Thursday, June 9, 2011
And the winner is...
Congrats to everyone who participated in the challenge! The raffle winner has been picked and the Barnes&Noble gift card goes to Laura Butler from Mt. Laurel Public Library!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Week 4- Level 1 GAMES
Play an Online Game:
How often are you helping kids with games online, but never really playing them? Now is your chance! It is the last week of the challenge so lets have some fun and play those games! Not only will we have some fun playing them and learning how they work, but we might find some new game sites to show to kids.
Here are a few to get started:
Level 1 Exercise: Play some games and blog about them! What are the educational value to some of these games? How does your library handle kids playing games on the computer? Are there any challenges you or your library face when it comes to kids playing games? What games do you like to play? Know any great game sites? List them on your blog!
Week 4-Level 2 WEBSITES
Check Out Some Great Websites:
In the 2.0 world there are so many great websites and tools out there. This week is a chance to learn about some and share others. To get started here are a few websites, on a variety of topics, that you can use professionally or just for fun (Please note that these sites all offer free content, though a few may offer some additional pay services):
Level 2 Exercise:
Explore the sites and blog about them. Have you used them before? Do you think they will be helpful? Include in your blog any websites that you use that others might find helpful or useful on the job!
Week 4-Level 3 TBBC
Become familiar with the NJ Talking Book and Braille Center (TBBC):
Check out the TBBC’s website and read the following about the TBBC from Youth & Young Adult Services Librarian Liz Burns:
Information about TBBC’s youth services offerings:
"TBBC provides materials for anyone who cannot read a traditional print book for any physical reason. That means blind; low vision (even with glasses, standard type, such as is found in a newspaper, is too small); physical (which means cannot hold a book or turn the pages for an extended period of time); and, in certain circumstances, reading disabilities. More on who is qualified. More on when someone with reading disabilities qualifies.
The books we provide are Braille and audiobooks, that are produced by the National Library Service for the Blind & Physically Handicapped (NLS) . They are produced outside of copyright, which means that authors and publishers aren’t paid for our copies; and, that we have to be careful about who has access to the materials. It means it’s for those who need the book rather than want the book. Because of this, our books are not the ones you’d find at the local public library or bookstore, or even looking in WorldCat.org. If you think a certain book doesn’t exist in audio because it’s not at Amazon? Think again and check out our website.
The books we provide are Braille and audiobooks, that are produced by the National Library Service for the Blind & Physically Handicapped (NLS) . They are produced outside of copyright, which means that authors and publishers aren’t paid for our copies; and, that we have to be careful about who has access to the materials. It means it’s for those who need the book rather than want the book. Because of this, our books are not the ones you’d find at the local public library or bookstore, or even looking in WorldCat.org. If you think a certain book doesn’t exist in audio because it’s not at Amazon? Think again and check out our website.
To protect the copyright holders and the purpose of this being for people who are qualified, our audiobooks play on a machine that we lend to people, called the Digital Talking Book Machine. Audiobooks are digital, and either are preloaded on a flashdrive cartridge that is sent thru the mail or can be downloaded onto a flashdrive. (The patron needs an email and password to apply for the download service). Braille may also be downloaded.
At TBBC, our work focuses on two areas: being the librarian for the children using our services. For example – Readers Advisory. Except, it’s all on the phone or email; materials are delivered via the mail or downloaded; and, of course, it’s a matter of finding the item on Braille or audiobook. We also have a summer reading program but, because we have one location for the entire state, it’s a by-mail program.
The other focus is outreach, promoting our services and letting people know about us as a resource. (And yes – this is all free). So, that means a lot of exhibits at fairs and conferences.
By bullet point, here are the primary services:
· Braille, large print, and audiobooks
o The materials are produced under an exception to the copyright, so are not the same books as are at the local public library or bookstore. Here are the OPACs that list our books: http://opac.njlbh.org/ and http://nlscatalog.loc.gov/
· For audiobooks: a digital talking book machine to listen to the audiobooks
· Many of the Braille and audiobooks may be downloaded via the Internet
· Braille and audio magazines (also may be available to download)
· By mail summer reading program
· Story hours (both at TBBC or at public libraries)
· Exhibits, at places like Transition Fairs
· This brochure is outdated, but it has the basics.
Level 3 Excersise:
Blog about what you’ve learned about TBBC. Are their services something you were familiar with? Could this be useful to you on the job? Have you ever used their services for your patrons? Curious about their library and what it looks like? Want a tour? Then be sure to check out level 4!
Week 4- Level 4 CSS
Attend the CSS Executive Board meeting on June 3:
While all CSS meetings are open to members and not just the executive board, we are inviting everyone who participated in the challenge to join us for a meeting at the Talking Book & Braille Center to celebrate the challenge, learn more about CSS, and get a special tour of TBBC. We’ll have food and prizes for those who attend!
Here are the meeting details:
Directions to TBBC
Friday, June 3rd10am to12:30pm Please let us know if you plan on attending by posting it on your blog or sending us an email. You can tell us yes, no or maybe.
Here are the meeting details:
Directions to TBBC
Friday, June 3rd10am to12:30pm Please let us know if you plan on attending by posting it on your blog or sending us an email. You can tell us yes, no or maybe.
Check back on the blog for the winners of the Gift Cards! Congrats on doing the challenge and we hope to see you in person!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Week 3 - Level 1 DELICIOUS
Sign up for a Delicious account
How many computers do you use throughout your day? Maybe one at your public service desk, another in your office, and then maybe another at home. If you use your favorites option on your computer to save your favorite website links you may find it frustrating remembering what computer you saved a website to. Wouldn't it be great to save all those favorite websites in one place that you can access from any computer? Let's take a look at the social bookmarking site Delicious, which allows you to just that! Delicious lets you bookmark your favorite websites and add tags. Also, with Delicious, you can see how other people tag their links and find more websites by seeing what others use.
We recommend viewing this brief video by Donna Papacosta of Trafalgar Communications on How to Use Delicious before signing up for your free account. Signing up is easy! Go to Delicious and select "Join Now" in the right hand corner, or sign up from here. (Please note that Delicious was previously owned by Yahoo and was recently sold. All features of Delicious remain the same).
Next, play around with Delicious and see how easily this tool can replace your traditional browser favorites list. Explore the site options and look at bookmarks that have been selected by other users. You can import your bookmarks from your Favorites list on your computer, tag and organize them, and then you will be able to access them from any PC.
Level 1 Exercise:
Bookmark and tag some useful sites, then create a blog post about your thoughts and experience with this tool.
- How can delicious be more convenient then using your favorite options?
- How did you tag your items? Do you think tagging makes organizing websites easier to find?
- Did you look at other peoples Delicious pages? Did you find anything useful?
- If you are already a Delicious user how does it help you? What are your favorite features
Week 3 - Level 2 CRAFTS
Go to a craft site* and add it to Delicious
We would now like you to add a craft site to your Delicious, then blog about how this can help you with storytime and program preparation. Here are some suggestions for craft sites, but of course there are many more to choose from. If you have one you want to share with us, please tell us about it in your blog!
*Extra Credit - Make a craft you found on site, take a picture, & post to your blog
I found something on the animal crafts page of the Kiz club site that I can use for an upcoming storytime with a farm theme. You can see the color version of the printout here, but for the kids I would only print the barn itself out in color, and then use the black and white version of the animals so they can color them. What do you think of the finished product?
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