“Pay Attention”

Here’s a 7-minute long (7:41) clip on using cell phones to teach.

Powerful thoughts.  Comments?

Introducing WorldCat citations

While trying to find a copy of The Four Hour Work Week, I came across an advertisment for the WorldCat.org Citation tool.  I have to give credit to WorldCat.org for saying, at the end of the video, that their service is an automatic citation and that all citations should be checked manually before submitting the work.

New site design

I have redesigned my professional web presence today: http://www.acs.brockport.edu/~lrath.  It was about time I gave my personal site a new look.  Now I just need to add a professional looking picture.

SUNYLA 2008: Going Forward

I am now the 1st Vice President/President-Elect of the State University of New York Librarians’ Association.  Our annual conference was a lot of fun this year.  Here are some discussion points to move forward on (again, like CIT, these may become break-out blog post):

• Official Business: SUNYConnect database renewals are coming.  Library Directors have been informed.
• Official Business 2: The new membership form will be online.  Details to follow.
• Students like screencasts, but only if they’re relevant.  2.5-3 minutes max.
• Function is a better measure of library health than satisfaction.  Turn already quiet (etc.) areas into purposed spaces for those functions.
• The library work week should be Sunday afternoon through Thursday early evening.
• The rules of a sandbox server: Play, Update, Secure & Verify.
• The Keynote speech (photos: 1, 2, 3) , by Joe Janes, was very funny, yet poignant.

In addition to my discussion points, there are some fun points, too:

• Potsdam is “decentrally isolated.”
• The road signs in Potsdam are brown posts with light brown lettering in a vertical pattern on them.  You will find it on the opposite corner than where expected.
• You never know when someone has a camera. Example.

Shouting About Second Life

I’m gearing up to give my presentation about Second Life at SUNYLA.  It’s not a formal presentation, but rather a discussion session for help librarians determine our role in SecondLife.

• What interesting things have you found in SecondLife?
• Do students WANT library services in SecondLife?
• What form should library services in SecondLife?
• What would you like to see as far as SUNY Librarians in SecondLife?