) p. 5-11
In fact, she states that Blackboard has been around since 1997 and was intended for students to check grades, assignments, discuss and eventually incorporate things like RSS feeds, podcasts, and blogs. Blackboard has become a great tool for students on campus but most importantly for distance learning students. Today students are able to attend classes through Elluminate on Blackboard.
I can hardly wait to see what becomes of Blackboard in ten years or who and what may challenge Blackboard in ten years...
Karplus, S. S. Integrating Academic Library Resources and Learning Management Systems: The Library Blackboard Site. Education Libraries v. 29 no. 1 (Summer 2006) p. 5-11
Blackboard
Blackboard is a very interesting topic. This semester has really changed and as I was just getting used to the old version they changed it on us again. I do like the current version better however. I like the fact that you can open different windows and tabs from a master control panel. I also like the option of just being able to focus on the important things such as email, blackboard, and especially the addition of the Oasis tab on the "My Newsfeed" panel.
Furthermore, after I became acquainted with the new version of Blackboard I proceeded to play around with it and see what I could find and learn. I discovered that there are games, all different kinds of apps for iTunes and more, and I even personalized my page! Who knew there was so much to discover on Blackboard.
After taking this course it made me realize just how much I didn't pay attention to detail. I usually just logged into Blackboard to do my course work and submit my assignments, but now I have a better understanding for technologies and web 2.0. Blackboard itself can become a tutor to show students how we can use all different kinds of technologies in useful ways and fun ways as well.
Furthermore, after I became acquainted with the new version of Blackboard I proceeded to play around with it and see what I could find and learn. I discovered that there are games, all different kinds of apps for iTunes and more, and I even personalized my page! Who knew there was so much to discover on Blackboard.
After taking this course it made me realize just how much I didn't pay attention to detail. I usually just logged into Blackboard to do my course work and submit my assignments, but now I have a better understanding for technologies and web 2.0. Blackboard itself can become a tutor to show students how we can use all different kinds of technologies in useful ways and fun ways as well.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Digital Readers
Previously I discussed the discovery of Overdrive. Originally I was downloading e-books and audio books straight to my computer or my iPod. Now, I have discovered the digital readers! And yes there are more than 2 or 3.
The Amazon Kindle, being one of the most important ones is unfortunately not compatible with libraries. The Barnes & Nobles Nook is compatible with libraries as well as the Borders Kobo. The Sony e-reader was also a very popular e-reader being one of the first to come out and it too is compatible with libraries.
The great thing about all the digital readers regardless if they are compatible with libraries or not is that they are certainly making reading a thing of the future. People are rediscovering their love for reading and some are discovering it.
The Amazon Kindle, being one of the most important ones is unfortunately not compatible with libraries. The Barnes & Nobles Nook is compatible with libraries as well as the Borders Kobo. The Sony e-reader was also a very popular e-reader being one of the first to come out and it too is compatible with libraries.
The great thing about all the digital readers regardless if they are compatible with libraries or not is that they are certainly making reading a thing of the future. People are rediscovering their love for reading and some are discovering it.
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