resource of the week: free Microsoft ebooks

Eric Ligman of Microsoft shares access to free Microsoft step-by-steps, resource guides and ebooks (almost 300 total) on his blog.  Ebooks are available in PDF, ePUB, and MOBI formats.

resource of the week: WebJunction eCourses

Introducing free access to library-specific courses through WebJunction

Beginning on July 1, access to WebJunction’s library-specific courses is available for free to all library workers (including volunteers) across the nation. Simply create an account at learn.webjunction.org, and then explore the catalog of library-focused self-paced courses and webinars. Certificates of completion will be available to you after you have completed any course or webinar that you enroll in from the catalog.  Many of these subjects will fit with your tech competency requirements, so let your supervisor know if you're interested in signing up for any of these courses.

If you haven't already, I would encourage you to sign up for Crossroads, WebJunction's free monthly e-newsletter.  It is full of new learning programs and professional development opportunities, most of which are free and all of which are high quality content!

resource of the week: ok google

The latest version of Chrome (web browser) includes Ok Google, a voice activated search.  Once you've downloaded the latest version of Chrome, simply enable the Ok Google feature and provide Chrome permission to use the computer's microphone.  After that, it's as simple as opening a new tab, navigating to Google.com, and saying "Ok Google..."  This would be an excellent free tool for anyone with dexterity issues.  Click here for instructions on how to enable Ok Google in Chrome.

resource of the week: home grown ebook collection

Beginning this summer, NC LIVE will pilot the Home Grown eBook Collection, a project that will provide member libraries access to a collection of more than 1,000 eBooks from a variety of North Carolina publishers. The collection will include an exciting range of content including readable and scholarly nonfiction, novels by popular NC authors, and award-winning short fiction and poetry.

During a pilot period from July through December 2014, the Home Grown eBook Collection will allow users to search or browse to discover the titles that interest them.  Patrons will be able to read an eBook instantly in a reader-friendly, in-browser window, or they can choose to download the eBook to their tablet through the BiblioBoard app for iOS, Android, or Kindle Fire.

Best of all, every eBook title will always be available, to every patron, anytime...that means no holds, no checkout limits, and no holds or wait lists!

resource of the week: cataloging tools

 My Cataloging instructor was brilliant with a capital B, but not the best at translating that brilliance into something my non-brilliant self could understand.  As a result, I have always felt inadequate at searching the catalog or browsing subject headings.  I stumbled across this article by Tracy Wasserman.  It is geared more toward LIS students, but has some excellent resources to help those of us not completely comfortable with cataloging:

1. Use online cataloging tools:  Understanding MARC fields and the RDA cataloging code can be a lot easier with the online help tools published and maintained by the Library of Congress.  These include the MARC Standards homepageand the Cataloger’s Learning Workshop RDA training materials.  Also check out the Cataloger’s Reference Shelf, a one-stop shop of cataloging reference sites.  For cataloging “cheat sheets,” there’s the Cataloging Calculator and the Cataloging Cheat Sheets of the SLC (Special Libraries Cataloguing).  The OCLC Library Cooperative, of WorldCAT fame, provides support and training in bibliographic formats and standards, and many resources for learning the Dewey Decimal Classification system, including a WebDewey tutorial where you can “build” classification numbers online.
2. Follow AutoCat and other cataloging listservs: You can follow the discussions of catalogers on cataloging listservs (via weekly digests or daily feeds to your email inbox), to get a feel for the triumphs and tribulations of the profession.  When the new RDA cataloging code was implemented by the Library of Congress in March of 2013, the AutoCat listserv posted tips, best practice and helpful advice from professional catalogers to those of us fledging catalogers brave enough to ask for advice on the listserv (alas, I was not one of these brave souls but I certainly admired the tenacity of my fellow confused colleagues).  You can also get cataloging news on these listservs, such as information on upcoming professional technical services conferences, available job opportunities in cataloging and related fields, technical service publication announcements, and cataloging online tutorials and webinars.
3. Practice / Save your work:  Ask your professor for practice examples prior to any quizzes or exams, then discuss the answers in detail, saving all your work.  This last bit cannot be overstressed.  It is very disconcerting to build the correct Library of Congress Classification number for a practice fictitious title by locating the correct subject classification heading, subclass, country table and Cutter number, but not noting for future reference in solving similar examples how you navigated the tables to get the answer – or worse, having to explain your answer for possible credit ( as it is said no two catalogers will come up with the same “right” way to catalog a resource – see Shera’s Two Laws of Cataloging:  Law #1: No cataloger will accept the work of any other cataloger; and Law #2:  No cataloger will accept his/her own work six months after the cataloging).
4. Embrace the humor:  You have to appreciate the unintentional cataloging humor to be found in some Library of Classification subject headings.  Are you an introvert?  LC has a subject heading for vocational guidance resources for you, even cataloged geographically:

*Introverts—Vocational guidance   (May Subd Geog)Here are other subject heading finds:*Boating with cats*Cattle – Housing – Odor Control*One-leg resting position*Plants – Effect of prayer on

For more cataloging humor, read Radical Cataloging: Essays at the Front edited by K.R. Roberto, or follow a cataloging blog, such as First Thus by James Weinheimber (check out Cataloging Matters Podcast #12 (Updated): A Conversation Between a Patron and the Library Catalog

So take heart, don’t give up, and gain inspiration from a recent article by INALJ Utah Head Editor, Heidi Greathouse, The Learning Curve on her experience as a new cataloging librarian.  And, If you fall in love with cataloging, help start up a new website forum showing library technical services. You CAN have fun with this!

On a related note, the Library of Congress has announced improvements are on the way for the Cataloger's Desktop, which will be available in September.  - ALA Direct, 05/14/14

resource of the week: career headlight

Career Headlight enables users to find in-demand local careers and where to get training all on one website.  Joann Diggs of the Salisbury Rowan Community Action Agency, Inc. finds Career Headlight to be "easy to navigate, informative, and a nice eye-catching presentation for any job seeker."  Check out this new career tool here or find it on our website under Online Tools > Jobs.  (thanks to Rebecca for sharing this resource)

resource of the week: compressor

If you need to reduce the file size of a large image on the fly, head to Compressor.io to freely shrink the file with minimal quality loss.  It supports JPG, PNG, GIF, and SVG files (up to 10 MB in size).  Just upload the file and Compressor will process it in a few seconds, free of charge.