A few of my favourite things...

Unlike Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music I'm unlikely to burst into song and dance right at this moment, I am sitting in the library after all and it isn't storytime, but inside I'm celebrating completing all 23 things. Even the BiblioNB app I couldn't find a couple of weeks ago is now on my ipad and in use. Hoorah! If I were to dance it would probably a very embarrassing one like Monica and Ross doing 'The Routine':

My favourite thing of all, although I find it the trickiest to do, is all I learned about Creative Commons and image copyright. I think it is something I'll use on my other blog Emma's English Kitchen. When I get around to it I'll try and get some of my own images set up with a Creative Commons license attached to them so that they can link back to my blog.

The two things I'll use the most at work would be Pinterest for crafty ideas for programs as I did before, and I've found some great sites to help with finding books and authors for myself and others. As well as social reading sites like Goodreads I found a fun one on Stumbleupon today called The Book Seer. I'm sure I'll find other sites as well which could help me when someone asks, 'What do you recommend I read next?'

I liked using tools that I hadn't used before. If I have time I may curate a couple of topics on ScoopIt and I liked Stumbleupon, though I can see that the latter could be a little addictive. It's a bit like pulling the lever on a slot machine every time I hit 'Stumble'.

I use Twitter more than I did, though I'm still not convinced that I use hashtags correctly. Even as I write that I can hear the groaning from all those who have tried to explain it to me...

Still, I've done it, now it's time to kick off those shoes '80s style...

Spring into action

My friends in England have had the audacity to post pictures of daffodils and other spring flowers on their Facebook pages in the past few days. This is the hardest time of year to be a British chick in Canada as my brain just thinks it should be spring - right now! The reality is just more snow. I'm cheering myself up by borrowing lots of books to improve my gardening skills. I can't wait to get growing fruit and vegetables - tomorrow I'm hoping to plant a few seeds indoors in preparation. What I love about the climate in Canada is that so much grows in my garden here that I could never ever grow in my tiny north facing patch in England. Summer does happen here; it's not guaranteed on the other side of the pond.

While I'm potting up my seeds, I think I'll be listening to some audio books on my ipad. For some reason I'd never thought to do that before this week. I've borrowed ebooks using Overdrive, but never an audiobook. I've baked and cooked supper while trying to watch a movie or tv series on Netflix on my ipad...that doesn't really work as I stop doing what I'm doing and just watch. Hungry kids end up coming into the kitchen and moaning that the dinner is not appearing fast enough. Listening to a something would make more sense and probably result in more being accomplished all round!

I was not successful with the BiblioNB app. I could not find it in the app store on my ipad and my very annoying phone refused to connect to the Play Store to have a look there. As a consequence I've failed on Thing #22. I'll keep trying...




Creative commons image courtesy of alancleaver_2000 at http://flickr.com/photos/11121568@N06/3424274533

Pin it, Scoop it: curate or copy and paste?

My friend went to a market around Christmas and commented to me that everything she saw, she'd seen before on pinterest. That worried me. In this internet sharing generation are we stamping out originality as everyone grabs ideas from the same pool, albeit a very big pool. I'm as guilty as anybody else. I love pinterest for gaining inspiration for everything from my garden to story times. Someone has to have the original idea I know so there the unique creativity lies, but are we as the pinners becoming as bland as a retail park? All the same stuff over and over. I hope not, and I know from people around me that there are ideas that don't just come from the internet.

So, this week I've been learning about Scoop.it! and having a play around with that for Thing #17 in the 23 things. To me it seems like a pinterest for words rather than pictures. I can see the appeal of curating information on a subject in one place. I found some great library topics to follow and I can see that it's a good tool to have. If I'm researching some information it's a good place to put articles I find so I don't forget where on the internet I found it - as is frequently the case. My only bug bear with Scoop.it! is the suggestions of articles from other people's boards/magazines to add to your own. I would read what other people have collected on the topic, but I'd like to create my own magazine, not copy what someone else is doing on the site. What is the point of creating my own topic page if it is just filled with other people's scoops?

All this talk about scoops has the word association bit of my brain thinking of ice cream and day-dreaming of warm summer evenings, envious of those who have escaped somewhere hot this March break. Even on this chilly evening I wouldn't say no to a plate of this very original looking dessert - and I don't even like ice cream...

Photo courtesy of Mabdul on Flickr

Podcast ponderings

So I finally got round to finding a podcast to listen to...not the whole thing...but a section of one. I haven't worked an evening and have done Storytime and Toddler Tales this week so the time to do the 23 things has been short. I found a podcast about Storytime on Circulating Ideas (Episode 34: Storytime). There are a number of speakers who take part in the podcast - children's librarians from around Canada and the US who are experienced storytellers and bloggers.

For the 15 minutes I was able to listen they were discussing what makes a successful storytime. They point out that a successful storytime is not necessarily quantified by numbers. You can have a bad storytime with 90 kids and a great one with 6. In our experience in Nashwaaksis is that this true - not that we get 90 kids coming along...our highest number for a regular storytime is usually around 30. It varies with the group of kids who are there and how engaged they become in the stories. The speakers on the podcast stress how engagement with the audience is key. If you're worried and self concious people get disengaged, but if you're interacting with the audience and flexible with the stories and activities you've planned it's more likely that it will be a success. They pointed out that consistency in energy level throughout the programme is important in order that you don't lose your listeners. The thing I liked was what one speaker called the 'storytime bubble', the time when everyone is into the stories, parents and children, and you don't lose anyone at any point. That's the magic I'm looking for.

Tell me a story, jackanory...

Some years ago in a land far away there was a story telling programme called 'Jackanory'. It wasn't usually the highlight of this girl's after school TV watching, but one time my interest was captured by Rik Mayall - he was famous in the UK for his role in 'The Young Ones', maybe not so much here in Canada. He read George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl - I loved every minute. I already loved Roald Dahl books, but I loved seeing the story read in such an animated way. A few weeks ago I showed this to my youngest daughter who is going through a Roald Dahl phase. For once she agreed with me and loved something 'from the olden days' too.

 



This is the first of my 23 things this week...more coming later this week...

Happy pinning!

Last week I didn't do so well on the 23 things. Whichever image I chose to post on my blog, it didn't seem to be visible. I'm still working on it. It's a bit quiet in the library today due to a winter storm, so, maybe I'll have a chance to find something that will work.

This week - Pinterest! I had a dormant pinterest account for a while, but working at the library has revived my use of it. Often I use it to search for craft and storytime ideas, and I love looking at some of the displays people create. This week, at home, looking at one of my favourite clothing brand's boards - Boden -I strayed onto pictures of places around the world. With all the snow and cold here, it made my feet a little itchy to travel. For now, I'll just have to dream about it!

It's easy to get a bit distracted by everyone else's pins, so I did some updating and posted some cakes on one of my boards, which then led me to be a little bit creative with my Valentine's Day baking. Watch this space for a picture.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Friday thoughts...

It's Friday in the library!

Friday mornings are great here at Fredericton Public Library - Nashwaaksis. Lots of toddlers and parents come in for Toddler Time. It can be noisy and that's great. It's lovely to see them all enjoying the stories, songs and craft.

Personally, it's been a landmark week. Firstly, I have employee status from this week. Yay! Secondly, My family is celebrating four years in Canada. We landed in Halifax on February 4th 2010. I remember stepping out of the plane and into a freezer, that's how it felt. Thirdly, I'm filling out our citizenship application having reached the required amount of qualifying days. My two days off this week were filled with photocopying documents for said application and filling out the forms.

I have been reading too. Ever looking for what to read next, I decided to read some books before I watch the movies. I like to read the book first - it's almost always better. This week I finished The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. The story is set in Germany in World War II. On reflection, I seem to be drawn to books that are set in times of conflict and particularly the second world war and that era. Maybe it's just because there are so many books based in that time period, I don't know. While my husband loves old war films about the big battles, I like the micro stories of individuals and communities. I think my fascination came when I was a child listening to my Grandmother telling me stories about her experiences in the war.

  by  Darien Library 

The Book Thief is narrated by Death. Sounds gloomy but the result is actually a very moving story. Certainly not light relief, true, but I like a book that makes me think and feel. Death tells the story of Liesel Meminger, a young German girl whose brother has just died and is just about to be left by her mother with another family. Liesel is the book thief. Words comfort her even before she can read them. As her story goes on she realises that words can be powerful for both good and evil, and she and those around her experience this for themselves as the war goes on and they struggle to survive in war-torn Germany. The book is full of tragedy, but the reader is given plenty of warning that it is coming.

I thought this was a beautifully told book. It brought home again the horror and madness of what went on in Nazi Germany and across Europe. Death, at one point, describes himself sitting at the mouth of chimneys collecting the souls of Jews. It's sinister yet deeply moving. As ever in a book set at a time of war, the most extreme emotions and character traits of humanity are on show. These are some of the things it made me think about:

Distractions, distractions...

It's still January, only just, but I think the old brain has had a good work out for the beginning of the year. My physical self is a bit out of shape and in need of aerobic activity, but there's plenty going on in my head. If only that burned calories like running, and if only I had time to write down all the ideas in my head...maybe then the book I dream of writing would get down on paper/screen.

This week's thing is all about social reading. I plunged into my account on Vision with lists and more lists. I commented on one thing - a costume drama, of course - and found someone to follow. After spending far too much time doing that I created an account on Goodreads. Why did I never do this before? It's fantastic. I'm a real follower of recommendations, so both Vision and Goodreads are great tools for finding new books to read. I liked the instant suggestions Goodreads came up with every time I rated a book. There's a lot to play around with. I found some new titles from an author I've enjoyed reading already.

The big question for me is read more or write more? With only limited free time in my day, I want to read so I'm a better writer, but if I don't get on with writing soon I will be very old before I finish anything. My Dad would say, as he tells me about authors who get up at 4am to write their books, 'Just get on with it!' I'm trying, but January mornings are not conducive to putting my toe out from the under the covers at that hour. Maybe my resolve will be better in February...

In other news Mr Selfridge is back for season two.

Week 2 - Twitter meltdown

So onto the second week of 23 Things. Twitter. I logged onto my long neglected Twitter account with enthusiasm, determined to find some amazing things to comment on, started following a few new people, news organizations and papers, a couple of libraries, a few things I'm interested in and then...big gasp...became overwhelmed and did not know what to say to anyone. Thankfully I found one of my sisters and found my voice again for a moment.

I'm not keen on making mistakes in public and twitter seems very public. Say the wrong thing and strangers could shoot me down for hashtagging (?) the wrong words or something. The fear is real to me. With use maybe I could overcome this irrational fear of that little # symbol. Maybe I haven't found the right things or people to follow yet who would make me want to comment. We'll see.

I'm going back to cutting out some kids craft for storytime for now.

Here goes...

My mind is still unscrambling after the busy time that was Christmas. I'm getting used to the idea that we are now in 2014 and now I'm starting a new blog - not my first - but the new year is good for a new start. Sometimes I need a little push to get going and the 23 things training at work is as good as any.

I work in a library in a friendly corner of Canada. I'm quite new so I've learned a lot about how libraries work in the last six months. I love books and meeting other people who love to read. I get to have fun doing story times which sometimes require being really silly...and if I'm lucky a bit of dressing up. People say they like my accent, one person said I should be a reporter for the BBC, but I tried that when I was seventeen and didn't get the job, so here I am. Actually to my friends and family back home in England I sound more mid-Atlantic by the day.

I'm good at starting, not so good at finishing so consistency will be my biggest challenge as I make another mark on the blogosphere.

So, I'll finish today with this. I am a hopeless romantic. I love a good costume drama and while the adaptation of Pride and Prejudice below was not my favourite - apart from the scene where Darcy's and Elizabeth's hands first touch, this is how I'd really love to dress up.