Become a NoveList Expert in 3, 2, 1….*Click*
Like with any new software I explore, my first stop is always , the “How do I?” or the “Learn how to use” sections(how boring and tedious, right?). And now I’ve noticed, that over my years of doing computer repairs and just plain helping my friends with their computers, that no one really utilizes these back-page “help” sections.
Do they look intimidating? Sure they do. Could they use a face-lift or maybe a flashier user interface? Ab-so-lutely! But really, once you’ve navigated one of these bad boys, you’ve navigated all of them.
Here, just take a look below….
Ok, that was long enough.
What I saw here, is that with one toggle over the “How Do I?” drop-down menu, then one *click* of the mouse, TA-DA! Here we have an endless list of resources available to anyone with a Oshawa Public Library card. There are “how to’s” for everything you could need, not only “how to’s” but full training and training materials available for you to figure out just how to make NoveList work for YOU.
I dare you to try!
The A’s, B’s and C’s of the R.A.C.C
AKA the Readers’ Advisory Core Competencies(the unabridged version).
The definition of readers’ advisory is simple; A service that provides fictional and non-fictional books via suggestions and reviews/ratings.
But that’s not all these services are for, there is also the creation of suggested book lists, “like-books” book lists, reading programs, etc…
Now the definition of Core Competencies is a little more technical. Core competencies is a term you use when referring to a pool of knowledge that has many little streams of values and goals. When those streams all come together under the right management, Core Competencies become a strategic point from which a committee, business or company can differentiate their service from those of others.
When we combine the two, we end up with something like this link below:
Readers` Advisory Core Competencies
Now that we know what happens when you combine the RA with the CC, thanks to the helpful hyperlink above; I’m going to tell why this is a helpful tool for Library and information workers.
Really it’s simple. Tools like this are created to make sure that the workplace, the services we provide and the staff we facilitate, are up-to-date and in turn, they are helpful to their clients. The library and information industry is a client based monopoly, where whoever can provide the clearest, most accurate and obviously the prettiest packaged information will get all the business. 
The Readers’ Advisory Core Competencies guidelines are going to help me going forward in building my “RA” page. It will provide me with the tools and knowledge to approach every Readers’ Advisory project I have with the confidence I will be successful. In the future I will use these guidelines set in place by the OLA and the Readers’ Advisory to contribute to my workplace.
Fantastic Fiction Review
I’ll be a little too honest in this post. Fantastic Fiction is completely new to me and it wasn’t until yesterday that I spent some time getting to know the site and what it offers. I’ve always had this idea about software, technologies or anything helpful in general, and it goes something like: We don’t know what we want/need until someone tells us.
For an example, Fantastic Fiction! I didn’t realize until I navigated the site, that I was lacking an RA website that is author driven, instead of popular genres or ratings deciding who makes the top of the list. Fantastic Fiction bases it’s collection and website around the authors’ and their followers. This is ingenious, and much like the Apple Watch, or the Fitbit Counter; I really didn’t know that I needed it, or that it would be helpful, until I was told that it was a useful tool available to me.
So what interested me the most about the Fantastic Fiction website, was that it’s supportive of authors as much as it’s supportive of the readers. When it comes to fiction, I am 100% an author reader because I find the typical content of fiction materials difficult for me to indulge in. This great resource will quickly become my go-to site for expanding my RA fiction book selection. With this supportive tool I’m going to dive into the world of fiction… One captivating author at a time.
Picture Book Post
When A Monster Is Born
By: Sean Taylor & Nick Sharratt
3 Tips for a Great Story Time!
- “When choosing a book, keep in mind the purpose for reading, will it be used to teach of introduce a concept? A moral? Is it purely entertainment” (KettleHp, 2017).
When I selected When a Monster is Born, I knew that I wanted to do a fun/entertaining book for my story telling video. I think this book is really great and engaging for kids because the rhyming aspects allows children to pick-up on queues and be able to join in on the story telling.
2. “Be animated — speak with an engaging tone, use voices, and change your tone based on the words”(KettleHp, 2017).
I really enjoy reading this book to my children and over time we’ve played with different tones and voices. Being animated while reading a children’s book of this style is half the fun. The repetitive nature of the narrative begs for the book to be brought to life; the book would be a snooze-fest without engaging the audience.
3. “Read Slowly”(KettleHp, 2017).
I took my time in working through the book, I find it important to work through every page slowly, allow time for the pictures to be viewed, and allow the suspense to build. It’s very easy to race through repetitive format books. A good pace will engage the audience and keep them focused and partaking.
KettleHp. (2017). How to Read a Picture Book to a Preschool Class. Retrieved from http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Read-a-Picture-Book-to-a-Preschool-Class/
Meet Me In The Stacks 