460 Almost done

2007-07-27T20:13:00.000-07:00

Freaking out about going on maternity leave, selling the house, finishing my class, and finishing the contract work. OK deep breaths - I am done with my main class projects for the semester.

So to recap the craziest semester ever:
1. Learned so much great info for the fall
2. Would like to stay in touch with my classmates to stay up on all the new technologies - actually I would like to access the 460 Tech Entries in the future
3. I wish I new more people overseas that I could use SKYPE with
4. Where can we get funding for some of these technologies? I need a server!
5. I wish the semester had been longer -I feel like I just started to master some of the technologies.
6. After using PBwiki I despise Simmons' wikis even more.

Blogger

2007-07-26T19:37:00.000-07:00

Blogger Rocks! I wish I had more time to post and use it more effectively to organize my assignments. I think that if I were working and at my computer more it would be easier to keep up on daily thoughts.

I think I will start using blogger to communicate with my staff this year about staff meeting agendas and topics.

Innovation Project

2007-07-26T19:31:00.000-07:00

I love PB wiki! I can use this for so many lesson plans. I cannot wait to give links to students and teachers instead of printed pathfinders. I am going to set up the Freshman Orientation through PB wiki.

OK so now I have to decide which of my lessons I am going to use for my project. Sub-Saharan Africa, Shakespeare in Love, or possibly Notorious Americans. So many to choose from...

I have to just write up an outline and set it up.

2007-07-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

· Students will discover library resources and programs that anticipate and satisfy their needs for information, enjoyment, and enlightenment.

· Library resources will support schoolwork and independent learning at every age, helping students to build skills and interests needed for life-long success.

· Students will develop in an environment that is rich in stories and literature, where reading is valued and encouraged.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Library Media Center and its staff is to ensure that students and staff, regardless of learning styles or abilities, ethnicity, language, income, physical limitations, become effective users of information. To achieve this objective, the Library Media Center will provide access to materials on various academic levels and in many formats including print, electronic, streaming video, and DVD.

The library staff will provide instruction that will enable students to achieve their own levels of competence and stimulate interest in reading, viewing, evaluating, and using information. Developing a partnership with educators and parents, the staff will work to integrate the mission of the Library Media Center into the curriculum so that students’ needs are met.

What makes a good catalog

2007-07-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

How do the catalog features meet or not meet expectations and needs of a school library community?
What would you like to see to make the perfect catalog?
Denver Public Library Kids Catalog - pay attention to how the icon/visual search works. Very inticing to the younger crowd. Useful and germane icons.
Los Angeles Public Library Try searching with the search box and pulldown menu on the main page to see how Web Feat works.
New York Public Library Catalog - what else can you get to via a library catalog search? LEO, CATNYPL - NYPL's research libraries, Brooklyn Public, Queens Public, Library of Congress
Queens Library Catalog - check out the Aqua Browser. Very cool. Really showcases materials well.
Springfield Township High School Catalog - how well does this catalog work from a student/teacher perspective?
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Lab School Catalog - how well does this catalog work from a student/teacher perspective?

2007-07-10T11:09:00.000-07:00

Weekly Tech Encyclopedia Entries

Started entries for Tech Encyclopedia

1. Digg
2. Mahalo
3. SecondLife
4. StumbleUpon
5. YouTube

Figured out format for each entry.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to access Simmons Library databases since early last week. I cannot get many articles on topics. Fortunately, I had already printed out all the weekly readings .

Podcast assignment

2007-07-02T15:35:00.000-07:00

I have finally decided on what to do my Podcast on - a Lexington High library tour. Seems basic but it is really needed for this.

1. We have to hire a new librarian and possibly new aides that will need to be acquainted with the set up. Instead of repeating the same information to the applicants they could possibly listen to the blog before the interview.
2. Really getting into assisting students with their school projects using different technology and this would be a good example to use with them
3. Adapt for virtaul tour to take place of individual freshman orientations
4. It would also be very helpful to be able to provide to the school committee when we face another round of budget cuts