Building Community - North Portland Tool Library

So friends of mine who scoff at my ideas ... here's another one that's been done (thanks for pointing it out Superpatron): "The North Portland Tool Library is a community resource that loans a wide variety of tools to community members free of charge. The Tool Library benefits North Portland residents by reducing the costs of maintaining and improving their homes, building community, and sustaining diverse, livable neighborhoods."

Hm, and topping that, Superpatron reader 'ctr' tells that Berkeley Public Library have absorbed Berkeley's Tool Lending Library - and yes, I checked, items are listed and searchable in the catalog. That's how I think it should be. I'd love to see my local public library do that.

Better book lists

Thanks Superpatron for nudging me via Rebecca's pocket to find the booklists at waterboro public library and Morton Grove Public Library where I actually found a list of cat character mystery books. Now I just need time to peruse that list (trying not to feel pessimistic about the chances of finding copies in my local library - although I have discovered that CHRLC have actually stopped charging reservation fees!), and then find cats in other genres.

Now imagine if library catalogues had a field for booklists (like those LoC subject headings). Of course tagging methods might address this need - but they're vulnerable to spelling variations ... I wonder how Hennepin have combined some of their "If you liked..." lists with their catalogue (like the If you liked ... The Lord of the Rings - anyone tell me?

Library Link - Victorian public library portal

Library Link wasn't news to me but after seeing that the Hennepin County Library catalog offers users the ability to comment on items, as well as read summaries, reviews and excerpts, when I read Connecting Librarian's Library Link - Victorian public library portal post all I could think about was wanting to be able to search the catalog more effectively, and to interact with other patrons about the items we read or view - what is the chance Library Link will allow any of that before I'm older and greyer?

23Things #5

#5 I briefly explored Flickr with interest after seeing what some libraries had been doing with Flickr while researching library marketing and promotions.

However this ''lesson'', suggests so much more will be tasty.

... it'll have to wait.

23 Things #4 ... & Supermodel 2.0

Register your blog on PLCMC Central and begin your Learning 2.0 journey. Will I? Maybe after September 17.

Just when I began to wonder whether to blog, or save, or note or otherwise the long list of PLCMC Participant Blogs, I surfed past Supermodel 2.0 so now I'm learning about Evidence Based Library & Information Practice, instead of completing assignments.

23 Things #3

Week 2: Blogging

# 3 Set up your own blog / I set up my own blog ages ago.

23 Things #2

I like the articulate powered presentation tool used to present the Seven and 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners by which PCLMC's training specialist Lori Reed introduced pointers from lifelong learners. So I how well do I 'nurture {my} own learning process'?

1. My learning goals are very open-ended.
I want to learn everything I can about working in libraries so that when I have finished supervising the boys' homeschooling I might become employed in a library.
I want to learn about these wonderful technologies to find ways to simplify the collaborative processes in volunteering for ABA, and to enhance interactive relations with library patrons.
Other learning goals: non-violent communication, Auslan, other languages - have to wait.
2. I have always taken responsibility for my own learning. I'm also encouraging the boys to do the same.
3. I view problems as challenges or opportunities to learn.
4. I generally think of myself as a competent learner.
5. My toolkit grows: huge library of books; I avoid expenditure on technology until I am certain it will be an investment; I take classes as necessary; I discuss what I want to learn from my friends and acquaintances (mentors); have ready access to the internet.
6. I do use the internet and tutorials as a primary how-to resource.
7. When opportunities arise, I teach what I've learned to others.
7.5. Play - I play with what I learn - though I am frugal with my time and $$$.

Easiest habit? Take responsibility for my own learning.
Hardest habit? Playing with what I learn - I'm a little serious.