I finished my first semester of Conversational French. I love it even though it takes a lot of time and effort. I was very nervous at first about having to speak in class and wondered if I could keep up with students. It turns out that I have a fantastic teacher who seems to bring out the best in everyone. I am on break right now so I may have time to write again soon. I am so glad that I tried this class. Now I have so many interesting things to look into that involve French. I have also met many new people, too. Au revoir!

New Learning Oppourtunities

I am enrolled in my French class, which will begin in September. It will meet two times per week later in the day after work. I am feeling a little nervous about taking a college class again and speaking in another language. Sometimes I can hardly express myself in English. I also came across another class which may be interesting to Library workers. It will begin in January 2010, and it is called the ALA-Library Support Staff Certification Project or ALA-LSSCP. There is a Website for it if anyone is interested in learning more about it. The idea is to help Library staff to continue to improve their skills through this program. I plan to read more about it as the program gets started and tested over time.

Back to Learning

I haven't written for quite awhile since I have been doing only my library work, and not doing exciting things like I did with 23 Things on a Stick. My new challenge now will be to take a language class this Fall. The class that best fit my schedule will be French. I took a few years of it in High School, which was many many years ago. It should be interesting. I would have liked to have taken Italian since I visited Italy, and am half Italian, but it was not available. I also visited in France on that trip, and did enjoy it. I feel that taking any class will give me better skills in my library work. I will keep you posted.

Library Stimulus Money

I received an email stating that libraries will be able to apply for money from President Obama's stimulus plan. This is great news since library use has increased in these difficult economic times. One article stated that the future of libraries had looked pretty bleak because of new technologies replacing the need for libraries, but the loss of jobs and money has changed the situation. People are using the library to search for jobs on the Internet, and to use other services which are free such as checking out DVDs, games, and not to be forgotten: books. People are actually going to the library several times per week, the article stated. It has become a place to visit, just to get out of the house. This may be a light at the end of the tunnel for library funding. I don't know how quickly this funding will be available, but hopefully it will be soon enough to help libraries to improve services, modernize buildings, add new materials, and to hire sufficient staff after past budget cuts. Libraries are a part of America that should remain in our communities for the free use of our citizens. Read this article:

Here is another website where a person can place their books in a library, and communicate with other readers. You have many options in Goodreads beyond adding books and reviews, such as writing your own story and adding favorite quotes. I'm still exploring all of the options. My niece recommended this to me. I think it will be fun!

A New President

It was so exciting to watch Barak Obama become our new president on a giant screen television in our auditorium. People cheered and stood up, almost like we were in Washington, D.C. He spoke about hope and change in our country for the better even though times are bad right now for the economy. Many people are losing their jobs, their houses, and short of money. I wonder what companies and institutions will survive in the tough times? A few days ago I read an article in the newspaper and also saw a short clip on television pointing out how going to the library is beneficial at times like this. Why? ALMOST EVERYTHING IS FREE AT THE LIBRARY: BOOKS, MAGAZINES, VIDEOS, DVDS, LECTURES, STORY HOUR!!!!!! What a great deal. I believe there is hope as long as we have libraries.

Library Thing

Library Thing has proved to be useful for students looking for books to read when they are unsure about their choice. They can read other people's reviews, and look through the tags to get ideas on what the books are about. Our library manager has been promoting the site by suggesting it. Maybe we could also put up a sign by the popular reading collection, for example : Read About the Popular Reading Collection in Library Thing at www.librarything.com/catalog/CSSlibrary. I just spoke with my co-worker, and he said he is planning to put up a sign in the near future.
This is very exciting! When I go to my own Library Thing web page after following the link from Library Thing on our Web Page, it also tells me what books I share with the Popular Reading Library Thing. It does save time because I can look for books without having to go to our library catalog to search by subject, title or author. The book cover icons also add much to the mood of the story.

Library Thing

I was very surprised to read the news that our library has decided to put our Popular Reading collection on Library Thing. When I suggested this idea to a coworker last July, I was told that it wouldn't work. I was told there was a charge for placing over a certain number of books in Library Thing, among other reasons for this not working. I said I thought Library Thing was great, and would be a good addition to our Library Website. I did not hear another word about it until reading the email announcement in December that this coworker had decided to place the Popular Reading collection on Library Thing. I guess it was a good idea after all.

I'm back to old reading habits and loving it. I started reading the Twilight series last month, and I am in the second book called New Moon by Stephanie Meyer. The kind of book that you don't want to put down consisting of vampires and werewolves, good and evil, Native American culture, first love, and anything else that can be imagined. A nice escape for these cold winter days and nights.