The Daring Librarian

quirk·y /ˈkwərkē/ Adjective: Characterized by peculiar or unexpected traits: " quirky charm" From the Urban Dictionary : quirky "weird funny unique strange awesome cool odd cute fun random different intelligent silly amazing individual dork awkward sarcastic hot..." Quirky Hot? Really? Ok! I'll gladly take the lovely Salem Press 2011 Library Blog Award nomination! I am blushingly & gobsmackedly honored! Thank you! If you have found my quirky blog amusing, interesting, cool, informative or helpful I'd shamelessly would love your Vote! (takes only a second - I'm at the very bottom!) If you are viewing my blog for the first time because of the Salem Press mention - Hi! Welcome! Salem Press definition: Quirky: Character-driven blogs covering an array of library topics that defy categorization Wooohooo! That does seem to fit! And I guess the fact that I just spent 40 min photoshopping the graphic to the left to Steampunk geeky goodness...

Last year I blogged about EduCon from my couch whilst the snow piled up outside around me and I vicariously enjoyed & participated in this innovative concept for an exchange of ideas. This year I'm not only going but I'm honored to be involved with two different conversations. More about that below! You may ask what is EduCon, an unconference, and why a conversation? A Conversation NOT a Presentation: Viva la Unconference! My gorgeous mentor Joyce Valenza has written a must-read SLJ article about the EduCon unconference experience: "It's networking at its best," says Valenza. "It's critical, especially, that librarians network. It's clear to me that nobody knows who we are. I don't think we've gotten the word out. But we can't be in our buildings alone anymore." Dare to be Out There! More than ever we need to be "out there" not only in our school, local districts but on the state & national level. If you have ...

QR Codes are popping up everywhere! On the back of my Sephora catalog, windows of shops, and in my library! They're already big in Japan - and now in New York & LA. Calvin Klein Jeans recently put up three billboards - 2 in NYC and 1 in LA - to promote the brand’s upcoming campaign for Winter 2010. Rather than a racy montage of scantily clad models, but with a bright red QR code - all the rage in Japan - under the words “Get It Uncensored.” The code allows you to use your smartphone to scan the image, being lead to an exclusive 40-second sexy commercial - "It’s often difficult to measure engagement with billboards, and QR codes help advertisers better measure their impact." The commercial might be sexy but I think the QR code is even HOTTER! -Mashable Source: Lauren Indvik They look cool, matrixy, and very graphic... but what heck ARE they? A Quick Response (QR) code is a two-dimensional or 2D bar code which can be interpreted by any mobile phone with camera ca...

(graphic by Tim Holt) The digital shift revolution in educational practice isn't about throwing everything out that has been done before (sometimes to Ad nauseam ) but to add projects & product choices that enhance learning and better demonstrate research assessments and the comprehension of data. In other words: does a diorama and the science fair trifold with pasted on pictures & graphs really best show that the student has grasped the meaning and complexity of the research project. Really? Several change agents in eduction are asking this question of late (including yours truly) and I would like to start that conversation here, too! This also ties into the conversation Diane Cordell and I will be leading at EduCon in January (YAY!) The Power of the Product: Creative, Meaningful, & Daring Ways to Demonstrate Information Mastery : This conversation will create a shared list of viable, creative, meaningful, and daring products that demonstrate information mastery...

According to CrunchBase " Edistorm is a social brainstorming application empowering friends and coworkers to rapidly brainstorm and make better decisions. " And as one of my EdTech heroes Chris Smith aka Shamblesguru said "Edistorm ... looks like #Wallwisher on steroids" and it's true! Sometimes I stumble across new ideas and they just make me shiver at how cool and mind blowing they are or could be!... this is one of those moments ! Need convincing? Watch this! Try it out & help us get ready for the November TL Virtual Cafe session: Picture That: Using Images In The Classroom Join us on November 1st - 8pm EST Special Guest: Diane Cordell (left) with yours truly as the hostess! Keep an eye on our Session Wikipage for more information. Why not gear up for this exciting webinar by trying out Edistorm and add your ideas to this! Started Brainstorming - Uses of Digital Imaging in the School, Library, & Classroom - on Edistorm I just joined and ...

From Joyce Valenza, on the NeverEndingSearch Blog: New Book Video Trailer Awards! "On September 27th, School Library Journal will ask readers to vote for the best video trailers that promote books and encourage reading. Voters will be asked to select the best video in six categories: Publisher/author created for Elementary readers (PreK-6) Publisher/author created for Secondary readers (7-12) Student created for Elementary readers (PreK-6) Student created for Secondary readers (7-12) Adult (anyone over 18) created for Elementary readers (PreK-6) Adult created for Secondary readers (7-12) There will be four nominations in each category, selected by a committee of librarians. Winners will be announced at the School Library Journal Leadership Summit on the Future of Reading on October 22, 2010 in Chicago. The primary purpose of these awards is to recognize the important role that video plays in bringing readers to books as well as the wonderful creativity of th...

As promised, we have FREE Geek Tribe graphics for you ! My buddies Diane Cordell , Joyce Valenza, and I have designed a special badge that you can print out in colour or black & white so that you can join our Geek Tribe family and REPRESENT at the #ISTE10 Denver or #ALA10 DC Conference!! Since we're split up between the two competing conferences we want to show our Ed Tech solidarity by flaunting our sign! (front) (back) Are you more of an Ed Tech educator? Why not take a badge for your blog?! Download the original size or a variety of sizes of these graphics for yourself by visiting our Geek Tribe Design Gallery ! Or, if you want to buy Geek Tribe SWAG (buttons or stickers!) and help support the Teacher Librarian Ning visit our Geek Tribe Zazzle Store ! Also look for Diane, Joyce or myself at ISTE10 and ALA10 as we will have a VERY LIMITED Amount of special geek tribe membership cards AND Badge Ribbons! Just say the magic words "I Geek the Geek Tribe" and we...

adapted from Diane Cordell Tribe : A unit of sociopolitical organization consisting of a number of families, clans, or other groups who share a common ancestry and culture and among whom leadership is typically neither formalized nor permanent... A group of people sharing an occupation, interest or habit. "Due to copyright issues (about which librarians are VERY serious), we were unable to continue offering Library Tech Geek Squad buttons for sale." The good news, is that we (Diane Cordell and I!) were UNDAUNTED so redesigned it and we are now the Library Tech Geek Tribe ! Items currently available on Zazzle include Tribe buttons and stickers, with other products in the works. As before, any and ALL profits from the Geek Tribe swag line will be used to help support the Teacher Librarian Ning . An AWEsome resource for all Teacher-Librarians and technology educators! Please visit our Zazzle page for ordering information. *Bonus! A week before ALA and IS...