Saturday, May 30, 2009

Feed Your Blog: A Dual Post

I had always wondered what RSS feeds were and how to use them and now I know. I think one thing that is going to be frustrating in having a separate account for bloglines and RSS feeds is keeping up with reading them. I currently have thousands of emails that I need to get caught up with in my regular email account so I hope it does not become a contest between the two of which can go higher :-) A mission I need to undertake is figuring out how to get the blogline and RSS feeds account fed into my regular email account so I don't have to monitor both. If someone knows how to do that now, please let me know. Since I am having all my staff do this 23 things project, it is a great way to put all of their blogs in one folder so I can read and reply at any time. I have to thank my employee Laurie for the suggestion. I probably would have thought of it eventually but sooner is better than later. That is a good thing about this project and all of us working together is that we are learning which web tools we like, don't like, and who is comfortable with what so that we help each other through each tool.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

What's Happening @ the Little Elm Public Library




05/26/09

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod; Hey Diddle Diddle, etc. Strange and misspelled words are nothing new. They have been around for years and years in all types of capacities. So when strange and misspelled words are used in technology, it should come as no surprise. More like wonderment as to what the strange misspelled words mean and what purpose they serve in the mysterious world of the web. Take Flickr for example. Without seeing the spelling and only hearing the term, the first things that come to my mind is the title My Friend Flicka (horse) and the porpoises name Flipper. This is due to the words using a lot of the same letters and close sounds along with the fact that I don’t always hear very well. But come to find out it is actually a photo and video sharing site. It is going to be very helpful to organize and share the many library photos we have once I get it totally figured out but in the meantime I have at least one photo on the site. Visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/LittleElmPublicLibrary/ and add a comment to let me know what you think.

I also learned how to do mashups (allows you to have fun with your photos in creative ways) and image generators (makes images say whatever you want). Though these projects were very interesting to learn all the different things you can do, it was also very time consuming and frustrating at times. The easiest thing to do is spelling with flickr (http://metaatem.net/words/). Sometimes the hardest thing is knowing whether or not something worked the way it was supposed to. I have attached a couple of pictures as part of my mashup (pumpkin picture) and image generator (animated picture) project. I hope you enjoy. I am still glad that I am learning all these new social media concepts so that I can make my library news even more exciting!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

What's Happening @ the Little Elm Library

05/18/09

Did you know that May is Older American’s Month? President Obama has proclaimed May as Older American’s month. In his proclamation he states “Older Americans have carried our Nation through great challenges and triumphs. They have enriched our national character and strengthened the Republic for those who have followed. During the month of May, we pay tribute to the wisest among us.” In recognition of Older American’s month and to provide a year round resource for Older Americans and their families, the library has put together a bookmark from information found on the AOA’s website at http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Index.aspx.

More items that you might like to read include new bestsellers added this week such as: First Family by David Baldacci; Loitering With Intent by Stuart Woods; Columbine by Dave Cullen; The Perfect Poison by Amanda Quick; Tea Time For the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith; and Deadlock by Iris Johansen. New large print bestsellers added include The Miracle by Gilbert Morris; Wicked Prey by John Sandford; Coming Unglued by Rebeca Seitz; and Vision in White by Nora Roberts.

Like to write? On Thursday, May 21st, author and performer Rochelle Rabouin will be giving a presentation at the Little Elm Writers group. She is trying to find a short romance that someone can read while music is played in different parts of the reading. We are hoping that the writers group can assist in writing a short romance for her project. If you are interested, please call the library to let us know and we will see you Thursday.

Do you like mysteries? Stop at the library and see if you can tell which furniture was rearranged and what new piece of furniture was added. The new item that was added was purchased with Lone Star Grant funds and arrived in a semi so it is bigger than a breadbox and fits in perfectly with Little Elm’s Lake attitude.

Don’t forget that the library will be closed Friday, May 22nd through Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. Regular library hours are Monday/Wednesday 10am-5:30pm; Tuesday/Thursday 10am-8pm; and Saturday 10am-3pm. Have a safe Memorial Day weekend.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

2.0 be or not 2.0 be

2.0 be or not 2.0 be, a question that needs 2.0 be seriously considered. It is already here, surrounding us, in our face (so 2.0 speak) Even if someone chooses not 2.0 participate, people around them are speaking the language...nings and pings, doodles and moodles...It is like Dr. Seuss for adults. I am glad to be learning more about what is going on in our Brave New World. Many of the topics being discussed in 2.0 are things that I have wanted to put into place in our library but just didn't know how. With this new knowledge of various 2.0 tools, not only will I have a better understanding of what can be done, we will be able to find ways to share that knowledge with the patrons who do not know and have a better connection with those that do.
On a side note, I really like the way that "the shifted librarian" explained 2.0. The video can be viewed at http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2007/02/07/think_library_20_as_you_watch_this.html

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

What's Happening @ the Little Elm Library

05/11/09

If given the choice of working with technology or people, my first choice is working with people. The thing is that a lot of people use technology so it is important to be familiar with at least some of the technology that people are using. This is one reason why I am taking an online course to learn Web 2.0 tools which include such things like blogging, Flickr, Ning, and a whole lot more. I want to make your library more accessible by using the tools that are being used to share information. My first assignment was learning how to do a blog. I already write a newsletter and I have always wanted to turn it into a blog and now I know how. Visit the website http://littleelmlibrarypagebypage.blogspot.com/ to see my blog and let me know what you think. In the meantime I will keep you posted on all the neat new things I learn. Who knows, it may open up a whole new world of computer classes @ your library.

If you have ever wanted to learn how to play an instrument, the library has purchased a new series of books entitled Learn to Play. Each book teaches how to play an instrument and it is an illustrated step-by-step instructional guide. The instruments include piano, guitar, violin, flute, trumpet, and clarinet. The books not only show how to play each instrument, but also include numerous songs to practice what you learned.

Speaking of music, Rochelle Rabouin, who is a musician, performer, and author, will be the guest speaker at the Thursday, May 21st writers group. She is looking for a short romance story to be read while she and her partner play music during certain parts in the story. It would be totally awesome if the Little Elm writers group could write a short romance story to go with her music. Anyone who may be interested in participating in this endeavor, please call the library at 214-975-0430 to sign up for the writers group.

Something else you may consider signing up for is softball. The Town of Little Elm is starting an adult softball summer league. Registration is May 11th to June 8th and games begin the week of June 15th. The cost per team is $350. You can register a team by completing a registration form and mailing your payment. You can also pick up a registration form and make payment at the Little Elm Public Library. For questions contact Athletic Coordinator Scott Dunn at 972-731-3294 or email sdunn@littleelm.org

Let’s not forget the books. New bestsellers added this week include The Lost Quilter by Jennifer Chiaverini; Boneman’s Daughters by Ted Dekker; Turn Coat by Jim Butcher; and Look Again by Lisa Scottoline. New large print books added this week include Loitering With Intent by Stuart Woods; Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith; Mr. and Miss Anonymous by Fern Michaels; The Perfect Poison by Amanda Quick; and Deadlock by Iris Johansen.

For more information about anything, call the library at 214-975-0430, email library@littleelm.org or visit the website at http://ci.little-elm.tx.us/library. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Monday, May 11, 2009

What's happening @ the Little Elm Library

As of May 4th, 2009
Nothing like an alarm going off to change the day’s activities. Town Hall had a little excitement during early voting when the fire alarm went off causing everyone to go outside and wait for the fire department to check and make sure everything was all clear. Needless to say it was not a fire issue so no water was used.

Speaking of water, it is that time of year again to learn about water safety. The youth water and life jacket safety program is being held on Monday, May 11th at 6:30pm. This program is co-hosted by Cottonwood Creek Marina and the Little Elm Library. There will be presentations by local agencies discussing water and life jacket safety. Light refreshments will be available. The program will be held at Little Elm Town Hall, 100 W. Eldorado Parkway.

Many thanks to Peter Piper Pizza Store 251 in Frisco for hosting a pizza fundraiser for the library and to the many people who came to eat pizza to help us raise money. The library earned $70. The next library pizza fundraiser will be held on Friday, July 17th from 5pm-8pm. We want to also thank the Denton Quilt Guild for loaning the Little Elm Library two handmade story book quilts for story time. The story book quilt themes are tamales and bears and the story book quilts include a handmade quilt and book.

We were very excited to learn that the National Endowment for the Humanities has selected the Little Elm Library to receive the 2009 We the People “Picturing America” Bookshelf. Books included in this award include Across America on an Emigrant Train; The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; Founding Brothers; Democracy in America; On the Wings of Heroes; The Captain’s Dog; The Life and Death of Crazy Horse; Walt Whitman Words For America; Restless Spirit; Sweet Music in Harlem; The Birchbark House; Forty Acres and Maybe a Mule; Our White House: Looking In Looking Out; American Tall Tales; 1776: The Illustrated Edition; and the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Three titles that came in English and Spanish Editions include Harvesting Hope; Travels With Charlie; and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

While you are visiting the library to check out the We the People “Picturing America” Bookshelf books, you can learn about the importance of art capturing historical events by finding the fourteen works of historical art prints in the library. Thanks to a grant provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the library is proud to present the “Picturing America” art collection.

New bestsellers added to the collection include Malice by Lisa Jackson; Lavender Morning by Jude Deveraux; Fatally Flaky by Diane Mott Davidson; Always Looking Up by Michael J. Fox; Borderline by Nevada Barr; Cursed by Carol Higgins Clark; Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas. If you are looking for last minute Mother’s Day gifts, Woodhaven Creations has some very nice affordable items for Mom (under $10) at the library. For more information about these and other programs, contact the library at 214-975-0430, email library@littleelm.org or visit the website at http://ci.little-elm.tx.us/library.