Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Create Your Own Mad Libs!

This is a post partially for fun, and partially with a fun outreach tool.  Does anyone want to try my Mad Libs?  Wordlibs.com allows you to create a Mad Libs with a piece of writing.  It doesn't take long to set up--I think I spent 20 minutes total, between writing my Summer Reading description and then entering it in the software.  When you finish it, you are sent to a screen for filling out the mad libs online.  In the upper right hand corner is a "print" button, which creates a printable PDF.  I can't wait to try it out on my 5th graders tomorrow!

Friday, May 3, 2013

Make Your Summer @ Your Library


Make Your Summer @ Your Library

This program is a companion to the Collaborative Summer Reading Program’s Beneath the Surface teen program. The aim of Make Your Summer is to broaden OCPL’s Summer Reading program offerings to allow for the participation of teens with varying creative interests, to promote an array of library services, to meet the needs of 21stc learners, to support and enhance digital literacy, and involve our community in content creation.

Inspired by Maker Spaces and gamification concepts, Make Your Summer programs can be low or hi tech, where libraries provide materials and space for spontaneous creativity or planned engagement. Instead of traditional prizes, teens earn a digital badge for their achievement. Digital badges are virtual icons awarded for the acquisition of skill or knowledge and are a popular online form assessment and display of proficiency (often used as part of an web-based resume and widely accepted by contemporary technology companies and colleges).

OCPL teens register on Evanced at their home library and log into the Make Your Summer Google Site to select activities of interest to them. When they complete the activity, teens earn virtual badges that they may then display on web-based applications or social media sites (FB, Twitter, etc.) and record on Evanced.  

Monday, April 29, 2013

May Webinars

Have you seen the Library Webinars blog?  Updated usually at the end/beginning of the months, this has a great compilation of free--with some to pay--webinars that are of interest to Librarians.  The topics range from Reader's Advisory to Programming, as well as Technology and Management.  It's a great blog to keep an eye on!  The first list for May just came out, though there will be updates as they receive information from other sources.

 Here is the main list for May: (<---click on this link to get to the registration links, this is just a copy of the text!)

May webinars. Go learn stuff!

May 1.  E-Government: Matching People with Jobs (ALA)

May 7.  Federal Government Information Made Easy (WSL)

May 7.  The Fiduciary Duties of Nonprofit Board Members (WSL)

May 9.  Library Learning Goes Online (AL Live)

May 9.  How Senior Friendly is Your Website (ATC) Reg Required

May 14.  Resource Sharing Best Practices (OCLC)

May 15.  Urban Fiction in Public Libraries (PLA)  $

May 15.  Building Collaborative Relationships with Your IT Dept (CSL) 

May 15.  eDiscovery Solutions [and Legal Issues] (eSchoolNews) 

May 28.  Hiring and Employing People with Disabilities (ADA Online)  

May 29.  Increasing Productivity by Securely Managing Mobility (eSchoolNews) 

ALA (American Library Association)  All = $
15 events in May.  Click the link if interested.

 
Booklist
May 7. What's New in SF/Fantasy

May 9. Hooking Reluctant Readers with Middle Grade Series
May 14. Hot Debuts: New Names in Fiction
 
Infopeople
May 14.  Handling Challenging Situations - Part I
May 15. Planning an Adult Program on a Budget
May 21.  Handling Challenging Situations - Part II

Nebraska Library Commission May 1. What does a Successful Internship Look Like?
May 8. Hastings Storywalk: Walk, Read, Explore
May 15. Library Planning: A Customized Program for Success
May 22.  Tech Talk with Michael Sauers

School Library Journal
May 6. College and Career Readiness with Digital Resources
May 9.  Lerner's Fall 2013 Preview
May 16.  Raise the Bar with Effective Collaborations
May 14.  Spring Reading for Growing Minds
May 21.  Common Core - Serving the CCSS and Youth
May 22.  Navigating K-3 Curriculum Objectives

Texas State Library
May 3.  MS Office Tricks
May 10. Prezi
May 17.  Wikis
May 24.  Music Fun

WebJunctionApr 30.  Extending Access to e-books: New Strategies
May 7. Library as Content Creator
May 22.  Broadband Adoption Toolkit 

Wild Apricot
May 1.  Recruiting Professional Volunteers

May 8.  The Three Languages of Appreciation
May 16.  Google Grants/Free Online Advertising   
May 29.  Proposal Budgeting Basics