Stellman the Librarian

We've reached the end of LBS 850! I enjoyed the class, diving deep into technologies for schools, and dabbling in cataloging...I do think the class experience is highly dependent upon who someone has as an instructor. Luckily, thankfully, Barb Fecteau at Salem State is an excellent, patient, and knowledgeable teacher, and she created a wonderful experience with an atmosphere conducive to learning and exploration. Here's a reminder of what the class was, so here's the course description for future me: LBS 850 - Emerging Technologies for Libraries 3   Credit(s)  This course presents tools and procedures that school library personnel implement to manage the ever-evolving organizational landscape. Course topics include basic strategies for dealing with, organizing and managing change professionally, new computer and internet-based methods of cataloging physical materials and web based applications that address libraries’ systemic needs. I started off the course feelin...

In this week's assignment, we were to interview a librarian about their OPAC. My librarian buddy told me that she uses OPALS i n her school library. Her school is a small parochial elementary school with a collection of more than 6,000 books and e-books, online databases, 20 Chromebooks and 20 iPads. As is the case with many parish schools, the library has an extremely small budget. As such, OPALS is the best option, since it costs $500/annually. She said that it's very basic, and provides information only. It does have a z-import function, however, which the librarian frequently uses. In addition, it's web-based. She said it "does the job," which isn't exactly a ringing endorsment! My Librarian Friend has used OPALS for the last five or six years. Before OPALS, she had Companion’s Alexandria. She liked that software, as she could do more reports. When I asked what she dislikes about OPALS, her response was two-pronged: she dislikes that it is not...

Way back when, I posted my Top 10 Technology Tips for Teachers . Our assignment this week was to take another look at those tips and see what we'd change, if anything. My additions are in italics. In several cases, I combined prior facts into one point, or added more information to existing facts. I did strike-through a few tips to make space... 1. These technologies are tools to supplement your instruction, not replace it. Much as a great saucepan does not replace the need for a chef, an online solution doesn't take away the need for you — an excellent teacher. 2. If you’re new to technology, take a shallow dive into the pool. For example, lurk on twitter educational chats to see what it's like. Did you learn anything? Would you like to participate 3. Assistive technology is IMPORTANT and it EXISTS! Also, it’s not just for students who need it in an IEP sort of way. It can be helpful for all students. And, many assistive technologies come built in with Androids...

If OPAC had a flag, this definitely would not be it. These past few weeks have taught me that I had not spent ANY time prior to this experience thinking about cataloging, but that librarians spend a TON of time thinking about it, and also how to bend the Dewey Decimal System to their will. For example, in this week's discussion, several of my classmates discussed the intricacies of where fairytales should go, and if fractured fairytales should go in the same spot. As a future librarian, I totally get it. During my days at a publishing house, my colleagues and I would deeply discuss the use of hyphens, come to a conclusion, and then CONTINUE to DISCUSS HYPHENS at happy hour. We all knew that readers wouldn't give a darn about the hyphen, but it was important to us. But as a library patron...? Eh. No. Perhaps I am of a minority, but I find books by looking up the title or author's name, write down the call number (because my mind is like a darn sieve) and then...

*Who Knew Librarians Loved Acronyms? Well, phew! Back in a simpler time (last week), I had a very halcyon view of cataloging. I pictured a librarian receiving a book, following some three-digit organization system that might require a moment of thought, then adding the first three letters of the author's last name, and ta-da! All set! If I had given it a few moments of thought, it would not have made sense, but...details. I've been picking up (and putting down, and picking up, and putting down...) the third edition of Catalog It!: A Guide to Cataloging School Library Materials . The writing is surprisingly engaging for a textbook, but it's slow-going as it feels like I'm reading a foreign language and typically I'm tackling it around 9:30pm nightly. In that regard, here is my acronym cheatsheet for the first three chapters of Catalog It! RDA: Resource Description and Access Provides information on WHAT should be recorded, but not how to do it The fou...

This week was pretty fun - we turned our eyes toward leading professional development. Library Media Specialists are in a prime position to lead PD on tech topics. Social media can be a fabulous spot for professional learning communities. It can also provide a wealth of information on assessments, classroom activities, feedback, worksheets and more. In that regard, if someone says they "don't do" social media, and they've never tried it, they're missing out. In my current role, I've trained several people on how to use Twitter. They began our session very hesitantly. However, these people are now skilled and confident, and enjoy using social media to promote their schools. My presentation, called "That Gosh Darn Social Media," is intended for people who are not comfortable with social media, but are open to learning more. I totally understand how awkward it is to travel outside your comfort zone. In fact, I used Google Slides to create the pr...

Top 5 Apps...funny story, earlier this week I googled "Easy Halloween Apps" and...the first page of results was filled with Halloween apps for the computer. I guess google knows that I'm more likely to look for a computer app than a food app recipe!  ( I ended up with this mummy brie, and it was a hit! ) My top five apps change every five minutes, but here they are ATM, in no particular order: Facebook: While I sort of hate Facebook, I love staying on top of the topics that Librarians Care About, via groups like ALA Librarian Think Tank and The School Librarian's Workshop Animoto: Angels sing from on high, as this video app is SUPER easy to use. Also, they offer non-profit pricing, so my office purchased a subscription for less than $300 annually. Totally worth it, and it makes creating student videos extremely easy and fun. Screencast-o-matic: I haven't actually had to use this yet, but I LOVE that it exists. Formerly, in order to make a tutorial, I ...

In Janet Hopkins' article "School Library Accessibility: the role of assistive technology,"  the sixth suggestion is to "Become familiar with built-in accessibility features already available on your computer operating systems" (Teacher Librarian 31:3, 2004). I have an iPhone (and a Mac), and I had ZERO clue about the majority of the IOS accessibility features that are mentioned here . Some of my favorite features: If you have color blindness or other vision challenges, you can adjust the view on your Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and Apple TV so it works better for you Magnifier works like a digital magnifying glass. Live Listen lets you fine-tune your Made for iPhone hearing aids and AirPods to help you hear more clearly. For quiet conversations, move your iPhone or iPad closer to the people who are speaking, and the built-in microphone will amplify what they’re saying The Noise app tracks decibel levels of the ambient sounds around you, helping y...

I just submitted a position paper on social media and teens. And wow, did it bring me back. My friends and I were on the "cutting edge" of social media in high school. In 1997 or 1998, we had our AIM screen names and we were constantly logged on. (If you had dial-up, you were SOL with the away message.) Everyone knew your regular screen name, only the CHOSEN FEW knew your secret screen name, that you used when you were super busy or not in the "mood" to talk with anyone (but secretly, you were). It brought me back to my dad, saying "GET OFF THAT IMPERSONAL FORM OF COMMUNICATION!" And me responding that it actually was super personal, since I was chatting with my *friends.* It brought me back to getting random AIM messages that solely said "a/s/l" and me responding "Wow, you can't even say HI? Why would I want to talk to YOU." (It truly was the Wild West, and I was ready to fire away like Annie Oakley.) And God help someone i...

I took Intro to Sociology in college and I remember thinking that parts of it were NONSENSE. My professor was saying that we all have different versions of ourselves. I must've been pretty darn authentic at 20, because I staunchly disagreed. As Popeye would say, "I yam what I yam." Now, I'm juggling identities of being a mom, an employee, a library school student. The roles of daughter and wife come easier...I feel like I can be a good wife and an employee, a good daughter and a student...but it's tough being a mom and an employee. Or a mom and a student. Or an employee and a student. And where does "friend" fit in there...? BUT...LUCKILY nowadays we have social media to segment all these little versions and present them compartmentalized, perfected and packaged for user consumption. I have three Instagram accounts: one for work, one personal (for friends & family), and one anonymous one that is struggling with its identity brand. Social me...

Have you seen me? Missing since 1990. :-( This week we were to create an animoto ( see prior post ), explore online media, and choose a  topic in the state standards and search for 5 videos and 3 podcasts that could be used in the classroom and annotate them. Last fall I listened to Last Seen by NPR , which focused on the Isabella Stewart Gardner Heist. When I hear "podcast," I think Last Seen, and I was DETERMINED to make this fit into the assignment. All week it's been rattling around my brain - and I threw different ideas at the wall, and none of them stuck. So today, during a long car ride, I put it together. I think. My topic  is Art heists, the psychology of stealing, and a sub-focus on the Isabella Stewart Gardner Heist. This meant I spent A LOT of time exploring podcasts and videos that could work. Some were good , others were bad. This week we also chatted about copyright law and fair use. The standard-bearer Buffy vs Edward: Twiligh...