Days left in school: 81!
With Winter quarter in the past, and a week off to do what I want to (yeah, right!), I'm feeling pretty good. I don't know my exact grades, but they will all be in the A range. That puts me in a high enough GPA to graduate "with honors" in June. Call me an overachiever, but I like to excel, especially in classes like Web Devel. that are a real struggle for me. I think I managed an A in that class, but he hasn't posted all of our grades yet, and some of them were subjective so I have no idea how he'll grade me on things like "participation."
In other news, my internship for Spring quarter is all set up at Yelm Library, we sign the papers on the Oly house Monday, the chicks are growing fast (they look like gawky teenagers now with lots more feathers but still some down), and the weather is getting so nice we've begun yard renovations.
It doesn't get much more exciting than that. Today we're going to take it easy and go see "Green Zone" with Matt Damon.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Library of the Future
This was finals week for Winter quarter, whew. I've decided to share here the text of my final paper for "Computers in Libraries" class. We were to describe what we thought libraries would be like in 20 years. It wasn't a tough paper, just one we were supposed to be reflective and think about how technological change has affected libraries in the past 20 years and how it will affect them in the next 20. So this is my vision...
When I imagine what public libraries will be like in 20 years, I see them as portals for information of myriad types: research, entertainment, enlightenment, education, daily life, you name it. Service to patrons encompasses more than books, music and movies -- access to information and technology for everyone is the guiding principle for librarians.
Libraries will be purveyors of information, teaching people how to search for it, helping them navigate in a world cluttered with information at every turn. They will have become, in the words of a wise librarian, "information dieticians." But there still will be a portion of the population that was not raised with computers. No matter how ubiquitous computers have become, some people will still be adapting -- or resisting change. Librarians will need to be able to serve them.
Because many of their patrons will still be aging Boomers, there will be books and other printed materials available. Books will not die, but will co-exist with non-print versions of the same works. In a world that has become more and more transitory, people will still value the feeling of permanence printed books give. Printed material will survive, but more options will be available. E-books for download, audio books, and preloaded e-readers will be available for check-out much like play-aways are available today. The library will exist as much online as it does in a physical building. Library Web sites will increasingly give patrons access from anywhere. Libraries will have embraced the idea that online interaction will increase their power to provide information to the masses, no matter whether those patrons are around the corner or on the other side of the world. New ways of cataloging collections and encoding metadata will create interconnecting links to and from library OPACs and the World Wide Web in general. Resources will be more interactive and users will be able to add things like reviews to an item's record.
Even with this global presence, since these libraries depend on public funding, they will need to promote how they can make all this new technology and information available to their own community. Partnering with other librarians in schools and organizations, public librarians will become teachers of a sort. As technologies emerge, libraries will position themselves as leaders in teaching their communities not only how to use new tools, but ways to make advantageous use of the tools to make their lives better. They also will be champions of the cause for making access available to everyone. Gifted librarians will make emerging technology their ally in educting their communities.
By 2030, libraries will be vibrant places full of computers and other technology available for use by anyone. Gone will be the "shushers," replaced by information technology experts eager to help people learn about the latest advances. I have no idea what new technologies will come in the next 20 years, but I know that forward-thinking librarians won't resist change, but seize every technology opportunity as a way to become more useful to patrons , as a way to encourage new uses for the resources the library has access to.
But don't worry; in their continued mission of literacy education, libraries will still hold story times for babies, read-alongs and other youth-oriented activities with books. Yes, books, ones that contain brightly colored pictures and simple text, but also might incorporate sound and movement. I am sure that low-tech books will still have a place in the world. Just as vinyl records are still around long after the advent of CDs and MP3s, so books will endure and people will still read them.
When I imagine what public libraries will be like in 20 years, I see them as portals for information of myriad types: research, entertainment, enlightenment, education, daily life, you name it. Service to patrons encompasses more than books, music and movies -- access to information and technology for everyone is the guiding principle for librarians.
Libraries will be purveyors of information, teaching people how to search for it, helping them navigate in a world cluttered with information at every turn. They will have become, in the words of a wise librarian, "information dieticians." But there still will be a portion of the population that was not raised with computers. No matter how ubiquitous computers have become, some people will still be adapting -- or resisting change. Librarians will need to be able to serve them.
Because many of their patrons will still be aging Boomers, there will be books and other printed materials available. Books will not die, but will co-exist with non-print versions of the same works. In a world that has become more and more transitory, people will still value the feeling of permanence printed books give. Printed material will survive, but more options will be available. E-books for download, audio books, and preloaded e-readers will be available for check-out much like play-aways are available today. The library will exist as much online as it does in a physical building. Library Web sites will increasingly give patrons access from anywhere. Libraries will have embraced the idea that online interaction will increase their power to provide information to the masses, no matter whether those patrons are around the corner or on the other side of the world. New ways of cataloging collections and encoding metadata will create interconnecting links to and from library OPACs and the World Wide Web in general. Resources will be more interactive and users will be able to add things like reviews to an item's record.
Even with this global presence, since these libraries depend on public funding, they will need to promote how they can make all this new technology and information available to their own community. Partnering with other librarians in schools and organizations, public librarians will become teachers of a sort. As technologies emerge, libraries will position themselves as leaders in teaching their communities not only how to use new tools, but ways to make advantageous use of the tools to make their lives better. They also will be champions of the cause for making access available to everyone. Gifted librarians will make emerging technology their ally in educting their communities.
By 2030, libraries will be vibrant places full of computers and other technology available for use by anyone. Gone will be the "shushers," replaced by information technology experts eager to help people learn about the latest advances. I have no idea what new technologies will come in the next 20 years, but I know that forward-thinking librarians won't resist change, but seize every technology opportunity as a way to become more useful to patrons , as a way to encourage new uses for the resources the library has access to.
But don't worry; in their continued mission of literacy education, libraries will still hold story times for babies, read-alongs and other youth-oriented activities with books. Yes, books, ones that contain brightly colored pictures and simple text, but also might incorporate sound and movement. I am sure that low-tech books will still have a place in the world. Just as vinyl records are still around long after the advent of CDs and MP3s, so books will endure and people will still read them.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Back to the Library
It has dawned on me that when I transformed this blog from a project for my Library class into my personal blog, I wrote that it would chronicle my journey as I moved from one career to another. Looking back at most of the posts, I haven't said much about school lately. There has been so much going on in life that I wanted to share!
Anyway, as I am ending the 5th quarter of my college career in the Library and Information Services program and heading into my last quarter before completing my Associate's degree, I realize I have much to share about my newfound path.
Through both the research I had to do before I got into the Worker Retraining program and the work I have done in school, I have found a passion for libraries and serving people. That's one of the big things: I didn't think I would like to work in a public service job, but I am enthusiastic about it now. I am also thrilled to be working in the public sector. I realize that it will have its challenges too, but working for a big corporation where the "bottom line" ruled most decisions and making a profit was the main goal really wore me down in the end. The newspaper business has been ruined by profit-seeking corporations. 'Nuff said there.
My biggest thrill about library school coming up is my internship. I'll be working as unpaid staff -- in the trenches, not just doing volunteer stuff -- at my local library. I could pinch myself I'm so excited! I'll still have other classes to work on in addition to working at the library 15 hours a week, but I will finally be able to put into practice so much that I have learned in the past year or so. Hopefully, it will lead to great experience that will help me get a job with the library.
I have met soooooo many wonderful people in library school and in libraries themselves, that I just know I'm going to enjoy my new career.
As a side note, I had installed a countdown clock on my blog, but it jacked my page and I had to get rid of it. So I'll just have to give the countdown myself: 94 days to graduation! Woot!
See you all soon!
Anyway, as I am ending the 5th quarter of my college career in the Library and Information Services program and heading into my last quarter before completing my Associate's degree, I realize I have much to share about my newfound path.
Through both the research I had to do before I got into the Worker Retraining program and the work I have done in school, I have found a passion for libraries and serving people. That's one of the big things: I didn't think I would like to work in a public service job, but I am enthusiastic about it now. I am also thrilled to be working in the public sector. I realize that it will have its challenges too, but working for a big corporation where the "bottom line" ruled most decisions and making a profit was the main goal really wore me down in the end. The newspaper business has been ruined by profit-seeking corporations. 'Nuff said there.
My biggest thrill about library school coming up is my internship. I'll be working as unpaid staff -- in the trenches, not just doing volunteer stuff -- at my local library. I could pinch myself I'm so excited! I'll still have other classes to work on in addition to working at the library 15 hours a week, but I will finally be able to put into practice so much that I have learned in the past year or so. Hopefully, it will lead to great experience that will help me get a job with the library.
I have met soooooo many wonderful people in library school and in libraries themselves, that I just know I'm going to enjoy my new career.
As a side note, I had installed a countdown clock on my blog, but it jacked my page and I had to get rid of it. So I'll just have to give the countdown myself: 94 days to graduation! Woot!
See you all soon!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Chicks growing up
Our "baby" chicks are getting bigger and growing lots of feathers. I never took pictures when they were housed in the garage in a very large cardboard box, but we recently moved them to much bigger quarters and now have some nice photos of the girls. I also shot a short video so you can see them already acting like chickens. They are fascinating to watch and get to know. Look at all those feathers!We initially started with 15, but the first day or two whittled the flock to "lucky" 13 and that's held for two weeks. Fresh, home-grown eggs and happy farm life are our goals with this project.
So far, so good.
Enjoy!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Morning glory
I posted this for all my friends on Facebook, but I wanted to share it here too. This was such a stunning sunrise, and I was up alone, so I had to capture it to show the rest of the family what they missed :)
The shadows in the clouds created by Rainier's three peaks were fascinating!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Mel's friend
This is one of three pals who benefit from Mel's love of animals. We not only feed the birds, but make sure the squirrels have something to satisfy them, too. This particular day was just so funny to watch I couldn't help but capture it. The big feeder is full of squirrel food, which the jays love too, and the squirrel was literally hanging by his (or is it her?) toes and would reach up, get some food, then hang down to eat it.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Missing blogger...
I know, I know. I haven't posted in months. It's not that I don't want to share what's going on ... it's that I can't find the time to post. With classes, life, and now volunteering at the library here in Yelm, my plate is full. And after doing so much of my schoolwork online, spending more time on the computer to blog doesn't excite me either. Besides, the blog is for fun, it isn't a job.
I post because I want to...as I expect you read because you want to. Neither of us is required to do so and that's how it should be.
It's a free world.
I post because I want to...as I expect you read because you want to. Neither of us is required to do so and that's how it should be.
It's a free world.
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