Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Some Delicious discoveries
In exploring Del.icio.us, I found it to be a most useful bookmarking tool. It allows you to view how others have bookmarked similar web pages. It also allows you to search for web pages you want by using several tags. I found several useful tutorials for Microsoft Powerpoint online. One very useful website I found using Delicious is http://inpics.net/word03.html Here you can find free tutorials for Microsoft Access, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and much more. A great resource if you need to brush up on some skills or would like to learn a new program. Happy exploring everyone!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Pod cast gems
In exploring PodCast Alley, I discovered the cutest travel podcast. It is called SchleppCast, and it details the adventures of a teddy bear who gets into quite a few travel adventures. The description is as follows:
"Childrens tales of a world-roving Teddy bear from Seal Rock, Oregon who was sent to New Mexico and now travels the globe working for the UN and the IAEA plus the occasional vacation to cool places. Follow his adventures as he travels the world over to keep the bad guys from getting the big, bad bomb."
http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=13283
The companion website is:
http://www.travelschlepp.com/
I think its' a great way to get kids interested in geography and in learning about other cultures.
Have a great week everyone!
"Childrens tales of a world-roving Teddy bear from Seal Rock, Oregon who was sent to New Mexico and now travels the globe working for the UN and the IAEA plus the occasional vacation to cool places. Follow his adventures as he travels the world over to keep the bad guys from getting the big, bad bomb."
http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=13283
The companion website is:
http://www.travelschlepp.com/
I think its' a great way to get kids interested in geography and in learning about other cultures.
Have a great week everyone!
PBCLS Wiki
It is amazing how many people have posted their input into the PBCLS Wiki. I did add the URL to my blog to the Wiki. The video tutorials presented on the PBCLS Wike were very helpdul. Also, I see that I'm not the only one who loves Mel Brooks movies. They say anytime you laugh, it makes you healthier and happier. So let's here it for comic relief!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Some final thoughts for this project
Well, it has been a fascinating and fun ride through the 23 Things Project. It has provided me with many new tools for future use in library outreach. I even saw new facets of the sites and techonologies I thought I knew. It is difficult to pick a favorite part of this project. I sincerely hope that similar programs are offered here in Palm Beach County Library System. What a wonderful way to discover the tools out there for us to use. I hope everyone continues to explore these possibilites, and have fun!
Digital Media discoveries
Even though I was unable to download the program to listen to any of these audiobooks, the selection of new and popular authors was quite extensive. In addition, there were many classic titles available. Since I tend towards historical fiction, some of the neat titles I found were:
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. The following is the description taken from the digital media website:
DescriptionFrom the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of March, this is the journey of a rare illuminated manuscript through centuries of exile and war.
In 1996, Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, is offered the job of a lifetime: analysis and conservation of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, which has been rescued from Serb shelling during the Bosnian war. Priceless and beautiful, the book is one of the earliest Jewish volumes ever to be illuminated with images. When Hanna, a caustic loner with a passion for her work, discovers a series of tiny artifacts in its ancient binding—an insect-wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair—she begins to unlock the book’s mysteries. The listener is ushered into an exquisitely detailed and atmospheric past, tracing the book’s journey from its salvation back to its creation.
Inspired by a true story, People of the Book is a novel of both sweeping historical grandeur and intimate emotional intensity and is an ambitious, electrifying work by an acclaimed and beloved author.
If you need a lighter read, you may want to check out Janet Evanovich's novels. One of her later novels, Lean Mean Thirteen, is available online. The description provided is as follows:
DescriptionFrom coast to coast and around the world, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels continue to make bestselling history each summer. Her legions of fans catapult her books to the top of every list, from the New York Times, to USA Today; from the Wall Street Journal, to Entertainment Weekly, and Publishers Weekly. In the thirteenth book in the series, the stakes are raised even higher as Stephanie Plum finds herself in her most dangerous, hilarious and hottest chase yet. With her lovably offbeat family along for the ride (as well as a few new faces), there's no doubt that the Stephanie Plum novels put the "fun" in dysfunctional, and it's clear to see why they're called "Hot Stuff" by the New York Times and why Evanovich herself is called "the master."
Happy reading everyone!
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks. The following is the description taken from the digital media website:
DescriptionFrom the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of March, this is the journey of a rare illuminated manuscript through centuries of exile and war.
In 1996, Hanna Heath, an Australian rare-book expert, is offered the job of a lifetime: analysis and conservation of the famed Sarajevo Haggadah, which has been rescued from Serb shelling during the Bosnian war. Priceless and beautiful, the book is one of the earliest Jewish volumes ever to be illuminated with images. When Hanna, a caustic loner with a passion for her work, discovers a series of tiny artifacts in its ancient binding—an insect-wing fragment, wine stains, salt crystals, a white hair—she begins to unlock the book’s mysteries. The listener is ushered into an exquisitely detailed and atmospheric past, tracing the book’s journey from its salvation back to its creation.
Inspired by a true story, People of the Book is a novel of both sweeping historical grandeur and intimate emotional intensity and is an ambitious, electrifying work by an acclaimed and beloved author.
If you need a lighter read, you may want to check out Janet Evanovich's novels. One of her later novels, Lean Mean Thirteen, is available online. The description provided is as follows:
DescriptionFrom coast to coast and around the world, Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels continue to make bestselling history each summer. Her legions of fans catapult her books to the top of every list, from the New York Times, to USA Today; from the Wall Street Journal, to Entertainment Weekly, and Publishers Weekly. In the thirteenth book in the series, the stakes are raised even higher as Stephanie Plum finds herself in her most dangerous, hilarious and hottest chase yet. With her lovably offbeat family along for the ride (as well as a few new faces), there's no doubt that the Stephanie Plum novels put the "fun" in dysfunctional, and it's clear to see why they're called "Hot Stuff" by the New York Times and why Evanovich herself is called "the master."
Happy reading everyone!
Discoveries from YouTube
There are a number of sites that offer video clips and the possiblity to share them with others. The most famous, of course, is YouTube. You can find videos on a myriad of topics, from the artistic to the truly odd. I was in more in the artisitic mood today, and found two very relaxing videos to share with you (not too long I promise). One is a video of a harp player in the Barrio Gotico in Barcelona. If you need a mini-vacation/stress relief, this is a good start:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drnu45t4xh0
In addition, there is a video of the Day of San Jordi, where all of the sidewalks of the main throughfares in the city are lined with stalls of booksellers and flower arrangers. It is tradition that on that day you present your loved ones with a rose and a book. Although the narration is in Spanish, it is still pretty neat to view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpSBRT07WV4
Flowers and books...what a wonderful combination! Have a wonderful week everyone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drnu45t4xh0
In addition, there is a video of the Day of San Jordi, where all of the sidewalks of the main throughfares in the city are lined with stalls of booksellers and flower arrangers. It is tradition that on that day you present your loved ones with a rose and a book. Although the narration is in Spanish, it is still pretty neat to view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpSBRT07WV4
Flowers and books...what a wonderful combination! Have a wonderful week everyone.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Some Award-winning Websites to discover
I have been exploring some new websites and tools, and have come across a few that particularly caught my attention. One is called Mangolanguages, which allows you to listen to learn languages by listening to native speakers. Since many people come in asking for language instruction books and CDs, this tool seems to be very useful. In learning French, I recall that one of my biggest obstacles was not the grammar but rather acclimating my ear to the new sound of the language. A perfect site to help with that problem! But whatever language you choose, keep exploring! Have a wonderful week.
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