A Day in the Life of the Internet

Check out this infographic from Mashable to get a feel for how much 'stuff' happens in just one day on the Internet!

The Joy of Books

I love ebooks and audiobooks these days. It's just so much easier to not have to carry around a bunch of heavy books. However, as this video shows... there really is nothing like a REAL book. Enjoy!

Museums-A-Minute - A Stellar LibGuide

Check out this great LibGuide: Museums-A-Minute. Okay, now here's the back story:

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries, within the Pennsylvania Department of Education has made it possible for many libraries thoughout the state to have access to LibGuides. Penny Talbert, Executive Director of the Ephrata Public Library, received training from the state to teach us here in our Library System how to use LibGuides. I assisted her with her training back in December and LOVE the product. I've viewed many of them over the last few years (Buffy Hamilton is a champion of them), but had never had the opportunity to build my own.

I'm playing with one of my own right now, but it's not ready for public consumption. However, Keith Greenawalt, Public Services Manager at Ephrata Public Library has created a BEAUTIFUL LibGuide called Museums-A-Minute for a program he will be doing in March. It is a collection of museums and historic sites that are within 2 hours of Ephrata. He includes a brief description and contact information for each museum. Plus, they are broken into categories only a librarian could design so beautifully. He also includes information on each of the museum pass partners in our Library System.

Thank you Keith for putting together this wonderful resource that will benefit many in our county and beyond! Plus, Keith has the BEST profile pic ever... as I said in my comment on the site:

"I have to say your profile pic is priceless. At first I was like, why is Abe his face and then there you are at the bottom with the best angle and expression... just made me laugh and feel joy about history at the same time. That's pretty phenomenal since I don't click well with history! Well done!"

Now that should make you want to take a look if nothing else...

A Nice Boost from the Elizabethtown Public Library Staff

Moments ago we had a nice surprise here in my office. It has been a rough time lately as our office undergoes a huge change of moving our office from two suites to one to cut costs. You can read about it here. You can see pictures of the fun on facebook. My office walls were torn down and I'm temporarily using the future training room/small conference room to work. It's really not so bad, but I'll be happy when I'm in permanent digs again and the noise and smells subside. Heck, I have a job and a nice place to work, so I'm not going to complain.

The 14 member libraries we serve have been very understanding and supportive during this upheaval. Today, staff from the Elizabethtown Public Library showed up and sang Christmas Carols in our hallways. This random act of kindness and support meant a lot to me today. THANK YOU!!

Now, here's a bit of that Christmas cheer shared with us for all of you in case you too are in times of upheaval.

Download Kindle Format in OverDrive

Here's a great video from the Orange County Library System in Florida on how to download Kindle format eBooks in OverDrive...

There's an Online Learning Party Happening This Week!

There is an amazing online conference happening this week. Check out the Library 2.011 Worldwide Virtual Conference from November 2 - 4, 2011. It's going to be held around the clock online, in multiple time zones and it's FREE! There are 160+ sessions. Be sure to check it out on the main site and see if any of the presentations are for you.

Circulating Nooks at Sacramento Public Library

Are you a library thinking about circulating Nooks? Then you have to check out the final report from the Sacrament Public Library's e-Reader Project. They did a wonderful assessment that surveyed patrons and staff before, during and after the project.

Board Game Representation of using eBooks on OverDrive

Thanks to Craig Haggit, Adult Services Librarian at the Lancaster Public Library for sharing this Prezi presentation with me.

Lisa Bunker, a librarian at Pima County Public Library in Tucson AZ, posted this creative Prezi Presentation, Dowloading Library eBooks Using OverDrive, using a board game representation of the process. The drawing shows there are many steps involved, but instead of feeling overwhelmed by it all, the child within feels challenged to have fun and win the game! Great stuff.

One note: in our OverDrive interface, we do not offer a 21-day loan period; just 14-day or 7-day. Other than that, everything in this presentation is true for us. Also, for those of you with access to our Intranet, LILLY, I posted this to the OverDrive page under the OverDrive Training heading.

Baker's Dozen #8: Digital Books on Prezi

Train Your Staff and Patrons with My PC Series

Microsoft has launched a new resource called My PC Series. I attended a Webinar today from TechSoup. I'm sure they will be posting the archive soon. This is a FREE Windows 7 online curriculum to help provide "jargon-free, basic computer training for an adult audience". So, the only catch is you have to be using the Windows 7 operating system for the lessons.

The curriculum consists of ten 1 hour workshops that teach 'getting started' PC topics (Chat with IM, Create a Digital Movie, Digital Camera Tips and Tricks, Pick the Right PC, Start Here with Windows 7, Stay Safe With Windows 7...), four 3 hour workshops (Getting Started with Windows 7, Digital Photo Editing, Creative Slideshow, Connecting with Friends & Family) and a longer 12 hour Intro to Windows 7 course for business and home users. See the Workshop Descriptions Page or the Curriculum Comparison Slide for more information.

All of the materials are already created from Instructor Guides to PowerPoint Presentations to Activity Sheets. Plus there is a Student area of the Website where class resources are posted for students. See this Adoption Checklist to see what to do next to get started. I already downloaded a lot of the materials and will plan on using them as we move into Windows 7.

Did I mention this is all FREE?!! Be sure to check out this great resource.

Windows Nostalgia...

Check out this video of installing versions of Windows from the beginning of time through Windows 7. Very nostalgic! This just confirms that I'm getting old!