Databases, Research, and Lesson plans

Did you ever notice that when you are bored nobody needs you, but when you are crazy busy somebody wants/needs your help right now?

Last week started a busy season in our library. We were having three or four classes per day in only four periods which means I don't get a period off to eat lunch and I become... Grumpy librarian cliche. Of course, this is when someone asks me to do my real job and teach a class how to use databases, how to access Digital Library, how to cite sources correctly and how to use the online catalog. All in one class period. To kids who didn't seem to want to be there. Hmm.

SO, Of course, I really went for it. I sat them in front of our bank of 20 internet linked computers and showed them how to access the list of databases. Then I talked baout what each of the databases was for. Then we explored two for about half an hour. I chose Ebsco for its usefullness to studetns trying to attempt research for any subject. I showed them how to limit to just magazine and newspaper articles or how to find video clips, sound bites, etc. They explored. I made sure everyone found at least a few sources. Then we talked about citing the source and the handy slips (pink for database) that I have available for their use.

Next we used WorldBook online. I figured this would be fairly comfortable and accessible as it was the end of the day and they started to drag. They found articles on their chosen subjects (Obama, Marijuana, police brutality, 50 cent, etc.) and saw how to cite them. Then we talked about plagiarism and its consequences. Whew. Then I talked baout how to find books, reference books and other sources and how each type of material had its own MLA format for correct citation. I showed them the colored slips for each reminded them that I am here to help and wound up having to remind them that the bell had rung and they were free to leave.

Sometimes being a busy librarian is good. :)

High School and high heaven

We are in the middle of a high school book fair and have lots of people coming in and out and the new fields we have been expecting are still under construction upwind. Today they must have laid down a ton of steer manure because our whole school stinks. I am not sure why they didn't wait for the weekend, but the whole school is enveloped in a stinky cloud which permetaes our air conditioning and our clothes. I can't wait to go home and shower. No air freshener can combat this.

Otehrwise, we are doing well. We have sold a little over $100 in books so far and hope to get at least ten new books for the library. Life is always interesting. I liked Lovely Bones and am Reading about a spy academy for girls next.

New books, packing and unpacking survival

Well, it has been a while since I updated, so I thought I'd fillyou in on my life. We unpacked over 3000 new books for my library and it took me just over a week to get them processed, organized and shelved. Our shelves are very full and needed to be rearranged a bit.

Then, every night I would go home and box up my life. We are adding onto the back of our house and needed to box up an old bedroom, a bath, and the garage, plus patio in two weeks. Now we are getting our new pantry and bath while the rain dries up enough to cut ground for the new part. I've taken a few progress pictures to show my children and others interested. I gave up on the gym for a few weeks as the boxes wore me out, but now I need to go back...

Tonight I'm going to the temple, as I have not gone this month and feel the need. I have a week until Maddy flies to Sapporo, the mester ends, March hits, and life picks up tempo again. I have actually enjoyed the rain for the clear skies and green land that it brings. My joints feel it, but what good day is without pain anyway? We are working on cleaning up boxes which got moved/packed too fast and may send out some clothes/books/ etc. to DI, but need to clear out clutter or die amongst it. :) I get to go get Afton in 6 weeks or so and Stills seems to enjoy his college drama class on Monday nights. He is planning on going to a local college after graduation and working for a while. A friend just got to the Brazil MTC and will be serving/learning Portuguese for a few weeks in Sao Paolo. I need to write him and let him know his mom seems OK. The first few weeks are hard. Now Maddy has been gone for 10 weeks and I'm almost feeling I can do this. ;)

I look forward to visits from Giles and Jimenez family reps. and will fly home to dad in March. Please keep in touch, V

End of first semester

We are reaching the end of first semester and after tomorrow I will get a whole new batch of students to teach about the library and how it works. I will miss a few of my questioning or helpful students. There are one or two I will not miss, as they have to be prodded repeatedly to do anything at all. I had at least three students who stopped completing assignments a few weeks befreo the semester ended and dropped to a C in my class. I had no As for final grades; a disappointing statistic. However, most of my students leave me with knowledge of where the sourcess are, how to get to them and cite them, and how to maintain a library in good order. Most can process a new book and shelve it. A few know how to find other titles online and which book jobbers I recommend. They all know about more databases than they did when they started. Now if I can just reach a few teachers...
We'll be half way through the school year on Monday and expect over 3,000 new books on Friday for my new students and I to unpack, organize and shelve. Life is good. Happy February all.

CSLA Conference

CSLA is the California School Librarian's Association and has a conference in Southern California every two years. The alternate years the conference is held in Sacramento. This year the conference started last Thursday in Ontario. I always overestimate how long it will take me to drive 50 miles on five freeways and end up with time to spare and no where to go. However, the workshop I attended on Thursday afternoon was about how to create or perfect a library website and I am enthused about pushing harder to get EVHS's official website up ASAP and to get a library website up with OPAC and Database links that the staff and students could use from home.
I want our website to be user friendly, simple, logical, and useful. So, I will be trying to get our web coordinator to start building the site and all the necessary pages before East Valley hits it's second birthday. Anyone out here want to help?