Week V
I used the search term "Maisie Dobbs" to look for my series. Up popped the list of novels by Jacqueline Winspear, in order from first to last written, having been sorted by "volume." Of course, sorting by "date ascending" gives the same result for this series.
Having looked at all the views, I think the "grid" view is best for showing readers the results on a computer. The book covers are very enticing. I also think I might use this view to help me when I'm trying to come up with an idea for a book display. Looking at Maisie in grid form makes me think I could put together a table of books with women in cool hats. Now all I need is a clever title for the display.
But, I digress...the other views will be handy for printing out lists for a reader who doesn't feel comfortable using a computer. I particularly like the "detailed" view as it answers the common question, "What is this series about?" If, after reading these descriptions, the reader doesn't think the series is quite what she had in mind, then she can explore the read-alikes to the right of the screen. The "title" view will be good for the patron who has been reading the series in no particular order and who wants to see what she has yet to read. If/when patrons have learned how to use Novelist from home, they can easily create their own lists and bring these with them to assist their browsing at the library.
The steps outlined in question 2 are very familiar to me as I do this frequently for patrons who are looking for "something good to read" or "I liked this, what else have you got like it." After I do the search described, patron and I then look at the results and check the shelves for books. I also keep a file, alphabetized by our more popular authors, with printed read alikes. I find this very helpful when my patron and I are discussing what he/she would like to read next, as it gives the patron many more options than I could possibly remember.
I have also found it effective to post read alikes for wildly popular authors--think Stieg Larsson or Kathryn Stockett. In a small library such as ours, where we only purchase one copy of a title, patrons sometimes can't take home the book for which they came. Using the read alikes has helped me achieve my personal goal of never letting a patron leave without a book--whether the one originally desired or something new. Patrons have been very appreciative of these lists. In fact, my summer patrons have commented that they like this "personal" service they get at our library. I believe it is this level of service (it couldn't be our library's gobsmacking view) that keeps them coming back in spite of the fact that many have e-readers and don't "need" the library.
Over the past couple of years I have used NoveList (Plus) quite extensively. Every time I log in I find another nifty tool. I regularly refer to its book reviews; I search the awards lists and the book group lists. I use these to guide readers to books in our collection. If I had more time, I would use it even more to design displays, etc. I would love to hold small group sessions to teach my patrons about this powerful, fun tool they have at their fingertips, for free, at home.
Succinctly, I think NoveList is the bomb, a highly addictive one at that!
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Hobbies and Crafts
Week IV
Hobbies and crafts, right before the holidays, could be very dangerous. Again, the tutorial was most helpful. Just learning that this cornucopia of resources is under "H" rather than the individual topics is extremely useful when it comes time to teach patrons how to find what they are looking for. Our library doesn't subscribe to any periodicals so everything on MARVEL is a huge plus for our patrons. Again, the single biggest job I have is to communicate the marvel of MARVEL to my community.
I decided to look at "Sewing" and the subcategory "Serging" as I have a daughter who loves to sew and is an avid serger. In reviewing what is available my main impression/feeling is "overwhelmed." The amount of information and formats available are pretty mind-boggling. I feel like a kid at Christmas...which present do I open first? Clicked the "project" tab and selected several to look at. The pdf file for a Christmas project was extremely complete and usable. I could make this Christmas tree skirt with these directions. And, if I could do it then just about anyone could.
What I wanted to know from the start of this exercise was what magazines are included in the database. I found this by clicking on "help." Using advanced search, I found an alphabetical list of all the periodicals. It is pretty exhaustive. More to explore. This could go on a long time.
Hobbies and crafts, right before the holidays, could be very dangerous. Again, the tutorial was most helpful. Just learning that this cornucopia of resources is under "H" rather than the individual topics is extremely useful when it comes time to teach patrons how to find what they are looking for. Our library doesn't subscribe to any periodicals so everything on MARVEL is a huge plus for our patrons. Again, the single biggest job I have is to communicate the marvel of MARVEL to my community.
I decided to look at "Sewing" and the subcategory "Serging" as I have a daughter who loves to sew and is an avid serger. In reviewing what is available my main impression/feeling is "overwhelmed." The amount of information and formats available are pretty mind-boggling. I feel like a kid at Christmas...which present do I open first? Clicked the "project" tab and selected several to look at. The pdf file for a Christmas project was extremely complete and usable. I could make this Christmas tree skirt with these directions. And, if I could do it then just about anyone could.
What I wanted to know from the start of this exercise was what magazines are included in the database. I found this by clicking on "help." Using advanced search, I found an alphabetical list of all the periodicals. It is pretty exhaustive. More to explore. This could go on a long time.
Proquest Newspapers
Week III
First, I found the tutorial for Proquest very effective. The steps outlined were precise and helpful. Maybe there is something to doing tutorials rather than blindly going into something and wildly clicking away. My frustration level this week was very low.
I decided to take a gander at what the rest of the world's press is making of our pre-election frenzy. I wanted to read my old Argentine favorite, the Buenos Aires Herald, but it isn't one of the papers in the database. So, I decided to read El Pais from Madrid. At first I got a translated version of the latest paper, but I really wanted to read in Spanish. After digging around a bit, I discovered that "El Pais" is listed twice in the alphabetical listing, the second being the link to the Spanish edition. I read an article by Ignacio Sotelo. According to him the Euro Zone favors Obama and can't quite understand Romney nor his appeal. An interesting read. I did try to set up a feed for info through the election but got an error message. I'll try again later, as I saved my search, and figure this is a server problem.
I am really impressed with this resource. It will be particularly helpful in the summer months when visitors from away want to know why we don't have any daily papers on-hand for them. I will steer them to the PA comps and point them to a shortcut to Proquest. Every single person should be able to find at least one daily that will meet his/her needs.
I read a few of the other blogs. I think it is really terrific that all of us, regardless of level of tech savvy and previous experience with MARVEL, can participate in this community of learning. I also had occasion this week to steer two patrons to MARVEL, one for a question regarding long-term health insurance and another to NOVELIST. While we haven't covered those areas yet, I felt more confident in helping them because of the past three weeks of exploration.
First, I found the tutorial for Proquest very effective. The steps outlined were precise and helpful. Maybe there is something to doing tutorials rather than blindly going into something and wildly clicking away. My frustration level this week was very low.
I decided to take a gander at what the rest of the world's press is making of our pre-election frenzy. I wanted to read my old Argentine favorite, the Buenos Aires Herald, but it isn't one of the papers in the database. So, I decided to read El Pais from Madrid. At first I got a translated version of the latest paper, but I really wanted to read in Spanish. After digging around a bit, I discovered that "El Pais" is listed twice in the alphabetical listing, the second being the link to the Spanish edition. I read an article by Ignacio Sotelo. According to him the Euro Zone favors Obama and can't quite understand Romney nor his appeal. An interesting read. I did try to set up a feed for info through the election but got an error message. I'll try again later, as I saved my search, and figure this is a server problem.
I am really impressed with this resource. It will be particularly helpful in the summer months when visitors from away want to know why we don't have any daily papers on-hand for them. I will steer them to the PA comps and point them to a shortcut to Proquest. Every single person should be able to find at least one daily that will meet his/her needs.
I read a few of the other blogs. I think it is really terrific that all of us, regardless of level of tech savvy and previous experience with MARVEL, can participate in this community of learning. I also had occasion this week to steer two patrons to MARVEL, one for a question regarding long-term health insurance and another to NOVELIST. While we haven't covered those areas yet, I felt more confident in helping them because of the past three weeks of exploration.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Britannica
Week II
I feel foolish confessing that I haven't explored the online Britannica before this. I grew up with the leather-bound paper version on the family bookshelves. It settled many an argument, being the agreed-upon ultimate and definitive source. The online version is all that and so much more.
I searched for "Syrian uprising" and the breadth and depth of information was astounding. The links to video were particularly interesting to me as I don't have TV in my home. I do wonder, though, how accessible this would be to my patrons who have very "iffy" internet connections, as do we. I know that I probably won't access this from home as video and streaming can quickly put us over our monthly download limit. Thus, all the more reason for the public to know that this resource is available at the library.
The possibilities for students are endless, with the means to save pages, as well as primary sources. (That was a great little find.) I intend to describe Marvel resources in my monthly newspaper articles and will start with the Britannica. I will also be putting a desktop shortcut on our public access computers. In the resources section I found a button that can be put on our website. Another thing to add to the "to do" list.
Growing up I knew that my family made great sacrifices to purchase the Britannica and we were considered "lucky" because we had one at home. I see its availability online as another "equalizer" if its easy accessibility is widely known.
I feel foolish confessing that I haven't explored the online Britannica before this. I grew up with the leather-bound paper version on the family bookshelves. It settled many an argument, being the agreed-upon ultimate and definitive source. The online version is all that and so much more.
I searched for "Syrian uprising" and the breadth and depth of information was astounding. The links to video were particularly interesting to me as I don't have TV in my home. I do wonder, though, how accessible this would be to my patrons who have very "iffy" internet connections, as do we. I know that I probably won't access this from home as video and streaming can quickly put us over our monthly download limit. Thus, all the more reason for the public to know that this resource is available at the library.
The possibilities for students are endless, with the means to save pages, as well as primary sources. (That was a great little find.) I intend to describe Marvel resources in my monthly newspaper articles and will start with the Britannica. I will also be putting a desktop shortcut on our public access computers. In the resources section I found a button that can be put on our website. Another thing to add to the "to do" list.
Growing up I knew that my family made great sacrifices to purchase the Britannica and we were considered "lucky" because we had one at home. I see its availability online as another "equalizer" if its easy accessibility is widely known.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Learning to Blog MARVELOUSLY
Week I
I am a week behind, but managed to create a blog and then viewed the 3 tutorials. In "playing," I discovered the list of newspapers available through MARVEL. What a surprise! I could have been directing visitors to MARVEL all summer instead of apologizing sadly with, "we don't subscribe to a daily." That said, I then decided to find the today's NYT Op-Ed page. After more than 30 clicks and mounting frustration, I did find the op-ed by Thomas L. Friedman. I need to figure out how to do this much more quickly and efficiently so that I can direct patrons to the marvels of MARVEL and newspapers.
I am a week behind, but managed to create a blog and then viewed the 3 tutorials. In "playing," I discovered the list of newspapers available through MARVEL. What a surprise! I could have been directing visitors to MARVEL all summer instead of apologizing sadly with, "we don't subscribe to a daily." That said, I then decided to find the today's NYT Op-Ed page. After more than 30 clicks and mounting frustration, I did find the op-ed by Thomas L. Friedman. I need to figure out how to do this much more quickly and efficiently so that I can direct patrons to the marvels of MARVEL and newspapers.
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