Microsoft Visual Studio

What is Microsoft Visual Studio used for and is it worth knowing if you're a librarian?

Microsoft Visual Tools is a complete set of developer tools that can be used for developing computer programs for Microsoft Windows. The system can be used to develop web sites, web applications and web services.

As librarian's role continue to merge with the IT profession, its useful to know how to use Microsoft Visual Tools.

Apps to try during Teen Tech Week

Encourage tweens and teens to try these Apps during Teen Tech Week,

http://www.slj.com/2016/01/collection-development/mix-it-up/24-tools-for-digital-art-and-music-creation-mix-it-up/

Nancy Adrus Make-Her Maven

Nancy Andrus of Sunnyvale Public Library's blog can be found at,
https://sunnyvalemakeher.wordpress.com

She recently was named a Mover and Shaker (2016) by Library Journal.

Best Apps of 2015

A list of the best educational apps of 2015:

http://www.ala.org/aasl/standards-guidelines/best-apps/2015

Wedo legos and grants

Edutopia has a list of resources for teachers and parent educators. Its a wonderful collection of links.

http://www.edutopia.org/grants-and-resources

Generation Nano Contest

A cool contest in which kids create their own superhero.
http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/gennano/

A wonderful contest for kids that are 13 and up.

Prize includes a trip to Washington D.C.

Metropolis

This is so cool. Create your own Metropolis (for grade 3-6).

https://www.planning.org/education/youth/metropolis/

Not all cities have clear edges. What will your city have? What is sprawl? Other topics: public spaces, landmarks, transportation.

Pros and cons of infinite scrolling

Many websites, Pinterest, Tumblr, and Twitter use infinite scrolling. From a design point of view, there are some advantages and disadvantages.

For a good article on this javascript feature ("infinite scrolling"), see,
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2013/05/infinite-scrolling-lets-get-to-the-bottom-of-this/

www.smashingmagazine.com

Number Lines | ClipArt ETC

Number Lines | ClipArt ETC

Math for ADHD students

I've had such nice results with adaptedmind.com. There are many of these computer programs out there that will reward kids with digital badges.

This one has a video explanation with each problem.

While I can't usually get my second grader to work on math for more than a few minutes at a time, she worked for 1/2 hour using this program.

But, since all kids with ADHD react differently, it may not work for some. My 4th grader refused to use adaptedmind.com--even though it's possible to choose 4th grade level math. My fourth grader prefers http://www.sumdog.com 

Graph paper

I have a friend who said graph paper changed her life.

If you have adhd or dyslexia or dysgraphia or some combination, you know what she means. Graph paper can help line up columns of numbers. It can help give you an even amount of space between letters.

For graph paper you can print on your computer,
http://www.math-drills.com/graphpaper.shtml

America's Digital Library

America's Digital Library
www.dp.la


For school projects. This is a great place to find primary resources.

For Texas history,

http://education.texashistory.unt.edu/

A great portal.

UX Librarian Webcast

Listened to an archived copy of this wonderful webcast: Library UX: Creating Usable and Useful Websites.

Great new site for genealogy research

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

Chronicling america from the Library of Congress gives you access to digitized copies of historical newspapers. 

Search what happened 100 years ago today, by clicking on the link "100 years go today."

For more specific searches, try the advanced search.

Digital Marketing and Marketing Automation

1) Define what you mean by success with metrics that make sense. For ex) better not just more leads.

2) Stick to a best practices model you've developed before purchase new technology.

Read more in Justin Gray's October 2013 article "The Dangers of Myopia in Digital Marketing," in www.websitemagazine.com.

Ipods

A new term circulating is the term "Multimedia Production Room" (MMR). An example of a multimedia production room is oswego.edu/mm. Basics are PC, Mac, Audacity, Camtasia Studio, Adobe CS 6 Suite and editing software.

Ipod Touch is used since the Flip video camera (by Cisco systems) has been discontinued.

Ipod can prodcue high quality HD video and they have a camera and voice recorder software.

Tripods can increase the quality of the video.

Responsive Web Design

An interesting article in www.infotoday.com (July/August 2013) defines "Responsive Web Design" by Kathryn Frederick.

Ethan Marcotte was the first to use the term in 2010. Responsive Web Design  describes websites that change based on screen size.

Digital Public Library of America, dp.la, uses "Responsive Web Design."
Responsive Web Design Testing Tool (www.mattkersley.com/responsive).

The first step is to design a grid.

1) Design a grid.

Printable grid templates or hardbound sketchbook,
www.webdesign-sketchbook.com

Plan a responsive site with these free sketch sheets, www.tinyurl.com/RWDsketch.

2) Make a Fluid Grid
Layout should be based on proportionate CSS values.
See Really Quick Responsive Web Design (RQRWD) or www.rqrwd.com
See the Responsive Calculator, www.rwdcalc.com

Margins and paddings can also be expressed using percentages.

Free Media

Here's the reason why I love being a librarian--the drive to share information. Librarians at James Madison University created a "free media for creative" use page on Libguides. This is perfect for budding cinematographers.



http://www.lib.jmu.edu/research/freemedia.aspx

If moving to New York city is your goal...

Here's a guide for librarians you want to move to New York City:
http://metro.org/librarians-guide-to-relocating-to-nyc/

Other guides will be posted as I find them.

E-Publishing

What is Sigil? Sigil's user guide is here:
http://web.sigil.googlecode.com/git/files/OEBPS/Text/introduction.html

Sigil is EBPUB2 editing software. The software has a Creative Commons license so it looks like anyone can use it.

Many authors are beginning to self-publish using EPUB2.