Downey Library - Library Visit: Nessas Blog

LIBRARY VISIT
Nessas Blog: June 20, 2008

Downey City Library
11121 Brookshire Ave.
Downey, CA 90241

At first sight, The Downey City Library may seem like an unfunded and unused resource for the City’s residents, or at the least some sort of mecca for the local High School youth. Located across from Downey High School, and sandwiched in the parking lot between City Hall and Performing Arts Center, the one-story building is quite a gem inside.

Upon entrance of the sliding front doors is a small collection of Karen and Richard Carpenters’ memorabilia. I knew the famous two were from the City of Downey, but didn’t realize they were involved so much in their community. The small tribute to them was nice to see.

Across from the display is the impressive Circulation Desk. Impressive I guess in its rounded counter top and staffed with friendly and helpful personnel.

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A couple things that may go unnoticed are the quaint Friends of the Library bookstore and the Literacy Office/literacy programs. The bookstore sells both new and used books, magazines, videos, nick-knacks, and a good selection of reasonably priced greeting cards. The store’s contributions go to help fund certain library equipment and programs. The literacy office is used for adult literacy and is run by a full-time staff member that coordinates literacy volunteers to help promote reading for adults. READ MORE

Early Learning with Families (ELF) - Webcast

Webcast - Supporting Parents & Caregivers to Enhance Early Learning

June 24: Noon - 1:00 pm

Join Cindy Oser and Leticia Lara from Zero to Three, as they share their insight and expertise about working with parents, and building relationships to enhance early learning. They will present the rationale for engaging parents, provide practical approaches that can be used in library programs and respond to issues that librarians face who serve families with young children.

Webcast Link

Revisit a special presentation on Early Learning with Families-ELF by Barbara Neder, READ/OC from the SCLLN General Meeting, 5.15.08.

PDD @ SCLLN: Blogs and Wikis

Southern California Library Literacy Network

Professional Development Day

San Diego CA

June 13, 2008

This posting is about the 'Wacky for Wikis' session which was also presented @ the READ/San Diego Tutor Conference, June 14. There were also sessions about: Volunteer Management, Persistence and Adult Learner Book Clubs.

Wacky for Wikis is an overview of blogs and wikis: brief look at the where and how they began, reasons to have a one or both, how to, and a brief demo on how easy it is to post, to link, to upload photos, etc.

Viewed 2 videos about Blogs:

~ Why Blog by Business Week

~ Blogs in Plain English by Commoncraft

Blogging as Revolutionary as Gutenberg Press by Chris CreeMarch 7, 2008
When Johannes Gutenberg developed his movable type printing press in the early 1400’s it revolutionized the publishing industry in many of the same ways that the recent development of blogging is.
. . . . .
Here are just a few of the ways that the movable type printing press was revolutionary.

Faster
Cheaper
Wider Distribution
Mass Communication

The internet is transforming how information is being transmitted. However publishing that information to the web still required Today’s blogging is an order of magnitude leap in publishing technology on the same level as Gutenberg’s press was over the scribes of his day. READ MORE

Also looked at some examples:
~ see SCLLN Tutor Conference-Feb 22 post.

Watched Commoncraft's video on wikis and Wetpaint's 'How Do Wikis Work.'

Where and how to compare wiki platforms @ Wikimatrix: Select the Wikis you want to compare, then press the button.

Some other blogs and wikis mentioned during the sessions:
~ Burbank Public Library blog
~ literacyspace blog
~ DLC Adult Literacy Community
~ Families for Literacy at SF Bay Area Libraries
~ Exemplary Literacy Materials Online (ELMO)
~ Adult Literacy Education (ALE) Wiki
~ Burbank Public Library Wiki / Littlewiki

graphic from: Curso Sobre Wikis