I have been meaning to add this photograph taken of our own Cohort 7 to my blog. It was a wonderful week spent with people interested in the same things that I am. Librarians are an interesting breed!

Looking Forward To Next Semester

Wow! Just about finished. I am looking forward to next semester, Retrieving Information and School Library Management. Ordered the books for Retrieving already! I have really enjoyed these classes and I am looking forward to receiving my degree in 2009!

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My University of Pittsburgh Website

I keep forgetting to post my website assignment to my blog. Basically, the website links to my blog, the SIS website, and several of my LIS2600 assignments. Tonight, it will even link to my Thoreau assignment.

View my website here.

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Catching Up...If I Can

My oldest child is fifteen and I've never once been late for a pick-up, until coming home from Fast-Track Week. I was so tired, I slept through my kids' 8:00 religious education pick-up. Fast-Track week certainly was tiring!

It was so nice to put faces with names, and to learn that Debbie is just as nice in person as she is on the DB. It was nice to witness Dr. Tomer and Dr. Alman banter in person, and it was nice to realize that I am doing fine. I can handle these graduate level courses. I am up for the challenge!

So, why did I title this, "Catching Up...If I Can?" I have been so physically exhausted (and a little sick) since I returned that I feel a little behind. Here is what I have left to do this semester:
1. Finish "Linked" plus three other books for LIS2000.
2. Keep up with Hot Topics/Discussion Questions for LIS2000.
3. Put the RSS feed to my blog on my web page for LIS2600.
4. Do Thoreau assignments 1 and 2 and post to my web page for LIS2600.
5. Supplemental readings for LIS2600.

Since writing out this list, I see that I am in the home stretch. If I concentrate this week, I will be able to check items off the list. I am "Catching Up...If I Can!"

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Fast Track Weekend (Week)

Fast Track Weekend is finally here. I am really enjoying the on-campus experience. Dr. Tomer and Dr. Alman are as nice in person as they are in the coursecasts. Debbie Day, too. She is as reassuring in person as she is on the DB. One impression that I have come away with is that they care about the program they are presenting and that they want us to do well. Oh, my fellow cohort members are great. I am already looking forward to the next weekend.

I'm really glad that I switched back to my true passion, school libraries. I tried to sell out and take the track with the most opportunities, but let's face it, I'm a school librarian. I belong with the finger-paint set. I look forward to Dr. Biagini's classes in the future. I can hardly believe there is less than a month left of this semester!

Breaking news: I am three-fourth's of the way done with the web assignment. More on that in my next post!

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The Social Life of Information

As promised, tonight I'm going to "booktalk" The Social Life of Information by John Seely Brown and Paul Duguid. It has a lot of fascinating information about the ways that historically information has been stored, passed around and used, as well as predictions for the digital future of information. I chuckled when I read that the popularity of the typewriter spelled the demise of the pencil! Makes me think about the more recent prediction that computers would mean the end of paper (I wish!--paper is the one thing thwarting my goal of total organization). In addition to organizing information, the book show us how to look beyond our obsession with information and individuals to include the critical social networks of which these are always apart.

This was an interesting read! I highly recommend it!

Visit the book's website

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Just a quickie...

I'm trying to write provocative titles like Dr. Tomer. LOL!

I just returned from my niece's wedding and I am going to quickly work on my web page before I retire to a night of Discovering Computers 2008. On the plane to and from Florida, I finished The Social Life of Information, which I will write more about tomorrow when I recover from my travel-induced exhaustion.

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Kompozer and the Bride

I am frustrated by a lack of directions for the web page assignment on Kompozer. I have managed to make my public folder and actually got into "telnet" by myself (although I eventually called tech support). So I have a public file. I will try to get my "bare bones" work on the web page done this weekend.

I should have said this weekend after my niece's wedding (that my niece is getting married makes me feel old). Becky and Brandon are 22, recent college graduates, and have something in common with me. . .they are going to grad school, too. Becky is actually taking online classes like me.

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The Night Off!

For tonight only. . .

No more quizzes
No more books
No more "how my zoomcloud looks..."

I am taking the night off!

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July 1st Assignment URL's

After going over the changed syllabus, I realized that we only needed to post URL's for our assignments. Even though you can get to these from previous posts, here are the URL's for all work due July 1st.

Grazr: http://grazr.com/gzpanel.html?theme=gloss_red&file=http://feedblendr.com/blends/16413.opml

Zoomclouds:
http://zoomclouds.egrupos.net/AmyRyanDeliciousTags/dsgCloud/12174
http://zoomclouds.egrupos.net/AmyRyanSuprCloud/dsgCloud/12177
http://zoomclouds.egrupos.net/AmyRyanBlogCloud/dsgCloud/12174

Be sure to see my Grazr widget badge to the right of this post, and my ZoomClouds posts directly underneath this post!

ZoomClouds, Part III: My Blog Cloud

ZoomClouds is the most frustrating thing. The site is down constantly, the code doesn't work properly, the directions are shoddy. I am not impressed. This assignment took three days of my life, and all I have to show for it are two posts that sort-of complete the assignment, a migraine, and a post-poned to-do list.

Here is the page where I worked on my "Blog Cloud."

ZoomClouds, Part II: My SuprGlu Connotea/de.icio.us Cloud

It's 5pm Sunday, and this assignment is done. Because of ZoomClouds not working perfectly, I am enclosing a link to the page where I worked on my SuprGlu Cloud.

I played with two sites while working on this assignment. Feedblendr and SuprGlu both take RSS feeds and merge them, so here are links to my pages on those sites:

My Feedblendr Page

My SuprGlu Page

ZoomClouds, Part I: My Del.icio.us Cloud

ZoomClouds

Well, I have been defeated and this is as good as it gets. Here is the page where I created a cloud (more to follow). I am NOT impressed with ZoomClouds and will not post a hypertext link to it's site.

I have actually seen great clouds at the Library Thing site. You can make a cloud of authors of books that you have read, and it actually looks like a cloud!

A Sense of Accomplishment

Today, I feel a sense of accomplishment. A few days ago, I had turned in "not my best work" for the Grazr assignment because for some reason I just couldn't understand it. I woke up this morning and it clicked in my mind. I redid the assignment and resubmitted it even though I had already done a previous one. It's not that I'm trying to be perfect. It's just that I really want to get the most out of these classes. I was so happy that I finally understood it!

The Koha assignment was done today, too. I really enjoyed that one. Cataloging is fun, and I have previous experience, so it was an easy assignment and a fun way to spend the afternoon. My only worry is about the subject. I used related books I had on a subject. I didn't look up a listing first. Hopefully, I did this correctly. I am waiting until tomorrow to start ZoomClouds because Dr. Tomer has found problems with it.

My reading is coming along. I have finished Siva and Litman, and now I am working on Lessig. Code: Version2.0 tonight and Free Culture tomorrow. According to my classmates, he is an enjoyable read.

Even during tonight's chat, I felt that sense of accomplishment. I didn't expect Dr. Tomer to start quizzing us, but I rose to the challenge and answered some. Good practice for the real thing!

Off to read Lessig!

My Virtual Bookshelf!!

For the Koha cataloging assignment, I cataloged a collection of books about Laura Ingalls Wilder, and a couple of books relating to her themes of frontier living, girls, and pioneer teaching.
Click here to see my virtual bookshelf!

Note: I know that the link works, but I think only if my Koha account is signed in. So, here is a print list of books on my Koha virtual bookshelf:

Holtz, William V., The Ghost in the Little House.
Maestro, Bestsy, Coming To America. (A cousin illustrated this one!)
Zochert, Donald, Laura.
Anderson, William, Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Anderson, William, Laura's Album.
Hines, Stephen W., I Remember Laura.
Anderson, William, Pioneer Girl.
Wilder, Laura Ingalls, A Little House Traveler.
Collins, Carolyn Strom, The World of Little House.
Lasky, Kathryn, Searching for Laura Ingalls.
Romines, Ann, Constructing the Little House.
Miller, John E., Becoming Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Darnall, Beverly, Laura's List.
Shaw, Simon, Frontier House.
Anderson, William, The World of Louisa May Alcott.
Colman, Penny, Girls.
Anderson, William, Laura Ingalls Wilder Country.
Miller, John E., Laura Ingalls Wilder's Little Town.
Lane, Rose Wilder, Young Pioneers.
Lane, Rose Wilder, Rose Wilder Lane.
Odean, Kathleen, Great Books for Girls.

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Would you like to see my "Widget?"

The URL for my widget is http://grazr.com/opml/amyryan.

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Copyright and Continually Emerging Technologies

Last weekend was both wonderful and sad for me. I attended my brother's wedding and while I was really happy for him, I got extremely sad for myself. It was the first wedding I attended since my husband passed away. It was hard to attend alone, and in two more weeks I have to do it again for my niece's wedding. Which leads me to. . .hotel room internet connections.



I wasn't thinking when I packed my computer for the four day trip. My computer travel bag had a phone line in it and I never even thought about packing a DSL line. I will not make this mistake again! I have been so spoiled with my fast DSL line that I forgot how slow a regular telephone connection can be. Watching the hot topic presentation was torturous (59 slides took forever!) and even reading through the responses took such a long time that I just made my own comments and vowed to look at everyone else's responses when I was again hooked up to my trusty DSL line.



One thing I did do while staying at the hotel was catch up on my reading for LIS2000. I finished both Siva Vaidhyanathan's The Anarchist in the Library and Jessica Littman's Digital Copyright. Tonight I will tackle the first of two works by Lawrence Lessig: Code: Version 2.0. I have to say that I enjoyed both The Anarchist and Digital Copyright. Littman made me understand copyright better, or at least as well as a layman can understand Copyright Law. The Anarchist was a little entertaining; the author knows that sex sells so he told of the first anarchist, a public masturbator. It was a theme Siva must have enjoyed, for later that act was used as an example of things one could do while perusing the internet. In any event, it was enough to keep me reading.



After reading two of the required books, I wonder if the copyright laws will ever be understandable and inclusive to all. For example, the law is just catching up with videos and internet copyrights. What new device is coming out next year that will most likely have copyright protected materials on it to spawn new codicils to the law? Is there a way to make provisions for things before they come into being? I am inspired to do further readings on copyrights when I actually have time to do so (probably after I graduate from this program!)

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Elementary Library Instruction Engine

Elementary Library Instruction Engine

Above is the link to the search engine I created to help find information on library instruction in the elementary school. The URL is http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=005176577560207661356%3Axx_tijbeews.

Scopus/Bloglines Assignment

After working all night, here is the link to the Scopus/Bloglines assignment. The URL for my bloglines feed is http://www.bloglines.com/public/amyryan.

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Always working...

I have been working so hard. For LIS2000, I started The Anarchist in the Library, and for LIS2600, I have finally finished tagging (although the directions still aren't all clear--what are we supposed to do with Zotero?) I've moved on to Bloglines and Google Co-op assignments. This is the first time since the courses started that I feel behind technology-wise. It is quite an uncomfortable feeling, and an unusual one for me. I have been checking the DB for clues and even posing a few questions myself to figure out the assignments. The good news is that I have presented my hot topic with my group, and feel relieved to have gotten this assignment completed. I will not have to worry about it again (except for posting to other hot topics).

Back to work...

Sometimes I Just Need a Break...

After the trying weekend of tagging this and tagging that, along with putting the finishing touches on my report of the three books for LIS2000, I just needed a break. I put on the teakettle and sat on the porch swing...and nearly caught the kitchen on fire. I forgot about the boiling water!! No tea for me!

Break is over...back to LIS2600 and tagging.

Captured!

Thanks to Dr. Tomer's tutorial, I finally have a clearer picture of our EndNoteWeb assignment. What a relief to finally get the hang of it! I have been "capturing" unique items all night. Some of the abstracts are so interesting, I want to go back and read the articles when I have time (August 5th, maybe?)



Connotea, Zotero, del.icio.us, here I come!



"Tag...You're It!!!" To all non-info-philes (did I create a new word?) you can "tag" items online through these sites. A "tag" is simply a word you use to describe a bookmark. Unlike folders, you make up tags when you need them and you can use as many as you like. This is a great way to remember things on the Web! --from the del.icio.us website

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Double Fold

I have finally finished reading Double Fold: Libraries and the Assault on Paper by Nicholson Baker. It was interesting reading, and at first I felt that the author was just being harsh in his criticism about librarian's getting rid of materials. But as I read on, I came around to his viewpoint and I was impressed that he went to great lengths to save some newspapers for the sake of authentic history. Microfiche or digitalization take some of the magic away from the original work. I agree with Baker that the best way to keep books from falling apart, is just to let them stay on the shelves.

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Fascinating Facts

I am still reading Double Fold, and it has so many fascinating facts about paper. I am still reeling about the fact that the endless supply of Egyptian mummies were imported and stripped of their swaddling to make newspapers! One of the many fascinating facts I've learned thus far in these two classes!

What else I've learned: What a computer "cookie" is. I've always wondered, and now I know that when you visit a website and click on an ad or fill out information, that information is stored on your computer and retrieved the next time you visit that site. That "cookie" is like a little spy collecting information about me. It's a good thing Webroot Spysweeper gets rid of all my cookies!

This week the Hot Topics on Banned Books and Library 2.0 were excellent. Banned Books has always been an interesting library topic--everyone's views are usually so divergent. Library 2.0 is actually a new topic to me, a librarian left-over from card catalog days. Nevertheless, I see that it is necessary to strive to be like the 2.0 model in our own libraries.

From Overwhelmed to On Track

When we started this course, we were cautioned that the first two weeks were the worst. It was overwhelming--I wasn't getting to bed until 2am and then only getting four hours of sleep. Well, the two weeks have come and gone, and it is getting more manageable. The librarian in me is keeping me on track. When I sit at the computer, the first thing I do is go over all of the announcements and discussion boards for each class, and then double check the syllabus for each one to make sure I've done everything. After that, I like to complete any computer-based work and then retire to my ever-present reading list.

Today's To-Do List is: Read Chapter 8 of "Discovering Computers", double check that I have completed all of the account set ups, and continue reading "Double Fold."

Systematically going through Courseweb and my assignments will hopefully keep me "on track."

German-Masontown Public Library

I identify myself as a school librarian, but in the last year I moved closer to my family and gave up a beloved school library job. Unfortunately, in this semi-rural area, all of the school jobs were taken, so I took a part-time position at the local public library. I will give you a little history on the library, discuss the pros and cons of being in a public library versus a school one, and then conclude with a decision I made about my career and schooling connected to this library.

The German-Masontown Public Library used to be a synagogue, but our neighborhood didn't have a large Jewish population and in the 1960's they went elsewhere and gave their building up with the stipulation that it become a public library. By the late 1960's that vision became a reality! By the way, the Star of David is still evident at the front entrance of the building.

In my part-time position, I am the Library Director and the only librarian on staff. The pay is what you would expect of a small rural library, and I only took the job to get out into the community and meet people. I work with Shirley, a clerk who has been there 25 years, and Rachel, the weekend clerk. A good circulation day would be checking out fifty items; a great day would have over one hundred! Unfortunately, in this count of fifty items, half of the check outs is due to videos. That is on a good day or a great day--the usual day has about 20-40 items checked out.

The pros I've found working in a small rural public library are that there is less stress and ample opportunity for "visits" with the townsfolk. There are a lot of visits because people don't think we really work there. Maybe that is a pro for the patrons more than for me!

The cons of public library service for me are a lack of professionalism among the staff (not only in dress but in library operations such as cataloging), a measure of unsafety (no locked entry doors like at school) and most importantly, it's just not a school!

Nevertheless, working here is a nice way to pass the day. That is why my decision to resign my post is so shocking to my Board of Directors. They wanted to know why I was so unhappy I wanted to quit; they offered me eight more dollars per hour (this made my day because they really are tight!) and they even offered to let me bring my four children to work with me during the summer (wouldn't the kids have been thrilled?) The real scoop is this: Even though I have applied for a school librarian opening, I really want to spend the summer with my children (and have time to do LIS 2000 and LIS 2600). When they offered me more money, I was able to tell them that I wasn't after more money (the tack of previous librarians), I didn't yet have a new job, I just wanted the summer!

My New Addiction

Here I am sitting in my living room, having completed my first online week of classes through the University of Pittsburgh's program, and I have a confession to make: I am addicted to my new classes and all of the technology that they have to offer. Don't get me wrong; I'm not a technology geek. It's just that I'm seeing how useful (and fun) all of this stuff can be. For instance, Skype would be perfect for my sister and her son, who is college bound this August. Even for a novice like me, blogging is a fun, easy activity. I even find that the school's Blackboard is an interesting way to have classes, discussions, and share ideas. The only thing marring my happiness with school is Kuhn--I definitely am NOT addicted to Kuhn!

Former addictions: Chocolate and Diet Coke (I'm still in withdrawal)

High Expectations

The second official day of school, I was panicking. I was too old for this, my brain didn't work like it used to, I could have been reading a novel right now...I was really kicking myself for signing up for all of this work. It briefly crossed my mind that I could quit, but then I remembered that I aspired to be a good role model to my four children. Our talks about their futures always center around a solid educational foundation, and that my great regret was that I didn't go on to grad school. I gave myself a pep talk, reminded myself to keep positive, and told myself that I could do this! When I got down to business, I realized that while there were a lot of things to do, they weren't terribly difficult. The reading list alone was daunting, but hey, I love to read! I can do this! I will do this!

I have to do a good job at school. You see, my two teenagers have high expectations of me. They reminded me that I expected them to strive to get all A's, so that is what they expect of me. I wouldn't want to disappoint them, so I'd better get to work...

"Two-Letter Words"

About a year ago, I came across the most powerful two-letter words, and they changed my life. Somewhere, maybe in a magazine, I read this thought-provoker: "If it is to be, it is up to me." Why did this speak to me? It seemed to me that I always was in a holding pattern, and couldn't do the things that I thought were important in life. Don't get me wrong, I had a good life. But I felt like I was sleepwalking through it and that I had no control over what my life would become. Those two-letter words really had me thinking. Things won't change unless I help them to change. When I realized this, my life did finally change. So, things were up to me, and I decided that I needed to pursue my long-held goal of attaining a master's degree. This blog will chronicle the ups and downs as I navigate my way to that diploma. I know that I will achieve this goal because, "If it is to be, it is up to me!"