Thing 7: Productivity Tools

Well, I almost missed productivity tools.  What does that tell you?  I like the idea because collaboration is so important today, and if technology makes it easier I'm all for it.

I like delicious because it allows me to take my favorites with me.

I'm planning to investigate more about readibility and the password minders...

Thing 10: the future

Alas, I have no crystal ball.  I find it hard to imagine a world without libraries.  They have certainly been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.
One of the problems I see is that librarians quietly go about doing really valuable and important work, but seldom toot their own horns.  This makes it seem like things are happening by magic.  Many years ago in the infancy of the Internet, there was a story  about a CEO eliminating the corporate library because he got all his information on the Internet.  However, what he didn't realize was that the librarians were the ones putting all the stuff he wanted on the Internet.

I believe there will still need to be people who intrepret information and navigate the vast quantity of information.  Who better than librarians?

Whether or not library buildings will continue as we know them, I don't know.  Certainly for the near future they will have to since everything is not online.  A concern I have is that users will assume that only those things that are online are valuable.  Or that important information will be disregarded because it isn't online.

I hated it when database vendors first came out with full-text only searches because it suggested that all you needed was online and students then didn't know anything else even existed.  Maybe the exact information you are looking for hasn't been digitized yet.  Using full text only you'll never know.  There have to be some people who know about that information and can get it for the researcher, or the curious.  Easy isn't always better.

I also think, like some futurists, that each library will need to specialize in local information, and diversify holdings to ensure greatest availablility and preservation of materials.  No library has ever been able to hold everything.  Now more than ever, libraries need to share collections and specialize in what matters most locally.

This has been a great learning experience.  Thank you CDLC and Polly.

Thing 9:ebooks

I've been waiting for this one.  Although I've been reluctant to jump into ebooks, I think I'm ready now.  I see a real advantage especially for travelling.  No need to lug around a ton of paper.

When I was working, I use NetLibrary and project Gutenburg books.  I was glad to learn of so many more places to access free ebooks.  All the classics are there!  And I like the idea of having access to vast libraries 24/7.

Like many other technologies, I don't believe ebooks will ever completely replace paper volumes, anymore than television replaced radio.  Different strokes for different folks.

thing 8: video

Love the videos.   There are so many about so many things.  I've learned some knitting techniques and got some clarifications for other techniques I needed.  I have mainly used YouTube, but occasionally get to another video site.

Here is a video I like:
 http://www.youtube.com/embed/-aSg_So59bc I think most libraries should be able to do better.

I'm having a great time exploring: sewing, gardening, knitting, home remedies, humor...

I did experience some difficulty with some YouTube videos with buffering, I think. Some of the videos would stop to load every few seconds; others seemed to work fine.  I couldn't figure out what the problem was.  I even tried another internet connection with the same result.

Thing 6

I love online webinars!  I've used them for software instruction for my embroidery software, for learning how to make a small, soft cloth doll, and oh yes, when I was working I communicated with colleagues.

Thing 5

I'm behind and we even had a week off.  This is such a busy time of year.  I've been planting bare-root trees, starting vegetable plants and wishing it would stop raining!  My network connection is still giving me fits.  The tecnicians cannot agree on what the problem is, so I'm stuck with hauling my laptop to a hardwired connection to check my email and do work on-line.  Big pain in the neck.

Too wet for golf.  Hoping for better on the 19th.

Thing 4

OK, I admit I'm on Facebook, but not very active.  All I can think of is those nasty things people used to write on the inside of the bathroom stalls in middle school, and that they are no longer limited to a bathroom door.  What kind of cautions should we be practicing?  Once it's out there it's forever!  A bit scary to me.

Think 3 Pictures

Here is my cousin Jacqui's entry in the Washington Post peeps contest:

and a link to the finalists:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/2011-peeps-contest-finalist-escalator-collapse-at-peepy-bottom/2011/04/13/AFFym4UD_video.html

Love those peeps!

Some pictures

I uploaded a few pictures of my recent crafts into Flikr.  Maybe that will add some variety to the project--since I no longer work in a library.  I did have a little struggle with organizing them, but am still working on it --it's only the beginning for me.
With the nice weather come lots more activities--gardening, golfing...so less time for computer work.  And my network connection is still giving me fits.  I can connect to my wireless network just fine, but I keep getting bumped off.  I've gotten a new router, no help.  Guess I'll have to get used to it, but it definitely cramps my style.

Week three already!?

I realize that it's going to take a lot longer than one week to get up to speed with RSS, but I did set up an iGoogle page and had fun adding things to it until it is really busy.  It is fun and I like having everything together in one placed--weather, time, date, blogs, rss...
Onward and upward to the picture class.

Got it

Progress is slow, but it is progress.  I got my blog on my iGoogle page.  First in the wrong place, then where I wanted it.

Computers!

I'm having an issue with my wireless connection/network.  I use a wireless connection on my home network.  Lately I can't seem to keep it logged in. I'll connect just fine then in a few minutes or an hour or so, I get a error about no connection.  This is extremely frustrating!!! I even bought a new router thinking that would help--it didn't.  I'm ready to throw the computer out the window.

Lesson 2:RSS

I'm finidng this challenging.  I am playing with iGoogle and having fun, but haven't yet assimilated the results.  And I haven't figured out how to access my blog from iGoogle.  Am I missing something?

Home again, home again

After a great trip we're home.  Still waiting for spring...

After lugging a ton of books back and forth from vacation, I have a question for everyone (or maybe better, anyone reading this blog): Does anyone have a NookColor?  I'm looking at an e-reader and so far my pick is the NookColor, but I'm not sure if I'll really like it.  Will I miss the tactile sensation of ink on paper?  Will I be able to read it OK?  Can I borrow books from libraries?  What formats are available?

Any thoughts are welcome.

Last day

Today we played golf even though it was in the 40's.  Then a winery tour and wine tasting.  Tonight music.

Tomorrow home.

Vacation good--weather not so good

WE did play golf, but only once.  It's been raining ever since...
Lots of water aerobics, yoga, hot tub.  I even took a digital camera class that helped a lot.

Thing1:blogging-2

A little about myself...
After more than 30 years at SUNY Cobleskill, I retired as Dean of the Library in 2009.  Since then I have continued to serve on the Board of the CDLC and enjoy the continuing contact with colleagues.
I enjoy the time I have now to persue other interests such as sewing, card making and golf.  (I'm on vacation right now with a tee time in about an hour.)

Thing1:Blogging

Why do I find this confusing?  I've done it before, but somehow, I get confused trying to find my blog...

I've figured out how to follow my daughter-in-law's blog.

Need to use it more.
NVD

The way it is

My husband and I are on vacation in Virginia and it's cold.  We had snow on Sunday...Today we're going to play golf, even though it's still in the 50's.  At least the sun is shining today.

Yesterday after I went to water aerobics, we visited James and Dolley Madison's home, Montpelier.  We had a great tour with Martha, our guide.  She knew everything about the renovation and the family.  It was fun.Check this out http://montpelier.org/

We went to see a comedian/impressionist last night--not that great.