Princeton Public Library just installed a Red Box DVD machine outside their building. What a great idea. Janie Hermann posted this photo and note about the service to Facebook today:
“We are a pilot site at PPL for having Red Box services to supplement the library collection. This gives our library customers 24 hour access to the newest DVDs, means that we do not have to buy as many copies of new releases (thus saving money), and we can a cut of the money from having the Red Box on site that we can use for collection development. Win, win, win — at least we hope so. Pilot projects are exciting.” (More info)
Posted in: Libraries, Public Libraries.
Tagged: dvd · Libraries · redbox · services
A successful campaign to retain funding!
NYPL YouTube Shout it Out for Your Library
Join Bette Midler, Jeff Daniels, Barbara Walters, Tim Gunn, Amy Tan and more…speak out for your library and help fight cuts in resources. Add your own response video, and go to www.nypl.org to take action!
(via: libraryofdigress)
Posted in: Funding, Libraries, YouTube.
Tagged: Funding · marketing · public · success
- Need to update your tech skills? Image via Wikipedia
WebJunction has published a wonderful new document that details the basic skills that library staff should have – from management skills to tech skills to public service skills and everything in between. Of course, I was particularly interested in the Core technology skills section.
I think most of us are doing great with the basics of using our computers, email, word processing and getting on the Internet. I remember the days when every trouble shooting call had to begin with “is it plugged in and turned on”! When I’m teaching classes these days, participants rarely have basic skills issues any more. Indeed over the last year I’ve been adding more content to my classes because people aren’t getting bogged down with basic computer skills issues and are getting through the class content much faster. Yay for that!
Where I think many of us aren’t all doing so great is with the competencies in the Core Web Tools section. Continue reading →
Posted in: Learning, Libraries, Technology.
Tagged: competencies · Learning · skills · Technology
I’d forgotten about the Free Rice website until a friend mentioned it on Facebook today. For every right answer to their online quizzes, they donate free rice to the UN World Food Program. And now they have quizzes not only for vocabulary, but also math, foreign languages, geography, art and even chemistry.
I though I’d put my summertime procrastinating mood to some good use and have been refreshing my math skills and German vocabulary. I would have loved these when I was a kid (ok, I was a geeky kid!). Maybe your kids will too? Ok, it’s back to work for me. Or maybe it’s time to see if I know anything about chemistry?
Posted in: From the Heart, Learning, Life.
Tagged: Games · quizzes · rice · vocaubulary
I have lots of school library media specialists in the technology classes I teach. They are often the ones in the forefront of using technology in their school districts and come up with great ideas for how technology can support student learning and help teachers do their jobs better. At the same time, they often tell me that many of the tools we explore are blocked or that students can’t have email, so therefore can’t even get accounts with so many of the tools.
When I was a gov docs librarian, our tagline was “documents to the people”. Well I think my new clarion call will be “technology to the students”!
In that vein, take a look at this great blog post Google Apps for Education overview by Kathy Schrock. She details how they arranged for school email accounts for all their students and teachers. How they use Google services to share documents, calendars and more. And she includes an excellent model for an email permission slip, explaining why students need email and acceptable use guidelines.
If you’re having challenges in your school district, maybe this model can help. Just keep at it! Demonstrating the value and need for access to technology. You’ll get their eventually.
Had successes in your district? Please share!!!!
Posted in: Schools, Technology.
Tagged: email · google · students · Technology
This should be a great discussion!!! Participate live – Thursday night.
Join us tomorrow on the Future of Education at 5pm Pacific / 8pm Eastern / 12am GMT (next day) when Joyce Valenza leads a discussion on the future of librarians and their role in education. Special guests: Buffy Hamilton, Cathy Nelson, and Carolyn Foote! See the full event details at http://www.futureofeducation.com/forum/topics/panel-discussion-is-there-a
(via email from Classroom 2.0)
Posted in: School Libraries, Social Software.
Tagged: 21st century skills · education · k12 · media specialists · school librarians · social media
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