I have mixed feelings about audio-books and e-readers. They definitely are cool and handy with something for everyone. However, I had a lot of tech issues when I tried to download a book to my computer. The software and audio file downloaded just fine, but I couldn't get it to play well. I downloaded another book to try again, and couldn't get that one to go at all. A third book was downloaded for good measure, but that one wasn't an audio file (my bad), but I had fun reading it digitally in my internet browser. I LOVE the idea of Montana Library2Go, and I thought the site was very user-friendly and such a cool idea. Free downloads are the best. I would use this feature more to download books for free for myself. Since I don't have a smart phone or any other mobile device I wouldn't be one to buy the books/movies/media to have with me all the time, so free is good for me. Old-school books work just fine for me. No download tech issues there.
I think there are may benefits to having an E-reader or audio-book: such as traveling frequently, the handy small/compact size, vision impaired, or using it for students to motivate them. My eyes don't do so well after a while on digital/electronic screens, so that is part of my leaning towards a traditional book in my hands. But...my sister-in-law in making her way through the Game of Thrones series on her regular laptop computer...every night it plays on audio while she cooks dinner for her family (obviously the small kids aren't in the room while it is on). This idea REALLY appealed to me, because I have a MOUNTAIN of books I want to conquer but don't always find the time to "sit and read." So I am now thinking of looking into audio-books more...I like that idea of hearing a good story while getting other things done. Cool.
In the library, it would be fun to get an audio-book and having the students do a story board with it, or even act out a scene while the audio plays. Have students listen to the audio part one time together, then give them some time to come up with ideas on how to present their ideas and the audio can play a second time. Model for them a basic idea and then let them go. Students are always so creative and they love to share. As usual, I have a lot to think about with new options. Peace out!
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Automation system
In my library I am using InfoCenter (Sagebush). I have worked with it for 2 years now, but I believe the district purchased it 8 years ago. The librarian at the one other school in our district recently informed me that tech support for our system will no longer be offered...which is a red flag that our system is getting old. We are currently looking into switching over to Follett Destiny for our new automated system.
Personally, I like Sagebrush. It works well for checking books in and out, and making new student patron bar codes and accounts was easy for me to do and then put onto a student library card. I was also able to teach the students how to check out books themselves in 3 easy steps (1. Scan your name 2. scan your book 3. scan the "check out" bar code). I was also easily able to make new spine labels and print out a patrons history on what books they had checked out.
Other reports that were useful to create on Sagebrush were circulation and book age reports (really handy to have when weeding the collection), student fines owed/paid, lost books, and collection by copyright year. I haven't mastered how to catalog books in Sagebrush. There is a way to copy catalog by having the system search other libraries for a book's MARC record, then you select the one you want and copy it into your catalog. I never did much cataloging though since I teach 27 K-5 library classes a week. The cataloging for our district was done by the librarian at the junior high school because he has a much more open schedule and can do more "library duties."
There is an Administration tab that I never touched without "adult supervision" (which was working with the other librarian from the middle school) and that tab was where we could create book carts for different purposes and batch process copy IDs (like when weeding out books) or transferring them between the 2 libraries. I never felt comfortable using this feature without help because I was afraid of making a mistake and deleting a book's record. As a new librarian, Sagebrush defiantly has its strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths include easy of use when it comes to daily circulation needs (such as checking books in/out), creating library reports, new student bar codes, and the general layout/design is user-friendly. Weaknesses include sometimes not clear steps on how to do cataloging (told you in 2 years I still don't get it so well) and sometimes the system is slow in generating a report. There are tons of other tabs that I haven't explored, and I am afraid that it is easy in the system to delete a book's record. Overall I still like Sagebrush, and have mixed feelings about going to Destiny. We will have a whole new system for me to learn, which is okay since I haven't mastered this one yet.
Personally, I like Sagebrush. It works well for checking books in and out, and making new student patron bar codes and accounts was easy for me to do and then put onto a student library card. I was also able to teach the students how to check out books themselves in 3 easy steps (1. Scan your name 2. scan your book 3. scan the "check out" bar code). I was also easily able to make new spine labels and print out a patrons history on what books they had checked out.
Other reports that were useful to create on Sagebrush were circulation and book age reports (really handy to have when weeding the collection), student fines owed/paid, lost books, and collection by copyright year. I haven't mastered how to catalog books in Sagebrush. There is a way to copy catalog by having the system search other libraries for a book's MARC record, then you select the one you want and copy it into your catalog. I never did much cataloging though since I teach 27 K-5 library classes a week. The cataloging for our district was done by the librarian at the junior high school because he has a much more open schedule and can do more "library duties."
There is an Administration tab that I never touched without "adult supervision" (which was working with the other librarian from the middle school) and that tab was where we could create book carts for different purposes and batch process copy IDs (like when weeding out books) or transferring them between the 2 libraries. I never felt comfortable using this feature without help because I was afraid of making a mistake and deleting a book's record. As a new librarian, Sagebrush defiantly has its strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths include easy of use when it comes to daily circulation needs (such as checking books in/out), creating library reports, new student bar codes, and the general layout/design is user-friendly. Weaknesses include sometimes not clear steps on how to do cataloging (told you in 2 years I still don't get it so well) and sometimes the system is slow in generating a report. There are tons of other tabs that I haven't explored, and I am afraid that it is easy in the system to delete a book's record. Overall I still like Sagebrush, and have mixed feelings about going to Destiny. We will have a whole new system for me to learn, which is okay since I haven't mastered this one yet.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Library website for school
After reading the 3 articles, it really made me want to re-do the website I made for our school library in my first year there. I will say the one thing I did well was to make it simple to navigate and easy to read. I was thinking I had made a great leap by doing it on my own with no previous experience, because the previous librarian before me had no library website available before. However, I realize now that I need to add some things.
I think the top 5 things I would want on the library website are: contact information, newly arrived materials list, library services available, a link to our library catalog, AR book lists, and a list of good links for students and parents to explore. I work in a K-5 library, so at this time I am not too worried about research materials or database links. I would definitely consider adding those though if I ever move to a middle or high school library.
I want to be better this year about upkeep on my library website. So much to do, so little time. I am considering putting a blog on there for teachers to follow to encourage collaboration and for them to check out professional resources.
I have a lot to think about...Peace out.
I think the top 5 things I would want on the library website are: contact information, newly arrived materials list, library services available, a link to our library catalog, AR book lists, and a list of good links for students and parents to explore. I work in a K-5 library, so at this time I am not too worried about research materials or database links. I would definitely consider adding those though if I ever move to a middle or high school library.
I want to be better this year about upkeep on my library website. So much to do, so little time. I am considering putting a blog on there for teachers to follow to encourage collaboration and for them to check out professional resources.
I have a lot to think about...Peace out.
Friday, July 5, 2013
RSS Feeds
I was never into RSS feeds so much due to my short attention span for the computer. However, after investigating several of them for this assignment, I can see the value of them and how it is any easy way to put all of the good content you want in one easy place.
Feedly was really appealing to me. I liked the easy layout design and how quickly I was able to explore several feeds on different topics that were interesting to me. Easy and fast is the way to go for me. This one would be a good one for me, and I may consider using it.
That being said, I didn't like NetVibes. That one was way too much information in my face and too much going on all over the page to look at and navigate. I found the same to be true with The Old Reader. No go for me there.
The exploration continued, and I also liked NewsBlur. The content was displaced nicely, and locating what I was looking for came up quickly. Good stuff here.
Pocket seemed to have my name all over it. I LOVED the idea of being able to store articles and website information to read later. That is totally how I roll. SO many interesting and cool things to read, yet so little time. See an article, put it in your Pocket. Awesome. My Pocket would be stuffed!
I will have to let you all know which one I decide on! Until next time! Peace out.
Feedly was really appealing to me. I liked the easy layout design and how quickly I was able to explore several feeds on different topics that were interesting to me. Easy and fast is the way to go for me. This one would be a good one for me, and I may consider using it.
That being said, I didn't like NetVibes. That one was way too much information in my face and too much going on all over the page to look at and navigate. I found the same to be true with The Old Reader. No go for me there.
The exploration continued, and I also liked NewsBlur. The content was displaced nicely, and locating what I was looking for came up quickly. Good stuff here.
Pocket seemed to have my name all over it. I LOVED the idea of being able to store articles and website information to read later. That is totally how I roll. SO many interesting and cool things to read, yet so little time. See an article, put it in your Pocket. Awesome. My Pocket would be stuffed!
I will have to let you all know which one I decide on! Until next time! Peace out.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)