Do you Isuu?

Isuu is an online networking site for publications.  Rather those of us with publications or simply things that could be published or just a file we want to share.  The site is the home to millions of individuals and publishers with types of content from magazines to résumés.  These days, a lot of us can bypass the publisher and get right to the point and circulate what we consider valuable information.  This is not to disregard the publisher.  The publisher is still a gateway to reviewed information and a way to differentiate between legitimate information with standards and those of us with this need to be heard who use the Internet as our bullhorn.  Back to Isuu...this site allows individuals to publish presentations, résumés, even self-publishing authors have used Issu.  It's a great way to collaborate and keep an online portfolio to access anywhere there is Internet.  I put my presentation for a class I taught about Internet Safety on the site to get a feel for what I could use it for.  I'm all about having another tool in my toolbox!  For me, it's another way to back-up my work.  I kept the file on Isuu so I have access to it if I ever forget my drive with my file on it, no big deal.  I will likely use it for other files I find useful to have access to at all times or so others can view them....and so I can never forget them. 

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes is a great book!  I read it for a story time with preschoolers recently and they loved it!  Not only is it a good story with a moral but the kids were able to interact during it.  There is a song that Pete sings throughout the book that the kids sing as well as learn about colors.  I thought this was a noteworthy book and wanted to share.

From the Executive Director of UHLS

To all,
     You may have heard that the 2011 proposed Rens. County budget includes the elimination of county support for 5 public libraries (Troy, E. Greenbush, N. Greeenbush, Sand Lake, and Nassau).  Since the release of the proposed budget, the impacted libraries and UHLS have conducted a mini-advocacy campaign to convince the legislature and the county executive that funding to these libraries should not be cut.  The public hearing on the proposed budget took place last night and several people spoke in support of continuing library funding.  The process of finalizing the budget will take place in the next several weeks and we need to continue to speak to the county leadership about the importance of county library funding.
      We need your help.  Please support your fellow county libraries by contacting the decision makers on the list below AND by encouraging your library trustees, staff, friends groups, and users to make those contacts as well.

1) the legislator(s) covering the district(s) your library serves
2) the legislator covering the district where you live (if you are a county resident)
3) County Executive Kathy Jimino
4) Legislative Majority Leader, Chairman Martin Reid
5) Head of the Legislature's Finance Committee, Vice Chairman Phillip J. Danaher

All of the contact information can be found at the county legislature's website - http://www.rensselaercounty.org/Index.htm

Remember, this does not have to be anything elaborate - just a quick phone call to the office or a short e-mail or note encouraging the person to continue library support.  If you would like any assistance with this please don't hesitate to contact me.

It is vital that these contacts be made right away.  The legislature is starting their next phase of budget work after today's holiday, so please don't delay.

The next public budget hearing is scheduled for Mon. 11/22 in the county legislative chambers at 1600 7th Ave. in Troy.  Again, I encourage strong participation at that hearing to make sure that the county leadership understands how important this issue is to the residents of the county. 

Thanks for your help in this effort, Tim

Weebly

Weebly is a great tool for creating websites.  Either educational, business or for fun.  Creating a site is simple and the appearance is professional.  I think it's comparable to tools such as Squidoo, though I have no experience creating a site using those tools so you may find this post bias.  I started with Weebly after working at a computer camp where myself and a teacher taught tween and teen students how to make websites using Weebly. The curriculum was all her idea.  Outside of work, I was looking for a simple way to create a site that was easy to update without having to download software.  My life right now does not allow me to sit at one computer and rely on software to create a site and I found that made it difficult for me to update my website so I had an out-of-date website which, as a librarian, is not good.  After the computer camp I thought about putting the content from my existing website onto Weebly to see what I could do with it.  I loved how easy it was and how professional the site looked.  Then I simply linked it to my own domain.  I use the free version of Weebly so I still have the logo at the bottom of my page, eventually it would be worth it for me to purchase the professional version, but for now the free version works.  Since my first time using Weebly  in August 2010, I have created three websites that I will share with you and I am working on a fourth.  I will share that one with you at a later date.

 

Weebly also has an education version of the tool that allows an educator to create a class roster with names, user names and passwords on the site and manage the list.  It also allows the teacher to create a class site.  I find this useful for a program I am doing to teach middle school age students about Internet safety and website design.  I created an Internet safety site to guide students through Internet conduct does and donts and then taught them to use Weebly so they can create their own Internet safety sites.  The purpose of the program is to have a website design competition and (secretly) teach the students about Internet safety so they can share their knowledge with their peers.  I'll let you know how that program works out.  Here are my sites:

Computer Camp 2010 

Internet Safety 2010

Tap



An ongoing list...

Things they don't teach you in Library School...
1. How to transport 27 helium filled balloons.  Now I know.
2. How to make cookie platters
3. How to build a miniature golf course.  Yes, I can shelve books, provide reference services, design websites and make miniature golf courses.  Oh, you didn't take Information Studies course 191321682?
4. A friend who is a DJ should be in your speed dial. 
5. Public service.  We all have bad days. 

Internet Safety

I'm taking a plunge into the world of Internet safety.  I recently attended the NYLA conference and heard a lot of school media specialists discuss Internet safety and filters.  I hear the world filters and I cringe!  I listened to what they had to say about using filters and the problems they encounter.  Students looking up information about certain body parts to research cancer and the annoying "BLOCKED" pops up.  On the other hand, I was a kid with access to the Internet and inappropriate magazines that adults told me not to look at and I looked.  I wouldn't put it past a group of middle school students 'googling' a few things that are inappropriate and then all of a sudden the school has a lawsuit on its hands because Simon said he saw a video on anal sex at school.  Thanks You Tube!  I understand the need for filters but I still cringe.  My philosophy is geared more towards guidance.  Ten years ago kids didn't have the same type of access to the Internet in schools that they do now and it's important that as educators and librarians we teach students how the Internet works.  By teaching them and guiding them through the use of the Internet they can access information but also learn to access it critically.  Before the Internet the schools had more control over the information that was allowed in school.  The information within the school walls was very purposefully acquired.  Now, the Internet provides an avenue to a seemingly endless amount of information and in order to not access certain information, even unintentionally, we have to purposefully restrict it.  So, I came to terms with the use of filters in schools as a good way to help keep students on track and ease them into the power of the Internet.  The students are there for a reason and should be educated to use technology before being tossed into a pool and drowning in information.  The Internet is a powerful tool and we need to act as the instruction manual.