Not So Distant Future

technology, libraries, and schools

Not So Distant Future

Entries Tagged as 'Web 2.0'

What a difference a day makes

August 26th, 2011 · 8 Comments · Change, Web 2.0

This week our school began our first 1:1 iPad deployment to all juniors and seniors.  (Teachers had received their iPads during the summer.) It’s been so energizing to watch the transformation sweeping through the campus and watching changes that perhaps it was hard for us to really envision until we saw it happening. Suddenly, we [...]

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What librarians can learn from Apple

June 22nd, 2011 · 1 Comment · Web 2.0

Librarians around the country are facing hard economic times.  There are a number of pressures in our field. Some of them are economic, some of them are driven by technology and mobility. In the current budget cutting climate in Texas, many librarians have been laid off or reassigned (see my previous post: Mapping Librarian Cuts [...]

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TCEA Area 7 White Oak Liveblog

June 10th, 2011 · No Comments · Web 2.0

On Friday, I attended the TCEA Area 7 conference in White Oak, Texas. Below are my notes in CoveritLive from the TCEA Area 7 conference in White Oak. They include Wes Fryer’s keynote and Maria Henderson’s presentation on practical tips for the iPad. TCEA Area 7

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Dear Texas legislators: a few reminders

June 8th, 2011 · 4 Comments · Web 2.0

As a librarian and educator, I sometimes have to deal with unhappy parents.  One of the first pieces of advice you learn as a librarian is that people just want to be heard.  So when people have a complaint, your job is first to just listen.   Listening alleviates the situation, because most of all, [...]

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iPad apps for libraries and readers

June 4th, 2011 · 1 Comment · Web 2.0

“I cannot live without books”–Thomas Jefferson. Obviously, there are a plethora of book and reading apps for the iPad. How to choose and how can they fit into library use?   Whether you are circulating your iPads to students, or using them as library “reading stations,” a number of apps provide book access for students. And [...]

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An assault on Texas education?

June 2nd, 2011 · 4 Comments · Web 2.0

This spring, the Texas legislature, led by Governor Rick Perry, has committed assault against the students and teachers of the state of Texas — a state which already is <a href=”http://texaslsg.org/texasonthebrink/texasonthebrink.pdf” target=”_hplink”>44th in the nation</a> in its funding of education. Draconian budget cuts were threatened from the beginning of the session as lawmakers realized there [...]

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Testimony to House Education committee

May 10th, 2011 · 5 Comments · Web 2.0

In April, I testified before the House Education committee regarding House Bill 1505, regarding staffing levels for elementary librarians.    While this bill wasn’t expected to move forward, it was an important opportunity to share the effects of the current budget discussions in the state with the committee.  There are often unintended consequences of budget decisions, and I [...]

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Highlight the best of library blogging

May 1st, 2011 · No Comments · Web 2.0

Do you have some “go-to” library blogs?   The Salem Press Blog Awards 2011, started last year,  gives you an opportunity to give credit to those bloggers that you rely upon and value.  There’s still a little time to submit nominations–nominations can be submitted until May 13 by emailing ptobey@salempress.com with the link of the [...]

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Mapping School Library Cuts in Texas

April 22nd, 2011 · 1 Comment · Web 2.0

Texas school libraries have been agonizingly hard hit in the budget crisis in Texas, losing staff across the state. A few days ago, I created this map to help chart some of the losses in Texas in the hopes of bringing attention to the overall impact on students in our state. In 24 hours, over [...]

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Training for the marathon

April 16th, 2011 · 3 Comments · Web 2.0

When you run a marathon (I don’t know this but so I’ve been told) there’s always the part of the race where you think you can’t finish, and want to stop.  But then someone cheers you on, or you get a second wind, and you know you can keep going. This school year has seemed [...]

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