WMRL Learning Journal Blog

I'd like to start by saying Julie did an excellent job teaching us how to use eReaders!  I felt comfortable with eReaders before the classes but now I feel even better.  I really enjoy using and learning about the latest technology.  I have been exposed to computers from the time I was in elementary school.  I had to take computer classes ALL through school until I graduated from college.  I think growing up around evolving technology helps one to understand and enjoy it. 
When a patron comes in to the library, I jump at the chance to help them with their eReaders!  Thankfully, this training started right after Christmas when a lot of people received eReaders as gifts.  We've had an influx of patrons, with eReaders, needing help.
As far as my "a-ha" moments go, I think learning which eReaders you can download books to without the aid of a computer would be my biggest.  Now, I can help patrons understand what steps they must go through to download a book from the Digital Consortium to their eReader.  Unfortunately, not all eReaders are created equal.  Each device varies to some degree, depending on it's wifi and operating system capabilities.
I'm by no means an expert on these new digital devices but, I enjoy helping and learning with the patrons.  Futhermore, I would like to state that nothing can replace the feel, smell and enjoyment of reading an actual book.  I cherish our "out-dated" mode of reading.  Besides, you can get a real book wet and still be able to read it after it drys out.  Electronic devices do not share the same privilege.  Even though I enjoy our technological advances, I'll always go back to my dusty bookshelf for a good book.

Rachel Elliott
Ruth Enlow Library

Making Digital a Focus in Collection Development

MLA Webinar - Making Digital a Focus in Collection Development 2-9-12, by Marlene Harris

Marlene discussed the challenges of creating and maintaining a digital collection without the cooperation of the "Big 6" publishers. Her recent information included news of ALA discussions with the Big 6 to open the door for negotiations to remedy the situation. She also mentioned several alternatives to Overdrive with 3M being the biggest competitor. With 3M, you actually purchase the book, not the license.

Some of her e-collection highlights were:

• Stats are your friends - use them as purchasing guides, as well as patron requests
  
• Catalog records are important discovery tools for our e-reading patrons
• Vendors can assist in e-collection development
• One of the biggest challenges is having a staff person to keep up with the collection because many useful tools are not in place yet
• Romance is the current leading genre
• Erotica is the genre with the highest turnover
• 15% of budget should be allocated for e-collections
• Random House is our hero even though they are going to charge us all more!
• e-reviews can be hard to find, but they are out there
• Remember to purchase "sets" of e-books
• Purchasing e-books is a quick and easy way to spend down budgets at the end of the fiscal year
• If you live on the west coast, find out what time zone your webinar originates in!!!!!!
  

Marlene (www.readingreality.net) was a knowledgeable presenter and provided interesting and valuable information about a new industry that is changing by the minute. It's an exciting time!

Donna Orris, LA - Interlibrary Loan & Reference

Ruth Enlow Library - Oakland

MD eBook Summit review

Sue Vazakas from JHU posted this review of the eBook summit on their learning journal blog. And if you wish to practice your twitter searching, search for the hashtag #mdebook Thanks

Staying Safe with Rosanne Torpey

Rosanne Torpey was an excellent presenter and I found her program very useful for circulation.
We need to be proactive before reactive. This helped me to recognize everyday stressors and to take a deep breath in stressful situations.
Know when to speak and when to listen. (Biggy for me so my husband tells me)
Demonstrate appropriate response if a person has weapons.
I recommended Rosanne to my daughter to give to her supervisor for a workshop.

What's New in Young Adult Literature and How to Use it in Your Program

On Wednesday Nov. 2 Lesley Mason and I attended the What's New in Young Adult Literature and How to Use it in Your Program. These wonderful seminars are sponsored by the Bureau of Education and Research (BER) and some of you have perhaps attended one at some point. Patti Tjomsland was the speaker - she's one of the best for middle and high school. She knows the material well and goes through new books of all kinds and subjects, Award Winners, Promoting Books, Reading, and Discussions, Activities for Any Novel, and Internet Resources. There are copies of many of them displayed around the room. There is always a handbook of these books with many others listed. I put the handbook in the Professional Collection available for checkout. This one has not yet been processed but there are some earlier ones in the collection. The next seminar info - which I think will be elementary books and will be done by Peggy Sharpe who is also excellent- I will send the info to you. Contact me if more information is needed.

I attended the October 24, 2011 workshop on "Staying safe in a changing work environment" presented by Rosanne Torpey at the LaVale Library. She gave an incredible amount of information to the attendees but the 3 hour workshop passed quickly because of her sense of humor and background stories. Some of the things that impressed me the most from the workshop included the idea that we all need to look at other perspectives on the same problem to help re-frame it into an opportunity by finding another angle - "don't stop at the first "right" answer". It was also eye opening to have the 5 stages of the aggressive cycle explained, from the triggering stage where you have an opportunity to defuse the situation through the crisis stage where you cannot talk/reason with the individual all the way to the post-crisis stage where the individual is calm and can again be reasoned with. Rosanne also emphasized how important nonverbal cues are in de-escalating or defusing possible unsafe confrontations from the way you stand to the look on your face.

Staying Safe with Rosanne Torpey

When I signed up for this workshop (Staying Safe in a Changing Work Environment, Oct. 25 in Clear Spring), I thought this was going to be just another self-defense, working with/around the emotionally or substance unbalanced. Just checking off more CEU's. I was totally WRONG. It was not "just another" workshop; this was one of the most rewarding trainings I have attended, and I would urge anyone who has not participated in one of Ms. Torpey's presentations to jump on the next opportunity that presents itself. Yes, we did learn to recognize impending crisis situations, and techniques and approaches to de-escalate them. The main difference was the clarity with which the material was presented and the sense of empowerment to trust one's individual abilities, creativity, and approaches when dealing with difficult persons, whether patrons or co-workers. Quite invigorating. Woohoo!