On February 13th, the Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee voted 4-2 to advance Senate bill 08-125 which bans the sale to minors of books and magazines that are “harmful to minors.”
I've read through the entire bill. I would hate to interpret this as a law.
"If a reasonable adult person finds the material or performance to have a predominant tendency to appeal to the prurient interests of minors, finds that the depiction of nudity or sexual activity in the material or performance is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community concerning what is suitable for minors and s/he would find that the material or performance lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.."
My first thought was "Well, there goes that idea for an American Pie movie revival at the Denver cineplex." But seriously, how does one interpret what is pornography and what is not? Do we go with the notion, "I know it when I see it?"
What's really scary is that our collections have materials that adults have a constitutional right to access but unfortunately some might judge them to be harmful to minors. Therefore, libraries could potentially be held liable should a minor obtain said materials. This may have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and creating a rich collection to serve the needs of all users.
Anatomy, art, guides to enhancing one's sexual experiences, etc. These are not "filth" nor are they lacking "serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value." I know that words sometimes fail me when encountering a hostile patron that seeks to take a book off the shelf, even in role playing activities. I think it's because it just boggles my mind that anyone would want to repress anyone else's thoughts, feelings, creativity, etc.
I can only hope that considerations are provided for libraries. I understand those people that wish to protect children. However, it is not up to libraries to shield others from information. I remember someone from grad school saying that "Libraries are dangerous places and they should be." Not with regards to bullets flying through windows, but I'm sure that does happen. People can have access to whatever information they desire at a library and to some people, whether it be political despots, fundamentalists, etc., that is dangerous.
I think that if someone really wants something, they'll find a way to get it. I'm not using this as a counter-argument to this bill. I just think that additional regulations make whatever is being regulated more appealing. Alcohol, sex, drugs, Harry Potter, Golden Compass...you name it. If someone has said, "Oh no! We must protect the children from this!" People will wonder what's all the fuss and naturally will be curious about it. If parents provide a forum within the home for knowledge and free thinking, children can be allowed to question and learn about something with their parents as opposed to their friend's older brother or sister.
If you happen to live in Colorado, please contact your State Senator and tell them that this bill will limit people (adult voters) from obtaining items that could potentially be considered "harmful to minors". Movies that are rated higher than PG-13 may no longer be purchased by libraries in Colorado. Art books, erotica poetry, etc. may be limited as well. Standards of indecency are fluid and it is unclear to me, where upon the slippery slope, it would end.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Midwinter, Reading Maps, oh my!
I'll write a very short recap of Midwinter. Some of this may be old news to some.
It was my first time attending as an ALA Councilor-at-Large. It was very enlightening and I look forward to serving. I'm going to definitely post more often in hopes of spreading information amongst my constituents.
Council I: Council received the Presidential Task Force on Graduated Dues report and voted to move forward with a survey of the ALA members. At the very least it will provide information to determine whether a graduated dues structure is feasible for ALA. Regarding the ALA website redesign: ALA has hired a Senior Usability officer and will be looking at user-centered design.
“A Resolution on Member Access to Electronic Lists of ALA” was brought forth by Melora Ranney Norman. This would enable any and all ALA members access to lists. Some people bristled at the notion that non-members of sections could potentially have access to the lists. Rebuttal statements to that included the point that at Annual conference and Midwinter, those associations and sections that have open meetings do not check at the door to make sure every person attending is a member of that group. Also, non-members could/would have read-only access to those lists until they choose to add that section to their membership dues. Additionally, groups that have closed meetings, such as awards or nominating committees, would still maintain closed lists. It was referred to the Task Force on Electronic Member Participation for clarification. I was befuddled by this since it seemed to be a no-brainer. We are an organization that prides itself on access to information. However, I understand that members of Council are very cautious in taking action.
ALA-APA Council: We learned about the progress made by ALA-APA's Certification Project for Public Library Administrators. The first batch of graduates completed the program this past fall. The number of graduates is increasing and CPLA will increase the number of the providers as well this year. They are gearing up to begin a program to address the needs of para-professional staff that has been funded by a grant from IMLS. The budget has been trickling upwards through subscriptions to Library Worklife newsletter, subscription access to the Salary Survey and items for National Library Worker Day. It's a very worthwhile organization that can use the support of ALA members. They are working to promote our interests whether it is regarding salaries, public awareness of what library workers do, etc. I support it not only because donations are tax-deductible but because I want to support a group that is looking out for my professional interests.
Council II: Council voted to give the Budget Analysis and Review Committee the task of investigating ways to shorten Council sessions so that they can end on Tuesday rather than Wednesday. We honored Pat Mora, Effie Lee Morris and Peggy Sullivan with Honorary Memberships in ALA.
Council III: “Resolution on Providing Accessible Workstations at ALA Mid Winter Meetings and Annual Conferences” was passed. This resolution calls for ALA to facilitate access to computer workstations and other accommodations for persons with disabilities during annual conferences and midwinter meetings. There was a resolution on the crisis in Kenya which called for an end to the violence and to the abridgement of freedoms in that country such as freedom of the press, etc. It passed with a narrow margin (67-65). “Resolution on the Confiscation of Iraqi Documents from the Iraq National Library Archives” passed and called for the return by U.S. and British military forces of cultural documents to Iraqi repositories.
It was a very exciting meeting and I look forward to Anaheim.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I was very fortunate to attend the NEO-RLS reader's advisory learning group on February 21.
We discussed reading maps which are reader’s advisory tools that lead readers to other books that they might wish to read. By utilizing elements that are central to the book, (subject matter, read-alikes, other books by the author, etc.) reading maps explore recommendations in a different way.
Other libraries are using Flickr as a tool of hosting images and creating reading maps. Examples: http://flickr.com/photos/roundlakelibrary/ and http://flickr.com/photos/7384687@N03/439668465/
The group also discussed the possibility of having a reading map website that will be hosted by NEO-RLS where librarians and people can post reading maps. I am very excited about this and look forward to assisting where I can. I learned a lot and am energized to find additional tools that I can use to approach and assist our patrons in a new and different way.
It was my first time attending as an ALA Councilor-at-Large. It was very enlightening and I look forward to serving. I'm going to definitely post more often in hopes of spreading information amongst my constituents.
Council I: Council received the Presidential Task Force on Graduated Dues report and voted to move forward with a survey of the ALA members. At the very least it will provide information to determine whether a graduated dues structure is feasible for ALA. Regarding the ALA website redesign: ALA has hired a Senior Usability officer and will be looking at user-centered design.
“A Resolution on Member Access to Electronic Lists of ALA” was brought forth by Melora Ranney Norman. This would enable any and all ALA members access to lists. Some people bristled at the notion that non-members of sections could potentially have access to the lists. Rebuttal statements to that included the point that at Annual conference and Midwinter, those associations and sections that have open meetings do not check at the door to make sure every person attending is a member of that group. Also, non-members could/would have read-only access to those lists until they choose to add that section to their membership dues. Additionally, groups that have closed meetings, such as awards or nominating committees, would still maintain closed lists. It was referred to the Task Force on Electronic Member Participation for clarification. I was befuddled by this since it seemed to be a no-brainer. We are an organization that prides itself on access to information. However, I understand that members of Council are very cautious in taking action.
ALA-APA Council: We learned about the progress made by ALA-APA's Certification Project for Public Library Administrators. The first batch of graduates completed the program this past fall. The number of graduates is increasing and CPLA will increase the number of the providers as well this year. They are gearing up to begin a program to address the needs of para-professional staff that has been funded by a grant from IMLS. The budget has been trickling upwards through subscriptions to Library Worklife newsletter, subscription access to the Salary Survey and items for National Library Worker Day. It's a very worthwhile organization that can use the support of ALA members. They are working to promote our interests whether it is regarding salaries, public awareness of what library workers do, etc. I support it not only because donations are tax-deductible but because I want to support a group that is looking out for my professional interests.
Council II: Council voted to give the Budget Analysis and Review Committee the task of investigating ways to shorten Council sessions so that they can end on Tuesday rather than Wednesday. We honored Pat Mora, Effie Lee Morris and Peggy Sullivan with Honorary Memberships in ALA.
Council III: “Resolution on Providing Accessible Workstations at ALA Mid Winter Meetings and Annual Conferences” was passed. This resolution calls for ALA to facilitate access to computer workstations and other accommodations for persons with disabilities during annual conferences and midwinter meetings. There was a resolution on the crisis in Kenya which called for an end to the violence and to the abridgement of freedoms in that country such as freedom of the press, etc. It passed with a narrow margin (67-65). “Resolution on the Confiscation of Iraqi Documents from the Iraq National Library Archives” passed and called for the return by U.S. and British military forces of cultural documents to Iraqi repositories.
It was a very exciting meeting and I look forward to Anaheim.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
I was very fortunate to attend the NEO-RLS reader's advisory learning group on February 21.
We discussed reading maps which are reader’s advisory tools that lead readers to other books that they might wish to read. By utilizing elements that are central to the book, (subject matter, read-alikes, other books by the author, etc.) reading maps explore recommendations in a different way.
Other libraries are using Flickr as a tool of hosting images and creating reading maps. Examples: http://flickr.com/photos/roundlakelibrary/ and http://flickr.com/photos/7384687@N03/439668465/
The group also discussed the possibility of having a reading map website that will be hosted by NEO-RLS where librarians and people can post reading maps. I am very excited about this and look forward to assisting where I can. I learned a lot and am energized to find additional tools that I can use to approach and assist our patrons in a new and different way.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Ohio Library Council 2007 - Report
Some of this comes from my report that was sent to my supervisor. My report to my library is considerably longer. I wanted to at least share what I learned with other people. I picked three workshops that I thought were very valuable.
Look Before You Leap: Why Web 2.0 Alone Can't Save Your Library
This was presented by Laura Solomon from Cleveland Public Library and Glen Horton from SouthWest Ohio and Neighboring Libraries. The presenters discussed various Web/Library 2.0 tools and what not to do. “How to Kill a Blog/Wiki/IM service/etc.” As I took the notes, I changed it to positive as to how you can make xyz item successful. They also mentioned the positives of engaging/using these tools. You can find their PowerPoint presentation here.
The last part of the presentation discussed how to look at these tools critically; asking if this is the right tool, what are your expectations, etc. A closing note to the presentation was that even if an organization does not want to engage in this, it ought to claim the webspace/Internet space so that others do not. I spoke with Laura Solomon afterwards and noted that I did not have my bubble burst and would still like to incorporate these tools. I’m willing to do the work and even train people. I am uncertain as to the reasons for administration’s apprehension and would welcome a discussion.
"You Offer Me Nothing": Serving Next Generation Patrons
This was a very well attended workshop and I anticipated it highly. Don Yarman of Delaware County District Public Library moderated a panel discussion with Karl Jendretzky, OPLIN and Christine, a friend of Don’s. Both of these individuals do not use libraries. Their reasons varied. Karl uses bitTorrent to download videos and audio files. He stated that it’s easier to steal rather than borrow legally and in some ways safer. If a person uses audio CDs on a computer, the DRM programming installs files onto that computer which can cause damage.
Christine does not like to go to libraries because she feels that libraries are intimidating and the shelves make her feel claustrophobic. Both of them do not understand Dewey and don’t like having to go to the reference desk for help. Christine likes to read a book and then keep it. Someone suggested that if libraries were able to allow patrons to check out books and keep them for as long as they want. The counterpoint to that argument is it would potentially throw off the budget. Most people would not tell the library that they plan on keeping the book and if they did, the library would still have to figure out how many books to acquire, etc.
One thing I would like to see is faster ILL. If a person can get an item sent from a company overnight, why can’t libraries do the same thing? I understand that there are costs involved but I still find the ILL turnaround time to be longer than necessary. This is merely an observation. It’s probably not under the Hudson Library’s control based on our CLEVNET membership.
They liked the roving reference idea and had suggestions for ways to get people into the library. For people like Karl, holding a LAN party where people are playing a multi-user game together (example: World of Warcraft, Runescape). Marketing ideas: advertising on pizza boxes (flyers attached to a pizza box noting various events or services.)
You're the Expert – Share It!: On-the-job Training at Your Library
This workshop discussed ways that employees can benefit from micro learning sessions. It is important to maintain institutional knowledge along with creating opportunities for professional development within the organization. The loss of information can be devastating to an organization. Indeed, an organization can bounce back but it’s never quite the same.
Sometimes there is not enough time or funding to allow for employees to attend training workshops. The homegrown approach is definitely applicable within our organization. There are some talents that other might not have. For instance, there are those that have the ability to talk to irritable patrons/customers and to de-escalate a situation; technical proficiency, etc. These talents can be shared in brief 15 minute snippets here and there. However, there needs to be managerial buy-in in order for the employees to utilize their training time together most efficiently. The manager must be willing to allow them uninterrupted time to train.
A particular point that was addressed is whether an organization wants a body or a skills set. Anyone can fill in someone else’s shoes but in order to serve the customers in the best way possible, a certain level of knowledge is essential. Competencies established by various organizations, such as the Ohio Library Council, can provide guidelines in order to lay the groundwork for required skill sets within an organization. (OLC’s core competencies can be found here.)
I have submitted on the Intranet a discussion to see how the Reference/Adult Services department can tackle the issues of institutional knowledge loss and skill set building. It would be optimal for those to take the initiative and seek out those that would be willing to share their knowledge. However, what would stop a co-worker from approaching another colleague in the hopes of establishing a knowledge partnership? Buddying up with another colleague that may be lacking in certain areas not only will provide the worker with an opportunity for growth but it will also increase knowledge share across the board, thereby enabling and empowering employees to provide the best service possible to our patrons/customers.
Overall, I had a great time at my first Convention and Expo. I had been to the previous sectional conferences and found them to be very useful for professional development. The Ohio Library Council is a worthwhile organization for any Ohio library professional and I'm proud to be a member.
Look Before You Leap: Why Web 2.0 Alone Can't Save Your Library
This was presented by Laura Solomon from Cleveland Public Library and Glen Horton from SouthWest Ohio and Neighboring Libraries. The presenters discussed various Web/Library 2.0 tools and what not to do. “How to Kill a Blog/Wiki/IM service/etc.” As I took the notes, I changed it to positive as to how you can make xyz item successful. They also mentioned the positives of engaging/using these tools. You can find their PowerPoint presentation here.
The last part of the presentation discussed how to look at these tools critically; asking if this is the right tool, what are your expectations, etc. A closing note to the presentation was that even if an organization does not want to engage in this, it ought to claim the webspace/Internet space so that others do not. I spoke with Laura Solomon afterwards and noted that I did not have my bubble burst and would still like to incorporate these tools. I’m willing to do the work and even train people. I am uncertain as to the reasons for administration’s apprehension and would welcome a discussion.
"You Offer Me Nothing": Serving Next Generation Patrons
This was a very well attended workshop and I anticipated it highly. Don Yarman of Delaware County District Public Library moderated a panel discussion with Karl Jendretzky, OPLIN and Christine, a friend of Don’s. Both of these individuals do not use libraries. Their reasons varied. Karl uses bitTorrent to download videos and audio files. He stated that it’s easier to steal rather than borrow legally and in some ways safer. If a person uses audio CDs on a computer, the DRM programming installs files onto that computer which can cause damage.
Christine does not like to go to libraries because she feels that libraries are intimidating and the shelves make her feel claustrophobic. Both of them do not understand Dewey and don’t like having to go to the reference desk for help. Christine likes to read a book and then keep it. Someone suggested that if libraries were able to allow patrons to check out books and keep them for as long as they want. The counterpoint to that argument is it would potentially throw off the budget. Most people would not tell the library that they plan on keeping the book and if they did, the library would still have to figure out how many books to acquire, etc.
One thing I would like to see is faster ILL. If a person can get an item sent from a company overnight, why can’t libraries do the same thing? I understand that there are costs involved but I still find the ILL turnaround time to be longer than necessary. This is merely an observation. It’s probably not under the Hudson Library’s control based on our CLEVNET membership.
They liked the roving reference idea and had suggestions for ways to get people into the library. For people like Karl, holding a LAN party where people are playing a multi-user game together (example: World of Warcraft, Runescape). Marketing ideas: advertising on pizza boxes (flyers attached to a pizza box noting various events or services.)
You're the Expert – Share It!: On-the-job Training at Your Library
This workshop discussed ways that employees can benefit from micro learning sessions. It is important to maintain institutional knowledge along with creating opportunities for professional development within the organization. The loss of information can be devastating to an organization. Indeed, an organization can bounce back but it’s never quite the same.
Sometimes there is not enough time or funding to allow for employees to attend training workshops. The homegrown approach is definitely applicable within our organization. There are some talents that other might not have. For instance, there are those that have the ability to talk to irritable patrons/customers and to de-escalate a situation; technical proficiency, etc. These talents can be shared in brief 15 minute snippets here and there. However, there needs to be managerial buy-in in order for the employees to utilize their training time together most efficiently. The manager must be willing to allow them uninterrupted time to train.
A particular point that was addressed is whether an organization wants a body or a skills set. Anyone can fill in someone else’s shoes but in order to serve the customers in the best way possible, a certain level of knowledge is essential. Competencies established by various organizations, such as the Ohio Library Council, can provide guidelines in order to lay the groundwork for required skill sets within an organization. (OLC’s core competencies can be found here.)
I have submitted on the Intranet a discussion to see how the Reference/Adult Services department can tackle the issues of institutional knowledge loss and skill set building. It would be optimal for those to take the initiative and seek out those that would be willing to share their knowledge. However, what would stop a co-worker from approaching another colleague in the hopes of establishing a knowledge partnership? Buddying up with another colleague that may be lacking in certain areas not only will provide the worker with an opportunity for growth but it will also increase knowledge share across the board, thereby enabling and empowering employees to provide the best service possible to our patrons/customers.
Overall, I had a great time at my first Convention and Expo. I had been to the previous sectional conferences and found them to be very useful for professional development. The Ohio Library Council is a worthwhile organization for any Ohio library professional and I'm proud to be a member.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Ohio Library Council
I'm heading down to Columbus, Ohio for the Ohio Library Council Convention and Expo. This will be my first Expo since they switched to a biennial format.
I'm pretty excited to be going since I would like to be more active within OLC. I've stepped up my activity level within ALA and would like to act locally as well.
I'm going to be attending a good number of the Library/Web 2.0 workshops as well as "You Offer Me Nothing": Serving Next Generation Patrons. I am still chomping at the bit to try out anything related to Library/Web 2.0. I'd even be willing to train people. Getting institutional buy-in can be difficult in any organization. Is it worse in libraries? I'm not sure. I know that libraries ought to be at the forefront of this movement and yet so many libraries balk at just *trying* something different. If the library is an established center of a community, why not expand and strengthen that "market share" by exploring avenues where other patrons are already investigating? By no means did I wish to turn this into a rant about slow to change libraries and their bullet holes in their feet. An up and coming blog on that is exploring Library 2.0 is Library Alchemy. I've been intrigued by this since this librarian is at a major metropolitan library and it is interesting to see how it's playing out there.
Speaking of playing out, I need to head out. See you in Columbus!
I'm pretty excited to be going since I would like to be more active within OLC. I've stepped up my activity level within ALA and would like to act locally as well.
I'm going to be attending a good number of the Library/Web 2.0 workshops as well as "You Offer Me Nothing": Serving Next Generation Patrons. I am still chomping at the bit to try out anything related to Library/Web 2.0. I'd even be willing to train people. Getting institutional buy-in can be difficult in any organization. Is it worse in libraries? I'm not sure. I know that libraries ought to be at the forefront of this movement and yet so many libraries balk at just *trying* something different. If the library is an established center of a community, why not expand and strengthen that "market share" by exploring avenues where other patrons are already investigating? By no means did I wish to turn this into a rant about slow to change libraries and their bullet holes in their feet. An up and coming blog on that is exploring Library 2.0 is Library Alchemy. I've been intrigued by this since this librarian is at a major metropolitan library and it is interesting to see how it's playing out there.
Speaking of playing out, I need to head out. See you in Columbus!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Surveys: Wikipedia at your Library/Technology Access Issues
A number of surveys are being floated around and I would encourage you to participate in them, that is, if you work in libraries.
Surveys help our colleagues better assess our services and allow us to provide supporting statements for services currently used and potential future services.
I received an email earlier today regarding a survey being conducted by Duke University Libraries:
Additionally, the Free Range Librarian posted this to PUBLIB:
Surveys help our colleagues better assess our services and allow us to provide supporting statements for services currently used and potential future services.
I received an email earlier today regarding a survey being conducted by Duke University Libraries:
Wikipedia. Love it or hate it? We want to know how librarians are using Wikipedia. Please help us find out.
The Use of Wikipedia by Librarians survey is a research study investigating how librarians are using Wikipedia in their daily work.
Please take 10-15 minutes to participate in the Use of Wikipedia by Librarians survey at this url:
Survey link.
Additionally, the Free Range Librarian posted this to PUBLIB:
A national survey of public library computer and Internet access was mailed to public libraries early September 2007. The study is funded by the American Library Association and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and conducted by researchers from Florida State University's Information Use Management and Policy Institute, and builds on research conducted since 1994. More information on this project is available at http://www.ala.org/plinternetfunding/, including the recently released report based on the 2006 survey many of you completed.
Your participation in the survey provides public libraries, state library agencies, the American Library Association, policymakers, and others with extremely important data regarding public library computer and Internet access issues, the services and resources you make available to users (e.g., e-government, databases, digital reference, etc.), what it takes to sustain public access computer and Internet services in your library, and the impacts of such public access services on the communities that your library serves.
You may access the survey at http://survey.pnmi.com - The survey is web-based and has a total of 21 questions that will take you about 40 minutes to complete. PLEASE COMPLETE THE SURVEY BY NOVEMBER 25, 2007.
You will need your state assigned Library ID code included in the survey announcement letter you received to initiate the survey. If you have lost that ID number, you can look it up on the survey site. If you have any questions, or need further assistance, please e-mail PL2007@ci.fsu.edu.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Slam the Boards!
Librarians invade the "Answer" sites
Monday, 9/10/07--All Day
Supporting Wiki: http://answerboards.wetpaint.com
More information can be found at their site.
Librarians from all over are taking action. We're going to show that our virtual reference is top notch! Thank you to Laura Solomon from CLEVNET for posting this to the OPLIN email list and to OPLIN for posting this in the OPLIN 4cast.
I'm definitely doing this. A while ago, I started answering questions on Yahoo! Answers in hopes that my email address would clue people into the fact that I'm a reference librarian and thereby want to use the library to answer their questions. (The email address has referencelib in it.) I think this is such a great idea and hope that we can innundate the boards providing valuable reference to those that may otherwise not think to use library resources. Let's show 'em that our virtual reference skills are non-pareil!
Monday, 9/10/07--All Day
Supporting Wiki: http://answerboards.wetpaint.com
More information can be found at their site.
Librarians from all over are taking action. We're going to show that our virtual reference is top notch! Thank you to Laura Solomon from CLEVNET for posting this to the OPLIN email list and to OPLIN for posting this in the OPLIN 4cast.
I'm definitely doing this. A while ago, I started answering questions on Yahoo! Answers in hopes that my email address would clue people into the fact that I'm a reference librarian and thereby want to use the library to answer their questions. (The email address has referencelib in it.) I think this is such a great idea and hope that we can innundate the boards providing valuable reference to those that may otherwise not think to use library resources. Let's show 'em that our virtual reference skills are non-pareil!
I'd like to invite any and all interested librarians to be a little bold and have a little fun by going to online "Answer" sites, such as:
* Yahoo Answers
* Amazon's Askville
* The WikiPedia Reference Desk
(see a list of others here.)
Once there, let's answer!
I envision a day-long answer fest. Answer as many questions as you feel you can. 5...10...20...you decide. Just try to do what we do well--provide answers from authoritative resources.
...and then MARKET!
This means making it clear that this question was answered by a librarian/library professional/etc. End each answer with the mention your own library, your VR service, etc. Add the link. Mention that readers should consider their own libraries, too. Promote it to local media. Keep in mind how many people don't even realize that libraries offer reference services. Let's surprise and delight them with our quality.
I'd like hundreds of librarians to do this. Thousands? Why not?
Be clear...you'll almost certainly be helping patrons who aren't yours, but I see this as an opportunity to make the reference librarian community more visible. I'd like to see a number of us remain engaged in the answer services, on the chance that the users will have us in the backs of their minds when they have questions they don't want everyone to see. As such, I'm not expecting to see a huge "blip" in our reference/VR stats because of this. But who knows?
The point is to meet some folks where they otherwise wouldn't expect us.
What to do next?
First of all, pass this message along to anyone who might remotely be interested.
Second, this is a very informal "action," so you can just mark the date and start answering, but you may also want to visit the Wiki and put your name up as a participant: here.
While you're on the wiki, share. Think of good marketing "tags," signatures, etc. that we can use.
Most of all, visit the various answer sites, see if you need to set up an account. Try answering a few questions. A couple of us have already done this and we've already got a few "Best Answers" under our belts. See the "Exemplary Answers" section of the Wiki. Post one if you've got one!
Then, on September 10, get ready to "Slam the Boards!!"
--Bill Pardue
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Huh? I have a blog?
I realize that I haven't updated this blog in months. This is an opening sentence to countless blog entries throughout the blagosphere. There have been numerous things going on for me professionally including attending the American Library Association Annual Conference in DC, trying to find my niche in ALA Council, etc.
I still find myself trying to figure out my niche for this blog. It will soon be moving over to http://infowidget.info although I think this url will still work.
In the meantime, I figured I will post some book reviews.
Couple Skills: Making Your Relationship Work by Matthew McKay, Patrick Fanning, and Kim Paleg
Communication is one of the first things to break down in a relationship. This book explores how to improve communication and cope better with the problems that spring up throughout our daily lives. Practical skills application and activities are throughout the book. Very useful and recommended.
Vaccine: The Controversial Story of Medicine's Greatest Lifesaver by Arthur Allen
This book explores the history of vaccination and the controversies surrounding public health policy and vaccine research. Also highlighted in this book are the anti-vaccine stances that are currently being debated. While it is uncertain whether the deadly avian flu virus will evolve in a way that allows it to sweep across the globe, experts are certain that it is only a matter of time before a flu pandemic strikes. An interesting and timely read!
Seeds: Time Capsules of Life and Pollen: The Hidden Sexuality of Flowers by Rob Kesseler are wonderous books. Utilizing electron microscopes, the artist is able to photograph the seeds and pollen of various flowers and plants. It is not just pretty pictures. The book relates historical and scientific information that is accessible to the average person. I came away gaining not only additional knowledge but a respect and reverance for these very small things that can shape the world, albeit with the proper environment. The beauty and symmetry of these objects illustrate how art is really in all things. Recommended!
I will post again shortly. Polemic pontifications, bookish babbling and the like.
I still find myself trying to figure out my niche for this blog. It will soon be moving over to http://infowidget.info although I think this url will still work.
In the meantime, I figured I will post some book reviews.
Couple Skills: Making Your Relationship Work by Matthew McKay, Patrick Fanning, and Kim Paleg
Communication is one of the first things to break down in a relationship. This book explores how to improve communication and cope better with the problems that spring up throughout our daily lives. Practical skills application and activities are throughout the book. Very useful and recommended.
Vaccine: The Controversial Story of Medicine's Greatest Lifesaver by Arthur Allen
This book explores the history of vaccination and the controversies surrounding public health policy and vaccine research. Also highlighted in this book are the anti-vaccine stances that are currently being debated. While it is uncertain whether the deadly avian flu virus will evolve in a way that allows it to sweep across the globe, experts are certain that it is only a matter of time before a flu pandemic strikes. An interesting and timely read!
Seeds: Time Capsules of Life and Pollen: The Hidden Sexuality of Flowers by Rob Kesseler are wonderous books. Utilizing electron microscopes, the artist is able to photograph the seeds and pollen of various flowers and plants. It is not just pretty pictures. The book relates historical and scientific information that is accessible to the average person. I came away gaining not only additional knowledge but a respect and reverance for these very small things that can shape the world, albeit with the proper environment. The beauty and symmetry of these objects illustrate how art is really in all things. Recommended!
I will post again shortly. Polemic pontifications, bookish babbling and the like.
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