This great view come from the mapping site (http://maps.live.com/) that can generate great "bird's eye" views of places.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
Audio books
I learned to love audio books while I was working at the Kingwood Library and driving back and forth more than an hour each way. It introduced me to new authors, and saved me from conservative talk radio. Popping in some cassettes, or even better some CDs, was a simple process that helped me keep my sanity.
I soon found that some audio books, because of the voice of the reader, seemed even better than the written version. My all-time favorite in this regard is the "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series, written by Alexander McCall Smith, and read by Lisette LeCat in a terrific South African accent that makes the Botswana setting seem all the more real. The first six or so of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum mysteries are also great because of the "New Joizy" accent of the reader C.J. Critt.
I soon found that some audio books, because of the voice of the reader, seemed even better than the written version. My all-time favorite in this regard is the "No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency" series, written by Alexander McCall Smith, and read by Lisette LeCat in a terrific South African accent that makes the Botswana setting seem all the more real. The first six or so of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum mysteries are also great because of the "New Joizy" accent of the reader C.J. Critt.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
YouTube videos
If you haven't already discovered it, www.YouTube.com is a great site for videos of all sorts.
A recent video that I found shows a fascinating way of increasing the power of old forms of graphics by adding motion. In the segment, Swedish professor Han Rosling takes a look at how most of us view third world countries, as compared to more developed countries. Prof. Rosling demonstrates that most of the things we currently believe are myths. But as he says, "the problem is not ignorance, but pre-conceived ideas." He then uses the graphic illustrations he has developed to blow away those pre-conceptions.
The video of his lecture can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUwS1uAdUcI
The video is a little long, about 20 minutes, but you will see what I mean if you watch at least until he starts to show his graphics. If you watch the whole thing, you will change some of your thoughts about the world today.
A recent video that I found shows a fascinating way of increasing the power of old forms of graphics by adding motion. In the segment, Swedish professor Han Rosling takes a look at how most of us view third world countries, as compared to more developed countries. Prof. Rosling demonstrates that most of the things we currently believe are myths. But as he says, "the problem is not ignorance, but pre-conceived ideas." He then uses the graphic illustrations he has developed to blow away those pre-conceptions.
The video of his lecture can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUwS1uAdUcI
The video is a little long, about 20 minutes, but you will see what I mean if you watch at least until he starts to show his graphics. If you watch the whole thing, you will change some of your thoughts about the world today.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Galveston Post
Walking on the beach in Galveston today with my favorite person gave me inspiration to stop and smell the ocean breezes. Time passes too fast!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
"Roots" of Technology
------------------- An Image from "BELOW THE ROOT" ----------------------It's hard to imagine how much technology has already changed within my lifetime! It makes me feel "mature" to say it, but I was born before the widespread use of television, computers, lasers, and the Internet. Sunday's major event was getting the Chicago Tribune and reading the color comics with my Dad. Going to someone's house to view a black and white version of the Mickey Mouse Club was a big deal. I never touched a computer until I was in graduate school, and then it took the form of feeding punch cards into a mainframe. The first remote use was through a teletype machine reading paper tape.
When my son was born, we bought one of the first Apple IIE's at home. He and I read library picture books together, but we also played some of the first computer adventure games together (lots of text and monochrome graphics). Ironically,we later found that one of our favorites was actually based on a book: "Below the Root" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. This mother-son bonding experience is truly one of my fondest memories.
I have been blessed to be part of a profession that has indulged my dual passions of books and computers.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Library 2.0: Future Shock
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Do any of you remember Alvin Toffler's book "Future Shock", written in 1970? Toffler's shortest definition of future shock is "a personal perception of too much change in too short a period of time." I think that is how many of us (librarians and customers) are feeling right now.
Library 2.0 is just the current jargon to mean that the library is continuing to evolve and change at an even faster pace than it has in the recent past (see my previous post). That is the way of the Information Age, and there is no way to put that genie back into the bottle. Instead, we need to focus on ways to make this experience of change a positive one for all of us.
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Do any of you remember Alvin Toffler's book "Future Shock", written in 1970? Toffler's shortest definition of future shock is "a personal perception of too much change in too short a period of time." I think that is how many of us (librarians and customers) are feeling right now.
Library 2.0 is just the current jargon to mean that the library is continuing to evolve and change at an even faster pace than it has in the recent past (see my previous post). That is the way of the Information Age, and there is no way to put that genie back into the bottle. Instead, we need to focus on ways to make this experience of change a positive one for all of us.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Some library memories
What will library services look like in 10 years? Definitely different than today in ways I probably can't anticipate. The changes I have already experienced have been spectacular.
I started my library career about 20 years ago. Not one single computer in the building. Stamping due dates on book cards. Filing cards and counting statistics by hand. Hand-writing overdue notices. Filmstrips. Phonograph records. Calling between branches to look for items requested. A microfiche catalog.
In 1997, staff had Internet access at a few computers. A CD-ROM catalog inhouse for customers. An automated circulation system on dumb terminals. Audiotapes. Videos. Receipt printers. Still calling between branches for requests, but the automated system gave guidance. A good print reference collection.
In 2007, computers everywhere for staff and customers with Internet access for all. Holds placed online by customers. Self-service pickup of holds. Self checkout of items. DVDs, CDs, downloadable audio. E-books. E-branch services available 24/7, including online databases. New libraries are more spacious, more comfortable.
I started my library career about 20 years ago. Not one single computer in the building. Stamping due dates on book cards. Filing cards and counting statistics by hand. Hand-writing overdue notices. Filmstrips. Phonograph records. Calling between branches to look for items requested. A microfiche catalog.
In 1997, staff had Internet access at a few computers. A CD-ROM catalog inhouse for customers. An automated circulation system on dumb terminals. Audiotapes. Videos. Receipt printers. Still calling between branches for requests, but the automated system gave guidance. A good print reference collection.
In 2007, computers everywhere for staff and customers with Internet access for all. Holds placed online by customers. Self-service pickup of holds. Self checkout of items. DVDs, CDs, downloadable audio. E-books. E-branch services available 24/7, including online databases. New libraries are more spacious, more comfortable.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Library Elf
If your public library is listed on this site, the www.libraryelf.com is a great way to get e-mail notices to track your records. It's simple to set up, and has some added features that make it more useful than standard library notices.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Library Thing
Library Thing (www.librarything.com) is a great free way to organize your home library. It is an incredibly easy way to add professional content, even cover art! You just enter the title, and everything else pops up automatically. A sample of my library is posted in the margins of this blog.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Friday, October 5, 2007
Remember the important things
The sign is one of my favorites. It is a classic reminder to keep in mind what is important when creating library (or any other) signage.
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Saturday, September 29, 2007
Photo Cropped in Pixer
The top photo is the original, taken at my niece Courtney's wedding in Alabama.
The bottom photo was cropped in Pixer to remove some excess background clutter.
Standing (left to right): my son Vic, me, cousin Rick, Rick's daughter Christine, my dad Bob, my husband Rick. Seated: Cousin Rick's wife Sue.
Friday, September 28, 2007
My Trading Card
Here is my trading card created with fd's Flickr Toys. The photo was taken at Wunderlich Farm, part of the Klein History Museum. The subject of the photo represents a big part of one of my "past lives." Click on the card to read more.
Monday, September 24, 2007
More on the Mural Project
Another feature of the Rogers/Rawlings mural at the Barbara Bush Library will be animals and plants from the Cypress Creek area, like this egret I photographed one weekend. Pat Rawlings works a lot from photographs, and transcribes them into digital images for the mural. It has given me a good excuse to get out in the fresh air with my camera.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
A New Mural Project
We are currently collaborating on a new mural for the Children's Area of the library. The mural, being created by artist Pat Rawlings, has been donated in memory of Kathleen "Niki" Rogers, a former library employee, Friend of the Library, and volunteer. Part of the mural will include important historical elements in our community such as the old Wunderlich house built in 1891 (below); the Goodyear blimp; the Champions "golf ball" water tower; oxen pulling logs from the old saw mill; bushel baskets of vegetables from the truck farms; and jets from the Hooks airport. The mural will be unveiled and dedicated on December 1.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Powerful and Dangerous
The Internet is surely the most powerful information tool that has ever existed. I am glad I live in this age where so much knowledge is available at my fingertips at any hour of the day.
Like any source of power, though, it can be dangerous if used incorrectly. News of the misuse of this power is everywhere and makes us cautious.
Thomas Friedman (author of "The World is Flat") is on TV as I write this. He is commenting on the fact that babies born today will leave digital footprints throughout their life times. Anything put out on the Internet will stay out there "forever." There is no good defense against the false information that anyone can put out there about you or others. Friedman recommends searching "MySpace Lawsuits" in Google to be aware of the abuses that have occurred.
A feature story in last week's magazine section of the "Houston Chronicle" also focused on privacy. It pointed out that the sources for getting information on people extend well beyond the Internet: cell phone logs track your calls; grocery store "discount" cards track your purchases; EZ Tags show where you have driven; GPS locators pinpoint your exact location at any moment in time; MapQuest provides driving directions to your house; the Appraisal District gives details about your home; voter databases reveal your age, etc.
Don't let fear of the abuses of the Internet keep you from taking advantage of its life-changing power. Electricity is power that can kill, but that doesn't stop anyone from turning on the switch. Just be careful and use your common-sense.
Like any source of power, though, it can be dangerous if used incorrectly. News of the misuse of this power is everywhere and makes us cautious.
Thomas Friedman (author of "The World is Flat") is on TV as I write this. He is commenting on the fact that babies born today will leave digital footprints throughout their life times. Anything put out on the Internet will stay out there "forever." There is no good defense against the false information that anyone can put out there about you or others. Friedman recommends searching "MySpace Lawsuits" in Google to be aware of the abuses that have occurred.
A feature story in last week's magazine section of the "Houston Chronicle" also focused on privacy. It pointed out that the sources for getting information on people extend well beyond the Internet: cell phone logs track your calls; grocery store "discount" cards track your purchases; EZ Tags show where you have driven; GPS locators pinpoint your exact location at any moment in time; MapQuest provides driving directions to your house; the Appraisal District gives details about your home; voter databases reveal your age, etc.
Don't let fear of the abuses of the Internet keep you from taking advantage of its life-changing power. Electricity is power that can kill, but that doesn't stop anyone from turning on the switch. Just be careful and use your common-sense.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Why "Dinosaur Tracks"?
No matter that I am in a field where I use the Internet every day. No matter that being on the web with my laptop is my hobby. I still feel like a dinosaur as I watch my son and his friends text message each other on their phones at the speed of light, or as I view their MySpace pages with revolving photos, videos, and background sound tracks. I want to know more, and the 23 Things exercise will track the progress of this dinosaur as I evolve. This blog is one of my electronic footprints.
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