Monday, September 5, 2011
Seniors in libraries
Let's face it we have an ageing population that have more time than ever to be loyal library devotees.
Some like Westerns, some like Romance, some like more highbrow reading, but most like to park nearby and not walk too far. They like Large Print books, mags about caravan holidays, fishing, and the local seniors newsletter for free events. But this may be a generalisation. Seniors like us cannot be easily categorised. Some like to learn about new techologies, while others are happy to go with those they know.
In order to keep these loyal customers, libraries need to have good lighting, clear signage and comfy chairs in a quiet area. Some hearing loss is made worse by loud competing noises such as the wonderful Children's section activites.Those who no longer drive may need a Home Delivery service.
Please feel free to comment with your own library findings on this topic.
Canadian Guidelines on Library and Information Services for Older Adults can be found on the internet
at the Canadian Library Association site.
Articles about seniors in libraries can be found at
http://www.fracas.com/articles-robertson/ww2-seniors-canada-public-libraries.html
Another article with bibliography and further links can be found here
Some like Westerns, some like Romance, some like more highbrow reading, but most like to park nearby and not walk too far. They like Large Print books, mags about caravan holidays, fishing, and the local seniors newsletter for free events. But this may be a generalisation. Seniors like us cannot be easily categorised. Some like to learn about new techologies, while others are happy to go with those they know.
In order to keep these loyal customers, libraries need to have good lighting, clear signage and comfy chairs in a quiet area. Some hearing loss is made worse by loud competing noises such as the wonderful Children's section activites.Those who no longer drive may need a Home Delivery service.
Please feel free to comment with your own library findings on this topic.
Canadian Guidelines on Library and Information Services for Older Adults can be found on the internet
at the Canadian Library Association site.
Articles about seniors in libraries can be found at
http://www.fracas.com/articles-robertson/ww2-seniors-canada-public-libraries.html
Another article with bibliography and further links can be found here
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Useful book slideshows for teachers writers and librarians
http://www.slideshare.net/jonbard/get-started-writing-picture-books
http://www.slideshare.net/ProfessorNana/picture-books-are-not-dead
http://www.slideshare.net/amybirdwell/picture-books-8724697
http://www.slideshare.net/guest63bc06/checklist-for-evaluating-picture-books-presentation
http://www.slideshare.net/tulikabooks/picture-books
http://www.slideshare.net/digitalbookworld/engaging-readers-in-the-digital-age
How to write your own picturebook
Recently I was asked to talk to a class of students who were writing a children's picturebook for an English assignment. This got me thinking - it may seem simple but getting a picturebook that is a) deemed worth the cost of publishing and b) popular with children, is harder than it seems.
You cannot write any simple story - it has to engage the child reader/listener and be exciting enough to tug at their emotions and imaginations.The design and layout of the illustrations does an awful lot to bring the words to life. I recently judged a picturebook competition and it was fairly easy to tell which books a child would love. Some adults were really writing for themselves, which is another genre altogether..
If you wish to avoid the hassle of finding a publisher and want to publish your own picturebook, there are many POD publishers out there - you will then need to cover your own costs and sell your own books, or simply give them away as presents to friends and relatives. Try local printers, and places that sell photobooks,
and online printers such as lulu.
So here's a slideshow that covers some of the tips needed when writing a picturebook. Happy writing! Happy illustrating too if you can do your own - otherwise please pay that artist friend you are thinking of asking to help you! Creative people are often asked for freebies - surely their work is worth paying for!
You cannot write any simple story - it has to engage the child reader/listener and be exciting enough to tug at their emotions and imaginations.The design and layout of the illustrations does an awful lot to bring the words to life. I recently judged a picturebook competition and it was fairly easy to tell which books a child would love. Some adults were really writing for themselves, which is another genre altogether..
If you wish to avoid the hassle of finding a publisher and want to publish your own picturebook, there are many POD publishers out there - you will then need to cover your own costs and sell your own books, or simply give them away as presents to friends and relatives. Try local printers, and places that sell photobooks,
and online printers such as lulu.
So here's a slideshow that covers some of the tips needed when writing a picturebook. Happy writing! Happy illustrating too if you can do your own - otherwise please pay that artist friend you are thinking of asking to help you! Creative people are often asked for freebies - surely their work is worth paying for!
Blog for creative artists
Creative artists can benefit from tips, interviews and features on blogs.
The blog listed above, Creative Artists Blog, does this and more.
The blog creator regularly features designs found on Print on Demand (POD)
sites such as Cafepress, zazzle, and Redbubble.
The blog also includes links to reviews of these POD sites, and other sites with tips for creative artists.
Art lovers and shoppers also come across this blog, so having an image or interview there may well bring you benefits.
Another tip is whenever possible, embed a slideshow of your work in your sites, as if you earn referrals with your POD seller, you can earn money from people buying after you refer them to products, even if that product is not your own. This is possible at zazzle, for instance, and it may be that blog owners who are in this program are earning money from featuring other people's products on their blog, often working by shopper themes to generate customer interest. This benefits them as well as the owner of the image.
An example of a zazzle flash panel appears below:
Canvas Prints
Make a personalized gift at Zazzle.
The blog listed above, Creative Artists Blog, does this and more.
The blog creator regularly features designs found on Print on Demand (POD)
sites such as Cafepress, zazzle, and Redbubble.
The blog also includes links to reviews of these POD sites, and other sites with tips for creative artists.
Art lovers and shoppers also come across this blog, so having an image or interview there may well bring you benefits.
Another tip is whenever possible, embed a slideshow of your work in your sites, as if you earn referrals with your POD seller, you can earn money from people buying after you refer them to products, even if that product is not your own. This is possible at zazzle, for instance, and it may be that blog owners who are in this program are earning money from featuring other people's products on their blog, often working by shopper themes to generate customer interest. This benefits them as well as the owner of the image.
An example of a zazzle flash panel appears below:
Canvas Prints
Make a personalized gift at Zazzle.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Blogs for librarians
Ok, if you are a librarian, you may be looking for ways to network with other librarians and view their blogs.
Blog central for Australian library blogs is here.
You can quickly access blogs that you may want to follow, and list your own library blog as well.
Worth a look! Link, follow and embed Powerpoints, and share ideas.
Blog central for Australian library blogs is here.
You can quickly access blogs that you may want to follow, and list your own library blog as well.
Worth a look! Link, follow and embed Powerpoints, and share ideas.
Good Powerpoint presentation design
More and more people use Powerpoints these days, to educate, to sell things, to entertain, or to be a personal portfolio. Here's a great slideshow on good Powerpoint design that keeps your viewer interested and sells your message.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Music online
Library clients who are musicians often search high and low for music information, including scores.
Music students often want information about composers and periods of music Other music lovers are interested in getting access to audio playlists and videos to watch and listen to.
State Library of Queensland offers a number of online databases, including an excellent music resource called Music Online, which any member of a public library in Queensland can use.
http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/find/articles/musicOnsite access at your public library or State Library Onsite access is easy - visit your local Queensland public library or the State Library of Queensland and connect using one of the onsite computers.
Offsite accessTo access these databases away from the library - from any computer connected to the internet (eg home or office) - you must be a Queensland resident and:
Music Online database covers all periods and styles of music from Medieval to new composers, jazz to opera to folk songs to classical to world music, with audio playlists you can create or listen to playlists created by others.
You can search the database for recordings, scores, clips or song titles, music of a time period, musical instrument, composer and by keywords. Keep searches simple and specific. For example, to find a Washboard band, you only need to enter: washboard.
Some examples? How about these albums:
Live at the Monterey Festival performed by JEFFERSON AIRPLANE
or Night in Tunisia performed by Charlie Parker (Alto Saxophone)
or Lord of the Rings by Johan de Meij (Composer). Performed by United States Marine Band
or La Vie en Rose by Edith Piaf
or Japan - Ugetsufu - Shakuhachi , Koto (Japan- "Music of Rain and of the Moon") performed by Sagawara, Kuniyoshi; Izumiyama et al.
Discover Music Online's free classical music downloads and free world music downloads!
Full music scores are available for download and printing off for personal use and study purposes.
You can print any score once you have viewed the score. The PDF will open up in Adobe in your browser window. To print all or sections of the score, click on the `print' icon, where you can select how many pages of the score to print.
- Can I perform from these scores?
- Can I project the scores for classroom study?
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular way to keep updated on what is new with a web site without having to continually visit the site. RSS feeds contain headlines and links to web pages which contain additional information. In the case of Alexander Street Press databases, the RSS feed will deliver new and featured titles recently added to the product. If you are waiting for a specific author to be added to the product, for example, the RSS feed will deliver that alert to you.
A What's New page on the database also lists the newest additions.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Google art project
Last week’s launch of the Google Art Project offers an alternative way to view some of the world’s most famous artworks, in greater detail and with a better view than you would often achieve when viewing these works in person.
The Google Art Project allows you to virtually visit 17 of the world’s top galleries and museums and view 7,000 megapixel versions of 1061 artworks. Galleries and museums include The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, The National Gallery in London, The Palace of Versailles in France, The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and The Uffizi Gallery in Florence. This video shows some of the preparation that went into the project.
Two videos that tell you more about the project can be found here .
Of course, no matter how impressive, technology can never replace the experience of viewing a work in the flesh and some commentators wonder what sort of implications this kind of project will have on people’s need to visit galleries or museums in future. These articles feature some interesting views on the project:
The Google Art Project allows you to virtually visit 17 of the world’s top galleries and museums and view 7,000 megapixel versions of 1061 artworks. Galleries and museums include The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, The National Gallery in London, The Palace of Versailles in France, The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and The Uffizi Gallery in Florence. This video shows some of the preparation that went into the project.
Two videos that tell you more about the project can be found here .
Of course, no matter how impressive, technology can never replace the experience of viewing a work in the flesh and some commentators wonder what sort of implications this kind of project will have on people’s need to visit galleries or museums in future. These articles feature some interesting views on the project:
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