Beyond # 8

Screencasting! I love screencasting. I've been wanting to learn how to do this for a long time. We have so many application where this would be helpful. Being a small library we don't always have the time to teach our patrons how to optimize the search capabilities of our online catalog. We don't have the time to walk patrons through the process of opening a search engine on our public computers, learning create an email or a facebook account. A screencast provides a visual tutorial for users. Most people are visual learners to some degree so walking a person through thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifhe process lowers anxiety and provides the ability for them to watch the processes numerous times until they are able to get through the procedure from start to finish. They can repeat the cast as many times as necessary. By inserting notes using Screencast-o-matic it can bookmark points in the screencast to help them readily locate the information they are interested in hearing and seeing once more.

I chose to use Screencast-o-matic to create a brief tutorial on how patrons can set limits within our online search catalog in order to increase the precision and recall of their search.

Beyond Method #7

I love the new options for creating presentations. I know at our library one of our staff creates wonderful slides using Power Point. These slides play continuously during the day in the Bee Cave City Hall. It would be amazing if these slides could contain movies or live feeds, like in Sliderocket! I was blown away by the different options. I loved the moving, dynamic white board of Prezi. I thought Sliderocket had a simple and wonderful interface. I was amazed that live feeds and movies were so easily inserted. I was sold on 280 Slides when I realized how easy it was to embed the presentation into a social media
outlet.

I chose to use 280 Slides. I felt it was really easy to use. I think that all the tools are amazing and I think they would work very well for tutorials for using our search catalog, a tour of the library facilities, as well as marketing regular and special events. They would also be a great way to generate interest in our Friend's Group. I know that students are now expected to create presentations and perhaps having these tools would be useful to them as well in learning how to create presentations by holding instructional workshops focusing on both presentation software technology and design.

Beyond Method #6

Our library will be introducing Overdrive this Fall. We have many requests from our patrons for E-books. We also have MP3 books that patrons may load onto their computers then move to a MP3 player if they desire. The process is hardly streamlined like Overdrive, but it can be done. I think the simpler the process the less intimidating the technology. Unfortunately, many times when individuals try something new and have a frustrating experience, they then are less likely to give it another try later on. The process is getting more user friendly which is very reassuring and exciting.

I had never visited Project Gutenberg. I thought it was very easy to identify which file as associated with a specific reader. I did locate Great Expectation in its HTML format.

I am glad to know that Project Gutenberg exists and that it is available to our patrons. Due to budget cuts we have been without any e-books, so knowing we have the ability to point them to a number of e-books for free (minus perhaps a small donation) is a wonderful service to provide. I do think that after spending a little time searching their catalog that I could be of assistance is helping them use the HTML source. I didn't have the opportunity to play with any e-reader, but I feel certain with time that I would be able to help them download the material to their e-reader as well.

Beyond Method # 5

I have fallen in love with Goodreads! We have so many patrons that come into our library asking which books they have checked out. Of course we don't maintain that information in order to protect their privacy. Goodreads is a wonderful way for patrons to keep up with the books they have read, connect with other readers and discover new authors. Growing up with my nose buried in a book I was labeled a bit anti-social, Goodreads allows for a bookish social being which is long overdue and greatly appreciated!


The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I loved this book! I thought the style the author used was beautiful and add meaning to the material. It felt very much like reading a story as a child, full of lessons as well as forming a personal relationship with the material! I really enoyed it!



View all my reviews

I also loved Booklamp. I am always looking for new resources that will help me suggest reading material to my patrons. I think reader's advisory is the hardest part of my job. I also found it both interesting and disturbing that Shelfari is linked as a part of Amazon. The monster continues to eat!