Who are my Technology Heroines?

Note: This post is for part of Ada Lovelace Day (See this list for all the Ada Lovelace Day heroine posts)

Who are my tech heroines? That’s easy. Liz Rea (creator and system admin), Brenda Hough (creator and former trainer), and Sharon Moreland (current trainer) of the My Kansas Libraries on the Web (KLOW) project, developed by the Northeast Kansas Library System.

Liz and Brenda Hough started the My Kansas Libraries on the Web (KLOW) project several years ago, with the goal of providing easy-to-update, yet professional looking websites, for public libraries in Kansas. This project has required Brenda, Liz, and now Sharon to customize an open source product (WordPress), write grants, continue to learn WordPress, provide on-going training to NEKLS librarians, provide training of other technology trainers from the other regional library systems in Kansas, and figure out the best version and upgrade time schedule to the WordPress software, while carrying out all their other technology duties at NEKLS.

KLOW has empowered Kansas libraries and it’s all because of a vision of two women, Liz and Brenda, for Kansas libraries to have fantastic websites. Now, Sharon and Liz utilize the KLOW website as not only a clearinghouse of information about upgrades, new features, and possible problems with the KLOW platform, but also as a portal for training of the librarians.

Liz, Brenda, and Sharon: You are my heroes on this Ada Lovelace Day. The impact of the KLOW project on the Kansas library community cannot begin to be measured!

One final note: If you wanted to see my entire list of technology heroines, all you need to do walk into any smaller public library and watch a public librarian support her technology. That’s also heroic!!

Learning how to use a Mac

I am an unapologetic Mac evangelist. I have used Macs since I was in third grade (almost 20 years now!), and even after using PCs over the past decade, I just don’t see how people can happily use a PC. Trying to fix one should be enough to drive people away. The viruses. The bloated software. The spyware. The bloated OS. Enough said.

As an acquaintance recently said, “Everything is so much easier and simpler to do on a Mac.” Each day, more people discover these truths. If you’re considering switching, or have already swtiched, but have no idea how to learn how to use a Mac, there are hundreds of resources available on a Web. Here’s a few links to sites that I have found useful in the past; they include guides and training videos. Most should be free; don’t pay for access to training unless you absolutely can’t find that lesson/tip anywhere else. Let me now if you know of other resources.

Find Out How: Mac Basics (Apple)

Teach-Ease: Video Tutorials

Mac 101: Get started with the Mac (Apple)

195 Free Mac Video Tutorials – The Master List for New Mac Users (My First Mac is a great general website to poke around in for tips)

Switching to Mac (another great general website)

23 Things Summit

I attended the 23 Things Sumit through Webjunction this afternoon. Great discussion and information about the program!

You’ll be able to listen to an archive of the program as soon as it’s over at the main page for the summit.

I attempted to collect all the URLs discussed in the presentation and in the chat box (it was done through Wimba online) on Delicious.

The summit also became the #1 trend on Twitter!

I’ll be excited to watch the discussion continue on Webjunction’s site.

Twitter and the courts

Federal court agrees to allow reporters to send Twitter posts from the courtroom. What is this going to do our courts? More transparent? Congress already Tweets. Could be interesting….

Gaming, Public Funds, and Libraries in Nebraska

An interesting discussion on libraries, public funds and gaming/social networking is going on up in Nebraska. The State Auditor has questioned why the Nebraska Library Commission used public funds for a PlayStation 2 purchase, why staff time is being used for social networking/second life participation, and why is staff uploading content to YouTube and Flickr. The commission’s response is a great defense of why library’s are purchasing gaming equipment, participating in social networking, etc. Something to keep handy as it develops and as a resource in case your library is ever questioned for similar purchasing/participation.

See the Nebraska State Paper for more info

HT: LibraryStuff