Critter Haven

It's 2010 When did this all happen?

2010-04-21T12:16:00.002-05:00

It's 2010. I haven't scribed a mot in way too long. My Master's in Library Science is complete...for a while now. I have 8 kitties. My busy times are spent as a Reference Librarian and having a blast at it. Guess it's time to observe, comment and share things from my end of the pond again.

Interesting Haworth article

2008-12-03T11:08:00.001-06:00

Here is an interesting study

Evaluation of a Public Library Workshop:
Teaching Older Adults How to Search
the Internet for Reliable Cancer Information
by
Laurie Hoffman-Goetz
Daniela B. Friedman
Ann Celestine
http://www.haworthpress.com/store/SampleText/J381.pdf

Thought you might like to take a look

2008-11-25T19:30:00.002-06:00

Seniors are often seen as sedentry or disinterested in exercise. But exercise benefits everyone. Here is a website that concurs and advocates exercise.

Aerobics : To improve life in the second 50 years!
http://seniors-site.com/sports/aerobics.html

It provides suggestions of what to do, when to do it and how it might help.

Don't rust! A rolling stone catches no moss.

2008-11-22T08:27:00.002-06:00

This web page came up and seems to offer another broad brushstroke of useful information.

http://www.aha.org/aha_app/resource-center/links/consumer-links.jsp

The web site says

Vision: The AHA vision is of a society of healthy communities, where all individuals reach their highest potential for health.

Mission: To advance the health of individuals and communities. The AHA leads, represents and serves hospitals, health systems and other related organizations that are accountable to the community and committed to health improvement.

Combine this with some of the other resources listed in another blog...among many others...and there is an information package to help Senior Citizens and their caretakers (when appropriate) in navigating the aging path.

2008-11-22T08:22:00.002-06:00

Prowling about I ran into this site that appears to have broad information...that might be useful for Senior Citizens among other groups. And it's located at a Library! http://www.youranswerplace.org/matls/govdocs/chi.html See if there is anything for your special group here.

Senior Citizens Health and Other Things

2008-11-21T15:09:00.004-06:00

The senior citizen population is growing rapidly. Baby Boomers are beginning to enter the Golden Years and invade these numbers. Though many Seniors are uncomfortable using computers and the Internet, others sail around it, comfortably and with great ease, daily.

One important issue is how to get information to Senior citizens.

First, who are they, (um,…that may include “we”)?

Here are some of their fast facts:

Older Americans born 1939 and earlier

• 65-75 born 1929-1939 – 19,890,612

• 76-85 born 1919-1928 – 12,024,034

• 85+ born 1918 and earlier – 4,071,236 Total number 65 & up – 35,986,082

• Represents 12.6% of the total population, or about 1 in 8 people

• 42% Male (15,117,585)

• 58% Female (20,868,497)

• Those 85+ were 1.5% of the population in 2000, and by 2050 will be almost 5% of the total U.S. population.

• The “oldest old,” those aged 85 and over, are the most rapidly growing elderly age group, growing 274% between 1960 and 1994.

• By 2030, the 65+ population will more than double to about 71.5 Million, and by 2050 will grow to 86.7 Million. (Based on 2004 projections)

http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/SeniorStats/5-04-10QuickFacts.htm 11/21/08

In the U.S.A.

The most recently updated demographic profile for America was released by Nielsen. Accordingly, the numbers in percent terms are:

Male : 48.48%

Women : 51.52%

Age Groups:

02-11 : 9.26%

12-17 : 12.69%

18-24 : 7.07%

25-34 : 12.8%

35-49 : 26.99%

55+ : 22.54%

65+ : 9.67%

http://techcrunchies.com/wp-content/themes/internetcenter/images/arrow.gif 24 May 08 Demographics

http://techcrunchies.com/category/demographics/ (Interesting demographic information here.)

Sites

There are a number of interesting websites for Seniors that can be helpful in guiding Seniors to various kinds of information, among them (although not limited to) Health information.

http://www.refdesk.com/seniors.html http://www.todaysseniors.com/

http://www.internetseniorsuccess.com/seniorsites.htm http://seniorcitizenretirement.net/

http://www.nia.nih.gov/

http://aginggrandparents.suite101.com/article.cfm/fun_activities_for_senior_citizens

http://www.entourages.com/barbs/senior.htm

findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_/ai_n14575282 Expressing creativity good for senior citizen health http://www.nia.nih.gov National Institute of Aging

http://http://nihseniorhealth.gov/ http://www.wppl.org/resources/websites/seniors.html

http://seniorjournal.com/

There are also two articles (accessible from the UW libraries). First...

Chiarella, D. & Keefe, L. (2008 Summer) Creating a consumer health outreach program for Western New York senior citizens: Continuing a library school project. Medical Reference Services Quarterly, 27 (2): 220-227.

"Attempting to locate and evaluate quality health care information can pose a variety of problems for the consumer." (p. 221) Creating and developing an outreach program "designed to address search problems and information interpretation problems" (p. 221) might help senior citizens with their access interests. Although this is an incompletely developed program, it has application potential in a number of library settings and potentially partnering with health care professionals and other supportive services.

Question: How can the plan be adapted to the public library setting for Senior Citizens? Or can it? Although this is an academic library focused article, is it feasible to adapt it to the public library setting? What considerations would need to me made, if any? Would this be a good candidate for blending or partnering with additional services?

The second article is

Capel, S., Childs, S., Banwell, L., & Heaford, S. ( 2007, December) Access to information and support for health: Some potential issues and solutions for an ageing population. Health Informatics Journal 13 (4): 243-253

This article focuses on older populations' access to computer information and the necessity to provide technology to empower senior citizen information accessibility. Paramount to handy access in training seniors is acknowledging and appropriately addressing variable physical, comprehension and general information needs. While this is a UK focused article, the principles remain the same on this side of the pond. "...[I]nformation seeking is part of people's normal social and every day activities and takes place within social and family networks....Training sessions [are] considered social activities for the older people, leading to a more successful learning environment." (p. 250)

Question: What does the article tell about the potential access for Senior Citizens in the present and future scenarios? What needs to be done to help Senior Citizens and how can the public library help in this?

Onward and upward

* As we rocket our way into the future, let us have a little compassion and understanding because they will in all likelihood be us. *

More interesting information about Seniors...

Facts about Senior Citizens Packaged by Census Bureau May is Older Americans Month and here are facts seniors may not know April 26, 2006 - Older Americans Month originated with a presidential proclamation in May 1963 and has been proclaimed by presidents each year since. Last year, President Bush stated, “Older Americans teach us the timeless lessons of courage, sacrifice and love. By sharing their wisdom and experience, they serve as role models for future generations. During Older Americans Month, we pay tribute to our senior citizens and their contributions to our nation.”

36.3 million The number of people 65 and older in the United States on July 1, 2004. This age group accounted for 12 percent of the total population. Between 2003 and 2004, the size of this age group increased by 351,000 people.

86.7 million Projected population of people 65 and older in the year 2050. People in this age group would comprise 21 percent of the total population at that time.

147% Projected percentage increase in the 65-and-older population between 2000 and 2050. By comparison, the population as a whole would have increased by only 49 percent over the same period.

483 million Current world population age 65 and older. Projections indicate the number will increase to 974 million by 2030.

Income and Wealth

$108,885 Median net worth in 2000 of households with householders 65 and older. In contrast, householders under the age of 35 had a median household net worth of $7,240.

$24,509 Median 2004 income of households with householders 65 and older, statistically unchanged, in real terms, from the previous year.

9.8% Poverty rate for people 65 and older in 2004, down 0.4 percentage points from the previous year.

39% Percentage of total annual personal income of people 65 and older that comes from Social Security payments. Serving Our Nation

9.1 million Estimated number of people age 65 and older who are military veterans.(Source: American FactFinder)

Jobs

5 millionNumber of people age 65 and older who are in the labor force. <http://www.census.gov/statab/www/>, (2006 edition, Table No. 577)

Education

73% Proportion of people age 65 and older in 2004 with at least a high school diploma.

19% Percentage of the population age 65 and older in 2004 who had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher education.

47,000 Number of people age 65 and older enrolled in college in October 2004. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/school.html>

Marital Status

56% Percentage of people age 65 and older who were married in 2004. <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam.html>

31% Percentage of people 65 and older who were widowed in 2004.<http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam.html>

Voting

79% Percentage of citizens age 65 and older registered to vote in the 2004 presidential election, the highest rate of any age group. Seventy-one percent of people in this age group reported actually casting a ballot. <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/voting/004986.html>

41% Of all the votes cast in the 2040 presidential election, the projected percentage to be cast by people 65 and older. In the 2004 election, people in this age group cast 19 percent of the votes.

Homeownership

81% Proportion of householders age 65 and older in 2005 who owned their homes. This compares with 43 percent for householders at the other end of the age spectrum — under age 35.

Coming to America

3.7 million Number of U.S. foreign-born residents 65 and older in 2004.

Population Distribution Nation

72 Overall, the number of men age 65 and older on July 1, 2004, for every 100 women in this age group. For those 85 and over, it drops to 45 men per 100 women.

4.9 million The number of people 85 and older in the United States on July 1, 2004.

67,473 Estimated number of centenarians in the United States on Nov. 1, 2005.

580,605 Projected number of centenarians in the United States in 2040.

States

17% Percentage of Florida’s population that was 65 and older on July 1, 2004. Florida led all states in this category. West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Dakota and Iowa followed closely, at 15 percent each.

4.2% Percentage increase in the number of people age 65 and older in Nevada between July 1, 2003, and July 1, 2004 — the highest in the nation. Alaska closely followed at 3.8 percent.

3.8 million Number of people 65 and older living in California on July 1, 2004, the highest total of any state. Florida, with 2.9 million, was the runner-up.

Recreation

11.3 million Number of people 65 and older who engage in exercise walking, by far the most popular sports activity for this age group, at least six times a year. The next most popular forms of exercise for this age group are exercising with equipment, net fishing, camping, golf and swimming. (People 65 and older are keeping up with younger adults; exercise walking was number one for them also.)

About 3-in-10 Of all mass market, or “pocket sized,” books purchased in 2004 by adults, the proportion bought by people age 65 and older.

Cars

78% Percentage of households with a householder age 65 and older who own a motor vehicle.

3% Percentage of households with a householder age 65 or older who have three or more cars available to use.

Computers

40% Percentage of people 65 and older who have a computer at home. 25% Percentage of people 65 and older who use the Internet.

Additional information is available at this site.11/21/2008 from http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/SeniorStats/6-04-26-Facts

Reference with a different face?

2008-11-05T07:45:00.002-06:00

One thing I particularly like about Reference is all of its faces...whether it is a teenager trying to find out about monarchs (butterflies or kings and queens?), or a consumer health searcher. The goal of a librarian is to help patrons/consumers gain access to that information that they need and/or want. Continuing this blog, CHI has become the topic for a few weeks but it affects us all for a lifetime.

Christmas

2007-12-09T18:25:00.000-06:00

Ok, how many of you can read The Polar Express (Van Allsburg) or the Littlest Angel (Tazewell) and not cry?

Christmas is a'comin'

2007-12-09T08:25:00.000-06:00

Christmas is a'comin' and that means that this semester is nearly finished. How can that be? Didn't this Practicum just start? How can it be nearly finished?

Yesterday was a busy day full of questions. Um,...I guess that's what it's s'posed to be. Chiltons is such a great resource for those needing car repair information. Francine Rivers books were what one delightful older lady was searching for. Did you know there is a book entitled Hip Knit Hats? Well, I didn't either, until someone wanted to place it on hold, ready?...because her teenage nephew asked her to knit him a hat like the one she had knit for his brother last year!!! A teenage boy asked her for a hat!!! Amazing!!! Amazing!!! Barry White CDs were what another gentleman was looking for. One patron came to ask for one of James Herriott's books. She said she makes a point of reading ALL of them every so often and this is one of those every so oftens. I do enjoy those titles, myself. Stock market information for a beginner was one topic in the morning. The Scarlet Letter -- on dvd, please -- was what would satisfy a teenager. The closest one wasn't close enough. One patron wanted the large print copy of a title. And on and on. At the end of the day I thought it would be interesting to see how many questions we had tallied. It was over 60, closing in on 70. I was sort of surprised as it seemed as though there were only a couple of spurts of activity while the rest of the day was steady, though pleasant allowing sufficient time to find what patrons requested. And, of course there were the phone requests for titles. I guess it didn't seem so daunting because there were at least two of us on the desk all day, while our third had "off desk" time for other projects. One project that I was asked to proofread was for an author visit. Sign-up is required for the book discussion in April, but the book signing itself doesn't require sign up. The ref librarian putting this together wanted to make sure it was clear. It was. The other project she needed "off desk" time for was to put together the Winter Reading Program information and handouts for recording books read. Then my other companion needed some "off desk" time for a weeding project she is working on. Turns out my time spent there is useful...to the other ref librarians as well as to the patrons.

Practicum time is something I look forward to each week. Looking for new things or retrieving old friend books is a pleasant task. I like the peace of knowing exactly where a resource is...and I love the challenge of finding a resource for something I have little experience with. And it gets the patrons what they want. And, that's why we're there. Right? One comment I have appreciated hearing from the Head Ref Librarian on occasion is that she has absolutely no idea about the topic a patron has asked about but she's very interested now in finding out all sorts of information for the patron! I liked that honesty and eagerness.

While I haven't used the available online databases much for patron questions, I have used NoveList for a couple of projects I've helped the ref librarians with. I'm rather surprised that I haven't used them much. They are there, there a good number of them, and they are good ones; they are just not what any of us have used. I actually listened yesterday to the other ref librarians just to make sure my impression was correct that they too seldom used the available databases. I'm wondering what better way there can be to have them available/accessible but not cost based. I think they are useful but may find a better use in being free access for everyone, not simply local library patrons.

I can't wait to see what next week brings. Yes, I'm continuing as a Volunteer in the Ref Dept at this library. I like being trusted with all manner of information from placing -- 37 holds for a patron (They tell me she's an avid reader!!! I guess!!) though I couldn't place holds for the other items she wanted, yet, as they aren't avaliableat the present time -- to creating a Christmas books list, to proofreading a document to searching for books for patrons to finding the needed information, to whatever is needed. It's fun, interesting, constantly changing, and makes it a great day to hear "thank-you for your help."

One resource I did run into that works most of the time is dexknows.com. I was actually trying to find my niece's address to make sure I had it right. According to Dex, I did,...though I've found other information that is not correct. Still, it's an interesting place to start a search for addresses/phone numbers and things of that nature.

I hope over the semester I really have been of help. The ref librarians say I have been a great help. Patrons, too. I do know I have learned a huge amount not necessarily about a lot of NEW resources but how to better use old, trusted friend resources and then how to even more confidently find something new when the situation warranted. And then there has been the High School Yearbook project. That was fun. That was fun because I know some of those people as adults who are in the books as kids.

What an education. What a great experience. I'm so glad to have been able to enjoy the fruits of this practicum. Some questions were harder than others. There was never a dull moment.

Omigosh...where does time go!

2007-12-01T19:29:00.000-06:00

Time flies while you're having fun. The Practicum continues to be a varied diet from helping index high school year books (I had more fun teasing a friend about a 5th grade picture...she considered including me in her will it I'd somehow manage to take the picture out of the year book! :) ) to helping create a notebook of maps to various other relatively local libraries as a reference tool and handout for patrons. And, questions, questions, questions! Exercise dvds, backpacking, blood pressure -- he wanted to have a clear explanation of "the numbers" (systolic and diastolic) so he could explain them to someone else. His young son was far more interested in going to "get some good books." Kids have their way, don't they! In the midst of reorganizing the ready reference information and reassessing the current Disaster Plan information that was found tucked at the back of low shelf so no one could find it, the ice storm going on outside contributed (we're certain!) to the circulation and its constituent parts failing for a couple of hours in the afternoon. That's ok! We did other things and managed quite nicely in other ways. FirstSearch was searchable so we weren't without our wits ( :} ) about us.

I'm struck at how little the actual Reference area is used. I'm also struck by how many reference questions are asked and answerable in the checkout section of the library. I know I've mentioned this before but I think it merits mention again...it makes one wonder if the reference books shouldn't truly be interfiled with the regular non-fiction, as some libraries are doing. Space in this library, as apparently in all libraries, is at a premium, and I'm wondering if using this precious commodity - space - couldn't be accommodated differently.

You never know what's coming next. How fun is that!!

A conversation with another reference librarian reveals that there is a huge need for more staffing -- and of course, as in most libraries, insufficient funding, so the reference librarians find themselves wearing many hats (and being unable to find sufficient time to "do" their jobs). This a a function I meet with pleasure and familiarity, but I can see that it's a challenge to adequately meet all the apparent needs of the Reference department, from computer education to program planning to weeding to...well, you get the idea. While I haven't located any wonderfully earthshakingly useful websites to add to our collection of sites for future reference, what I have noticed again and again is how much a reference librarian needs to know if only how and where to search for the right answer. It's an issue more of how is an item going to be useful to a patron rather than an issue of whether it is the "politically correct" database or collection to own. Whether it's a question about whether there is a Terrell Owens biography on shelf or is there information about a particular medical issue or can the patron get some help with an email issue or an Excel program, the reference librarian quickly changes expertise to meet patrons' needs. I think that is the reference librarians strength: the ability to change gears rapidly and without a blink and find that good information. Ice storm or no ice storm, that patrons want their information. The reference librarian can do that. And does.

P.S. I've lost track of how many hours I've actually spent at this library with the reference practicum. I stopped counting after 50. It's just plain fun - and a real education!

Time flies!

2007-11-04T17:55:00.000-06:00

Where did last week go? My goodness...it flew by and became another weekend of fun at the library where I'm enjoying my Practicum. So, well, um,...how could two Saturdays be more different? A week ago, we had question after question and I was able to answer them all from books on the shelves. I guess that's probably the most notable observation I have about this Practicum is that I'm finding the answers patrons need not online, not from Google, not from Yahoo, not from online databases, but from books and other documents in-house. And for the most part, they are from the check-out section rather than the Reference section of the library. The diverse nature of the questions keep everyone working in Ref fresh and on our toes. That makes the day go so nicely. It's fun and the most interesting people ask the most interesting questions.

And, the kids were in full Halloween regalia! There were several -- and amazing! -- witches, a la Wicked. There were the requisite adorable princesses and the occasional Darth Vader (still!). The community had presented (collectively) a Spooktacular that involved purchases from local stores and prize drawings at the library. The whole community participated to a greater or lesser extent. The questions I recall most were those concerning those interested in learning a new language. Fortunately my Spanish was adequate enough to help the delightful lady who is interested in learning more English. She said her daughter was great bilingual and she herself wanted to be able to better communicate in English. We found several good options for her. And the other activity I enjoyed was creating an Adult Reader's Advisory brochure for Thanksgiving books including descriptions. Creating something potentially useful makes one feel, well,..useful. Yesterday was a day spent creating a list of (oddly enough) language tapes, cds and videos to see what was supposed to be on shelf, and then checking to insure they were really there. For the most part they really were there. Part of this activity was to check on the condition of the item on shelf to determine whether to repackage or replace the item. I'm thinking they are used a great deal, because the condition of a number of the language tapes and cds was -- how shall I put it? -- well enjoyed. So some need to be repackaged for a better presentation. There were still some interesting questions but not nearly so many as last week. And, interestingly, the answers I located were on shelf. A computer program question, a question about a travel destination, a biographical question; a question about the history of banana bread; a car repair question. And for some reason, patrons were interested in magazines yesterday. Hm. Again, I'm struck by the broad sweep of questions and more I'm struck by the fact that I'm not using databases nor Google ... nor Reference itself. This is very interesting.

Interesting

2007-10-22T07:52:00.000-05:00

It just occurred to me that for almost all of the reference questions I've been answering for/with patrons I've located the answers in books in the check-our section. Almost nothing has actually come from Reference itself. It occurs to me that the patron wants to take something home, in hand, and they really want something more than just to look at it in the library. All the more reason to reduce the size of the Reference collection and place items so they are available for patrons to take home where they are more comfortable.

Another thought, then, is to redesign the library to more emulate a homey environment rather than a sterile steel and structured table location setting so patrons are happy to stay. I know a lot of libraries already do this or are attempting to do so, but perhaps a whole rethinking is necessary. Then there is simply the option of forwarding all information to a patron's home computer so they can access everything from home. That's what databases are all about but even more user casual items might be in order.

I think I will have more thoughts on this.

Bunch of fun

2007-10-20T19:58:00.000-05:00

It was back to the Practicum library again today. Goody.

And, as it turned out, it was a day full of interesting and fun questions and some really fun people, including an adorable little girl in all pink and very pleased with herself. First was a patron trying to look for an old book entitled A Pail of Oysters, a disturbing book of war and atrocity that he hasn't been able to locate -- nor forget from the past. Never located it in a library. Did find it on Amazon. Amazin', huh!

Car care -- and though there weren't exactly the books he wanted, he was able to adapt what was available to his needs. What a lovely young man he was!

A gluten-free child's diet book was next and we found the perfect book for her! She was SO pleased.

A delightful lady asked for books on Access and Excel -- and turned out to really want the formulas for Excel. Online there is a great and easily accessible list.

Various holds for titles.

And a fascinating young man came in asking for information on the changes in corn/bean fields in the Plainfield area (a burgeoning area) measuring land use change from just before the 1990 horrendous tornado that ripped through areas of Plainfield, Joliet and Crest Hill to the years after it. He has to turn in a draft on Monday and he has to go to work on Monday, too. Last minute. No surprise. Plat books really helped to show how land usage has changed and changed hands over the years. He started to get excited about his assignment. I think he had been floundering with no direction to go -- and he needs 25 resources! We found a few items he could copy that helped him to synthesize the information he needed.

I also got to practice my Spanish skills with the charming lady who spoke not one word of English. We managed -- surprisingly well as I don't often get to use my language skills (which, alas, are really French, and, ready?, Latin - *sigh* Omnia Gallia in tres partes divisa est. Need I go on?)

Found out too that their microfilm machine is a bit of a trick -- not to mention the maze of wires and procedural steps to make a copy of the desired resource. Egads. But at least the patron interested in the obituary from the local tiny newspaper from Feb. 10, 1957 was able to have it. A relative. I think we whizzed the microfilm off the roll just twice. The machine had two speeds: slow and HOLY COW - wait a minute!!! Have you ever tried to catch flying microfilm?

Also have a recommendation for a great restaurant (of sorts) in Balltown, Iowa called Breitbach's. Anyone been there? Well, if not, I was advised that that is THE place to go. The patron simply wanted their phone number so he could call ahead to make sure they are open when he and his family arrive in the area. That's planning!

It's such a great thing to hear a huge thank-you from several patrons in a day. Makes you feel as though it IS worthwhile. And besides, finding all this information might help someone else even better. This is fun. A smiling face and a thank-you are great rewards. And that darned microfilm zinging by....

Less and more

2007-10-17T09:54:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday, I was at my home library working and so did not go to the library where I'm doing my Practicum. The first thing I noticed was that there were so few -- or on this day, no -- reference questions asked. I tried to think back to other Saturdays and how many real Reference questions are customarily asked. Couldn't recall too many at all. Granted my home library is primarily a popular fiction (a la Evanovich, Cussler, Patterson) library, but the difference in function was even more pronounced/noticeable because I've become accustomed, now, to having a busy reference-question-filled Saturday. Directional questions, yes. A substantive question? None for the day. (I had one question (a medical concern) on Monday afternoon and one (on the Dred Scott case) last night. I was able to find information in books in-house on the check-out shelves for both questions.) My home library doesn't have a defined Reference Desk; we all answer Reference questions at the present. We log the reference questions at my home library for the annual report but I hadn't really paid that much attention to how few questions are asked until recently. Does library size have anything to do with reference question volume? I was a little concerned that my home library is not apparently perceived as a library for answering reference questions. It was a different kind of Saturday...and I'm kind of thinking I like the busier question-filled version, even if I haven't a clue about the subject, although I do afterwards. Makes me feel as though I'm doing something useful and valuable -- and, after all, isn't that why most of us are in libraryland? To be useful?

Questions, Questions!

2007-10-06T18:54:00.000-05:00

This Saturday there wasn't the traffic issue that I ran into last week. No detours. No closed streets. No homecoming. Ahh! So, I was able to get to the practicum location unimpeded... un-redirected or otherwise stopped. How cool is that!? Even had a few minutes to read part of a book while in the parking lot before opening. (I started out early just in case....)

On the other hand, as the day went on there were more questions. School related questions. And other kinds of questions -- starting with Symphony of the Brain. That turned out to be a book title a patron wanted about a brain disorder.

A (beginning to become a bit distraught) mom of a couple of bored early teenagers called to see if there weren't any festivals or Harvests of some sort in the village, today. We found a few possibilities but she dispaired of the girls being interested in any of them. Following the phone call the Head Ref Librarian and I got into a great conversation about a couple of other Harvest Fests in neighboring communities.

A patron wanted to learn to speak Spanish. She preferred tapes, so of course what was mainly on shelf were cds. She relented and took two sets of cds.

As the day went on and there were questions concerning monarchs (kings and queens or butterflies? -- turned out to be kings and queens), hearing loss; Mayan civilization - everything! about it. Yikes! One of the more interesting questions was about the Battle of Marathon. Thermopylae and things like that for her husband. He wanted everything. Greek history, you know. Ok, so that generated some questions to find out what her husband really wanted. Apparently he wanted to have everything about Thermopylae.

A list of bed and breakfasts in Illinois, well, nearby, well, maybe an inn. There's supposed to be this book that lists all the bed and breakfasts, the couple told me. Locating a few books later, they decided that wasn't what they wanted at all but they didn't really know what they did want.

And where is the Sheriff's department in this town. Well, there is a Police Department but the Sheriff is not in this town...Oh, said the patron, there's no Sheriff? No, but I can tell you where the Police Department is. Would that help? I guess so,....

And someone else,...I need information on replacement windows. You know, replacement windows. (Consumer Reports online, here I come!) He was so pleasantly surprised I found what he wanted. And a genealogy/local history question. Well, we couldn't locate that item yet, thoughthe search isn't completed.

In the mean time and in and around all these fun questions one of the other Ref & RA workers had a fun project for me to work on for/with her. She wanted to create and display a brochure on current Horror (but not vampires) authors/titles. Annotated. So, as time permitted, I added authors/titles to the list she is going to work from to create her brochure. What fun! It always surprises me how long it can take to do this. I've created lists like this in the past for all sorts of things. Not annotated, though. Spent a lot of time in NoveList...a favorite site.

Toward the end of the day at around 4:45 (the library closed at 5), the kids were in full pre-paper/assignment-is-due mode...and it's only Saturday!

Busy day - what a surprise

2007-09-29T18:05:00.000-05:00

Make a mental note: do NOT try to drive into a town with limited road access when there is a Homecoming Parade planned. You can't get there from here! So since the town where I'm doing the practicum basically closed town for the parade, it was a bit of a hike to put in hours today once I finally located a place to stash my car -- I did ask the homeowner if it was ok if I parked in front of his house. Fortuitously he said yes. My 15 minute drive took about 1 1/2 hours. (*sigh*; ommmmmm!)

The morning was quiet and uneventful in the library. Only a few requests for holds. Everyone was at the parade and not at the library...and they couldn't have gotten to the library if they'd wanted to except on foot, anyway.

The afternoon was delightfully busy with reference questions: about science fair kinds of presentations about weather and fruit and how it reacts to different kinds of packaging; a delightful lady whose physician told her to get a dvd on Pilates so she can straighten out her back (after 40 years of nursing - yikes!). A gentleman was in from Texas doing genealogical research on a local cemetary so the staff genealogy/local history expert was able to supply all sorts of information for him. He said thank-you, and left. Then he came back again. This scenario repeated itself several times. Toward the end of the day, we all just smiled at each other as he returned -- again. Oh, and he left happy with the information. A lady was interested in information about the Plainfield, IL tornado in 1990 but was not satisfied with the info/pictures online. This library had what she wanted but the age of the papers (original from 1990) also did not provide adequate pictures. Another lady was interested in restaurant tipping etiquette. Diverse questions.

A project to help the local history area of the library was the main thrust of my day. The high school yearbooks are being indexed and so an Access program was created that allows there to be lists of each person's name along with the year of the annual they appear in and the page number. I lost track after about 550 entries today. It was fun. I actually know some of the people in the 50+ year old yearbooks.... scary, huh! Isn't it amazing how ridiculous we looked between the ages of 8 and 18 at that time?!? Especially 50 years ago...except most of you don't remember that time frame. I do.

Although I didn't locate any earthshatteringly interesting web sites today, it was a fun day. And beyond that, the library was celebrating Banned Books Week, always one of my favorite weeks of the year!!!! I read banned books! I hope you do, too.

A day of sights ...

2007-09-24T18:27:00.000-05:00

This past Saturday's practicum time brought searches for interesting ways to play around with digital photographs. Mazaika.com (a web page), ImageMagick (a way to create, edit and compose photos), Andreamosaics (software), Flickr Hacks (about sharing photos online), and Gimp 2 for Photographers, an open source tool for image editing all presented intriguing possibilities. Web-based Pictobrowser.com allows sharing of photos on websites and blogs.

Prowling about brought other interesting thoughts:

Other interesting links for fall gardening came from http://www.infototoday.com/

www.bhg.com/bhg/gardening

http://www.gardendesigner.com/

http://www.backyardgardener.com/

www.doityourself.com/scat/planningagarden
There are several other links.

Patron requests brought the usual kinds of requests such as Adventures of Huckleberry Finn -- on tape, and Consumer Reports recommendations for cars. It's surprising how many Reference questions sneak by without seeming like Reference questions. A tally of Reference questions is maintained at this library, and I noticed we were all adding tally hash-marks to the record.

Oh, and the printer was working correctly. :}

Small but...

2007-09-23T18:37:00.000-05:00

Small but impressive describes a library located in the country that I visited over the weekend. My first impressions are that it is bright and airy, items and sections are well located, inviting and neat/tidy and their books are attractive and enjoy a newness about them that invites a patron to pull them off shelf to take a look. It is easy to read clear spine labels and identify reading levels and locate various item types. Most impressive are the new books collection just inside the front door. It's a huge collection and includes titles from all areas. The display cases just inside the front door are full of interesting titles and intriguing ideas for reading choices. Football choices and Elvis were among displayed titles that day.

There is also an impressive and substantial Reference section that I wouldn't have expected in a library this size; and standing beside Reference is a generous Genealogy/Local History section that includes title sources of particular local interest. The Vertical File inclusions (Libraries still have vertical files??? Yes, they do!) are a significant representation of local interests and needs. I haven't seen a Vertical File collection that large or interestingly populated for a long time, and apparently it is a frequently used portion of the library.

The community in which this library resides is not large, and a number of the "downtown" stores are regrettably no longer in use and instead are sadly boarded up. In some ways it would seem that this town is forlorn and in peril of losing its way. The library, however, demonstrates that this is likely not so. There apparently is a vibrant interest in books, ideas and learning. As the library is located not too far from a high school, students would easily find their way to the library. Although no one said so, it wouldn't be surprising if after school hours find kids heading to the library. The Saturday middle of the morning I was there, there were kids already on the computers in the library. And an adult.

Staff members, clearly pleased with their library, were ready to be of help and share what they have. Oh, and the numerous skylights brought the streaming morning sun in and made the library a particular cheery and inviting place to be -- including for the mom and her two kids who came in to select books from an excellent, attractive young readers collection. And the staff knew their names.

Though small, this library had the feel of a much grander-sized library. Apparently the beneficiary of those with a strong interest in libraries and the written word, this library is a powerful small-town presence and a place that reflects a keen interest in education and providing for its community members. I've been there before and I'll happily go there again.

Interesting to read

2007-09-18T21:26:00.000-05:00

Here are a couple of websites that are interesting reads.

http://answerboards.wetpaint.com/page/Slam+the+Boards%21

http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/lettertoreaders.html

Just thought I'd pass 'em along. They weren't a part of the Practicum. Just interesting items I found.

Library Practicum Day 1

2007-09-15T17:56:00.000-05:00

Seeing and participating in how other libraries perform daily reference duties is fun, interesting and usually full of diversity and change -- all things I'm accustomed to as I work in a smaller public library. Good, new ideas are easy to come by in a new setting as activities are seen through fresh and unhabituated eyes. Troubleshooting an obstreperous printer that had only just a couple of days before undergone an upgrade as a part of the system upgrade; learning a new web page location to contribute to a "good reads" book review list; helping a patron new to the rigors of creating an Excel spreadsheet to build confidence and skills; locating a legal form in a copyable format for a patron; placing patron holds on SILK; discussing the content of a skit concerning appropriate patron service: these were among the experiences today. Although contained within the same department, it's possible to wear many hats and change them rapidly in a larger (than what I'm accustomed to) setting.

While becoming familiar with some of the ready reference kinds of handy materials, I found that there are Home Schooling Resources available and close at hand. And, the customary sorts of items were there too, including Standard & Poor's Outlook, Morningstar and ValueLine, Consumer Reports, and some unanticipated sources like Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie information.

Several patrons came to the Reference Desk asking for particular titles, or they hoped they had the correct title/author information. Sometimes they did; sometimes not. One young man asked for information about Physics. Upon further questioning and shelf searching, it turned out that he really needed weights and measures information which was readily available and handy for use. A conversation began about Kevin Trudeau initiated from a patron query. Regular staff members attended to teaching a beginning Excel class, creating a listing of appropriate benchmarks for determining whether jobs have been appropriately completed for job evaluation...and other needed issues

It was a busy day and a day of diversity. It was a good way to start this practicum.

Today

2007-09-14T13:25:00.000-05:00

At the moment I'm reading several articles about management and am finding them interesting because while attributes may belong in the venue of those who manage, they seem to fall equally in the realm of all library worker-bees. They may actually be in the realm of management but they are the realm of all involved in the future of libraries. A common goal seems desirable: patrons and their information access.

I'm also reading articles on reference and, as the saying goes, "quo vadis?" Hard to tell some days. The library element is changing so fast. A jack of all trades and a Master as well seems to define how librarians need to be thinking and focusing energies.

The raised question of where will we be in 10 years allows for great leaps of ideas but the truth of the matter is we will probably be in approximately the same situation but with more miniaturized and instantaneous gratification kinds of electronic devices. I'd like to think patrons will become weary of rapidly changing technology and want to move forward to personal contact and the human touch. A survey conducted last year suggested that equestrians will seek out people for information rather than books. Who best to provide great information than a librarian who will likely have more fluid information access. It'll be fascinating to watch.

First day of this blog.

2007-09-14T13:20:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my blog. I hope to post interesting and useful additions and I hope to add often. So, let's have a great time.