News from January, 2008

Donovan Lambright, Automation Librarian

Here's one for you Children's Librarians out there.  Lookybook is a new website that allows anyone to browse through hundreds of picture book and peek inside.  Actually, it's more than a peek.  If you want to, you can flip through the book and see each  and every page.

The site is designed to help publishers sell books by letting people see the illustrations but a creative librarian will immediately see other uses.  Just don't forget that the book is still copyrighted; Lookybook is meant to give you an idea of what is in the book.  It's not meant to be a replacement for buying your own copy.

For more information:

Mick Reese, Systems Manager

One of the first tasks I undertook when I started as Systems Manager was to improve the anti-spam software used to filter email coming into SELCO. 

Our new spam filter from Barracuda Networks went live the week of December 18.  For several SELCO staff, myself included, the results were apparent within the first couple days, as the amount of unwanted email dropped dramatically.

Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran, Community Information Librarian

One of the wonderful things about my job is the opportunity to wander out to one of the libraries and visit.  Michael and I wandered over to Wabasha yesterday to visit with Michele, the new director, and chat a bit with Judith, who is retiring at the end of the month. 

One of the other fringe benefits of these visits is the beautiful Minnesota scenery.  I just had to share this spectacular sunset Michael and I witnessed.

Ann B. Hutton, Executive Director

With the 2008 legislature convening in less than a month, the MLA Legislative Committee is concentrating on the upcoming session that starts February 12.  Legislative Committee Chair, Mike Bloomberg, and the MLA/MEMO Lobbyist, Elaine Keefe of Capitol Hill Associates, recently visited House and Senate leadership and they have identified authors for the public library accessibility and construction bills.  For each plank of the library legislative platform, committee members are creating "talking points" that will offer additional details when advocating for these initiatives.

The Council of Regional Public Library System Administrators (CRPLSA) will hold a pre-legislative planning session to review the current statutes pertaining to minimum levels of local support and maintenance of effort.  This statewide meeting will be Wednesday, January 23 at the new Hardwood Creek Branch of the Washington County Library in Forest Lake.

Library boards, Friends' organizations, book clubs and other groups interested in strengthening libraries are being encouraged to endorse a resolution supporting an increase in Local Government Aid (LGA) and County Program Aid (CPA).  SELCO and the other CRPLSA regions will coordinate the collection of local resolutions and share them with area legislators and the Governor.

By Jonya Pacey, Help Desk Manager

Mick Reese saw need for improvement to our anti-SPAM protection at SELCO on his first day on the job. A SPAM message found his way into his email, thus completely disproving Bill Gate's promise in 2004 to fix this problem for us. SPAM accounted for 65-70% of all email in 2004; today, this amount is closer to 90-95%.  

Mick brought Barracuda, a SPAM firewall with twelve defensive layers, online in December. This package also provides its own anti-virus protection, replacing Trendscan and providing that cost savings. Barracuda learns as it protects, filtering out even more emails as time and our discarding and tagging of particular SPAM. It tags questionable emails that it thinks may be SPAM with the tag [bulk] and similar labels, to help with that learning process. Mick has not turned on the filter to prevent things with any such tag from reaching our inboxes. 

Users are asked to forward any emails that are incorrectly tagged with [bulk] or similar labels to the Help Desk to be added to the OK list. And as always, contact the Help Desk if you have any questions or comments regarding how Barracuda works to protect you from SPAM.

Michael Scott, Assistant Director
Rebecca Littlefield, Cataloging and ILL Assistant

Cataloging Roundtables
Facilitator: Kirby Johnson

We discussed different ways to limit searches in both the staffPAC and the iPAC.  One example that was given was limiting searches to DVDs.  A number of ways to limit searches were suggested and tried.  Here are some of the results.

Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran, Community Information Librarian

Windows Vista: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
Presenter: Donovan Lambright

Only scratching the surface in the time allowed, but will talk a little about how it was developed and touch on some of the ways it's different from Windows XP. 

The Road to Vista 2001-2002.  Just before XP was due to be released, Microsoft (MS) announced Longhorn, which was to be a minor update to the operating system.  A year later, the ship date was pushed back a year.  Shortly afterwards, Gates announced that Longhorn was not going to be a minor update but would be a new operating system.

In 2003 development continued, including several features that never made it into the final product.  Aero glass did make it into the product - the user interface.

In 2004, rumors spread that MS had bitten off more than they could chew; MS secretly decided to scrap Longhorn and start over from scratch.  MS continued to promote Longhorn, but ship date was pushed back again.

In 2005, MS released Windows XP service pack 2, which addressed many of the security issues.  IE7 was released.  Developer and journalism communities grew restless as the wait for new builds grew.  MS finally announced the "Longhorn Reset" and releases "Build 5048" - their new product - to universal groans.  They announced the new product will be called Vista, and that Office 12 (aka Office 2007) would not require Vista.  New builds at that point started to look like the Vista we have today.

In 2006 development and testing continued.  In March, MS announced that Vista will be released to manufacturers in October.  Some testers decry the loss of previously-promised features.  In May, the Gartner Group was invited to come in and look at the MS "bug-catching" process.  Unfortunately for MS, Gartner opined that the product was so buggy and badly designed that it would probably never come out.

In August 2006, things started to look better; product released to manufacturer in November 2006.

One of the objectives was to create an emotional connection between the user and the PC.  Mac and Linux do this; Windows users don't traditionally have that sense of connection.  To do this, MS did a few things.  The boot screen is different - no splash screens, no advertising from other vendors.  The new operating system - Aero Glass - is eye-candy.  Translucent title bars (oohs and aahs from crowd), document previews.  The graphics card does a fair amount of the processing for the interface, improving performance to the device. 

Start bar is a bit different and a bit more user-friendly.  Switch between windows features allows switching between programs.  Icons format was changed, so they are scalable.  The extra-large icons would be especially useful for low-vision patrons.

The side bar now allows for gadgets like calendars, photos, etc. 

There is an ability to tell the computer to run a program as if the operating system was XP.

Searching capability is throughout the operating system and it works fairly well.  There is a search at the bottom of the start screen, intended to take the place of the "run" command.  There is a search option on the start bar, and it's quite fast. 

The Good: security is a major improvement.  The new user interface is beautiful and provides some enhancements.

The Bad: it's a memory hog - plan on at least 2GB of RAM.  Inconsistency in bundled applications and utilities interfaces.  Incompatibility with niche applications and hardware.

The Ugly: DL's personal opinions.  The technology journalists haven't done a very good job of reviewing the product, and some of what is being said is either unfair or wrong.  "The UAC is annoying and will drive you crazy. " UAC becomes less intrusive after you've installed applications and configured the PC.  "Vista is a resource hog that will slow your PC down to a crawl."  PCs less than two years old that are properly equipped will run Vista.  Don't upgrade an existing PC; just wait until you buy a new one.

Security - DL's personal opinion - is the main reason a home user should use this OS.  There are significant improvements to the security.  Everything in the OS has been redone.  The system is much less susceptible to hacking.  Two kinds of users -  standard and admin.  The first user is an adminstrator account; any further accounts default as user accounts.  There is a user-access control - even the administrator does not have complete control over the device.  The system verifies when something is being changed and asks if it's OK.  Users would need an adminstrator password.  Can be a bit annoying, but the interruptions do decrease.

UAC will probably be turned off at the libraries as Vista is installed, since there are a number of programs that do the same thing.  If a library wants to have it turned on, that's OK, too.

IE in Vista can't download software unless you allow it to do so. There is no problem using Firefox with Vista.  The system has a built-in firewall that's on by default.  For the home user, a good idea to use. 

SELCO and Vista - support available December 2007.  All PCs purchased after that date will have Vista loaded.  Will still support XP.  Vista PCs will be downgraded from Vista to XP in cases of demonstrated incompatibility or serious problems: Horizon thusfar has not announced that it is compatible with Vista, though there has not been a problem.  Pharos is not compliant with Vista and will not run under the operating system.  No word yet from the vendor when or whether that will change.  Any library using Pharos will be getting XP.  The MS Shared Computer Toolkit is still in beta.

Lanesboro will be the first public library to get Vista - they are leasing computers, and all will be replaced in the next few weeks. 

Ann B. Hutton, Executive Director

CODI (CODI (Customers of Dynix Inc.) convened during ALA Midwinter for a quick update.

• Berit Nelson, VP-Technical Product Management, reviewed recent and upcoming product news about SirsiDynix Symphony 3.2, Horizon 7.4.1 and HIP 3.09/4.13, as well as a reminder that PocketCirc (which excited me last Midwinter) is now available for Horizon customers.
• Matt Hawkins, Chief Operating Officer, described the company's future plans for client care and software implementation, highlighting the new SirsiDynix Client Care website.
• Amy Terlaga, CODI President, and Assistant Director of User Services at Bibliomation, Inc., reported on recent CODI Board activities and future plans.  
• The Board has been attending to details that will eventually lead to merging CODI and the Unicorn user group, UUGI.
• CODI, UUGI, and SirsiDynix have begun discussions on how to merge and manage the two processes being used to recommend software enhancements, as well as plans for the first joint conference, April 2009, in Dallas.
• CODI members can expect SirsiDynix to post info on topics of current interest, at least twice monthly, as well as "white papers" or technical tips prepared monthly by SirsiDynix staff.  
• The CODI Board will create a survey (to be distributed this month) soliciting information from CODI members on use of third-party products.  The responses will be shared with SirsiDynix in order to verify which products will work with Symphony.

Ann B. Hutton, Executive Director

Smart Investing!  Excitement by the dozen: That is a bakers' dozen!

The enthusiasm we felt while writing Smart Investing and our thrill when we learned SELCO was one of 13 successful FINRA grant recipients was compounded yesterday when we gathered for orientation in Philadelphia.  Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran and I participated in a day of interactive training with exercises to expand our knowledge of outputs and outcomes, measurements and evaluation, marketing and publicity.  While not necessarily the kind of subjects that engender rousing enthusiasm, the atmosphere was electrically charged as librarians shared details of their Smart Investing visions.

This grant opportunity is funded by the FINRA Investment Education Foundation which "supports innovative research and educational projects that give investors the tools and information they need to better understand the markets and the basic principles of saving and investing."  The grants are being administered by ASCLA/RUSA, the American Library Association of Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies and Reference and User Services Association, a division of the American Library Association.

The 13 grantees represent urban, suburban and rural communities around the country, with eight successful libraries located in the Midwest and grant locations on both coasts.  The Smart Investing libraries will use the grant funds to establish online and in-person programs, partner with community organizations, augment library collections, train staff and engage in promotional efforts so that diverse audiences have access to effective financial education resources.  SELCO will partner with KSMQ, public television in Austin, to create and broadcast 13, half-hour segments using FINRA's great selection of educational resources, with corresponding library programming and web-based interactive events.

• Alliance Library System , East Peoria, IL, $100,000; to offer onsite and Web-based workshops to provide investor information, establish a Smart Investing presence in the virtual world, and to operate a Smart Investing outreach van that will travel to community events and libraries throughout the Alliance's 14,000 square-mile service area in central Illinois.
• Ames Public Library, Ames, IA, $77,672, to partner with Iowa State University Extension to tailor online and on-site investor education classes for (Generation X, Boomers and the Silent Generation) and to train public service librarians on the use of investing information tools and databases.
• Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, WI, $73,370; to improve personal finance collections available at all library branches and online through the library's Web site, to provide advanced training to library staff in the use of print and electronic investment resources and to establish Smart Investing partnerships with organizations serving women, minorities and senior citizens.
• Naperville Public Library, Naperville, IL, $77,848; to create online video tutorials on the use of financial databases, improve the accessibility of investing research tools on the library's Web site, train adult services librarians in investment research strategies and provide high school and college students with money management skills in preparation for financial independence.
• Natrona County Public Library, Casper, WY, $17,600; to provide a five-part investor education series for young adults, host inter-generational community forums on retirement preparedness and augment the library's collections on personal finance and investing.
• Newton Free Library , Newton, MA, $46,100; to sponsor a sustainable, inter-generational retirement planning club for women in partnership with community organizations and to train reference librarians on financial literacy in partnership with the Boston College Center for Retirement Research.
• Orange County Library District, Orlando, FL, $96,360; to organize an eight-part bilingual series on basic investing themes for Hispanic families, to provide investor education video-on-demand for library patrons and staff and to create a bilingual "eGuide" on personal finance for users of the library's Web site.
• Sacramento Public Library, Sacramento, CA, $60,000; to organize an extensive lunchtime lecture series that provide information to investors and moderated book groups (with concurrent youth activities) for professional women ages 20 to 64.
• Schaumburg Township District Library, Schaumburg, IL, $31,000; to produce and market an investor education portal for the library, inclusive of videos introducing teen and adult patrons to investing-related library collections and reference services; and to create a traveling multimedia exhibit (and share it with other Illinois libraries) that will provide a high-impact visual lesson about investing.
• Southeastern Libraries Cooperating , Rochester, MN, $99,830; to partner with public television station KSMQ to broadcast 13, half-hour segments entitled Financial Connections in rural and small-town communities, with corresponding library-based programming and Web-based events and resources.
• Timberland Regional Library, Tumwater, WA, $99,044; to produce, market and distribute a multimedia series of Ten Minute Topics about investing in partnership with community television and the Service Corps of Retired Executives; to train information services librarians from 27 branch facilities throughout a 7,000 square-mile rural region; and to upgrade the investing collections available online and at each branch library.
• Winfield Public Library, Winfield, KS, $16,600; to employ a women-helping-women approach of providing educational and supportive services in a format that will encourage better saving and investing practices; to partner with the Chamber of Commerce in reaching out to women small business owners and respond to their learning needs; and to create a series of reference finding aids on investing topics, allowing library patrons to access quality resources efficiently.
•  Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County, Youngstown, OH, $57,950; to partner with community agencies in undertaking a coordinated financial literacy initiative for the county's low- and moderate-income families, with a focus on Earned Income Tax Credit preparation assistance and helping parents save and invest for their children's education.

Aurora Jacobsen, Information Services Librarian

In December, the Pew Internet and American Life Study released another study about teen use of the Internet.

Briefly, some of the interesting findings are the way teens are moving away from e-mail. Additionally, the report notes that teens are beginning to understand security with the content they create. I was also proud to note that girls are more likely to create content, with the exception of video content.

Michael Scott, Assistant Director

The first forum in the Sustainable Rural Communities program, co-sponsored by SELS and the U of MN Experiment in Rural Cooperation (ERC) was held January 15, 2008 at the Preston Public Library.  The topic was Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) and the speaker was Mary Laeger-Hagemeister, U of MN Regional Extension Educator.  ABCD uses the premise that community members should identify the capacities and skills of its citizens, organizations, institutions, physical, and financial resources to help them understand the wealth of assets within their own community. 

We had a small but engaged audience who ventured out on a cold January evening in Minnesota.  Many assets in the local community were identified by the group and the message taken away from the program was to look at what a community HAS rather that what a community doesn't have.  The program was excellent; stay tuned for information about how you can view this program on the Web. 

Click here for pix of the program.

I'd want to encourage anyone who has an interest in the sustainability of our rural communities to attend any of the upcoming programs. Click here for the schedule.

Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran, Community Information Librarian

Oh, now....this is just cool.  The Library of Congress has started a Flickr page, and as you might imagine, the photos are amazing.  The folks at C|Net blogged the story:

The good news is the Library of Congress is putting 3,000 images up at Flickr. The bad news is they're relying on us to tag them all.

In a pilot project announced Wednesday, the government archive put the public-domain, copyright-free photos on the Library of Congress Flickr page. That's just a small fraction of 14 million photos and other visual materials at the Library of Congress, according to the archive's blog, but hey, it's a pilot project.

If you're like me, you recognize the value of tagged photos when you're looking for a particular shot but can't remember when or where you took it, or when you want to sift photos to zero in only those with something like "birthday" and "grandma." But also if you're like me, you probably tag your photos only intermittently.

So it's a safe bet that the Library of Congress photos won't immediately sport a huge range of highly descriptive tags. But I'm inclined to see the glass as well over half full: having the photos easily available is great, and I can't imagine the government would pay on its own to fund some dedicated tagging effort.

It's not only interesting that the Library has chosen to put their photos on Flickr, but are relying on tagging by viewers to classify them. 

Ann B. Hutton, Executive Director

While health care may not on first blush be considered a "library" topic, the ever increasing costs of health care are having a negative impact on the resources funding authorities have for all kinds of services.  And, that includes library services whether the information is provide on an academic campus, at the local public library, in the elementary school media center, or by the unique resources of a special library.  In an effort to expand the dialogue on this important topic, "Coffee & Conversation" will host Healthy Minnesota:  Preparing for the Future.

Doug Wood, MD and Mary Wellik, PHN, recognized health reform advisors to the Legislature, the Governor, and local government, will kick off the discussion by briefly sharing their insights.  "Coffee & Conversation" participants will then have the chance to share their views in small group discussions with local legislators.  Join the discussion!

Aurora Jacobsen,  Information Services Librarian

 3M has created a product that will read multiple RFID systems, breaking down the barriers between proprietary systems and allowing libraries to move from one product to another without data loss.

Aurora Jacobsen, Information Services Librarian

One can barely begin researching library automation without seeing the trend toward open source software. Certainly, open source continues to come up at meetings in the SELCO region, at the statewide level and beyond. SELCO sent two staff members to an open-source conference in Madison back in July. Certainly, with more and more libraries feeling that they are not getting what they need from their ILS companies, open source is appearing more and more attractive.

Interestingly enough, I came across an article in Discover magazine that had some reasoned articles about why open source, with all of its benefits, might not be the silver bullet the science world is looking for. Of course, this article is more about open source in industries other than libraries, but the intellectual arguments contained in the article are fairly thought-provoking as we think about what open source means.

Michael Scott, Assistant Director

I came across this interesting article from a posting on The Krafty Librarian, a blog by a medical librarian:Science 2.0: Great New Tool, or Great Risk?

Yes, even science is on the "2.0" bandwagon.  The article is described as an experiment in "networked journalism" and readers are invited to collaborate with the author.  This collaboration will hopefully lead to an article that is influenced by not only what the author set out to write but also what the reader(s) will contribute.

Though its focus is on science, there were points that I took from the article that I thought were applicable to us as librarians:  the possibility of a richer dialog using Web 2.0 technologies and my personal favorite, using a wiki as a way to capture and update collaboratively "how-tos" that we all have in various forms, such as notebooks, file folders, a shared network directory, or even our heads.

Donovan Lambright, Automation Librarian

At the January 08 Users Group meeting, Mike Flores gave a great presentation entitled Troubleshooting Five Common PC Problems.  Better late than never, here are my notes from that session.

Computers are our friend but sometimes misbehave.  Here are some common problems and what you can do about them.

1)  The PC won't boot up

• is the power cable plugged in?  Don't laugh, this is a fairly common problem.
  
  

• Is the monitor on?  Reseating the video cable is a good idea.

• Is power light actually on?  If not, check power outlet and power cable.
  
  

• If none of this works, call the Help Desk
  
  

2)  The PC freezes

• Check to see if you can move your mouse cursor.  If you can, there is an application that is hung up.  The other applications are probably OK.  Try using Task Manager to close the offending application.
  
  

• Try rebooting the PC by pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL.  This will fix 8 out of 10 problems.  If it doesn't work, you'll have to do a hard reboot by pressing and holding the power button for about 5 seconds.
  
  

• If the PC comes back up and freezes again, call the Help Desk.  We'll probably start by asking what applications were running and if you had just installed anything new.

• Running an error check is a good idea after recovering from a freeze.  It usually takes about an hour.

3)  Network connectivity problems

• Start by looking at network cable.  Check both ends.  It doesn't hurt to reseat the cable.
  
  

• Try browsing to Google.com to determine if you have connectivity to Internet.  Make sure to refresh the page to make sure you aren't seeing a cached page..

• Check to see if the problem affects one PC or all PCs at the library.  One quick way to check is to run CMD and enter the command ipconfig/all.  Look for the ethernet adapter section for connection status.  This command can also check connectivity to the router.

• If none of this helps, call the Help Desk.  We will probably ask you to recycle the cable or DSL modem.

4)  Printing problems

• Check to verify that the printer is turned on.  Don't laugh, it happens.
  
  

• Is there a paper jam?  Is there an error on the printer?

• Is the printer on the network?  Printers that connect to a PC as its print server are especially problematic, which is why SELCO strongly encourages network-capable printers.  Use ping to determine if a network printer is responding.
  
  

• Check print jobs in the printer queue.  One job that has run off the tracks can prevent further jobs from running, creating a traffic jam of print jobs waiting to execute.
  
  

5)  Viruses

• Reboot the PC to engage hard disk protection.

• On a staff PC, login as Administrator and open antivirus software.  Check quarantined files; if any are present, delete them.  If not, update virus definitions (if possible) and run a full scan.  If none of this works, call the Help Desk.

A Bonus Problem!

6)  USB device doesn't work

• Is it plugged in all the way?

• Check for drivers.  Most USB devices use standard Windows drivers but you might have something odd.
  
  

• Make sure the device doesn't need an external power supply (usually an issue with external hard drives).  If it does check the power cable.
  
  

Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran, Community Information Librarian

Aurora Jacobsen, Information Services Librarian

Mayo did have lots of questions, indeed-- something we love. We covered lots about the automation system but also had a good time discussing some of the bigger library issues, such as how to advocate to those that aren't sure about the function of libraries in 2008. We discussed ways to bring new technology into the media center, but also ways to measure and report how traditional library services are fairing. I'm still working on gathering answers to all the questions that came up-- but I will be glad to have answers to all of these questions being faced by Mayo and all of the other libraries out there that serve teens.

Aurora Jacobsen, Information Services Librarian

As of today, I am monitoring over 60 blogs for SELS members that are participating in the 23 Things on a Stick program-- and we haven't even gotten to present it yet! I know librarians, staff, and boards will continue to register as the weeks go on. I have been commenting on every new blog I find and once you receive that comment, you can rest assured that you are being considered for 23 Things on a Stick.

Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran, Community Information Librarian

I received an email yesterday from Sarah Washburn, of the MaintainIT project at Tech Soup.  Their cool tech "cookbook" is out, and she's anxious to spread the word.  It's free and available for download.  The folks at TechSoup are also interested in getting more libraries involved, so if you have a handy tip or two, please share!

TechSoup's MaintainIT Project is pleased to announce the latest Cookbook, packed with tips, techniques, and stories about supporting public computers from libraries across the country, including Minnesota!

 Download the FREE Joy of Computing: Recipes for a 5-Star Library here:  http://maintainitproject.org/cookbooks

 Find out what libraries and library supporters had to say about wireless, time and print management, and laptop checkout programs. A hearty thanks goes out to the following Minnesotan contributors, whose experiences made this Cookbook a practical and handy resource worth adding to your collection:

•  Chris Beyerl, Redwood Falls Public Library

• Kathy Fredette, Lake Agassiz Regional Library

• Shaw Simonsen, Barnesville Library

 
The MaintainIT Project continues to craft guides focused on supporting public computers. Please get in touch and share your challenges and successes so libraries can learn from *your* experiences. Remember, what may be, "that's nothing!" to you, may be an "aha" to someone else!

 Email them: maintainit@techsoup.org

Jonya Pacey, Help Desk Manager

Today was SELCO staff's introduction to the state-wide program, its website, the list of SELS members and the list of tasks to undertake. As technology leaders, Ann feels it is important that SELCO staff take part and continue to improve our own knowledge.

Icebeaker - "Keep your sticks to yourself" Game - everyone chose sticks from a cup and those with a black mark got door prizes. Jane, Mel, Tom got prizes - I can't see what they are. My eyes are bad...

Aurora introduced staff to the history of 23 Things and its initial implementation in 2006, how it has spread throughout the country and has been adapted to fit a variety of programs. Our Minnesota program includes the obvious reference to the state fair but also tasks pulled from uniquely Minnesota sources, such as the Homework Calculator.

National Library Week is MN's 23 Things on a Stick ending date. In addition to the free flashdrive that people who finish will receive at the party during National Library Week, all staff is in competition for :

• Scanner on at stick
• free pro flickr account gift card
• iTunes gift card
• mp player on a stick
• DVD player on a stick

This is worktime, and may take about 1-2 hours a week. All staff to take part in this program, to at least start and to try out each of the 23 things. This is a self-guided project but the MN 23 Things on a Stick Team has given you links and tutorials and further information as you drill down through the main 23 Things on a Stick website. The 23 things we get to try include some Minnesota-specific tools to explore and try out. Staff is encouraged to talk to each other and remember it is also about "defining the way you learn about things and how learning about new technology things like this fits into your daily life" and it's all about discovery and not about doing it 'right.'

Next Game - Guess the Avatar! Aurora pulled the avatars from staff blogs and challenged us to identify coworkers based on their own interpretation of who they are. Lots of good conversation held as we discussed guesses right and wrong. Good laughs.

60 SELS participants have signed up - 500+ in the state. Aurora is monitoring SELS blogs.

Approach this with a playful mind, learn lots and have fun! "And the next time we get together, there will be food."

Cross-posted to It's My Life - 23 Things.