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Gale Virtual Reference Library---Challenge #3

I had no idea that this database contains all that it does! The number of titles included is massive....and when you search for individual articles---it's phenomenal! With the citation tool, it does everything but write the paper for the student!!

I found the translation tool very impressive.....to have all of those articles available in other languages at the click of a mouse is great! I now have an article about Barry Manilow in English and in Spanish (but I can only read the English one)!

I compared the online and print versions of "VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever"----they are positively identical! The movie I chose in the print version had its description on 2 pages (the bottom of one to the top of the next). The PDF version is an exact copy of the print version. In the online non-PDF version, it breaks down the description exactly where it goes from one page to the next--leaving a space after the last word on the bottom, listing the next page number, and then continuing the description!!

I was at the Reference Desk one day when Karla Ivarson was assisting a young man who needed information on Mayan sports. Our circulating collection that had any information at all on Mayan culture had been checked out, and of course he needed the information the next day. Since he had Internet access at home, she demonstrated to him how to search the database, and was able to find several articles that he could use for his report. She explained to him that these were not magazine articles, but were entries from actual reference books.

A great database---especially for those locations that could never afford the cost of these books, nor the shelf space to display them!

Laptop and Digital Projector--Assignment 2

I was able to set up our laptop and digital projector, and make it work!! Of course, nothing goes smoothly----when I set it up, I was unable to access the Internet through the wireless in the building. I called TR, and spoke to Dave Curtis---he said it appeared that wireless was working---so it was a problem with our laptop. He walked me through settings on the laptop until I was able to access the Internet. I then had Dawn Heyson sit through my demonstration on how to set up the laptop and projector (so another staff member now knows how to do it), and went through links on OceanNet as my "teaching lesson".

See you in January for #3!!

ListenNJ---first assignment

I was finally able to successfully complete the first assignment for the Branch Manager's Web Challenge. I previously tried to download an audio book to my MP3 player, but when I got home, it was not there. With the assistance of Dawn Heyson, and 90 minutes on the PC Plus computer, I found an available title that would play on the MP3, and went through the steps of downloading OverDrive, Windows Media Player, and whatever else was needed. I have to admit that I only downloaded part of the book-----after 45 minutes, only 4 of the 9 parts had downloaded....and someone else needed the PC Plus. So, my MP3 player has about 1/3 of the book "The Rosewood Casket", by Sharon McCrumb. I began listening to it last night, but fell asleep----so I'll try again.

Thing #23---I FINISHED!!!!

I am very glad that I participated in this challenge. As I said in the beginning, I wanted to find out what "Web 2.0" was all about...and this challenge forced me to make the time to do it! I liked "YouTube"......I could really get addicted to that! I liked finding out about widgets, the music site "Pandora", and Del.icio.us. Now that I know about Google docs, I think this could be very useful at work, as well as at home. Committees and workgroups could really benefit when working on a "group document" by using Google docs---rather than filling up email inboxes!!

I've told several people about the "widget" site....and some have acted upon it! I think everyone knows about YouTube, but actually searching for videos is fun...and I've referred some people to that. I liked using flickr----that it something I will definitely use in the future. I was forced to use the scanner at the library...something I had never found the time to do before.

As I mentioned in earlier posts, I don't think I'd ever use Technorati....but now I know it exists.

I think the "Web Challenge" was also a great "teambuilding" experience---seeing co-workers helping each other when they encountered problems, and also witnessing how one of my employees (who was the most reluctant to sign up for the challenge) got caught up in it, was helping others, and ended up being a "early finisher"!!!

Great job, Web Challenge Committee!!!!!!!

Thing #22

I was finally able to listen to a book on "ListenNJ" (between problems with the security updates, and finding time when the PC Plus wasn't being used by customers). I checked out "Sylvester and the Magic Pebble", by William Steig. It was read by John Lithgow---he did a nice job of reading! I remember this book as one of the ones I used when I had storytimes or class visits back when I started at Lacey...and I was the "all in one" librarian (adult, childrens, and teen)!! It is also the book that Marc used as a student teacher eons ago.......have him tell you the story that goes along with it!!!
I think "ListenNJ" is good, but I'm more of a "visual" person, and my mind tends to wander when I read, so I often have to go back a re-read---which is easier to do when you have the book in front of you. I've assisted customers with using the product....this exercise gave me the opportunity to experience it firsthand.

Thing #21

I had some difficulty finding a podcast that I wanted to link to...but finally found this one..
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/rss/vodcast/gp_jtaylor2.m4v

I like listening to James Taylor, and although this is a short podcast, I figure it fulfills my requirement for Thing #21!! (I hope).

I'm not sure how much use I will make of viewing podcasts...but it might be useful to view sessions at library conferences that I am not able to attend in person, since most of the conferences seem to have podcasting.