Tumblin' for Tumblr

Love this thing called Tumblr! You can find my version at http://sporter.tumblr.com

It is a quick, did I say FAST? way to create a blog online that can grab items from your browser with menu bar access! Very cool...and it is free!

Summary of the film Forms of Energy

Hi! I am Josh leading the discussion. The film says that energy can come from many types of sources, and that potential energy is stored but kinetic energy involves motion.

Here are the questions you are to think about:
1. Is kinetic energy better than potential energy?
2. What are some sources of kinetic energy?

Reciprocal Teaching using a blog!

Vocabulary terms about Forms of Energy (BrainPOP video):

potential
kinetic
chemical
electrical
light
mechanical
thermal
nuclear

Josh is the assigned discussion leader for this topic.

LIB 490 is making a blog

Our CUESTE students are creating blogs for LIB 490. I can't wait to see what they create. When I get permission, I will link to them so that you can see the variety of blogs they are working on for the elementary classroom.

Day One at Zabel

Sure is fun to have an office where you can actually take a private call, make sure your slip is not tucked inappropriately, and you can actually finish a task without interruption. The staff and faculty have made the transition comfortable and sane. I am preparing my classes like a mad dog but will be ready soon! I will be on the road next week to visit my student teachers out in Baker City and Union. I will also be hop-skipping over to La Grande to see the two there at the High School. Great to be teaching again!

I miss my dog, Dewey. He will be adjusting to little contact with Mom and Dad until evening. Poor guy!

Moving soon!

One more operation next week and I think I am finished for awhile. . . I hope, forever! After that recovery period (when I will be studying and preparing classes for the Fall like a wild thing), I will be packing up this office and moving over to Zabel Hall for next year's work in the College of Education. I will be keeping up this blog but the name may change to more aptly describe my work. I am teaching LIB 490-Educational Technology so am active in the field and still an early adopter of all things cool (as personal budget allows!)

Here's to change and lucky to have it!

Pool side- Life is good!

I am out on a needed vacation to Ohio with family! We are poolside right now playing Wizard, a favorite, competitive card game. The points are flying. See you when we return via Spokane on Monday.

Changes A-Foot!

I truly dread this time of year for one reason- saying goodbye. We have student workers who are leaving us to study abroad or to study elsewhere next year. Some are graduating and going on to do other things (like work and graduate school.) I hold them close to my heart and know that they will be somewhere else in the world and not here making me smile! Lucky World!

Meanwhile, on the last day of the school year, I am energized for new work for myself, new relationships, building deeper ones for those colleagues I already know, and reading so many textbooks and research this summer. Renewal, re-energizing, rededicating. May all of us live long and prosper!

We are hiring! Student Library Workers!

We are now hiring for fall of 2008. If you want to work in a supportive, caring, and fun environment...please pick up an application quickly at Pierce Library's service desks in the Circulation department or in the Electronic Research Center. We work your schedule around your academic and private life, trying to be as flexible as possible and still keep the library running efficiently!

I can even email you an app!

ASAP! Rapidamente!

Moving to the College of Education

In September, I will be moving to the College of Education to teach secondary curriculum to the MTE students, educational technology to CUESTE, and music methods to both. I am also teaching online the teacher-librarian cognate in the MS in Education program. I haven't gotten my schedule yet but I am sure it will be tons of fun and challenge. Needless to say, I am psyched! I have been in this position at Pierce for four years and it is fun working with students out here in the Electronic Research Center. My brain just needs to use the degrees I have worked so hard to attain. Student loans start in August so this change will help!

P.S. This is not my hood....just borrowed the pix!

I am sad...Musetta passed away!

Yesterday, Musetta made a mad dash across 4th Street---not a good plan for any creature, not matter how fast they think they are!-- and was hit by a car and killed instantly. The driver felt so bad and at first, I was very concerned that he was comforted than the actual loss of Musetta. He was a student of mine a few years ago, a sweetheart, and is a sensitive young man. After hugs and assurances that he did the right thing and that we appreciated that he was not hurt and that he actually stopped to console us (amazing!), he drove off, evening ruined, I am sure. We were then left with the grief and the task of burial. We buried her at the other side of my favorite bench, opposite G. Thanks who died almost a year ago. It is comforting to have those creatures' still nearby when we are outside reading on that bench.

Musetta was a hard cat to cozy to. A bit irascible and cantankerous, she never sought you out. You always had to foist love on her. She mellowed a BIT over the last ten years but would growl if you loved on here a second too long in her count. We have set up a memorial page here: http://www.ilovedmypet.com/view.asp?id=28801 If you have lost a pet, I would appreciate hearing about it there.

Best wishes for a happier day!

ERC Printer being poopy!

Help is on the way! Koby is coming back today with a part that has been on order and we should be printing with nary a problem SOON!

BTW...the high schoolers will be gone in a few days and you will have the resources all to yourselves again. They will be back to their library that has tons of resources (lots of databases and reference works) but no librarian and no microform readers. We have enjoyed them here this year. They are polite and mannerly. Hope to see them soon at EOU next fall!

Naxos Music LIbrary----neato!

Don't know Stravinsky from Strauss? An mbira from an akadinda? Check out the streaming audio found at the Naxos Library database found at: http://eou.naxosmusiclibrary.com/default.asp
and access an incredibly deep database of jazz, contemporary instrumental, classical, world, and pop rock music!

Portable Apps and Open Office

Ever been caught trying to finish a paper and there is no Word on a public computer in the cafe where you are sipping coffee? Have no fear. A little pre-planning will save the day. Download the portable version o Open Office to a thumb drive, iPod, any portable device that acts as a hard drive and then plug it into the public computer. Then....you have instant access to your favorite Office application software. This site also includes Mozilla and many other useful applications. Best part? FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the site for the portable Office suite: http://portableapps.com/support/openoffice_portable#installing

The main site, listing other apps is found at:
http://portableapps.com/

Easier than I thought--printing PDF

Last night, a student had a pdf file to print from Blackboard but it looked unusual in that there was no print icon on the pdf document's toolbar. When we tried to print using the File menu, nothing was being sent to the printer. Jamie just walked over, right-clicked on the document, and that was that! Easy as pie! (which I do not think is too easy--where did that expression come from?)

Cell phones%^*&!!@#%- You can only put up so many signs!

Check this out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyLTqBARFt8&feature=related

Okay---I even bought Tiki torches!

Last night, I bought Tiki torches for the backyard to appease the gods of spring! It is still snowing. Anybody have other ideas?

The BIG READ display at Pierce Library

Come in and check out the display of Chinese objects and supplementary materials to support our town reading The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. Watch the newspapers and posters around town for the schedule of events to celebrate and magnify the themes of this book.

There is a trunk show from the Kam Wah Chung Museum on May 11th at 2 PM , a presentation 'The Chinese in Early La Grande" at 11 am on May 3rd, and a discussion led by our own Dean Levine on May 17th at 2 PM of the Joy Luck Club, all free programs and held at the Public Library downtown La Grande. It is not too late to read the book and get in on the activities! All of our free copies have been distributed but the bookstore in La Grande stocks the title or you can get a copy through interlibrary loan. Stop in and we will show you how to do that!

Welcome to Spring Term!

Ignore the snow, but it IS Spring Term! Welcome back and a hearty welcome to new students. I am finally catching the cold that everyone spread around before Spring Break and feel pretty punky-- but cheery in spirit!

Things are already back to normal. TONS of Powerpoint presentations being printed with black backgrounds and LOADS of pages being printed from slides. One student started out with an inch of paper and just kept feeding the printer. Wow! We made an impact on professors' habits, didn't we? (Wry smile.) I hope that Powerpoint is not in the Afterlife.

Set loose on an ice floe

Those of us left to work next week on campus are warned to be prepared. There is no food service on campus unless you count the snack machines which I do not!) and no coffee service in the library or Mac's Grill. Rumours abound that Aramark will leave out a pump pot for those of us who forget to bring a thermos of java from home. Woe! Cruel and unusual punishment! Waaaa!

Happy Spring Break!

Sniff! Well, I will be here holding the fort but don't let that stop you from having a refreshing break in the fun spot of your choosing! From what I witnessed thus far this week....you deserve it! Be safe, have a great time, and we await your return with some interesting stories to share with us.

Free online citation software

Though I can't claim that I have had success with all of these, they ARE free and will get you in the ballpark of citation accuracy! Check with your profs' requirements, however. What is said on the syllabus is the gospel!



Name/URL: Son of Citation Machine / http://citationmachine.net/
Formats: MLA, APA, Turabian, Chicago

Name/URL: Noodle Tools / http://www.noodletools.com/
Formats: MLA, APA

Name/URL: Easy Bib / http://www.easybib.com/
Formats: MLA, APA

Name/URL: Bib Me / http://www.bibme.org/
Formats: MLA, APA, Chicago, Turabian

Name/URL: Zotero (Firefox Extension) / http://www.zotero.org/
Formats: MLA, APA, Chicago

Name/URL: Otto Bib / http://ottobib.com/
Formats: MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian, BibTeX, Wikipedia

Name/URL: Knight Cite / http://www.calvin.edu/library/knightcite/
Formats: MLA, APA, Chicago

Name/URL: Internet Citation Maker /
http://www.interaction-design.org/citation-maker/
Formats: APA, MLA, BibTex, Refer

Name/URL: Source Aid / http://www.sourceaid.com/
Formats: MLA, APA, Chicago, CSE

Databases are NOT the Internet!

Using our databases is not using the internet. Some students are so fearful, saying that their professors will not let them use the internet for research, or limit internet resources. Our databases are delivered electronically but they are not the internet. Often, journals in our databases are just electronic copies of our paper journals. Sometimes, our databases have journals that are "born digital"....that is, never were conceived as paper journals. Some of our databases have journals that we only buy in electronic form. These decisions are driven my money (or lack thereof) and access benefits.

Don't worry! Using our databases is not using the internet (deep breath! sigh of relief)

We are hiring-Student LIbrary Assistants!

We are hiring now for student library positions for Fall 2008. Pick up an application at any service desk at Pierce Library or click on this link for an online copy. Pierce Library has a range of positions open and those positions are listed on the reverse of the application form. Read them over and see what position "speaks to you!" The deadline for applications is March 10th, a Monday. If you have any questions, blog me! Call me 963.3780, IM me: erc_pierce...talk to me!

New Printer!

Hallelujah! We have a new printer int he ERC. It is not a Brother as shown here but a Lanier! It does a great job. Come by and run her through her paces!

Powerpoint SUCKS...Ink!

We are asking faculty who are passing the printing of Powerpoint presentations and class notes off to students to stop using black and dark colors as backgrounds for the slides. Some printers allow the suppression of the background but often the printer drivers do not allow that to be done, sucking the ink reservoirs down faster than a soda in the Sahara. It also ties up the printer queues in the library and labs across the campus. Often students run out of time and just leave, allowing a Powerpoint presentation to continue printing. It takes a long time for us to clear that print job causing students to have to wait--or give up in frustration.

Be kind to the budget and our students' time.....print out the presentation for the students on a COPY machine, or at the very least, use white backgrounds!

Email IN....no email out

Here's the scenario...you bring your laptop into the library and are working away. You check your email over the wireless network here at Pierce and here comes the assignment from Professor X. You need to ask a clarifying question and BAM! the email cannot be sent. What's with that?

Well, it is all about security. The scenario can get ugly if email COULD be sent from the wireless system in the library. A bad spammer person could enter our facility and spam anonymously using our infrastructure. Not going to happen!

So, while it may be annoying to have Outlook (PC) or Mail (Mac) just collect your OUT emails and not send them, it is for the common good. Of course, if you use the internal web-based email system, the email will go through.

Quick Search

Our webpage has a new look! And a new function that should speed you on your way to locating materials here at Pierce Library. It is called QuickSearch and the keyword(s) you enter searches a subset of our databases and the online library catalog to deliver quick results. It is not meant to return a comprehensive list of our holdings but...in a hurry...Go for it!

Like out of Tolstoy!

I thought I would not get here through the drifts today. Being too cheap to buy a parking pass and having a difficult time with the environmental impact of driving when I live two blocks, sometimes those two blocks feel like two miles. This is especially burdensome when people do not shovel their walks- a violation of city ordinance. So rude! Maybe the city can sound a siren to get people out of bed and to the shovels! I wonder if our students from Wallowa and Baker counties will get here today. Drive safely all!

Caldecott and Newbery Awards announced!

Why would I be concerned about children's book awards? Well, you don't set aside 30 years of being a youth librarian!

Here is a link to the announcement:
http://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/?p=193.

Print Station moved again!

We moved it --again! The Print Station did not like going through three hubs to get your documents so we moved it so that documents go directly through to the Print Station. This should work better by having reduced down times! Thanks so much for your patience as we work toward making services better! Josh did a fine job with the move.

Recalled to life!

As many of you know (because I have made your life miserable from one time or another regaling you with tales of academic woe!) I have been in grad school for two years. Coursework ended on December 7th! I am just now realizing what that means. I can lay on the couch and read a book that I chose. I can sew up a project. I can knit a hat. I can watch The Sopranos. I can spend an hour being entertained by stupid cat videos on YouTube. I can go shopping. I can cook a meal. I can do the laundry. I can go visit a friend. I can practice music without watching the clock. I can write in my journal. I can go for coffee on weekends and do the NY Times crosswords (at least up to Wednesday!) I can write more to my sister. The list is getting longer and more glorious! I had no idea how much sacrifice was made for my degree program until it was over. That is fodder for thought.

New! Quick Search feature on the webpage

Over the Winter Break, the Pierce Library web page got a new look with the addition of the Quick Search box. This search box invites the patron to enter a subject or keyword and then retrieves journal articles and books from the OPAC. A results list is generated with links to those resources. Pretty slick! (Not unlike the weather today!!!!!!!!!!!!) I've been playing around with it to discover just how thorough the search is. More about the results later.

We're Baaaack!

Look who the wind blew in! Frozen students all happy and relaxed from winter break! It is great to see so many faces (even though lots of noses are red from the nippy weather!) that we had in the library last term. The library webpage has a new look, the entire collection has been shifted, and we have a new law database so that should keep us hopping for a while! Welcome back! It is NO fun without you!