Views on the new training

Two weeks ago, we began our latest round of in-service training.  This year we are focusing on learning many of the tools being used by young people to communicate, to recreate and to facilitate.  No doubt, we have moved into that world of electronic dependability that was only speculated upon when I was a child.  I think back to watching The Jetson’s as a small boy and thinking “wow, that is cool”.  Now, as I watch my Roomba race across the living room floor I see visions of Rosie, the Jetson’s robotic housekeeper.  While I have made a conscious effort to avoid becoming “overly techie”, I bow to the inevitable fact that technology, as it has done since man first turned rock into a round, rolling object, cannot be stopped.  Nor, in my opinion, should it!  With a nod of nostalgic appreciation to those among us who prefer to “rough it” and live sans technology, I think even they would find some good in the explosion of technology over the past 15 years.  I am amazed on a daily basis by how more data can be stored in ever smaller vessels of plastic.  I gave my wife a 30 gig i-pod several months back.  Now, that seems like a negligible amount of space as 80 gig and 160 gig i-pods are being made.  Last night, as I sat reading a most enjoyable book, I pondered the merits of purchasing a Kindle.  As my aging eyes get less and less eager to read standard print, I wonder if maybe I would benefit from such a device.  But, as I hold the somewhat tattered copy of Lord of the Rings that is one of my prize possessions, I think, no, not today!  For today I will continue to cherish the old while acknowledging the coming of the BRAVE NEW WORLD!

Beverly

You know, Beverly is an amazing person.  She has taken on this major task force and is determined to make it work for the betterment of all of us.  She listens with patience as we complain.  She lets us know when we have completed something successfully; or, on occasion, when we have blown it and must start again.  She does this while still working the reference desk and teaching her classes.  She even continues to work her time at the circ desk even though, that being a totally voluntary thing, she would be well within her rights to back away.  So, even if she does, on occasion, “steal” my 2nd floor cart, I think I can forgive her!

I-Pod, You-Pod, We All Pod…

I have begun enjoying Chris Ryan’s i-pod assignment.  Now, while I do enjoy music, I have a great antipathy toward people walking around with buds in their ears 24/7.  It makes me feel like I am surrounded by Secret Service agents and the President is going to walk by at any moment!  Of course, my primary dislike of this media medium is that it allows people to be even less attentive in public.  I get very disgruntled when I cannot get the attention of a worker at Best Buy, or Target or Circuit City because they have some device in their ears.  I cannot count the number of times over the past 6 months that I have not been able to communicate to a patron at the desk due to this problem.  Of course, the fact that so many patrons are coming to the desks with i-pods at full blast is evidence that the future, no matter how much I my rail against it, is here. 

CommonCraft

I have just perused the Common Craft page and watched the video.  I am still somewhat hestitant to want to blog as I much prefer the sound of a human voice when discussing my life, or discussing the life of someone I care about.  However, I am open to change and may find that this training will move me more toward the TechoRevolution!~