All posts by Angie

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

CMLE Weekly Review: 4/28/2016

This issue of the weekly review recaps our blog posts from April 21-27, 2016

CMLE Updates: State & Regional News
– From the Director: I am retiring! More
– Makerspace 101 More
– Check out the new catalog at GRRL More

Upcoming Events and Registration Information
– MN library events calendar, provided by MN Multitypes More
– Last call for registrations for May 5th event at SCTCC! Participants receive a free book! Celebrate the new SCTCC library, author Jess Lourey, and eBooks MN More

Tech Bits and Ideas
– Using Chromebooks? Check out these six tips for video creation More

Resources You Can Use
– Did you know? Hennepin County one of the 2016 library building award winners! More
– AASL recommended app – Pixel Press Floors More
– Top teen reads from YALSA More

Food For Thought
– How do YOU save the users time? More

Just For Fun
– Book titles for cats! More

General, School Media Specialist

Six tools for creating videos on Chromebooks

Flaming LightbulbHas your school made a switch to using Chromebooks? Wondering how to get the most out of the video features? This article features six video tools that work well with Chromebooks.

WeVideo is the most recommended tool of the six. It has the most features available, including templates for new users to follow, the ability to upload your own media clips, and an app that allows you to save your video projects in Google Drive. It even has apps for Android and iPhone so students can use their own images and videos in their projects.

Interested in using animation in your videos? Try Wideo or Powtoon. They also include user-friendly templates, slideshows, and the ability to add your own narration.

Finally, the article also includes two helpful how-to videos, one about Stupeflix (where you aren’t required to create an account!) and the other showing audio slideshow creation on YouTube.

If you are looking for classroom video tips in general, check out our earlier post here.

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/q2demy8, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

#CatBooks: Title rewrites with cats as audience!

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/mmw5y8x, licensed under CC BY 2.0This installment of Just for Fun, reminds you to smile!

Nothing goes together better than cats and books. Read on for some edits of popular titles made just for cats!

The Lord of the Strings from @_wintergirl93

The Color Purrple from @Wieneraaron

The Perks of Eating a Wallflower from @MilesToGo13

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie: A Comprehensive Guide to Luring your Prey from @rick_wittkopp65

One Hundred Years of Catitude from @KahluaSin

The Power of Meow from @heyitsjessyoung

Read the whole article here (includes some great visual aids)

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/mmw5y8x, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist

MN library included in 2016 Library Building Awards

carved BookDo you ever just want to see some really cool libraries?

Then feast your eyes on these! The American Institute of Architects has announced the seven winners of the 2016 Library Building Awards. All designed by US-licensed architects, these buildings highlight how libraries are adapting to serve the ever evolving needs of their communities.

One of the winners is close to home, the Hennepin County Walker Library. The design was made to be similar to the surroundings in the Uptown neighborhood. Check out their Flickr album showing the building process and finished product!

Many of the other winners of the award have included sustainable features in their buildings that make them eco-friendly. They also aim to be more accessible to their communities. In Kansas, the Lawrence Public Library Renovation and Expansion project has met this goal – after re-opening, visits increased by 55%!

 

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/pofwmxw, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
General, Public, School Media Specialist

YALSA shares top ten teen nominees

Tash reading on the beachLove young adult fiction? Get your reading lists ready!

YALSA has announced the 2016 Teens’ Top Ten Nominees, a list of 26 titles published in 2015. You can view a video and a list of the nominees, courtesy of the YALSA website. They are asking libraries to encourage teens to read the nominated books during the summer so they can be ready for the national Teens’ Top Ten vote, which will take place August 15 through Teen Read Week (October 9–15)

Image credit: http://tinyurl.com/mogarhq, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0