November 2010 Task "Cloud Computing"
I read the articles from Forbes on Cloud Computing and the concept seemed rather "ethereal". After watching the U Tube, it seemed to be more down to earth. A couple of ways in which I participate in it have been to make online purchases which use companies like Pay Pal for the billing and Marmot email, which provides our email service. Also our wiki provides a place to store our communication needs.
Our patrons benefit from Cloud Computing from such sources as; our online databases, Ask a Librarian, Ask Colorado, and Downloadable Media. The bottom line for libraries using Cloud Computing is "virtually" endless.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
SEPTEMBER 2010 ELECTION LIBGUIDE
SEPTEMBER 2010 ELECTION LIBGUIDE
1. I reviewed the information on the five tabs.
1. The first tab, Election and Voting Information, had online voter registration, forms, sample
ballots and voting maps
2. The second tab, 2010 Candidates and Parties, has a table with all the candidates for the
General Election and their party affiliation and seats on one page. There is a page
for Senators for Colorado U.S. Congress. Clicking on the names brings up complete bio
information,recent key votes, speeches, and ratings.
3. The third tab, Ballot Issues, has the entire Blue Book, full text house and senate bills, their
history, and pro and con comments on issues.
4. The forth tab, Campaign Finance Information, includes a disclosure site for campaign
finance in Colorado, searches expenditures, contributions, loans, complaints, and
searches for candidates.
5. The fifth tab, Media, includes televised debates, television and newspapers online links.
2. I found the Colorado Blue Book. It's nice to have this option available. One booklet is sent per
household, so it is nice to be able to access online as an alternative.
3. I took the quiz and got 5 out of 6 questions right.
4. This site can be used at work to fill out virtually any questions patron may come up with for
voting information. We can answer single questions or refer patrons to the site so that they
may look up the information for themselves.
1. I reviewed the information on the five tabs.
1. The first tab, Election and Voting Information, had online voter registration, forms, sample
ballots and voting maps
2. The second tab, 2010 Candidates and Parties, has a table with all the candidates for the
General Election and their party affiliation and seats on one page. There is a page
for Senators for Colorado U.S. Congress. Clicking on the names brings up complete bio
information,recent key votes, speeches, and ratings.
3. The third tab, Ballot Issues, has the entire Blue Book, full text house and senate bills, their
history, and pro and con comments on issues.
4. The forth tab, Campaign Finance Information, includes a disclosure site for campaign
finance in Colorado, searches expenditures, contributions, loans, complaints, and
searches for candidates.
5. The fifth tab, Media, includes televised debates, television and newspapers online links.
2. I found the Colorado Blue Book. It's nice to have this option available. One booklet is sent per
household, so it is nice to be able to access online as an alternative.
3. I took the quiz and got 5 out of 6 questions right.
4. This site can be used at work to fill out virtually any questions patron may come up with for
voting information. We can answer single questions or refer patrons to the site so that they
may look up the information for themselves.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
August Task 2010 Helpful Links
August Task 2010 Helpful Links
I visited "Critical Past" and looked up what happened on my birth date, March 14, 1951. I got 3 hits for video clips from the US Government Archives. One was a gun mount and gun director being removed fro the US Aircraft Carrier, Langley in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. One was of Cocoons and Armor Plate being removed from around guns aboard the Langley. The last was of a French Naval Officer briefing navy men in a classroom in Philadelphia. It seems like war was still in the minds of people on my birthday. I am a baby boomer.
I visited foodsafety.gov to look up the cooking temperature for fresh pork. It is 160 degrees. I made a copy of the temperatures for meat table to use for a handy reference in my kitchen.
I visited "Critical Past" and looked up what happened on my birth date, March 14, 1951. I got 3 hits for video clips from the US Government Archives. One was a gun mount and gun director being removed fro the US Aircraft Carrier, Langley in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. One was of Cocoons and Armor Plate being removed from around guns aboard the Langley. The last was of a French Naval Officer briefing navy men in a classroom in Philadelphia. It seems like war was still in the minds of people on my birthday. I am a baby boomer.
I visited foodsafety.gov to look up the cooking temperature for fresh pork. It is 160 degrees. I made a copy of the temperatures for meat table to use for a handy reference in my kitchen.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
July Task - New OPAC
August Task - New OPAC
1. I did a Title Search in the New OPAC on: "Freedom Flyers: The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II". There was a picture of the book on on the page. Information provided by Amazon was nice. It supplied Subjects, Editorial Reviews, Booklist Review, Publisher's Weekly Review, Reader's Review, and Popular Rating. These are nice to give a person some help in deciding if they want to read the book. From this page, one can find the copies in our library as well as other locations and call numbers and shelf status is given. Availability shows and requesting can be done on this page. One can cite, text, email, export record, save to a list.
2. I logged into my account and placed a hold on "The Shack". The hold placed immediately with successful confirmation.
3. I took the survey and put the following in the following comments:
Very nice response time and ease in placing holds.
Nice to have a picture of the item.
Gives all information one needs to know on the first page.
Options of what one can do with the record are nice.
1. I did a Title Search in the New OPAC on: "Freedom Flyers: The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II". There was a picture of the book on on the page. Information provided by Amazon was nice. It supplied Subjects, Editorial Reviews, Booklist Review, Publisher's Weekly Review, Reader's Review, and Popular Rating. These are nice to give a person some help in deciding if they want to read the book. From this page, one can find the copies in our library as well as other locations and call numbers and shelf status is given. Availability shows and requesting can be done on this page. One can cite, text, email, export record, save to a list.
2. I logged into my account and placed a hold on "The Shack". The hold placed immediately with successful confirmation.
3. I took the survey and put the following in the following comments:
Very nice response time and ease in placing holds.
Nice to have a picture of the item.
Gives all information one needs to know on the first page.
Options of what one can do with the record are nice.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
June 2010 Task Newseum's Front Pages
June 2010 Task Newseum's Front Pages
1. I visited the Newseum's "Today's Front Pages". I sorted by list to give myself an easier way to browse what was available. It sorted the papers by states, which were in alphabetical order by states of the United States and at the end of that, there were countries in alphabetical order.
I was surprised that there were no papers from France. Although there were some written in the French Language.
This resource would be helpful especially if someone was looking for a foreign newspaper. If someone has moved here, they may be interested in news from their home town and our newspapers would only a couple of big cities.
The map browsing is nice for an overall view of what areas have newspapers available.
1. I visited the Newseum's "Today's Front Pages". I sorted by list to give myself an easier way to browse what was available. It sorted the papers by states, which were in alphabetical order by states of the United States and at the end of that, there were countries in alphabetical order.
I was surprised that there were no papers from France. Although there were some written in the French Language.
This resource would be helpful especially if someone was looking for a foreign newspaper. If someone has moved here, they may be interested in news from their home town and our newspapers would only a couple of big cities.
The map browsing is nice for an overall view of what areas have newspapers available.
Friday, May 28, 2010
May 2010 Task Free E'books
May, 2010 Task Free E-Books
I downloaded books from Project Gutenburg, Google Books, and Online Books Page.
On Project Gutenburg, I downloaded "Apple Pie" by Kate Greenaway and clicked on the download link and got a publisher's note and text with illustrations. I downloaded "Zadig: Or the Book of Fate: An Oriental History." "Zadig" came with a table of contents by chapter, which comes in handy. All the Project Gutenburg books can be browsed by author, title, or language. They can be downloaded to computer, iphone, kindle, sony reader and more. It is nice because the books are always available and don't require an account.
On Google Books I clicked on "Moby Dick" and got illustrations; introduction; table of contents, which allows to click on chapter or page number; etemology, and extracts. It includes a lot of information and is easy to navigate. I also clicked on "Life Magazine" in the serials section. It is set up as a photographed picture of the whole magazine and comes in color. I looked at the October 23, 1950 issue which had Ed Wynn on the cover. There were lots of ads as well as articles with pictures. This is a nice way to look up articles as they appeared in the issue rather than just a database with the text articles.
On Online Books, I went to the Banned Books Online and downloaded "Lady Chatterley's Lover". This is a great site for students who have to read a banned book. It provides not only a list of books, but they can be downloaded to read right then. It would save tons of time for students with that assignment. I also looked at the "Occupational Outlook Quarterly", Spring of 2010 issue. It is set up just like the book is with an index to occupations. A search can be done of occupations. I used Tellers as an occupation, and was given further breakdown positions, as well as what is needed for education and preparation. It also includes a table of salaries and outlook for needs.
One of the most valuable reasons to use these sites would be that a classic book would be available to any number of students at the same time. Often teachers assign projects for many students to all read the book at the same time, and of course there are never that many available to check out.
I downloaded books from Project Gutenburg, Google Books, and Online Books Page.
On Project Gutenburg, I downloaded "Apple Pie" by Kate Greenaway and clicked on the download link and got a publisher's note and text with illustrations. I downloaded "Zadig: Or the Book of Fate: An Oriental History." "Zadig" came with a table of contents by chapter, which comes in handy. All the Project Gutenburg books can be browsed by author, title, or language. They can be downloaded to computer, iphone, kindle, sony reader and more. It is nice because the books are always available and don't require an account.
On Google Books I clicked on "Moby Dick" and got illustrations; introduction; table of contents, which allows to click on chapter or page number; etemology, and extracts. It includes a lot of information and is easy to navigate. I also clicked on "Life Magazine" in the serials section. It is set up as a photographed picture of the whole magazine and comes in color. I looked at the October 23, 1950 issue which had Ed Wynn on the cover. There were lots of ads as well as articles with pictures. This is a nice way to look up articles as they appeared in the issue rather than just a database with the text articles.
On Online Books, I went to the Banned Books Online and downloaded "Lady Chatterley's Lover". This is a great site for students who have to read a banned book. It provides not only a list of books, but they can be downloaded to read right then. It would save tons of time for students with that assignment. I also looked at the "Occupational Outlook Quarterly", Spring of 2010 issue. It is set up just like the book is with an index to occupations. A search can be done of occupations. I used Tellers as an occupation, and was given further breakdown positions, as well as what is needed for education and preparation. It also includes a table of salaries and outlook for needs.
One of the most valuable reasons to use these sites would be that a classic book would be available to any number of students at the same time. Often teachers assign projects for many students to all read the book at the same time, and of course there are never that many available to check out.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
April Task: Optimal Resume
April 2010 Task: Optimal Resume
I went to the website for Optimal Resume and created an account.
I clicked on the Document Center Tab.
I explored the Resume Builder which offers tips to get an interview. It offers a sample resume that can be edited to match a person's content, style, and gives action words that will attract attention. It can be entered into a Resume Bank which can be searched by employers. A copy may be printed.
I explored the Cover Letter Builder which will restate qualifications. A sample can be given which can be edited to personalize it with the experience, action words, and style of the job seeker. A paper copy may be printed.
A portfolio may be created to enhance the resume with uploads of images, documents, and videos. This site gives instructions and guides to create it.
The Website Builder helps a person create a customized web site that can include links to twitter, and linked in index sites that can be accessed by search engines. File lists can be accessed to link to templates. A sidebar provides links to social profile widgets, photo, and blogg. A passkey enables your site to be confidential by allowing you to limit it to only those whom you want to see it.
I clicked on Search Jobs Tab to see what might come up for possible openings. I was disappointed to find no jobs open in Grand Junction for some positions that seem very general. I started with Environmental Assessment Consultant, to be specific. I was not surprised to find no openings there. Then I searched Sales Clerk with Cabela's. No luck there. I broadened my search to waitress, accountant, and bank teller, and had no openings show up there either. It makes me wonder how successful some of our patrons may be at finding a job in Grand Junction using this tool. However, if one is not bound to Grand Junction, it is a good place to look for an opening that might be in another location.
In all, there is valuable information on this site for the job seeker. With Grand Junction's unemployment rate being one of the highest in the nation, and competition fierce, this site can offer an important edge.
I went to the website for Optimal Resume and created an account.
I clicked on the Document Center Tab.
I explored the Resume Builder which offers tips to get an interview. It offers a sample resume that can be edited to match a person's content, style, and gives action words that will attract attention. It can be entered into a Resume Bank which can be searched by employers. A copy may be printed.
I explored the Cover Letter Builder which will restate qualifications. A sample can be given which can be edited to personalize it with the experience, action words, and style of the job seeker. A paper copy may be printed.
A portfolio may be created to enhance the resume with uploads of images, documents, and videos. This site gives instructions and guides to create it.
The Website Builder helps a person create a customized web site that can include links to twitter, and linked in index sites that can be accessed by search engines. File lists can be accessed to link to templates. A sidebar provides links to social profile widgets, photo, and blogg. A passkey enables your site to be confidential by allowing you to limit it to only those whom you want to see it.
I clicked on Search Jobs Tab to see what might come up for possible openings. I was disappointed to find no jobs open in Grand Junction for some positions that seem very general. I started with Environmental Assessment Consultant, to be specific. I was not surprised to find no openings there. Then I searched Sales Clerk with Cabela's. No luck there. I broadened my search to waitress, accountant, and bank teller, and had no openings show up there either. It makes me wonder how successful some of our patrons may be at finding a job in Grand Junction using this tool. However, if one is not bound to Grand Junction, it is a good place to look for an opening that might be in another location.
In all, there is valuable information on this site for the job seeker. With Grand Junction's unemployment rate being one of the highest in the nation, and competition fierce, this site can offer an important edge.
March 2010 Task: Print-Friendly Tools
March 2010 Task: Print-Friendly Tools
I went to printfriendly.com and watched the "How It Works" video.
After watching the video, I opened up a new tab and navigated to gjsentinel.com and clicked on an article with the headline," Hilkey Hopes Escapee Still Within Grasp".
Then, i copied the URL of the article and pasted it into printfriendly.com.
The original article was 6 pages long. After pasting it into printfriendly.com, the article was 2 pages long. Printfriendly took out the headline, 3 images, a directory, comments, share, related articles, an advertisement, job index, site selections, customer service, contact links, and directory of the paper. Then, I removed a paragraph of text, then removed a whole timeline, and then used undo to put the timeline back in.
Then, I went to the print preview of the article on the Firefox browser. I highlighted the text I wanted and left out all the other stuff. I got the same thing that I had ended up with when I used the printfriendly site. The only difference was that I got the headline of the article when I used print preview.
The main advantage I can see of the printfriendly site is that it is quicker. I think, perhaps, there may be other types of sites besides newspapers that would produce more dramatic results. For instance, virtually any site from which online shopping can be done.
I went to printfriendly.com and watched the "How It Works" video.
After watching the video, I opened up a new tab and navigated to gjsentinel.com and clicked on an article with the headline," Hilkey Hopes Escapee Still Within Grasp".
Then, i copied the URL of the article and pasted it into printfriendly.com.
The original article was 6 pages long. After pasting it into printfriendly.com, the article was 2 pages long. Printfriendly took out the headline, 3 images, a directory, comments, share, related articles, an advertisement, job index, site selections, customer service, contact links, and directory of the paper. Then, I removed a paragraph of text, then removed a whole timeline, and then used undo to put the timeline back in.
Then, I went to the print preview of the article on the Firefox browser. I highlighted the text I wanted and left out all the other stuff. I got the same thing that I had ended up with when I used the printfriendly site. The only difference was that I got the headline of the article when I used print preview.
The main advantage I can see of the printfriendly site is that it is quicker. I think, perhaps, there may be other types of sites besides newspapers that would produce more dramatic results. For instance, virtually any site from which online shopping can be done.
February 2010 Task: Learn-A-Test
February 2010 Task: Learn-A-Test
I registered for an account on the Learn-A-Test database.
I visited the Library Help Center and read all about Finding Help, Accessing Learning Express Library, Finding Tests and Courses, About My Center, About the Learning Centers, Navigating Learning Express Library, What's New in Learning Express Library Version 2.0, Using the Tests and Courses, FAQs, and System Requirements.
I took a Guided Tour of the Learning Express Library.
I browsed the list of Learning Centers and Their Resources.
I browsed the complete library of eBooks.
The tabs at the top of the Learning Center page are a convenient feature, as this makes navigation more streamlined. Many of the new features of the 2.0 version have made navigation more friendly. It is handy to put Practice Tests and Courses in the My Center account that is set up for the individual. That account can be accessed easily if one must stop at any point and return later to continue on. This is especially nice for anyone who may be using our Public Computers, which have a time limit. Viewing All Learning Centers and being able to click on all the subtopics of the particular sections is set up well and easy to use.
I took the Guided Tour, which was helpful because it gave some hints on what can be found as one goes.
I chose to use the GED Learning Center and Test Practice because many people come to the Library requesting GED study guides. I selected the High School Writing Courses, 1 and 2 to review. I took the GED practice test. The guides also included information on what it would be like to take the test and assess how one's own study practices may be helped.
There are lots of occasions to recommend this data base to patrons. One is that our study guides for GED, ASVAB, SAT, and ACT are often already checked out when a patron comes in. This is an alternative they may use on their home computer or the Library's Public Computers. Also, we do not have a number of study guides in book form, such as Cosmetology or Real Estate.
One of the down sides to the Learn-A-Test may be that a number of tests are for tests for state licenses. I'm sure that a lot of the general information can be applicable to all, yet their may be a significant amount of information that is missing. For instance, there are only Real Estate Exams for 7 states and Colorado is not one of them. The same is true of the selection of eBooks.
I registered for an account on the Learn-A-Test database.
I visited the Library Help Center and read all about Finding Help, Accessing Learning Express Library, Finding Tests and Courses, About My Center, About the Learning Centers, Navigating Learning Express Library, What's New in Learning Express Library Version 2.0, Using the Tests and Courses, FAQs, and System Requirements.
I took a Guided Tour of the Learning Express Library.
I browsed the list of Learning Centers and Their Resources.
I browsed the complete library of eBooks.
The tabs at the top of the Learning Center page are a convenient feature, as this makes navigation more streamlined. Many of the new features of the 2.0 version have made navigation more friendly. It is handy to put Practice Tests and Courses in the My Center account that is set up for the individual. That account can be accessed easily if one must stop at any point and return later to continue on. This is especially nice for anyone who may be using our Public Computers, which have a time limit. Viewing All Learning Centers and being able to click on all the subtopics of the particular sections is set up well and easy to use.
I took the Guided Tour, which was helpful because it gave some hints on what can be found as one goes.
I chose to use the GED Learning Center and Test Practice because many people come to the Library requesting GED study guides. I selected the High School Writing Courses, 1 and 2 to review. I took the GED practice test. The guides also included information on what it would be like to take the test and assess how one's own study practices may be helped.
There are lots of occasions to recommend this data base to patrons. One is that our study guides for GED, ASVAB, SAT, and ACT are often already checked out when a patron comes in. This is an alternative they may use on their home computer or the Library's Public Computers. Also, we do not have a number of study guides in book form, such as Cosmetology or Real Estate.
One of the down sides to the Learn-A-Test may be that a number of tests are for tests for state licenses. I'm sure that a lot of the general information can be applicable to all, yet their may be a significant amount of information that is missing. For instance, there are only Real Estate Exams for 7 states and Colorado is not one of them. The same is true of the selection of eBooks.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
January , 2010 Task E-books
For the January Task, I read and familiarized myself with the Information given on our Web Page on the Overdrive Downloadable Books, Videos, Music and E-Books. There is a huge amount of information available on these pages which should answer nearly every question a patron may come up with regarding these downloads. For myself, I found the amount of information a bit overwhelming and I divided it into parts to make it a little more manageable. Having done that, it became easier to direct patrons to the parts of information that pertained to their particular question. The Quick Start Guides and FAQs are particularly useful.
I familiarized myself with the popular e-book readers. They look a lot like books to me! Of course, the advantage is that many books can be downloaded onto it and it still only takes of the space of one book, as well as having features like the ability to adjust print size.
I familiarized myself with the Supported Portable Audio Devices as well. Wow! there's lots of them. How nice to be able to have the ability to download so much on a single device.
For starters, I downloaded the Adobe Digital Editions, selected Agatha Cristie's A Caribbean Mystery. It's nice to have the table of contents and ability of downloading and reading parts at a time. Also font size and bookmark features are handy features.
I familiarized myself with the popular e-book readers. They look a lot like books to me! Of course, the advantage is that many books can be downloaded onto it and it still only takes of the space of one book, as well as having features like the ability to adjust print size.
I familiarized myself with the Supported Portable Audio Devices as well. Wow! there's lots of them. How nice to be able to have the ability to download so much on a single device.
For starters, I downloaded the Adobe Digital Editions, selected Agatha Cristie's A Caribbean Mystery. It's nice to have the table of contents and ability of downloading and reading parts at a time. Also font size and bookmark features are handy features.
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