So, I just attended the archived webinar: Superbooks: How Graphic Novels Can Save Your Library Part 1 (intro) and Part 2 (presentation) . It was one of several that I had saved in my e-mails to do sometime. I have been interested, but time is always an issue. Frankly, it is too bad that school librarians can't do webinars instead of some of the meetings that we have to attend, both locally and regionally.
It was easy to connect. The topic was one I was very interested in. The graphic novels and comics, in general, go out very well in my library. Babymouse is tremendously popular. Now, even the boys are reading it! I have to find some more series that aren't Star Wars or Superheroes for that age range. I think some of the girls just read the old titles over because they love them so much. The kids get angry and tell me I must have moved them because there aren't any on the shelves. Babymouse is as popular as Diary of a Wimpy Kid!
It was a long time to sit in a chair near the computer. I found myself moving about some and not watching the screen, but simply listening. I'm glad I was watching an archived one because I could pause when the need arose.
If I were in charge of a library system or a group of libraries (like Albany Public or Schenectady), I could see using webinars to get together without physically having everyone come together. There is a lot of time lost to travel when we force people to come to one place. If the meetings happened before (public libraries) or after (school libraries) hours, they wouldn't necessarily even affect our patrons. I personally have been to a lot of meetings where my physical body was not really required. I could skip the soda and cookie to not have to leave my library without a librarian. Also, there are times when people cannot attend the meetings, because they are sick, their kid/parent is sick, their car broke down, etc. By Archiving the meetings we could keep everyone in the loop. Frankly, although we may have liaisons who are supposed to report back, it is not the best system.
So, all in all, I think webinars are a hit. I am not sure how I will fit all of the ones that sound good into my daily work/home life, but, as a school librarian, I will try to catch up over the summer!
Yeah, I am caught up on Learn with CDLC!
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Thing 5: Reflection & Catch Up Week
Okay, so here I am trying to reflect and catch up weeks after I should have. So far so good with GoodReads. I am still planning to try Library Thing.
Facebook is a whole other animal. There are so many stories of teachers having trouble with it. NYSUT even had an article about what not to do. Frankly, what I got out of it is that they don't recommend teachers having Facebook accounts. I do know that a few teachers have accounts, but I know plenty that don't. One teacher I know does, but it is still problematic. She has parents friending her, so she has to be very careful what she posts. Then, there is the issue that people have been caught Facebooking on school time.
Frankly, even though this CDLC training clearly relates to my job, I don't do it on school time. That is why I am so far behind. I have so much to do at home, that computers just don't usually fit in. I can go a week at home without checking my e-mail. (Of course, at work I usually check school e-mail 3+ times a day!)
I think I will check out Facebook just so I am educated in what it is, but I doubt I will keep it. My sister had an account and she had literally hundreds of friend requests. One day, before she deleted the account, we decided to check all of the requests. There were a lot from people neither one of us knew. There were some from people she had worked with 20 years ago that never talked to her at the time. I guess they just want a higher friend count on their Facebook page.
Anyway, I must continue on our activities while I have the time.
Facebook is a whole other animal. There are so many stories of teachers having trouble with it. NYSUT even had an article about what not to do. Frankly, what I got out of it is that they don't recommend teachers having Facebook accounts. I do know that a few teachers have accounts, but I know plenty that don't. One teacher I know does, but it is still problematic. She has parents friending her, so she has to be very careful what she posts. Then, there is the issue that people have been caught Facebooking on school time.
Frankly, even though this CDLC training clearly relates to my job, I don't do it on school time. That is why I am so far behind. I have so much to do at home, that computers just don't usually fit in. I can go a week at home without checking my e-mail. (Of course, at work I usually check school e-mail 3+ times a day!)
I think I will check out Facebook just so I am educated in what it is, but I doubt I will keep it. My sister had an account and she had literally hundreds of friend requests. One day, before she deleted the account, we decided to check all of the requests. There were a lot from people neither one of us knew. There were some from people she had worked with 20 years ago that never talked to her at the time. I guess they just want a higher friend count on their Facebook page.
Anyway, I must continue on our activities while I have the time.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Thing #4: Online Communities
Okay, so I am finally trying to catch back up with the rest of you. First there was vacation, then, a new dog, and then a new car. Finally settling down...
I joined GoodReads as I already knew a friend on it. I am planning to try LibraryThing, too, as I have found it useful before. Still trying to get my head wrapped around Facebook, which I know most of the world believes they can't live without. I just don't have much of a computer life outside of work. So much of work, when I'm not with the students, is computer-based. I just want to slow down and disconnect at home. Frankly, I don't do much media at all at home, unless you count books.
I joined GoodReads as I already knew a friend on it. I am planning to try LibraryThing, too, as I have found it useful before. Still trying to get my head wrapped around Facebook, which I know most of the world believes they can't live without. I just don't have much of a computer life outside of work. So much of work, when I'm not with the students, is computer-based. I just want to slow down and disconnect at home. Frankly, I don't do much media at all at home, unless you count books.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
School Break Week
Sorry I haven't posted this week so far. Everything is always off kilter on a school break week. I sleep later and stay up later. I pay more attention to the pets and try to get stuff done around the house. More later...
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Thing 3 : Photo Sharing
Ever wonder what your library would look like practically empty? Well, I found out in June 2005 when we emptied the library for renovations. Take a look:
Okay, I have uploaded 2 images to my brand-new flickr account. I couldn't get the flickr post to blog feature to work and the blogs link with URL wouldn't work either. I guess that is because I made my photos private, only visible by family and friends. I will have to explore more.
This is a well-timed activity because, what with state cuts to school districts, our program has been threatened. I have been trying to compile photos to show what I do in my building, although I haven't gone so far as to figure out how to share them yet.
I will try the Creative Commons licensed photo search, too, before I end for this session.
Okay, I have uploaded 2 images to my brand-new flickr account. I couldn't get the flickr post to blog feature to work and the blogs link with URL wouldn't work either. I guess that is because I made my photos private, only visible by family and friends. I will have to explore more.
This is a well-timed activity because, what with state cuts to school districts, our program has been threatened. I have been trying to compile photos to show what I do in my building, although I haven't gone so far as to figure out how to share them yet.
I will try the Creative Commons licensed photo search, too, before I end for this session.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Big Day
Okay, I set up this blog. I started an iGoogle page and added RSS feeds, including one for my own blog! And I signed on to the Capital Region BOCES wiki. Lots of progress for 1 short day. I guess this Learn with CDLC is working.
Thing 2: RSS
Well, I have my iGoogle page set up. I'm sure I will be tweaking it on and off. Some trouble adding blogs as RSS feeds though. Maybe I'm getting too tired.
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