The Library is now Cool

This headline "New fans check out libraries" was in the Chicago Tribune's daily commuter magazine "The Red Eye" and the article says how libraries are becoming cool. More people are visiting and checking out materials from the library due to the state of the US economy. Sure, I don't like the higher prices of gas or food, but perhaps with this new usage of the library I'll potentially have more job security :) Since one pays around $70 a year in taxes to the local library why not find a movie with potentially more educational appeal or even not, as my public library has both. Enjoy the air conditioning, but know that the library is now cool for more than one reason.

Web 2.0 Experience - join in for FREE!

Per the School Library Journal's website "Beginning Monday, July 21, Michael (Stephens) will author a blog here on SLJ.com that will lead us through the different exercises, offer guidance, answer questions, and even provide a little hand-holding. We're calling it "All Together Now: A 2.0 Learning Experience." - Anyone can join in and do the excercises, so I'm going to do this to have some company as I continue my exploration of Web 2.0.

If you want to join me go to http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/

Michael Stephens, technology Guru from Dominican University, should be an awesome guide and it's FREE!

Helen Blowers' Blog

It's been awhile since my last post, but I have been a bit preocuppied by job searching and most recently a visit last week to Kansas City, MO, where I have family and friends.

I really enjoy the http://www.librarybytes.com/ website and will share one of this blogger, Helen Blowers' recommendations. Consider looking at http://wordle.net/ and create your own wordart.

Also check out this 26 minute podcast - http://www.sarahlong.org/podcast/?_episode=105 on Patricia Martin's book "Renaissance Generation." It is a book on my shelf right now which I am hoping to finish in the next month.

Generation Y & the Future of the Web

While catching up on the ALA American Libraries Direct E-newsletter one item caught my eye in particular.

See - Why Gen Y is going to change the web

Worth a read to understand the Generation from approximately 13 yrs to 31 yrs old - labeled Gen Y. Social Networking is really big as are social causes. If a job can't be fun then they will look elsewhere. Bosses beware and get ready to change your expectations and mindset to keep the younger generation happy and productive!

I too will need to consider how I can reach out to these socially enabled and wired kids. What they are looking for isn't always something to read - maybe they want a sound bite or a Youtube video and not a book. . . gee will anyone of Gen Y even want to read to the end of this posting. Sorry there's no fun picture posted.

From your Gen X librarian exploring this new generation/mindset to better serve.

Creative Discovery

The following is a new powerpoint I've recently presented on the research process. All of our decisions and thinking processes can be improved by utilizing this model and specifically realizing the inevitability of an increase in uncertainty as we explore new information and ideas.



That's it for now. I'll keep learning and sharing as I'm on this Web 2.0 discovery.