Delaware Division of Libraries Blog
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  Archived Posts From: 2009

news

Here a blog; there a blog; everywhere a blog, blog…

Written on: March 5th, 2009 in News

The once-every-five-years-Spring-Snowstorm gave me the opportunity to truly focus my attention on our Delaware Library portal, catalog and this, the blog. What a rich environment!
Valuable advice, up-to-the-minute resources and a shared community committed to reading. Who could ask for more?

Well, I could. I do have other interests. And, frankly, the online presence of those interests generally duplicate the depth and breadth of the content above.

So, how are we to keep up with it all? Let me introduce you to Tabbloid. After Richard tossed this tool my way, my blog/wiki world instantly moved from “manageable” with my aggregator to “useable.” The update layout resembles a newspaper and – hurray – displays graphics. I chose to receive the digest version each morning. Over the last month or so, my blog/wiki reading has now moved from “useable” to “valuable.” How? Next time…


reviews

“Moore” Choices from the Delaware Library Catalog

Written on: March 4th, 2009 in Reviews

The long-awaiting movie adaptation of Alan Moore’s incredibly influential graphic novel arrives in theaters this weekend. No doubt, in due course, we’ll be offering the DVD to library patrons, but if you need “Moore” after watching the movie, look for these selections from the Delaware Library Catalog.
–UPDATE–
I watched the movie on Sunday night. Excellent! A lot of it is a frame-by-frame retread of the comic, so apart from a couple of startling diversions from the original plot (simplifying the conspiracy aspect of the story), it was very faithful to Moore’s original.


learning

Testing and Education Resources

Written on: March 4th, 2009 in LearningNews

The Testing and Education Reference Center (TERC) recently introduced a more user friendly and easy to navigate interface, with greatly enhanced search features. What hasn’t changed about this product is that it is still the premiere online source for academic and vocational testing preparation materials- from ASVAB to MCAT- and is a great place to go for college application advice and job search resources. To see the new TERC, log in to the Delaware Library Catalog with your library card number and PIN, and click on the Testing & Education Reference Center link in the green e-resources bar.


news

Snow Day for DLC Patrons

Written on: March 3rd, 2009 in News

In view of the terrible weather of the past couple of days, road conditions and other considerations, the Delaware Public Library catalog directors have asked the systems administrators to work their magic and make everything that would have been due back to the libraries yesterday and today be due back tomorrow, when hopefully roads will be clear and libraries reopened.


reviews

This Week’s NYT Book Review titles in the Delaware Library Catalog

Written on: March 1st, 2009 in Reviews

Click on these links to check availability, place, holds, read reviews from Novelist and LibraryThing or check out similar titles available from the catalog:

And remember, if you read the NYT book review online, downloading the DLC LibX browser add-on for FireFox adds catalog links directly to web pages. Click here to find out more about LibX.


news

Weekend Open Thread!

Written on: February 28th, 2009 in News

Use the comments to let us know what great new books and movies you hear about or see this weekend, or talk about books you are reading.
I just finished Drood, the new book by Dan Simmons. He’s an outstanding author who can write in all kinds of different genres- from his science fiction series Hyperion and Ilium to historical thrillers like this newest book, which is a psychological thriller featuring Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins is protagonists locked in a conflict with a perhaps imaginary foe, the sinister mesmerist Edwin Drood. Simmons does a tremendous job bringing the reeking slums of Victorian London to life. I highly recommend Simmons’ previous novel, The Terror, another historical novel combining the story of the doomed Franklin expedition to seek the North-West Passage with terrifying supernatural elements. It was one of the best books I’ve read in years.


learning-journeys

Learning Journeys Program at Dover

Written on: February 28th, 2009 in Learning Journeys

Annie here: Kathy, Honoré, and I have been conducting Learning Journeys programs throughout Delaware over the past year and a half.  We have enjoyed our conversations with you, and have learned a great deal!  Many of you have been tracking your reading and learning for a long time and in a variety of ways.  See below for a partial list of what we have heard from you –
– first, about how you track your reading and learning, followed by
– an amazing array of the reasons that you track reading and learning and how it benefits you.

Please let us know if you have other tips and techniques to add.  We would also appreciate any feedback about how you are using the Learning Journal (or any tool that you're using) and how it is helping you.  Also let us know — what do you need next?  How may the library be of additional assistance to you?

We'll be compiling the these tips and tools on an additional blog page: Tips, Tools & Techniques so be sure to check back frequently for new ideas!

I am delighted to announce that the Dover Public Library, Dover, Delaware, will be hosting the Delaware Library Learning Journeys program every third Sunday of the month from 2 to 3:30 p.m. beginning on March 15, 2009.  We hope you can join us!  All are welcome.

We appreciate your involvement!  Enjoy your travels on your learning journeys!

Annie Norman, State Librarian of Delaware


learning-journeys

Tips, Tools & Techniques

Written on: February 28th, 2009 in Learning Journeys

A Sample of Tools Used

Index cards
Old date book – author/title, then thematic areas, publication dates with synopsis and notes, star rating
Address book – list by author
Pocket calendar ISBN, synopsis, keeps library slips
Includes characters
Quote book
LibraryThing
Computer spreadsheet
Database of books I own, who I gave them to, and books I want
Spiral bound small notebook
Yellow legal tablet
Black and white marble notebook
Integrates movie tickets into journal
Post it notes for cross reference
Exchange in letters, email
Purchase and write in books; inside back cover by page number Bookpockets / bookcards – “I miss those”

Reasons / Benefits
To share information with others
Because I learned something
Elements out of reading leads to hobbies
likes to keep things organized
easier to meet goals Capture words,
suggested books or movies
Keep track of unfinished books and requested /recommended books
How many books read in a year, month, time period
Series completion / series order
Book club recommendations
Professional usage
Noting disliked books and authors
To avoid rereading books already read
Needs to be organized, how to sort it all
Poor memory for certain things Helps to retain it, even if not needed afterwards
To keep track of names in history
For ideas to write my own books
Tracing back how others are influenced
History of the age I was Legacy, self understanding
Self help during difficult times
See different interests at different times of life
What was I thinking when
What I was like
In case I ever lose my memory
Just like comfort food, there are comfort books
Book group – 10 of us, never suggest the same book
What can I allow myself to write down?
Adult education is so rich, K-12 so structured
Reading one book leads to endless digressions and new areas of inquiry Pleasant synchronicity of all sorts of books and ideas coalescing over time Self-directed learning – Like peeling an onion, still not at the bottom
Like a chain, one thing leads to another
In addition to pictures, another way to capture life


news

Your Reviews Now Available

Written on: February 26th, 2009 in NewsReviews

Delaware Library Catalog user can now write and publish reviews within the catalog. The LibraryThing For Libraries review module was recently added as an option for catalog users, allowing them to read user-generated reviews and add their own! Click here for more instructions, view an animated tutorial here, or go to the catalog and look for the “read reviews/add a review” link in the full records.


news

South Coastal Temporary Closing

Written on: February 26th, 2009 in News

South Coastal Public Library will be closing temporarily to prepare for its move to a new permanent location. The library’s last open day will be Saturday Jan. 31st, with reopening tentatively scheduled for early April 2009. South Coastal library holdings will not be available to library patrons during this time, and patrons placing holds on items should select a different library as a pickup location. The Sussex County Bookmobile will provide alternative service at this location during the closure, and can be selected as a holds pickup location. Click here for the bookmobile schedule and location.


UPDATED: The Sussex County Bookmobile schedule is in transition as of Fall 2009. When a new regular schedule is confirmed it will be posted at the Bookmobile’s website





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