A round of applause, please...

I turned in my library books on time! For the first time in, well, probably ever, I actually turned in my library books the day they were due. I generally consider all my late library book fines as a donation to the library and more often than not end up owing about $5 each time I go. :)

Still a bargain, in my book!

~ The Square (and late) Librarian

Ode to Flip

and how I love thee...

I recently purchased a flip video camera for my school library and I LOVE it. I use it every day. We have a daily student led broadcast and I have learned how to create videos to imbed in the PowerPoint slides. Each day we have a BrainQuest Question of the Day segment and I record the student winner (random drawing for winner) recording the next day's question. I have also used the flip to video changes in the library. Recently our IT department changed some links and so users had to learn a new way to access the catalog. Easy peasy. I recorded myself accessing the catalog step by step for the flip camera and everyone got a mini library lesson that morning. When I did some rearranging, I toured the library so everyone would be familiar with the changes. When I got some new audio books I videoed them and they were all off the shelf the same day. As a means of communication with the whole school, it's been fabulous.

In fact, I love my flip video camera so much that I bought one for me to use at home. I got the HD for home use, which is better for me. I can't tell you how lovely it is for this slightly absentminded librarian to be able to flip open the USB plug on the camera and plug it straight into the computer. No digging for cords!!! Freedom!

Here's me and my new toy!

~Square Librarian

Pizza Joy

So is it silly that I still get a kick out of ordering pizza online? I know it's not exactly a new technology... but it's so cool.

Tiny town, advanced library

I was playing with Flickr and found the group, Library Signage (link to the right). I noticed a lot of signs from Lester Public Library, a small town library in Wisconsin.

This small town library is doing a lot right, including Wii events for teens and adults, email book clubs (!), and a community story telling time where participants of all ages can come talk about a pre-determined topic like first jobs or Momma's kitchen. They have a MySpace site, Flickr site for the library, and *gasp* they actually let patrons use flash drives in their computers.

Kudos to the library director and staff at Lester Public Library. Looks like you are doing a lot right!

Check it out for yourself at http://www.tworivers.lib.wi.us/.

~The Square Librarian

Square Librarian Reports for Duty

So I'm enjoying my morning coffee this fine Saturday morning, looking out the window at my own green paradise. Dontcha just love trees?
I created this blog to report my random musings on all things book related- especially libraries and current trends. I am doing this to further my own professional development, but want to remain authentic as well. So it will be a blend of personal/professional stuff. Kinda like me- imagine that!
I've lately discovered Michael Stephens, a professor who gave several interesting talks at the annual Texas Library Association conference in Houston. He's my new muse... very cutting edge and relevant info available on his blog, which is at www.tametheweb.com if you are curious at all.

Cheers,
The Square Librarian

"I have measured out my life with coffee spoons." ~ T.S. Elliot