Blog Reflection 2

A lot of the topics my reference class has been going over is already familiar to me because of previous library science classes. I’m glad to be going over everything again to refresh my memory.

I really enjoyed this week’s reference discussion question about the availability of reference librarians to the patrons. I forgot about the outreach I witnessed happening at a nearby elementary school until this question. I think there needs to be more outreach in schools from elementary to college about the importance of libraries and also information literacy.

Libraries can bring out the best in communities with programs like The Big Read, author signings, library book clubs, and so much more. The problem is that so many libraries are facing massive budget cuts that affect many areas such as collection development. People need to rally together and make sure local and state governments understand how important libraries are.

There’s so many ways of doing like donating new and gently used books to local libraries for them to use or sell, volunteering, or even becoming a friend of the library.

As a library patron, I think the one of the things libraries should be working towards in upcoming years is making their presence felt in the community. Doing outreach to make sure every child in the community has a library card, making sure the collection is tailored to the surrounding community such as if there are large numbers of ESL homes or an adequate YA or children’s selection if the community is heavy in youth or enough large print materials for older patrons or patrons who are sight-impaired.

Libraries need to remind people that they are necessary.

Hi!

My blogging experiences. . .This is definitely not my first time with blogging. One of my hobbies is to blogging. I’ve been blogging for almost three year, mostly discussing books: the ones I’ve read, want to read, basically anything book-related. I have several blogs and I’m also a writer on many more. When I’m not taking care of my family, reading or studying, I’m usually online. Blogging is a huge part of my life and will probably a bigger part of it this year when I start reviewing books more.

My feelings. . . I love blogging. As an avid reader I don’t often find many people in real life who read as much as I do. So blogging helps me find people who read just as much as I do. For many book bloggers, you blog to join in the conversations about books and reading, the budgets cuts and other issues that libraries across the country are facing, and also the direction that publishing is going (or not going but should).

The blogs I read on a regular basis. . . Because I’m a blogger, I read a lot of blogs. Blogs about interior design, books, teaching, and other subject. If you have a passion for something whether it’s cooking or sports, there’s a blog out there for you. I usually subscribe to a Google application that’s called Google Reader and its purpose is to help users put all the blogs they read in one place, so you don’t have to go skipping around everywhere trying to read your favorites. I read a lot of blogs on a regular basis, so I’ll give you a few links to blog of different subjects. Just click on the link and it’ll take you to each blog.

Things Mean A Lot – Nymeth reviews a lot of science fiction and fantasy but also reviews graphic novels, classics, and modern fiction and non-fiction.

Unshelved - Gene and Bill, two librarians, are the creators of Unshelved. They review books in their daily comics and also answer questions people have about libraries. Perfect for library science students.

Decor8 – After looking at one post, I’m pretty sure you’ll want to redecorate your living space.

37 Days. Patti Digh is a writer who post almost daily on her blog about life from Johnny Depp to racism to why Lisa Simpson is a great role model.

Like I’ve said before if you’re passionate about something, there’s a blog for it. Many moms have turned it blogging to discuss their fears, joys, and parenting issues. Many of these blogs are funny, intelligent, and brutally honest. Catherine over at Her Bad Mother is a mother and writer who writes daily about motherhood. She is one of the best “mommy bloggers” around. She’s even had articles written about her in the New York Times.

Do I see any value in utilizing blogs in a library environment? Actually I do. I fused to follow the LBCC Library blog a year or two again when I found out about it. If not a blog, at least somewhere on a library’s website where not just dates of events, but also the needs of the library is posted for patrons to know about.

Blog Reflection 5

Library 3 isn’t my online classes. Usually I have several online classes every semester. I’ve had the same amount of student interaction that I do with every online class. My preference is for online class because physical attendance is not required. If I’m up at 2 a.m. I can do my homework and turn in it without having to wait for class to start.

Online classes require a great deal of time management skills. To take an online class, a student needs to use those skills or risk failing.

Online learning is definitely appropriate for library research courses. Before I started taking these types of classes, I didn’t really know about databases like ProQuest, Bartleby.com, and others. Requiring students to use these sources and also know the differences between them helps to make the student better, no matter what subject they’re majoring in.

If my schedule allowed it, I’ll be open to come to a face-to-face workshop if one was offered for the course. I think that would really help answer any questions students have about assignments.

Blog Reflection 4

Information competency is:

• the ability to analyze and evaluate information.
• a critical thinking skill
• important in a society that relies so heavily on the Internet for information
• having the knowledge needed to be able to successfully look for and find information through databases, web searches, and other sources
• the ability to know which sources are best for certain information
• a skill that is critical for not just students to learn but everyone

Blog Reflection3

My opinion of the research process hasn’t changed a lot since the start of class. I’ve had several classes that assigned similar assignments to get students to more familiar to what LBCC’s library system offers.

My opinion changed a little because  of this week’s exercise on the various databases that LBCC library offers. I’ve always been a fan of CQ Researcher but I had no idea that SIRS Researcher was just as good. It was really helpful in finding information about the topic I chose for this week’s assignment, poverty.  I was reallyimpressed and will be using it when it comes to my research needs.

The research process is becoming easier with time since many of my classes require research of some sort. So using the many things I’ve learned from various classes have helped me.

A few things that could help in future research projects:

1. Primary sources is a firsthand account of an event. Newspapers, research reports, surveys, diaries, works of art, and the like are examples of primary sources.

2. Secondary sources are sources that restate a firsthand account of an event. That would be articles, textbooks, encyclopedia, and others.

3. Tertiary sources are sources that index primary and secondary sources. Think of bibliographies, textbooks, and others.

3. Understand what kind of source you need for the information you want.

Reflection 2

I can’t say that taking this class has changed my outlook on libraries any.  I still think that libraries are key to help keep citizens informed. With a recession going on, the number of visitors to libraries keep growing as citizens understand and realize that access to information is important.

One of the roles of librarians is to not only to help others find information but also teach them how to find it themselves. If people don’t know how to find accurate, useful information they’re basically lost.

The internet is a huge part of my life. It keeps me in touch with friends and family who are states or even countries away. As a college student, I try to take as many of my classes online as possible. The internet helps me fulfill the duties of the other roles I have, better than if i had to go to a physical location for school.

The internet is changing life as we know it. We can order products, go to school, work, get tutored, even make doctor appointments from our homes. Even phone calls are now being bypassed to make   faster, but less personal transactions. You have to wonder sometimes what does that mean for human-to-human relations.

Project 1 – Library Visit

Main Library
101 Pacific Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90822
562-570-7500
www.lbpl.org

The library I chose to visit was Long Beach Public Library’s Main Library, located in downtown Long Beach. The largest of all twelve  of Long Beach’s public libraries, the Main Library is one of my favorites to visit.

The Main Library’s collection uses the Dewey Decimal system for classification and  features books, government publications, an online catalog along with online databases, media such as DVDs, CDs, playaways, and audio books, along with periodicals such as encyclopedias and magazines. One of the newest additions to the general collection of all twelve locations is the Overdrive Media Console. Library users are just a few clicks away from checking out and downloading audio books directly to their computers from the library’s website.

Aside from the general collection is the special collections the Main Library has. Located on the second floor of the library, the Loraine and Earl Burns Miller Special Collections room features rare texts, works of art, and manuscripts, newspapers, and more chronicling the life of  Marilyn Horne, who once lived in Long Beach. The special collections room  is only opened several days a week, for a few hours a day. Sad to say I’ve never made a visit to the room.

One of the services the library has is a reading time for toddlers and preschoolers on Thursdays or Fridays, depending on the age group, for an hour. A service that I’ve used and enjoyed has been the online reference desk. Opened 24 hours a day, if you have a reference question you can go to the library’s website and get answers to any questions you have from a librarian. The librarian will also show you how to find the information you need after your questions have been answered. The last service that’s available from the library and its branches is the annual summer reading program. The Main library and its branch libraries host three summer reading programs, one for children, another for teens, and one for adults. Lasting most of the summer the goal is to get more books into the hands of residents. After the goal of reading for five days for twenty minutes each day, kids and teens are awarded a prize of a free book that they can take home. Adults only have to read any three books or listen to any three audio books, write a short review, and they too will receive a free book.

Besides the AskNow system, there are other ways of using the library’s reference section. The library has online reference databases that users can use to find the information they need. The only thing that’s needed is a library card. An example of some of the reference databases available to users is ProQuest, used to find newspaper and magazine articles; CQ Researcher which is a great tool for students loooking to find information; and NoveList which helps users find recommendations for books. You can also find information in the library about possibile colleges you may want to attend or information on job openings in Long Beach.

I think one of the things I like best about the Main Library is that since it’s the biggest of the public libraries, it has a huge selection of books. Whether you’re looking for a children’s book, an adult graphic novel, non-fiction, or fiction, most likely what you’re looking for is at the Main branch. I also loved that they were opened on Sundays when its branches were closed. Due to budget cuts, the Main Library is now closed on Sundays and Mondays.

The only thing about the Main Library that I don’t care for is that it’s so far away. I live about an hour away so sometimes it’s inconvenient to go down there just to pick up a book and come home.

Overall the Main Library is a great place of books and information.

Hello, World!

I have several blogs on both WordPress and Blogger so creating this one was no problem. I used the same theme that’s located on my other WordPress blog for the appearance. All of the blogs I have are book blogs. I use them to review books and connect to other bookworms.

I read many blogs every day. Most of the blogs I read are book-related. Here are a few that I really like:

A Striped Armchair

Caribou’s Mom

Guys Lit Wire

Unshelved

Stainless Steel Droppings