diary of a young librarian

looking into makeup

2008-02-02T12:25:00.000-08:00

www.cosmeticdatabase.com
safecosmetic.org

lead in lipstick
avoid parabens preservatives in cosmetics

Merry Christmas!!

2007-12-23T13:52:00.000-08:00

Podcasting live!!! and Ebooks Too!!!

2007-12-21T13:35:00.001-08:00

"To fully enjoy what podcasting is all about, you will need to download special software to "tune in" to these podcasts." All this downloading and installions podcasting softwares (e.g Ipodder, podget, Jpodder, Podbreeze etc) sucks and sounds very complicated.
I found a couple for for gardening at Podcast.net which I absolutely love!
Podcast alley has one titled "Manager Tool" which is a "a weekly podcast focused on helping you become a more effective manager and leader. Each week we'll be talking about new tools and easy techniques you can use to help achieve your management and career objectives. If you're tired of a lot of management theory and would rather learn SPECIFIC actions you can take TODAY to improve your management performance, you'll enjoy the manager tools podcast." That and others tools may be useful if apply as part of a library workshop or training.

http://www.manager-tools.com/podcasts/feed/rss2

It is great that the library offers eBooks eVideos eMusic eAudiobooks and even
Chinese Language eBooks Chinese Language E-Magazines Russian e-books and for kids the TumbleBooks (which is widely popular with parents!

Doing all these exercise bring to my attention how out of tuned I had been to new technologies. I think thus far all of them are innovative, but whether all of them are relevant or useful is another thing. Oftentimes, it seems to me this is hot now, or that is cool now, but pretty most of them will be collecting dust on the virtual bookshelve.

It is an eye-opening, not to mention an ear-ful, experience for sure. So much to see, hear and learn.

Kudos to the people behind this program's origins and implemention and attention, and the only thing I would change is the pace and the language used. I think the participation would be greater if it is more tailored for beginners and novices...

The library should have this program again. I personally knows alot of people who regreted they didn't register for it. As for myself, I would hope to achieve even greater understanding of all those emerging trends and technologies mentioned in this program and all sites I came across...

Do you Youtube?

2007-12-21T12:09:00.000-08:00

I'm still cursing the person that got me started on youtube and this path of obsession and addiction :)

once again, a good way to put the library forward...
here's an idea: get the library staff together (maybe all the hourly rates) and do a promo for the library :) bright idea or not? you decide! hehehe

just a great site for browsing, also a whole lot of junks to wade through...

I especially like the how-to instructional videos and old music videos that I had seen in ages!

exploring..

2007-12-21T08:36:00.000-08:00

These free (which majority of them are) web-based tools are extremely advantageous for students (or anyone who is on a tight budget for that matter) who may not have too much to spend on buying softwares, or people wary of having to install new software just to read or sent documents.

Just a thought: I personally learned alot from QL and from doing the exercises. I wonder (I guess I can check on it later), but I wonder if Ql's website has updated its users, which included its staff, with a listings or links so as to make them aware and to encourage them to make use of them.

Of course, there are going to be problems with which web broswers is compatible with what.

It is getting better!

2007-12-20T14:18:00.000-08:00

Google Docs
Writeboard
ThinkFree
ZoHO Writer

a couple of more things to add to my growing list of things to check out! they are great alternatives. I don't think they will replace Microsoft Office. It is just nice to have another tool to work with.

Social Networks

2007-12-20T11:41:00.000-08:00

Factbook.com

I'm reading up on it and have to admit it would definately be smarter to be a little paranoid about it...

Obviously all the sites would be great for the library in terms of marketing and advertising...a great way for the library to put its out and try to reach a new groups...

What Are You Optimistic About??

2007-12-19T14:13:00.000-08:00

I know alot of people have reservations about the internet and its use, disuse or abuse adn whatnot...
Came across this book What are you optimistic about?: today's leading thinkers on why things are good and getting better Edited by John Brockman...nice reading especially the articel by Martin Rees entitled "Techo-Optimism and the Energy Challenge"
Techno-Optimism, very nice term. Alot of people are worry about Youtube, Myspace...and other social networking sites like them...
it is a great way for us to be connected, but you have to question the extent, the nature and the relevance of such artifical connectiveness or collaboration.
Reading Diane F. Halpern's chapter from abovementioned book "How Technology is Saving the World" and Nathan Myhrvold's "The Power of Educated People to Make Important Innovations"
That pretty much sums up my thoughts: Power, Education, Importance, Innovation.

Wikis

2007-12-19T11:20:00.000-08:00

It is nice to be able to join & create or edit something. All of us can now be Ms and Mr-know-it-all! Obviously vandalism is a huge problem.
Wikipedia is great for browsing...
I like LyricWiki alot.
It is nice, according to its site, the site's purpose is to be "a source where anyone can go to get reliable lyrics for any song from any artist without being hammered by invasive ads".
Welcome! http://www.lyricwiki.org/Main_Page
Finally I can put my vast knowlege to good use!

Do You Wiki ?

2007-12-18T14:16:00.001-08:00

I love the Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki the best!

more color, more dazzle

2007-12-18T14:07:00.000-08:00

On a more personal note, this blog is terribly dull. It needs more dazzle and razzle :)

so much to learn...

2007-12-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

Things and terms I came across & piqued my interest:
Digg
Mixx
Facebook
Newsvine

Just reading up on Web 2.0 is scary...
the web gets wider and deeper...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0
Thus far, I amassed (but had yet to master)lotsa of information and instructions, all of the write-ups of web-technology came with reassurance of its usefulness and handiness, is it really??
This is just a warm-up period.

del.icio.us

2007-12-18T11:52:00.000-08:00

Del.icio.us is easy and handy. It was an harass before to access all my favorites and bookmarks before when I have to switch between various computers.
Del.icio.us to my rescue!!

Reading about Del.iciou.us leads me to Furl.com. Going to see next what that's about...

rope 'em and roll 'em!

2007-12-17T16:16:00.000-08:00

Rollyo.
Search me under Useful Info
http://rollyo.com/index.html
This is fun and tedious at the same time.
I'm trying to conquer some part of this information glut and in some ways I'm not doing anything but adding to the mess :)

blog blog blog

2007-12-17T15:56:00.000-08:00

shifted librarian

2007-12-17T15:19:00.000-08:00

In my virtual travels.. I found this and would like to share it with you.

http://www.theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/2005/07/21/20_technology_skills_every_librarian_should_have.html

RSS & Newsreader

2007-12-17T15:18:00.000-08:00

This is all new(s) to me :)

it sure makes it easier for me to keep up with my fave web sites, rather than going back and forth manually.

I like Topix.net the best. I'm also re-visit my usual websites, but now I know how to look for that newsfeed icon and use that instead.

With my account I can just log in and have everything in one place.

new technology

2007-12-17T15:12:00.000-08:00

We learned so much from school, from our colleagues, from our experiences, from our own observations, from everywhere, anything and anyone...it is lifelong and it is exhausting. We have to try hard or harder to keep up.
For now, I'm curious and am learning about WebCT or Blackboard.
We can learn together and from each other...

Books from petitesweet's bookshelf

2007-11-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/petitesweet

2007-11-10T12:09:00.000-08:00

Next...doing the LibraryThing!

2007-11-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

* Image created with Custom Neon Sign Generator. This is fun.

2007-10-26T12:49:00.001-07:00

http://papercutting.blogspot.com/

2007-10-26T12:36:00.000-07:00

a original design from Ellen Brown http://www.ao.com/ellenbrown/insect.html

2007-10-23T13:44:00.000-07:00

1. Lapsana apogonoides, 2. Chinese Lantern, 3. Dare To Dream, 4. Untitled

2007-10-23T08:38:00.000-07:00

Union Square

2007-10-23T08:15:00.000-07:00

OH WOW! Dreamy

Relax, you are already there...

2007-10-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

A funny thing happens on the way to the park.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt5215/1359776345/

Something about Union Square.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/franklynch/126708694/in/pool-unionsquare/

2007-10-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite flower.

7 & more habits...

2007-10-03T13:11:00.000-07:00

7 ½ Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners: a online tutorial by the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC):

Habit 1: Begin with the end in mind
Habit 2: Accept responsibility for your own learning
Habit 3: View problems as challenges
Habit 4: Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
Habit 5: Create your own learning toolbox
Habit 6: Use technology to your advantage
Habit 7: Teach/mentor others
Habit 7 ½: Play

the hardest is play.
the easiest is teach and mentor others.

we are responsible for our own learning.

I'm reading the book Art of the Long View (planning for the uncertain future) by Peter Schwartz

What I'm picking up from this book so far: scenerio planning
thinking ahead to the future
atitude is everything

From New York magazine:

an article on the real estate markets

an article on malcolm x, the conspiracies surrounding his death and assassination, the thoughts of his alleged assassin after being released from imprisonment.

And from the libray:

the debut of my book discussion group, , a modest success attended by two faithful customers. discussion ran the gamut from politics to trashy romances.

books discussed: god is not great: how religion poisons everything by christopher hitchens, letter to a christian nation by sam harris, obama from promise to power by david mendell, a woman in charge, life of hillary rodham clinton by carl bernstein, the interpreter by sue kim, waiting by ha jin, curious incident of the dog in the nighttime by mark haddon.

it is not done well; but you are surprised to see it done at all.

Samuel Johnson (on a dog walking on his hind leg)

Hello

2007-10-02T13:41:00.000-07:00

Hello. Welcome to my blog. Come back to read my posts. Thank you.