In the Clouds: Cloud Computing

I really liked how straightforward the Common Craft video was on cloud computing. I'll have to see what other videos they've created to explain other techy concepts.

As far as cloud computing goes, it makes me think of Marmot and the IT services they provide us and the neighboring library districts. It seems like we are already using cloud computing on a smaller scale, if I'm understanding this correctly. Regardless, the whole outsourcing idea seems smart to me. It appears to save our money, time, and nerves. It will be interesting to see how libraries, including our own, will embrace this idea even more into the future.

Election LibGuide

After reviewing the well-organized Election Libguide - nice work Linda - I was able find the answers to the quiz fairly easily, enabling me to get all the questions correct. I like how the Libguide has everything there, with easy access. This will be helpful for any patron that has questions about the upcoming election. I'm not sure I'll personally be asked many election questions working in children's, but it may come up. One never knows. It's definitely good general information to be aware.

LibGuides are great. Unfortunately, I missed the recent class on Libguides, etc., but I have found the Reader's Advisory LibGuide helpful. It's another great tool that I have used frequently.

August Task

Using Critical Past to see what happened on my birthday, I found several clips of military and war footage. In one of the clips, I watched the Civilian High Commissioner of the Federal Republic of Germany, James Bryant Conant, sign papers that ended the Allied occupation of Germany. The papers were signed on May 5, 1955.

One thing that I really liked about Critical Past is that a user can refine his/her search by location. I also liked how the clip has a description and specs about how long it is, if it's in color, etc. Another helpful feature is the Related Clips links on the right-hand side. I think Critical Past will be really helpful for school projects. I'll have to remember that.

Since I'm a vegetarian, finding out that the minimum temperature to cook fresh pork is 160 degrees is not very useful to me, but I did browse the Reports and Research link. One article I found, written by the Keystone Forum, cited that Americans on average spend 46% of their budget on food prepared outside the home. I confess that I fall into this category. The concern of the Keystone forum is that, 32% of our calories come from restaurant food. This could have a significant impact on our health, if we don't pick healthy choices.

July Task: New OPAC

I have been trying to work with the new OPAC while I'm at the children's information desk. I have been placing holds, and I figured out how to find where all the copies of a book are. I like that the new OPAC has similar titles listed on the side, and that the books of a series are listed on the bottom of a page. These features are a great help when doing RA.

I haven't been able to figure out how to remove a filter on the right-hand side once I no longer need it, until today. I found the box right above the filters and a user clicks on the minus icon to take the filter. As I wrote on the survey, I think it would be more intuitive if a user could simply click on the filter again to disable it.

(Also, I was forced to write this with the threat of a pastrami sandwich down my throat...I placed a hold on The Chicken Doesn't Skate, using the new OPAC. The person who recommended it, told me it was called Chicken Don't Skate - get your facts straight, recommender!)

Newseum

I really liked exploring Newseum. This is a great tool for patrons, especially those that have recently moved from another state or country. They will be able to stay up on the major events back home. I also thought this would be a great tool for teachers who are studying a state or major event that takes place outside of the country. I also peeked at different newspapers from the around the world - the Middle East, China, and Greece - curious it look at their languages and to see if I could tell what they were talking about by the pictures.

Free eBooks

I first looked at Project Gutenberg. I downloaded Bram Stoker's Dracula and Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded. I was interested in finding Pamela, because I remember hearing in college that it is one of the first novels, as a we think of novels today, written in 1740. I have never read it before, so I thought I would check it out.

Next, I explored Google Books. I was impressed by the magnitude of ebooks available. I like how they are organized in genres and categories. I just read The Hunger Games, and I thought I would see if it was downloadable. Google Books has a "limited preview" of it. You can read up to page 92, enough to get you completely hooked!

Many Books was pretty neat, too. I like how you can make your own specifications for how you want your ebook to be formatted. There was something satisfying about clicking on the button "Build It," after I made my preferences. I had The "Genius" "built."

Ebooks are great for classics or really popular books (if they are available) that are checked out all the time. We could recommend this to patrons who don't want to wait for their hold to come in.

Optimal Resume

I am really impressed by Optimal Resume. If I was looking for new employment - thank goodness I'm not - I would find the practice interviews most helpful. It is always such a nerve-racking process. The ability to record your answers and even broadcast them is really great, and I thought the coaching function was a wonderful resource, too.

I think our patrons will find Optimal Resume extremely helpful, especially with the resume and letter help. When I worked in Public Service, many patrons asked for help writing these, especially at the computer info desk. Optimal Resume is a great addition to our databases.

Print Friendly

I tried Print Friendly on an article I found in the Sentinel about collage artist, Jonathan Talbot, who is visiting GJ and speaking at Mesa State.



Print Friendly is a great tool that I plan to use whenever I need to print off an article from the internet. I have always print previewed in the past, but what I really like about Print Friendly is the ability to cut out images or text with just a simple click of the mouse. It is a much easier and faster process than copying and pasting the information you want into a blank Word document. Print Friendly is one more resource we can use to help the library be more green.

Learn-A-Test

I wish I had known about Learn-A-Test last month. I had two adult patrons ask me (I think even on the same day) for elementary math books because they were studying for the GED. We don't have an extensive elementary math text book in the juvenile collection, so I mentioned the GED DVDs and that the literacy center has tutoring and materials for the GED. Learn-A-Test would have been a wonderful tool to show them as well.

While I was exploring Learn-A-Test, I tried the Social Studies practice test for the GED. I answered two questions and then thought, "Yuck! Who wants to actually take a test unless you have to?! (I did get those two questions right, though. :)) I'm glad I tried the test simply for the sake of future demonstrations with patrons. I was pleased to see that one can save a test and come back at his or her convenience.

eBooks

Downloading the Adobe Digital Editions was a snap. I selected Romeo and Juliet as my first ebook. I was really pleased when I looked at the beginning of Romeo and Juliet and saw some biographical information about Shakespeare - an added bonus. This would be interesting material to read during a break perhaps. I also put on hold The Portable Edgar Alan Poe. Looking forward to that.