Happiest New Year Yet Wishes!

Many of us have decided to have a "quiet" New Year, with a small group of family and/or friends, some nice cheese and crackers, and a little special libation to welcome in the new year.

In gratitude for the past year, with many new experiences, friends, and good news, we are also happy to have had our technology levels raised, becoming more familiar with avatars, blogs, youTube, podcasts, and wikis.

And therefore we look forward to a new year of more discoveries, happy events, ever-increasing knowledge of newer technologies, (while appreciating the contributions of pioneers such as Dr. Eugene Garfield!!!), and wish to all the Happiest New Year Yet!

Connecticut servicemen lost at Pearl Harbor

In the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, by the Japanese, which propelled the U.S. into World War II, seventeen servicemen from Connecticut were lost.
They were: Lt. j.g. Eric Allen, Darien; Henry Carlson, Norwich; Ensign Edward Gosselin, Darien; Sgt. Vincent M. Horan, Stamford; Coxswain Henry J. Lanquette, Wallingford; Seaman 1/C John Luntta, Canton; Ensign William O"Neill, Stamford; Stanislaus Orzech, Meriden;
SF 3/C Richard Patterson, Berlin; Seaman 1/C George Povesko, Bridgeport; Mike Quattro, Norwich; Chief Radioman Thomas F. Reeves, Thomaston; Seaman 1/C William Seeley, New London; Pfc. George Smith, Hartford; 2nd Lt. Gordon Sterling; Pfc. Felix Wegrzyn, Bridgeport; and Ensign Ulmont Whitehead Jr., Hartford.
As reported in the Stamford Times, December 16, 2007, p. A8.

Following Icebergs

Earlier, I mentioned how apt I found the analogy of "Avoiding Icebergs."

Now, I have attempted to digest all that Michael Stephens has explicated in his "Into a new world of Librarianship." In all of his suggestions, which are creative and compelling, I find that his addition of the Library 2.0 meme "the Library is human" very meaningful to me.

After over two decades in the field, I find this a heartwarming aspect. So often, we need to create for the patron; a suggestion, small idea, example, encouragement, etc. Sometimes, this is all the patron needs to get an inspiration, or courage, to weather on with a tough academic assignment or difficult question.

The other suggestions Michael makes are very inspiring; we librarians obviously have our work cut out for us, and he is outlining for us the tools, attitudes, and creativity needed to continue to progress in our service to patrons and our own continuing education as library service providers.

YouTube, Finally!

For some reason, probably deep in my psyche, I have been avoiding YouTube.

However, after gathering up my courage, today I found that it is quite delightful!

In the category, Pets & Animals, I found an Asian entry for "Kitty rubs face, very cute."

Cute, nothing: it was absolutely charming, adorable, and I wish I could capture my own kitty being so entertaining! Then I checked out "The cat diaries: episode 13: the cat tower."

Once again, I found some terrific cat antic activities, very sweet and worth revisiting.

I can see that YouTube can be very addicting. Sorry I waited so long to try it!!!

serendipity at the reference desk

While working at Reference 2nd floor with Tom, I learned about Google Scholar. Tom was answering a medical question which involved chemistry, health, and statistics.

With Google Scholar, Tom located an article which was quite perfect for the question.

Thank you, Tom, for the enlightening example!

On Gratitude

At this season of Thanksgiving, I appreciate not only the many blessings I have in my work, my inspiring fellow librarians, my family, home, and other wonderful things I have received, but also that I can share thoughts in this exciting new method of blogging!

Thanks to all who have commented on my entries.

And welcome to Anna, the first member of my family who will be reading this also!

May all have a terrific Thanksgiving!

Entertaining Thoughts

There is a narrow bookcase, about 24 inches wide, that I see when I wake up each morning. I keep some of my favorite books in that bookcase, and recently, I have been thinking about which five books would be fun to catalog first.

Although I have been a librarian for more years than I usually admit, my books are kept in no particular order, except that some shelves in the dining room have cookbooks there. I am quite impressed by my son-in-law Jim, who has arranged his and Anna's books by author.

I have decided that the first one to be cataloged will be a publication of the American Chemical Society, Searching the Chemical Literature.

Coping with Icebergs

Rick Anderson, of the University of Nevada, Reno Libraries, has an apt analogy of libraries as rowboats attempting to avoid icebergs. Especially challenging is the idea of a library "collection" which anticipates all the future needs of patrons.
In areas such as health, technology, and science, it is now a given that we will search for online and/or database information to supplement and update our printed materials.
Placing our library services and content on the web, and adapting to changes in the patron's marketplace, will provide further tools to assist our users.
As reiterated by one of my favorite professors, we should "Keep in mind the needs of the user." The principle remains the same, but the applications change, develop, and grow, and we ourselves with them.

If you want to read about superstrong plastic

The blog on superstrong plastic is from:
Scientificamerican.com
The title is: Making Plastic as Strong as Steel.

And you may read it at:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?chanID=sa003&articleID=8F6AA474-E7F2-99DF-3332C34C30DF9269&ref=rss

Enjoy!

Exciting Technology News!

Already my blogs have been great!

A teriffically (sp?) (is correct!) entertaining one was about the Asian lady whose cat walked over her computer and selected some winning lottery numbers! The cat and the lady won over 400.00!

On a more serious note, another blog was about the development of a plastic which is as strong as steel! This is especially interesting to me, since in my former life I worked as a literature chemist, and one of our special interests was plastic and other polymers.

In addition to being superstrong, this plastic does not require the high temperatures or great energy expenditures required to make steel.

Peter will also be interested in this info., because his work involved polymers.

Yes, I am having fun!

All Blogged, for Now!

After some creative help from Elaine (Thank you, Elaine!), I have selected ten blogs which sound like fun to keep up with!

Although it was somewhat challenging at first, it became easier, and I look forward to massaging my list to reflect quality, as well as quantity.

Actually, I did aim for quality already. Will be interesting to see how many blogs I will keep in the next few days.

Thanks to Elaine, this has been fun!

October 11, 2007

Gathering Blogs

After choosing several news feeds, I am looking forward to keeping aware of many topics, some of personal interest, and others of interest in my work. There is some overlap, and there are areas which involve health, religion, child development, psychology, etc., wherein I have both a layman's and a librarian's interest.

At present, navigating throught these new areas is a bit hazy and more adventurous than I am comfortable with, but I hope to master the techniques and gradually become more relaxed using them.

Treasure on the sidewalks of New York!

A few days ago, Peter and I discovered the Library Way plaques on our way to dinner in NYC.

The New York Public Library and the Grand Central Partnership have provided, since 1996, 96 shiny bronze plaques embedded in the sidewalk at East 41st St. between Fifth Ave. and Park Ave.

My favorite, so far, is:

Information is light. Information, in itself, is light.

Tom Stoppard, 1937- Night and Day

You may view all 96 at: http://www.grandcentralpartnership.org/what_we_do/beautify_library_way_plaques.asp

Before September Ends!!

I have been doing some missionary work, and have described Library 2.0 to four of my fellow staff members. Three sounded very interested, and one declined.

Looking forward to myriad adventures next month!

Adventures in blogging!

So far, this has been an interesting adventure!

Not only did I create a blog, but actually found that I had started 2 of them!

It is exciting to be working on this learning project, and I hope to become more familiar with this state-of-the-art communication method.

Today is the fifth day of autumn, September 27th.

Barbara

Welcome to Forsanethaed !

Dear Visitor,

Welcome to Forsanethaed!

May I explain this strange title, which may sound like Old English? Or Welsh?\

Actually, it is Latin, through which I struggled for 4 years (it only seemed like 10).

The quotation, from Vergil, "Forsan et haec olim miminisse iuvabit" translates as:

Perhaps some day it will be a joy to recall even these things.

Our Latin teacher liked this quotation, and knew we would identify with it.

(I tried to get the address 'forsanethaec', but it was not available.)

Starting this Blog is a huge adventure. Today is two days before autumn starts, 2007.