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May 18, 2009

Google Docs

In the last couple of months I started using Google Docs.  I find it is quite useful in many situations.  It is most useful if you need to work in a collaborative environment.  So, if 6 NSLS staffers are working on a spreadsheet, it’s awesome to work on it collaboratively through Google Docs.  Today, I did a little staff demo on google docs and how I’ve used it over the last couple of months.  I’m no expert but it it’s relatively easy to use.   I’m even more excited about the opportunity to use it for Inter-system cooperation or on projects we might be working on with our member libraries.   If you haven’t looked at google docs, check it out!

posted by Debbie at 3:16 pm | Comments (0)

May 13, 2009

Marketing Guru Nancy Dowd

Yea! Nancy Dowd is coming to NSLS! I’m working on the layout for the next Professional Development brochure, and just had to spill the beans about Nancy’s program.

Nancy is the director of marketing for the New Jersey State Library, and she launches one brilliant project after another! Right now she is working on a mobile marketing pilot program to study what works best for library marketing. She’ll be sharing the results with us on December 9. It’s not on the L2 calendar yet, but you’ll hear more about it when registration is available. In the meantime, you can experience Nancy through her fabulous blog: http://themwordblog.blogspot.com/

posted by Judy H. at 10:12 am | Comments (0)

May 6, 2009

Visitors…of a different feather

Last week to remind us all that Spring really is here, we had a small group of visitors from the wilds of Canada. Well, no, probably not really, but we did have a family of Canadian Geese arrive.  Mom and her 5 newly-hatched fuzzy goslings. They’re so cute and fun to watch when they are that young. Staff and those of you here for classes that day got to watch them – very up close – through the windows in the glass hallway by the Learning Center.  From our sleuthing, we found the parents had nested on the roof and then once the babies were all hatched and dry, they got to take a big jump to the ground! I guess that’s one way to stay out of the way of predators like raccoons, coyotoes and foxes, but one big step if you’re that tiny! By the next day the cuteness was gone, from what I understand, they head to water ASAP so after a snack of sweet green grass and a good nap, they were off. We’ve uploaded a selection of photos to our Flickr account but here are a few to tempt you.

We actually get a lot of wildlife here at Headquarters – so be sure to check back for the latest wild visitors!

posted by kay at 2:05 pm | Comments (0)

May 4, 2009

Ukrainian Visitors

The Library of Congress sponsors the Open World Program that “enables emerging Eurasian political and civic leaders to work with their U.S. counterparts and experience American style democracy at the local level.” The Open World Program and the International Cultural Educational Association sponsored the visit of 5 Ukrainian librarians, their facilitator, their sponsor’s representatives, and an interpreter on visits to the Palatine Public Library, NSLS, and some other Chicago area libraries and museums.

These librarians were provided an overview of systems and the type of work we do. They were particularly fascinated by a tour of our delivery staging area, the photographs of past NSLS award winners, and our painting on one of our walls that depicts NSLS’ voyage into technology. They use the postal service for all of their delivery needs and don not have a recognition program like our annual membership awards. Something unique the Ukrainian librarians shared with NSLS staff is their gift of a woven basket in the shape of a hen with two lovely hand painted eggs nestled inside. The baskets symbolize triumphing over the impossible and all parties present agreed that librarians are experts at doing that.

posted by Admin at 3:17 pm | Comments (0)