The future is most definitely here. If you can spare 8 minutes, you gotta see this to believe it! A Sixth Sense is "a sense that would give us seamless access and easy access to meta information or information that exists somewhere that may be relevant to help us make the right decision about whatever it is that we are coming across". Like shopping, needing to take a picture, checking the time - all anywhere anytime.
This demo -- from Pattie Maes' lab at MIT, spearheaded by Pranav Mistry -- was the buzz of TED. It's a wearable device with a projector that paves the way for profound interaction with our environment. Imagine "Minority Report" and then some.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
SnapShot PA Results Are In
"179,702 people visited libraries across Pennsylvania on one day. That is more than attended both the Eagles and Steelers game last weekend or visited Hershey Park." That's the first sentence you'll see at SnapShot PA: One Day in the Life of Pennsylvania Libraries. I first wrote about this project in September. It's great to see the end results.
There is a page of results in detail, pictures, and the opportunity for patrons to continue to submit their stories.
Please promote this initiative by linking to the Snapshot website through your Website and Social Media avenues!
There is a page of results in detail, pictures, and the opportunity for patrons to continue to submit their stories.
Please promote this initiative by linking to the Snapshot website through your Website and Social Media avenues!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
TEDx for Libraries: Dynamic programming for FREE!
Read all about this WONDERFUL opportunity to get FREE programming for your library!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Feature YOUR Library on WebJunction Pennsylvania
I announced earlier that Pennsylvania is finally a partner with WebJunction. Here's your opportunity for any library in PA to get your library in the spotlight!! Copied below is the information you need to send in:
Featured Pennsylvania Library for WebJunction Library Spotlight
Instructions
The information that you supply here will be used in the Library Spotlight feature on the home page of WebJunction Pennsylvania (http://pa.webjunction.org). The Library Spotlight is updated regularly. However the information that you supply will also be included in the Pennsylvania Spotlights page (http://pa.webjunction.org/pa-spotlights). If your information changes and you would like this page updated, please send your updated form to webjunction@hslc.org.
Photograph
[Insert photo. Please include highest available resolution. Photo will be resized by HSLC for use in the space available.]
Library Information
Name of Library:
Address 1:
Address 2:
City:
Zip:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Mission Statement:
Fast Facts:
• Population served:
• Date built/renovated:
• Square feet:
• Annual circulation:
• Popular programs:
• Neat idea:
• With more money we would:
• Other:
• Link to home page:
• Link to online catalog:
Featured Pennsylvania Library for WebJunction Library Spotlight
Instructions
The information that you supply here will be used in the Library Spotlight feature on the home page of WebJunction Pennsylvania (http://pa.webjunction.org). The Library Spotlight is updated regularly. However the information that you supply will also be included in the Pennsylvania Spotlights page (http://pa.webjunction.org/pa-spotlights). If your information changes and you would like this page updated, please send your updated form to webjunction@hslc.org.
Photograph
[Insert photo. Please include highest available resolution. Photo will be resized by HSLC for use in the space available.]
Library Information
Name of Library:
Address 1:
Address 2:
City:
Zip:
Telephone:
E-mail:
Mission Statement:
Fast Facts:
• Population served:
• Date built/renovated:
• Square feet:
• Annual circulation:
• Popular programs:
• Neat idea:
• With more money we would:
• Other:
• Link to home page:
• Link to online catalog:
WebJunction Pennsylvania - YIPPEE!!!
I am so excited to announce that the PA Office of Commonwealth Libraries has partnered with WebJunction and we are now WebJunction Pennsylvania. If you are a regular reader of this blog, then you know what a huge fan I am of WebJunction. Here is the announcement received:
HSLC/Access PA announces the creation of a new professional development service for libraries in Pennsylvania. WebJunction Pennsylvania (http://pa.webjunction.org/) makes a large selection of online workshops and training courses available to library employees, library board members, and trustees in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at a cost of $5 per course. The new service is supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Office of Commonwealth Libraries.
To access the subsidized courses, eligible persons must create a free account on WebJunction, then request affiliation with WebJunction Pennsylvania (click on My Affiliations, when editing your account).
HSLC/Access PA created WebJunction Pennsylvania in partnership with WebJunction, an online learning community that incorporates social software features to encourage community building. Members of the WebJunction community share their ideas and experience and promote best practices in libraries. Pennsylvania joins over fifteen other states in this cooperative educational system. Course content is contributed by the cooperative. The WebJunction system keeps track of courses taken and can generate a certificate upon course completion.
HSLC's training for Access PA services will also be integrated into the WebJunction service, and additional courses will be shared as they are created.
What to do now:
Visit the new WebJunction Pennsylvania (http://pa.webjunction.org/).
- Create a new account, or sign in with your current WebJunction username and password.
- If you create a new account, be sure to check the box to request affiliation with Pennsylvania, when you get to the affiliations page.
- If you already have an account, after signing in, click on *Edit Account* and the My Affiliations tab to request affiliation with Pennsylvania.
- After you take a look around, we’d love to hear from you about your experiences in the member center (http://pa.webjunction.org/membercenter).
- Need help? Find help and support in the member center, or you can always contact us (http://pa.webjunction.org/contact).
For more information, contact:
John Houser
Technology Coordinator
HSLC
houser@hslc.org
215-534-6820
HSLC/Access PA announces the creation of a new professional development service for libraries in Pennsylvania. WebJunction Pennsylvania (http://pa.webjunction.org/) makes a large selection of online workshops and training courses available to library employees, library board members, and trustees in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania at a cost of $5 per course. The new service is supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Office of Commonwealth Libraries.
To access the subsidized courses, eligible persons must create a free account on WebJunction, then request affiliation with WebJunction Pennsylvania (click on My Affiliations, when editing your account).
HSLC/Access PA created WebJunction Pennsylvania in partnership with WebJunction, an online learning community that incorporates social software features to encourage community building. Members of the WebJunction community share their ideas and experience and promote best practices in libraries. Pennsylvania joins over fifteen other states in this cooperative educational system. Course content is contributed by the cooperative. The WebJunction system keeps track of courses taken and can generate a certificate upon course completion.
HSLC's training for Access PA services will also be integrated into the WebJunction service, and additional courses will be shared as they are created.
What to do now:
Visit the new WebJunction Pennsylvania (http://pa.webjunction.org/).
- Create a new account, or sign in with your current WebJunction username and password.
- If you create a new account, be sure to check the box to request affiliation with Pennsylvania, when you get to the affiliations page.
- If you already have an account, after signing in, click on *Edit Account* and the My Affiliations tab to request affiliation with Pennsylvania.
- After you take a look around, we’d love to hear from you about your experiences in the member center (http://pa.webjunction.org/membercenter).
- Need help? Find help and support in the member center, or you can always contact us (http://pa.webjunction.org/contact).
For more information, contact:
John Houser
Technology Coordinator
HSLC
houser@hslc.org
215-534-6820
Friday, January 8, 2010
A Get to Know Me Meme from TIFT
I contribute regularly to the T is for Training podcast (note widget in sidebar). Our fearless leader, Maurice Coleman, has challenged us to answer the following 27 questions in ONE SENTENCE. If you know me, then you KNOW this is a huge challenge for me. I mean, c'mon!? One sentence? Here goes (answers in bold)...
1) Your One Sentence Bio
A surrendering to something greater than myself mother and wife who likes to sing and is a training coordinator for a public library system.
2) Do you blog? If yes, how did you come up with your blog name?
Yes. I always warn the library-types I train that I am NOT a creative-type; I'm more of a math/science-type, and I don't come up with very original stuff; hence, the name of this blog...
3) What is your professional background?
I have a BA in Social Work with a minor in Spanish and I almost finished a tech degree in Computer Information Systems. See question 21 for more details.
4) What training do you do? staff? patrons? types of classes?
Strictly staff/volunteers. Millennium ILS, Microsoft Office, Social Media, and anything else staff/volunteers need to use a computer for in our libraries.
5) What training do you think is most important to libraries right now
How to do advocacy well - something I know nothing about but can see is desperately needed.
6) Where do you get your training?
I LOVE webinars, especially the free variety as that works well with my current budget.
7) How do you keep up?
If only I could! I do my best through RSS (just made the switch from Bloglines to Google Reader last week and LOVE it), tweets, Facebook, Friendfeed, podcasts, video, flickr, etc.
8) What do you think are the biggest challenges libraries are facing right now?
Funding, funding, oh, and funding!
9) What are biggest challenges for trainers?
For underfunded and understaffed libraries to see the value of time/cost needed for training.
10) What exciting things are you doing training wise?
Currently working on being able to offer some e-learning Microsoft tutorials through CustomGuide.
11) What do you wish were you doing?
Wish I were home with my 2 beautiful girls. For a more work-related answer, I wish I could be training the public; the patrons, on all things technology with a focus on social media.
12) What would you do with a badger?
Stand at least twenty feet away from it. Wait, make that thirty feet.
13) What's your favorite food?
Teff, an amazing Ethiopian grain. I gave up all forms of sugar, wheat and flour over 9 years ago and have discovered so many amazing foods.
14) If you were stranded on an island, what one thing would you want to have with you?
My family.
15) Do you know what happens when a grasshopper kicks all the seeds out of a pickle?
It's left with a seedless pickle.
16) Post it notes or the back of your hand?
Post it notes - everywhere...
17) Windows or Mac?
Windows, but wish I weren't.
18) Talk about one training moment you'd like to forget?
I had a training while working in private industry where we were shoved in a room big enough to hold a small round table and I had to train the president, vp and 2 other high ranking people (usually the hardest types to train as they usually have other people do everything for them) for 2 straight days; agony!
19) What's your take on handshakes?
They are a necessary evil.
20) Global warming: yes or no
I'm afraid the answer is... yes.
21) How did you get into this line of work?
Feel free to read the twisted tale here.
22) What is the best part of your job?
Watching someones eyes grow big and hear them let out an "oooh" or an "ahhh" when they learn how to do something really cool or something that will save them TONS of time on a computer.
23) Why should someone else follow in your shoes?
I have to agree with Peter here and suggest people find their own pair of shoes.
24) Sushi or hamburger?
Neither thank you. Refer to question 13.
25) LSW or ALA?
LSW, it's hip, it's what I can afford, and it allows me to wear a cape when I'm in the mood.
26) What one person in the world do you want to have lunch with and why?
Mary, the mother of God, to ask her how she survived motherhood and how to cultivate unconditional love and acceptance.
27) What cell phone do you have and why?
A Motorola E815 I got over 5 years ago because it still works, I only use it for telephone calls, and I'm too broke to afford a data plan.
1) Your One Sentence Bio
A surrendering to something greater than myself mother and wife who likes to sing and is a training coordinator for a public library system.
2) Do you blog? If yes, how did you come up with your blog name?
Yes. I always warn the library-types I train that I am NOT a creative-type; I'm more of a math/science-type, and I don't come up with very original stuff; hence, the name of this blog...
3) What is your professional background?
I have a BA in Social Work with a minor in Spanish and I almost finished a tech degree in Computer Information Systems. See question 21 for more details.
4) What training do you do? staff? patrons? types of classes?
Strictly staff/volunteers. Millennium ILS, Microsoft Office, Social Media, and anything else staff/volunteers need to use a computer for in our libraries.
5) What training do you think is most important to libraries right now
How to do advocacy well - something I know nothing about but can see is desperately needed.
6) Where do you get your training?
I LOVE webinars, especially the free variety as that works well with my current budget.
7) How do you keep up?
If only I could! I do my best through RSS (just made the switch from Bloglines to Google Reader last week and LOVE it), tweets, Facebook, Friendfeed, podcasts, video, flickr, etc.
8) What do you think are the biggest challenges libraries are facing right now?
Funding, funding, oh, and funding!
9) What are biggest challenges for trainers?
For underfunded and understaffed libraries to see the value of time/cost needed for training.
10) What exciting things are you doing training wise?
Currently working on being able to offer some e-learning Microsoft tutorials through CustomGuide.
11) What do you wish were you doing?
Wish I were home with my 2 beautiful girls. For a more work-related answer, I wish I could be training the public; the patrons, on all things technology with a focus on social media.
12) What would you do with a badger?
Stand at least twenty feet away from it. Wait, make that thirty feet.
13) What's your favorite food?
Teff, an amazing Ethiopian grain. I gave up all forms of sugar, wheat and flour over 9 years ago and have discovered so many amazing foods.
14) If you were stranded on an island, what one thing would you want to have with you?
My family.
15) Do you know what happens when a grasshopper kicks all the seeds out of a pickle?
It's left with a seedless pickle.
16) Post it notes or the back of your hand?
Post it notes - everywhere...
17) Windows or Mac?
Windows, but wish I weren't.
18) Talk about one training moment you'd like to forget?
I had a training while working in private industry where we were shoved in a room big enough to hold a small round table and I had to train the president, vp and 2 other high ranking people (usually the hardest types to train as they usually have other people do everything for them) for 2 straight days; agony!
19) What's your take on handshakes?
They are a necessary evil.
20) Global warming: yes or no
I'm afraid the answer is... yes.
21) How did you get into this line of work?
Feel free to read the twisted tale here.
22) What is the best part of your job?
Watching someones eyes grow big and hear them let out an "oooh" or an "ahhh" when they learn how to do something really cool or something that will save them TONS of time on a computer.
23) Why should someone else follow in your shoes?
I have to agree with Peter here and suggest people find their own pair of shoes.
24) Sushi or hamburger?
Neither thank you. Refer to question 13.
25) LSW or ALA?
LSW, it's hip, it's what I can afford, and it allows me to wear a cape when I'm in the mood.
26) What one person in the world do you want to have lunch with and why?
Mary, the mother of God, to ask her how she survived motherhood and how to cultivate unconditional love and acceptance.
27) What cell phone do you have and why?
A Motorola E815 I got over 5 years ago because it still works, I only use it for telephone calls, and I'm too broke to afford a data plan.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Library Advocacy Day Promotion Video
Here's a video created by the ALA Washington Office for promotion of Library Advocacy Day (6/29/10). Take a look...
Library Advocacy Day from ALA Washington on Vimeo.
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