Small world

I realized today how small technology makes me feel and how much smaller it makes our world seem. We use it in every aspect of our lives and sometimes are too dependent on it. But when I think about how we can communicate with other across the world with the click of a mouse I can't help but feel a little bit smaller.
My uncle is an avid musician and plays several insturments. Recently he purchased a web cam and he was telling me at Easter how he regularly talks with a person in Russia and is learning how to play some Russian music. It is amazing to me to think that he is seeing and talking to someone "across the pond" in real time. I wonder sometimes how can we come up with all of this new and wonderful technology so quickly. We are a society that likes newer and bigger and better so the demand is there not just in America but world-wide. I used this story because there's the old saying that music is the universal language. However, lately it seems that Texting or Twitter is the new universal language. I guess we are evolving once again.
This brings to another funny family/technology related story. My second cousin is 12 and she is growing up in the digital age. When we were all at my grandma's house for Easter she was standing in the upstairs kitchen pointing at something on the wall. I went in to see what was up and I had to laugh out loud. She was staring at my grandma's rotary telephone hanging on the wall. She kept poking her finger in the holes and asking why won't it dial?!! I told her she had to put her finger in the hole and turn the dial- I ended up having to demonstrate- then she finally caught on and gave it a try. It didn't last long though, she decided that was too much work and headed straight for the cordless in the family room! I just had to share that little tid bit.

Something new

I can't believe this semester is almost over. Time flies so quickly now. I have learned a lot about myself in this class and in doing the wiki project. It makes you think about yourself and how you learn and how others learn when you are designing a product for the public to actually use. It's hard to put yourself in someone else's shoes especially when it comes to technology. Everyone has different experiences with learning and we all bring those with us when we are learning something new.

I read statistics once in Library Journal that stated that the average library patron has a 7th grade reading level. I was actually surprised it was that high. The library I work at serves one county of around 72,000 give or take and I don't think that the average patron here has a reading level that high. We very often have to simplify things like getting a library card even more for an adult than we would for a child. I actually get asked to spell words for adults more often than I do for children.

Sometimes it is frustrating to have to stop and think "How can I make it any easier?" but then you have to imagine what it's like for the person to stop and ask you, someone who may be 20 years younger, how to do a very simple task or how to spell a word. I think the Golden Rule has to be taken very seriously in these situations as corny as it may sound, "How would you want someone to treat you?", if the shoe was on the other foot, that question can be very eye-opening for someone. I hope that when I help someone I never put them in a position of feeling inferior. I certainly would not do it intentionally. Ever.

I have a younger brother with special needs. When I see adults come in this library who have special needs, whether it be physical or mental I see my brother. If someone treated him like he was less than a person I promise you I would take that person's head off. I think this thought has allowed me to have more patience with helping patrons and has actually helped me gain more respect from my co workers. Sometimes if they feel like they are uncomfortable in a situation they will ask me to step in and take over helping someone. I really don't mind it and I understand that they are not used to doing that but sooner or later I think they need to drop the insecurities and just do their best because it is a part of our job and in a public library you deal with people from all walks of life. If everyone was the same and we all knew how to operate every new technology the world would be a boring place for librarians.

End of an Era

I know these blogs are supposed to be about technology however I must dedicate this one to the finale of my favorite show and most critically acclaimed show ER. Last night the show ended it's 15 year run with Dr. Carter(the longest relationship I have ever had 15 years!! I wish.) opening his free clinic for unprivleged families. It was great. Everyone was there even Dr. Benton. I thought it was a great sendoff. It was also fitting that Dr. Greene's daughter Rachel was applying to medical school. I am so glad she got straightened out. I must say that I missed Dr. Greene, he was the heart of the show. Even when he failed we still cheered for him. When he died we cried because we knew we had lost a friend.

I know the show could go on forever but it gets harder to tell new stories and tell old ones in a new way, but I loved the scenes that were homages to the very first episode. I also have to share my favorite scene of all time you can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpeaD6Cf64A that scene set the tone for Noah Wyle's character and Dr. Greene. Pure genius. What a way to go out!!