Hey all you readers out there! Do not forget to vote or to encourage any young adults in your lives to vote in the Teens Top Ten poll during TEEN READ WEEK!
And, of course, through YALSA'S TEEN READ WEEK website, you can check out this year's nominations and TEEN'S TOP TEN lists (from 2003-2006).
YALSA'S TEEN'S TOP TEN
Saturday, September 29, 2007
iHCPL #7: Beach Fluffy
I have always loved photo editing software. But...it seems as though perhaps I have just a few too many pictures of my dog...
iHCPL #6: Super YA Librarian...to the Rescue...
I had a great time with this exercise. I'm going to recommend (at the very least) making a trading card to everyone...
iHCPL #5: Pleasant Valley & Holly Street Power Station
This used to be within walking distance of our house. My partner took several pictures of graffiti all over the east side and, other than pictures of our friends, it reminds me of how grateful I am to have lived where I did.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Privacy and Protection in the Digital Age
I tend to be a little too "oh my gosh...this is so Orwellian" whenever I have conversations about privacy and internet safety. Perhaps I'm just a little too hyper-sensitive about keeping myself safe and anonymous online (like I won't even go close to paying my bills online and whenever I check my bank account, I'm in and out of there like nobody's business and I guard my passwords with extreme vigilance and I'm always checking and double-checking urls and those little security locks in the bottom right hand corner of the browser to make sure I'm not giving my information away to just anyone...).
But this trembling awareness about my privacy and protecting my personal information has also had its downsides (I know, I know, I'm probably not supposed to say that...). For example, I know tons of kiddos (including my 18-year-old brother-in-law) who have developed incredibly safe and supportive online communities that I have missed out on in fear. And talking to young adults, many of whom certainly need a healthy dose of awareness about staying safe on the internet and the value of keeping personal information private (would your grandma really want to see those pictures on your myspace page...I didn't think so...), I realized that I might kind of be in denial about my own safety through hyper-awareness. My information is available to anyone who wants it...and creating an online "me" (that may seem a little too upfront and personal) may be just as much about controlling access to my off-line me as my currently presumed anonymity...
I suppose this is just a big ramble...
But I can only do so much to protect myself and to inform others on internet safety and best practice. Even my checking account with [enter name of great big banking corporation here] could be exposed through no fault of my own, but rather a breach in security on the part of [enter name of great big banking corporation here]. I suppose as a librarian I'm very much on the side of privacy and an advocate of free and anonymous information seeking and exploration...I'm just a little afraid that the next few generations of library patrons might not be as concerned about maintaining this privacy - and is it me or them that has it "wrong"? I'm just positive it is them...
But this trembling awareness about my privacy and protecting my personal information has also had its downsides (I know, I know, I'm probably not supposed to say that...). For example, I know tons of kiddos (including my 18-year-old brother-in-law) who have developed incredibly safe and supportive online communities that I have missed out on in fear. And talking to young adults, many of whom certainly need a healthy dose of awareness about staying safe on the internet and the value of keeping personal information private (would your grandma really want to see those pictures on your myspace page...I didn't think so...), I realized that I might kind of be in denial about my own safety through hyper-awareness. My information is available to anyone who wants it...and creating an online "me" (that may seem a little too upfront and personal) may be just as much about controlling access to my off-line me as my currently presumed anonymity...
I suppose this is just a big ramble...
But I can only do so much to protect myself and to inform others on internet safety and best practice. Even my checking account with [enter name of great big banking corporation here] could be exposed through no fault of my own, but rather a breach in security on the part of [enter name of great big banking corporation here]. I suppose as a librarian I'm very much on the side of privacy and an advocate of free and anonymous information seeking and exploration...I'm just a little afraid that the next few generations of library patrons might not be as concerned about maintaining this privacy - and is it me or them that has it "wrong"?
The Learning Experience: My Strengths and Pitfalls...
I'm a planner; I rigorously make myself lists of things to do (sometimes adding things I've already completed, just to cross them off...I know, I know, it is sad, but true) and feel tremendous satisfaction getting organized and setting goals. In this sense, I motivate myself very easily; if it is on my list...it is gonna get done.
I love to laugh and think that I have a very positive outlook and attitude. Not that I can't get a little grumpy from time-to-time, or completely and utterly frustrated when I'm having a hard time understanding something (like physics...argh...why do I care how long it will take for the stupid ball to roll down the hill and why is it so tricky to figure out!?!), but I also like to keep things in perspective (which, again, can sometimes be incredibly and surprisingly difficult).
I can acknowledge that I have a harder time giving myself credit for my accomplishments. I tend to blow my mistakes out of proportion (ahh! I only waved when she said goodbye, is she thinking I didn't see/hear her? Is she thinking I'm totally rude...? :o( - ). I also tend to focus on what I perceive as my weaknesses and push myself a little too hard sometimes. And, of course, I will many times devalue my own achievements (I didn't really struggle for this, it must not be worthy - or - I have such a supportive husband and family; I was only able to do this because of them...no other reason, nothing else makes sense). This is something I really need to work on; but I'm very willing (and I think able).
I love to laugh and think that I have a very positive outlook and attitude. Not that I can't get a little grumpy from time-to-time, or completely and utterly frustrated when I'm having a hard time understanding something (like physics...argh...why do I care how long it will take for the stupid ball to roll down the hill and why is it so tricky to figure out!?!), but I also like to keep things in perspective (which, again, can sometimes be incredibly and surprisingly difficult).
I can acknowledge that I have a harder time giving myself credit for my accomplishments. I tend to blow my mistakes out of proportion (ahh! I only waved when she said goodbye, is she thinking I didn't see/hear her? Is she thinking I'm totally rude...? :o( - ). I also tend to focus on what I perceive as my weaknesses and push myself a little too hard sometimes. And, of course, I will many times devalue my own achievements (I didn't really struggle for this, it must not be worthy - or - I have such a supportive husband and family; I was only able to do this because of them...no other reason, nothing else makes sense). This is something I really need to work on; but I'm very willing (and I think able).
One Quick Note...
In deciding on a title for my blog: an homage to Margaret A. Edwards and her fabulous book Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts: The Library and The Young Adult, whose work inspired me to pursue a career in young adult librarianship.
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