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A CMLE member librarian, representing our special library types, suggested an educational technology tool called Ngram Viewer, a subsidiary of Google Research. It illustrates (often in table or graph format) how a word or phase has been used over time including its root, compositions, use in parts of speech and so on.
In May, David Brooks, a political and cultural commentator, wrote an article in the New York Times Opinion Section on how this tool can be used to identify social and cultural paradigm shifts. Click here to read the full article, What Our Words Tell Us.
Recently, CMLE posed three quick question polls to better inform programming and to assist in providing better networking opportunities in the region. All library staff in Aitkin, Benton, Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd and Wright counties in Minnesota received an email containing the link to the 2-3 question polls, as they are the people CMLE is funded to serve. The polls have different goals, but they all have a few things in common. One very quick poll per week, requiring only two to three minutes to complete, within one week. In May, if participants include their name while completing the poll, they are entered into a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card. The polls we have done so far include:
Summer Engagement and How You Use CMLE Communication Streams
One-to-One Initiative Plans in Central Minnesota
Your Professional Development Needs
We highly encourage all staff in Central Minnesota libraries to participate in the polls, as we will be making decisions on programming based in large part on data from the polls. Please make your voice heard, get your needs met, and get your name in the drawing too! There is no fee to be a CMLE member, and almost all of our services are available at no charge. If you work in a library or media center in any of the mentioned counties, consider yourself a CMLE member!
A real estate site called Movoto strives to make home-buying an enjoyable and engaging process. As an extension of the site they created Movoto Blog to inject a little humor into the process. Recently they selected the Top 10 Nerdiest Cities in America.
Just for fun, take a moment to read the full article and the “must have” necessities used to formulate their list.
Recently, I was amused to read a post on A Librarian’s Lists and Letters blog by none other than Brassy Librarian. As I read her post, I wanted to yell “ So True”! Inevitably, when I tell people I am a librarian, I get weird comments back and I’ll bet you do too! And yes, males still seem to be hopeful that you might be the naughty librarian too! What was just as much fun as reading the post was reading the comments that followed; almost like a librarian’s support group! Certainly not scholarly in nature, but a good chance to feel the lighthearted support of others in the profession, and add to the love too!
These towering three dimensional literary marvels are sure to rekindle the child-like spirit in all of us!
The LEGO Group is a privately held company based in Denmark. Founded in 132, the company is still owned and operated by the the founding Kirk Kristiansen family. Over the last 80 years this small carpenter’s workshop has re-positioned itself as a modern, global enterprise. It is the fourth-largest manufacturer of toys in more than 30 countries around the world (Tine Froberg Mortensen, 2012)
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