The Freedom Flyer - now in blog form!

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...................................14th Issue September 2006
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In This Issue:
-So Much to See, So Much to Do @ Your Library
-FRL September Programs
-Staff.org News You Can Use
-Berry Important Information
-The Downlow Downstairs
-Staff Interviews
-September Training
-PLCMC's Cyber Snag Shelf
-Addendum!
-Learning 2.0 4-week check List

Happy Birthday to:
Matthew Peel - 9/25
Vanessa Ramseur - 9/29
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So Much to See. So Much to Do!
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Did you know that PLCMC is launching a library card campaign for students in
grades K-5? PLCMC and our local schools share the belief that a love of books
and learning is a strong foundation for student success. It is with these shared
goals in mind that we’re launching an exciting new initiative called "So Much
To See. So Much To Do @ Your Library"

It is our goal that, by January 2007, every child in kindergarten through fifth
grade in Mecklenburg County will own and use a public library card. To achieve
this goal we have organized this campaign to include promotional materials for
classrooms, information for parents and other incentives to make the beginning
of the school year even more exciting and fun for young students. PLCMC staff
have been working with school and community educators to plan out a
successful campaign and judging by the enthusiasm of many of the participating schools, we’re confident that it will be a great success!

Here are some important things you need know:
-The campaign runs now through December 30, 2006 (four months).
-Incoming "So Much To See..." applications should be processed as
Youth Limited (YL) borrower type.
-We have posted a special campaign page on our public web site, which includes
an overview of the campaign, plus details about incentives being offered to
students during the campaign:
http://www.plcmc.org/programs/K-5campaign.htm
-We have also posted an information page for staff on PLCMC Central. This page
includes an electronic copy of the campaign manual and some staff FAQs. If you have questions, go to this page first – many questions can be answered there: http://intranet.plcmc.org/servareas/programs/k5campaign.asp
-Supply starter kits are being shipped to each library location this week, to the
attention of Circulation. These kits contain a small starter supply of materials
needed to process the incoming library card applications and mail cards to the
students’ homes, including. (The cards themselves will ship out a few days later)
-FRL staff will be notified soon on how we’re going to handle processing and
mailing out all the incoming applications we expect to receive. Watch your inbox
for more news.
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Adult Programs
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Thursday, Sept. 7
1:00-4:00 Genealogy Workshop (lab)
6:00-7:30 Let Freedom Ring: Commemorating 381 Days of the Montgomery Bus Boycott

Thursday, Sept. 14
10:30-11:30 Creative Journal Writing for Adults

Wednesday, Sept. 27
6:00-8:00 Banned Book to Movie
7:00-8:00 Addendum Book Club

Thursday, Sept. 28
10:30-11:30 The Golden Literary Book Club
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Children's Programs
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Tuesdays:
10:00 Toddler Story-Time
Fingerplays, nursery rhymes and more! Ages 2-3
11:00 Preschool Story-Time
Stories, songs, crafts and more! Ages 3-5
4:30-5:30 Amigos

Wednesdays:
10:00 Toddler Story-Time
Fingerplays, nursery rhymes and more! Ages 2-3
11:00 Preschool Story-Time
Stories, songs, crafts and more! Ages 3-5
3:30 Movie Wednesdays
Age-appropriate movies for school-age children. Ages 6-12

Thursdays:
4:30-5:30 Amigos

For group registration & information contact Annette Foster-Grier @
704-336-2721 or 704- 432-2476

Also, a big welcome to Darin, FRL’s new Children's Service Manager!
And special thanks to the following people for helping make this summer’s children's programs a success.: Matthew Peel, Jessica Magelaner, Juhandi Pendergrass, Michael Lambert, Shawn Kranz, Kevin Bittle, Pamela McCarter, Shundra Murphy & Vanessa Ramsuer.
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Staff.org News You Can Use
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Nostalgic Candy Bar Sale
The Staff.org Nostalgic candy bar sale starts September 14th. Candy bars will be sold in the workroom to staff, so bring your extra change and get ready for a very sweet blast from the past!

Register for the Susan B. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure
Sign up now to join the PLCMC Bookworms as we race for the cure October 7th. You can register on-line by clicking here - then click on the link that says “Click Here to Register Online,” and click on the “Register Now” button. Then fill out the “Accept Waiver” page, complete the online registration form, and submit your payment. (Make sure you select our team, the “PLCMC Bookworms” from the drop down menu!)
If you’d rather not join on-line, you can download the PDF registration form and return the filled out form with your registration fees to LaJuan Pringle (UC). (Please make checks payable to: Komen Charlotte Race for the Cure) The Race for the Cure is for a great cause, so I hope to see lots of FRL staff members on the Bookworms team October 7th. If you’d like to learn more about the Susan B. Komen Foundation, check out their website here.

Notices:

-A big thanks to all staff who participated in our drive for Classroom Central school supplies! Your donations help provide Mecklenburg county’s neediest students with the materials they need to succeed in school!

-A notice to all staff that the trip to visit the Biltmore Estate has been cancelled due to lack of interest.

-Keep your eyes and ears open for Staff.org elections, coming up this September and October!
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Young Adult Programs
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Friday, Sept. 8
3:00-5:00 Cinema @3

Monday, Sept. 11
3:00-4:00 Hot Topic

Thursday, Sept. 14
4:00-5:00 Teen Advisory Council

Friday, Sept. 15
3:00-5:00 Cinema @3

Monday, Sept. 18
3:00-4:00 Freedom Freestyle

Tuesday, Sept. 19
3:00-5:00 Writing a Research Paper Workshop (lab)

Thursday, Sept. 21
3:00-4:00 Out Loud: Girl Talk
6:30-8:00 Express Yourself

Friday, Sept. 22
3:00-5:00 Cinema @3

Tuesday, Sept. 26
3:00-4:00 For the Guys

Thursday, Sept. 28
3:00-4:00 Soulful Readers – Played by Dana Davidson

Friday, Sept. 29
3:00-5:00 Cinema @3
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Berry Important Information
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The school year is off to a great start so far! This year’s group of Berry students have been pretty quiet, and the Library Science students are already gearing up to start helping the circulation staff with adult non-fiction. As a heads up to all staff, Freshman Orientation will be September 5th-7th, so keep an eye out for groups of students in the building during these days and give the newcomers a good first impression of their new school library. Also, remember to send all Berry students to the Reference desk for library cards, and only look up their card number for them twice, adding a “No Card” note each time.
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The Downlow Downstairs
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The school year is underway, and it’s back to business as usual for FRL staff. Now that classes have started up again, don’t forget to keep an eye on the front door for Berry students or any borrower under 18. If they don’t look old enough to be here before 2:15, ask for an ID; if they don’t have one, then they have to leave. Be polite, but firm – this is a security issue, not just library policy. As always, if the borrower becomes angry or refuses to leave, don’t hesitate to call Michael or Kevin.
Having school back in session also means that our Library Science students are back – and anyone who has seen our adult non-fiction shelves in the workroom can tell you that they’ve been busy shelving and shelf-reading. If you see them, stop and say hello and let them know how much we appreciate their help - those workroom shelves pile up fast without them!
A few quick reminders on library card applications for all staff who process them:
-Please be sure to check the borrower’s age before processing their application. We’ve had a few teens fill out adult applications and receive cards this summer. (If their birth year is higher that 1988, they need to use a Youth application – no exceptions!) Also, remember to check all Youth and Juvenile applications for a parent’s signature – please do not process any application that has not been signed by a parent or guardian! Finally, please make sure to enter a driver’s license or ID number for every adult application – if there is a special circumstance where you issue a card to an adult without one of these forms of ID, make a note of it in a block on their account.
-And last, but definitely not least, let’s all give a big welcome to our newest LA1, Nicole! She’s only been here a week, but she’s already hard at work, and it’s great to have her with us!
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Staff Interviews: Interview with Nicole Collins
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Q: What is your favorite book?
A: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.

Q: Where were you born?
A: Jacksonville, NC

Q: What is your favorite pizza topping?
A: Mushrooms

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: Nope

Q: What is your favorite holiday?
A: My birthday.

Q: What is one random fact about you?
A: I love every genre of music…
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Staff Interviews: Interview with Michael Lambert
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Q: What is your favorite book?
A: - Children’s – Tie between The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein and Yo! Yes? By Chris Raschka.
- Young Adult – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, X-Men Graphic Novels (Marvel Comics)
- Adult Fiction – The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy
- Adult Non-Fiction – The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson

Q: Where were you born?
A: Seoul, Korea

Q: What is your favorite pizza topping?
A: Onions, and I love ranch dressing on the side for dipping my crust!

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: Yes, I have a 4 year old dog that I rescued from a shelter in California. Her name is Kiah, and I think she is a border collie/black lab mix. She is a very sweet and smart dog.

Q: What is your favorite holiday?
A: My favorite holiday is just around the corner. I love Thanksgiving because I love to eat! My mom can cook a traditional southern Thanksgiving dinner that is to die for – turkey, ham, cornbread dressing with giblet gravy, green bean casserole, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, sweet potato casserole, etc. etc. And the desserts – pumpkin pie, pecan pie, coconut cake, pineapple upside-down cake YUM!

Q: What is one random fact about you?
A: I enjoy playing a sport called “disc golf” that entails throwing an aerodynamic Frisbee into a metal basket. Charlotte, NC is considered a popular venue for this underground sport with numerous courses scattered around the city. Disc golf anyone?
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September Training Calendar
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Reader's Advisory - Part I: Genres, Elements of Appeal, and the Interview
Tuesday, September 5
1:30-4:00
Morrison

Homework Help 1: General Resources
Tuesday, September 12
1:00- 4:00
Freedom Regional

1st Teachers Workshop: Preparing Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers to be a Child's First Teacher"
Wednesday, September 13
2:00-4:00
Morrison

HIP 101 and Beyond
Wednesday, September 13
2:00-4:30
Freedom Regional

1st Teachers Workshop: Preparing Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers to be a Child's First Teacher"
Thursday, September 14
2:00-4:00
University City

GAME ON: Are Libraries in the Game?
Wednesday, September 20
1:00-2:30
Main – Dickson Board Room

Introduction to PLCMC Online Resources
Wednesday, September 20
1:00-4:00
Freedom Regional Library

Staff Town Hall Meeting @ MOR: 2007 System-Wide Strategic Priorities
Wednesday, September 20
2:00-3:30
Morrison
The Town Hall Meeting will answer the question, "What will the System Wide Strategic Priorities mean in Your Branch & Your Department?"

Homework Help 2: Specialized Resources
Thursday, September 21
1:00-4:00
Freedom Regional

Readers' Advisory, What's Next?
Monday, September 25
1:30-4:30
Morrison

Horizon Refresher
Tuesday, September 26
1:30-4:00
South County Regional
This workshop is meant for staff who have experience using Horizon.

*Please Note*
Reader's Advisory Part 2: Resources, scheduled for September 26, 1:30-4:00 at Freedom Regional, has been rescheduled for October 24 at Freedom Regional.
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Technology
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Tuesday, Sept. 5
10:00-12:00 E-mail Basics (lab)

Monday, Sept. 11
1:00-3:00 Computer Basics (lab)
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PLCMC's Cyber Snag Shelf
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Looking for that missing audiocassette, liner notes, CD…? Try the Cyber Snag Shelf! To add your own unsolved mystery, head over to PLCMC Central, click on “Service Areas” on the far right of the toolbar, select “Circulation” from the list that pops up, and scroll down to the bottom of the page for the Cyber - Snag Shelf link. You can add your own snag or search the site by keywords, format, call #, barcode, or branch. If it’s in the Library’s possession, this site will help you find it.
With consistency of use, this database could be a really great time-saving tool to help find snags. It could also help the Library save money on reordering materials with missing parts and quickly return these holdings to your circulating collection for public use. Other staff besides Circulation Services can also use this tool - Collection Management, Popular Library, Youth Services, Information Services, etc. - to determine where the mystery items on their shelf or desk belong.
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What Else is Going On?
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Tuesday, Sept. 5
1:30-4:00 State Library Instant Messaging Workshop (Program led by Julia Lanham) (lab)

Wednesday, Sept. 6
2:00-4:00 Online Tutorials Lab: GCF Learn (Program led by Lori Reed) (lab)

Thursday, Sept. 7
1:00-4:30 Circ Services Forum with Everett Blackmon

Monday, Sept. 11
3:00-5:00 Phillip O’ Berry: Health Occupations (lab)

Tuesday, Sept. 12
1:00- 4:00 Homework Help I (Program led by Julia Hanson) (lab)

Wednesday, Sept. 13
2:00-4:30 HIP 101 and Beyond (Program led by Lori Reed) (lab)
Thursday, Sept. 14
12:00-4:30 On-line Resources Workshop (Contact: Julia Lanham) (lab)

Wednesday, Sept. 20
1:00-4:00 Introduction to On-line Resources (Contact: Kevin Deese) (lab)

Thursday, Sept. 21
1:00-4:00 Homework Help II (Program led by Julia Hanson) (lab)

Tuesday, Sept. 26
*Note* 1:30-4:00 Reader’s Advisory Workshop Part 2:Electronic and Print Resources (lab) rescheduled for Oct. 24, FRL @1:30

Wednesday, Sept. 27
1:00-3:00 West Region Monthly Meeting
3:00-4:00 Staff Addendum Book Club Meeting
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Addendum!
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Join your fellow FRL staff members for Addendum, a staff/public book club that meets once a month. The staff meeting is generally held on the last Wednesday of the month from 3:00-4:00, but the time and date are very flexible and can almost always be changed to fit member’s schedules. This month we’re reading The Book Thief, a fast paced YA novel by Markus Zusak. If you’ve been meaning to read more, like to discuss the books you’ve read, or just like any excuse to chat with your coworkers, come and meet up with us for Addendum in September!
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Learning 2.0: The First Four Weeks!
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Feeling lost? Confused? A bit behind on your Learning 2.0 schedule? Here’s a quick list of the activities from weeks 1-4, as well as some tips to help you out! Week 1: #1 – This one’s easy, just head over to the Learning 2.0 blog and listen to the podcast. (The computer in the corner of the staff workroom is now outfitted with a spiffy pair of headphones for your listening pleasure!)

#2 – Another podcast to listen to! After you've listened to the podcast, scroll down and click on the 7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners link to watch a brief slideshow. As you watch, make notes on which of the 7 ½ Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners is easiest for you and which one’s hardest for you – you’ll need these notes for step #3. That’s it for Week 1!



#3 – It’s blog time! This is where you create your own blog to keep track of your Learning 2.0 experience. The Learning 2.0 blog has some helpful instructions on how to get started, but you can also always ask your coworkers if you get stuck. For your first post, you can introduce yourself, or you can skip the introductions and jump right in on the Learning 2.0 experience. Write about which of the 7 ½ Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners was hardest and easiest for you, and you’re done!

#4 – Time to log your progress and register your blog on your Learning 2.0 log. To access the log, head over to PLCMC Central and click on the Learning 2.0 link next to the link for MyHR. Click on the link at the bottom that says Learning 2.0 Participation Log and type in your PeopleSoft ID. (If you don’t know your ID number, you can look it up off of the Core Competencies checklist) To register your first blog post, copy and paste the address for your first post into the third box of your participation log. (The Learning 2.0 blog has instructions on how to do this) To register your blog, copy and paste the address for your entire blog, (not just one post!), into the fourth box. For the rest, just check off the boxes for the steps you’ve finished, then scroll down to the bottom and click the “submit” button. Voila – your blog is registered, your progress is officially logged, and you’ve completed Week 2!

















#5 – Fun with Flickr! For this one, you get to play with pictures. Head over to http://www.flickr.com and take a look around. If you just want to explore, browse around and find a picture to blog about. Be sure to include a link to the image in your blog post – or, if you feel up to it, include the image itself in your post! If you like, you can also create an account of your own – it’s free, and Flickr is a very user-friendly site. (If you have a Yahoo account, you practically have a Flickr account already!) If you want a challenge, borrow the library’s digital camera for a bit, snap some shots of the branch, upload them to your Flickr account, and blog about the experience. (Don’t forget to show us your photos in your blog!)


#6 – More Flickr! Simple pictures aren’t all Flickr’s good for! In this exercise, check out some of the links on the Learning 2.0 blog. Play around with all the different toys people have created for Flickr users, and maybe even create a Librarian Trading Card for yourself. Afterwards, create a blog about which one you liked the best – this one’s all play, folks!






#7 – Blog about technology. Seriously, that’s it. Listen to the Sitepal message, then write a blog entry about anything technology related in your life. What an easy way to wrap up week 3!



#8 – Bloglines? Don’t worry, it’s not a second blog. Week 4 is dedicated to newsreaders and RSS feeds –great tools for those who like to have all of their news and links in one handy place. First, head over to the Learning 2.0 blog again, listen to the podcast, and read through the quick tutorial on what a newsreader is. Under the Discovery Resources column, click on the “Using Bloglines Tutorial (how to Keep up with dozens of blogs everyday)” link to set up an account with Bloglines and learn how to subscribe to different feeds. Several of us here at FRL have been to the What is RSS & Where do I get a Newsreader Tech Talk workshop and have been playing with newsreaders for months – don’t be shy to ask for help. (Teaching others is one of the 7 ½ Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners after all!) Subscribe to at least 10 newsfeeds, and don’t forget to include a few of your coworker’s feeds, a feed from Charlotte.com, the feed for the PLCMC Core Compentency blog, the Reader’s Club new review feeds, and maybe even the feed from the library comic, Unshelved. (You all should recognize this one – this is the cartoon you’ve been seeing each month in the Freedom Flyer. Now you can get a daily dose of it!) Finally, write a blog about your experience, and if you’re up to it after all of this, add a link in your post to your public bloglines account.

#9 – Finding even more feeds. Have you ever been on the web and seen a little orange icon like this on a sidebar or on the far right side of the address bar? That’s an indication that that site has an RSS feed, and you can receive updates and news from them through your newsreader. Check on some of your favorite sites and see which ones have a feed you can link to – you might be surprised at how many of them do! Also explore Feedster, Topix.net, Syndic8 and Technorati to find fun new feeds – there are links up for each of these search engines on the Learning 2.0 blog. After you’re through exploring, blog about your experience, then pat yourself on the back – you’re caught up with Week 4!

Only 14 more steps to go. Happy learning FRL!