Comments for Digital Bookends http://shonda.edublogs.org A view from a school librarian's bookshelf. Thu, 07 Aug 2008 21:19:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on Everything Old Is New Again…or Deja Vu by Sandra Carswell http://shonda.edublogs.org/2008/07/19/everything-old-is-new-againor-deja-vu/#comment-19 Sandra Carswell Sat, 26 Jul 2008 18:17:55 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/?p=17#comment-19 We will miss you in Texas Shonda. Good luck. We will miss you in Texas Shonda. Good luck.

]]> Comment on Reading at Work by Olive Woodward http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/11/11/reading-at-work/#comment-18 Olive Woodward Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:10:39 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/11/11/reading-at-work/#comment-18 There is nothing wrong with reading at work if you have the time and the need. I wouldn't do it every day, and I wouldn't do it more than one period. Professional library journals always look more legit than a book. Still, it would be unwise to ignore the fact that the school library program will always have PR/image issues. It comes with the territory. It's a trade-off! As far as being expected to do anything on my own time, all teachers are expected to plan curriculum and to grade papers on their own time, when necessary. I'm a teacher like everyone else, and I don't mind showing my administrator my gigantic box of book cards as a demonstration of the preparation that I do at home. I don't resent reading YA lit on my own time and surely have diluted the boredom of many a gym workout with a YA book; and yet I do not feel the need to defend the use of my time if I spend some time at work reading the latest book for our book clubs (mock Newbery, teacher's YA lit club, etc.). There is nothing wrong with reading at work if you have the time and the need. I wouldn’t do it every day, and I wouldn’t do it more than one period. Professional library journals always look more legit than a book. Still, it would be unwise to ignore the fact that the school library program will always have PR/image issues. It comes with the territory. It’s a trade-off!
As far as being expected to do anything on my own time, all teachers are expected to plan curriculum and to grade papers on their own time, when necessary. I’m a teacher like everyone else, and I don’t mind showing my administrator my gigantic box of book cards as a demonstration of the preparation that I do at home. I don’t resent reading YA lit on my own time and surely have diluted the boredom of many a gym workout with a YA book; and yet I do not feel the need to defend the use of my time if I spend some time at work reading the latest book for our book clubs (mock Newbery, teacher’s YA lit club, etc.).

]]> Comment on Reading at Work by Jude http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/11/11/reading-at-work/#comment-14 Jude Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:43:13 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/11/11/reading-at-work/#comment-14 Last week, I tried to explain to a colleague about my typical workday. I told her that I've only managed to take one lunch break in the last two weeks. I don't have an aide. The one thing I'd requested was a 1/2 hour lunch break, which, of course, I'm legally entitled to. I'm getting comp time for all those missed lunches. She said, "Surely you have down time?" I said, "Not really. I think I've taken a couple of 15 minute breaks since I started." I explained that I attempt to take a lunch break, writing down the time that I start the attempt. If I manage to take 15 minutes, I write that down, but if I'm interrupted before the 15 minutes are up, I figure I didn't have a lunch. It took me 2-1/2 hours to update my science fair website, and it's just boring links. Without an aide, and with almost 350 students, I'm truly swamped. I couldn't believe that some LM-Netters actually have time to read on the job. Last week, I tried to explain to a colleague about my typical workday. I told her that I’ve only managed to take one lunch break in the last two weeks. I don’t have an aide. The one thing I’d requested was a 1/2 hour lunch break, which, of course, I’m legally entitled to. I’m getting comp time for all those missed lunches. She said, “Surely you have down time?” I said, “Not really. I think I’ve taken a couple of 15 minute breaks since I started.” I explained that I attempt to take a lunch break, writing down the time that I start the attempt. If I manage to take 15 minutes, I write that down, but if I’m interrupted before the 15 minutes are up, I figure I didn’t have a lunch. It took me 2-1/2 hours to update my science fair website, and it’s just boring links. Without an aide, and with almost 350 students, I’m truly swamped. I couldn’t believe that some LM-Netters actually have time to read on the job.

]]> Comment on Databases and Choices by Sandra http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/#comment-13 Sandra Wed, 19 Sep 2007 03:20:10 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/#comment-13 Shonda, I'm writing in response to your comment that librarians aren't able to access the wiki from school and won't take the time to use it from home. I believe, even if the Wiki is not blocked at school, most librarians don't have time for this type of thing during the school day. Those of us who do professional reading and research have to do it during our off hours anyway. As for the Wiki we're talking about, only a handful have contributed. I don't know how well the information was spread about it. However, those librarians who don't participate in voting for the encyclopedia, probably aren't going to use it anyway. Just my 2 cents. Thanks for all you do in keeping us informed. Sandra Shonda, I’m writing in response to your comment that librarians aren’t able to access the wiki from school and won’t take the time to use it from home. I believe, even if the Wiki is not blocked at school, most librarians don’t have time for this type of thing during the school day.
Those of us who do professional reading and research have to do it during our off hours anyway. As for the Wiki we’re talking about, only a handful have contributed. I don’t know how well the information was spread about it. However, those librarians who don’t participate in voting for the encyclopedia, probably aren’t going to use it anyway.
Just my 2 cents. Thanks for all you do in keeping us informed.
Sandra

]]> Comment on Databases and Choices by shonda http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/#comment-12 shonda Sun, 16 Sep 2007 14:52:49 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/#comment-12 Yes, I worked ten years with a state agency and I understand the delays, the paperwork, the problems, and the process. I also understand the issue of staying with one product (even if it isn't the best) because of the pricing, the discounts received, and the apathy among many who don't want to go through the process of making changes. It does take time...and it's frustrating to wait; however, most things that are worthwhile take time. State agencies often don't make significant changes to the status quo because it is more cost effective for them to stay with what they have or they don't want to do the work. Sometimes it's both. It will be interesting to investigate the other companies to see if they are already on the bid list for the state. It wouldn't take much time to ask some key people with each company to find out. Yes, I worked ten years with a state agency and I understand the delays, the paperwork, the problems, and the process. I also understand the issue of staying with one product (even if it isn’t the best) because of the pricing, the discounts received, and the apathy among many who don’t want to go through the process of making changes. It does take time…and it’s frustrating to wait; however, most things that are worthwhile take time. State agencies often don’t make significant changes to the status quo because it is more cost effective for them to stay with what they have or they don’t want to do the work. Sometimes it’s both.

It will be interesting to investigate the other companies to see if they are already on the bid list for the state. It wouldn’t take much time to ask some key people with each company to find out.

]]> Comment on Databases and Choices by Anonymoose http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/#comment-11 Anonymoose Sun, 16 Sep 2007 11:24:43 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/09/15/databases-and-choices/#comment-11 One thing you might want to know is that for state agencies, any kind of procurement can take literally months to a year, due to the paperwork and accountability requirements in place (gotta keep the taxpayers informed as to where and why their money is being spent!). Whenever there is a pre-negotiated contract or a pre-approved list of vendors, state agencies are either required to use it or strongly motivated to do so. The "turn on" phrase was probably meant to refer to this issue, rather than actually "turning on" access to the database itself. Yes, it keeps agencies from being able to jump quickly to the "latest and greatest," and that's frustrating for them too. If they ever hope to switch databases, they'll have to start planning now -- as in gathering votes from now until December, and then starting contract negotiations in January so as to have something in place by fall of 2008. That's even assuming they get permission to do it; I don't know the particular restrictions placed on TSLAC. One thing you might want to know is that for state agencies, any kind of procurement can take literally months to a year, due to the paperwork and accountability requirements in place (gotta keep the taxpayers informed as to where and why their money is being spent!). Whenever there is a pre-negotiated contract or a pre-approved list of vendors, state agencies are either required to use it or strongly motivated to do so. The “turn on” phrase was probably meant to refer to this issue, rather than actually “turning on” access to the database itself. Yes, it keeps agencies from being able to jump quickly to the “latest and greatest,” and that’s frustrating for them too. If they ever hope to switch databases, they’ll have to start planning now — as in gathering votes from now until December, and then starting contract negotiations in January so as to have something in place by fall of 2008. That’s even assuming they get permission to do it; I don’t know the particular restrictions placed on TSLAC.

]]> Comment on Cool Tools by Tracy http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/07/24/cool-tools/#comment-10 Tracy Sun, 26 Aug 2007 20:38:26 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/07/24/cool-tools/#comment-10 Hi Shonda, I put together a wiki for a workshop I presented last week on free web 2.0 tools I have found or heard about. You are more than welcome to check it out at http://techitupwebtools.pbwiki.com If you have tools to add, please email me and I will give you the password - I'd love it if you would contribute. Good luck on your start-up. I'm going in to my library today to start organizing for the new school year. Hi Shonda,

I put together a wiki for a workshop I presented last week on free web 2.0 tools I have found or heard about. You are more than welcome to check it out at http://techitupwebtools.pbwiki.com If you have tools to add, please email me and I will give you the password - I’d love it if you would contribute.

Good luck on your start-up. I’m going in to my library today to start organizing for the new school year.

]]> Comment on Cool Tools by Mary http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/07/24/cool-tools/#comment-9 Mary Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:45:49 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/07/24/cool-tools/#comment-9 I can't wait until the teachers come back Thursday to share these sites. I've already used bubbl.us to improve the flow of my lessons for upper elementary students. Thanks for taking the time to blog about these, Shonda! Mary I can’t wait until the teachers come back Thursday to share these sites. I’ve already used bubbl.us to improve the flow of my lessons for upper elementary students.

Thanks for taking the time to blog about these, Shonda!

Mary

]]> Comment on Cool Tools by Dan http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/07/24/cool-tools/#comment-8 Dan Wed, 01 Aug 2007 15:25:58 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/07/24/cool-tools/#comment-8 I haven't been monitoring your blog, so I don't know if you have mentioned this site. It is a wonderful online photo editing site that easily integrates with local pictures, or online Picasa or Flickr image collections: http://picnik.com I haven’t been monitoring your blog, so I don’t know if you have mentioned this site.
It is a wonderful online photo editing site that easily integrates with local pictures, or online Picasa or Flickr image collections:

http://picnik.com

]]> Comment on Cool Tools by DebiK http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/07/24/cool-tools/#comment-7 DebiK Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:32:08 +0000 http://shonda.edublogs.org/2007/07/24/cool-tools/#comment-7 Thanks for the recent mention. We are glad that you've found Gliffy to be a helpful resource. Let us know if you have any feedback or suggestions, Thanks again, Debi K of Gliffy Thanks for the recent mention. We are glad that you’ve found Gliffy to be a helpful resource. Let us know if you have any feedback or suggestions, Thanks again, Debi K of Gliffy

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