National Nurses Week - May 6-12, 2009

Working with a nursing teaching staff, I have come to appreciate the intellect and role of the nurse much more than before. Before, well before and still now, I just held them in awe and am forever grateful to those nurses who encourged me when my little premee was hooked up to a bunch of machines and lying silent, waiting for the day I could hold him and then, finally, take him home. Without those nurses, it would have been so much harder to bear. I also revere the hospice nurses who took care of my mother and my father at the last. I don't know how you can do it day after day, but I'm glad you do. Thank you nurses for all of your dedication and self-sacrifice.

Thing 22- Staying Current

This Thing is like "preaching to the choir" for me because I will be 50 years old (YIKES) this year, and did not grow up with a computer or cell phone (PC not invented yet). When PC's came out, I was an English teacher and took a class offered by the "typing" teacher after school for faculty who wanted to learn word processing. I learned most of my computer skills "on the job," either by necessity or by playing around with something new. I became a media specialist in 1998, but did not go to school until 2001. I learned a lot on the job. There, I had to also learn how to make TV's and VCR's work together, then DVD's, then multi-media projectors, and the list goes on of equipment I had to learn how to use and had to instruct others how to use. If I don't know something, I ask if I need to know it or if I am just curious which happens a lot. Other people are a wealth of ideas and information. I also love to read. I read the newspaper and magazines/journals and stop and concentrate on library related articles. I do the same (but also search) on the Internet. That's why I already take advantage of NEFLIN's webinars and am a part of 23 Things. I want to know what is in, what is new, and what is next. I don't always like it--don't get texting...haven't tried (only because it costs more though). I think I would like a Kindle, so if any of you are very kind and have a lot of extra money in this economy, buy me one. It would combine my love of reading with my love of something new and techy. I plan to keep reading, keep taking classes from NEFLIN and other sources, keep networking with fellow librarians, keep searching the NET for ideas, and keep trying new things. This blogging thing is fun. Maybe, I'll keep it up too. I would especially like to keep it up if my library director would give me permission to use it in connection with our library. (So, if he is reading this...)

Thing 21- Assignment Calculators--Better name--help for procrastinators

For me, these tools would not be helpful because I am not a procrastinator. When I was working on my masters degree, I did my own planning on the calendar for due dates of class assignments. These calculators ask the same questions or similar ones to something my graduate degree (which centered on being a media specialist)stressed--The Big 6--Research Strategy. These seem to have skipped a step, but essentially it is the same--a research thought process that leads to a final product. These calculators seem to me like a gimmick to get procrastinators to get the job done. I hope it helps, but I present the research process to students and let the students do it at their own pace at their own schedule. This works best in a school where most students also work full or part time and have families. (This was a short assignment.)

Thing 20- Reading and more reading-Print or Online...That is the question...

I agree with the articles about reading, being a former English teacher. Reading novels and reading regularly increase test scores. The question discussed primarily was is reading online just as beneficial as reading print? I think it depends. (Personally, I hate reading online. I now have bifocals and too much computer screen gives me a head and neck ache. I read to relax and reading online does not make me relax.) What should be a factor in comparing online to print reading should be exactly what is being read online. Reading twitters, emails, and blogs do not necessarily promote the correct form of the English language much less correct spelling! However, I have read some books, some being children's books that do not demonstrate the best examples of these things either. I think reading anywhere improves vocabulary. I say if you can only get them to read online, allow it wholeheartedly (being cautious of what's out there, of course).

As far as all those sites you listed, I agree with the comments on the 23 Things page-there are too many, but you wanted us to explore. I hope it's ok that I just picked one or two from each list to explore. I have no interest in book communities or book groups, but I took a look at Overbooked and Booksprouts. (I just don't have time to get involved with something like this.) I looked at Librivox for Audio Books, but again, I don't like listening to books; I love reading books. I clicked on Metacriatic, but I frequently use Amazon for a quick review--I don't know why I would need several sites for the same thing. Besides, that one is not kept updated anymore anyway. I thought the idea of "renting" a textbook would be a good idea for college students in Book Swim. I clicked on "What should I read next?" and thought it would be good for someone else, but I like shelf browsing myself to choose my next book. The one site I did join was Daily Lit. I tried adding the RSS feed to this blog, but it wouldn't work. (I think I need to review RSS feeds.) I'll try to add what it said to copy and we'll see if it works. If it's there, great. If it's not, oh well.

Thing 19- Options for Social Networking

The librarian's article of how they were using social networking in his library was great! I can see how it would be wonderful in a public library. The Gather site seems to be for the more serious-minded than Myspace or Facebook. I have a Facebook account, a fact I've already mentioned, and sometimes get a little annoyed at all the "playing" like taking a million "quizzes" and posting the results to all of them. The part I enjoy is reading the day to day comments of "my friends." I don't enjoy seeing the quizzes or anything that takes up a whole lot of room like a bunch of pictures when I'd rather just scroll down to see what everybody did that day. Gather seemed to be a serious conversation like talk radio. I could get into that because I like to express my opinion, but I probably won't because it would take too much of my free time.

I added Shelfari before I knew it was a social network. Another 23 Things blogger had it on her blog, and I liked it, so I put it on mine. They do email me from time to time and say people are asking about the books I listed. I haven't taken the time to answer, but maybe someday, I will. When I was a school media specialist, I would really have liked having Shelfari. My school now is very career oriented and casual reading is not emphasized.

Well, I must get on with the next Thing...only one week left and I have 4 things to go.

Podcast thing 17 Revisited

Well, I finally was approved for podcast.com - got to be careful of those librarians - do a complete background check! At home, I had to download Quicktime to be able to use podcast, but after that it came in loud and clear. It reminded me of listening to a radio talk show. I have tried searching for library related items. At home, I tried a storytelling pod, but they spent too much time talking before the story that it completely lost my interest. At work, I listened to an interview of an award-winning librarian whose library catered to a very diverse population that spoke 90 different languages. That was interesting. I tried a couple of others, but they didn't work, so I don't know if my work blocked it (this is professional development if you are checking) or if those pods just aren't working. I still don't think podcasting is for me in my present circumstances, but I did try - again.

Thing 18- Facebook!

I have been waiting for this Thing! That's because I'm already a member of Facebook. My son got me started about 6 months ago. I check it almost daily, but I have one problem--I can never think of something clever to write. I have enjoyed re-connecting with old friends (and I do mean old--all the way back to high school) and staying connected with friends who have moved away or have a new job. Facebook is fun. I like the fact that you have to accept friends and that not everyone can be a part of your circle unless you want them to be. My friends represent a huge variety from the old high school friends and faculty to college friends to old co-workers to members of my church to old students of mine to my son who's a college student himself. It's a great way to network for friendship and for opportunities should they arise. A library could use this to form a group for a book discussion or for library help because you can use the online IM if you are both online. I joined the librarians and facebook group you mentioned. I'll see if I get any comments from that. So far I have 71 friends, but that's nothing; my son has over 300! You'll find me if you do a search for Patricia Lynn Mayfield. I'm going to try to post a link to this blog into my facebook page. See you there!