FaceBook

I just set up a FaceBook account for myself at Greensboro Free Library. It seems a fairly simple process. I am a little uncomfortable with the amount of personal information I needed to enter. I've heard to many stories of kids being compromised or gotten into trouble when somebody sees their FaceBook account.

I went to add more applications and was not happy to see that the most popular seem to be about sex. I finally found one for Visual Library. We'll see if this one is full of porn.

Social Networks

The idea of using social networks with teens is great. I suspect they are much more apt to use them than to view a library's default web page. I very much liked the Brooklyn College Library's. It was colorful and full of all kins of information.

I can see where it would be a very useful tool for libraries. Living in a small rural area we have a hard time getting teens to use the library. They come in only to use the computers and either play games or use MySpace. Maybe this would be a good way to get them using the library more.

Renovation project

Here's what half the building currently looks like. It's hard to believe that by May we'll be using it for books!!

As you can see the walls are down to the bare studs. That's my new office you see!! Guess I won't move in tomorrow!! Now the windows have to be placed back in and a heating system installed as well as the electrical wiring done.

RSS in the Library

I just finished taking RSS: Benefits for the Library. The course has me all excited about using RSS feeds to with our web page. Seems like that might be easier than keeping the web page up to date.



Meanwhile I have been using RSS feeds for some time to keep track of the latest news. Now I've added even more feeds - several in Firefox with Sage, some in IE and more in Bloglines. It's really exciting to watch what's been posted each day.

Renovation project

I have just added pictures from Flickr. Now I will try to add more as we work on the renovation project. This morning I started to think about the new teen room and how it will be set up. It should have at least one networked computer as one of our 11 computers is used by teenagers for MySpace and YouTube. This computer has a color printer attached. When we furnish the teen room, I'd like to move that printer to another location but keep it available on the network.

This week we moved the Verizon switch to the computer closet. This is only the beginning of the work that needs to be done to our technology infrastructure. Which PC's will have wireless access and which ethernet cable is another decision to be made. Where to put in power outlets for laptop users and what they will look like, where computers will be located etc. are more decisions to make.
A renovation project is a major job! Now the work crew is about at the point where the staff has to make some choices.

GFL Front Desk

GFL Front Desk
Originally uploaded by greensborofree

Here is where the great books are taken out. The volunteers work at one computer and the assistant librarian at the other. When the renovation project is done, this room will be completely re-done. The computers will be on a u-shaped desk with columns at either end, supporting the floor above. Behind the desk will be a teen room and the librarian's office in the renovated Cuthbertson house. By May we hope to open the door to that and use the first floor for an active library.

GFL Main Hallway

GFL Main Hallway
Originally uploaded by greensborofree

The main hallway in the current building houses our video collection, books for young adults, and juvenile books. As you can see, it is also our art gallery. I try to change the pictures periodically. Currently on display is art work done at the local elementary school. In this hallway, there is also a locked three shelf display case.

GFL Children's Room

GFL Children's Room
Originally uploaded by greensborofree

This is our children's room with books for easy readers and juveniles. THere are two oversized bean bag chairs, two rockers, a settee and the small table. We also have a corner with toys to keep young children amused. This is a bright, sunny room and very popular during story hour.

GFL Fiction

GFL Fiction
Originally uploaded by greensborofree

This is our room with adult fiction, oversized books and adult non-fiction. It is the only meeting room for adults currently and is often used by laptop users who want to use our high-speed connection to the Internet.

Greensboro Free Library

Greensboro Free Library
Originally uploaded by greensborofree

Here's the library as it currently looks. We are doing a major renovation project which will double the size of the library. As the portion you see on the right, is an historical building, it made sense to renovate it rather than destroy it when the building needed major maintenance.

Lifelong Learning

I start this course feeling like an old lady but I've a lifelong love of learning and know I can do it. As habit 3 says "view problems as challenges". Learning is always a challenge but also very fulfilling. I always much more confident when I learn learn something new. The best way I have found to learn is to sit quietly by myself and tackle it one step at a time. The results are worth it though it may not seem so at the time.

Week 1 Introduction

I discovered what a blog was. Though a computer techie, I had no idea what a blog was and had a great time learning what it was. I created a test blog on blogger.com. Since creating it, I have several things I would like to change including the name. I'm beginning to get an idea of just what a blog is and how useful it could be to the Library. I did manage to put a picture on it.

Greensboro Free Library
53 Wilson Street
Greensboro, VT 05841
802-533-2531
greensborofree@yahoo.com
www.greensborofreelibrary.org