CEdu 572 - 12/08/10

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.