Library Musings

After having some LM-Net members evaluate the blog, I've decided to move it to EduBlogs where it will be more accessible for school systems.

The new URL is http://librarymusings.edublog.org. Oops! Just got a comment that the URL didn't work. Try this URL instead: http://librarymusings.edublogs.org. (Those tricky s letters always get me.)

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Later, I hope to transfer the archive of posts from here to EduBlogs.

Thanks for following me here. I hope you'll also come visit at EduBlogs!

Current Mood: hungry

One of the entries I just posted disappeared into thin air. It was about the advantages of having a special ed class in the library. I'll have to re-post it later. Sigh.

Current Location: Home
Current Mood: annoyed

I've been displaying our new books since the start of the year, but interest in them has waned. Probably too many books on display at one time.

I'm going to switch now to my Stephenie Meyers display. I've got the poster so that part is ready. I think I'll sprinkle a few more vampire books in to fill out the display space. Besides being a good preview to the upcoming movie I think it makes a good lead-in to Halloween. I'll probably update it before Halloween though to offer more horror. Stephenie's books are not actually all that scary.

On the other hand, Halloween displays don't seem to generate much (if any) interest here, so I may do something completely different like the special display for guys that I have planned. As a life-long tom-boy the whole idea of this display still irks me, but I hope it will be effective in encouraging guys to read. I mean, they're definitely not going to read girly books, are they?

I wish I had more talent in designing displays, but it's never been a strong point. Instead, I think I need to read more of the books so that I can answer that eternal question, "What is this one about?".

I've signed up for the YALSA class on The Right Book for The Right Teen at the Right Time. (Still haven't gotten any info on where to go to access the class, and it starts October 6th, so I'm worried.)

Well, I'm far off my original subject now, so I'll end this entry here.

Current Location: Home
Current Mood: still achy

I had a good professional accomplishment that wasn't even planned. There was a "dead" space on a counter as you enter the library, so I put two slanted (magazine) shelves back to back there and started displaying "coffee table" books there just because the pictures were pretty. I noticed the boys taking an interest in one on cars, so I shifted over to all photo books on boy interests--cars, motorcycles, hunting, etc. And, lo and behold, I had some boys who have NEVER checked out a library book ask to check these out. Happy Dance!!

Current Mood: cheerful

I may be last on earth to know: go to http://icanhascheezburger.com/. Is fun, fun, funny! kthnx. Also, http://ihasahotdog.com/. go, plskthnx. Will help you connumi--comunik--talk wif student hoomins.

Also, see LiveJournal community http://community.livejournal.com/nomnomicons/ for lots of pretty icons (not lolcats related; just nonnom). Some celtic, some artsy, lots pretty.

We now return you to proper grammar and spelling. Have a nice day, and be safe out there.

I'm planning a full-day technology "conference" for my faculty on a date-to-be-determined. ( skip this link if you don't want to hear me whine and moan about stuff )

My focus will be mostly on Web 2.0 concepts. This will be very new to 99% if not all of our faculty.

The great thing about the Web 2.0 theme is that our county has finally developed a more sophisticated means of filtering so that we can access some Web 2.0 materials from school.
My rough list of workshop titles includes:

Get Connected--Listservs for Teachers

Wikis--No, it's not a candle shop; and no, it's not just Wikipedia (Get professional, will you?)

Catch up to the students--Using the OPAC & Searching our Databases

Got Grad School? Our databases can help!

Got a Sub? Or a Student in ISS? Quick and Easy Lesson Plans and Worksheets from the Internet

It’s Not as Scary as it Sounds – Windows VISTA and Office 2007

Feeling Lost? Navigating the GHS Library Web Site (and why you’d want to)

TeacherTube--Learn, share, and teach like it's 2009

Blogging: Share your ideas online

Social Networks: The land professionals fear to tread

I'm going to ask another of our high school librarians if she could join us on that day to lead the workshops on the OPAC, databases, and/or lesson plans & worksheets from the Internet, or Windows Vista/Office 2007. And our ITRT will be there to take those who are interested on a GPS expedition.

I think that a lot of these workshops can be designed so that I can segue from one to the next. For instance, I can upload a video to TeacherTube that serves as an intro to how the site works (or use one that's already there); take them to a second video that is well known on the Tube; and conclude with my own video which introduces the concept of the next workshop.

In general, I totally realize (to the max, man) that they aren't all going to dash out and start using Web 2.0 tools at the end of the day, but I want to at least give them a taste of it. Much like a particular style of music, sometimes you have to force yourself to experience something a few times before you develop a liking for it.

Current Mood: thoughtful

With the exception of a couple of small errors, my library website is now updated. It's still not where I'd like it to be (nothing ever is, is it?) but you can see the direction I'm headed now. I am very proud of the Reference Desk page. I will keep adding links to it, of course, but in terms of appearance and the ways it can be used I'm totally happy with it.

http://tazewell.k12.va.us/schools/ghs/library/

Current Mood: okay

I will share the URL for my website soon, but not yet. For now I've just got some rugly bare bones pages up to hold my place until I get the re-design done. I'm thinking I'll have the real thing up by the end of this week or beginning of next week.

Oh, what the heck--If you want to see how bad it looks right now, go ahead to http://tazewell.k12.va.us/schools/ghs/library/library.html. You'll be able to get a "before-and-after" picture of it that way.

Current Mood: sick

As I work on an update to my library web site, there are a few valuable lessons I've learned. I thought I'd share them with you here. ( more )

Current Mood: tired

I enjoy reading several books at the same time, both for the variety, and because of the interesting synchronicity you often find when reading that way. ( read more here )

Current Location: Home, watching news coverage of Gustav
Current Mood: rejuvenated