December 30, 2006
December 28, 2006
5 things you may not know about me
1. I am half Azorean Portuguese on my father's side. My grandparents immigrated from the Azores in the early 1900's and my grandfather's name was Augusto Rodriques Teles and they shortened the Rodriques to Rogers.
2. I'm told that I'm somehow related to Woodrow Wilson on my Mother's Mother's side - but I've never researched it...
3. I am a Mac user at home - I have a PowerBook G4
4. I don't like MySpace... not for what you would think are the traditional reasons people who don't like it because of security, etc., I just simply don't like the layout of the pages, the set up, and the whole look of it... So many pages look so crummy - I'll just stick with my personal web site: www.curtisrogers.info thank you very much :-)
5. When I was 5 years old my twin brother was killed in a lawnmower accident. Just kidding. I have a very morbid sense of humor in case you didn't know that about me.
Thanks to Michael Stephens for tagging me!
2. I'm told that I'm somehow related to Woodrow Wilson on my Mother's Mother's side - but I've never researched it...
3. I am a Mac user at home - I have a PowerBook G4
4. I don't like MySpace... not for what you would think are the traditional reasons people who don't like it because of security, etc., I just simply don't like the layout of the pages, the set up, and the whole look of it... So many pages look so crummy - I'll just stick with my personal web site: www.curtisrogers.info thank you very much :-)
5. When I was 5 years old my twin brother was killed in a lawnmower accident. Just kidding. I have a very morbid sense of humor in case you didn't know that about me.
Thanks to Michael Stephens for tagging me!
December 27, 2006
THE ADVENTURES OF Super Librarian
Here is another interesting marketing video by the McCracken County Public Library.
Your Life Work: The Librarian
This is an interesting historical film about what it WAS to become a librarian and what WAS involved in the job. Certainly, much of the philosophy is the same, but the job itself is very different. It is only 10 minutes long.
December 19, 2006
Serving Somali-speaking patrons
Today I received an interesting DVD that is a "Welcome to your Library" in Somali. There was no documentation other than the production of it was funded through IMLS and an LSTA grant. So I watched it and did a little research and found it listed in WorldCat. It is a nicely created DVD that more people need to know about! OCLC: 62325301. The Press release is in Somali and can be found at www.mpls.lib.mn.us/releases.asp?item=kusoodhawoow
December 15, 2006
Employee Health
Yesterday was our quarterly staff development session and luncheon! We all had a wonderful time :-) Our speaker came to us from the Prevention Partners program from the state's Employee Insurance Program. She gave a wonderful presentation on living a healthy lifestyle and showed us all the wonderful online resources available to state employees. This kind of staff development is important for everyone. I highly recommend that libraries have presentations similar to this for their staff members from possibly a local health department or physician. A healthy staff is a happy and more productive staff! For more information, visit www.eip.sc.gov/prevention/index.aspx
December 07, 2006
FSCS Data Tool
One of the most important sessions at the annual FSCS public library data conference was the introduction of the Library Research Center's FSCS Data Tool. It is a wonderful AND FREE online tool that takes the FSCS data and provides users with the ability to chart, graph, create statistical reports at the national, state, regional, and local level. Check it out at http://lrc.lis.uiuc.edu/web/dataTool.html.
December 05, 2006
Nikki Finney on Libraries and Librarians
Nikki Finney really does a great job of talking about what librarians and libraries mean to her! Learn more about Nikki at http://www.uky.edu/AS/English/faculty/nnf.html
Libraries are Important!
Check out this little youtube video I did. It is the excerpt of the Horry County public Library Headquarter dedication. Great speaker: Liz Gilland, County Council Chairperson. It's nice to have such great supporters who get it!
December 03, 2006
Photo Contest
I recently won an award for this photo in the Columbia, SC, Free Times photo contest 2006 (http://www.free-times.com/archive/coverstory_06/cover_112906/112906_photo.pdf). It was the runner up in the places category! Hooray! :-)
SCLA Annual Conference
Last week was the very successful SCLA Annual Conference in Hilton Head. There were some great speakers, concurrent sessions, and this year we had 16 poster sessions. Rivkah Sass, librarian of the year, talked to us about the importance of keeping up with new trends in the field, good customer service, and giving patrons what they want. This image was one of her powerpoint slides and it shows a trend in that iPod owners want to hear their music even in the bathroom! It is very important that people in the library profession keep up with trends, not only in librarianship, but also in general. One of the things Rivkah mentioned is that she goes to at least one non-librarian conference a year. I think this is a great idea and something I'm going to try to do myself!
November 22, 2006
DISCUS Podcast
We are certainly doing some great things here at the state library. Our DISCUS program director and training coordinator have just put together their first podcast and it sounds great! You can listen to it online at www.scdiscus.org.
November 17, 2006
Group Photo
On our final day of the NCES Fellows Program, we all got together and had a group photo :-) Overall, the program is certainly well worth attending. There were only 4 of us who are librarians, however, we certainly learned much about what NCES produces along the lines of educational statistics. I'll soon be holding some classes online using OPAL to teach a little bit about what I learned.
November 16, 2006
Full day at NCES
Today was jam-packed with information, some of which was so involved with creating tabular and graphical reports that I could hardly keep up! So much statistical data and so little time! This was a photo of the Nation's Report Card web site that has a great deal of information about schools.
November 14, 2006
circle of fellows
Today we did a very interesting break out session where we shared information about how we interact with NCES as well as what we do differently from NCES which lead into many other threads of conversations about educational statistics!
November 13, 2006
IES web site
Today was the first day of the NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) Fellows Program. We certainly learned a lot but the most useful was learning about the web site nces.ed.gov. Click on the photo to see the description of what I learned!
November 09, 2006
Drive for NC Libraries
This is a great idea that the NC Library Association is doing in support of the association and libraries in North Carolina. For more information visit www.nclaonline.org/license/.
November 05, 2006
Librarians who IM wiki
If you are a librarian with an instant message account, be sure to visit this wiki, log in, and add your name! This is a great way to share your IM name with other librarians. Click on the image, then visit the link in the description to visit the wiki.
November 03, 2006
OPAL Online Programming for All Libraries
If you haven't given OPAL a try, please do. It's a wonderful resource for many archived training sessions on various topics directly and indirectly related to libraries. Today I taught a 3 hour continuing education class for our USC School of Library and Information Science about using OPAL and I think everyone certainly learned something new... Be sure to visit www.opal-online.org and especially check out the archived events!
October 27, 2006
10 Squared Club
Today our Talking Book Services library hosted a celebration of the National Library Service's 10 Squared Club for patrons who are centenarians. Mrs. Louise Johnson, who is 105, was inducted into the club and is the library's oldest patron. The celebration was a great success thanks to Pamela Davenport, the library's director, and the Talking Book Services staff. For more information, visit the press release at http://tinyurl.com/uurbu.
October 25, 2006
Ms. Dewey
This is a very interesting search engine. Ms. Dewey takes your question and gives you an answer, with some attitude! You can check it out at www.msdewey.com.
October 20, 2006
Horry County Library Grand Opening
Yesterday I attended the grand opening of a beautiful new South Carolina public library. The Horry County Public Library main branch is a wonderful new facility with a teens area, great bank of 28 public access computers, and lots of bright colorful children's furniture! The new library features 20,000 square feet and has an 85-seat meeting room. The construction cost was $4.2 million. Their web site is http://www.horry.lib.sc.us/ and also check out this brief video of the County Council Chairperson's comments at the event. What a wonderful speaker! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4m0SRjDRek
October 17, 2006
Staff Development Day
Today we had a half-day of staff development program concentrating on Emergency Preparedness. Here is our agenda. We certainly learned a lot and it is very important for libraries to regularly educate their entire staff about the specifics of making sure that libraries are prepared for various kinds of emergencies. We have a new emergency preparedness manual and a task force that will review the document annually to make sure it stays up to date. Overall, it was a great opportunity for staff to ask questions as well as share strategies for dealing with various emergency situations.
October 16, 2006
FOSCL Annual Meeting
This past Saturday, the Friends of SC Libraries association held its annual awards and business meeting at the Richland County Public Library. The guest speaker discussed volunteer operations "Better Planning Yields Better Services" and did a great job emphasizing the importance of planning not only in volunteer based organizations such as FOSCL but in all aspects of any type of non-profit organization. For more information you can visit the FOSCL web site at www.foscl.org.
October 13, 2006
Tshirtia
Interesting new web site that allows you to read books for free on your cell phone! What are the implications for libraries? Also, what's the font size??? I guess I'll have to give this a try to see how it all works... http://www.tshirtia.com/pc.php
October 06, 2006
tecnológico de monterrey
It's so nice to see library technology instruction taking place in other countries! I just happened to come across this photo in Flickr by Janusman. There are many other photos of their library in his library set. Also, their main web site is at http://cmportal.itesm.mx/wps/portal and their digital library at http://biblioteca.itesm.mx/nav/.
October 05, 2006
Good customer service
Well, this morning I ordered breakfast and unfortunately there were no utensils, which one would need for yogurt and cereal! So I thought I'd mention it to the concierge at the Sheraton. Maureen couldn't have been nicer! She slipped this note under my door with a voucher for breakfast the next day to make it up to me. This is a wonderful example of excellent customer service! While it doesn't directly relate to libraries per se, it does remind me that library staff, not only those serving the public, but everyone in the library should strive to give excellent customer service! It makes life better! And remember, while you're at work, the library is renting your personality so be sure to be friendly, smile, and treat patrons as you would your best friend :-) The experience of receiving great customer service will make them want to come back and they'll also tell their friends what a great staff works at the library. This is free PR you can't just get anywhere.
October 04, 2006
SC State Library Display
Today was the first day of the SC EdTech Conference in Myrtle Beach and so far it's been great! We've had a lot of people come by our exhibit and many people love our services like DISCUS www.scdiscus.org and Talking Book Services! It's great to be able to talk more to conference goers about what we do. For more information about the conference go to http://www.scaet.org/edtech/2006/.
October 03, 2006
Cataloging Web2.0
It is interesting from a librarian point of view that humans are making web searching more complicated by tagging activities in Flickr and YouTube and such... People think of their own tags for photos and videos but those tags may not necessarily be located by Google or other popular search engines. All the more reason to contact your local reference librarian to try and help you find what you're looking for. For the full article, go to http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/10/01/all-the-cool-kids-are-deep-tagging/
September 28, 2006
National Library of Belarus
I recently came across a little youtube video of this amazing facility. You can see the video at youtube.com/watch?v=OTFg7jO0sFo
Their web site is at opac.bas-net.by/NBB/arch_decision.php
It really is something out of this world! Check it out.
Their web site is at opac.bas-net.by/NBB/arch_decision.php
It really is something out of this world! Check it out.
September 26, 2006
Sad Day
Well, I am sad to report that our wonderful State Librarian, Patti Butcher, has resigned to move back to Kansas and work at the Kansas State Library. While I'm sad for us, I'm happy for Patti and certainly understand her desire to go back home to her many friends and family. Patti's last day here will be around October 20 and she'll start her new job in Kansas on November 1. We wish you the best of luck!!! :-)
September 22, 2006
Tech Topics to Go
Today is the first in a series of technology training for SC State Government Employees. Today's session was on blogging.
For more information about the series, visit the Services to State Government section of our web site at www.statelibrary.sc.gov
For more information about the series, visit the Services to State Government section of our web site at www.statelibrary.sc.gov
September 21, 2006
Library Staff Day Video
Check out this wonderful library video that was used for staff day. I would have blogged it directly from YouTube but it doesn't support the new and improved Blogger Beta :-( so I've flickr'd the screenshot to it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrtYdFV_Eak
Ghana Library Assistance
It is very important for librarians to maintain an international awareness about libraries. I am a member of the ALA International Relations round table and it's articles such as this that allow me to understand the many hardships and in other cases advancements that are taking places in libraries in other countries. Libraries don't only exist in the United States. When I was conducting research at the University of the Azores in Ponta Delgada, the professor I stayed with mentioned to me that he thought many Americans would only search American databases and if they didn't find the information they needed, then it must not exist. He opened my eyes to understanding that there are worldwide resources available to use and that we should not only look for resources in America, but also in foreign library catalogs that are available via the Internet.
Think outside the borders.
Understand what libraries in other countries do.
Have a more international awareness about the profession.
Think outside the borders.
Understand what libraries in other countries do.
Have a more international awareness about the profession.
September 20, 2006
REACH 2010
Today we had a reception at the SC State Library and included in the recognitions were the participants in the REACH 2010 project. Web site: http://reach.musc.edu/
The REACH 2010 Charleston and Georgetown Diabetes Coalition’s Library Partnership won the 2006 Health Information Award for Libraries from the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) on May 3, 2006. This was a national award with a $20,000 prize!
We also welcomed the new USC SLIS Director, Dr. Samantha Hastings, and said farewell to two of our board members, Dr. James Campbell, and Mrs. Margaret Bundy.
There was a great turn out for the reception! See the Flickr photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/scsl/sets/72157594292501152/
The REACH 2010 Charleston and Georgetown Diabetes Coalition’s Library Partnership won the 2006 Health Information Award for Libraries from the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) on May 3, 2006. This was a national award with a $20,000 prize!
We also welcomed the new USC SLIS Director, Dr. Samantha Hastings, and said farewell to two of our board members, Dr. James Campbell, and Mrs. Margaret Bundy.
There was a great turn out for the reception! See the Flickr photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/scsl/sets/72157594292501152/
September 19, 2006
LDS Blog
This is the new blog for the Library Development Services department at the South Carolina State Library. It uses Wordpress which looks a lot nicer IMHO than Blogger so I may have to switch over (only if it's easy!).
September 18, 2006
Blog Talk Radio
This is an interesting new tool. Libraries could use this for programming - have discussions with authors, teen book talks, broadcast library events or news, and much more. What are the possibilities? Check it out at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/.
September 15, 2006
Blogging libraries
Visit this wiki for libraries doing good things with blogs at http://tinyurl.com/pvzvp
Libraries Building Community through Citizen Dialogue
This was a great OPAL session. If you don't know about OPAL - visit their web site and USE it! www.opal-online.org.
This was an interesting and informative session by the Johnson County Library, Kansas, USA. For more information on their COMMUNITY ISSUES 101 program, visit http://issues.jocolibrary.org.
I thought their program partners were very interesting because they represented such a broad background: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, University of Kansas School of Public Administration, KCPT TV – local public TV, St. Luke’s Health System, Center for Practical Bio-ethics, Community non-profit organizations, Mid America Regional Council, Citizens Engagement Alliance, Kansas City Consensus.
The forums lasted two hours and were on various controversial topics/issues to foster dialogue among community members. The library provided information at each forum such as bibliographies and contacts, and actions to be considered which I think is a great way to help continue the conversation. However, I think it would be really good for the librarian in charge of each forum to blog the topic after each forum so that community members could respond on the blog for each topic. This would allow the library to bring in the online component of fostering community involvement and social networking online in addition to the in-person forum communication.
This was an interesting and informative session by the Johnson County Library, Kansas, USA. For more information on their COMMUNITY ISSUES 101 program, visit http://issues.jocolibrary.org.
I thought their program partners were very interesting because they represented such a broad background: Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, University of Kansas School of Public Administration, KCPT TV – local public TV, St. Luke’s Health System, Center for Practical Bio-ethics, Community non-profit organizations, Mid America Regional Council, Citizens Engagement Alliance, Kansas City Consensus.
The forums lasted two hours and were on various controversial topics/issues to foster dialogue among community members. The library provided information at each forum such as bibliographies and contacts, and actions to be considered which I think is a great way to help continue the conversation. However, I think it would be really good for the librarian in charge of each forum to blog the topic after each forum so that community members could respond on the blog for each topic. This would allow the library to bring in the online component of fostering community involvement and social networking online in addition to the in-person forum communication.
September 14, 2006
Michael Stephen's photo set
Check out Michael's photos on Flickr from our SC Public Library Technology Institute. http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelsphotos/sets/72157594284133738/
September 13, 2006
SCSL IT Matters Blog
check out our IT department's blog about today's SC Public Library Technology Institute - http://itmattersscsl.blogspot.com
TechExpress 2006 Technology Institute
Today has been great for SC's Public Libraries. I hope that librarians are charged and re-charged to become librarians 2.0. Remember, if we don't learn to use library 2.0 technology tools, we get left behind and end up missing out on some wonderful opportunities to attract new library users. The key is that we need to reach them on their level! Set up a reference IM account, get a Flickr account for your library, set up a blog - do these things at the very least to "put a human face on the library". Make the library a place where EVERYONE in your community wants to visit.
Felicia Vereen, Director of LDS
Hooray to the SCSL Library Development Staff who pulled together such a wonderful daylong technology institute! And a special thanks goes out the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the funding.
techy librarian
Today at the technology institute, Dennis Adams from the Beaufort County Public Library uses his laptop to take notes about the first speaker.
Best time for Libraries
Stephen Abram of SirsiDynix spoke to us about what a great time it is to be in the library profession. There are so many opportunities for us in the profession to bring in new users. We have to keep up with all the changes and innovations that effect the library and information science realm so that we can serve our patrons the best we can. Libraries are becoming a focal point in every community in the United States as not only a place where people can check out books but also a place where people can meet, learn, exchange ideas, and get expert research services. Librarians need to change from being introverts, get off their chairs, and go and ask a patron if they need any help. Being proactive is where it's at!
Michael Casey and Michael Stephens
Before things got started at the SC Public Library Technology Institute, both the Michaels started taking more photos.
At the Airport
Ok, instead of running to the restroom, Michael decides to start taking photos so I had to get a photo of him taking a photo!
September 12, 2006
are we there yet?
Don't you just love flying now a days? I'm waiting for Michael and Jenny to arrive to pick them up at the airport so they can be fresh for tomorrow's SC Library Technology Institute. There will be over 250 public library staff there and I can't wait to hear our speakers!
Public Library Computing/Internet Access article
These are just the out takes from this article but you can see the full version online at http://firstmonday.org/issues/issue11_9/bertot/index.html.
September 10, 2006
Libraries with Flickr Accounts
I think it is interesting to periodically do a search in Flickr to see how many entries with the word library in their profile title. On this occasion, there were 335 profiles with the word library in the title. You can arrange the results by "member since" and "# of photos". It looks like the Owl Library (probably somewhere in China) has the most photos with 1,856, and the library that has been a Flickr member the longest is the Library Comms team in the UK.
September 08, 2006
Make your blogs talk.
This is a wonderful way to make each of your blog postings accessible. Libraries that have blogs would be able to make their announcements and postings more accessible to blind or visually impaired. What a great resource!
September 07, 2006
anobii
Interesting new reading web site - check it out! Share it with your patrons!
With anobii, you can:
* Keep track of your reading
* Discover from people who share your tastes
* Spread buzz about books you like
* Make a list of books you want to read
www.anobii.com
With anobii, you can:
* Keep track of your reading
* Discover from people who share your tastes
* Spread buzz about books you like
* Make a list of books you want to read
www.anobii.com
September 06, 2006
Enjoy the library!
I think one of the important things to remember about library 2.0 is that it's not all about technology. Libraries, like the reading area in this library (Lee County Public Library, Bishopville, SC), should be inviting and create and atmosphere that makes you want to sit down, relax in a comfortable chair, and feel at home while reading the newspaper or looking through some books you might want to check out. Library 2.0 is more than just about technology, it's about a different approach to everything that has to do with libraries.
Create welcoming spaces.
Make patrons comfortable.
Make the library enjoyable!
Create welcoming spaces.
Make patrons comfortable.
Make the library enjoyable!
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