I'm thankful

It may sound corny, but here goes:
I'm thankful that I work for a public library. I like being part of something that is a community benefit, that supports education, that encourages learning by its nature and its resources, that always has lots of books I want to read, that has more videos and DVDs than I will ever get around to watching, that gives me days that present me with things I've never experienced before (even when they aren't fun at the moment.) I'm thankful that there are so many talented and interesting people to work with.
On another note, I'm thankful for the little ceramic figure I came across last night. It looks a lot like the turkey in the picture, but it's only an inch high, worn and kind of shabby looking, but it was always part of the decorations on the Thanksgiving table when I was a child. I kept it when we divided up the household after my mother died and didn't really think about it again until last night. I feel lucky to have this tangible piece of my youth. Isn't if funny what memories such little things can bring back?
Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

What, me change?

Well, this last post got more responses than any of the others. What fun! It's what I'd hoped for and still hope for, again. If you're like me, you didn't get back to Bloglines to read what you'd subscribed to for several days. Didn't even cross my mind...I changed that. It's reminded me, once again, how hard it is to start new patterns. I need to remember to check my Blogline account--how obvious is that? I don't do it everyday, but figure if I read a couple of times a week I'll be doing good. Not being like Felicia, I'd don't have the number of feeds coming in, thank goodness. But the thought today is about change and how it's not easy, even when you find something interesting or exciting.

Post blogging class

Well, the class has come and gone. I've gotten several comments (see earlier post) and also heard several comments in meetings and in conversations. Many of you are thinking about ways that blogs could be an asset to our work and useful to the public. I think it would be great to get a group of us together, once we've gone through a few more of the TechTrack classes, and talk about all of this. There are some exciting options out there for us to consider. Are you game?

Last day!

Don't forgoet--today's the deadline for sending in your RSVP for the Holiday Gala. Don't miss it!

Blogging class at CCPL

I'm interested to hear what your thoughts are on the first of the Web 2.0/Library 2.0 classes yesterday. I got a better understanding of how to subscribe to blogs and also found out that editing the side column of the blog is not as straightforward as I'd hoped. That's really what I meant when I said I couldn't add a link. Maybe I'll take Felicia up on her offer and call, so she can walk me through it.
So, any budding bloggers? Thoughts on what we could do with this?

TechTracks class

Tomorrow is the first of several classes that the State Library is offering. They are being held at several libraries across the state and CCPL is one of them. Tomorrow's session is on Blogging. I'm eager to attend, even though I've set up a blog. Mine's pretty primitive and I need some help. I've read through the directions on how to add a link, tried it more than once, and still can't do it. Frustrating, especially since there's many things I'd like to link to. The TechTracks series aims to expose us to Web 2.0 technologies--something we will all be hearing more about in the coming months. It was also the topic of a teleconference we recorded recently, Best New Technologies: Keeping Up with the Storm. There's a lot of exciting stuff going on out there and some impressive applications in libraries. I changed my thinking about all of this after attending a workshop in September. I thought that things like blogging, podcasting, Wikis, were things going on in cyberspace that didn't really have an relevance to me or to my (and our) work. I've since decided that I was wrong.
I'll let you know how the class went, although you'll be able to see if I learned much if I can finally add links...

RSVP, please

I know you got one of those nice invitations to the 2006 Holiday Gala. The Gala will be at the Charleston Maritime Center again this year, on Saturday, Dec. 16th. It's a great site--not too big, not too small, but just right. (Guess who used to be a children's librarian....) We had such a nice time last year and the Staff Org works so hard on this event. Please, send in your RSVP and make plans to be there this year.

Pimp My Bookcart--contest!

I don't know how many of you read the daily library comic strip from Unshelved, but it's very true to life in a public library and vastly entertaining. Recently there was a Pimp your bookcart series and it got lots of response from readers--enough that there is now a contest. Entry rules:
Email us pictures of your pimped-out bookcart - front, back, and sides. You agree to let us post your entry on the site.
Bill and Gene will pick the winning entries
First prize gets a $250 gift certificate to the Overdue Media Store plus a signed custom drawing of the Unshelved character(s) of your choice by Bill
Runner-up gets a $50 gift certificate to the Overdue Media Store
We'll post the all the entries on the site so that everyone can enjoy your hard work and creative flair
Open to libraries, schools, businesses, and anyone with a bookcart that needs a little something extra
The deadline for entries is January 15th, so get pimping!

Anyone game? Email address is unshelved@overduemedia.com

Trick or Treat 2006

Another Halloween's come and gone. We had fun here at Main. It was the 2nd Annual building-wide Trick or Treat. The Children's department hosts this event and children visit each department and collect their treats. In the morning, classes from Memminger Elementary came, and in the afternoon ghosts and ghouls (and their parents) made the rounds. Frances Richardson took these great shots. I'm sure this was not the only Halloween program in the system. Why not send me something about yours?