Monday, April 18, 2011

Wikis, Flickr, and other things

I was totally impressed with the Wiki concept. Of course I had heard of Wikis, but didn't have a clue what they were. I was familiar with Wikipedia and knew that content on that site is added by users, but didn't really make the connection between the two.

My family and I are currently in the midst of a situation where communication is crucial and emails are flying thick and fast. Not to mention all of the phone calls. It's difficult to keep up with them all. I'm going to suggest a Wiki to my brothers as a possible solution. Thank you, 23 Things Team!

I've just completed my "Flickr Thing". It was fairly easy to use although I did experience some frustration. When I was adding captions to the photos that I uploaded to the site, I found that the "Save" button kept disappearing on me and it took me quite awhile to figure out a work-around. My other complaint is that, after alot of experimenting, I realized that photos appear in a set in the reverse order in which they are uploaded. And I couldn't find a way to re-order the photos after they were saved. Not great because it's important that the set I created be viewed in a specific order, especially if viewed as a slideshow. But I got the job done.

You've probably realized by now that I'm as much about having fun as I am about learning new skills with "23 Things". My Flickr project was no exception. So, I'd like to introduce you to Vince:


Most people don't realize that the Travelocity Gnome has a brother (Vincent), and that he lives in Saskatchewan. But it's true. And while his more famous sibling is known as a globe trotter, Vincent is a bit shy and prefers to explore interesting destinations closer to home. I've posted some photos of one of his daytrips on Flickr. Please enjoy!



Update on Activity of Local Library Ghost    

As recently reported by one of our Caretakers....

This gentleman is a been employed as a caretaker in this building for many years and as become familiar with the strange sounds the eminate from the stacks late at night when the Library is cloaked in darkness. He and his colleagues also commonly experience chilling draughts and the sensation of being touched by invisible hands. He says it makes the hair stand up on the back of his neck, but he has become accustomed to these occurances over the years and has overcome the urge to flee when they happen. As previously noted, paranormal activity in this Branch has always been confined to the stacks. However, it seems to be explanding. Caretakers have reported that doors on the main floor have begun to inexplicably open and close by themselves and some individuals have had the sensation of being pushed or having another body brush past them when they are all alone in the staff work area.

Just a theory....perhaps all of this new activity can be attributed to the fact that certain Library staff have recently become fascinated by the possibility that our Branch may be inhabited by spirits of those who have passed on in a nearby medical facility. Maybe they are trying to convey that, yes, they really do exist! As I said...just a theory.

 
BOO!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

For this entry I have the pleasure of being able to combine "Thing 9" with more ghostly endeavours. As well, to fulfill "Thing 10" I added an RSS feed to podcasts of my all-time favourite radio program (Vinyl Cafe Stories) to my blog. If your in need of a good, therapeutic laugh, I would highly recommend that you listen to some of these programs.

One of my favourite television programs is Most Haunted. It is a weekly documentary in which paranormal investigators visit (most often under cover of darkness) locations throughout Europe that are believed to be haunted. Often these British Ghostbusters fail to turn up any evidence, but when they do...well, I've seen a couple of episodes that just might convert the most staunch nonbeliever.

To my knowledge, only one segment of the program has ever been filmed in (you guessed it!) a Library - the Dartford Borough Museum and Library in Dartford, Kent, England.


This lovely old building was constructed in the 19th century and has a long and diverse history. Over the decades, it has served as a family home, a bank, and a Second World War air raid watchpost, to name but a few of it's roles. Its current incarnation as a district Library was made possible in 1916 through a grant from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

Please put on your headphones, turn up your speakers and enjoy the following clip. I think our phantom must have been a Reference Librarian in a former life. What do you think?


  
  

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Wow! That Prezi exercise was a challenge! But I'm pleased with the final results. One more "Thing" under my belt. I completed the Google Docs and Spreadsheets exercise quite awhile ago. Thought they were neat and a good alternative to Microsoft.

I've always loved baroque music and lately I've been teaching myself to play the recorder. I was one of those kids who missed that in my elementary school music curriculum and, being a flute player, I felt that I had missed an important piece of my woodwinds education.

For those of you that don't know, recorders come in all shapes and sizes...From the tiny Sopranino...



To the massive Subcontrabass...


Each of which is suited to a different genre of music. If you're curious to learn more and would like to hear a piece of lovely recorder music, here is the link to my Prezi:


The ghost story I've selected for this entry is truly bone-chilling (especially for Library folk).

So don't read this in the dark, don't read this alone, and please don't read it in the Library on a dark and stormy night!



Hmmm...I wonder if this Library is built on low ground?







Sunday, March 20, 2011

Just a Sunday Blogger

Sunday seems to be the best day for me to catch up on a few things around the Library and to relax long enough to do some blogging. This could become an enjoyable habit. And judging by the number of Library ghosts that I've uncovered with just a bit of research, I could be blogging long after "23 Things" is officially over.

I'm slowly catching up with my weekly "Thing" assignments and enjoying them thoroughly. This past week it was RSS Feeds and Google Reader. Marvelous inventions! It's great having the information that I regularly look for delivered at one site with no effort on my part. I'm utilizing RSS feeds at home, too. I'm a bit of a yoga nut and visit several yoga blogs on a regular basis but it's a slow process. Living in the country, I'm restricted to dial-up internet, which can be painful at times. What a time saver my Google Reader has become!

And now, without further delay...



This week I thought I would introduce you to a ghostly gal who haunts one of our sister institutions, the Illinois State University Library. Her name is Angeline Milner and she was the first Librarian at Illinois State over 100 years ago. Click on Angie's image below and you'll be taken to her fascinating story.






Sunday, March 13, 2011

Putting Myself Out There

Well, I finally registered my blog. Being a fairly private person, it took a fair bit of courage to actually post my first entry. But I decided to have fun with this, so I finally thought "why not" and hit the "Publish Post" button. I am expecting each posting to become a bit less stressful as I become accustomed to having a 'public voice'.

Time will tell if anyone actually every reads my blogs, but as mentioned in my first posting, I plan to introduce readers to a different Library ghost or haunted Library each week. Perhaps others will find these spectral patrons as fascinating as I do and this blog may take on a life of it's own!

This week, may I present for your consideration, the Ghost of the Grey Lady, said to haunt the Willard Public Library in Evansville, Indiana. And she's not a solitary spook, it seems. To quote the fans of the Willard Library website, "According to Para-Vision Investigations, who investigated the Library in October of 2000, there are likely 9 ex-persons haunting those Hallowed Halls (or what Para Vision calls "non biological entities"). Various CamWatchers have reported at least one man, several children - both male and female (one appeared to be a young black boy), and at least 2 different women".



 Yes, Willard Library takes its spectral inhabitants so seriously that it has installed a number of  throughout the Library. Click on the image of the Library above and you'll be taken to their website. So until next week...Happy Ghost-hunting!

Monday, March 7, 2011

Working to Catch Up

Yes, I've been a bit slow to begin, but I hope to make up for lost time.

I signed up for "23 Things" because, while far from being a techie, I do love my computer and I am fascinated by new technology. And, well, in my life-away-from-work, I have little time to explore and learn about what's out there. Would you believe my 25 year old niece just taught me how to send text messages about a month ago? Always wanted to learn...never had the time.

My first project was, of course, setting up my iGoogle page. I found many useful gadgets that may be handy tools on the job. And some fun stuff, too. I love my virtual hamster, but I'm thinking of setting him free. It drives me crazy that the poor little guy is confined to a 2-inch square cage on my desktop. And I'm forever forgetting to feed him! I guess I don't "get" virtual pets. Oh well.

And now for some fun! As an after-hours denizen of an often silent, sometimes eerie U of S Library branch, I've developed an interest in other, less worldly, creatures who may choose to call Libraries home. It's no secret amongst the night-time workers in this building that strange things have been known to happen when the journal stacks are quiet and few witnesses are about. I began to wonder....


To my delight, I have discovered that Library Ghosts are not uncommon. Some are even quite famous. For instance, do you recall the 1984 hit movie "Ghostbusters" starring Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray? The very first ghost they encounter is none other than the deceased New York City librarian Eleanor Twitty, an odd little ghost with an inclination to make piles books in mid air...


...and a tendency to become a bit grumpy when the stacks in disarray!


For for the next few weeks, as I muddle my way through the remainder of my 23 adventures, please join me in a bit scary good fun as we go.