Today I am subbing as a librarian at our new Green Valley Ranch. We have just passed the 1-year anniversary for this spacious state-of-the-art branch. I am stationed at ASK DESK #1, right next to the cockpit. Yes, I said "cockpit". There is a life-size airplane cockpit, complete with all those luminous dials and levers that kids (of all ages) cannot wait to try.
Exploration and imagination are given free reign throughout the library. There are interactive play stations at the end of the stacks in the kids section. A little while ago two eager sisters claimed their stickers for properly identifying the Letter of the Week. They had visited the lounging areas where plasma screens and the "coffee tables" have clear tops to display cubbies full of things whose names all begin with one letter of the alphabet. Really cool!
The customers and I are having a blast!!!!!!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Making friends with POLARIS
The time has come for me "go all in" on POLARIS! Despite the fact that we have been on the Polaris system for almost a year now, my preferred method of placing and checking holds and renewing items for customers has been from the CATALOG and MY ACCOUNT functions from the DPL public homepage. For me, it just seemed to be more intuitive than the "professional/staff" version on the staff PC's. At first customers were a bit taken aback when I asked them for their birth date in addition to their library card number. But once I hit upon the handy dandy explanation that "it is SO much harder to misspell a birth date!" we usually got past any awkwardness. And I have gotten over feeling rude about it!
When on the Information Desk on the first floor, it is still my preferred of placing holds and accessing customers' records, since it gives me an opportunity to demonstrate how easy it is to use the PLACE HOLD function and to use MY ACCOUNT to check on holds and fines and loan periods that are about to expire. I access my own account that way most of the time...so it is very comfortable.
But with the New Year, after a whole year of my new, improved 30 hours schedule, I have opted to pick up occasional added hours as an "On Call" staffer. I have enjoyed filling in as a librarian in other departments here at Central, but in order to substitute in the branches, full circulation training is required. So I have opted to take the Polaris trainings being offered this winter on the general training calendar, and am following up with some hands-on practice at the Circulation (make that Borrowers' Services) Desk here at the Central Library. I am looking forward to both the final two training sessions and the coaching from seasoned circulation clerks. And then look out customers---here I come, to a Circulation Desk near you!
I also hope to find fun ways to share the valuable tips and tricks I learn along the way with my colleagues here in Reference Services, too!
When on the Information Desk on the first floor, it is still my preferred of placing holds and accessing customers' records, since it gives me an opportunity to demonstrate how easy it is to use the PLACE HOLD function and to use MY ACCOUNT to check on holds and fines and loan periods that are about to expire. I access my own account that way most of the time...so it is very comfortable.
But with the New Year, after a whole year of my new, improved 30 hours schedule, I have opted to pick up occasional added hours as an "On Call" staffer. I have enjoyed filling in as a librarian in other departments here at Central, but in order to substitute in the branches, full circulation training is required. So I have opted to take the Polaris trainings being offered this winter on the general training calendar, and am following up with some hands-on practice at the Circulation (make that Borrowers' Services) Desk here at the Central Library. I am looking forward to both the final two training sessions and the coaching from seasoned circulation clerks. And then look out customers---here I come, to a Circulation Desk near you!
I also hope to find fun ways to share the valuable tips and tricks I learn along the way with my colleagues here in Reference Services, too!
Saturday, January 7, 2012
RE-PERFORMANCES
Driving into work today I heard an extraordinary recording on our local Classical Music station (KVOD).
It was a cello/piano selection from their "CD of the Week" entitled THE SPANISH MASTERS (Zenph, 2011).
What blew me away was the seemless way in which this North Carolina recording company has added contemporary artists' music to WAX RECORDINGS (cylinders, actually) of Piano compositions by the legendary Manuel De Falla, IsaacAlbeniz and Enrique Granados made a century ago! Featured in these "re-reperformances" are cellist Zuilli Bailey and soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian. If the vocal/piano pieces are as good, I will DEFINITELY be adding this to my music library ! The idea of making these ground-breaking recordings available in newly mastered arrangements that pair long dead composers with contemporary musicians in digital format is amazing to me. Sort of like photoshoping music or allowing Natalie Cole to sing with her father the late great Nat King Cole in the album UNFORGETTABLE: WITH LOVE (Elektra / Wea, 1991)--only more so....my mind is racing with pairings of musicians who never had a chance to meet in real life, but could now be captured "re-performing" together. The possibilities are mind boggling!
For a full description of the title and an NPR interview with the contemporary artists, checkout the info on the KVOD website:
http://www.cpr.org/#load_article|New_CD_of_the_Week__The_Spanish_Masters
What blew me away was the seemless way in which this North Carolina recording company has added contemporary artists' music to WAX RECORDINGS (cylinders, actually) of Piano compositions by the legendary Manuel De Falla, IsaacAlbeniz and Enrique Granados made a century ago! Featured in these "re-reperformances" are cellist Zuilli Bailey and soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian. If the vocal/piano pieces are as good, I will DEFINITELY be adding this to my music library ! The idea of making these ground-breaking recordings available in newly mastered arrangements that pair long dead composers with contemporary musicians in digital format is amazing to me. Sort of like photoshoping music or allowing Natalie Cole to sing with her father the late great Nat King Cole in the album UNFORGETTABLE: WITH LOVE (Elektra / Wea, 1991)--only more so....my mind is racing with pairings of musicians who never had a chance to meet in real life, but could now be captured "re-performing" together. The possibilities are mind boggling!
For a full description of the title and an NPR interview with the contemporary artists, checkout the info on the KVOD website:
http://www.cpr.org/#load_article|New_CD_of_the_Week__The_Spanish_Masters
Friday, December 23, 2011
Free Learning Sites
If you Know a student who is online often (and what student today is NOT?!) , here are two free online learning sites to help them brush up on skills or learn something new:
KAHN ACADEMY www.khanacademy.org/
Thousands of educational videos and hundreds of practice exercise on a wide variety of K-12 topics ranging from history to chemistry to arithmetic to venture capital. This website started with math videos prepared by Khan for a relative in another city, but has expanded exponentially to become one of the best free online learing sites available. The ABOUT section of their website includes the following description of their goals:
"The Khan Academy is an organization on a mission. We're a not-for-profit with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education to anyone anywhere. All of the site's resources are available to anyone. It doesn't matter if you are a student, teacher, home-schooler, principal, adult returning to the classroom after 20 years, or a friendly alien just trying to get a leg up in earthly biology. The Khan Academy's materials and resources are available to you completely free of charge." I wish such a comprehensive resource had been at my fingertips when I was preparing for academic tests. Bravo!
GCF LearnFree www.gcflearnfree.org/
a simpler set of free online lessons on Computers, Reading and Math from Goodwill Community Foundation. Yes, that IS the Goodwill Industries who have the the thrift stores and work programs for people with disabilities that we are all familiar with. GCF has now made lessons in basic skills available to all. There are even mobile apps, so that online learners can put free time anywhere, anytime to good use learning and practicing these important subjects.
KAHN ACADEMY www.khanacademy.org/
Thousands of educational videos and hundreds of practice exercise on a wide variety of K-12 topics ranging from history to chemistry to arithmetic to venture capital. This website started with math videos prepared by Khan for a relative in another city, but has expanded exponentially to become one of the best free online learing sites available. The ABOUT section of their website includes the following description of their goals:
"The Khan Academy is an organization on a mission. We're a not-for-profit with the goal of changing education for the better by providing a free world-class education to anyone anywhere. All of the site's resources are available to anyone. It doesn't matter if you are a student, teacher, home-schooler, principal, adult returning to the classroom after 20 years, or a friendly alien just trying to get a leg up in earthly biology. The Khan Academy's materials and resources are available to you completely free of charge." I wish such a comprehensive resource had been at my fingertips when I was preparing for academic tests. Bravo!
GCF LearnFree www.gcflearnfree.org/
a simpler set of free online lessons on Computers, Reading and Math from Goodwill Community Foundation. Yes, that IS the Goodwill Industries who have the the thrift stores and work programs for people with disabilities that we are all familiar with. GCF has now made lessons in basic skills available to all. There are even mobile apps, so that online learners can put free time anywhere, anytime to good use learning and practicing these important subjects.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
A Comment !!!
A comment on my blog from a heretofore unknown person...! Huzzah!!
It made me think of the seen in JULIE & JULIA where Julie gets so excited about a comment form someone other than her mother. :-) Does this make me a REAL blogger now?
But the best part is that I discovered a fellow blogging bookie and a new writer (ANN SUMMERVILLE) who does my favorite kind of mysteries. Her blog, COZY IN TEXAS is now one that I am following and I am looking forward to being able to access the Kindle edition of her ebooks.
I knew right away that we were kindred spirits when I saw the number of book-related blogs she is following. Now THOSE are on my lists of new things to check out, too.
It made me think of the seen in JULIE & JULIA where Julie gets so excited about a comment form someone other than her mother. :-) Does this make me a REAL blogger now?
But the best part is that I discovered a fellow blogging bookie and a new writer (ANN SUMMERVILLE) who does my favorite kind of mysteries. Her blog, COZY IN TEXAS is now one that I am following and I am looking forward to being able to access the Kindle edition of her ebooks.
I knew right away that we were kindred spirits when I saw the number of book-related blogs she is following. Now THOSE are on my lists of new things to check out, too.
Friday, December 9, 2011
DPL Holiday Used Book Sale
Guess who just found some of the cozy mysteries I blogged about yesterday down in the DPL Holiday Used Booksale! Woooo-hooo!! Two MC Beatons that will go onto the Christmas Books shelf at home. Yes!
Looks like I will be going down again today when my day ends and maybe I'll even come back tomorow. The selection is great and the prices very reasonable. Think I will hunt for some gift books a little later. There is still lots to choose from.
Looks like I will be going down again today when my day ends and maybe I'll even come back tomorow. The selection is great and the prices very reasonable. Think I will hunt for some gift books a little later. There is still lots to choose from.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Cozy Christmas Mysteries
Noticed a "cozy mystery" with a Christmas theme on a colleague's desk today and it jogged my memory that FIND CHRISTMAS BOOKS is still on my TO-DO List, along with find CHRISTMAS CARDS. Yes, I am terribly slow at sending out my cards and some years don't even make it to the post office in time. One year we sent out Groundhog letters instead! But this year.....I resolved to do better...and I still have time....
But regardless what happens with the Christmas Cards, we ALWAYS get out the box of Christmas books and usually get around to re-reading a few old favorites. We especially like reading A CHRISTMAS CAROL aloud and have even gathered with other Dickens aficionados to make an event of it. I wonder how his CRICKET IN THE HEARTH would stand up to the same treatment. Might be worth the experiment....
But back to the cozy mysteries with yuletide themes. Some of my favorite authors do series with repeating characters: M.C. Beaton has both the Agatha Raisin stories and her Scottish detective Hamish Macbeth. Here are some of their seasonal novels: For those who like Agatha's feistiness try KISSING CHRISTMAS GOODBYE (2007) or BUSY BODY (2010). And although it is older, HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS (1999) with Hamish made for a nice cozy evening a few holiday seasons ago.
Another cozy mystery writer with a couple set during the holidays is Joanne Fluke. I liked CANDY CANE MURDER (2007) and Hannah Swensen, the cookie baking sleuth in PLUM PUDDING MURDER (2009)--a lot--as much for the cookie and other dessert recipes as the nice mysteries with likable townspeople. I have become almost as fond of the folks in Lake Eden, Minnesota as the colorful cast of characters who populate that little town down the road called Lake Wobegon. Who wouldn't like cookies, mystery and Christmas all in the same book!
And that reminds me of yet one more item for the TO-DO List: bake Christmas cookies! Happy Holidays to you and yours.....
But regardless what happens with the Christmas Cards, we ALWAYS get out the box of Christmas books and usually get around to re-reading a few old favorites. We especially like reading A CHRISTMAS CAROL aloud and have even gathered with other Dickens aficionados to make an event of it. I wonder how his CRICKET IN THE HEARTH would stand up to the same treatment. Might be worth the experiment....
But back to the cozy mysteries with yuletide themes. Some of my favorite authors do series with repeating characters: M.C. Beaton has both the Agatha Raisin stories and her Scottish detective Hamish Macbeth. Here are some of their seasonal novels: For those who like Agatha's feistiness try KISSING CHRISTMAS GOODBYE (2007) or BUSY BODY (2010). And although it is older, HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS (1999) with Hamish made for a nice cozy evening a few holiday seasons ago.
Another cozy mystery writer with a couple set during the holidays is Joanne Fluke. I liked CANDY CANE MURDER (2007) and Hannah Swensen, the cookie baking sleuth in PLUM PUDDING MURDER (2009)--a lot--as much for the cookie and other dessert recipes as the nice mysteries with likable townspeople. I have become almost as fond of the folks in Lake Eden, Minnesota as the colorful cast of characters who populate that little town down the road called Lake Wobegon. Who wouldn't like cookies, mystery and Christmas all in the same book!
And that reminds me of yet one more item for the TO-DO List: bake Christmas cookies! Happy Holidays to you and yours.....
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