grandCENTRAL Goes International

I did it! Even though I know nothing whatever about javascript programming, I was able to tweak the script and make a link that will translate Spanish Language pages into English when you click on the US flag.  I am SO satisfied with myself! It only took 2 hours of fixing typos, checking, re-checking, analyzing, copying and pasting … and the blog that helped the most, after my original “find” the other day, was this one from Tips For New Bloggers. 

Culture? Diversity? Exclusion? Snobbery?

I found a piece of javascript that can be dropped into a blog template, and can translate an English language post into a handful of other languages.  It puts a string of colorful national flag images on the screen that, when clicked, begin the translation. The other thing it does is show the original text when you mouse over an element, so you can double-check the original if the translation is funky. It’s very cool. (Found on the Digital Inspiration blog.)

I’m trying to figure out a way to add a snippet to to the code that will translate a Spanish language post into English.  When I do, I’m going to add the code to the sidebar of our grandCENTRAL blog, making our posts accessible in many languages, some of which are actually spoken in our community!

Social Networking For Parents

For our Staff Training Day on October 10, a group of us were invited to produce a presentation that could be used by branch staff as a program for parents. The topic: Social Networking Safety – things parents should know. Six of us individually prepared a few slides on portions of the topic identified by the group, and the chair’s daughter unified them with the background and colors.

The presentation was successful by all measures. We were up against a couple of high-interest guest speakers, yet the room was filled with staff who were interested in the topic. The Library Director requested a copy to present to the library board, and this morning we will be repeating the presentation at the Youth Services meeting. Go Team!

I’d like to work on tightening it up some more, and creating a framework like that used by the Hibbing Public Library for its computer classes. That way, branch staff would have a complete package, including setup requirements, handouts, and an evaluation form.

Some Thoughts Post-IL2007

I didn’t go to Internet Librarian this year, but one of my colleagues did. Direct quote, “Wow! What a conference! I’m convinced!”

A group of us met for a farewell dinner this evening (for another colleague who is moving to a new job across the continent), and the after-dinner conversation got ’round to public librarianship. Like the path the moon lays down on the ocean, the path I see myself focusing on and becoming most passionate about is the one that leads to making information and library resources available for users NOT inside a library building. I would love to facilitate providing info by telephone, web site, downloadable materials, e-mail, and sms – maybe even in a virtual place like Second Life or Facebook. Also, maybe using a service like Skype would allow conversations with ASL speakers without the unwieldiness of our ancient TTY machine. (I was recently exposed to my first video relay call – even though I didn’t have video running, the caller and the operator were doing a video thing instead of keyboarding the questions.)

At one time, I was collecting articles on writing web pages for small screens like those on a PDA or cellphone, but I didn’t have enough time to actually write one (except for the one on my PDA.) This is something I think will become more important – the glitz will go, and the content will stay in cleaner, leaner form.

I’ve got some ideas for improving the TEL Tipsheet and organization of the workstations. Still working out the details, but it will involve a blog for the daily announcements, and Links Toolbar items for the things we use that are behind the library’s firewall.   I’m going to set up one workstation – maybe the one at my desk on 5L – and test it.  I’ll need to collect ideas and feedback from the staff, but I think anything is better than what we’ve got now.  I really believe telephone service will become more and more important, and we need to be able to incorporate more services that are phone-friendly. That means having links readily available, being willing to send info to an e-mail address or cell phone, and handling problems on the spot instead of requiring the caller to come in to the library.

I’m meeting with my supervisors soon to discus the level of service that should be expected of TELIS and how best to achieve it.