Back in the late 90s, my employer began offering “just-in-time” self-paced online training from a company called Element K. Element K gave me my first taste with online learning, and I was quickly hooked. I hunkered down and took tutorials on web development, database design, a variety of programming languages and more. Fortunately, my boss at the time supported this, at one point saying, “I’m not sure what you’re doing over there… but it certainly seems good.” I was able to quickly apply what I was learning to my job, and everyone benefitted.
After leaving that position, I looked for a way to continue taking learning and professional development into my own hands. That’s when I came across lynda.com, and I’ve been using it ever since.
lynda.com is a website that provides quality, thorough online tutorials on a broad range of software and technology-related topics. Individuals can subscribe for $25/month (same price I’ve paid since 2003), and you can start and stop your subscription as often as you’d like. Volume discounts for organizations are available. The tutorials are Quicktime movies delivered in short files – a few minutes long each – making them easy to take at your own pace. The trainers are often rock stars in a particular area: for example, you can learn CSS from Eric Meyer or Molly Holzschlag. Continue reading ‘Learning online with lynda.com’
I am delighted to announce the hiring and arrival of Christine Kreger as the new Technology & Digital Initiatives Consultant at the State Library.
On the job less than three weeks, she has already begun making an impact as a member of a newly-formed Technology Leadership Core, an internal group designed to bring standardization and fresh energy to the State Library’s investment in strategic initiatives related to online learning and training, development of technology-based collaboration tools, tracking technology trends in Colorado libraries, and more.
Christine brings more than 18 years of library experience to her new position, most recently as Internet Librarian for the Arapahoe Library District where she developed and coordinated web content for the ALD’s public web site for five years. Continue reading ‘Kreger joins State Library’
The 2008-2009 Public Library Funding & Technology Access Survey is underway. I encourage Colorado public libraries to participate in this important national survey. The findings from this study will give public library administrators, librarians, boards, and advocates powerful data to use when talking about Colorado libraries. This is the kind of data that speaks volumes to legislators, the media, and the general public.
For more information see the ALA Press release and last year’s survey results.
Thanks.
Nicolle
Serendipity frequently plays a part in my learning and steers my reading into new areas. I won’t detail all of the steps that led me down this particular path, but recently I read about one way the Fraser Valley Library, part of the Grand County Library District, is seeing use of its free Wi-Fi network.
A member of the community, originally from Australia, uses the library’s wireless network to videoconference with family members a world away, using Skype. I’d say this qualifies as a “library-without-walls service,” wouldn’t you? The story is worth reading in the Ski-High Daily News.
Hats off to the GCLD for continuing to serve its community in innovative ways!
If you’re like me, and access your e-mail from work or home or on the road or in the library or a coffee shop or by snooping off your neighbor’s unsecure wireless network, then you probably ALSO use the web in these same locations.
I don’t always use the same computer, which is why I use a free bookmarking web site: http://del.icio.us/ This allows me to save bookmarks in one central place, rather than using the built-in bookmark feature of the web browser and having those references stay stored on the computer that I happen to be using at the time.
Recently, the del.icio.us site underwent an interfacelift, adding even more happy features. For those of you using the free web tool, in what ways are you using it? For those of you who are not–there’s no time like the present to try it out!
I’m delighted to announce the release of the PUBLIC DRAFT of a whitepaper summarizing much of what was learned by the core task force behind a research process (started last fall) for considering the viability of a statewide ILS based on open-source software.
What does PUBLIC DRAFT mean? It’s a paper that has not been set in stone. You can influence the development and writing. You are invited to submit comments or questions to any member of the task force. Disagree with any aspects of the paper? Let them know. Did you find the paper informational? Let them know.
Most importantly, please engage with your peers and colleagues on the topic. How would you answer the questions listed in the Summary section of the paper?
For Colorado, there is a clear need for discussion among library decision makers about this topic. Please join that discussion.
You’ll find the whitepaper listed among the FILES section of the Google Groups site. http://groups.google.com/group/open-source-co-libraries
If you’ve ever wondered what public libraries across Colorado are spending on their integrated library systems (ILSs), you’ll be interested in a recent release of survey results and some of the buzz surrounding this topic.
Quick background: Jamie Larue, Director of Douglas County Libraries and other public library directors who were interested in this topic agreed at a June meeting in Aspen that there was a need to gather more information about the potential power of cooperative purchasing for a unified ILS. There is particular interest in the possibility of a statewide ILS Continue reading ‘What are public libraries spending on their ILS?’
Look no further! MaintainIT has created a free webinar to discuss how other libraries create their own wireless access policies. Not only that, they have a host of print resources to look at too!
MaintainIT Cookbooks
Wireless and Acceptable Use Policies Archived Webinar
Here you will find a link to the archived May 2008 Maintain IT webinar and the list of associated resources under Quick Links. Continue reading ‘Looking for Wireless Access Policies?’
For those of you who follow trends related to virtual worlds and library services–taking place in environments like Second Life–you might be interested to learn of yet another Google ‘beta’ product that competes in this space. It’s called Lively. We all know the blogosphere will be lighting up with reviews and comparisons during the coming months, and it will be interesting to see what librarians think…
Need advice on technology issues? Want to share great technology ideas? Join the Tech Forum hosted on CLiC’s Sharepoint site!Or if you want to take a look at the information posted, just click above and start browsing.
About Tech Forum
The goal of Tech Forum is to provide a ‘top of mind’ resource for technology reference and discussion. The intent of the forum is to benefit all participants through:
- minimizing the duplication of efforts
- using RFPS, project plans, cost models, and research all ready compiled by others
- sharing real life experience and results
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- example: how is RFID working at your organization, what pitfalls have you encountered with this product/vendor
- aligning statewide technology efforts with the purpose of achieving leverage and cost savings through a larger purchasing base
- example: what are the top tech needs for the year and are their opportunities to align efforts and work together
- examples: ILS, RFID, client management
Tech Forum was established over a year ago as a central point for collaboration and information sharing. The forum currently has over 40 members and to date has conducted a number of online webinars and meetings in response to expressed subjects of interest as well as provided materials and information for specific member requests.To browse Tech Forum visit the following link
http://clicv3.sharepointspace.com/tech. To request an account to participate in the group please email
SOGrady@clicweb.org.
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