NYC

Originally uploaded by _carleton

This is where I'd like to be--NYC subway system going to where ever!

This was a fun assignment! I've used on-line photo storage thru a WalMart account, but haven't explored Flickr before. I set up an account and browsed two groups I found interesting (NYC and flamingos--go figure). Some of the photos are amazing--I think this will be a fun spot just to look at other peoples photos. I plan to spend more time on this when I have time to locate some of my favorite shots to post. I think this would be a great spot for a lot of amature photographers to post their work. Definately something we could promote and a good tool to promote the library as well. Today with Alicia's help, I have added a picture of my favorite city. This is great--love it!

This weeks assignment was the world of social networks devoted to books. I'm sitting here composing my thoughts while the "original asmatic kitty" tries to wrap herself around my neck. Not always the most conducive work atmosphere, but never boring!
Anyway, the site I choose a few weeks ago was Shelfari so I have used it in this assignment and created a link on my blog to my "shelf". I also took a look at the "LibraryThings" site. Of the two, the LibraryThings looks like it may be a little more "user-friendly". Shelfari takes time to choose and edit your bookshelf. I think both could be helpful not just for staff but for our patrons, particularily those who like keeping lists and sharing their favorite reads. I plan to look closer at the groups on Shelfari--maybe those for mystery/crime books. I also think these could be helpful for music and movie lovers too.

RSS feeds: to be or not to be? This weeks assignment was to explore the wonderful world of RSS feeds and link all our "favorites" in one spot to make following multiple blogs easier. The blogs I choose were on Bloglines (for some reason I thought this would be easier than Google Reader). I choose some for news (NYTimes, Foxnews), and some for fun (the comic strip Get Fuzzy and some entertainment and shopping), and of course, one on CATS! This was really much easier than I thought it would be, and now I can just go to one sight to follow my "interests". Looking forward to our next assignment, Chief!!

The 7 1/2 habits of lifelong learning..........seems like there should be more of these habits, but then I would have an even harder time in determining which are easiest and hardest for me. Probably the easiest is accepting responsibility for my own learning. If I'm not going to be responsible for what I learn, who is? I've always liked to work independently and without a lot of supervision, so my learning curve is ususally "if at first you don't succeed--try again". Having a definite end in mind is also easy for me. I tend to plot out assignments with each step leading to the goal.

Now for the hard ones. Viewing problems as "challenges" is a nice idea but sometimes a problem is really A PROBLEM. Teaching and mentoring is not always my strong suit either, but I do my best & usually I can muddle my way through. PLAY is also not always easy for me. Apparently, the puritan work ethic is alive and well with me.

Grisham vs. Grisham

I recently finished reading John Grisham's new book The Associate. Grisham has always been one of my favorite fiction authors, but I have to confess that his last few books have been somewhat more predictible and less "addictive". The Associate was a really slow start and took quite a while to hold my interest. It plodded along yet came up with a unpredictible ending. One of his earlier works, The Testament, has been able to maintain its #1 favorite "status" in my own personal top books list. In this earlier work, Grisham seemed to care more about his characters and gave them more personality and realistic flaws. The books theme also had (in my opinion) emphasis on faith and redemption that seem lacking in his more current novels. Not necessarily "faith" in the religious sense but a deeper faith in man and his ability to change and grow. If you've missed The Testament, check it out. It's a very worthwhile read.