Monday, June 25, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
I get it!!!
Okay, if you've been following my postings you've seen the general theme of confusion and my wishes for some scope and audience information for each tool that we've been utilizing. Holy cow -- I think it just smacked me in the face! The Grazr widget where my connotea, del.icio.us and other tagges items are now visible and reachable from this blog, is fantastic! What a boon for a school librarian to direct students to certain information.
Not that I claim to now understand divine power and all things "Web 2.0" but this is too cool for school.
Stay tuned as a realize new uses for my "schoolwork". You know you're waiting with baited breath...
Not that I claim to now understand divine power and all things "Web 2.0" but this is too cool for school.
Stay tuned as a realize new uses for my "schoolwork". You know you're waiting with baited breath...
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Can I freeze time?
Seriously, is it too much to ask to just complete the tasks in life that require attention? Eating, sleeping, spending time with my husband, finish work in the libraries, get ready to move, pack, get residence visa, say goodbye to friends, homework, homework, homework, blog...
Here's a summary since last week (since I'm bad and that was the date my last posting appeared).
A big shout-out to Ayse, an 8th grade student in my husband's English class, for standing up for what is right. She refused to attend the ceremony celebrating the success of the "10 class achievers" once she realized those that actually worked hard academically and were diligent were not among the "achievers". It's a shame when things like this happen and students are not celebrated for the right types of achievements. As a part of this community I completely protest the ridiculousness of a popularity contest rather than celebrating real student achievement. Rock on Ayse, I'm behind you 100%!
I completed presentations to many departments at school presenting an idea to implement expectations and standards for citations by grade level. Now an overwhelmingly positive response but many people finally seemed to see the reasoning behind my proposal. Copying from the internet and not citing sources for graphics or content IS NOT RESEARCH! I've done what I can do and I can only hope I lit a small spark that will ignite.
End of year orders...ugh. I am rather fed-up with rushing around at the last minute to order books and other materials to be received by June 30th for this budget year since my colleagues thought chatting with friends and spending time on IM was more important than tracking a budget and ordering final purchases months before now. Thankfully, the reading counts materials and new books will be appreciated by teachers and students next year when I am gone.
Lastly, trying to determine the amount of stuff that is important to me in kilos is proving difficult. Is that DVD you've watched several times worth carting with me or the scarf given as a gift that I like but haven't yet worn. Decisions, decisions.
Peace Out.
Here's a summary since last week (since I'm bad and that was the date my last posting appeared).
A big shout-out to Ayse, an 8th grade student in my husband's English class, for standing up for what is right. She refused to attend the ceremony celebrating the success of the "10 class achievers" once she realized those that actually worked hard academically and were diligent were not among the "achievers". It's a shame when things like this happen and students are not celebrated for the right types of achievements. As a part of this community I completely protest the ridiculousness of a popularity contest rather than celebrating real student achievement. Rock on Ayse, I'm behind you 100%!
I completed presentations to many departments at school presenting an idea to implement expectations and standards for citations by grade level. Now an overwhelmingly positive response but many people finally seemed to see the reasoning behind my proposal. Copying from the internet and not citing sources for graphics or content IS NOT RESEARCH! I've done what I can do and I can only hope I lit a small spark that will ignite.
End of year orders...ugh. I am rather fed-up with rushing around at the last minute to order books and other materials to be received by June 30th for this budget year since my colleagues thought chatting with friends and spending time on IM was more important than tracking a budget and ordering final purchases months before now. Thankfully, the reading counts materials and new books will be appreciated by teachers and students next year when I am gone.
Lastly, trying to determine the amount of stuff that is important to me in kilos is proving difficult. Is that DVD you've watched several times worth carting with me or the scarf given as a gift that I like but haven't yet worn. Decisions, decisions.
Peace Out.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Sharing is Caring.
As I am getting more and more excited about the information I am learning in the program, I think my colleagues at work are joining in the excitement too. It's infectious! My regret is that I do not have more time to play and better understand the functionality behind and the possibilities for each new tool. I have slowly been adding slides to a presentation and I am scheduled to give a few presentations in the Fall on new library technology. I will be presenting to the consortium of our board schools at our annual meeting, then presenting on developing library curriculum and new library technology for the annual conference where all primary and secondary schools are invited. This conference is wonderful and many schools from all areas of Turkey attend. Exciting opportunities and nerve-racking at the same time!
As I go through this process of digesting the information and trying to sort and make it instantly exciting and relevant to the different audiences, I'm left a little nervous hoping I can better understand the big picture. I see the relevance for the individual tools but the differences between the tools is somewhat elusive to me at this point. In the next few days I'll begin tackling Grazr and Scopus... so much to learn and so little time.
As I go through this process of digesting the information and trying to sort and make it instantly exciting and relevant to the different audiences, I'm left a little nervous hoping I can better understand the big picture. I see the relevance for the individual tools but the differences between the tools is somewhat elusive to me at this point. In the next few days I'll begin tackling Grazr and Scopus... so much to learn and so little time.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
What is the answer?
I must admit my mind is reeling after completing the book review assignment and contemplating Lesk, Willinsky, and Baker for the last week. Clearly they all have a bias and are leading the library community to their prescribed solution. Yet, where do I stand? I seem to uphold the archivist perspective in I'm dead set against throwing away original sources once they are available on microfilm or in a digitized format. On the other hand I see clearly the pitfalls of ongoing archival and the budgetary restraints that places on libraries, particularly small county libraries or rural school libraries. Open access sounds good and I can see several real wins for libraries and collectors of information but big business and copyright protection are deterrents to true open access. Surly, there's a solution based on shared resources and bringing the businesses that support digitization into a consortium with libraries.
What do you think?
What do you think?
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Am I plugged in?
Well, I must apologize now for my lack of postings. I don't know how this many days flew by without my realizing it. Everyday I think, yep, today when I get home I must blog and then I come home and the cat's on fire, and the toilet decided to impersonate Mount St. Helens and my husband is so excited to see me so we can chat that I just run myself in every direction except to my computer to blog. I must admit, when I have time I head straight for the discussion boards...
Anyhoo, I am completely enthralled by Double Fold by Nicholas Baker. It's rather unfortunate that I can't slowly read and contextualize his writing since I am frantically scanning as fast as I can so I can hopefully produce something meaningful this weekend. One week, 3 books, a presentation, last days of school (in the real world), a visit by CIS (council of international schools) for accreditation, and a 2 day visit by my mentor and I'm chalk full of people time and out of words. By the way, did I mention I'm moving in 2 weeks???
While reading Double Fold, I feel completely uneducated and uninformed that something as major as masses of public and university libraries in the US offloading historical and informational news could be happening with no true public outcry. It is a real shame that so few of those in the know feel an obligation to publicly communicate the decisions to trash this type of information. Equally shameful is the way in which Americans (not all but many) pay lip service to preserving history and culture but would not lift a finger or take up the battle cry to contribute to a solution in this dire matter. Let alone contribute time and energy or money to the cause. What are we if not a community? I will now step down from my soapbox but really, isn't this one of those momentous battles we hear of and we have the opportunity to participate.
Back to Nicholas Baker... I'm thoroughly enjoying the descriptions of the side by side comparison of the historical texts and the microfilm versions of several of these papers. As well as the description and detail he uses to give credit to those informed and involved (like Lucy Caswell in Ohio) and of the resources still available that should be protected. I have heard of JSTOR in the past but really didn't understand the goal or vision of the project and the true impact this will have on libraries.
Well, thanks for listening... I'm off for a date with 'ole Nicholas.
Anyhoo, I am completely enthralled by Double Fold by Nicholas Baker. It's rather unfortunate that I can't slowly read and contextualize his writing since I am frantically scanning as fast as I can so I can hopefully produce something meaningful this weekend. One week, 3 books, a presentation, last days of school (in the real world), a visit by CIS (council of international schools) for accreditation, and a 2 day visit by my mentor and I'm chalk full of people time and out of words. By the way, did I mention I'm moving in 2 weeks???
While reading Double Fold, I feel completely uneducated and uninformed that something as major as masses of public and university libraries in the US offloading historical and informational news could be happening with no true public outcry. It is a real shame that so few of those in the know feel an obligation to publicly communicate the decisions to trash this type of information. Equally shameful is the way in which Americans (not all but many) pay lip service to preserving history and culture but would not lift a finger or take up the battle cry to contribute to a solution in this dire matter. Let alone contribute time and energy or money to the cause. What are we if not a community? I will now step down from my soapbox but really, isn't this one of those momentous battles we hear of and we have the opportunity to participate.
Back to Nicholas Baker... I'm thoroughly enjoying the descriptions of the side by side comparison of the historical texts and the microfilm versions of several of these papers. As well as the description and detail he uses to give credit to those informed and involved (like Lucy Caswell in Ohio) and of the resources still available that should be protected. I have heard of JSTOR in the past but really didn't understand the goal or vision of the project and the true impact this will have on libraries.
Well, thanks for listening... I'm off for a date with 'ole Nicholas.
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