Thing #5 - Instant Messaging

Instant Messaging has its place but is not the be-all and end-all. I think too often people see a new techie tool as The Answer To All Problems.

But there are advantages. One can send and receive text messages from IM and it's handy for quick updates from family, or if a library patron is on the road and needs an address or phone number. IM should be used for quick needs.

But I don't believe an involved reference question can be handled this way, and too often people try to perform multiple, and/or their full library needs through IM.

I personally IM family to send notices of when birthday parties will be held, or request that someone emails me a Christmas list by a specific date. Again, a quick use for information.

How could you use IM in your personal and professional life?

Meebo is wonderful, I learned about this a few months ago. Invariably friends and family all use different IMs and Meebo pulls them all together. It's so much nicer than having to check multiple accounts myself. I just leave Meebo on while I'm working on the pc. Yahoo offers texting through email so if I note someone is "online" I have the option of sending a quick text to their phone through my Yahoo email.

But let's not forget the personal touch.

Thing #4

The video on how to do a permalink was very helpful. I need to read a thing, do the thing, then read it again.

And even better, the video covered only one topic. So often several how-tos are crammed into a learner's head that one is overwhelmed with new stuff and must go back to review even the simple stuff. This video was clean, short, and to the point. Excellent.

Habits of Successful Lifelong Learners

I'm sure most of us have heard references to Stephen Covey's "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People." The 7 Habits is a self-help program for breaking out of behaviors that keep us from achieving our goals. Covey's 7 habits are:

1. Be proactive
2. Begin with the end in mind
3. Put first things first
4. Think win/win
5. Seek first to understand, then to be understood
6. Synergize
7. Sharpen the saw

Intrigued? Read the book.

Building upon these seven ideas, The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County in Charlotte, North Carolina, has created their own version entitled, "7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners":

1. Begin with the end in mind
2. Accept responsibility for your own learning
3. View problems as challenges
4. Have confidence in yourself as a copetent, effective learner
5. Create your own learning toolbox
6. Use technology to your advantage
7. Teach/mentor others
7.5. Play

This is pretty standard stuff. You must always set a goal or you don't know where you're going. Of course you're responsible for yourself, and I'm always willing to teach others, (while the politics of power insist that "knowledge is power" and you might want to keep skills to yourself, I've always felt that informed, skilled workers is a plus).

But good luck finding time to play. I work full-time outside of the home, I do all the work around the house, I do all the birthday cards, xmas shopping, holiday decorations (all holidays that is), calendar upkeep, and care for my daughter. I'm also caregiver for an elderly aunt and I look after my widowed mother. I don't have time to exercise or keep up my photo album. In theory one must take care of oneself first, but the reality is reality kicks in first.

Talk to me after I win Powerball...that's if you can find me.