Since the beginning of our blogging experiment I have labeled or "tagged" each entry I have created. It seems, however, there might be a little confusion among my classmates on how to accomplish this. It's easier than you think! (I promise.)
First, go to your "dashboard" or where you can edit or add posts on your blog. Everyone is pretty familiar with creating the blog post (the BIG BLUE button that says, "New Post) and publishing it, but you can add a tag from that same screen.
When you are creating your post, i.e. typing it, there is a thin, rectangular box at the bottom of the blank screen where you enter your post text. It has small text next to it that says, "Labels for this post:". This is where you can enter the tag for your post.
For example, I made tags for this particular post that list the different things that are applicable. You can see them at the bottom of the post, just under where you can see if anyone has commented on the post.
You can also create a tag cloud just for your blog! This makes it easier for people to find what they need within your blog. To do this you go back to the main page or your "dashboard". Under your blog name, you'll see the big blue button that says "New Post" and next to it several options, including "edit post" and "settings".
The third option, Layout, is the one you will want. Adding the tag cloud is going to be a similar process to adding an RSS feed - you'll go into Layout and "Add A Gadget". Under the gadget lists, you will see an option for "Labels". When you add this to your blog, it will create a label list that may look similar to what I have at the top of my blog.
You can go into layout and edit the "label" section to make it resemble more of a tag cloud versus a list or rename the gadget (I renamed mine "Tags!" - clever, I know).
I hope this sheds a little light on everything!
Happy Blogging (and tagging)!
Jeana : )
Monday, October 12, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
LibraryLiterature/BIP
The last time I attempted to search databases, I felt like I was searching through endless information for nothing in particular, even though I thought for a while about the topic I wanted to cover. This time I am going to try a few more variables in with my search on items about teen literacy and self-esteem, to find out if there was any correlation.
Starting off from scratch with some new search terms (like inclusion of the word “literacy”), I started with Library Literature using “teen literacy” as my beginning point, without any limiters. I only came back with 32 results. Retrieving only 22 results this time, I decided just to check to see if narrowing the search to peer-reviewed article would decrease the number of results, and did it ever. I came back with a single result:
Title: [Teens, Technology, and Literacy]
Personal Author: McClellan, Susan
Journal Name: Public Libraries
Source: Public Libraries v. 47 no. 1 (January/February 2008) p. 88
Publication Year: 2008
Peer Reviewed Journal:
ISSN: 0163-5506
Language of Document: English
Book(s) Reviewed: Title: Teens, technology, and literacy; or, Why bad grammar isn't always bad[2007; Braun, Linda W.; Libra]
Document Type: Book Review
Database: Library & Information Science
Accession Number: 200800101051021
Persistent URL: Click to copy the HTML full text article link
Click to copy the PDF full text article link
The result is not really what I set out to look for; the abstract describes how to use technology that teens are using (like wikis, blogs, etc) to host workshops that utilize the technology in an effort to promote literacy. However, I included the result, because this article actually is EXACTLY something I am interested in. It is better than a result I would have gotten about teen literacy and self-esteem and I think it fits in better with my interests.
This lucky break article can be found at: http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2090/hww/results/external_link_maincontentframe.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.42
Now back to the actual search list about literacy and self-esteem. I decided to modify the search by adding “self-esteem”, which returned no results. I then tried a few variations on the word “self-esteem” and still returned with nil. I went back to my original results list and actually found an interesting article that relates to my topic (a bit).
Title: Life-Changer
Journal Name: Library Journal (1976)
Source: Library Journal (1976) v. 131 no. 5 (March 15 2006 supp) p. 18-19
Publication Year: 2006
Abstract: A profile of Amy Cheney, a project director of Juvenile Hall Library and Literacy Program, Alameda County Library, California, who has been recognized for her work in teen activism by the Library Journal in its 2006 list of "movers and shakers," is provided.
Subject(s): Public libraries/Services to juvenile delinquents; Juvenile delinquents/Reading; Paraprofessionals/California; Alameda County Library (Calif.); Cheney, Amy
Physical Description: Portrait
ISSN: 0363-0277
Language of Document: English
Document Type: Contains biographical material; Feature Article
Database: Education; Library & Information Science
Accession Number: 200635101872020
Persistent URL: Click to copy the HTML full text article link
Click to copy the PDF full text article link
This article gives some insights on how jailed teens can evolve by participating in reading programs at a youth correctional facility in Northern California. By empowering them with the ability to read, process what they have read, access and analyze this information and make it applicable to their life, the program gives teens a chance for survival outside of the criminal world.
The link to the article is here: http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2090/hww/results/external_link_maincontentframe.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.42.
I must admit, Library Lit was easier to use than some of the other databases I have searched through (including the one I chose for my database analysis). It was straight-forward and the results were easy to sift through – I got two great articles for the price of one!
Books in Print, conversely, was a little harder for me to navigate. As a visual learner, I appreciate all the color graphics and extra information, but it made it a bit more difficult to find the place where I would actually do my search. Couple that confusion, with the fact I had to make selections about what information I wanted back initially (books, videos, in print, forthcoming) and my head was already spinning.
Just using the term “teen literacy” brought back 95 results – way more than I can glance through. I added “self-esteem” and received 7 results back, but none of them fit in with the things for which I was looking. I looked through some of the results and found the term “media literacy”, so I used that in conjunction with “teen” and found a pretty great book available for me (see below)!
Title: Start-To-Finish YA Programs: Hip-Hop Symposiums, Summer Reading Programs, Virtual Tours, Poetry Slams, Teen Advisory Boards, Term Paper Clinics, and More!
Author: Ella W. Jones
Publication Date: 2007
Publisher: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Incorporated
Country of Publication: United States
Market: United States
ISBN: 1-55570-601-0
ISBN13: 978-1-55570-601-2
Item Status: Active Record (Readily Available)
Binding Format: Trade Paper
Edition: illustrated
Pages: xiii, 217
Price: $75.00 (USD Retail) (Publisher)
Also Available Through: Alibris ; Baker & Taylor Books; Blackwell; Brodart Company
Current Language: English
Audience: Scholarly & Professional
Bowker Subjects: MEDIA LITERACY
General Subjects (BISAC): SOCIAL SCIENCE / Media Studies
LCCN: 2008-050853
LC Class #: Z718.5.J65 2009
Dewey #: 027.626
Synopsis/Annotation: What teen wouldn't be interested in a poetry slam, hosting a cable TV show, or learning to be a DJ? In Start-to-Finish YA Programs, author Ella Jones gives you the "411" about planning powerful programs for teens. With high school enrollments increasing by 13%, the role of both school and public libraries is growing too. The author provides 25 successful teen programs from public libraries based on the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets for Teens. If you're looking for engaging, high-impact teen programming breakthroughs, buy this book and give some of these concepts a try: - Brown-Bag Concerts- Library Teen Cable Show- Commitment to Fitness- Dance 360- Oral History Video Projects- Hip-Hop Symposium- Youth Gospel Fest- And moreThe companion CD-ROM provides all of the sign-up forms, promotional posters, evaluation worksheets, permission slips, and more for easy reproduction and personalization.
Although this was not exactly what I was searching for, I think this book is right up the alley of a person like me, interested in investigating innovative programming aimed at teens. So, in the end, BIP is difficult to maneuver though, but can provide you with some fantastic resources!
Starting off from scratch with some new search terms (like inclusion of the word “literacy”), I started with Library Literature using “teen literacy” as my beginning point, without any limiters. I only came back with 32 results. Retrieving only 22 results this time, I decided just to check to see if narrowing the search to peer-reviewed article would decrease the number of results, and did it ever. I came back with a single result:
Title: [Teens, Technology, and Literacy]
Personal Author: McClellan, Susan
Journal Name: Public Libraries
Source: Public Libraries v. 47 no. 1 (January/February 2008) p. 88
Publication Year: 2008
Peer Reviewed Journal:
ISSN: 0163-5506
Language of Document: English
Book(s) Reviewed: Title: Teens, technology, and literacy; or, Why bad grammar isn't always bad[2007; Braun, Linda W.; Libra]
Document Type: Book Review
Database: Library & Information Science
Accession Number: 200800101051021
Persistent URL: Click to copy the HTML full text article link
Click to copy the PDF full text article link
The result is not really what I set out to look for; the abstract describes how to use technology that teens are using (like wikis, blogs, etc) to host workshops that utilize the technology in an effort to promote literacy. However, I included the result, because this article actually is EXACTLY something I am interested in. It is better than a result I would have gotten about teen literacy and self-esteem and I think it fits in better with my interests.
This lucky break article can be found at: http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2090/hww/results/external_link_maincontentframe.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.42
Now back to the actual search list about literacy and self-esteem. I decided to modify the search by adding “self-esteem”, which returned no results. I then tried a few variations on the word “self-esteem” and still returned with nil. I went back to my original results list and actually found an interesting article that relates to my topic (a bit).
Title: Life-Changer
Journal Name: Library Journal (1976)
Source: Library Journal (1976) v. 131 no. 5 (March 15 2006 supp) p. 18-19
Publication Year: 2006
Abstract: A profile of Amy Cheney, a project director of Juvenile Hall Library and Literacy Program, Alameda County Library, California, who has been recognized for her work in teen activism by the Library Journal in its 2006 list of "movers and shakers," is provided.
Subject(s): Public libraries/Services to juvenile delinquents; Juvenile delinquents/Reading; Paraprofessionals/California; Alameda County Library (Calif.); Cheney, Amy
Physical Description: Portrait
ISSN: 0363-0277
Language of Document: English
Document Type: Contains biographical material; Feature Article
Database: Education; Library & Information Science
Accession Number: 200635101872020
Persistent URL: Click to copy the HTML full text article link
Click to copy the PDF full text article link
This article gives some insights on how jailed teens can evolve by participating in reading programs at a youth correctional facility in Northern California. By empowering them with the ability to read, process what they have read, access and analyze this information and make it applicable to their life, the program gives teens a chance for survival outside of the criminal world.
The link to the article is here: http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2090/hww/results/external_link_maincontentframe.jhtml?_DARGS=/hww/results/results_common.jhtml.42.
I must admit, Library Lit was easier to use than some of the other databases I have searched through (including the one I chose for my database analysis). It was straight-forward and the results were easy to sift through – I got two great articles for the price of one!
Books in Print, conversely, was a little harder for me to navigate. As a visual learner, I appreciate all the color graphics and extra information, but it made it a bit more difficult to find the place where I would actually do my search. Couple that confusion, with the fact I had to make selections about what information I wanted back initially (books, videos, in print, forthcoming) and my head was already spinning.
Just using the term “teen literacy” brought back 95 results – way more than I can glance through. I added “self-esteem” and received 7 results back, but none of them fit in with the things for which I was looking. I looked through some of the results and found the term “media literacy”, so I used that in conjunction with “teen” and found a pretty great book available for me (see below)!
Title: Start-To-Finish YA Programs: Hip-Hop Symposiums, Summer Reading Programs, Virtual Tours, Poetry Slams, Teen Advisory Boards, Term Paper Clinics, and More!
Author: Ella W. Jones
Publication Date: 2007
Publisher: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Incorporated
Country of Publication: United States
Market: United States
ISBN: 1-55570-601-0
ISBN13: 978-1-55570-601-2
Item Status: Active Record (Readily Available)
Binding Format: Trade Paper
Edition: illustrated
Pages: xiii, 217
Price: $75.00 (USD Retail) (Publisher)
Also Available Through: Alibris ; Baker & Taylor Books; Blackwell; Brodart Company
Current Language: English
Audience: Scholarly & Professional
Bowker Subjects: MEDIA LITERACY
General Subjects (BISAC): SOCIAL SCIENCE / Media Studies
LCCN: 2008-050853
LC Class #: Z718.5.J65 2009
Dewey #: 027.626
Synopsis/Annotation: What teen wouldn't be interested in a poetry slam, hosting a cable TV show, or learning to be a DJ? In Start-to-Finish YA Programs, author Ella Jones gives you the "411" about planning powerful programs for teens. With high school enrollments increasing by 13%, the role of both school and public libraries is growing too. The author provides 25 successful teen programs from public libraries based on the Search Institute's 40 Developmental Assets for Teens. If you're looking for engaging, high-impact teen programming breakthroughs, buy this book and give some of these concepts a try: - Brown-Bag Concerts- Library Teen Cable Show- Commitment to Fitness- Dance 360- Oral History Video Projects- Hip-Hop Symposium- Youth Gospel Fest- And moreThe companion CD-ROM provides all of the sign-up forms, promotional posters, evaluation worksheets, permission slips, and more for easy reproduction and personalization.
Although this was not exactly what I was searching for, I think this book is right up the alley of a person like me, interested in investigating innovative programming aimed at teens. So, in the end, BIP is difficult to maneuver though, but can provide you with some fantastic resources!
Cool Kids Read Banned Books (aka Tagging)
When I was younger I wanted to get my hands on the items people told me were "controversial" - okay, okay, I still do that now, but using banned books as a way to promote literacy is a GREAT idea.
Using librarything.com, I did a search for some of the most popular banned book titles and found one of my favorites, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Here are some of the tags I found for the novel:
adventure(280) boarding school(152) British(277) children(468) children's(898) children's fiction(257) children's literature(465) England(241) fantasy(5,750) favorite(139) fiction(3,657) hardcover(158) Harry Potter(2,502) Hogwarts(205) HP(123) J.K. Rowling(274) juvenile(149) kids(122) magic(1,636) novel(334) own(343) read(780) Rowling(162) school(180) series(719) sff(154) witches(285) wizards(806) YA(489) young adult(887)
You can find the rest of the tags (and there are a LOT) and other information about the book and author at http://www.librarything.com/work/2742161.
I chose this because the use and promotion of banned book may be the thing that gets a kid who HATES reading interested in something. If you tell them they are not supposed to be doing something (in this case, not supposed to be reading something), of course you peak their interest. I am a full believer in every kid will have something they want to read; it’s about finding that something that is the challenge! The Harry Potter series got kids, even those who never showed an interest before, to read. Find a book to match the child - it's just a good policy.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
ERIC/WorldCat
By now everyone knows that I am interested in youth services and their programs, but I had to pause and think for a minute about something specific I wanted to know about the subject. (I wanted to go more specific because merely searching “youth service program” would be like dancing with an 800 lb gorilla!) In the end, I decided to look up information about self-esteem, reading and teenage girls to see what, if anything, was available.
I started in ERIC and searched starting just with the terms “reading” and “teens” in full-text and found 81 records.
When I added “self-esteem” a single article came up:
Parents Sharing Books: Self-Esteem and Reading. Access ERIC: FullText Author: Shermis, Michael, Ed. No. of Pages: 40
Document: Document (ED)
Accession No: ED329955 See more details for locating this item
This is actually a pretty good resource, because it is a handout for parents that stresses the importance of their children being able to read well.
Here is the abstract: This booklet focuses on self-esteem, especially as to how reading at home can affect reading and school performance and how poor reading attainment can affect self-esteem. Specific steps to help middle school children gain self-esteem are discussed. Practical questions from parents are answered and activities are described which can be used at home. Books for preteens, teens, and parents are also recommended in the booklet.
Because I received only one record, I think I may be limiting my search too much. I decided to try my search again via WorldCat.
Using the same three keywords and limitations I received 14 records, but most of them were about eating disorders and other items that were not applicable to my search. It seems that “eating disorders” involve parents to “read” and become more acquainted with the disease in order to be helpful to their children.
Among the selections I did find an article that could be helpful to a librarian that working with children.
Here is the listing:
How to reach & teach children & teens with dyslexia / Author: Stowe, Cynthia.
Publication: San Francisco : Jossey-Bass, 2000
Document: English : Book
Libraries Worldwide: 189
More Like This: Search for versions with same title and author Advanced options ...
See more details for locating this item
While it is a textbook, I think it would be a useful item to have at librarian’s disposal. I changed some of the search descriptors (some of them to subjects, etc) and did not receive any results at all.
My thoughts:
I think the databases are (and will be) a great way to gather information, even though this search didn’t really get any quality results. I have a feeling the reason for my lack for proper results is because I did not have a real subject (I wasn’t researching for an express purpose, like a paper or project). Should I have a particular item to look for I would definitely utilize these databases.
I started in ERIC and searched starting just with the terms “reading” and “teens” in full-text and found 81 records.
When I added “self-esteem” a single article came up:
Parents Sharing Books: Self-Esteem and Reading. Access ERIC: FullText Author: Shermis, Michael, Ed. No. of Pages: 40
Document: Document (ED)
Accession No: ED329955 See more details for locating this item
This is actually a pretty good resource, because it is a handout for parents that stresses the importance of their children being able to read well.
Here is the abstract: This booklet focuses on self-esteem, especially as to how reading at home can affect reading and school performance and how poor reading attainment can affect self-esteem. Specific steps to help middle school children gain self-esteem are discussed. Practical questions from parents are answered and activities are described which can be used at home. Books for preteens, teens, and parents are also recommended in the booklet.
Because I received only one record, I think I may be limiting my search too much. I decided to try my search again via WorldCat.
Using the same three keywords and limitations I received 14 records, but most of them were about eating disorders and other items that were not applicable to my search. It seems that “eating disorders” involve parents to “read” and become more acquainted with the disease in order to be helpful to their children.
Among the selections I did find an article that could be helpful to a librarian that working with children.
Here is the listing:
How to reach & teach children & teens with dyslexia / Author: Stowe, Cynthia.
Publication: San Francisco : Jossey-Bass, 2000
Document: English : Book
Libraries Worldwide: 189
More Like This: Search for versions with same title and author Advanced options ...
See more details for locating this item
While it is a textbook, I think it would be a useful item to have at librarian’s disposal. I changed some of the search descriptors (some of them to subjects, etc) and did not receive any results at all.
My thoughts:
I think the databases are (and will be) a great way to gather information, even though this search didn’t really get any quality results. I have a feeling the reason for my lack for proper results is because I did not have a real subject (I wasn’t researching for an express purpose, like a paper or project). Should I have a particular item to look for I would definitely utilize these databases.
Young Adult Library Services Association feed!
In looking for a good RSS feed to add to my blog, I found the YALSA (or Young Adult Library Services Association) news feed and thought it would make a great addition.
You can find the feed here.
The feed provides information for the group itself - election news, group meetings, general information - as well as articles aimed at those working with young adult readers. Book reviews, author talkbacks and links are some other items included on the site. It is a fantastic resources for those working in youth library services.
You can find the feed here.
The feed provides information for the group itself - election news, group meetings, general information - as well as articles aimed at those working with young adult readers. Book reviews, author talkbacks and links are some other items included on the site. It is a fantastic resources for those working in youth library services.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Authors Podcast Direct to Teens
Podcasts are a great way to share information via the Web – they can be interactive (like a video) and can be downloaded, so the listener can take it with them to listen to at their leisure. It can also provide a human touch to items that would otherwise merely be digital. You can hear vocal intonations and emphases that can be lost when written. While podcasts are moderately new, they are an (under used) asset to in the quest to pass along and gather information for everyone!
On Podcast Alley I found a great site run by the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County (PLCMC) called Library Loft. First, the site is fantastic! It provides a bunch of resources (like help with your homework, book suggestions, links to YouTube videos by the library) and programs directed at young adults.
They offer tons of podcasts, both by authors of juvenile literature and the youth themselves. You can subscribe to their RSS feed here or check them out for free on iTunes by doing a search with the term “Libraryloft”. Here’s a link to the author Carla Sarrat’s podcast where she talks about her novel “Freshmen Focus”. It nice to hear some insights about a novel from the author directly! A neat feature of the website is if you listen to an author’s podcast and find yourself interested in their work, there is a link that allows you to request it from the library.
This site as a whole, including the podcasts, are a reminder of how interactive and web-savvy the new teen generation is and how people developing programs to reach them need to take this into account!
On Podcast Alley I found a great site run by the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County (PLCMC) called Library Loft. First, the site is fantastic! It provides a bunch of resources (like help with your homework, book suggestions, links to YouTube videos by the library) and programs directed at young adults.
They offer tons of podcasts, both by authors of juvenile literature and the youth themselves. You can subscribe to their RSS feed here or check them out for free on iTunes by doing a search with the term “Libraryloft”. Here’s a link to the author Carla Sarrat’s podcast where she talks about her novel “Freshmen Focus”. It nice to hear some insights about a novel from the author directly! A neat feature of the website is if you listen to an author’s podcast and find yourself interested in their work, there is a link that allows you to request it from the library.
This site as a whole, including the podcasts, are a reminder of how interactive and web-savvy the new teen generation is and how people developing programs to reach them need to take this into account!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Young Adult Blogs Abound!
In my quest to find and share new and fresh ideas for youth library program, I searched through a few blogs and found some that are quite informative!
Technology is the keyword of the day and being able to quickly and efficiently disseminate information to the masses is luxury we are now afforded. Having the ability to make a post (via a blog, Facebook or discussion board) and gain feedback nearly instantly is the norm, not the exception. Blogs can allow librarians to send out ideas, get new ones, talk and share about what works and what doesn’t and commiserate with people easily!
One I found that I really enjoyed was set up by the state of Florida for their youth library workers - Florida Library Youth Program – to share and find out about what other librarians close (or not so close) to them are accomplishing or starting. They even have an RSS feed! I found it by searching through Google Blogs.
Here’s an excerpt from a post by Stephanie Race about one of my favorite programs, Banned Books Week:
Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read (BBW) is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. BBW celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion, even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular, and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where the freedom to express oneself and the freedom to choose what opinions and viewpoints to consume are both met.
If you want to read the rest of the post you can find it here at Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read.
Happy Blogging!
Jeana : )
Technology is the keyword of the day and being able to quickly and efficiently disseminate information to the masses is luxury we are now afforded. Having the ability to make a post (via a blog, Facebook or discussion board) and gain feedback nearly instantly is the norm, not the exception. Blogs can allow librarians to send out ideas, get new ones, talk and share about what works and what doesn’t and commiserate with people easily!
One I found that I really enjoyed was set up by the state of Florida for their youth library workers - Florida Library Youth Program – to share and find out about what other librarians close (or not so close) to them are accomplishing or starting. They even have an RSS feed! I found it by searching through Google Blogs.
Here’s an excerpt from a post by Stephanie Race about one of my favorite programs, Banned Books Week:
Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read (BBW) is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. BBW celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one’s opinion, even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular, and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them. After all, intellectual freedom can exist only where the freedom to express oneself and the freedom to choose what opinions and viewpoints to consume are both met.
If you want to read the rest of the post you can find it here at Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read.
Happy Blogging!
Jeana : )
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