New Yorker Stories Podcast

Yesterday listening to Louise Erdrich read Lorrie Moore's "Dance in America," a New Yorker short story podcast, on my mp3 player, added a new dimension to my daily walk. The New Yorker website has a wealth of stories. I chose one to downloaded and put it onto the mp3 player. I thought the story was lost but then found it listed as music. Today I deleted that story and added a James Thurber story and lined up a couple more for future walks. It's a beautiful walk up and back my road, one I've enjoyed over and over, often with music playing. I look forward to more stories now from The New Yorker.

Stand Still Parade; Potato-Planting

Who ever heard of a stand still parade? The tiny town of Whalan MN held its Annual Stand Still Parade this morning. The parade-goers walk around the floats, cars, and various other parade items lined up on the town's two-block long main street. Along the adjacent bike trail, the local Lutheran Church members, sponsors of the event, and friends sell Norwegian favorites like lefse, rommegrat, and fruit soup, along with traditional lunch and desserts. Today at the microphone were Irish singers and other musical groups, interspersed with Ole and Lena jokes. The parade itself lasts just an hour, while other activities like the petting zoo, craft demonstrations, horse-driven cart rides, and music continue much of the day. This morning the weather was perfect for browsing the tables of crafts, plants, and other local interests. I bought handmade greeting cards from a woman who weekends in Whalan. Habitat for Humanity raffled a playhouse to raise funds for a house project in nearby Rushford. Actors from the Commonweal Theatre sold show posters. Several antique cars were on display, allowing many parade-goers to reminisce about the good old cheap-gas days. The Stand Still Parade is a unique and casual small-town festival with a big turnout. On the way home, I drove through the park at nearby Lanesboro and listened in to some old-time musicians from the Bluff Country Gathering.
I've waited for weeks for the perfect potato-planting day. Yesterday I set out stakes in the vegetable garden, and this afternoon I planted potatoes (more than last year, even), pole beans, and cucumbers. Ah! Garden time again.

May Project: Socks on Circular Needles

I finished a felted bag and also a pair of soft green socks in Austermann Step yarn with aloe vera. My present challenge is knitting socks on 2 circular needles. I read the Cat Bordhi book, practiced, and cast on with some brightly colored Regia Cotton yarn -- but frogged after 4". Boo hoo. The sock would be too big. I gave myself a little while to get over the disappointment, and cast on again this morning. Using English, rather than Continental style, my knitting's much tighter.
Why bother? I love the challenge, the beautiful yarns, and the finished socks. Now that it's garden season, I don't wear my knit socks all the time, but almost.
Wish me luck!

"So Much Depends" upon Poetry Month & April

Marianne Moore writes about poetry, "I too dislike it. . . ." Archibald MacLeash concludes, "A poem should not mean/ but be." These two poets' thoughts confuse me, yet they make me continue reading poetry, these mostly short word-images. Here's one of the first poems that baffles and intrigues people young and old. Remember it from high school?

The Red Wheelbarrow
by William Carlos Williams

so much depends
upon

a red wheel
barrow

glazed with rain
water

beside the white
chickens.

Back to Snow

Spring surprised me this morning with snow on the ground . . . just as I was starting to think it was garden time. I had a relaxing weekend felting workshops taught by Shawn Glidden and Elise Kyllo on a beautiful nearby farm. When I left Sunday afternoon, hostess Donna was felting a rug outside, made with wool from sheep she raised. Colorful wool, good conversations and music, and delicious food added to the memorable days.
When I came home, I helped stack wood we split through March and April, kitchen-cookstove wood for year after next.
Just two more days to celebrate Poetry Month:
The First Spring Day by Christina Rossetti
I wonder if the sap is stirring yet,
If wintry birds are dreaming of a mate,
If frozen snowdrops feel as yet the sun
And crocus fires are kindling one by one:
Sing, robin, sing;
I still am sore in doubt concerning Spring.
I wonder if the springtide of this year
Will bring another Spring both lost and dear;
If heart and spirit will find out their Spring,
Or if the world alone will bud and sing:
Sing, hope, to me;
Sweet notes, my hope, soft notes for memory.
The sap will surely quicken soon or late,
The tardiest bird will twitter to a mate;
So Spring must dawn again with warmth and bloom,
Or in this world, or in the world to come:
Sing, voice of Spring,
Till I too blossom and rejoice and sing.

Garden Time Again

SE Minnesota is finally warming up. Last week, on one of the first beautiful spring afternoons here, we shoveled a load of manure onto the garden, B. tilled it in, and I started planting. Just 2 rows of onions so far, with a row of lettuce mix in between. Though I'm eager to plant more, it's still a bit early. I'm pleased that two alpine pansies already blossomed in a protected spot near the drive. More soon . . . .
Inside, one pink bloom has almost opened on one of the 6 geranium plants I potted in March. Last fall I shook the dirt away from their roots and stripped off most of the leaves. The plants were stored in paper bags in my unheated basement all winter. Most survived. Next I'll divide some of the lankier ones into two plants each.
Sunday we hosed down the screen house, bleached and scrubbed the floor, and washed the chairs. Ready for summer!
No blossoms on the shamrock plants, but the leaves look healthy.

Just as I wonder / whether it's going to die, / the orchid blossoms // and I can't explain why it / moves my heart...

From The Orchid Flower
by Sam Hamill

Poem in Your Pocket Day

It may not look like one, but here's a poem I found at Poets.org.
Language
by W. S. Merwin

Certain words now in our knowledge we will not use again, and we will never forget them. We need them. Like the back of the picture. Like our marrow, and the color in our veins. We shine the lantern of our sleep on them, to make sure, and there they are, trembling already for the day of witness. They will be buried with us, and rise with the rest.

From The Book of Fables by W.S. Merwin. Copyright © 2007 by W.S. Merwin. Reprinted by permission of Copper Canyon Press.

Thing #23 One Last Thing

At last! Here I am at Thing #23. Here are some last words on the project. I plan to continue this blog.
* Go back to your thoughts/ideas about Library 2.0. Has anything changed as a result of this experience? I tried many different internet activities, starting with this blog.
* What were your favorite Things and discoveries? Investigating LibraryThing led me to Shelfari, a reading-list site that works well.
* How did you connect with others doing the 23 Things On a Stick?I began to make "friends" on interactive sites. I enjoyed sharing notes about the program with others face-to-face.
* Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? I learned to use ELM effectively, after having little success before.
* What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or content? Explain Ning earlier.
* If we offered a 23 More Things On a Stick program like this in the future would you participate? Yes.
* How would you describe your learning experience in one word or in one sentence, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things On a Stick learning activities to others? A huge project -- very challenging and rewarding.

Thing #22 "What Did I Learn Today?"

I've spent a lot of time on this project and learned way more than 23 things. Reading and trying out so many various sites has shown me the huge challenge ahead and fun, I hope, for the library community.
The video by Charles Leadbeater, author of We Think: The Power of Mass Creativity is a good reminder about how sharing information takes priority in society now. I found the video on a blog I've bookmarked, Dangerously Irrelevant.
I plan to take part in some of the interesting programs like online conversations about library issues and also book discussions at OPAL. I'll also use the ELM features I explored.
Of course, now I'll have time to keep up with Ravelry, one of my favorite social networking sites.

Thing #21 Beyond MySpace: Other Social Networks

It seems there's a social network on the internet for anyone. I joined a sockknitting forum that began in January to share my knitting projects as well as to gain motivation from other knitters. Otherwise, I have dropped by many other similar sites for recipes and other ideas. Today I signed up for the 23 Things on a Stick Ning and wish I'd done that as I began this blog, both for help on the various Things and also for the conversations and more. Gather.com is an example of a broader social community that appeals to many who may not be interested in MySpace or FaceBook. Unpublished authors, for example, may find first large audiences there. Steve Campion writes in "Building a Social Networking Environment at the Library" about how social networking can work effectively in libraries. Building an interactive online library requires coordination and constant updating . . . just one more way for libraries to maintain their important presence in communities.

Taylor Mali on What Teachers Make

Thing #20 Libraries and Social Networks

Young people all over use FaceBook and MySpace. Gradually, teachers and librarians are becoming familiar with these and other social networks. I appreciate Librarian Meredith Farkas' discussion of pros and cons of FaceBook and MySpace and agree that these social networking sites offer great opportunites as well as great problems for their subscribers and for libraries. She says that if library patrons are visiting these sites, libraries may want to have a presence there as well, and they should build the library presence effectively. For example, Denver Public Library's MySpace page for teens includes many resources, including a Poem of the Day podcast. The Hennepin County Library MySpace page lists the top ten books for 2007 and asks for added comments.

Thing #19 Podcasts

There's a wealth of information available on podcasts. Directories like Podcast.com list many. One example is NPR Books, now linked to my GoogleReader account. I'm also pleased to learn about telephone-based Gcast, for easy podcast-creating.
Occasionally I listen to MPR podcasts when I miss a show or want to listen again to something of interest. Today I found MPR's "Grammar Grater," Episode 41, which reminds us to say, "I feel bad," rather than "I feel badly." American RadioWorks' Catherine Winter explains how people overcorrect, trying hard to be grammatically correct by saying "badly" when they should say "bad." She emphasizes, "There is no circumstance when you should say 'I feel badly.'" This retired English teacher says thank you so much, Catherine.

Thing #18 YouTube and other Online Videos

YouTube and other onlinevideos entertain and instruct, with a variety of topics, including musical performances, yoga demonstrations, and news broadcasts. I have used them at home and at school and continue to be amazed at how much is available. Today's video is perfect for such a rainy day.
"Time Lapse Blooming of a Geranium"

Thing #17: ELM Productivity Tools

The ELM Productivity Tools include several databases plus web page and notes features to help a person research efficiently. After watching the video and trying unsuccessfully to get the RSS feed for my EBSCO search on youth smoking onto my Google Reader page, I looked at the comments for Thing 17. Thanks to step-by-step directions from "Julie's 23 Web Activities on a Stick," it worked. I created an EBSCO Host folder a few days ago and already found two new articles in the folder.
For Step Two, I created a web page for sock knitting, including text, links, and an illustration. The web page feature would work well for any teaching unit. I sure wish I'd investigated it a few years ago. Step Three's email and downloading of the web page of the refined search about social networking worked well too.
Step four: I created an account in NetLibrary and found the title 101 Ways to Promote Your Web Site but got this messge: We're sorry, your library's copies of this eContent are currently in use. I used another ebook about web pages and made a note.
I agree that if I want to help others use the databases, I need to learn to use them efficiently. These exercises are a good way to try out a variety of the ELM resources and extra features.

Thing #16 Student 2.0 Tools

The Research Project Calculator is an excellent step-by-step guide for secondary students to prepare essays, slide presentations, and videos. Very similar material is found in English textbooks, but the Calculator offers lots in one place. I like the precise directions and links to more help right on the screen, as well as the set schedule and availability of email reminders. Student Resources include a rubric, glossary of terms,and more. The Teacher Resources include a variety of printable support materials to help guide students as well as to help the teacher monitor and evaluate student progress. The "No Time? Suggestions for Condensing the Process" section accommodates scheduling and individual differences.
The University of MN Assignment Calendar could be a great help to college students, particularly freshmen as they work on their first papers or other big assignments. Again, the step-by-step guidance could really boost a student's confidence as he or she progresses and succeeds. It's so easy to procrastinate. The availability of email reminders on both of these Student 2.0 Tools is just one of their many effective aspects.
With access to both of these Student 2.0 Tools, librarians may be able to help patrons who are struggling with a variety of projects, in and out of school.

Thing #15 Online Games and Libraries

Though I am a proficient computer solitaire player, online gaming is new to me. After some reading and exploring, I can see that it's useful for librarians to understand Second Life and online gaming. I read about the ALA TechSource Gaming, Learning, and Libraries Symposium in Chicago last year, where participants looked at the role of libraries in hosting and / or being informed about online gaming.
I found the video tour of Second Life colorful and lively. There's even a library in Second Life. The Ohio State U. video clip provides interesting information about classes and meetings held in Second Life.
Puzzle Pirates looks like a good place to try out online gaming. I got pretty good at bilging. It seems a bit overwhelming as I begin. I'm glad to see help available in various places.

Thing #14: LibraryThing and Shelfari

LibraryThing and Shelfari allow readers to efficiently record, review, explore, connect, and discuss books.
I signed up for Shelfari just as I was beginning this blog for the 23 Things on a Stick project. Now I also use LibraryThing. I already write a review of each book I read, and it's a simple thing to put a bit of that onto a a library site like these. Both are good sources for reading suggestions and connecting with other readers. I have enjoyed comparing reading lists. Shelfari has lots of ads. LibraryThing seems more populated. I'll stay on both sites for awhile, before deciding which I like better.

Thing #13: Online Productivity Tools for Busy People

People seem to find the productivity tools they need. It's surprising to me that so many various types are available. I've investigated several organizational tools, including List keepers like Ta-da Lists and Gift Box, handy for people planning weddings and other big events. Rememberthemilk.com connects schedules and reminders with a shareable map.
Backpack could be very useful, with time lines, presentation-planners, and more. Scrybe must be for very busy people. The personal organizer Stikkit appears complicated, maybe because of an introductory video with no audio. On a more basic level, the Online Calendars at 30 Boxes could help teachers in planning learning units. Also, Zamzar's file converters are easy to access.
It's interesting that "Babble: The Ultimate Word Game" shows up as an online productivity tool. Everybody needs some play time, right?
My new iGoogle Home page sports a grassy banner and shows the date, weather, and news headlines. I should probably add the countdown calendar for the 23 Things on a Stick project. I see that not so many days are left to complete all 23.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

St. Patrick's Day is an easy one to celebrate. Wear green, and everybody asks if you're Irish. At St. Patrick's Grade School, my alma mater, we always got that day off. No wonder I have pleasant associations with St. Patrick's Day.

Come to my house for supper this evening, and you'll have corned beef. It's snowing outside, and we're cooking up a storm.

As for celebrating, Chicago journalist Julia Keller appropriately celebrated libraries as "special places" in a March 13 essay on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, "In Internet Age, Libraries Still Draw a Crowd."

"The New Newspaper" — Thing #12: Social Media Sites

The New Newspaper
Originally uploaded by Dave Ward Photography

These sites collect articles, comments, blog posts, photos, and more about topics in the news. I started with Mixx.com and its very informative tour. This site's clear directions make it look easy to use. I suggested it to an attorney-friend who often researches topics related to her cases.
Digg seems very much the same. It reminded me of People Magazine's variety.
Newsvine's page opens with an appropriate headline: "You don't have time for a long demo." After touring the first two social media sites, I found that an overview of this and Reddit were enough.
Reddit looks similar, with a bit of the tabloid-feel.
I can see using these sites if one were looking for people's reactions and comments to a news event or article.

Thing #11 Del.icio.us

After exploring the "social bookmarking" site Del.icio.us, I've decided it's probably not a source I'll use myself, though it looks good for librarians, teachers, and anyone involved in research. Kathleen Gilroy's podcast is quite informative about setting up a course syllabus and reading list. Gilroy's blog sits in "The Magic Middle," the most-accessed of the millions of blogs people use. She agrees that we need to be smart about how we use our time. Rather than setting up reading lists for a classes, this year I'm restarting green and red shamrock plants and looking forward to gardening time.

Thing #10, Wikis

I've looked up various subjects on Wikipedia and also instructed high schoolers as to its benefits as well as drawbacks. Wikipedia is quick and easy to use, as long as one understands its possible drawbacks.
I agree that wikis are a good collaborative tool for online communities, groups with a common purpose, though some outside the group can interrupt the process.
Joyce Yukawa's presentation lists several good uses. For example, BookLovers Wiki from Princeton Public Library and one for listing recent additions, like that of Provo City Library.
The "23 Things on a Stick List of Messed Up Classics to Edit" shows an effective group exercise.
In reading about wikis, I found Shelfari and started my bookshelf.

Playing With Paint Program

This morning I experimented with AppleWorks Paint to celebrate the end of February. We're leaping from cold, snowy February to sunny and, I hope, warmer March.

Thing #9 Collaboration

Thing #9: Using Google Docs to Post to this blog: A Library Story

I still remember when I got my first library card. The children’s section in my hometown library was called “The Magic Carpet Room.” Choosing my own books was a step to growing up. Other childhood library memories include silent games of tag my brothers and I tried to get away with, scrambling up and down the metal steps, over the glass-floored, tall stacks in the adult library. Someone always shushed us, of course. And the bad times when my mother said we could not go to the library until one of us found the long overdue book, a black mark on the whole family!
People still worry about lost library books, even after extreme situations like floods. Last September at the Rushford Public Library, I watched as woman brought in several books and asked about any others that her family might have borrowed. Their house had flooded, she said, and they’d probably lost some books. Librarian Sue Hart assured her not to worry about lost books or fines. The Rushford Public Library, always a key information-center, became a place of comfort and security amid disaster. Soon, library groups from other towns even helped pay for the many books ruined in flooded homes.

Flickr Badge Worked! Thing #8

The Flickr Badge worked, since I finally copied the entire code. Thank you, Donavon.

23 Things at Rushford Public Library

After School at Rushford Public Library
Originally uploaded by gschd

As you can see, Rushford Public Library is a very crowded place right now. We're working on plans for a new library, very much needed in a community working its way back to normal after August's devastating flood.
Big Huge Labs worked better for me than the Flickr Badge site. I like the intro video, as well as some of the other offerings like Big Huge Labs Writer, an "internet typewriter," with a thesaurus and writer's block (story starters) section.

Almost 23 Socks on a Flickr Badge!

The various photo-sharing options in "Thing #8" are amazing and can be very useful in promoting libraries and books. I especially like the one with 50 ways of telling a story. Today I created a badge of my hand-knit socks and hope I can figure out how to display it.

Email, IM, Text Messaging, Webinairs

The email productivity tips like writing less and using mail templates are helpful, even for my daily home use. The Rushford Public Library Board communicates through email fairly effectively, as does the SELCO Board and Executive Committee. There are certainly times when IM can be more effective, also.
I have used IM only a bit through Gizmo. Much quicker than email. (I have watched students trying to hide their IM'ing during classes, diversions I have not appreciated.)
After reading the articles and watching the UTube video, I now understand how these tools can work for libraries, and once staff gain training, publicizing them locally is important.
After listening to Tom Peters' Webinair, I downloaded a WebJunction podcast from Texas introducing the "Moyers on America Citizens Class," a conversation on how librarians could use the series and its many associated materials and website.

Garden Mosaic

It took me awhile to get the image here, rather than the code. It might be fun to photos of the library staff, patrons at special programs, and book groupings -- for posters and / or the web page.
I can see having a mosaic of authors' faces or story-element pictures for an English class's unit intro-sheet, review, and/or quiz. Many possibilities.

Thing #5 More Flickr

Today I made a panel of garden photos, which worked ok. In looking at other 23 Things blogs I see lots of other people's clever uses of the Flickr tools, including my favorite so far, Blonde Librarian's photo cube of a Chicago trip.
I have used Flickr to record progress on my handknit socks, and then uploaded them to Ravelry, a site I use lots.
I can see many ways Flickr could be used in the classroom, by both students and teachers.

Thing #4: "Beach - 9 Feb"

Beach - 9 Feb
Originally uploaded by Welsh Totty

This photo by Totty Welsh of sunset on a beach in Wales caught my attention. A sunny beach has been calling to me on this snowy Feb. Valentine's Day. The photo also caught the eyes of many others who commented on Flickr. The date and description fill in story behind the photograph. Blogging directly from Flickr proved convenient.

I enjoyed browsing through the Library of Congress photos on Flickr -- a wide variety of historical photos.

Also, the Clemens and Alcuin Libraries of the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University's "best books" shelves with "add a note" Flickr feature are sure a creative way to display books people like. I like the feature that links each book with their libraries as well as Amazon. Vivid, direct display.

Another short and sweet Common Craft video, this time about Flickr. I've successfully shared vacation, garden, and knitting photos with friends using Flickr.

Thing #3 Done for now . . .

OK -- I've subscribed to The Writer's Almanac, NPR's "You Must Read This," Reader's Club's General Fiction Section, and Journal Girl's Blog. I see that some blogs I read do not have a "subscribe" feature, so I'll list them as links.

At this point I may list Google Reader as a link also, so I can get to it from here, a shortcut to checking some favorite blogs. Even retired people need time savers!

Thing #3 How to?!

I've been stumped on Thing #3 for awhile. Opening a Google Reader account and 2 added subscriptions went fine. However, how do I get the "Google Reader" icon onto this blog? I see that some other SELS 23 Things on a Stick bloggers are in the same predicament. Suggestions welcome here! (Yikes! lotsa time on this one!)

For a diversion, I added a link to my Ravelry page. Ravelry is a site for knitters and crocheters to catalog & share their projects and yarn stashes. Adding the link was easy, thank goodness.

Thing #2 The Future . . .

It seems that teachers are asked to do one more thing, and then one more, and so on, and where do you get the time? Librarians, too, I see. The author of "The Ongoing Web Revolution" says services need to be usable without people being taught or shown how to use each thing. Participation is the key.
Very appropriate photo of Dr. Wendy Schultz with binoculars, trying to look into the future of Library 2.0

Thing #2: "Unintended Consequences"

Stephen Abram suggests that participants in 23 Things On a Stick may see unintended consequences from their learning experience. People show enthusiasm when they are engaged in learning, he says, and that enthusiasm reflects in their libraries.
He caught my attention when he called technology and the web "minor changes." What a challenge we've got ahead.
I'm old fashioned, I guess, in still enjoying browsing library shelves. A little of the old + a little of the new . . . .

Ah! an Avatar . . . .

Today I found and put onto this blog a somewhat appropriate avatar. Thanks for the clear directions at the 23 Things On a Stick Blog . Of course the gardener has on a winter scarf.
The photo shows my snow-covered garden.

Getting Started: Thing #1

Today I took up the challenge to create a blog and come up with a name. Getting going so far has gone smoothly. I spent time getting a photo on my Blogger profile and now see that's separate from an avatar. I'm looking forward to using the 23 internet tools.