23 Things in Richford

Blog Decisions (Week 2, thing 3)

sussmo — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:23:25 +0000

Here’s that decision thing I talked about in my last entry, rearing it’s ugly head – Which blog service do I choose – blogger or wordpress? I like google apps, but wordpress sounds so much more erudite and much more fitting for a librarian. First I read through the explanation and then tried to look through some of everyones’ blogs already posted (trying to find people I knew or guess if I could figure out the anonymous ones) to see if there was a heavy favorite between the two. That didn’t seem to help (and often forgot to look at the host address because I was too busy reading entries and profiles). I decided to wait and “think about” which one to choose – and we all know that just my way of avoiding a decision.

Later that evening – as I was mentally composing my blog entry (even though I still hadn’t decided which blog host to use) I had a brilliant idea. Thinking about the structure of the blog entries, I thought it would be a great idea to have a blog for announcements at the library – list of new books and DVDs and reminders of programs and upcoming events. We have not had an uptodate website in over 2 years so this is a way people at home can check in with us. AND my problem was solved – I made 2 blogs – this wordpress one for 23 things and a blogger one for library announcements. You are reading one – check out the other called “Access Arvin A”

http://accessarvina.blogspot.com/

If each of these blogs didn’t fulfill a specific purpose, I’d not be doing a blog. Who’s going to read this anyway? I can’t believe anyone is interested in my rambling (and that’s whatI think of a typical blog – as just rambling!) And who has the time?

Starting Point (Week 1, thing 2)

sussmo — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 04:08:54 +0000

OK – theoretically I plan to do most of this project from the comfort of my own home – this class could be subtitled “Earn certification credits in your pajamas”. However if, like me, you have dial-up at home it becomes more difficult and time consuming. I can’t tell you how long it would take to watch that video on dial up because I gave up and spent Easter afternoon watching it at the(closed) library. Doing blog work seems to be quicker there as well.
I read in someone else’s blog that librarians (libraries) and life-long learning go hand in hand and the video was “preaching to the choir”. I agree, but find it was really helpful to have the habits articulated – it helps us all to begin at the same place (if not at the same time) – and agree/disagree or add to – it is the seed for all our learning trees.
Missing habit – and what I’d say is the hardest thing for me – patience. Sometimes if I am learning something and it doesn’t “click” with me I can get impatient and decide that it is just not worth taking the time to learn. Sometime that’s a good thing because I may have to find another way to solve the problem, and sometimes it eliminates unneeded complications from my life – but it is also why, in spite of my proclaimed interest, I have not yet learned about building websites or blogs or some of the other things I hope this project will spur me to.
Another missing habit? Decision making. I can get often stymied by the need to make a decision – I put it off because I want to think about it or spend more time to do more research on the option – usually I say “later when I have more time” and rarely do I have more time later. Other times I make default decisions – by thinking about something so long it becomes moot, the deadline passes or a new problem supersedes it. I have to remind myself often that a bad decision is usually better than no decision – a decision moves you down the road – and if it wasn’t the right decision, it at least is instructive in its own way!
Rethinking the missing habits – As I write this down I am realizing that both patience and decision making fall under the habit of “being responsible for your own learning”

Better late than never! (Week 1, thing 1)

sussmo — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:43:07 +0000

I first heard about the “23 things” at the Franklin and Grand Isle County librarians’ meeting last Wednesday. What a great idea. I have been the director at Arvin A. Brown Library in Richford since December 2007. We have 4 employees, all part time, ranging from 4 hours to 25 hours per week. We are opened 28 hours per week. Our catalog is automated – we use Athena. I am just beginning to accumulate credits towards certification and I am glad to have this opportunity. First of all, any class I can take for certification credit without travel time and fuel expense is greatly appreciated. The fact it can be completed at my own pace and on my own time is a bonus. I have wanted to explore many of these websites, but somehow it feels too much like playing – and I am always feeling like I have too many other things to do. Now learning about Flickr and Facebook and MySpace has become a legitimate goal!