A Look Back and A Step Forward To 2008

I want to give you some of the statistics about the blog readership and related information. There have been about 6,000 visits to the blog since the inception. Now there aren't 6,000 of us in the program so some folks kinda stumble in or are attracted to a particular posted topic.

The visitors are primarily across the United States however we do have readers in Australia, The Philippians, Hong Kong, India and other places I'm trying to figure out where the heck they are on the planet.

There has been minimal advertising about the blog. I do mention it to others and it is on my business card. It is also posted on the PCC Library Technology website.

Many of the visitors come via Google searches and some of the most popular posts (in no particular order) are:

• Fact Check.org
• Library of Congress Classification Tutorials
• Screen Demos
• Employment and Job Leads
• Belinda Beardt on Resume Preparation
• Ready Reference Tools

So what happens now? Well, certainly the blog will continue through June-July 2008. I will scout around trying to find the next generation of LT bloggers. I think some of the paraprofessional staffers have a lot to contribute so maybe they might be interested in adding to the blog.

This is a hint that if you are in the program and want to get you feet wet blogging now is the time to make contact.

As for me? I really want to transition from my current day job to my next adventure. So there may be a lot more posting about employment tools and techniques. But I have a bunch more library technology posts I want to make sure are present for the future classes to come.

This blog would not have been possible without Mary Ann Laun. It was her idea and I just went along for the right. It has been a great one so far and I invite you to continue checking in from time to time.

Robin M. Dixon - Collection Development Video

Many of the federal government libraries are being closed or downsized. Libraries such as the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) libraries.

Many of the libraries are being permanently closed or converted from physical libraries to electronic/virtual libraries.

In this video, Ms. Dixon of the NASA Goddard Library gives a talk about how she used OCLC Collection Analysis to prove that the Goddard Library has a unique collection. She also touches upon the need for interlibrary loans among the other NASA libraries, the needs of her patrons, (Scientists) for actual physical books and a bit about the process the Goddard Library used to handle a libraries worse case scenario.

Note to Firefox and Alternative browser users - this is a streamed video presentation that does not run in the Firefox browner. I had to switch to Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Definr - A New On-Line Dictionary

Just starting to backtrack over my e-mails and RSS feeds. Got this piece of joy from AppScout and it is a doozy. Definr is one fast on-line dictionary.

You just start typing the word and Definr will find the rest of the word for you. And even better if you don't understand the words used in the definition they are linked to other defined words. You get your synonyms tossed in for free.

The database currently has 200, 000 words and there is a list of the the top fifty searched words. No ads, no garbage or distractions to lead you down the path of ill repute.

Ah, memories of how the Internet used to be.

It Was A Lovely Day - Certification Day

Today was our certification ceremony.

Click To Play Flash Video

I honestly didn't think I was going to get a certificate. Let me explain. I originally wanted to take Library 102 - Reference and Information Services because I thought that it would help me a better writer.

The thing was the class was packed and I couldn't get a seat in the class. So the next semester I picked up Library 10 and 1A and one thing led to another. Except I could never get into Library 102.

But I kept trying. Each class was a gate way to ideas I wanted to know more about, even Cataloging. Cuz if you can pass Cataloging you can darn well do anything.

Eventually I did get into Library 102. And learned I have a heck of a lot more to learn about Reference and Information Services. Might have to check out that MLS after all.

So I want to thank everyone in the program for their kindness and dedication on behalf of those students who have graduated and those lucky souls who are to come down the path.

Erin McKean and The Dictionary

It happens once a year when thinkers and doers get together and share what they know or experienced. The TED Conference joins great minds for four days of laughter, education and inspiration.



In this clip, Lexicographer Erin McKean talks about the need to embrace all words, how the form must change and her need to go fishing. For more great videos, speakers and ideas recorded at the TED conference visit http://www.ted.com

Just for Fun - Library Intervention Video

We are all in the last week of classes before finals so I think a little diversion is in order. There are some of our classmates who have no desire to be librarians, learning to be a library assistant/paraprofessional is a handful in and of itself.



There are other that are closet librarians and can't quite admit that they are who they are. These pesky people know the difference between Shazam and Captain Marvel, what the professor's name in Gilligan's Island is and the difference between Cajun and Creole Gumbo.

For those folks this video is for you.