Getting Ready for the "Sale for London"

I intend to be the Thing-LESS Monkey...The sale will be the weekend of July 25 - for a couple of days. Today I set boxes - empty - all around the house and we started to fill them up. We have some sweet stuff - but it is just that - stuff - nothing wrong with it and I do hope someone else will want to have it for a while...

Anokaberry 2009 Short List

Beanball by Gene Fehler
Boy Who Dared by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Chicken Foot Farm by Anne Estevis
Cicada Summer by Andrea Beaty
Comeback Season by Jennifer E. Smith
Deep Down Popular by Phoebe Stone
The Dragon's Child by Laurence Yep
Facttracker by Jason Carter Eaton
Ghost Letters by Stephen Alter
Go Big or Go Home by Will Hobbs
Greetings from Nowhere by Barbara O'Connor
Grow by Juanita Havill
Honeybee: Poems and Short Prose by Naomi Shibab Nye
I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee by Charles J. Shields
Jeremy Cabbage and the Living Museum of Human Oddballs and Quadruped Delights
by David Elliott
Kaline Klattermaster's Tree House by Haven Kimmel
Keeping Score by Linda Sue Park
Lulu Atlantis and the Quest for True Blue Love by Patricia Martin
Magic Half by Annie Barrows
Mr. Karp's Last Glass by Cary Fagan
Penderwick's on Gardam Street by Jeanne Birdsall
Porcupine by Meg Tilly
The Red-Headed Princess: A Novel by Ann Rinaldi
Rex Zero, King of Nothing by Tim Wynne-Jones
Ringside, 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial by Jen Bryant
Seer of Shadows by Avi
Six Innings by James Preller
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor
When the Sergeant Came Marching Home by Don Lemna
Where the Steps Where by Andrea Cheng
The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

Last Day of May Thoughts

The routine of posting for Anokaberry has become habit at this point. I chose about 40 other blogs with similar areas of interest to inform me both as an advocate of children's literature and a blogger in general. I use Google Reader for those feeds. It is apparent everyday that an understanding of what I am doing and why is essential to the strength of Anokaberry. It is, after all, an online book-talk and presentation. It presents summaries of books published in the current year (2008) and invites and displays comments. It can be searched by title and a sidebar lists posts (TITLES) as well as labels of age appropriateness. I do not have a VOICE on Anokaberry - I do have a brief note from "Nan" and the choices of layout and content are mine but I do not comment or chatter. Most of the other blogs in this subject area that I read have personality -- The other two or three "mock newberys" are somewhat dull in comparison. What I wish the template could include? A separate set of "labels" or "tags" for subjects. Another column or "aside" for whatever - I have put links to authors' websites in some of the posts. The concept of "enriching the post" rather than cluttering up the sidebars...

between reading and blogging and blogging about reading

I have 57 requests currently at Hennepin County Library and about 5 holds waiting for me. Thank you Hennepin County for your tax support of libraries that enables the library to purchase newly published books for children and youth. Here in Anoka County we seem to run out of money just keeping up with the series and trilogies... I am continuing to thrive doing the Anokaberry. I am reading reading reading and learning hugely as I compare and contrast and read reviews and work on this project. Be right back I have a patron waiting...

progress report

The thing about learning -- well a thing about learning -- is that it opens the doors and windows you know? So once the door is open - or maybe I learn how to open the doors and the windows - and maybe that's what the teacher really does - teach how to open the doors and windows or even names those things doors and windows -- anyway, once I see the door and open it and then the real -- personal, self-driven -- learning begins. Specific to Things, I am learning and seeing and opening everyday. The blog "Anokaberry" is thriving. As of this post, there are over 50 books noted and many comments received. The concept changes as it becomes itself. I used Blogger for its home, I use Google Reader to keep track of and read other similar blogs. I use LibraryThing to list all the eligible books, write reviews, rate and write private comments and communicate with other members of LibraryThing about shared titles. I use photos from Flickr and use ImageChef and other photo manipulators to add interest to Anokaberry's sidebars.

you know what they say

Anokaberry continues...

The blog has a life of its own now. The first post was February 24, 2008, since then almost 50 posts and over 500 visitors. I have received emails from authors and readers commenting on the blog and the books. I have read almost 40 books, commenting and reviewing on LibraryThing and posting summaries on Anokaberry. I am learning all this right out in public and having success and making plenty of mistakes as I go. The encouragement of many 23 Thingers has been so wonderful. I took the blog and the program idea to my library and presented it as a small step into the world of 2.0 ------

time for anokaberry

Anokaberry begins!

Thing 23.3 Final Thoughts -------- Mind the Path

Thing 23.2 Final Thoughts Sweeping Up

"Traditionally we've locked up our resources behind passwords and barcodes, keeping things in catalogs and databases no one else can access except by using our sites...while we were busying burying and hiding our content and resources, the rest of the world decided to share -- openly. As a result, libraries are not in that mix and we are not where the users are."
Jenny Levine "What is New about Library 2.0"

"Interactivity is another design feature of Web 2.0. The intent is to give users a rich experience within the system, allowing them to explore on their own and providing many pathways to the end results."
David Tyckoson "That Thing You Do"

"I believe that this program is worthy of our notice. Please feel free to experiment with this site on work time, as the pressure of other work allows."
Marlene Moulton Janssen, Director, Anoka County Library, Email to staff, Subject: 23 Things on a Stick

"In simplest terms, 2.0 is a new way of thinking about libraries. First and foremost, it follows one underlying golden rule: to dynamically interact with and listen to your users to create more user-centered services, both physical and technology-related. Fundamentally, 2.0 is the willingess to enhance library services through collaboration."
"Young adults ask for sites they can use to interact with other teens and library staff, take quizzes, submit reviews, play games, look up information, chat with library staff for assistance, post messages and comments....."
Kimberly Bolan, Meg Canada, Rob Cullin "Web, Library, and Teen Services 2.0"

"Instead of trying to build the best destination, build the best network. The kind of network I'm refering to is a web of interconnections -- links between content and people...The goal: to make your Web site a network hub that connects content and conversations."
Rich Gordan "Get Smart About Your Readers: Ideas & Insights"

Thing 23.1 Final Thoughts

There are so many questions posed in this final thing. Yes! I would participate in another program like this. Unexpected outcomes? Well, I really did get wrapped up in the whole thing - the rest of the family had a hard time getting computer time. I had a blast meeting up with old friends on Facebook and writing on young friends' walls. I resolved a couple of years ago to say things to young people when I have the opportunity - to let them know they have a friend. I've been able to do that on Facebook. That has been pure good. Improvements? -- I only noticed two little glitches and I commented on them. I do miss the personal contact with the "teacher" but I know you are there. Not everyone is as enthusiastic as they could be - some are downright negative. Well, I guess there is always a negative voice -- or maybe we are all negative from time to time. OK I am going for one more random post. I have this stack of articles with highlighted quotes -- I will throw them down in Thing 23.2

Thing 23. Final Thoughts

I feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment right now. When I first read about this challenge I was so excited and I have thrived on each and every thing. Remember thriving is a substantial word. I took the online survey before writing up this final post. I had a bit of the old "test anxiety" but got through. What has changed? Me, of course. I have been places and learned stuff. I am an enriched librarian. I am so fortunate to have this for my daily work. So fortunate. And the present is so good and the fact that everything is changing is so good. There is no denying this evolution/revolution... There is no virtue in doing anything a certain way just for traditions sake. Let us respectfully speak and discuss and dare to try. Respect for others has been a component of this class. Respect for the developers of these sites and methods. Respect for the leadership of libraries. The bonds that have formed and strengthen between co-workers in our building as we have laughed and shared about a thing has been a powerful experience. Thank you to the leaders that opened this door for us. Now we all have to deal with the fact that the door has been opened and there is no going back.

Thing 22.2 What Did I Learn Today?

It was inevitable that the thing monkey would appear one last time in the 23 Things on a Stick. I am accountable to her so she knows about the resolution and will keep me honest. Thanks Thing Monkey. I will continue to read the blogs that I have set up on Bloglines. I will probably even offer comments of my own. I will respond to the journal alerts read the wealth of articles and discussions that are taking place. I will participant heartily in discussions in my home workplace with my co-workers and colleagues. I recommend these paths to others. I will remember that I cannot possibly read it all.

Thing 22.1 What Did I Learn Today?

Here are my responses to the specific questions: I do resolve to maintain my blog -- the avatar has got to go however and a few other razzle-dazzle. So it will "evolve" as well. Perhaps it will be more candid. Hmmm. I will ask myself "What did I learn today?" and record some of the answers. I always have more questions than answers -- more curiosity than conclusions.

Thing 22. What Did I Learn Today?

What a big question. What did I learn today? That my profession is like everything else -- always changing. The rate of change and the components that are impacting and driving the changes are many. Some routines go on in a timeless way other routines fall away. All change changes us. Sometimes I am so ready other times resistant and reluctant. In one of my early blogs (Thing 2.1) I wondered about definitions and Library 2.0 --Evolution? Revolution? Transformation? Mutation? Now at Thing 22 I can say all of those are true. Start a conversation about Library 2.0 Or Web 2.0 -- or any of the buzzwords I've read over and over again in this seminar and the conversation will veer to all of those descriptions. The 23 Things lesson uses "evolve". It's hard to argue with "evolve". For me anyway. I've seen it happening -- growth toward potential -- progress.

Thing 21.2 BMSOSN Blog Prompts

Here's to the richness of the mix. I have joined more groups in the last month than I have in the 57 years preceding... Some I am sure I will revisit and work out a place to inhabit, others I will revisit long enough to delete my account. All the traveling has been worth it. I am hoping that the network building will enrich us all and strengthen our libraries - personally, professionally and for the public.

Thing 21.1 Beyond MySpace:Other Social Networks

FYI -- I think this is the MySpace for Books in Publisher's Weekly article. The link was not functional when I tried in the 23 Things instructions. I posted a comment on the Thing 21 page.
Gather is described in this article dated 12/12/05 (the date could be a problem - over 2 years is a LONG time ago in techtime) as a "mix between a lifestyle portal and a content aggregator...". This is a good description I think. Both Gather and Ning are multitasking sites that offer groups, blogs, photoshare, tagging... They add another layer to the opportunities the web offers. In the article "Building a Social Networking Environment at the Library" the statement is made that the social web "represents a cultural shift towards expression, collaboration and interaction...users are not satisfied with simply reading web pages. They are beginning to expect the opportunity to interact online with...(why not?) their library." This is another of the topics that opens boxes for people who think and talk about librarians of tomorrow. Clearly all aspects of social networking are available to the library --- but which ones are useful? From user/patron/open tagging to collection direction and selection -- some of these areas are still considered sacred by many in the profession. Folksonomy can be a very controversial topic. Collaborating has always required studied awareness of dynamics mixed with grace and tact. Think committees. Campion's article suggests three steps toward becoming interactive libraries: education, application, endorsement. The advocates of Library 2.0 agree that this direction is progress, the detractors have many arguments against. Some of the conversation stoppers use words like "fad" and "hype". So here we are at a Step 1: education=23 Things on a Stick. These 23 Things have, I'm sure, set ideas spinning through the our heads. Will we be able to move on to application? Will our supervisors and directors - after opening these doors and windows to us be able to collaborate with us toward the library of the future?

Thing 21. Beyond MySpace: Other Social Networks

I am walking around in Gather. It is user-friendly and straightforward. I joined so I could look at everything I wanted to see. After about 45 minutes there, I headed over to WebJunction and joined up there. This format is easier on the eyes; the ads in Gather were distracting and alien for me. I found my way to the Minnesota content and the 23 Things on a Stick page, then wandered into the PLA 2008 Virtual Conference which led me over to the ALA site. Yikes, it's a maze and a time sucker. This site is one I'll put on my favorites, the resources will expand my knowledge of my profession. Now over to Ning. I'm a member of Ning and the 23 Things on a Stick group. I uploaded by profile picture. This is my page. I commented on another librarian's post about 23 Things and invited a co-worker/23Thinger to contact me when she gets to #21. I created a group -- Mock Newbery. Adding the widget took some looking around for me -- I got a bit frustrated but finally found it! Look for it in the right hand column. I realize this was Question 2 of "For this Thing" so the next post will discuss the articles in Question 1.

Thing 20.1 Libraries and Social Networks

After the last tangent post I'll start a new one to stick to the assignment. I joined MySpace and hung around for about an hour exploring, then deleted my account. Too many ads and junk everywhere for me. Maybe that is an age thing. I'll stay on Facebook. I have friends there now and have been a participant for about a month. I have family and work friends. I've written on walls and my wall has been written on, I've even received gifts! I am a fan of Hennepin County Library. I joined a group CCS Blaine -- the school where I worked before the library. Wrote notes to many of my former students. It will be fun to hear back. Finding that group was fun for me - to see their grownup photos and remember them from six+ years ago. I am also a member of the "Library 2.0 Interest Group" and "Librarians and Facebook". The HCL Facebook page offers catalog search, fan photos and chat with a librarian.

Thing 20. Libraries and Social Networks

I opened this post with a hot cup of coffee and this photo of a child looking at the face of another child... Now it is 9:30 and I am nearly done with the assignment and it is time to blog my experience and conclusions...
Since I had set up a Facebook membership a couple of weeks ago in preparation for 23 Things I thought this thing would be a fast one. However, the first stop was the enormous Teens and Social Media Report from the PEW/Internet & American Life Project. I read through most of the 44 pages and printed out the Summary of Findings (pages 1-6) for my file. (Yes, I have a file for 23 Things.) The insights and statistics for the appeal of social networks is a revisiting of human development. The Maslow Hierarchy of Needs is a blueprint for the how and why of this appeal. The social need for belonging/love/affection/acceptance=groups,
the need for esteem/confidence/achievement/respect=offering and receiving friendship, the need for self-actualization/making and presenting the self/spontaneity/creativity=posting, sharing photos, exposure. This is life -- today made visible in social networks -- moments of understanding and happpiness alone and yet part of the world. These social networks, for all their quirks, are a sign of the culture's positive mental health.

Thing 19 Podcasts

I added a podcast to my blog a while ago. It is down the right hand side - it is Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac. Also look for Comedy Clip of the Week Podcast, down a little bit farther.

Review and Relect---------5 Things to Go

5 chairs. 5 Things to go. I was a Luddite for a long time. I got a computer so that the children in my house would be able to function with the technology that was defining the world around us. We don't own a television and haven't had one for almost 20 years. I don't own a cell phone and really don't know how to place a call using one; I've talked on one, I don't know how to hang it up. Some days I am pretty excited about this technology and the boggling aspects of it. But, well, I have a computer in my house, with a DSL modem. And English is my first language and I know how to read. I have had many educational opportunities -- as a librarian and teacher -- information literacy is familiar territory for me. But, I see the patrons who come in everyday to use the computers at the library. There is way more demand than there is supply... To offer this enriched content without the hardware to use it? We have to have enough computers in the buildings and be open enough hours to give patrons time to explore... We have this obligation. Speaking of obligation, I am obliged and honored to thank the Creative Commons artists who have shared their photographs with me for use in this blog. Thank You all.

Thing 18.1 YouTube ETC Blog Prompts

I've gotten pretty obsessed/preoccupied with these things. I work for hours, trying things out, failing, reworking, reading the instructions, researching, responding to prods and prompts. Now here on 18 I see a little light ahead -- the end? the beginning? I think it is time to sit in the reflection chair...First I'll finish this YouTube exploration. Truthfully, I can handle very little of YouTube. I can enjoy one now and again but I feel frittered away by watching one after another. The way I viewed them in Thing 18. Flickr is easier. The pace might be the key. Of course there are possibilities for the library web site. I have some idea sort of floating around about making a video about the library as an activity for teen summer programming -- the old standby, the bookmark, could use a little lively competition. I don't know exactly how I feel about that.

talking about a revolution (tracy chapman)

Thing 18. YouTube & Other Online Video

Our youngest son told me about this one the other day and it brings back such memories of having little boys around the house...Charlie bit me! He said it was on YouTube so I searched for it on Google Video and sure enough it was there too. I watched all the other videos in the lesson. I did not see any one I knew in March of the Librarians. I enjoyed the "library dominos" -- The "Library Musical" was pretty funny. I have mixed feelings actually. Here's a video of ours that I uploaded. It's Casey and Joe dancing - yes, there is sound.

Thing 17 ELM Productivity Tools Blog Prompts

A good working knowlege of the databases is an essential aspect of my work in children's reference. There is such a wealth of good information available in the databases. To be able to guide the patron to it or, better yet, put a stack in their hands is certainly the best use of these resources. Many patrons are completely unaware of what is available and/or overwhelmed at the prospect of extracting it themselves.

Thing 17.4 ELM Productivity Tools NetLibrary

I checked both Anoka and Hennepin County for the suggested eBook 101 Ways to Promote Your Web Site -- I could not find it. If you found it there, let me know how... I went to Amazon and read several excerpts there. Quite interesting, I would read more if it was in NetLibrary. Instead I selected another title Internet World TM Guide to One-to-One Web Marketing and searched the eContent for "branding". I read several pages, clicked on the "notes" tab and created notes. This all works quite well and is convenient to have it all there in front of you on the desktop. I went back a few minutes later and went directly to "Favorites & Notes" to view my work. Then I went back to Amazon to read the rest of the available content online.

Thing 17.3 ELM Productivity ProQuest

I sincerely hope there is not a written test over the 23 Things....
#3 ProQuest -- This one actually went quite well. I think the simple instructions were the key. The instructions followed the sequence of the options so that made sense. I could not, however, find a "radio button" but clicked on something else that led to suggested topics. And then on "view" web sites and social networks. I clicked 2007, full-text, and Washington Post. Then right straight on through the rest of the instructions. I emailed the resulting webpage to my colleague Sheila and to me. I am going to followup now with the Challenge for another practice...

Thing 17.2 ELM Productivity Tools EBSCO

This is such a great Thing. The Challenges are a slow brain-battering struggle (coffee is cold again...) but I am having some success. I made a folder and clicked on "web pages" and then on to "page composer". I made an extremely simple page, included an EBSCO search box, previewed it and saved the file. Then I couldn't find it! I searched using the general search and found several savings -- OK, I tried the save/save as several times... I found the list, moved it to a file on my desktop where it resides now. But where is it really? I found it later at work when I logged in to EBSCO. So it lives there. I guess. I also emailed it to myself -- the page arrives as an attachment which opens into a functioning page. Still in EBSCO I created a search alert and a journal alert.

Thing 17.1 ELM Productivity Tools

Anoka County does not offer InfoTrac Student Edition on its list of databases. I went (online) to Hennepin County and located it there. My card is registered there so I attempted to access it but had difficulty. I returned to an earlier page and IM-ed with an online librarian for help. That was a first and was very successful! I then search the database for "youth smoking" and saved several articles. There is an option for email but I could not find a RSS feed for tracking. I clicked on Collections on the bottom left of the Student Edition page and went to the Gale/Cengage list page and chose Student Resource Center Gold. There was information there about Managing the Information You Find -- using a tool they call InfoMark and another managing tool called "breadcrumb trail" but it also did not include setting up an RSS feed. Next I navigated into the EBSCO database and created a personal folder/account. I saw an RSS feed option there and attempted it but consistently got this message from Bloglines when I pasted the URL in. No feeds were found. Please verify that the website publishes an RSS feed. I am going to reheat my coffee and back-up a little bit.