Jill's Blog

Pachabel Rant

2008-09-19T09:31:00.002-07:00

All right, I'm attempting my first ever flickr download.

If you've ever had a kid in orchestra or band, I think you'll sympathize with this one. If you're a Suzuki parent like myself, it's not Pachabel's Canon, but Twinkle, Hunter's Chorus, Andantino, Vivaldi in A Minor, etc.

Enjoy!

Wiki-mania

2008-09-19T09:31:00.000-07:00

As with most things, wikis have pros and cons. I like them because they're quite simplistic, easier than even a blog! Anyone can access and add/delete information, which I could see being really useful in the middle of winter when my son is trying to complete a group social studies project on the government of Timbuktu and there's a mid-western blizzard surging outside. I'm really thinking the only way a South Branch procedures manual will ever be written is through use of a wiki.

Conversely, content could be problematic. With anyone editing at any time, consistency and accuracy are suspect. There's never really a finished project - it's always in the works. And what about if the group working on the social studies project doesn't like person x's contribution? Who makes the final decision?

As with most things, wikis require a balancing act. Fortunately, as a mom, wife, employee, chauffeur, caterer, and expert socker equipment locator, I'm a pro at finding balance!

7 1/2 Habits

2008-08-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

Rather than identifying an "easiest" and "hardest" trait, I though perhaps a look inside my "toolbox" might reveal how I learn continually. Here are some items that are always in my toolbox: my kids, my husband, my dog, books, art, music, computers, libraries, the outdoors. There are other items that tend to find their way into by toolbox for a spell, and then get lost in the clutter. These might include: radio, newspapers, various people, school culture, soccer culture, politics, reigion.

It's difficult for me to keep my toolbox in order. I'm the type that uses a tool when I need it, and then puts it back in the box, but maybe not in a place where I'll be able to find it easily the next time I need it. Most of the time, I like digging through to find what I need, maybe finding a surprise along the way, for example, a friend with whom I've lost touch or a really inspiring speech or sermon. Other times I get frustrated at not being able to put my hands on what I need immediately.

I guess that's why learning is a lifelong process. I never know what I'll find when I look inside my toolbox.

My new blog!

2008-08-01T13:05:00.000-07:00

Well, this is exciting. I have my very own blog. I have a confession, however. Probably 15 years or so ago, I was sitting in a meeting at NSLS with a group of librarians who were all gathered to learn more about this thing called the World Wide Web. As we went around the table introducing ourselves, one young woman stood out from the crowd. She was from the Morton Grove Public Library and had just finished her MLS. She was thrilled to be a librarian with a full-time job. Her goal was to be a "full fledged technobrarian". I remember her words so clearly, but here's where the confession part comes in. I didn't share much of her enthusiasm for all things technologically oriented. Don't get me wrong, I don't miss the card catalog one bit. But I do find myself still harboring anxiety about keeping up with technology. Will my blog be cool? How will I use it to good effect here at the library? What about wikis; should I focus on that instead? Will all of this business just blow over and I can just use the tools with which I'm familiar and comfortable?

As with most things, time will tell. But hey, at least I'm a blogger now. :)