Make a mental note: do NOT try to drive into a town with limited road access when there is a Homecoming Parade planned. You can't get there from here! So since the town where I'm doing the practicum basically closed town for the parade, it was a bit of a hike to put in hours today once I finally located a place to stash my car -- I did ask the homeowner if it was ok if I parked in front of his house. Fortuitously he said yes. My 15 minute drive took about 1 1/2 hours. (*sigh*; ommmmmm!)
The morning was quiet and uneventful in the library. Only a few requests for holds. Everyone was at the parade and not at the library...and they couldn't have gotten to the library if they'd wanted to except on foot, anyway.
The afternoon was delightfully busy with reference questions: about science fair kinds of presentations about weather and fruit and how it reacts to different kinds of packaging; a delightful lady whose physician told her to get a dvd on Pilates so she can straighten out her back (after 40 years of nursing - yikes!). A gentleman was in from Texas doing genealogical research on a local cemetary so the staff genealogy/local history expert was able to supply all sorts of information for him. He said thank-you, and left. Then he came back again. This scenario repeated itself several times. Toward the end of the day, we all just smiled at each other as he returned -- again. Oh, and he left happy with the information. A lady was interested in information about the Plainfield, IL tornado in 1990 but was not satisfied with the info/pictures online. This library had what she wanted but the age of the papers (original from 1990) also did not provide adequate pictures. Another lady was interested in restaurant tipping etiquette. Diverse questions.
A project to help the local history area of the library was the main thrust of my day. The high school yearbooks are being indexed and so an Access program was created that allows there to be lists of each person's name along with the year of the annual they appear in and the page number. I lost track after about 550 entries today. It was fun. I actually know some of the people in the 50+ year old yearbooks.... scary, huh! Isn't it amazing how ridiculous we looked between the ages of 8 and 18 at that time?!? Especially 50 years ago...except most of you don't remember that time frame. I do.
Although I didn't locate any earthshatteringly interesting web sites today, it was a fun day. And beyond that, the library was celebrating Banned Books Week, always one of my favorite weeks of the year!!!! I read banned books! I hope you do, too.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
A day of sights ...
This past Saturday's practicum time brought searches for interesting ways to play around with digital photographs. Mazaika.com (a web page), ImageMagick (a way to create, edit and compose photos), Andreamosaics (software), Flickr Hacks (about sharing photos online), and Gimp 2 for Photographers, an open source tool for image editing all presented intriguing possibilities. Web-based Pictobrowser.com allows sharing of photos on websites and blogs.
Prowling about brought other interesting thoughts:
Other interesting links for fall gardening came from http://www.infototoday.com/
www.bhg.com/bhg/gardening
http://www.gardendesigner.com/
http://www.backyardgardener.com/
www.doityourself.com/scat/planningagarden
There are several other links.
Patron requests brought the usual kinds of requests such as Adventures of Huckleberry Finn -- on tape, and Consumer Reports recommendations for cars. It's surprising how many Reference questions sneak by without seeming like Reference questions. A tally of Reference questions is maintained at this library, and I noticed we were all adding tally hash-marks to the record.
Oh, and the printer was working correctly. :}
Prowling about brought other interesting thoughts:
Other interesting links for fall gardening came from http://www.infototoday.com/
www.bhg.com/bhg/gardening
http://www.gardendesigner.com/
http://www.backyardgardener.com/
www.doityourself.com/scat/planningagarden
There are several other links.
Patron requests brought the usual kinds of requests such as Adventures of Huckleberry Finn -- on tape, and Consumer Reports recommendations for cars. It's surprising how many Reference questions sneak by without seeming like Reference questions. A tally of Reference questions is maintained at this library, and I noticed we were all adding tally hash-marks to the record.
Oh, and the printer was working correctly. :}
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Small but...
Small but impressive describes a library located in the country that I visited over the weekend. My first impressions are that it is bright and airy, items and sections are well located, inviting and neat/tidy and their books are attractive and enjoy a newness about them that invites a patron to pull them off shelf to take a look. It is easy to read clear spine labels and identify reading levels and locate various item types. Most impressive are the new books collection just inside the front door. It's a huge collection and includes titles from all areas. The display cases just inside the front door are full of interesting titles and intriguing ideas for reading choices. Football choices and Elvis were among displayed titles that day.
There is also an impressive and substantial Reference section that I wouldn't have expected in a library this size; and standing beside Reference is a generous Genealogy/Local History section that includes title sources of particular local interest. The Vertical File inclusions (Libraries still have vertical files??? Yes, they do!) are a significant representation of local interests and needs. I haven't seen a Vertical File collection that large or interestingly populated for a long time, and apparently it is a frequently used portion of the library.
The community in which this library resides is not large, and a number of the "downtown" stores are regrettably no longer in use and instead are sadly boarded up. In some ways it would seem that this town is forlorn and in peril of losing its way. The library, however, demonstrates that this is likely not so. There apparently is a vibrant interest in books, ideas and learning. As the library is located not too far from a high school, students would easily find their way to the library. Although no one said so, it wouldn't be surprising if after school hours find kids heading to the library. The Saturday middle of the morning I was there, there were kids already on the computers in the library. And an adult.
Staff members, clearly pleased with their library, were ready to be of help and share what they have. Oh, and the numerous skylights brought the streaming morning sun in and made the library a particular cheery and inviting place to be -- including for the mom and her two kids who came in to select books from an excellent, attractive young readers collection. And the staff knew their names.
Though small, this library had the feel of a much grander-sized library. Apparently the beneficiary of those with a strong interest in libraries and the written word, this library is a powerful small-town presence and a place that reflects a keen interest in education and providing for its community members. I've been there before and I'll happily go there again.
There is also an impressive and substantial Reference section that I wouldn't have expected in a library this size; and standing beside Reference is a generous Genealogy/Local History section that includes title sources of particular local interest. The Vertical File inclusions (Libraries still have vertical files??? Yes, they do!) are a significant representation of local interests and needs. I haven't seen a Vertical File collection that large or interestingly populated for a long time, and apparently it is a frequently used portion of the library.
The community in which this library resides is not large, and a number of the "downtown" stores are regrettably no longer in use and instead are sadly boarded up. In some ways it would seem that this town is forlorn and in peril of losing its way. The library, however, demonstrates that this is likely not so. There apparently is a vibrant interest in books, ideas and learning. As the library is located not too far from a high school, students would easily find their way to the library. Although no one said so, it wouldn't be surprising if after school hours find kids heading to the library. The Saturday middle of the morning I was there, there were kids already on the computers in the library. And an adult.
Staff members, clearly pleased with their library, were ready to be of help and share what they have. Oh, and the numerous skylights brought the streaming morning sun in and made the library a particular cheery and inviting place to be -- including for the mom and her two kids who came in to select books from an excellent, attractive young readers collection. And the staff knew their names.
Though small, this library had the feel of a much grander-sized library. Apparently the beneficiary of those with a strong interest in libraries and the written word, this library is a powerful small-town presence and a place that reflects a keen interest in education and providing for its community members. I've been there before and I'll happily go there again.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Interesting to read
Here are a couple of websites that are interesting reads.
http://answerboards.wetpaint.com/page/Slam+the+Boards%21
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/lettertoreaders.html
Just thought I'd pass 'em along. They weren't a part of the Practicum. Just interesting items I found.
http://answerboards.wetpaint.com/page/Slam+the+Boards%21
http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/lettertoreaders.html
Just thought I'd pass 'em along. They weren't a part of the Practicum. Just interesting items I found.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Library Practicum Day 1
Seeing and participating in how other libraries perform daily reference duties is fun, interesting and usually full of diversity and change -- all things I'm accustomed to as I work in a smaller public library. Good, new ideas are easy to come by in a new setting as activities are seen through fresh and unhabituated eyes. Troubleshooting an obstreperous printer that had only just a couple of days before undergone an upgrade as a part of the system upgrade; learning a new web page location to contribute to a "good reads" book review list; helping a patron new to the rigors of creating an Excel spreadsheet to build confidence and skills; locating a legal form in a copyable format for a patron; placing patron holds on SILK; discussing the content of a skit concerning appropriate patron service: these were among the experiences today. Although contained within the same department, it's possible to wear many hats and change them rapidly in a larger (than what I'm accustomed to) setting.
While becoming familiar with some of the ready reference kinds of handy materials, I found that there are Home Schooling Resources available and close at hand. And, the customary sorts of items were there too, including Standard & Poor's Outlook, Morningstar and ValueLine, Consumer Reports, and some unanticipated sources like Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie information.
Several patrons came to the Reference Desk asking for particular titles, or they hoped they had the correct title/author information. Sometimes they did; sometimes not. One young man asked for information about Physics. Upon further questioning and shelf searching, it turned out that he really needed weights and measures information which was readily available and handy for use. A conversation began about Kevin Trudeau initiated from a patron query. Regular staff members attended to teaching a beginning Excel class, creating a listing of appropriate benchmarks for determining whether jobs have been appropriately completed for job evaluation...and other needed issues
It was a busy day and a day of diversity. It was a good way to start this practicum.
While becoming familiar with some of the ready reference kinds of handy materials, I found that there are Home Schooling Resources available and close at hand. And, the customary sorts of items were there too, including Standard & Poor's Outlook, Morningstar and ValueLine, Consumer Reports, and some unanticipated sources like Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie information.
Several patrons came to the Reference Desk asking for particular titles, or they hoped they had the correct title/author information. Sometimes they did; sometimes not. One young man asked for information about Physics. Upon further questioning and shelf searching, it turned out that he really needed weights and measures information which was readily available and handy for use. A conversation began about Kevin Trudeau initiated from a patron query. Regular staff members attended to teaching a beginning Excel class, creating a listing of appropriate benchmarks for determining whether jobs have been appropriately completed for job evaluation...and other needed issues
It was a busy day and a day of diversity. It was a good way to start this practicum.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Today
At the moment I'm reading several articles about management and am finding them interesting because while attributes may belong in the venue of those who manage, they seem to fall equally in the realm of all library worker-bees. They may actually be in the realm of management but they are the realm of all involved in the future of libraries. A common goal seems desirable: patrons and their information access.
I'm also reading articles on reference and, as the saying goes, "quo vadis?" Hard to tell some days. The library element is changing so fast. A jack of all trades and a Master as well seems to define how librarians need to be thinking and focusing energies.
The raised question of where will we be in 10 years allows for great leaps of ideas but the truth of the matter is we will probably be in approximately the same situation but with more miniaturized and instantaneous gratification kinds of electronic devices. I'd like to think patrons will become weary of rapidly changing technology and want to move forward to personal contact and the human touch. A survey conducted last year suggested that equestrians will seek out people for information rather than books. Who best to provide great information than a librarian who will likely have more fluid information access. It'll be fascinating to watch.
I'm also reading articles on reference and, as the saying goes, "quo vadis?" Hard to tell some days. The library element is changing so fast. A jack of all trades and a Master as well seems to define how librarians need to be thinking and focusing energies.
The raised question of where will we be in 10 years allows for great leaps of ideas but the truth of the matter is we will probably be in approximately the same situation but with more miniaturized and instantaneous gratification kinds of electronic devices. I'd like to think patrons will become weary of rapidly changing technology and want to move forward to personal contact and the human touch. A survey conducted last year suggested that equestrians will seek out people for information rather than books. Who best to provide great information than a librarian who will likely have more fluid information access. It'll be fascinating to watch.
First day of this blog.
Welcome to my blog. I hope to post interesting and useful additions and I hope to add often. So, let's have a great time.
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