LIBRARY COMMUNITY EVENT

On November 17th, adult patrons from the Free Library of New Hope and Solebury Public Library visited the New Hope-Solebury High School to learn how to set-up a Gmail account. New Hope-Solebury School district recently adopted Google Apps for Education and students are using the various apps throughout their classes and their academic life.

START - Students Teaching Adults Resources and Technology - was initiated by the public library and high school library in efforts to bring the community and school students together, while also providing a needed service to the community. Future sessions will include Google search, Google Docs and exploring online library resources.

A COUPLE OF FUN THINGS IN GOOGLE

In checking my Google Reader today, I came upon 3 new Google tools (at least they're new to me!) which I feel are worth sharing:

1. Google Search Globe allows you to see a visualization of Google searches each day from around the world. Each color represents a different language and the higher the bar, the more searches for that area. Note that the beta site requires WebGL enabled browser such as Chrome.

2. Thanks to Lisa Thumann for pointing me towards Google Cloud Print. From a computer, iPhone2, Android or Chrome Notebook you can print your Gmail or Google Doc to a printer hooked up to your Mac or PC. You do need Chrome, but no other software is necessary. Just follow these directions to set-up your Cloud Printer. I just tried it with my Android phone using Docs mobile and it worked perfectly!

So what are the possible benefits to such an app? Well, I'm still thinking that over. I suppose the main advantage is time saving: if you want something to be sitting on your printer when you get home (or have someone at home pick it up off the printer), you can send it through your mobile device.

Any other ideas?

3. My personal favorite.....A Google a Day! This is a daily trivia question in which it is OKAY to search for the answer on Google...but requires a little imagination. As explained on the Google Blog,

As the world of information continues to explode, we hope A Google a Day triggers your imagination and helps you discover all the types of questions you can ask Google—and get an answer.

What a great, fun way for students to practice their skills with keyword searches! Answers are printed weekdays in The New York Times and, just like the crossword puzzles, the questions get harder as the week progresses.

YouTube Copyright Center

If you're like many other people, you have many questions concerning copyright and fair use. Can I use my favorite CD track as a background to a video I created for history? When do I need to get permission from the artist or producer? How do I get permission?

YouTube Copyright Center aims to help you with those questions by providing FAQ's and further resources to explore. As the site rightly points out:

YouTube cannot advise whether or not your video will ultimately qualify as fair use; this is something that can only be decided by a court.It is your responsibility to know the laws in your country, and to understand fair use before you decide to make a video incorporating copyrighted content without permission.

New Tools - LibGuides at Springfield Township High School

Joyce Valenza, Library Media Specialist, and Kristen Swanson, Director of Technology, have created a wonderful new library guide of New Tools for students and teachers. As Joyce's student teacher accurately describes it, it's a "graphic organizer for the stuff we need most". Filled with links to resources, presentations and videos, this is the ultimate go-to for everything Web 2.0.

Books Everyone Should Read

Based on numerous book awards, polls and reader surveys, the above wordle shows which books get the most votes. This information is thanks to David McCandless of Information is Beautiful. See the complete data here.

More Possibilities for Collaboration in Google Docs

With the added features in Google Docs discussion, you can now easily add people to join your document discussion and you can also follow the discussion thread from your email, rather than opening the document.

Publishers and Libraries Struggle over Terms of E-Books - NYTimes.com

Libraries are not happy about HarperCollins annoucement that they will limit ebooks to 26 loans max. Read about it here, from the New York Times.

Publishers and Libraries Struggle over Terms of E-Books - NYTimes.com