1. What are your thoughts about Badgerlink? Did you find it easy to use? Do your patrons know about it now? What items can you use at Badgerlink so that you don't have to purchase them out of your budget?
I personally think Badgerlink is nothing short of awesome. Again, the state of Wisconsin seems to put a priority on educational resources. I'm happy to be here, I gotta say. As far as ease of use, I'm not so sure about that. I'm not sure what links mean what. Over time, I'm sure I'll get more familiar with it. That being said, it doesn't appear to me to be an intuitive site to explore. It also looks pretty vanilla. As far as what my patrons know about it, so far it seems to be very little. However, I intend to bring the Encyclopedia aspect of it to light to both of my schools. My collection has a TON of encyclopedias that are taking up too much space. But now that my computers are installed, I've got current versions all over the place! Budget-wise, I am sorely tempted to remove book-encyclopedias from my library altogether.
2. What other databases does your library have now? Would you buy others? Which ones?
Well, the district pays for a number of online databases out of the district budget that all the schools share. These include Atomic Learning, Brain Pop and Tumblebooks (to name a few). I wouldn't spend my budget on any other database unless I thought it was REALLY exceptional. And at that, I would likely petition the district to pick up the tab so that the rest of the schools can benefit from it (a clever way not to spend my own budget on it).
3. Which selection tools are you using/or think you'd like to use most when selecting resources for your library?
I won't lie when I say that I have no idea. I'm not ready to start purchasing at the moment, and I really don't know where to start. I will likely lean on my Personal Learning Network to help me select new resources.
4. What kinds of formats do you want to have in your library?
Books, obviously. And I think I'd want to lean pretty heavily on hardcovers, as they seem a little bit more durable. I also want to increase my DVD collection, phasing out VHS. One of my directives has been to update to a "21st Century Library." In that vein, I'd like to start a media collection of music on both CD and in mp3 format. I'm not sure how I feel about periodicals yet. They don't see much circulation as it is, and I want to be budget conscious. Databases are great, especially since my district already forks out for them. CD-ROM and other software not provided by the district is out, as we aren't allowed to install foreign programs into our computers. Ultimately I would like to look at digital media as perhaps the way of the future. It's ambitious, I know, but in the back of my head I'd like to have that tentative plan in place.
5. (Louis Question): How has our class and this week's activities effected you in your professional life? Discuss 2 things that you've learned about this week.
a) Well, I've actually had to consider what I'd like to have in my collection. Despite my far reaching goal of digitizing a library, I have to consider what I have and what I want. I already have some old junk in my library (tons of old tapes, slides, etc.) My instinct is to pitch anything old, but I have to be wary of not getting rid of something that still has use.
b) Badgers! Badgerlink anyways. Holy cow is it awesome. The Encyclopedia online ALONE is worth it's weight in gold. I will be using and cheering for this stuff with haste acts.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
CEdu 572 - 12/01/10
1. Have you had a chance to get a Titlewave account set up? (etc.)
I have Titlewave accounts set up for both of the schools I service. Of the tools presented by the Follett people, the collection analysis tool was of the greatest interest to me. It will be an invaluable tool when it comes to weeding, which given the age and condition of both of my collections, will be a priority. What I find peculiar is the difference in the average age of my collection versus an eyeball test of what looks old and new. The analysis puts my collections at 1998 or so, but with a Mark 1 eyeball, it looks much older. In any case, I intend to use this tool (combined with circulation records) to determine which books to pull.
2. What questions or comments do you have about the Follett presentation or Titlewave as you start to explore it on your own?..."full processing". Do you know what that includes?
Well, my biggest question that night (as well as today) is how can the Follett company combine the abilities of the Titlewave collection analysis with the circulation records of my collection. Since I use Destiny, a Follett product, I would like to see an easy tool to combine these reports into one. Currently, the order of the day is to generate both lists and cross check as you go. I'm finding this to be fairly tedious, as both lists are VERY large. Otherwise, I was very impressed with the Follett people. I would say that I'm heavily inclined to work with them as a company.
Full processing is where the book company, upon purchase of a book, includes the shelf and barcode labeling on the book, as well as a complete catalog entry for said book. I would absolutely pay more for this work to be done. I've got enough things to deal with.
3. How is your Library Web Page progressing? Any concerns, comments or tips that you have this week?
It's not. The only progress I've made is to determine that my Principal is a-okay with me making a library website for free, and that I don't have to use anything provided by my district. My only concern is that I have yet to dive into this project. And it's a big one.
4. Does your district have a Selection Policy for library materials? How would you rate it? Why?
Well, I rated my own district's selection policy as part of my policy analysis. While I would find it incredibly unlikely that anyone from my school district would find and read my blog, I am disinclined to comment on my district (good, bad or otherwise) outside of the classroom as a matter of disclosure and self-interest. In short, I don't want to accidentally make the wrong people unhappy.
5. Any questions or concerns that you've run into as you start to think about your Needs-Based Three-Year Improvement Plan?
Not yet. In fact, I'm pretty darn excited to complete and then use this plan in my library (one of them, anyways). My only concern is that I may run out of time faster than I think. You know, I just quit my second job and it feels like I have LESS time than I did!
6. Please describe 3 things that you found out about at the Milwaukee Public Library on Saturday, Dec. 4.
A) The children's collection there is beautiful, massive, and everything I would want my libraries to be
B) Trying to fit in the children's reading lighthouse as an adult is harder than it looks
C) At one point, the Milwaukee Public Library housed a lion. A real life "I am going to do horrible things to your anatomy" lion.
7. Discuss 2 features of the Stritch Library that you really liked on your December 4th visit.
A) The donated children's library at Stritch is nothing short of amazing. The sheer volume of books is staggering. What was even better than that was the archive of "not-yet-processed" books which included some eccentric and old books. I like eccentric and old books. While the professional Librarian side of me understands the need to weed out old and out of date books, my personal side finds them to be my favorites!
B) I like that I can check out a book from the Stritch Library and have it delivered to my home. That's pretty awesome, dude (I grew up in the 80's; a rogue "dude" is bound to show up here or there). Having to either return it by hand or ship it back is a little daunting, but that's okay. At least it's one trip, not two.
8. Louis Question.
There wasn't a Louis Question posted, and being a slave to doing exactly what I'm told, I'm not going to answer it. So nah, nah, na-nah, nah. Though in total honesty, I would just re-hash the things I've written above since I've already talked about what I've learned and what I plan on using in my Library. So I guess I've already answered it. So why am I still blogging about it? So it's early, and I'm getting punchy. So.
I have Titlewave accounts set up for both of the schools I service. Of the tools presented by the Follett people, the collection analysis tool was of the greatest interest to me. It will be an invaluable tool when it comes to weeding, which given the age and condition of both of my collections, will be a priority. What I find peculiar is the difference in the average age of my collection versus an eyeball test of what looks old and new. The analysis puts my collections at 1998 or so, but with a Mark 1 eyeball, it looks much older. In any case, I intend to use this tool (combined with circulation records) to determine which books to pull.
2. What questions or comments do you have about the Follett presentation or Titlewave as you start to explore it on your own?..."full processing". Do you know what that includes?
Well, my biggest question that night (as well as today) is how can the Follett company combine the abilities of the Titlewave collection analysis with the circulation records of my collection. Since I use Destiny, a Follett product, I would like to see an easy tool to combine these reports into one. Currently, the order of the day is to generate both lists and cross check as you go. I'm finding this to be fairly tedious, as both lists are VERY large. Otherwise, I was very impressed with the Follett people. I would say that I'm heavily inclined to work with them as a company.
Full processing is where the book company, upon purchase of a book, includes the shelf and barcode labeling on the book, as well as a complete catalog entry for said book. I would absolutely pay more for this work to be done. I've got enough things to deal with.
3. How is your Library Web Page progressing? Any concerns, comments or tips that you have this week?
It's not. The only progress I've made is to determine that my Principal is a-okay with me making a library website for free, and that I don't have to use anything provided by my district. My only concern is that I have yet to dive into this project. And it's a big one.
4. Does your district have a Selection Policy for library materials? How would you rate it? Why?
Well, I rated my own district's selection policy as part of my policy analysis. While I would find it incredibly unlikely that anyone from my school district would find and read my blog, I am disinclined to comment on my district (good, bad or otherwise) outside of the classroom as a matter of disclosure and self-interest. In short, I don't want to accidentally make the wrong people unhappy.
5. Any questions or concerns that you've run into as you start to think about your Needs-Based Three-Year Improvement Plan?
6. Please describe 3 things that you found out about at the Milwaukee Public Library on Saturday, Dec. 4.
A) The children's collection there is beautiful, massive, and everything I would want my libraries to be
B) Trying to fit in the children's reading lighthouse as an adult is harder than it looks
C) At one point, the Milwaukee Public Library housed a lion. A real life "I am going to do horrible things to your anatomy" lion.
7. Discuss 2 features of the Stritch Library that you really liked on your December 4th visit.
A) The donated children's library at Stritch is nothing short of amazing. The sheer volume of books is staggering. What was even better than that was the archive of "not-yet-processed" books which included some eccentric and old books. I like eccentric and old books. While the professional Librarian side of me understands the need to weed out old and out of date books, my personal side finds them to be my favorites!
B) I like that I can check out a book from the Stritch Library and have it delivered to my home. That's pretty awesome, dude (I grew up in the 80's; a rogue "dude" is bound to show up here or there). Having to either return it by hand or ship it back is a little daunting, but that's okay. At least it's one trip, not two.
8. Louis Question.
There wasn't a Louis Question posted, and being a slave to doing exactly what I'm told, I'm not going to answer it. So nah, nah, na-nah, nah. Though in total honesty, I would just re-hash the things I've written above since I've already talked about what I've learned and what I plan on using in my Library. So I guess I've already answered it. So why am I still blogging about it? So it's early, and I'm getting punchy. So.
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