FLA Filings: FLA-NRMT Blog

The Florida Library Association's New Members Round Table Interest Group (FLA-NMRT) has a fairly new blog here which is intended to be "a place to read and post stories of interest to new FLA members as well as librarianship in general."

Nice job! From a not-so-new FLA member, welcome to the Association, and from a not-so-new blog, welcome to the biblioblogosphere!

SUBJECTS: FLA FILINGS

Friday Fun Thing: Wet Noodle Posse

This post about the Wet Noodle Posse should have been made months ago, upon first learning of this group (sorry, Karen!), but some nameless blogger (ahem) accidentally buried the information and forgot about it until yet another great paper clean-up recently. Bearing in mind the Posse's tagline, "Be good to yourself, or else," we shall dispense with the apologies and mea culpas for not posting sooner, reinforce the "do it now" lesson that never quite seems to get learned well enough, and proceed to blog about two delightful sites by this group of women romance writers (all of whom were finalists for the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award of 2003; read their story here).

The main site is the Wet Noodle Posse, described in the Posse's own words as "an ezine about women connecting and sharing, offering support, encouragement, information, a recommendation--or just a good belly laugh." It is available by either dropping in to the site or by free subscription. Regular features include a "Noodler of the Month" plus columns on writing, living well, crafts, food, reading, real-life "super heroines" and much more.

The companion site is the Wet Noodle Posse Blog, where Posse members each blog once a month. CFLC's own Karen Potter (Director of Maitland Public Library, published author, and Posse member) blogs each month on the fifth, so mark your calendars to catch her next week (or check out this month's timely and informative post about hurricane preparedness).

SUBJECTS: CFLC CHRONICLES

Workshop Wealth: Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute

I was privileged to attend the graduation ceremonies for attendees of the second Sunshine State Library Leadership Institute (SSLLI, pronounced "silly" and anything but!) in Tallahassee earlier this month. Pat Wagner, noted futurist, library consultant, and excellent speaker, detailed Five Trends to Wake You in the Middle of the Night (did we really need more help to do that?). Her trends with the ensuing questions libraries and those who staff them must ask themselves are:

-Changing Status Issues (How can you earn the trust and respect of others every day?)
-Changing Customer Expectations (Will you succeed in a world where your library user is your peer?)
-Changing Demographics (Whom will the library choose to serve, because it can't serve everyone?)
-Integrating Nanotechnology (Are you ready for technology after the Internet and World Wide Web?)
-Competition (If you had to earn your budget every day, library user by library user, what would you be doing differently?)

If you or librarians you know are interested in learning about or attending SSLLI 3, "a year-long [ten-meeting] comprehensive series of learning sessions that focuses on developing an understanding of leadership, within a conceptual framework and practical applications," information is available here, applications are available here, and the application deadline is July 12, 2006, a mere two weeks away.

SUBJECTS: WORKSHOP WEALTH

Reference Riches: World eBook Fair

The World eBook Fair is a month-long "celebration of the 35th anniversary of the first step taken towards today's eBooks..." (Did you know it had been that long?) From July 4th to August 4th, access to 1/3 million eBooks, or "or 10 times the number found in the average public library" will be free at the eBook fair through a gateway at Project Gutenberg, "the oldest and largest free eBook source on the Internet" and one of the sponsors of the fair. While Project Gutenberg is normally free, another of the sponsors, World eBook Library ("providers of the largest [eBook] collection") normally charges an annual fee for accessing their titles.

This is intended to be an annual event "to encourage you to assist in bringing many entire libraries to the general public and to encourage ever increasing levels of literacy and reading."

Be sure to check it out! (Bad pun intended...sorry!)

SUBJECTS: REFERENCE RICHES

Technology Tales: Google Spreadsheets

Calling all Excel fans! Google Labs has for you a Web-based spreadsheet application all brand, spanking new and, as Rod Serling used to say, "presented for your consideration..."

Google Spreadsheets is designed so that existing spreadsheets can be imported or new ones created through the Web browser. Colleagues can be invited to work on the spreadsheets with you and you can make and share changes together real-time and simultaneously. Take the tour here.

Go forth and kick the tires! (But be sure to leave us some feedback about it in the comments! Inquiring minds and all that...)

SUBJECTS: TECHNOLOGY TALES

Tuesday's Tool: Zillow

Zillow is making news and if your patrons aren't already coming in an asking about "that tool that helps you price your house," they probably will soon. With a "Zestimator" to help put a value to homes and neighborhoods, this site gives buyers and sellers an idea of house values and shows street, satellite, or hybrid maps of requested addresses. The tag line here is "free, instant valuations and data for 65,000,000+ homes."

Read the Overview and The Big Idea to get a notion of what Zillow is and does--and what's with all the "Z" words. (After researching your own home's value, of course!)

SUBJECTS: REFERENCE RICHES

Workshop Wealth: Orange County Live Online Events

The Orange County Library System is hosting a live series of three information technology Webinars this summer entitled Pushing It Forward: Taking Your Library to the Next Level. Find information, details, and registration here.

SUBJECTS: WORKSHOP WEALTH

Workshop Wealth: Interview with Janet Evanovich

If you are a mystery fan at all and have not yet had the pleasure of reading the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, it is a highly recommended and very, very funny look at a New Jersey bail enforcement agent (a.k.a. bounty hunter), her misadventures, and her quirky set of friends and relations. Amazon has a new weekly webcast feature, Amazon Fishbowl with Bill Maher, that this week includes an interview with Janet Evanovich. Ever wondered why there's no Stephanie Plum movie? That's explained. Ever wondered how to sum up the Stephanie Plum series? From Maher: "Get Shorty Meets Cathy." Perfect!

The 'workshop wealth' part of this post comes with the explanation that Amazon Fishbowl is conceived along the late night talk show model, but with guests who are authors and performers whose products are sold on Amazon (and will likely be sought out in libraries). The show changes weekly: "New episodes will premiere each Thursday this summer at 8 p.m. Pacific Time and can be seen anytime here at www.amazon.com/entertainment." Archives of previous shows reside there, as well.

SUBJECTS: WORKSHOP WEALTH

CFLC Chronicles: CFLC "Globe" Trotting #6

The CFLC globe trotted again with a second Mexican cruise, this time on Celebrity (lucky globe!) back in March, but the photos are late since this blogger got a bit behind in posting.

Below, you will find the globe in Cabo San Lucus at the famous Giggling Marlin Bar; at a flea market in Mazatlán; looking out the stateroom toward Puerto Vallarta; at La Perla restaurant for the cliff diving in Acapulco; and finally, having a bit of a relax in the on-board jacuzzi. (Click on the pix for more info.)

SUBJECTS: CFLC CHRONICLES

Friday Fun Thing: Australian Travel Site

In Cocoa at the Internet Travel Resources class the other day, the group there came across this very, very funny series of Silly Aussie Travel Questions from Virtual Australia.

In checking Snopes, it appears the questions have been around for a while in other guises and attributable to other countries, but that doesn't keep many of them from still being laugh-out-loud funny. If you like these, you'll also like the Snopes entry on questions allegedly asked of U.S. Park Rangers.

Enjoy!

SUBJECTS: CFLC CHRONICLES

CFLC Chronicles: CFLC "Globe" Trotting #5

It may seem from the name of this area and from the previous globe trotting post that the globe traveled extensively in Ohio. In actuality, however, it was actually the general Midwest in which it traveled extensively, and with two different parties (no, not Lewis and Clark...). The Falls of the Ohio State Park is actually in Clarksville, IN, looking across the Ohio River into Louisville, KY. By the way, the picture of the globe in the "fluff" is dandelion seeds, which were blowing (and collecting) like snowflakes at the time. Click on that picture to see an amazing picture of dandelions in seed.

SUBJECTS: CFLC CHRONICLES

ALA Assortments: ALA Wiki

For those of us not fortunate enough to attend the 2006 American Library Association Annual Conference in New Orleans, or for those who are there now, Meredith Farkas (of the Information Wants To Be Free blog and ALA Chicago 2005 Wiki fame) is again heading up a group putting together the ALA 2006 New Orleans Wiki which will make real-time following of conference activities much easier.

Links are provided for newbies, activities in and around New Orleans, calendars, blogging from the conference, and much more. The Convention and Visitors Bureau has an appreciative press release about ALA being the first business convention back since Katrina.

SUBJECTS: ALA ASSORTMENTS

Blog Business: Audioblogging Demo

This is an audioblogging post for a SWFLN class. Additionally, it's a good example of why one should always listen to the entry before posting it! (Hey, it was dark in the room, I couldn't find the # button, and I was being asked questions to boot! How's that for rationalization?!) Have a laugh on me!

SUBJECTS: BLOG BUSINESS

CFLC Chronicles: Welcome to the Biblioblogosphere

PLAN, the Panhandle Library Access Network, one of our sister Multitype Library Cooperatives (MLCs) here in Florida, has joined the biblioblogosphere (see term definition here and commentary/discussion here). With what promises to be a lively and entertaining read, Postcards from the Cracker Coast will cover library technology, continuing education, trends, and more.

Welcome, PLAN! We look forward to more postcards...

SUBJECTS: CFLC CHRONICLES

CFLC Chronicles: CFLC "Globe" Trotting #4

This just in...Treasures of Ohio Back Roads... (Welcome back, Diane! Did you bring us back any of that yummy [if misspelled] flavored ice cream?!) For more information, click on the photos.







SUBJECTS: CFLC CHRONICLES

Blog Business: Blogiversary

Happy Blogiversary, CFLC Currents! We're one year old today!

(And no, the word is not a creation from thin air...check out this cool blogging glossary!)

It's been a very fast year and, regretfully, there is no grand and insightful post to commemorate this illustrious occasion. It is hoped that somehow along the way, throughout all the demonstrations of the blog and blogging, some of the CFLC "viewing audience," as it were, have been converted to the fun and usefulness of blogs as a communication medium. Also, that some valuable and enjoyable information has been transmitted, as well. Stay tuned...there's more to come!

SUBJECTS: BLOG BUSINESS; CFLC CHRONICLES

Tuesday's Tool: Word Detective

This post is to introduce you to (or remind you of) a site that is partly a reference tool and partly a fun thing if you happen to love words and etymology, The Word Detective, subtitled Words and Language in a Humorous Vein on the Web Since 1995, a collection of newspaper columns (and more) on word and phrase origins.

An example of a partial entry (from a column on "blurbs") is this gem:

Incidentally, while Burgess was justly proud of his invention of "blurb," he grew so sick of hearing his "Purple Cow" recited that he eventually penned a sequel: "Ah yes, I wrote The Purple Cow/I'm sorry now I wrote it/But I can tell you anyhow/I'll kill you if you quote it."

SUBJECTS: REFERENCE RICHES